By Sir Hardly Anyone.
We are in a curious transfer window.
The key issues (how to bring in non-English players under the new post-Brexit regulations, and how to move on players to make room for new comers in the 25 when everyone is facing the same problems of ditching unwanted foreign players) are just being ignored by those websites that specialise in this tittle-tattle, making their commentaries even less reliable than usual.
Now of course Untold Arsenal always likes to help in these matters, so since incoming players will have to pass both an English language test and a citizenship test when they arrive, we thought we would start giving tips.
Obviously as you are reading this you will be able to pass the language test, but what about citizenship. Here’s today’s first question from one of the actual tests being sat at this very moment.
What was the last battle between Great Britain and France?
I’ll leave that with you. Meanwhile we know Arsenal are already taking a hit by paying Mesut Ozil a big salary but not even listing him in the 25 either for the Europa League or the Premier League. And there is at least some chance that next season will see Arsenal without any European competition which a) reduces the club’s attractiveness to foreign players, and b) especially reduces its attractiveness to foreign players who meet the criteria for post-Brexit foreign transfers.
Indeed in not dealing with this issue, it seems that many of the English newspapers that so strongly backed Brexit as a way of getting rid of all the foreigners now seem to have forgotten that dream and instead want to see more foreigners enter England! At least as long as they are footballers. It’s all very odd.
(Oh and the answer to the question above is Waterloo).
Here’s one more from yer actual citizenship test
During the reign of Charles II parts of London were destroyed, what was the cause of this destruction?
Hands up if you know.
Anyway when we read that
Arsenal are reportedly eyeing up a transfer swoop for in-form Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
we wonder what his knowledge of English history and language credentials . Caught offside and Sports Lens don’t tell us. (London was partly destroyed by fire, in case you didn’t know).
But one of the problems with the test for non-UK people who want to remain in the UK is that some of the answers are wrong. For example the question
How often are general elections held in the UK?
does not list the correct answer as one of the options.
But back with the football we might also ask “Why do we need another goalkeeper?” If you look at the keepers we registered for the Europa league squad you will see there were no less than six of them. Two of them played (Bernd Leno – age 28 and Runa Runarsson aged 25.) The others on the books are Matt Macey (age 26), Karl Hein (age 18), James Hillson (age 19), and Arthur Akwonko (age 19). Do we really want to go on collecting goalkeepers?
And then if we do, how are we going to fit them in the squad? We really only need three keepers in the first team squad of 25, and we clearly have those (Leno, Runarsson and Macey) and then we have three juniors who were listed in the Europa squad to give them a sense of being with the club and part of the future. Again why buy more?
Of course all these details are as nought to the football journalists, who quite probably couldn’t answer most of the citizenship questions anyway. So they keep on telling us, things such as
Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe is “not a skilful player”
That is according to the bonkers Express, who of course never take responsibility for an opinion, but this time blame that on Owen Hargreaves and Paul Ince. But let’s try this one
Arsenal are set to battle Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of Austrian playmaker Marcel Sabitzer.
This comes from the Boot Room, who don’t tell us how the player meets the Brexit Transfer Protocol (no surprise there) nor how he would fit in the 25 (ditto). Transfermarket however have him valued at £35m which would probably qualify him.
He is a right sided central midfielder who has played for RB Leipzig 10 times this season in the League and five times in the Champions League.
And who does he replace? Ah, that we are not told. But ESPN have claimed Arsenal are willing not just to pay the £35m shown as the players value, but actually another £10m, but again there is no telling how he is going to fit into an already over full squad of foreigners. He would however meet the international criteria for the transfer under post-Brexit rules, so that is one hurdle overcome.
And speaking of hurdles, here’s another one for you…
What charity works to preserve important buildings, coastline and countryside in the UK?
I’ll leave you to sort that out. And if any clubs out there are looking for a tutor to help players get through the test, Untold Arsenal will be aiming to help with answers both wrong and right. But in terms of the general election, the correct answer is not “every five years” as the government funded test tells us, but “whenever the government wishes up to a maximum of five years.”
Funny ol’ game.
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Strictly speaking Waterloo wasn’t the last battle between Great Britain and France. Over half of Wellingtons army was made up of German Dutch and Belgian troops. And a large chunk of the “British” troops were in fact Irish. Ireland was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, separate entities.
I do hope Arthur Akwonko is a success. Great name.
Assuming that Arsenal are successful to offload some of their senior team players this winter window who they wanted to offload last summer window, but failed to actualised offloading them due to some reasons then that were beyond their control that forced them to postponed offloading them to this winter window.
But in a minor team upgrade that the club are looking will carry out this winter window. I think it will majorly center on the outgoing rather than on the incoming if the Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s statement on Arsenal winter transfer business is taken into considerations.
But I wouldn’t know how many senior team new players that Arsenal will sign to bring them to the club during this ongoing winter transfer window after the club’s senior team departures axe this term has fallen on Mesut Ozil to leave the club this winter. Not minding his stubbornness to forcefully remained at the club last summer against the club’s hierarchy bosses wish to see him leave.
