Fans already disgruntled and Arsenal moving fast but to what end?

The Independent’s football newsletter [SUBSCRIBE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( June 30, 2023 [View in browser](   [The Independent]( [The Independent]( Fans disgruntled and earlier than ever, while Arsenal have a plan - but where will it lead? Arsenal's revamped centre could be missing key ingredient Arsenal aren’t the team with the most completed business this summer, but they are certainly the team which feel like they’ve made most ground towards completing their primary objectives. [Kai Havertz is officially in the door]( and a [fee is agreed for Declan Rice](, the best part of £170 million right there on two components of what will be a new midfield arrangement. For that’s where Mikel Arteta sees his new German featuring: the centre of the park, rather than as a forward where he featured for Chelsea and, before leaving the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen. It’s a bold move intended to [add more unpredictability to Arsenal’s buildup play]( and another element of prowess to their attack, which - with Rice behind and captain Martin Odegaard as the third member of the regular triumvirate - should serve to make Arsenal very watchable once more. But already questions are being asked of what happens the other way: how does this Arsenal midfield defend against the best pressers in the game, the finest transition teams? Technically gifted all three might be, but none are exactly renowned for being last-ditch, scurrying protectors of the defence, nor blessed with outrageous recovery pace. Rice, it should also be noted, has also not been a pure defensive midfielder for West Ham or anything close to it, rather operating box-to-box and as a ball-carrier in a two-man pivot. Whether [an additional midfielder for specific matches]( comes into the equation as the transfer window goes on remains to be seen, but thinking back to teams like Brentford or Brighton last season - let alone title rivals Man City - and how they tore apart certain bigger sides on the counter at least presents the question of whether Arsenal will leave themselves too open with this new tactical plan. Fans only increase levels of demands and expectations While Arsenal technically only have one deal done at the time of writing, as noted it feels as though they’re getting close to ticking their most important boxes. That doesn’t appear to be the case at some other clubs just yet, leading some sections of supporters to already be getting antsy and frustrated at perceived lack of action. Much [could of course be going on behind the scenes](, but Liverpool fans can be observed bemoaning the fact that - despite not even being in July yet - their “rebuild” so far [amounts to signing Alexis Mac Allister](. The same can be said [of neighbours Everton and their supporters](, surviving the drop by the smallest of margins yet without a single player in through the door yet, [and also Chelsea fans](. The latter is a particularly curious one, given Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t officially started yet - he joins on 1 July - and despite the Blues having [already announced £57m Christopher Nkunku]( as an incoming attacker. It appears that out-of-season boredom and frustration may be setting in even earlier each year, or the expectations of transfer activity are only increasing - despite Premier League clubs facing an additional struggle in having [fewer external leagues to sell to]( when they want to refresh the squad. Newcastle ready to wrap up Tonali One club whose fans might actually have reason for a raised eyebrow, if not outright worry, is Newcastle United. The Magpies have returned to the Champions League, have financial muscle and have generally impressed with their phased recruitment until now - but this summer have drawn a blank. A search for a new midfielder hasn’t yet yielded results, with [James Maddison opting for Spurs](, Nicolo [Barella going nowhere]( and a [deal for Sandro Tonali having been on hold](. The latter should now finally get done in short order though, with the AC Milan man having been on duty at the U21 European Championships with Italy and his side finishing third and eliminated at the group stage - that despite finishing level on points with second-place Switzerland, having beaten them and finished with a better goal difference. Head-to-head-to-head rulings on a three-way tie meant a final-match defeat to Norway proved extremely costly, there. Young Lions' adventure on track Staying with the U21 Euros, England’s involvement will continue into the weekend following [a perfect three from three](. Each of Czech Republic, Israel and Germany were dispatched 2-0 to top the group and they will now play Portugal [in the quarter-finals on Sunday](. The semis are on Wednesday, with the final next weekend: Saturday 8 July at 5pm. Messi has a new, but also old, boss Across the water, one of the big stories of the summer - [mercifully wrapped up early]( - was the decision of Lionel Messi to sign for MLS side Inter Miami. While the appeal of the location, culture and [finances might have been easy to acknowledge](for outsiders, the game’s greatest player joining a team managed until very recently by Phil Neville - and who remain rock bottom of the Eastern Conference after seven straight defeats - was less routine to absorb. The mechanics of the deal have become a little more understandable this week, with [Inter Miami appointing Tata Martino as their new head coach](: a former Barcelona boss who also coached Messi with Argentina, reaching the Copa America final in 2016. Following that job, Martino also coached in MLS with Atlanta United for two seasons, winning the MLS Cup in that time. Perhaps, then, an appointment which matches logic, potential for improvement and appeal to a star signing.   Top stories [Harry Kane must take Bayern Munich transfer chance – and so should Spurs]( [David Goodwillie vows to ‘speak my truth’ after third club cancel contract following fans backlash](     Karl's Dispatches For those of us working in and around the sport, a regular question - which can be anywhere between exasperating and amusing to receive - at this time of year is "what do you do during the summer when there's no football?" This is usually from well-meaning, if slightly disinterested, relatives or perhaps friends-of-friends met along the way, mostly those who don't follow the game...or at least aren't consumed by it. Obviously, the answer is there's always football of one kind or another, as next month's Women's World Cup shows, even in a summer there's no major men's tournament. But the truth is more mundane than pure fixtures: the news cycle itself never stops, the transfers only crank up when the on-pitch action dies down and the sheer volume of planning which goes into the next week, the next month and the next season is enough to keep any team busy for weeks. It's vital to switch off when the opportunity comes to avoid match fatigue, just like in any other line of work, but I will admit to a sense of slight hopelessness when Burnley came back for pre-season training before the last matches of 22/23 had even been played. Oh, and the Champions League prelim qualifiers for next season have already begun now, too. Never mind, we go again! No newsletter next week as I'm away too for my own break, but Miguel will be back on these pages as usual the following Friday. Bring on 2023/24...well, soon anyway!       QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Today I find myself at a crossroads, where words can't describe the emotions I'm feeling. It is with a heavy heart I write this letter, saying goodbye to a club that has become my second home, and to the incredible fans who have supported me throughout this amazing journey." Kai Havertz starts off life as an Arsenal player by detailing just how much rivals Chelsea, his now-former club, mean to him   Reading the game quiz Reading the game quiz England most recently reached the final of the U21 Euros in 2009 - where they were beaten 4-0 by Germany. Name the starting line-up for the England team led by manager Stuart Pearce in that final and, for a bonus, how many of the 11 went on to be capped at full senior level by the Three Lions? As a further clue to the era - and to rule out guessing them as starters - the subs who came on were Michael Mancienne, Jack Rodwell and Craig Gardner. ([You can find out the answers here](. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too) Enjoy a year of unlimited digital access for just £99 £20 ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more [SUBSCRIBE NOW](   [INDYBEST]( /BEST BUYS]( [Best men’s summer shoes and sandals, for holidays, weddings and more]( From [sandals]( and [slides]( to [clogs]( and [trainers](, we’ve tested the [best men’s summer shoes](. 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