Summer Transfer Misery and Recriminations.

[Özim]

I’ve never seen Wenger have a go at single Arsenal player to the media in terms of criticising his play.

As maddening as it was to keep seeing Bif upfront recently, given what has happened to Wellbeck, hindsight shows why he was being put into the team. We all know Theo wasn’t going to do anything upfront either.

And yes I know about last summer etc etc but I’m just talking about the situation we are after those mistakes were made.

I don’t think Giroud is the Golden Boy, I think he’ll find himself behind a new striker this summer.

No I haven't either, he's quick to praise them even when they've been sh*t for months, praise should be given when deserved and most of the time the players don't deserve it, likewise criticism it should be given when deserved.

Who knows, Wellbeck has been playing, on and off so it's hard to tell if that's the reason Giroud was playing or not, but even if he was, after going 15 games without a goal he should never be praised, his performances have been pathetic.

I'm not sure I agree, he's always defending the guy and praising him, Wenger has his favourites and Giroud is up there I think.

I'm not convinced, I'm even less convinced it'll be someone of quality, nothing is clear cut with Wenger, he should have signed someone last summer and didn't so what's to say he will this summer.

[Özim]

We've been linked with Tommy Rogic from Celtic. I am a big fan of his and he even played at a club I used to play with (Belconnen United). Technically gifted despite his size and good at beating his marker. It is a big step up from Celtic to Arsenal though.

He's another attacking midfielder, not convinced this is the kind of level we should be looking at, Celtic are an average team with on the whole average players.

[Niall_Quinn]

Xhaka looks like a tidy player and a good passer, lots of ambition in his play. Elneny looked the same when he established himself. Wenger soon took care of that. Do we really see this player coming in and being allowed to spray passes all over the place like that? Or will Wenger correct his flaws and teach him the value of short, square and backwards passing so we can defend the all important 70% possession trophy? If Wenger wants him to play in a positive manner then that's a big step to transforming the dire shitheap of a style we seem locked into. But if the plan is to develop this kid in the same way as others have suffered then we've just wasted a whole bag of cash. You want to be positive with Wenger but they only thing you can really be positive about is he'll fuck it up.

That's it then I suppose. No more discussion or debate, we knew the guy was staying but it's amazing how he has brushed off the backlash and walked on oblivious. He really is untouchable and now he probably gets to ruin another promising career. If we can't benefit big time from having Ozil and Alexis in the team then I'm can't see how much will change with this signing, unless it is the first of many this summer.

[Kano]

No I haven't either, he's quick to praise them even when they've been sh*t for months, praise should be given when deserved and most of the time the players don't deserve it, likewise criticism it should be given when deserved.

Who knows, Wellbeck has been playing, on and off so it's hard to tell if that's the reason Giroud was playing or not, but even if he was, after going 15 games without a goal he should never be praised, his performances have been pathetic.

I'm not sure I agree, he's always defending the guy and praising him, Wenger has his favourites and Giroud is up there I think.

I'm not convinced, I'm even less convinced it'll be someone of quality, nothing is clear cut with Wenger, he should have signed someone last summer and didn't so what's to say he will this summer.

In public, to the media about individual players, no it shouldn't. We don't need those scavengers making a field day out comments, which is probably why he always plays it like a politician in-front of the camera.

He'll praise and defend his players in public, what he does behind the scenes, I've no idea. Giroud was dropped for Walcott earlier in the season, when he didn't have to be and for Wellbeck, before his knee probably starting playing up, so he isn't played regardless.

This has been them most damaging season for Wenger in terms of goals scored and that is something he has always been able to produce, at a minimum. That is something he prides himself on and will have hurt him. I'm sure he sees that an upgrade and better options are needed, with Walcott likely to be released, Wellbeck out - players have to be bought.

What he does with those players is a whole different ball game. I don't think he can do anything different with the squad, no matter who the personnel may be but I think we'll see someone else playing ahead of Giroud at least.

[Power n Glory]

It sounds more like he's patting himself on the back with Giroud's selection.


“Olivier Giroud was questioned recently and I’m happy I kept confidence in him because I thought he had a top-level performance,”

He doesn't have to go that far and sound so smug when he hasn't been vindicated of anything. It's ok to praise his performance and say he had a good game after struggling. But he comes up with the above nonsense.

[Niall_Quinn]

It sounds more like he's patting himself on the back with Giroud's selection.



He doesn't have to go that far and sound so smug when he hasn't been vindicated of anything. It's ok to praise his performance and say he had a good game after struggling. But he comes up with the above nonsense.

Wasn't a top level performance either, it was an okay performance with the striker doing what you would hope a half-decent striker would do. Which is what he is, a half-decent striker. If he's who we're taking into next season leading the line then wake me up when it's over.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

It sounds more like he's patting himself on the back with Giroud's selection.



He doesn't have to go that far and sound so smug when he hasn't been vindicated of anything. It's ok to praise his performance and say he had a good game after struggling. But he comes up with the above nonsense.

Or he could have the decency to preface it with "this goes out to all the haters out there"

[selassie]

With Welbz already missing most of next season we will definitely be in for a striker.

100% no doubt about it.

I'm not so sure, honestly....Wenger has form for leaving us short in areas, i'm not saying he does it deliberately but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he pulled the we have Giroud, Sanchez, Sanogo & Welbeck to come back type comment.

He has had plenty of time to upgrade on Giroud, why suddenly now?

[GP]

I'm not so sure, honestly....Wenger has form for leaving us short in areas, i'm not saying he does it deliberately but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he pulled the we have Giroud, Sanchez, Sanogo & Welbeck to come back type comment.

He has had plenty of time to upgrade on Giroud, why suddenly now?

He's tried to upgrade him several times. I not interested in getting into the reasons it hasn't happened, but he's clearly identified the position.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Well he should have no choice now except to go for a striker and I'd like to think that's priority number one

Even if he foolishly wants to keep faith in Giroud, the guy is turning 30 in September. With Martinez about to get the sack and Everton way down the league this year we could get Lukakau if we really pushed for it but it'd require a figure around the 50 million mark.

Just hope that even if we do sign him he doesn't get Wengerised in the year he's still certainly going to be left at the club.

[Power n Glory]

He's tried to upgrade him several times. I not interested in getting into the reasons it hasn't happened, but he's clearly identified the position.

Slim pickings out on the market. Not many obvious candidates and that's why I can't be certain he'll find anyone this summer. He's been reluctant to spend a huge amount on a young player. Dybala and Martial. But I don't see him going big on a striker like Higuain or Cavani. We'll see.

[LDG]

Well he should have no choice now except to go for a striker and I'd like to think that's priority number one

Even if he foolishly wants to keep faith in Giroud, the guy is turning 30 in September. With Martinez about to get the sack and Everton way down the league this year we could get Lukakau if we really pushed for it but it'd require a figure around the 50 million mark.

Just hope that even if we do sign him he doesn't get Wengerised in the year he's still certainly going to be left at the club.


Nothing about Lukakau interests me at all. We need an intelligent centre forward. Saurez would have been the ultimate.

[GP]

Slim pickings out on the market. Not many obvious candidates and that's why I can't be certain he'll find anyone this summer. He's been reluctant to spend a huge amount on a young player. Dybala and Martial. But I don't see him going big on a striker like Higuain or Cavani. We'll see.

Martial was retardedly expensive. Something like 80m with add-ons. He was never going to jump on that. I don't know who would be the best option, but it's clearly the biggest need for upgrade in the squad.

Icardi has been linked a lot recently. Who knows?

[Power n Glory]

Martial was retardedly expensive. Something like 80m with add-ons. He was never going to jump on that. I don't know who would be the best option, but it's clearly the biggest need for upgrade in the squad.

Icardi has been linked a lot recently. Who knows?

I think we're looking at £30m - £40m for a young up and coming striker like Icardi as seen last season with some of the transfers. Double that for anyone else more established. I can't see it happening. He may look for someone more low key.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Nothing about Lukakau interests me at all. We need an intelligent centre forward. Saurez would have been the ultimate.

He's been the only decent thing in an otherwise train wreck of an Everton season.

He's young, powerful and PL proven. Short of us signing an Aguero or a Lewandoski I feel he's the best thing we can do. His finishing isn't up to par yet and he does have a Giroud tendency to miss some sitters but that's probably something that can be worked on.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I honestly think the main trouble with Wenger is being risk adverse, if he took the chance on someone like Icardi even if it didn't work out id think "well at least he's actually tried".

If Wenger went all out to win things, I'd have more respect for him even if he was unsuccessful. I don't think there is any shame in trying and failing, but there is in not trying and trying to shift the goal posts on what can be called success.

[Munchies]

Just searched and saw an article where Icardi says he wants to stay at Inter for a few more years

Who else?

Lacazette?

He scored a hattrick last week

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Just searched and saw an article where Icardi says he wants to stay at Inter for a few more years

Who else?

Lacazette?

He scored a hattrick last week

Are you Arsene Wenger?....."oh well he might not want to leave his current club......"

He's playing for Inter......if you want a player you go all out, sell the club to the player....give the club an offer they can't refuse...Italian football isn't rich it can't be that much.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Just searched and saw an article where Icardi says he wants to stay at Inter for a few more years

Who else?

