We may one day look back on the Kroenke era and regard Andrea Berta as its greatest ever employee. Arsenal have often been criticised for not always acting like a true elite club under the current ownership, yet their Director of Football appears to operate with that higher standard in mind.
Berta’s approach reflects a more calculated and assertive strategy in the transfer market, one that prioritises long-term gain over short-term reaction. This philosophy is now evident in Arsenal’s reported interest in Marc Guehi, a situation that has developed into one of the more intriguing subplots of the current window.
Arsenal’s Calculated Patience
It is believed that the Italian has made it clear to Marc Guehi that Arsenal want him to move to the Emirates. The defender is out of contract in the summer, which explains why Crystal Palace would prefer to sell him this month, as it represents their final chance to secure a fee. The irony is that Palace previously cancelled a transfer to Liverpool because they lacked a replacement.
The assumption had been that the 25-year-old would wait until January to move to Anfield, but the situation has shifted since Manchester City entered the race. Unlike their rivals, Arsenal are reportedly prepared to wait until the end of the season, when the centre back would become a free agent. That option is often attractive to players, as clubs are more open to offering significant signing-on fees when no transfer fee is required.
Strategic Implications for the Title Race
Mikel Arteta is not seen as being as desperate for Guehi as Pep Guardiola. The Palace captain would not disrupt the Gabriel and Saliba partnership, meaning urgency would only stem from fear of missing out or weakening the competition. At Manchester City, Gvardiol, Dias and Stones are all injured, and failing to replace them could influence the title race.
This context is understood in North London, which has led to the theory that Berta’s tactic may be as much about limiting Manchester City as strengthening Arsenal. Investing in a player who will soon be free is rarely ideal business, but it can be decisive. Even delaying Guehi’s move to Manchester by a few months could have significant consequences.
Whether Guehi stays at Selhurst Park or chooses his future later, any delay in him wearing sky blue until August could prove invaluable.
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He is a great player available on a free in the summer.
Unlikely he will wanna come due to Saliba and Gabriel but we would be mad not to ask
Guehi is a London kid, so he might prefer to move to a top London club
However, he won’t play ahead of Saliba and Magalhaes in the CB position, due to his much smaller stature as compared to our best CBs
If Arsenal sign him, I think he’ll replace the injury-prone White as Timber’s new competitor
He knows Man City need him more than we do, so he could choose them this month
@gotanidea. And who’s fault is it that Ben White is injury prone?? He is not injury prone like you say. He was meant to have minor knee surgery round about 2024 season, but was continuously played with having pain killing injections. Injury turned out far more serious and complicated. Then was rushed back too early. And what has size got to do with the price of eggs at your local supermarket?? You don’t see other clubs scrutinising him regarding his size. That’s why you’re not a footballing scout. If you were, they’d all be left footed and the height of a giraffe 🦒 and all inverted
It doesn’t matter because White got injured a lot, so he could get replaced in June
As for Guehi’s size, he won’t dethrone Saliba with his inferior aerial ability
I believe other top clubs want to pair him with a huge CB, but he won’t play ahead of Magalhaes due to his stronger foot and Magalhaes’ aerial threat
We are definitely better off with Berta than Edu. Great clubs with top teams continue to acquire quality players. As long as it’s not disruptive, why not. We may lose a player at some point to Real Madrid or the like. At the moment I don’t know where we would fit Guehi, but there are solid rumours Livramento too. Not sure that White and MLS don’t slip further to the peripheral next season. I don’t believe everything l read unless it’s a good source. Surely a priority has to be a left wing upgrade on Martinelli.
Arsenal loves snatching free agent top defenders from London teams. Might be others before Sol Campbell famously did it; Guehi to be the latest.
Ambachew,
I’m still wondering why Guehi didn’t celebrate his last minute equalizer against us in the League Cup game before Christmas.
Or am I reading to much into that. I probably am to be fare. 🤔
DEREK,
No one is a clairvoyant as you said the other day. Unlike Eze nothing is reported of Guehi’s or his families affection to Arsenal. There were rumours relating Saliba with Madrid. Arsenal may not extend Hincapie’s loan term. Maghales’ fitness being precarious necessitating Arteta to be proactive.
Unless we are selling a right footed defender I will be very surprised if we sign him, as Mikel likes to play CBs on the side of the defence where they are naturally suited.
Herr Drier,
Right footed or left? Guehi is lefty like Maghales or Hincapie.
He plays on the left, but he’s naturally right footed.
I think that its an excellent move as we have to remove MLS from the left back position ,doing that , Calafiori and Hincapie will cover that place.
With Mosquera and Guedi we will have a perfect pair to cover for Saliba and Gabriel.
Guehi sub to Saliba and Maghales? He rather makes either of them a sub. He’s a trusted member of the England team that is amongst the suspected to win the world cup.
That could be a good competition in our team with Saliba the best defender of France, Gabriel the best defender of Brasil and Guehi the best defender of England and I would ad Mosquera probably intergrating the Spanish Team for the World Cup next year.
Ambachew,
I very much doubt that should Guehi join us, that he would bench either Saliba or Gabriel. We’re going to have to agree to disagree on this one I’m afraid. 👍
DEREK,
Let’s find an agreeable thing though speculation. Saliba to Madrid as there were rumours linking the two though the contract extension dampended that. Yeah speculation!
Just for context sake England are in a better FIFA rank than the teams mentioned by Georgy. Plus England didn’t concede a single goal during the qualifications which is testament to the excellence of Guehi and co.
That could make a very good competition in our team for the central defender position. Looking at this:
1) Saliba the best central defender of France.
2)Gabriel the best central defender of Brasil.
3)Guehi the best central defender of England.
4)Mosquera probably integrating the central position of Spain in the next world cup.
All of these national teams are serios aspirants for the Title.
From another view point….
Arteta, it seems, is trying to make Eze a back-up for Odegaard, like he tried with ESR.
With little success.
I wonder if Eze + $30,000m would prize Guehi from Palace?
Arsenal are currently fighting in four competitions, so. Common sense would suggest we will get more injuries.
Having Guehi could minimise possible injuries by sharing the load between the three!
Just a thought.
PS Zubamendi looks capable of backing un Odegaard
JW,
Just a question regarding you saying Guehi could cover for Saliba and Gabriel. What about all the other Centre Backs we’ve got when fit.
Just how many do we need?.