The first thing to do is to say hello.

Buenos Aires.

To new Revista de la Liga paid subscribers, Martin H.

Finbar, the right Honourable James Gau of Granada Parish.

Look, this is going to be for Socios and if you'll all forgive me, it's

taking me a minute or two since Martin Subi Mendi signed for Arsenal to do what many

of you have been asking me to do, which is to assess what Arsenal have bought, what Subi Mendi has taken on, what La Real

are going to miss without the Spain Pivotte. I'm going to admit that when you interview

people, there can be a temptation for journalists to talk too firmly

about how much they know them.

And I'm aware of that and I accept that.

But I have now interviewed Subi Mendi at length, six or seven times, had some periods where I can talk to him before and after the camera is running.

And I think that helps fill in the gaps a little bit. And therefore, I think I understand him,

not just his play, reasonably well. And I would admit that I'm going to be a little bit like you in

terms of watching with curiosity about how Michel Arteta's experiment unfolds. I have

some reservations. I'm also going to explain what it was that Liverpool and Luis

de la Fuente and Chabby Alonso and Chavi Hernandez saw in the 26 year old who's now going to be at the

heart of Arsenal's midfield.

So look, if you'd like to hear somebody who knows Subi Mendi reasonably well, who's watched

90% of his last three seasons for La Real and who's interviewed him seven or eight times, six, seven times.

I do forget.

But I've gone back and I've read the transcripts

...