Lacazette?

He scored a hattrick last week

I used to wank Lacazette silly on here last summer (or was it the summer before?). He's basically struggled heavily since then and apart from a few games near the end has had a poor season at Lyon and now instead of being linked to the Arsenal/Man Utd's is being linked to the tier below that (West Ham/Liverpool) which tells you all you need to know about him.

And with the likes of Martial and Coman emerging, he's way down the list of French attacking talent. Don't know much about this Icardi kid but looking at those stats, I'd much rather take a punt on him than Lacazette tbh.

[Power n Glory]

Are you Arsene Wenger?....."oh well he might not want to leave his current club......"

He's playing for Inter......if you want a player you go all out, sell the club to the player....give the club an offer they can't refuse...Italian football isn't rich it can't be that much.

:haha:

When have we ever done that?

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I get the impression we did it with Sanchez and Ozil, we didn't try and low ball them on the price we just did the business and brought the player in.

[GP]

I get the impression we did it with Sanchez and Ozil, we didn't try and low ball them on the price we just did the business and brought the player in.

Sounds like we're doing that with Xhaka too, though he's not really in the same bracket.

We do need to be much more aggressive in the market though.

[Power n Glory]

I get the impression we did it with Sanchez and Ozil, we didn't try and low ball them on the price we just did the business and brought the player in.

You think we'd have stumped up a better offer for those guys if another club could offer what we were offering? Ozil was a last minute steal that nobody else knew about. Sanchez...luckily his only other choice was Liverpool.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Man United were sniffing around as well, we took advantage of the fact that Barca wanted a quick deal to free up cash for Dracula.

I think a lot of our half hearted transfer action is based on Wenger not making his mind up whether he wants the player or not.

Imagine trying to get a takeaway with him, by the time he's done shuffling around just eat all the places would be fucking closed and you're stuck with the instant noodles in the back of the cupboard.

[Power n Glory]

I used to wank Lacazette silly on here last summer (or was it the summer before?). He's basically struggled heavily since then and apart from a few games near the end has had a poor season at Lyon and now instead of being linked to the Arsenal/Man Utd's is being linked to the tier below that (West Ham/Liverpool) which tells you all you need to know about him.

And with the likes of Martial and Coman emerging, he's way down the list of French attacking talent. Don't know much about this Icardi kid but looking at those stats, I'd much rather take a punt on him than Lacazette tbh.

Lacazette's stats aren't bad. More goals than Icardi's this season at least. 23 goals this year. It looks like he's found his scoring boots since the New Year. Back to back games, goals and more goals. It looks good on paper. Would need to watch him play.

[Power n Glory]

Man United were sniffing around as well, we took advantage of the fact that Barca wanted a quick deal to free up cash for Dracula.

I think a lot of our half hearted transfer action is based on Wenger not making his mind up whether he wants the player or not.

Imagine trying to get a takeaway with him, by the time he's done shuffling around just eat all the places would be fucking closed and you're stuck with the instant noodles in the back of the cupboard.

That's two clubs wanting quick sales and to get rid of their players. I don't know how aggressive we'll be for a stubborn target. I think of the Saurez saga.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Meh you could even argue Villarreal nor Chelsea wanted to sell Gabriel or Cech to us but they did.

The point is to get the player to want to come, can or indeed will we do that with targets this summer? Who knows. Possibly not but I guess it depends how much the club considers how difficult a champions league place will be in attaining.

[selassie]

That's two clubs wanting quick sales and to get rid of their players. I don't know how aggressive we'll be for a stubborn target. I think of the Saurez saga.

Aye, Ozil, Sanchez and Cech (to a lesser degree) fell into our laps.

I'm not confident with us when it comes to pursuing stubborn targets, in the past when we pursue stubborn targets such as Suarez etc we tend to do one or two low ball offers and then walk away, we did the same with Cabaye when he was at Newcastle...to be fair, Herb could be on the money with his comment about Wenger, because Wenger is known for dithering.

I like Icardi and think we should aggressively pursue him, but I don't think we will....it's just not how we operate.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Aye, Ozil, Sanchez and Cech (to a lesser degree) fell into our laps.

I'm not confident with us when it comes to pursuing stubborn targets, in the past when we pursue stubborn targets such as Suarez etc we tend to do one or two low ball offers and then walk away, we did the same with Cabaye when he was at Newcastle...to be fair, Herb could be on the money with his comment about Wenger, because Wenger is known for dithering.

I like Icardi and think we should aggressively pursue him, but I don't think we will....it's just not how we operate.

I'm speaking from experience, we went to a lovely Indian restaurant on Brick Lane and he spent so long perusing the menu, he wanted a top, top quality curry from the tandoori section but was trying to negotiate on the price because although he said he wanted tikka king prawn shaslik his heart wasn't set on it and the waiter was patiently trying to explain that the prices were set and he wouldn't consider a swap deal involving a packet of grilled steak mccoys. So by the end of the night I had just filled up on poppadoms.

[Özim]

I don't believe Wenger identifies problem areas, he just finds players he likes and then slots then in, had all of last summer to sign a striker yet nothing, it's not about the position it's about the player and I simply don't trust him in the transfer market, he's a total screw up in that respect.

Can't believe people still believe he'll do what we need, you can't get burnt repeatedly by something and still believe it's not hot. I'm expecting another rubbish summer where he dithers, misses out on quslity players because he's not interested or won't pay the going rate and then makes excuses about the Euros, the lack of quality and only bringing in better players than we have, waiting periods, not needing players in positions as we have x,y and z there and the token nobody signed up and hailed as the next big thing and proving you don't have to spend money to get quality.

Transfer windows at this club are invariably a disappointment and the way Wenger harps on I expect this to be more of the same, yes names will get banded about but they won't arrive, much like Benzema, Higuain, Suarez etc etc.

Benzema last summer was a joke, he wasn't ever going to come in a month of Sundays however long Wenger decided to sit idly on his hands. The most boring manager in football will no doubt serve us up another snoozefest this summer where we watch all of the other clubs sign up players whilst we sit around on our back sides.

[Özim]

Meh you could even argue Villarreal nor Chelsea wanted to sell Gabriel or Cech to us but they did.

The point is to get the player to want to come, can or indeed will we do that with targets this summer? Who knows. Possibly not but I guess it depends how much the club considers how difficult a champions league place will be in attaining.

Cech wanted to leave Chelsea and they had Courtois, they were happy to let him go they couldn't keep two keepers like that on their books. Villereal are a small club, easy pickings if you want their players.

[Power n Glory]

Meh you could even argue Villarreal nor Chelsea wanted to sell Gabriel or Cech to us but they did.

The point is to get the player to want to come, can or indeed will we do that with targets this summer? Who knows. Possibly not but I guess it depends how much the club considers how difficult a champions league place will be in attaining.

It's not really a comparison though. Two players no other top clubs were looking at and for small fees. It's nothing we haven't really done before. Going all out for Aubameyang...now that would be a statement because Dortmund are trying fend off bids and have set a silly price tag.

[Power n Glory]

Cech wanted to leave Chelsea and they had Courtois, they were happy to let him go they couldn't keep two keepers like that on their books. Villereal are a small club, easy pickings if you want their players.

My thoughts exactly.

[Power n Glory]

Aye, Ozil, Sanchez and Cech (to a lesser degree) fell into our laps.

I'm not confident with us when it comes to pursuing stubborn targets, in the past when we pursue stubborn targets such as Suarez etc we tend to do one or two low ball offers and then walk away, we did the same with Cabaye when he was at Newcastle...to be fair, Herb could be on the money with his comment about Wenger, because Wenger is known for dithering.

I like Icardi and think we should aggressively pursue him, but I don't think we will....it's just not how we operate.

I'm not confident either. If it's not a smooth deal I suspect we'll be the first to blink. He'll probably have hisneyes on the Euros and Copa. Make a bid for some striker from Iceland or something.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I don't believe Wenger identifies problem areas, he just finds players he likes and then slots then in, had all of last summer to sign a striker yet nothing, it's not about the position it's about the player and I simply don't trust him in the transfer market, he's a total screw up in that respect.

Can't believe people still believe he'll do what we need, you can't get burnt repeatedly by something and still believe it's not hot. I'm expecting another rubbish summer where he dithers, misses out on quslity players because he's not interested or won't pay the going rate and then makes excuses about the Euros, the lack of quality and only bringing in better players than we have, waiting periods, not needing players in positions as we have x,y and z there and the token nobody signed up and hailed as the next big thing and proving you don't have to spend money to get quality.

Transfer windows at this club are invariably a disappointment and the way Wenger harps on I expect this to be more of the same, yes names will get banded about but they won't arrive, much like Benzema, Higuain, Suarez etc etc.

Benzema last summer was a joke, he wasn't ever going to come in a month of Sundays however long Wenger decided to sit idly on his hands. The most boring manager in football will no doubt serve us up another snoozefest this summer where we watch all of the other clubs sign up players whilst we sit around on our back sides.

Bit simplistic, we signed a midfielder in January because we had a clear shortage of them through injury and transfer procrastination.