And Sokratis Papastethopoulos is another player at Arsenal who the club wanted him out from the club on transfer last summer but they couldn’t actualise his leaving then. However, the club are looking positioned to succeed moving him out of the club this winter.
And Arsenal have been reported in the media today to have moved or on the verge of moving out on loan to Nice FC in France their unused centreback William Saliba this season at the senior team level.
Who else has Arsenal penned down to leave the club this winter window? Sead Kolasinac? But in my own sense of reasoning, if Arsenal offload him this winter which could happen. But the club will have to sign a replacement to him this winter window. Who should be an upgrade to what hw currently brings to Arsenal at the left full back position in the team to cover for Tierney and even compete with him for a starting role.
I’ve mentioned 4 Arsenal senior team players of: Ozil, Sokratis, Kolasinac and Saliba who I think Arsenal are going to offload this summer for various reasons. But it will be safe for Arsenal if they refresh their striker’s department this winter by doing a proven top League over 20 goals per season goals scorer striker signing who has at least 5 – 7 seasons resale value left in him to go.
But if Arsenal refresh their striker’s position this winter to do a top quality striker signing, the club might have to offload Eddie Nketiah out on loan this winter to further improve on the quality of his goals scoring striking ability for Arsenal next season after he has returned.
Finally, despite that I am not Mikel Arteta or Edu, I honestly don’t think Arsenal need to revisit the Houssem Aouer last summer failed transfer signing this winter. More so, as Arsenal midfielders of ESR aided by his midfield mates are now doing a good job creating goals scoring opportunities in the PL for the team forwards to score goals. Which is the same job that Aouer will be expected to do in the team if Arsenal sign him this winter.
I am therefore advising Arsenal to redirect their money to sign him to a new top quality striker signing this winter instead.
Lacazette has been trying his best for Arsenal in the PL doing a job for the club this season. And us Gooners are hoping Aubameyang will come up soon with his own goals scoring solution for Arsenal in the PL in the Newcastle games in the FA Cup and the PL to alley fears. But Arsenal should not take chances or leave things to chance to not sign a proven 20 goals plus per season top League goals scorer this winter. But if they find one and can afford the cost I have to say.
Assuming that Arsenal are successful to offload some of their senior team players this winter window who they wanted to offload last summer window, but failed to actualised offloading them due to some reasons then that were beyond their control that forced them to postponed offloading them to this winter window.
But in a minor team upgrade that the club are looking will carry out this winter window. I think it will majorly center on the outgoing rather than on the incoming if the Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s statement on Arsenal winter transfer business is taken into considerations.
But I wouldn’t know how many senior team new players that Arsenal will sign to bring them to the club during this ongoing winter transfer window after the club’s senior team departures axe this term has fallen on Mesut Ozil to leave the club this winter. Not minding his stubbornness to forcefully remained at the club last summer against the club’s hierarchy bosses wish to see him leave.
And Sokratis Papastethopoulos is another player at Arsenal who the club wanted him out from the club on transfer last summer but they couldn’t actualise his leaving then. However, the club are looking positioned to succeed moving him out of the club this winter.
And Arsenal have been reported in the media today to have moved or on the verge of moving out on loan to Nice FC in France their unused centreback William Saliba this season at the senior team level.
Who else has Arsenal penned down to leave the club this winter window? Sead Kolasinac? But in my own sense of reasoning, if Arsenal offload him this winter which could happen. But the club will have to sign a replacement to him this winter window. Who should be an upgrade to what he currently brings to Arsenal at the left full back position in the team to cover for Tierney and even compete with him for a starting role.
I’ve mentioned 4 Arsenal senior team players of: Ozil, Sokratis, Kolasinac and Saliba who I think Arsenal are going to offload this summer for various reasons. But it will be safe for Arsenal if they refresh their striker’s department this winter by doing a proven top League over 20 goals per season goals scorer striker signing who has at least 5 – 7 seasons resale value left in him to go.
But if Arsenal refresh their striker’s position this winter to do a top quality striker signing, the club might have to offload Eddie Nketiah out on loan this winter to further improve on the quality of his goals scoring striking ability for Arsenal next season after he has returned.
Finally, despite that I am not Mikel Arteta or Edu, I honestly don’t think Arsenal need to revisit their Houssem Aouer last summer failed transfer signing this winter. More so, as Arsenal midfielders of ESR aided by his midfield mates are now doing a good job creating goals scoring opportunities in the PL for the team forwards to score goals. Which is the same job that Aouer will be expected to do in the team if Arsenal sign him this winter.
Therefore, I am advising Arsenal to redirect their money to sign a new top quality striker this winter instead.
Lacazette has been trying his best for Arsenal in the PL doing a good job for the club this season. And us Gooners are hoping Aubameyang will come up soon with his own goals scoring solution for Arsenal in the PL in the Newcastle games in the FA Cup and the PL to alley fears. But Arsenal should not take chances or leave things to chance to not sign a proven 20 goals plus per season top League goals scorer this winter. But if they find one and can afford the cost I have to say.