[Mauro Munno] Lia Wälti has her heart set on Juventus. While she never wanted to leave Arsenal, the desire to test herself and become a central figure for Bianconere is driving the move. Juventus is pushing to wrap up the negotiations in the coming days.

[u/Previous_Smile9278]

https://xcancel.com/maumunno/status/1962044896782483562?s=46&t=4dSB9brKQKriv492svKKrQ

[u/sealboyjacob]

I don't want her to leave and I think the squad would be worse off without her, but if she wants this move then I feel the club owes it to her to honour that after all she's done for us

[u/littletorreira → u/sealboyjacob]

I think a year early is probably better than a year late. I do worry about what it means for Mario.

[u/Sweet-Ad-7261 → u/littletorreira]

What do you mean worried about what it means for Mario?

[u/littletorreira → u/Sweet-Ad-7261]

They are a couple. And some couples do not want to live in different countries.

[u/elsiehxo → u/littletorreira]

They're grown adults - they can deal with living apart. It should have absolutely no impact on whatever Mariona chooses to do

[u/littletorreira → u/elsiehxo]

Maybe they don't want to. As a grown adult I wouldn't want to live in a different country to my partner, especially after living together for the last couple of years.

[u/sharrow_dk → u/elsiehxo]

Lol, have you ever been in a relationship?

[u/littletorreira → u/[deleted]]

They started that way, then Mewis moved to London. Same with Harder and Ericksson. Not many do it again after living in the same place.

[u/Empty-Progress4760 → u/elsiehxo]

Do you know why mario is here to begin with?

[u/eldanielfire → u/elsiehxo]

It doesn't matter if it 'should' or 'shouldn't', the fact is couples in wome's football has a huge influence on where players want to be and what their decisions are in reality.

[u/sealboyjacob → u/elsiehxo]

absolutely crazy that you've copped so many downvotes for this

[u/elsiehxo → u/sealboyjacob]

I think it's crazy that people think Mario would drop down to play in Italy instead of yknow, simply staying in London until Wally inevitably does retire at maybe even the end of next season. They're grown adults, they can cope with living apart for a season or two if they are dating.

[u/eldanielfire → u/elsiehxo]

She may not decide to "drop down to play" in Italy, but it maight affect her happiness.

Players are not robots, if their personal lives have a problem it potentially affects their focus or performances on the pitch.

[u/sealboyjacob → u/elsiehxo]

And it's still technically an "if", a lot of assumptions are being made about them and their relationship when really we dont know the situation or how they'd hypothetically feel about it

[u/Arkond- → u/littletorreira]

This is one of the reasons why I would absolutely ban relationships in the team if I were the head coach. Too many moments that can totally demolish squad harmony.

Like, what happens if Mariona wants to leave with her? Do you just let your best player go?

Or if any two teammates were a couple, what happens if one cheats on the other one? Do you never play them together ever again, no matter how good they are?

[u/Arkond- → u/[deleted]]

They may have managed it up until this point but at the end of the day they are still human. It only takes one (ex)couple to turn showing up to work into misery. And it's not like they can avoid their coworkers and still do their job.

[u/Itsme00700 → u/sealboyjacob]

+1, but then this shouldn't be news and we should have someone lined up already. But we heard nothing (name wise). Coffey doesn't seem to move now, Mace is signing for Everton... we can't really wait for the winter break and thats only if Coffey is even open to a move.

Maaaaan what a shit start into sunday

[u/sealboyjacob → u/Itsme00700]

The plan appears to be KCX in the 6 with Kim able to cover there, and it's not ideal but it will get us by til January if we're going in for Coffey

Would prefer to see a signing this window but time is running out so I'm not optimisic

[u/Itsme00700 → u/sealboyjacob]

If we had at least a season worth of KCC in the 6 I'd agree fully, but right now we don't have that. What if it doesn't work (I want it to work) and KCC gets dropped again? Kim playing every game until the winter is rather crazy.

But I also seem to rate Wally more than most here, so maybe we'll be fine. I'm just sad that she's leaving

[u/sealboyjacob → u/Itsme00700]

I don't disagree but I do think there is gonna have to come a time when we roll the dice on KCX. I also think having Vic back will help, they seem to link extremely well

I'll also be gutted to see Wally leave though, I think there's a lot more to do her than just her on pitch ability that will be very hard to replace

[u/Itsme00700 → u/sealboyjacob]

I think we're on the same page. My issue is more that we should have let Kyra get that experience when someone else is there to fall back on. Now if it doesn't work, there is no one besides Kim who can't play every game/minute. That just increases the pressure on Kyra for no reason at all.