You say people get burnt and then still choose to believe Wenger will do the right thing, it's not a matter of choice he's the manager whether we like it or not it's not about having faith in him implicitly. It's about there is nothing I can do but hope that he changes his mentality.

If you want to say Villarreal are a small club than presently so are Inter, if we can take a player from a side that is likely to finish in the champions league places in Spain, it's not inconceivable we could take from a Serie A team. It always depends on how much we want the player. I question how much Wenger actually wanted Higuain or Suarez judging by the fact that he didn't sign a goal scorer for another year.
I don't even mind if we went for this Dutch guy from AZ as long as it's because Wenger thinks he's something special rather than just getting a bargain.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

On another subject, can't help but notice lack of Letters of late. Has he died from cholera caught from drinking water from a well during his trip to Chennai?

[Maestro]

I honestly think the main trouble with Wenger is being risk adverse, if he took the chance on someone like Icardi even if it didn't work out id think "well at least he's actually tried".

If Wenger went all out to win things, I'd have more respect for him even if he was unsuccessful. I don't think there is any shame in trying and failing, but there is in not trying and trying to shift the goal posts on what can be called success.

Brilliant post. If he actually cared and tried his best, I'd also have sympathy and semblance of respect for him ...but no, he knows best.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Brilliant post. If he actually cared and tried his best, I'd also have sympathy and semblance of respect for him ...but no, he knows best.

I don't think it's even not caring, it's just his personality very stubborn and conservative. No one should have the power he has been given at Arsenal and certainly not someone with his personality traits. It's an age thing as well, in the financial position we are in now along with someone to push him like Dein, Wenger of ten-twelve years ago you'd be fairly confident that he could mix it up with the best.

You don't go from an unbeaten season to being an entrenched old fossil overnight, the environment at the club has slowly allowed him to go rusty. Of course he takes blame for that himself he has become complacent and hasn't pushed himself hard enough. He's been allowed to get away with thinking he's the untouchable savour of our football club and live in a bubble where he is practically delusional now.

[Kano]

Brilliant post. If he actually cared and tried his best, I'd also have sympathy and semblance of respect for him ...but no, he knows best.
He clearly cares and tries his best - it's just his best is not good enough and hasn't been for quite a while.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cech wanted to leave Chelsea and they had Courtois, they were happy to let him go they couldn't keep two keepers like that on their books. Villereal are a small club, easy pickings if you want their players.

Mourinho was not happy to let him go.

[Özim]

Mourinho was not happy to let him go.

If Chelsea didn't want to let him go they wouldn't have, they did it as he wanted to go and because he'd been a long serving player they allowed him to.

[Özim]

Bit simplistic, we signed a midfielder in January because we had a clear shortage of them through injury and transfer procrastination.

You say people get burnt and then still choose to believe Wenger will do the right thing, it's not a matter of choice he's the manager whether we like it or not it's not about having faith in him implicitly. It's about there is nothing I can do but hope that he changes his mentality.

If you want to say Villarreal are a small club than presently so are Inter, if we can take a player from a side that is likely to finish in the champions league places in Spain, it's not inconceivable we could take from a Serie A team. It always depends on how much we want the player. I question how much Wenger actually wanted Higuain or Suarez judging by the fact that he didn't sign a goal scorer for another year.
I don't even mind if we went for this Dutch guy from AZ as long as it's because Wenger thinks he's something special rather than just getting a bargain.

He signed someone who didn't play for a while when he signed, I'm not sure he bought him out of necessity, more likely because he was cheapish and his kind of player.

I agree he's the manager, but let's not fool ourselves that we're going to see an influx of quality transfers, this is Wenger the guy who never fails to disappoint in the transfer market.

Inter have always been a big club, not so Villereal, they have more money for a start and are one of Italy's biggest clubs, Villarreal are a small club who have done well, they're not one of Spain's biggest or anywhere near.

I question Wenger all the time, I just think the guy is cheap and really doesn't want to buy expensive established players who cost money, he wants pet projects, preferably French speaking ones.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

If Chelsea didn't want to let him go they wouldn't have, they did it as he wanted to go and because he'd been a long serving player they allowed him to.

It wasn't as easy as that, you're re-writing history. Abrahmovich eventually decided to proceed with it but it's not like oh Cech wants to go? Bye then! Mourinho stood up for it not to happen, which does make it all the funnier.

[Kano]

He signed someone who didn't play for a while when he signed, I'm not sure he bought him out of necessity, more likely because he was cheapish and his kind of player.

I agree he's the manager, but let's not fool ourselves that we're going to see an influx of quality transfers, this is Wenger the guy who never fails to disappoint in the transfer market.

Inter have always been a big club, not so Villereal, they have more money for a start and are one of Italy's biggest clubs, Villarreal are a small club who have done well, they're not one of Spain's biggest or anywhere near.

I question Wenger all the time, I just think the guy is cheap and really doesn't want to buy expensive established players who cost money, he wants pet projects, preferably French speaking ones.

All comes down to how you want to view things as a supporter. How each fan wants to handle the current situation.

You can have some sense of hope without being deluded about the situation.

However if you can't stand the manager, the board, the players, the type of football we play and see nothing positive in the transfer windows at all, then you have to question what the point of following the team is at the moment.

It's an individual choice of course but there has to be a cut off point, otherwise it really is just supporting in misery for the sake of it.

[Özim]

It wasn't as easy as that, you're re-writing history. Abrahmovich eventually decided to proceed with it but it's not like oh Cech wants to go? Bye then! Mourinho stood up for it not to happen, which does make it all the funnier.

Let's not make this sound a harder signing than it was, Cech was number 2 that much was established, we didn't sign a clubs number 1 keeper so allowing him to leave is somewhat easier and it's always going to be easier to sign the number 2 keeper at a club.

Like I said if Chelsea didn't want to sell they needn't have, or they could have sold to a club abroad.

[mastermind84]

Sanchez done? What do you mean?

You could be right re: Jack sitting next to him, I'll be honest, I have no idea of what Wenger has planned going forward but the signing of Xhaka will significantly upgrade our midfield, from the little I've seen of him he looks a "star in the making".

Not sure whether there will be space for all 3 of Xhaka, Jack & Ramsey, not unless Ramsey is out on the flanks, that's assuming that Ozil stays.
I dont think Sanchez is coming back. I do not believe he is the best fit. He unbalances us.

All 3 CMs fit if we start going 4-3-3 or move Ramsey or Jack out wide. A 4-3-3 with Ozil on the right would be fine too.

I dont trust Wenger to figure it out though, but I do think our next manager will.

[mastermind84]

Xhaka looks like a tidy player and a good passer, lots of ambition in his play. Elneny looked the same when he established himself. Wenger soon took care of that. Do we really see this player coming in and being allowed to spray passes all over the place like that? Or will Wenger correct his flaws and teach him the value of short, square and backwards passing so we can defend the all important 70% possession trophy? If Wenger wants him to play in a positive manner then that's a big step to transforming the dire shitheap of a style we seem locked into. But if the plan is to develop this kid in the same way as others have suffered then we've just wasted a whole bag of cash. You want to be positive with Wenger but they only thing you can really be positive about is he'll fuck it up.

That's it then I suppose. No more discussion or debate, we knew the guy was staying but it's amazing how he has brushed off the backlash and walked on oblivious. He really is untouchable and now he probably gets to ruin another promising career. If we can't benefit big time from having Ozil and Alexis in the team then I'm can't see how much will change with this signing, unless it is the first of many this summer.
Elneny does not have Xhaka's passing range. Not even close.

Elneny keeps the game tidy but he not a progressive player at all.

The plaeyrs we have do not build in the first phase and do not have the ability to get it forward. Xhaka does.

[mastermind84]

Slim pickings out on the market. Not many obvious candidates and that's why I can't be certain he'll find anyone this summer. He's been reluctant to spend a huge amount on a young player. Dybala and Martial. But I don't see him going big on a striker like Higuain or Cavani. We'll see.
He did bid for Dybala. Bid as much as Juve did.

Dybala wanted to stay in Italy.

Martial, you serious? At the time, did you think it was a good idea to bid that much for him?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Let's not make this sound a harder signing than it was, Cech was number 2 that much was established, we didn't sign a clubs number 1 keeper so allowing him to leave is somewhat easier and it's always going to be easier to sign the number 2 keeper at a club.

Like I said if Chelsea didn't want to sell they needn't have, or they could have sold to a club abroad.

No they couldn't have sold to a club abroad because Cech wanted to stay in London and if they could have surely they would have? I'm sure it took at least a month and within that month a heavy dose of regular stories and sagas within.

[Power n Glory]

He did bid for Dybala. Bid as much as Juve did.

Dybala wanted to stay in Italy.

Martial, you serious? At the time, did you think it was a good idea to bid that much for him?

:doh: Of course I'm serious. Read the post again slowly and it might start to make sense. :rolleyes:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Are you Arsene Wenger?....."oh well he might not want to leave his current club......"

He's playing for Inter......if you want a player you go all out, sell the club to the player....give the club an offer they can't refuse...Italian football isn't rich it can't be that much.
Quite.

