🎙️Mikel Arteta’s heartfelt message to Santi Cazorla following his retirement….
🗣️“My friend, this gives me chills. It has been an honour and a gift to know you, to be your teammate, and to witness everything you went through in your career. The legacy you leave in football, and in the lives of those around you, is extraordinary.
“I wish I could be with you today. I also want to thank your wife, Ursula, your children, and everyone who has supported you along the way.
“Thank you for everything you have given to football, and for always bringing a smile to the faces of those around you.
“I know how much you love this game, so I can imagine how difficult this moment is. But I’m certain you’ll continue to give so much to football, whatever role you choose next.
“I hope you can feel all this love from London. I love you so much, my friend. I wish you and your family nothing but the very best.”❤️
Julian Alvarez Update
If you remember, I stated there was another attacker I chose to keep anonymous. That player was indeed Julian Alvarez. The reason I said it was sensitive was because one of our players (Gyökeres) was potentially involved but let me just provide the facts for Arsenal fans. To my understanding the following statements are 100% factual.
• The players dream is Barca (personal terms agreed already)
• Barca have always wanted Julian to go public with his desire to force Atleti's position
• Atleti are adamant they will not to sell to Barca and would rather sell abroad but it wont stop Barca from trying
• PSG to my understanding left the race due to Campos / Enrique not wanting a player who doesn’t absolutely prioritise them but I wont be shocked if they return due to the players quality
• Julian has been a target for Arsenal since last summer
• After our group stage game Arteta made it clear we must atleast be in the race for the Argentine
• I can 100% confirm Atleti have interest in Viktor Gyökeres
• Andrea Berta has maintained contacts with the camp since last summer and has explored 'different structures & mechanisms' to bring Julian Alvarez to North London in the recent months…
• Reports about 'the English weather' being a reason Julian and his family would not return to England are absolutely false.
• The player would be very open to joining Arsenal and has directly told us should his dream to Barca become impossible
• Arsenal are yet to officially formalise their interest but Atleti are well aware of our interest.
The situation is chaotic but my role is to provide the absolute facts to the best of my knowledge in real time not predict the future. Its difficult enough tracking Berta and his 1000 spinning plates technique, its even harder when he silently speaks to ex-colleagues at Atleti with whom he has a lot of trust with but I have presented the facts. Genuinely feel a lot of relief talking about this all as its been exhausting to track for 14 months. I need to sleep now as I have been awake all night contacting sources 😂
Martin Zubi rejected everyone to come join us. Played insane minutes and hooped out first half of the season. Vital contributor to the joy YOU feel today.
He is super reserved & had a rough ride in the run in . Can we flood his IG comments so he KNOWS we love him. Link below.
🚨Well respected journalist Guillem Balague speaking on Arsenal… you’re going to want to read this!
“Let me tell you what everyone is saying about Arsenal across Europe.
“Arsenal are not seen here as a team that has stalled. They are seen as a reference point. As the team many look at when trying to understand where elite football is heading.
“The game has shifted, it is no longer enough to dominate the ball or to attack well. The top sides now compete in, and often decide matches through, the four phases that make teams excellent: organised attack, attacking transition, defensive transition and structured defence. At the highest level, those phases matter more than possession percentages or aesthetic debates.
“This is where Arsenal stand out.
“Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal control space, time and another very important element, rhythm. They are aggressive without being chaotic, but can create chaos to find gaps, they are compact without being passive. Their pressing is prepared in detail, lose the ball and the reaction is immediate. The opponent is denied oxygen.
“Across Europe, this is understood as modern dominance.
“The key battleground today is transition. Not what you do with the ball, but what happens the instant you lose it. Defensive rhythm has overtaken offensive rhythm. Space is smaller and time is shorter. The teams that survive are the ones that arrive first, win duels, plus reset order before danger appears.
“Arsenal do this as well as anyone.
“In Europe, Arsenal are seen as a team that has absorbed Guardiola’s ideas and pushed them forward, they have strengthened them for a football world that now plays faster, presses harder, and it totally punishes hesitation.
“At the very moment Arsenal are being questioned at home, they are being analysed as a model.
“Progress is often uncomfortable and it rarely moves in straight lines. Arsenal don’t look lost. In my eyes they look early!”