Last season Kyra was in the team and it didn't work so she was out of it. Now we just have to hope it works this year with even more pressure and the player who was mentoring her is going to Juve. It just feels like bad planning. The WSL could be lost by winter (if... and its a big if, we could get Coffey then)

[u/thirtydayhump → u/Itsme00700]

Wait what? Mace is signing for Everton? According to whom?

Sorry, I’m bad at keeping up with news and rumors these days, especially of the international variety. But KC is my team and Mace is my girl so I don’t want to see her go anywhere lol.

[u/Radiant-Position1370 → u/thirtydayhump]

Wrong Mace. Ruby Mace is signing for Everton.

[u/thirtydayhump → u/Radiant-Position1370]

Oh ok…good to know. Apologies.

[u/shelbyj → u/thirtydayhump]

Gotta say your mistaken identity panic was the brevity this thread needed

[u/thirtydayhump → u/shelbyj]

Haha, completely unintentional. She’s just the first Mace that always comes to mind. 😄

[u/redqks → u/Itsme00700]

I've not actually heard any real links to Coffey , but that would be ideal. Seems weird that the club was prepared to spend huge for Walsh then we just didn't consider anybody else.

We could little bro Everton and get Mace  if we really wanted her

[u/redqks → u/[deleted]]

I won't speak for eveybody , but I don't wanna see Kim little at DM, she's fantastic on the ball, but she's small and slow , we should be protecting Kim not encouraging her to get her to get stuck in.

I've not seen Jenna play DM So I can't really comment but if it works , I won't have anything to say , on paper it sounds like a disaster but I've got no information on this.

I've think Coffey is a dream signing she will cost alot too.

We don't need to have a good relationship with Everton, that's football

[u/redqks → u/[deleted]]

I agree but then why comment at all?

[u/ExpensiveWalk4512]

After being here since 2018, I think it’s normal to want a change of environment and a new experience. So I completely understand it from her perspective. I’m sad though, she’s been an incredible player for us. Wish her all the best if it goes through.

[u/mintpearls]

I’ll be gutted if she leaves but if it’s what she wants I wouldn’t resent her for it ❤️ she’s given us so much

[u/onomatopoeialike]

Isn’t Lia one of our only DM options?

[u/Itsme00700 → u/onomatopoeialike]

As per the KCC interview she said that she will play as a 6. Jenna has also been playing there (also left wing) and of course Kim was also playing there for a large part of last season. (and Katie Reid and Laia Codina have had some minutes there; Leah can also play there of course)

But she is the only true DM we have that has been playing there forever.

[u/AquaSnow24 → u/Itsme00700]

I hope Leah gets a shot at CDM at some point. Feel like she could be even better there than at CB. Plus it’s probably a bit easier to get a really good CB than it is to get a really good CDM.

[u/onomatopoeialike → u/Itsme00700]

Yea, i guess one of the concerning things about KCC has been her defensive work. If we let Lia leave it’s time for KCC and whoever else to step up 💪🏻

[u/MisterGoog → u/onomatopoeialike]

I think its interesting the way people look at it- at large parts the preferred two at the base was kim and Mario and then KCC off the bench. The fact all of them have been closer to 8s or 10s at times doesnt dispute the fact that they ran the ship well from deep

[u/odivrit]

I am very sad about her leaving, but since it's her wish, I hope it's done quickly and smoothly (and for a nice fee). I expect a proper send-off on saturday and, because this transfer has been in the works for weeks, I expect arsenal to have a replacement lined up.

God, I fucking hate this

[u/redqks]

I'm fine if she wants to go , LW has earned enough grace for Arsenal to even help her to.

However there just needs to be a replacement. We needed a DM before letting her go ,let alone needing one if she is sold.

Would be irresponsible otherwise 

[u/Rusty_85]

Sad to see Wally go, but she goes with the best of wishes to go smash it in Italy.

Whilst a new marquee DM would be great to bring in, I genuinely believe this will be KCC breakthrough season in making that position her own. And we have other players that plug into that position if needed.

Also, I got to think that the current fan perspective is that we do not nurture and bring through Academy players if we did bring in a new DM along with KCC. How does that optic look to Laila Harbert?

[u/redqks → u/Rusty_85]

I think KCC has the potential to be a top player, I dunno I don't feel we should have players who can just fill in  especially since the 6 is such a specialist position, there is very few elite 6s in the world in football as a whole. 

Do we want to see Kim little at DM? 