Good players don't just become available. You have to act in a way that opens up possibilities which would not otherwise transpire. Wenger will absolutely be in the market for a forward.....but that doesn't mean he won't be willing to simply make do if a player on his own terms and conditions cannot be signed.

[Niall_Quinn]

Elneny does not have Xhaka's passing range. Not even close.

Elneny keeps the game tidy but he not a progressive player at all.

The plaeyrs we have do not build in the first phase and do not have the ability to get it forward. Xhaka does.

By "same" I was referring to ambition in his play, he certainly displayed that early on. Maybe a bit too much. But never fear, Wenger stamped all over him and now he's passing sideways with the best of them. This new guy may well have the ability to get the ball forwards quickly and accurately, but will he be allowed to do it? I genuinely can't understand the thinking behind the way we play at the moment. The crawling tempo, the absence of urgency, the endless patience even though it is hardly ever rewarded. Is this player coming in to fix that? I hope so. But the question remains, why are we playing this way in the first place? They players are better than this, we know they are because on occasion we have seen it.

[selassie]

I dont think Sanchez is coming back. I do not believe he is the best fit. He unbalances us.

All 3 CMs fit if we start going 4-3-3 or move Ramsey or Jack out wide. A 4-3-3 with Ozil on the right would be fine too.

I dont trust Wenger to figure it out though, but I do think our next manager will.

Sanchez is the least of our problems! The fact you want Ramsey or Jack out on the flanks instead of him tells me all I need to know, you do want us to win stuff right?

[Power n Glory]

Sanchez is the least of our problems! The fact you want Ramsey or Jack out on the flanks instead of him tells me all I need to know, you do want us to win stuff right?

Yep. Sanchez was mishandled this year. As expected, he was rushed back from the Copa America because we didn't buy anyone and then picked up an injury. He's had to slowly come back to form.

The Wilshere and Ramsey idea is crazy. They don't play well in the centre together. Never have. Playing them both out wide....even if they could play those roles, they wouldn't score 17 goals like Sanchez has and this is considered to be a bad season for Sanchez. Crazy idea.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yes but the reality is what counts. These are Wenger's favourite players so they will play somewhere when/ if new signings come in. Wenger has never been shy about shoehorning players on the wing just too get them on the pitch. And given we have no discipline or tactical cohesion it hardly makes a difference where anyone plays. Let's be kind and call it flexible football.

[hobson's choice]

I dont think Sanchez is coming back. I do not believe he is the best fit. He unbalances us.

All 3 CMs fit if we start going 4-3-3 or move Ramsey or Jack out wide. A 4-3-3 with Ozil on the right would be fine too.

I dont trust Wenger to figure it out though, but I do think our next manager will.

We've had this discussion many times, if anyone unbalances our team is Ramsey. You basically have to create a role for him to hide his flaws, to the detriment off the team.


He needs to go, period.

[Munchies]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiSxd0WWsAAyyfj.jpg

His page is: https://www.instagram.com/granitxhaka/

This is Elneny's pic
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFUggTJgnro/

It's done

[Kano]

"There is no official offer," Eberl said. "But Granit Xhaka is an issue. It's clear he has generated interest at other clubs.

"We have to wait and see what happens."

Borussia Sporting Director.

[Power n Glory]

We've had this discussion many times, if anyone unbalances our team is Ramsey. You basically have to create a role for him to hide his flaws, to the detriment off the team.


He needs to go, period.

It should be clear by now. Last season we were trying to play with Ramsey and Wilshere in the middle and looked terrible until Coquelin and Santi took. We saw a major difference in performance.

This season, when Ramsey came back into the middle, we looked terrible again. Replace him with Elneny and it looks like we have that balance back in the midfield. He’s no good for us.

[Kano]

On transfer failings

I agree [I could have done better]. I look at myself and what I could have done.

Which decisions did I not get right? Welbeck was out for a long time, Cazorla was out for five months, Coquelin out for four months.

Elneny and Iwobi have done well but you don’t find players available in January - who could have strengthened.



Some of which is good to hear (first line), most of which is not. Given our injury history and the fact that we could of found a Giroud-esque striker in January.

[mastermind84]

:doh: Of course I'm serious. Read the post again slowly and it might start to make sense. :rolleyes:

You said he was reluctant to spend on a young striker when it was clear he did on Dybala.

Martial, only United bid that price for him. FTR, I would have to if I was that confident in his play.

Idk if he will this summer. He really should for Morata, imo:

[mastermind84]

By "same" I was referring to ambition in his play, he certainly displayed that early on. Maybe a bit too much. But never fear, Wenger stamped all over him and now he's passing sideways with the best of them. This new guy may well have the ability to get the ball forwards quickly and accurately, but will he be allowed to do it? I genuinely can't understand the thinking behind the way we play at the moment. The crawling tempo, the absence of urgency, the endless patience even though it is hardly ever rewarded. Is this player coming in to fix that? I hope so. But the question remains, why are we playing this way in the first place? They players are better than this, we know they are because on occasion we have seen it.
I don't think Elneny is an ambitious player at all. I actually feel our fans overrate him.

There is no point in buying Xhaka if you don't let him play it forward and utilize his passing range. We don't have anyone on our team who has his passing range.

[mastermind84]

We've had this discussion many times, if anyone unbalances our team is Ramsey. You basically have to create a role for him to hide his flaws, to the detriment off the team.


He needs to go, period.
Ramsey is one of our most pivotal players when he not in the first phase building. That's why Xhaka is important. Xhaka will remove that responsibility from Ramsey and we will see a return of that 2013/14 player. There are not many midfielders like Ramsey in football today, unless you want to pay for Vidal or Pogba.


Sanchez is the least of our problems! The fact you want Ramsey or Jack out on the flanks instead of him tells me all I need to know, you do want us to win stuff right?

I like balance and keeping players in shape. Sanchez is like the anti tactical player. He would be best at CF but he wants to do what Özil does while not being anywhere near as good. He is Roy of the Rovers.

I want him to stay but he is replaceable.

[mastermind84]

Borussia Sporting Director.

He has to say that. They have not bought his replacement.

[Power n Glory]

You said he was reluctant to spend on a young striker when it was clear he did on Dybala.

Martial, only United bid that price for him. FTR, I would have to if I was that confident in his play.

Idk if he will this summer. He really should for Morata, imo:

Where are you getting your info from with Dybala? Wenger denies making an offer for the player for starters. So how is it clear?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-transfer-news-and-rumours-arsene-wenger-denies-making-bid-for-palermo-striker-paulo-dybala-10151768.html

We haven't signed a young striker to say otherwise. Dybala and Martial are just two examples that spring to mind. We were linked with Morata before he moved to Juve but that didn't happen either. So what's really going on? There are strikers that have been available and some still available that are a better fit for us over Giroud. I'm assuming it's a reluctance to take an expensive gamble.

[Kano]

He has to say that. They have not bought his replacement.

Maybe.

The only thing we can be certain about is how uncertain we can be about our transfer process.

[selassie]

Ramsey is one of our most pivotal players when he not in the first phase building. That's why Xhaka is important. Xhaka will remove that responsibility from Ramsey and we will see a return of that 2013/14 player. There are not many midfielders like Ramsey in football today, unless you want to pay for Vidal or Pogba.



I like balance and keeping players in shape. Sanchez is like the anti tactical player. He would be best at CF but he wants to do what Özil does while not being anywhere near as good. He is Roy of the Rovers.

I want him to stay but he is replaceable.

Ramsey is not one of our most pivotal players, if he was we wouldn't need to spend upwards of 30million on a Midfielder to pair alongside him, besides we don't even know if Ramsey & Xhaka will work.

Wow...you think putting Jack or Ramsey on the wing brings us balance?

You do realise that taking Sanchez out of the team removes 15-20 goals per season, do you think Ramsey and Jack will replace that output?

Sanchez can be careless on the ball and gives away cheap possession at times but he delivers, he delivers more than most players in our team. He's not the Problem.

[Özim]

You said he was reluctant to spend on a young striker when it was clear he did on Dybala.

Martial, only United bid that price for him. FTR, I would have to if I was that confident in his play.

Idk if he will this summer. He really should for Morata, imo:

Wenger denied we'd made a bid for Dybala so I wouldn't say it's clear we bid for him.

[Özim]

Borussia Sporting Director.

Sounds like the Arsenal marketing department going into overdrive to drum up sales of season tickets, happens every year, more often than not so does a long saga where we apparently chase a player who apparently doesn't want to come or we have no chance of signing.

Too many of these stories about in the last few years for it to be coincidence.

[mastermind84]

Where are you getting your info from with Dybala? Wenger denies making an offer for the player for starters. So how is it clear?

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/arsenal-transfer-news-and-rumours-arsene-wenger-denies-making-bid-for-palermo-striker-paulo-dybala-10151768.html

We haven't signed a young striker to say otherwise. Dybala and Martial are just two examples that spring to mind. We were linked with Morata before he moved to Juve but that didn't happen either. So what's really going on? There are strikers that have been available and some still available that are a better fit for us over Giroud. I'm assuming it's a reluctance to take an expensive gamble.
I dont believe what agents say

http://www.espnfc.us/story/2412364/palermo-striker-paulo-dybala-certainly-wanted-by-arsenal-and-juventus-maurizio-zamparini

Zamparini had been saying we were interested for months. Dybala wanted to join Juve.



