Just 24 hours ago, we were advising people to calm down and not worry. But come Monday, we've just gone and done it! We've signed our first player of the transfer window, and it's a player that we've been chasing for 30 months.
Barely 6 hours after that blog went live, Arsenal had made the first signing of the summer that would break their transfer record – Marquinhos.
Now the naysayers will be spinning the narrative that 'a 19-year old prospect is not a real signing'. But you won't be saying that today, as you were all still talking yesterday, of course, about Liverpool having made a signing already — the only man they have signed is also a 19-year-old in Fábio Carvalho.
Marcus Vinicius Oliveira Alencar – who it'll be impossible to spell without more than once spelling it out in full – joins from Brazilian outfit Sao Paolo, whom he played 41 times for last season.
I would be lying if I said I had ever heard of him prior to us being linked – or even seen him play. I am sure there will be some social media experts that will claim to have been following him since he was 11 playing on the beach though. I doubt I am in their company however!
Many people fear the price tag that comes with Claude, but do not let this put you off! It is well worth the expense.
Arsenal got him a bargain due to an issue with his contract.
At 16, he signed a 5-year deal with Sao Paulo in September 2019. However, FIFA rules mandate that teenagers can only sign 3-year contracts. This meant that his contract essentially expired later that month.
Edu looks set to complete a move to Brazilian club Arsenal. He agreed to a four-year contract with the Brazilian club worth $6.5 million.
I have no idea where Marquinhos fits in at Arsenal.
Martinelli was signed as an 18-year-old and expected to play for our PL2 side. His strong performances in pre-season made him one of the early contenders for first team place. And after his impressive displays in the League Cup and Europa League, it was only a matter of time before he was a regular starter for the first team squad.
No one would have expected him to score 10 goals in 26 games this season, but Martinelli has been very solid in our senior squad this season and has 20 goals to his name. And he's still just 20 years old.
I would be surprised if they didn't transfer Marquinhos and get a younger player in return.
He is with the first team in pre-season and then it will be "see where he goes".
Either way, signing Sanchez will put a stop to people's saying "We have not signed anyone yet."
Playing U21 football serves no purpose when it comes to developing Smith Rowe.
In the previous soccer season, he was one of the major contributors to Arsenal's winning season. Previously, he would have been relaxing on the beach at this time, not playing every third day for Arsenal!
At least not. He can now stop that "campaign" and get four weeks rest until the start of his pre-season training at the beginning of July.
Teams have been putting out massively changed XIs for Nation's League fixtures showing that there is nothing to play for in these international friendlies.
Well, that's not going to work out. What're you thinking?
