The Silly Season AKA The Summer Transfer Window

The story so far is not one I've wasted time obsessing over... what's the point?

Now I'll be the first to admit huge excitement when Arsenal signed big players -- as in already at the top of their game and in no further need of improvement. I'm talking Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell kind of level. However, what I don't do -- especially in these days of online channels who have to create a buzz to keep the views coming -- is actually go looking for news.

I get my information from a couple of WhatsApp chats. Which is a filter for all the gossip. The more credible stories seem to originate from three Twitter accounts these days -- David Ornstein, Fabrizio Romano and a newcomer to the party in the shape of Ben Jacobs -- although his Instagram bio lists him as Senior Football Correspondent of givemesport and if you want a classic example of headline clickbait, you won't get finer than that website. In the days when I looked at newsnow I think I blocked anything from their feed showing up.

Anyway, I am reliably informed that the club have officially signed three players so far -- that would be the trio who have been announced on arsenal.com. Once you've seen the photos with the shirt and the interview stating this was always my dream club, you can say the deal is done. So Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard are in the squad for next season. As far as the unconfirmed stuff is concerned, reputedly Viktor Gyökeres is a done deal, although the haggling over the price is fraying a few nerves. Arsenal have also 'agreed personal terms' with Chelsea's Noni Madueke, although they'd probably done that with Benjamin Sesko as well and that appears to have died a death. If the price is too high, well, there are alternative options out there.

Confirmed so far… and more to follow

And of course, there is the reported interest in Rodrygo, Palace's Eberechi Eze and Anthony Gordon. Plus the young Valencia centre back Cristhian Mosquera. And not forgetting the Ajax defender Jorrel Hato. One thing's as sure as eggs are eggs -- they won't all be having their photo taken by Stuart MacFarlane before September 2nd when the whole thing is over. God, we have almost two more months of this and fans are on the club's back for not concluding deals as quickly as Liverpool and Chelsea. People, I bring news. Pre-season has not even really started yet. Chill.

I've heard talk of Leandro Trossard being sold to a Saudi club, or Gabriel Martinelli being sold to fund the purchase of an upgrade on the left side of attack. Oh and the club might cash in on Jakub Kiwior if they do bring in a defender. Lots of ifs and maybes then.

In the real world, it's been an eventful summer and not always for the right reasons. The tragic death of Diogo Jota has cast a huge shadow over the game, and I expect a tribute at every Premier League fixture on the opening weekend of the season. It's all been said in terms of what a loss his family has suffered, and after a decent interval, the hope will be that they can rebuild their lives. He was advised not to fly due to a lung operation, and yet we've seen that even airplanes have no guarantees, remembering the death of Emiliano Sala in 2019, flying from Nantes to complete a transfer to Cardiff City. Let's face it, no journey ever undertaken has a 100% guarantee that it will be completed. Fate can play a tragic hand. The loss of Jota and his brother is devastating news on a human level, putting football rivalries in the box marked trivial where they belong.

We've not finished with the negative stuff and something more Arsenal relevant with the news that Thomas Partey has finally been charged with rape and sexual assault. It had taken so long that this observer had concluded the Crown Prosecution Service didn't have what they considered a strong enough case. How did it take so long? Is the timing anything to do with his now being out of contract with Arsenal? The thought he might leave the country and not return? It seems very odd if it's coincidence.

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