Wenger denied we'd made a bid for Dybala so I wouldn't say it's clear we bid for him.
Wenger also denied knowing who Santi Cazorla was. I learned a long time ago to not believe a word he says in the media. Especially over transfers.

I think Dybala just had his heart set on Juve.


Maybe.

The only thing we can be certain about is how uncertain we can be about our transfer process.
I get it completely. Too many credible people are saying we got him.


Ramsey is not one of our most pivotal players, if he was we wouldn't need to spend upwards of 30million on a Midfielder to pair alongside him, besides we don't even know if Ramsey & Xhaka will work.

Wow...you think putting Jack or Ramsey on the wing brings us balance?

You do realise that taking Sanchez out of the team removes 15-20 goals per season, do you think Ramsey and Jack will replace that output?

Sanchez can be careless on the ball and gives away cheap possession at times but he delivers, he delivers more than most players in our team. He's not the Problem.

you get that midfielder to get the best out of your best players. WHen Xhaka arrives, you will see why Coquelin just wasnt the right player to start for us. HE is poor in buildup and it forced Ramsey to sit deep to compensate for that, while also getting up in attack. IMO, Wenger gave him too much responsibility but we are a better side when Ramsey plays. SHoot, we been better since he came back from injury.

And I ideally would go with a 433, but yeah having 3 CMs on the pitch gives us better balance. We will defend much better. We did defend better with Ramsey on the right.


And go back to what I said, I don't want Sanchez gone. I want him ideally playing CF because he is a great finisher. But unlike a lot of our fans, I see his flaws and see how he messes up our side tactically when he decides to pop up all over the pitch. He also runs a lot, but isnt the best defender on the flank. (Bellerin's form has suffered because of that)

[Özim]

I dont believe what agents say

http://www.espnfc.us/story/2412364/palermo-striker-paulo-dybala-certainly-wanted-by-arsenal-and-juventus-maurizio-zamparini

Zamparini had been saying we were interested for months. Dybala wanted to join Juve.

Maybe he was trying to drive the price up, you just said you don't believe the Dortmund director either, so why would you believe this guy?

[mastermind84]

Maybe he was trying to drive the price up, you just said you don't believe the Dortmund director either, so why would you believe this guy?

fair point

idk , just too many stories and we sent scouts to watch him a lot.

I think we were after him but Juve wanted him so that was it.

[Özim]

fair point

idk , just too many stories and we sent scouts to watch him a lot.

I think we were after him but Juve wanted him so that was it.

It's certainly possible, problem is with us is you never really know what the truth is, the only thing you do know is that we drag our heels and more often than not leave ourselves short, that's the reason I have no confidence is us suddenly identifying a problem area and signing someone, it's never that simple for us it seems.

[mastermind84]

Wenger pretty much confirming the Xhaka rumor (granted from a couple of days ago)

https://twitter.com/Onefootball/status/730437176928899072

[Power n Glory]

I dont believe what agents say

http://www.espnfc.us/story/2412364/palermo-striker-paulo-dybala-certainly-wanted-by-arsenal-and-juventus-maurizio-zamparini

Zamparini had been saying we were interested for months. Dybala wanted to join Juve.



Wenger also denied knowing who Santi Cazorla was. I learned a long time ago to not believe a word he says in the media. Especially over transfers.

I think Dybala just had his heart set on Juve.


I get it completely. Too many credible people are saying we got him.



you get that midfielder to get the best out of your best players. WHen Xhaka arrives, you will see why Coquelin just wasnt the right player to start for us. HE is poor in buildup and it forced Ramsey to sit deep to compensate for that, while also getting up in attack. IMO, Wenger gave him too much responsibility but we are a better side when Ramsey plays. SHoot, we been better since he came back from injury.

And I ideally would go with a 433, but yeah having 3 CMs on the pitch gives us better balance. We will defend much better. We did defend better with Ramsey on the right.


And go back to what I said, I don't want Sanchez gone. I want him ideally playing CF because he is a great finisher. But unlike a lot of our fans, I see his flaws and see how he messes up our side tactically when he decides to pop up all over the pitch. He also runs a lot, but isnt the best defender on the flank. (Bellerin's form has suffered because of that)

Showing interest in a player doesn't mean we made an official bid. The link you've used says nothing about a bid or how much, so it's not clear. It all just goes back to the original point of how far we'll go to get our target and convince a player that we're the right choice.

[Niall_Quinn]

I don't think Elneny is an ambitious player at all. I actually feel our fans overrate him.

There is no point in buying Xhaka if you don't let him play it forward and utilize his passing range. We don't have anyone on our team who has his passing range.

Sure he was, by comparison. At least when he arrived. He's only over-rated because like Chambers, Chamberlain, Walcott and the rest, when they first arrive they still have a hangover from the last club and coupled with wanting to make an impression for their new club they can actually look half decent. But they soon learn how to cruise at 50% effort like all the rest.

Don't underestimate Wenger's ability to fuck things up. He could easily buy a player with certain attributes and then stick that player in a role that undermines those attributes. He does it all the time. You wait, if this isn't just a ploy to sell season tickets. Xhaka will soon be passing sideways like the rest of them. I have zero faith in this manager's ability to build a team.

[mastermind84]

Showing interest in a player doesn't mean we made an official bid. The link you've used says nothing about a bid or how much, so it's not clear. It all just goes back to the original point of how far we'll go to get our target and convince a player that we're the right choice.
why bid for a player who wants to go somewhere else?

bridge under the water, its over.


Sure he was, by comparison. At least when he arrived. He's only over-rated because like Chambers, Chamberlain, Walcott and the rest, when they first arrive they still have a hangover from the last club and coupled with wanting to make an impression for their new club they can actually look half decent. But they soon learn how to cruise at 50% effort like all the rest.

Don't underestimate Wenger's ability to fuck things up. He could easily buy a player with certain attributes and then stick that player in a role that undermines those attributes. He does it all the time. You wait, if this isn't just a ploy to sell season tickets. Xhaka will soon be passing sideways like the rest of them. I have zero faith in this manager's ability to build a team.
im not saying Wenger dont mess up things, I just dont think Elneny is the one you should be most upset about.

He looks the same player he was when he arrived.

[Power n Glory]

why bid for a player who wants to go somewhere else?

bridge under the water, its over.


im not saying Wenger dont mess up things, I just dont think Elneny is the one you should be most upset about.

He looks the same player he was when he arrived.

You originally said we bid the same amount as Juve for him which supposedly proved we're willing to spend huge money on a young striker.

[Power n Glory]

He did bid for Dybala. Bid as much as Juve did.

Dybala wanted to stay in Italy.

Martial, you serious? At the time, did you think it was a good idea to bid that much for him?

Yep. It's what you originally said.

[mastermind84]

Yep. It's what you originally said.

i know what i said originally.

I do think we chased him.

I remember reading that we did bid for him, and going by what Zamparini said.

If we didnt, we didnt, but I do believe we were pursuing him.

[Munchies]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiWayVWXEAAFTIl.jpg

:bow:

[I am invisible]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiWayVWXEAAFTIl.jpg

:bow:
No! No! No! We don't want him to find out until it's too late!

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

:d

[fakeyank]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiWayVWXEAAFTIl.jpg

:bow:

Prepare to be disappointed Xhaka..

[Munchies]

He also liked a picture of Ozil at a BBQ

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiW2k0MWgAEOIba.jpg

:lol:

[Gooner23]

What a flirt

[The Emirates Gallactico]

I hope the club shop have a good stock of X letters.

Anyway good signing.

Now for a striker please.

[I am invisible]

He also liked a picture of Ozil at a BBQ

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CiW2k0MWgAEOIba.jpg

:lol:
And - AND - Coquelin has been seen in a number 27 top instead of Xhaka's 34!

http://www.thickaccent.com/2016/05/13/has-arsenals-latest-youtube-video-hinted-at-granit-xhakas-imminent-arrival-at-the-club/

[I am invisible]

Good God people, how much more proof do you need!

[Munchies]

And - AND - Coquelin has been seen in a number 27 top instead of Xhaka's 34!

http://www.thickaccent.com/2016/05/13/has-arsenals-latest-youtube-video-hinted-at-granit-xhakas-imminent-arrival-at-the-club/

http://i1.wp.com/www.thickaccent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CiWdvrAW0AIpj4t.jpg?resize=600%2C338

:lol:

[Kano]

And - AND - Coquelin has been seen in a number 27 top instead of Xhaka's 34!

http://www.thickaccent.com/2016/05/13/has-arsenals-latest-youtube-video-hinted-at-granit-xhakas-imminent-arrival-at-the-club/

Yeah but 3+4 equals 7, 4-3 equals 1, then add that to the 4, take away 3 and you have 2. 2 and 7. 27. That's probably the real reason. Easy when you know how, Rachel.

[I am invisible]

Yeah but 3+4 equals 7, 4-3 equals 1, then add that to the 4, take away 3 and you have 2. 2 and 7. 27. That's probably the real reason. Easy when you know how, Rachel.
Coq should definitely have that on the back of his shirt! No ref would ever bother booking him again...