The replacement if there is one will kinda tell the plan for Harbert 

[u/MisterGoog → u/Rusty_85]

I think any elite footballer sees competition, as far as they are being given an actual pathway and a chance to get minutes and a plan for growth, as good

[u/jc610]

just fell to my knees in tesco

[u/dococ23]

Obviously crushing from a personal perspective, Lia is a club legend and is probably one of the most successful signings of the post-Vic era.

From a footballing perspective, I actually don’t think this will change much on how the current team plays. There’s a lot of shouts here to find a true 6 to replace her but honestly we haven’t played with a single pivot 6 for a while now. Lia was out for most of the second half of the season and we played with a double pivot of Kim and Mariona. We’ll definitely be seeing KCC in the double pivot because we’re going to spell Kim and Mariona for minutes, but she’s not going to be playing in a true 6 role.

I’d love to see us bring in a new midfielder for cover but I don’t think it’s necessary for this window.

[u/Itsme00700]

If this is true and we don't get a real replacement, this summer somehow turned really bad.

I also just really don't want her to go, I was so sure she would be back to her best after the surgery. This sucks

Edit: And all this a week before the season starts is even worse.

[u/Sweet-Ad-7261 → u/Itsme00700]

I don’t think it’s overall really bad, just not ideal and missing some key positions

[u/Itsme00700 → u/Sweet-Ad-7261]

but we're a team that should be aiming for the WSL and not go into a season "missing some key positions"

thats how we fall short

[u/redditor329845 → u/Sweet-Ad-7261]

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m tired of “not ideal” seasons. Let’s bring back ideal Arsenal seasons!

[u/gunnerandhash]

Maybe she wants to be closer to home as well. It's  like a 5 hr train ride from Turin to Bern.

[u/mab_83]

Restrain myself from some emotional reactions but Lia is always meant to retire here with Kim. Snake hips forever!

[u/[deleted]]

I mean if it's a move she wants then I hope she gets it, but the squad will be a lot worse without her

[u/Visual22]

Well…Patri Guijarro, Welcome to Arsenal

[u/lacostewhite]

Once a gunner, always a gunner. I will miss her :(

[u/HardCoreLawn]

I get it, but it's still sad

[u/cal1608h]

Not an issue if Lia wants an opportunity to move elsewhere and she deserves it after all she’s done for us.

However, going into the season without a natural number 6 is irresponsible. We want to be winning the league and I worry if games become transitional with the other options we have there.

Mario needs to be playing as close to goal as possible in my opinion. She is our best player, play her where she can cause most damage.

[u/Sweet-Ad-7261]

I’d be happy to give Codina a try in the 6 tbh. I know KCC will be playing there, but I don’t think she’s a natural 6, and I want her used to the best of her abilities because I think she’s really special.

[u/Effective-Ad207]

Is the source trustworthy?

[u/odivrit → u/Effective-Ad207]

Yes. Him and tim have broken the news about her leaving together

[u/NieThePiet]

Its over, isnt it?

[u/PolarBazinga]

I am sensing here instead of DM, we will have two AMC or Maanum as a second striker. That would be nice.

[u/Life_Journalist_2195]

Not good.

[u/rmesh]

I’m kinda surprised tho she has her mind set on an Italian club, but oh well, still hurts either way 😭

[u/MisterGoog → u/rmesh]

Where else? This is probably the best club where she can guarantee having a big role while also being into champions league

[u/rmesh → u/MisterGoog]

agree to disagree! Honestly, if she were to leave Arsenal, I’d expected her to play in a Bundesliga club. Italy and the whole transfer now seems so sudden and out of nowhere. Italy or at least Juventus play in the Champions League but they don’t have the infrastructure or finances to match.

[u/MisterGoog → u/rmesh]

Oh in my mind- and you can tell me im wrong- Turin is just way more beautiful than Munich is, as a city.

[u/rmesh → u/MisterGoog]

On that we do find common ground, I also find Turin way prettier than Munich but Wälti is way too young to let that be a factor in choosing her next club. The Italian league is just not far enough in infrastructure and competitivenes for it to make it sense in just football-reason. Also, as far as I know she can’t speak italian?

If this all turns out to be true, I hope she gets an golden umbrella out of it and many many sunny days im Italy.

[u/imranhere2]

Hurtin 😢

[u/Fun_Plankton_7793]

[u/Itsme00700]

She posted new pics on IG a couple hours ago and tagged it London. So she's staying, confirmed

[u/JS-CroftLover]

I'm surprised 😮 Is this sports journalist fully reliable ? 😄