[RomfordPele]

Sigh...

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-have-only-54m-to-spend-in-the-summer-unless-they-sell-players-says-report-into-gunners-a3247791.html

Well, season tickets revenues are in, now comes the "managing fan expectations" bit of the communications plan...

£54m will probably just about pay for wenger's contract extension, so it's not all bad news, guys.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Figures pulled out of their arse. Wouldn't really make sense given we spent more than that two summers ago. :lol:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Sigh...

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-have-only-54m-to-spend-in-the-summer-unless-they-sell-players-says-report-into-gunners-a3247791.html

Well, season tickets revenues are in, now comes the "managing fan expectations" bit of the communications plan...

£54m will probably just about pay for wenger's contract extension, so it's not all bad news, guys.

tbf we'd probably will have to sell some of the deadwood (Theo, Jack, Ox???, Per) if we want to make room for new transfers.

[selassie]

Sigh...

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-have-only-54m-to-spend-in-the-summer-unless-they-sell-players-says-report-into-gunners-a3247791.html

Well, season tickets revenues are in, now comes the "managing fan expectations" bit of the communications plan...

£54m will probably just about pay for wenger's contract extension, so it's not all bad news, guys.

Don't believe that for one second, we're the 5th richest club in the world FFS, that budget...54m is what I'd expect a team like Stoke to have, it's absolutely ridiculous. I mean TV money, revenue, where does it all go...down a black hole?

That doesn't even factor in that Wenger has been sitting on millions for a couple of windows now, what does the club do? Half his budget every window!!!

[GP]

where does it all go...down a black hole?


http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/09/waggoner-ranch-texas-sold-stan-kroenke-arsenal-los-angeles-rams-owner

[Kano]

Sigh...

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-have-only-54m-to-spend-in-the-summer-unless-they-sell-players-says-report-into-gunners-a3247791.html

Well, season tickets revenues are in, now comes the "managing fan expectations" bit of the communications plan...

£54m will probably just about pay for wenger's contract extension, so it's not all bad news, guys.

Jesus, what a load of sales bollocks.

Link that takes you to the investment company website, instead of allowing the Standard as the holder of the report for the download. So nice spike in their web position over the new few days. The Standard won't be the only media outlet this link exists.

it doesn't take you to the download page, so you have to click around some more to find it, selling their services a bit more and more clicks of course. Then you have to fill in the form with full contact details, which nine times out of ten people will do because they're so used to being asked for it. Then expect emails to come out, added to their newsletter 'readership' which boosts their figures. People should expect a sales call too with some twat selling their services.

I don't even care if the figures in the 'report' are true, it's just bollocks that some slimy financial company feel the need to elbow their despicable ways into our line of reading.

[Gooner23]

Had a scan of the ES article, didnt click any links, but yes on first glance looks to be speculation at best, complete BS at worst. The cash is there, whether we spend it is another matter. We will probably reduce the wage bill this summer by shipping off Walnut and a few others.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Don't believe that for one second, we're the 5th richest club in the world FFS, that budget...54m is what I'd expect a team like Stoke to have, it's absolutely ridiculous. I mean TV money, revenue, where does it all go...down a black hole?

That doesn't even factor in that Wenger has been sitting on millions for a couple of windows now, what does the club do? Half his budget every window!!!

:lol:

[selassie]

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/09/waggoner-ranch-texas-sold-stan-kroenke-arsenal-los-angeles-rams-owner

:lol:

[AFC Leveller]

Higuain to Chelsea,according to many reports. He has scored 33 goals in 34 serie games this season, pretty impressive.

We should definitely make a move for him but we probably wont.

[Marc Overmars]

As good as Higuain obviously is, unless we change up our style of play I don't think strikers like him can really rack up the numbers with us. WUMger wants his striker up top to do it all and that class of player is very hard to come by.

[AFC Leveller]

As good as Higuain obviously is, unless we change up our style of play I don't think strikers like him can really rack up the numbers with us. WUMger wants his striker up top to do it all and that class of player is very hard to come by.

There were periods this season when we played with Theo upfront and we looked good and direct but then he got injured and Giroud came in and the rest is history. We play slow tippy tappy because Wenger is obsessed with sideways posession but we also do it because we have Giroud upfront. Higuain is the kind of striker to score goals against any kind of defense, he is a poacher as well as a scorer of great goals.

[Niall_Quinn]

If the chavs are in then we are out. We have never gone head to head in the transfer market with a club that invests and come out winning. We either find players the investing clubs haven't targeted or we nose around the bins after everyone else has finished doing their business. As soon as those season ticket renewals are banked the window will go deathly silent for us in terms of transfers in. Should be quite busy for transfers out though.

[selassie]

Kante wants to join us, all over the French press apparently, reputable papers too, also Matt Spiro's on twitter has a piece on the story.

Rumour is Wenger wouldn't try and trigger the clause of Kante until he had verbally said he wants to join us.

See if this one develops.....would be extremely surprised if we're in for both him and Xhaka.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Bitt odd, that. All the places mentioning of this are saying Kante has 'chosen' us. Weird.

[Marc Overmars]

Sign him up!

[GP]

Kante AND Xhaka?

Hell of a midfield, that.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

We will never sign them both...

[I am invisible]

We will never sign them both...

Sounds like the most 'Arsenal' shopping list in the world, if you ask me? You know Arsene can't sleep at night unless he has half of the world's central midfielders on his books.

Besides, who says he's planning on playing them in central midfield? We could easily be signing these two as wingers, or CBs...

[Bumble]

maybe after all we don't need anyone. Leicester won the league but that an anomaly so we can discount that. therefore we really finished 1st.

[Kano]

maybe after all we don't need anyone. Leicester won the league but that an anomaly so we can discount that. therefore we really finished 1st.
We are the champions of second place.

[Özim]

Wenger confirms Giroud will be our number 1 striker next season, but that he is on the lookout for another face to replace Wellbeck.

Looks like we're going to get another middle of the road forward (like Wellbeck, Walcott etc) and not the top finisher we've been crying out for for years, though oddly he acknowledges Giroud scores in cycles and has some strong and weak moments.

What should be happening is that we should be getting a new number 1 striker and he should be a backup.

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-arsene-wenger-confirms-olivier-giroud-is-firstchoice-next-season-despite-a3249451.html

[Niall_Quinn]

No quote of him actually saying Giroud will be #1 - the Standard quote the word "Yes" and then attribute it to the article headline. That said, anyone expecting Wenger to do what is required in the transfer window, resignget a top striker, will be sorely disappointed. We know how he operates. Leave us short and gamble that somebody will eventually transform into a worldbeater. One of these days a Sanogo or Giroud is suddenly going to become Thierry Henry, wait and see. Any decade now it will happen.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I'd settle for the Dutch kid who scored a bucket load.......at least try and sign somebody with a good record who might be the real deal rather than do nothing.

[Grebbo]

Has Kante got a buy out clause? I'd love to see him in our midfield.

[I am invisible]

I'd settle for the Dutch kid who scored a bucket load.......at least try and sign somebody with a good record who might be the real deal rather than do nothing.

Aye, looks like there's actually some options out there this year, so no excuse for not getting someone this time. Maybe not too many / any super-elite CFs available, but I'm seeing plenty of promising younger strikers who are doing well at their respective levels. I'd happily take a chance on one of them at the moment.

Plenty of goal-scoring wide forwards who might be available too (and some of them are top level), so there's another, indirect option - buy another wide forward > try Sanchez as a striker.

[I am invisible]

Has Kante got a buy out clause? I'd love to see him in our midfield.

Apparently so - £20m, or something.

Honestly, at that price I'd be tempted, even if we do sign Xhaka - someone else can fuck off or move over...

[Marc Overmars]

WUMger should be all over Kante, especially if he has the release clause.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Not to be a spoiler but is Kante really that good?

Personally I don't think he's any better than Coquelin was for us, it's just that Raineri has Leceister so well drilled and organised & they collectively have such a fantastic work ethic that players like him, Vardy and Drinkwater shine.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Not to be a spoiler but is Kante really that good?

Personally I don't think he's any better than Coquelin was for us, it's just that Raineri has Leceister so well drilled and organised & they collectively have such a fantastic work ethic that players like him, Vardy and Drinkwater shine.

I tend to agree and I think this is what Wenger thinks as well

Think he doesn't use Coquelin as much now because his ball distribution isn't as good as someone like Elneny.
This is why he wants Granit Xhaka.

I can only see us signing Kante if we sell Coquelin. If I'm honest would rather go in for Mahrez as Walcott replacement.

Whatever we say about Wenger I think most of his signings the last two-three seasons have been fairly good. Just not been anywhere near enough of them.

[Niall_Quinn]

Not to be a spoiler but is Kante really that good?

Personally I don't think he's any better than Coquelin was for us, it's just that Raineri has Leceister so well drilled and organised & they collectively have such a fantastic work ethic that players like him, Vardy and Drinkwater shine.

That's what I was thinking too. Ranieri can motivate players and drag every last bit of effort out of them. Wenger can't. Ranieri set them up to play to their strengths, with everybody playing in sensible and suitable positions. Wenger doesn't do that, he handicaps the players with his selections, formations and alleged tactics. Wenger is our problem, and those problems knock on to the players. Makes them complacent, lazy, weak. As I said before, a player has to have huge individual character to stand out in an Arsenal team. Is that Kante? He was the first nosing around for a transfer, cashing in on Leicester's success. I don't think that's odd given the nature of the game, but it says something about his character. Vary signed up before anything was won and Mahrez is signing too I hear. Good for them.

[Niall_Quinn]

I tend to agree and I think this is what Wenger thinks as well

Think he doesn't use Coquelin as much now because his ball distribution isn't as good as someone like Elneny.
This is why he wants Granit Xhaka.

I can only see us signing Kante if we sell Coquelin. If I'm honest would rather go in for Mahrez as Walcott replacement.

Whatever we say about Wenger I think most of his signings the last two-three seasons have been fairly good. Just not been anywhere near enough of them.

His signings have been brilliant. It's just he can't extract the full benefit because he's a shit coach who can't motivate the team. Ozil, Alexis and probably every other player would be playing much better under almost any other manager you can name. And Wenger brings the loser mentality too, the glorification of failure and second best status. That's got to seep into the team's psyche. If we are going to sign players then they better be big characters - not necessarily expensive but they usually are. Youngsters or lower tier signings will be too susceptible to Wenger's bullshit.

[Kano]

I tend to agree and I think this is what Wenger thinks as well

Think he doesn't use Coquelin as much now because his ball distribution isn't as good as someone like Elneny.
This is why he wants Granit Xhaka.

I can only see us signing Kante if we sell Coquelin. If I'm honest would rather go in for Mahrez as Walcott replacement.

Whatever we say about Wenger I think most of his signings the last two-three seasons have been fairly good. Just not been anywhere near enough of them.
He said the other day it'll be three signings this summer, so I'm guessing one striker, midfielder and defender.

[Toronto Gooner]

Personally, the biggest benefit of Kante is the fact that he is used to the Premier league. However, his poor (relative of Arsenal's in general) passing ability is something I see as a problem. Xhaka has a problem with discipline and apparently gives away too many fouls.

If Arsenal can "convince" West Ham to buy Walcott for £25 million, then Mahrez would be perfect.

All being said, I agree that the squad needs a top quality striker, a midfielder (to be disrupt opposition attacks and play as a deep-lying midfielder) and a top quality central defender.

[AFC Leveller]

Realistically, which striker out there can we sign/attract? the likes of Aguero, Suarez, Lewandowski are out of reach. Then you have proven goal scorers like Aubameyang, Huguain and to a certain extent Morata who wouldn't necessarily kick up a fuss to join us and thats why i think its gonna be a disapinting summer in terms of strikers coming, i just dont see us really going for a world beater because we simply dont have the ambition/courage to go up a level. Wenger will be told to get 4th and he knows he doesnt need a proper striker to do that.

[Globalgunner]

Not to be a spoiler but is Kante really that good?

Personally I don't think he's any better than Coquelin was for us, it's just that Raineri has Leceister so well drilled and organised & they collectively have such a fantastic work ethic that players like him, Vardy and Drinkwater shine.

If Coquelin went to Leicester, In a season we would be wanting him back and sending Kante the other way. He buys a player for his attributes and then assiduously works on training same attributes out of him

[Globalgunner]

If we can manage to dump Walcott. Personally i would try for Gylfi Siggurdson of Swansea. He fulfils the Role, of Rosicky/Cazorla too. Forget that he was once a Spud. If Wenger wants to wait on Welbeck then get Defoe in as a filler, forget he was a Spud too. He was also a Hammer at one time. People change.

[GP]

If we can manage to dump Walcott. Personally i would try for Gylfi Siggurdson of Swansea. He fulfils the Role, of Rosicky/Cazorla too. Forget that he was once a Spud. If Wenger wants to wait on Welbeck then get Defoe in as a filler, forget he was a Spud too. He was also a Hammer at one time. People change.

...really?

[Kano]

If we can manage to dump Walcott. Personally i would try for Gylfi Siggurdson of Swansea. He fulfils the Role, of Rosicky/Cazorla too. Forget that he was once a Spud. If Wenger wants to wait on Welbeck then get Defoe in as a filler, forget he was a Spud too. He was also a Hammer at one time. People change.
Going by what you said above regarding Kante/Le Coq, I'm not sure what the point would be.

[Marc Overmars]

Doesn't really matter who WUMger signs because he'll set up the same way regardless of the talent at his disposal. It's pot luck as to who flourishes in the system and who doesn't.

Even if next season is his last I don't really expect much change in his approach and how aggressive he is in the transfer market. I'd have a cheeky tenner on Giroud leading the line in August.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Doesn't really matter who WUMger signs because he'll set up the same way regardless of the talent at his disposal. It's pot luck as to who flourishes in the system and who doesn't.

Even if next season is his last I don't really expect much change in his approach and how aggressive he is in the transfer market. I'd have a cheeky tenner on Giroud leading the line in August.
He said it all in the article about Kroenke being ready to splash the cash.

"We want to attract players that want to play the way we play, and have the qualities to do so"

Something along those lines anyway. He has no intention of ever changing anything and we will carry on the same way regardless of who we have here.

Fuckin Messi would be shit under Wenger too.

[Toronto Gooner]

He said it all in the article about Kroenke being ready to splash the cash.

"We want to attract players that want to play the way we play, and have the qualities to do so"

Something along those lines anyway. He has no intention of ever changing anything and we will carry on the same way regardless of who we have here.

Fuckin Messi would be shit under Wenger too.

The question you have to ask is whether it is better to improve the current system by getting better players or try to improve by getting players who are better but play in a different system?

Put another way, in my opinion, do you want to try and improve the current system that has brought such success or risk everything by rejecting the current system and trying something new? Yes, he former choice has not yielded the results you require over the last few years. However, there is no guarantee that the latter choice will result in anything except mid-table mediocrity or worse.

[Niall_Quinn]

The question you have to ask is whether it is better to improve the current system by getting better players or try to improve by getting players who are better but play in a different system?

Put another way, in my opinion, do you want to try and improve the current system that has brought such success or risk everything by rejecting the current system and trying something new? Yes, he former choice has not yielded the results you require over the last few years. However, there is no guarantee that the latter choice will result in anything except mid-table mediocrity or worse.

Success? I think we are a million miles from success in sporting terms. Nowhere near. We are like a safe investment fund, it will yield unspectacular but solid results and you'll be able to retire old and decrepit. Financially a tiny minority involved with the club are successful, thanks to the money being hoovered out of the fans' and sponsors' pockets. In terms of sport though, we have no success. You can't call Mike Tyson beating up a kid a success and you certainly can't call the shit we are shovelling any form of success because we got wasted by the kid, the kid punched our lights out to the tune of 10 points. Success?

Wenger needs to go. That's the only way because he'll never admit he's been wrong for a decade and he'll never change a damn thing. For as long as he's steering the ship onto rocks season after season it really doesn't matter what players are out there provided a minimum standard is maintained and we all know Wenger excels when it comes to delivering the bare minimum. He'll do the same in the transfer window this summer. Absolute bare minimum he can get away with.

[Toronto Gooner]

Success? I think we are a million miles from success in sporting terms. Nowhere near ...

Wenger needs to go...

The problem is how to truly define success. If success is only measured by winning trophies every year, then Arsenal are not there yet. If success is being better than the huge majority of other clubs, I would posit that Arsenal are successful. Are they as successful as they should be? As a fan, the answer is definitely no.

What I was trying say was that abandoning the style and direction that the club has established over the last decade for another style and direction is very risky; if not, a recipe for disaster. I believe that the platform for an even more successful decade or more has been established. The critical questions that need to be answered are (1) whether Wenger is the right person to make that next step (I do not think so); (2) who is the right manager to take over for the next step; and (3) whether that manager will be the right person to maintain the improved success after the step up?

[Globalgunner]

As soon as you change the manager, the style will change. No doubt, No one else in world football is stupid enough to coach his players not to shoot. If Wenger was a boxing coach he would have a policy of no heavy punches. Better to put on a great show and jab the opponent into submission.

[Niall_Quinn]

Success is the whole club firing in tune to deliver 100% effort in the pursuit of a sporting goal. We don't do any of that. I would rate our level of success on a scale of 1 to 10 as zero. Not every club can win a trophy, so what else can you be in the sport for? The entertainment and enjoyment and pursuit of excellence I'd say. Money is what most of those creaming it from the game would say. Success for me is defined by an Arsenal counter-attack with Henry, Freddie and Bobby pelting up the pitch and Bergkamp picking the pass that ices the entire defence. You watch that and you know what football is supposed to be about. When you achieve that then you have succeeded.

Look at our game today. We are a million miles away from football success. A terrifically successful business though, but I don't give a shit about that as somebody who enjoys football.

I know what you were saying. But the horrible reality is it just doesn't matter. Wenger is staying here until he's good and ready to leave. So talk of change (of any sort) is theoretical at best, a sick tease the rest of the time. But in hypothetical land where football clubs like Arsenal give a shit about the football, Koeman would do for me. Simeone would be ideal. I think both could do a job with Arsenal's resources. Bilic would be fine, I think he's going to be a top manager. Almost anyone really, we are so desperately in need of a change. Even if we go backwards it will be positive, like a car getting unstuck from the mud. I Agree, it's all there if the right man can be brought in to use it.

[Globalgunner]

Going by what you said above regarding Kante/Le Coq, I'm not sure what the point would be.

You are right. With Wenger in charge there really is no point. We will just have to wait him out.

[Toronto Gooner]

...Koeman would do for me. Simeone would be ideal. I think both could do a job with Arsenal's resources. Bilic would be fine, I think he's going to be a top manager. Almost anyone really, we are so desperately in need of a change...

Any one of those three would be good, although I am still uncertain about Simeone. I would add De Boer to that list; the benefit would be that Bergkamp might be part of the package. However, I do not believe that anyone would do. Mind you, it might be necessary to have a sacrificial lamb for a couple of seasons.

[mastermind84]

If we can manage to dump Walcott. Personally i would try for Gylfi Siggurdson of Swansea. He fulfils the Role, of Rosicky/Cazorla too. Forget that he was once a Spud. If Wenger wants to wait on Welbeck then get Defoe in as a filler, forget he was a Spud too. He was also a Hammer at one time. People change.

you're not that global, m8

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

WUMger should be all over Kante, especially if he has the release clause.

He might have signed him in January then! And offered for Vardy.....if nothing else but to unsettle him!

Globalgoonie's having a laugh about Sigurdsson and Defoe though.....surely!

And what is the big deal about Morata?

[The Emirates Gallactico]

lol Defoe. :lol:

What is this 2003 back on 606?

[I am invisible]

He might have signed him in January then! And offered for Vardy.....if nothing else but to unsettle him!

Globalgoonie's having a laugh about Sigurdsson and Defoe though.....surely!

And what is the big deal about Morata?

Yeah, I don't get it either [about Morata]? Admittedly I'm only going off YT clips, but, dare I say, I thought he looked pretty boring? Are we missing something?

[Munchies]

West Ham had a £31m bid for Lacazette turned down - Sky Sports

A club showing ambition :o

[AFC Leveller]

Lacazette is an average striker, i watch the French league and he is a frustrating player. Still young though so i guess Bilic can still fix him.

[AFC Leveller]

GLADBACH CONFIRM XHAKA OFFER

This deal seems as though it could be reaching its conclusion, but where will Granit Xhaka end up?

He has been strongly linked with Arsenal and his club, Borussia Monchengladbach, have confirmed an offer has been received.

"Sporting director Max Eberl has confirmed that there has been a specific offer for the Swiss midfielder," said a statement posted on their official website.

"An agreement with the interested club is still pending, however.

[selassie]

We should name this thread "Suicide Watch", this place will be in meltdown come the end of the summer when Wenger is rummaging around the bargain bucket in Ligue Two looking for backup strikers to Giroud.

[Toronto Gooner]

We should name this thread "Suicide Watch", this place will be in meltdown come the end of the summer when Wenger is rummaging around the bargain bucket in Ligue Two looking for backup strikers to Giroud.

Interesting observation. I wonder if people would have considered Mahrez and Kante as "bargain bucket" occupants before this season? It seems to me that there are still plenty of good players in the bargain bucket.

[Toronto Gooner]

West Ham had a £31m bid for Lacazette turned down - Sky Sports

A club showing ambition :o

More likely, it is a club that knows it has a lot of money and needs to placate its fan base. [An alternative, more conspiratorial view is that West Ham knew that the bid would be rejected but made it anyway in order to suggest that it is an ambitious club.]

[selassie]

Interesting observation. I wonder if people would have considered Mahrez and Kante as "bargain bucket" occupants before this season? It seems to me that there are still plenty of good players in the bargain bucket.

Of course we would have, despite that would either of them have reach their current level in our chaotic system?

Wenger needs to be shopping for close to the finished product in order for us to win the major prizes.

[Kano]

More likely, it is a club that knows it has a lot of money and needs to placate its fan base. [An alternative, more conspiratorial view is that West Ham knew that the bid would be rejected but made it anyway in order to suggest that it is an ambitious club.]

Why do you think they need to placate their fans? They've just had their best season in years, have a great manager, decent squad and heading off into a free, larger stadium. Not a bad time to be a Spammers fan really. Sullivan just likes to throw money around. Carroll is a prime example of that. They've thrown loads of wilds bids around since their consortium took over.

[Toronto Gooner]

Of course we would have, despite that would either of them have reach their current level in our chaotic system?

Wenger needs to be shopping for close to the finished product in order for us to win the major prizes.
Leaving aside the fact that those two unfinished product players have just won a major prize, the problem is that by demanding only "close to the finished product" reduces the options and raises the costs. How many players are there that (1) could a similar job as Mahrez; (2) is available; (3) will fit into the Arsenal squad?

I understand and share the frustration. However, we do not know what goes on behind the scenes. I am always wondering who releases the rumours and stories about different players: is it a player's agent trying to re-negotiate a better contract; a selling club trying to see if there is any interest; a buying club trying to see who is available; a genuine story; or a journalist's flight of fantasy to fill the white space.

[Toronto Gooner]

Why do you think they need to placate their fans? They've just had their best season in years, have a great manager, decent squad and heading off into a free, larger stadium. Not a bad time to be a Spammers fan really. Sullivan just likes to throw money around. Carroll is a prime example of that. They've thrown loads of wilds bids around since their consortium took over.

I raised the issue of placating the fans precisely because they have just had their best season and are heading off to a new stadium with a much larger capacity. It is possible that the enquiry/bid was genuine but I am just being cynical.

[Kano]

I am always wondering who releases the rumours and stories about different players: is it a player's agent trying to re-negotiate a better contract; a selling club trying to see if there is any interest; a buying club trying to see who is available; a genuine story; or a journalist's flight of fantasy to fill the white space.
A bit from column A, column B....there are so many conflicting agendas going on the industry, so many sources working out ways to make money from the game, that the truth is never black and white.

[Kano]

I raised the issue of placating the fans precisely because they have just had their best season and are heading off to a new stadium with a much larger capacity. It is possible that the enquiry/bid was genuine but I am just being cynical.
Cynical is healthy in my book.

[fakeyank]

We should name this thread "Suicide Watch", this place will be in meltdown come the end of the summer when Wenger is rummaging around the bargain bucket in Ligue Two looking for backup strikers to Giroud.

I dont think the fans will be up in arms about a shitty transfer window. We all know what to expect from Wenger, so when the inevitable happens, it'll just be 'meh' rather than 'WTF'.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

I think the simple prediction is, is that it will be more productive than last summer but ultimately we will end up not buying in a position we need to buy in.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

The nearest thing for me that we had to a satisfactory summer under Wenger was when we brought in Podolski, Giroud and Cazorla......and then i thought fantastic don't get anyone else in, just don't lose anyone else.

But then we sold Van Prematuregrey and Song.

[GP]

We should sign Dybala.

[Marc Overmars]

I think the simple prediction is, is that it will be more productive than last summer but ultimately we will end up not buying in a position we need to buy in.

Won't take much to be more productive than last summer!

I think we'll do what we normally do, secure the one name that has been touted for months (Xhaka) then root around the dumpsters of the top clubs waiting for someone to become available. Might find someone decent, might not find anyone, either way, I think the manager is pretty chilled with the squad he has. Injuries may force his hand but otherwise he won't do enough, he never does.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Well i look at it this way, failure to significantly strengthen the side means no progression in the league means miserable stayaway fans means Wenger will walk.

[Kano]

Won't take much to be more productive than last summer!

I think we'll do what we normally do, secure the one name that has been touted for months (Xhaka) then root around the dumpsters of the top clubs waiting for someone to become available. Might find someone decent, might not find anyone, either way, I think the manager is pretty chilled with the squad he has. Injuries may force his hand but otherwise he won't do enough, he never does.

He committed to a figure of three players the other day but as to the quality of those players, that's an entirely different thing.

[selassie]

Leaving aside the fact that those two unfinished product players have just won a major prize, the problem is that by demanding only "close to the finished product" reduces the options and raises the costs. How many players are there that (1) could a similar job as Mahrez; (2) is available; (3) will fit into the Arsenal squad?

I understand and share the frustration. However, we do not know what goes on behind the scenes. I am always wondering who releases the rumours and stories about different players: is it a player's agent trying to re-negotiate a better contract; a selling club trying to see if there is any interest; a buying club trying to see who is available; a genuine story; or a journalist's flight of fantasy to fill the white space.

It's not even that I'm demanding, like most of us I'll be surprised if we sign more than 1 player. I'm not suggesting we go out and buy a team full of Messi's, but I do think we need a few high quality players to upgrade areas of the team, not squad. I also think it will be a waste of a window if we pursue "project" players, we have enough of them as it is and if Wenger is going to stick around for a few more years, which is highly likely, then he can develop them. The Xhaka rumours are very promising, a striker of that calibre would be a big step in the right direction.

Wenger needs to have a really solid window this summer, competition is going to be very fierce given that the likes of West Ham are putting out bids of 30mill for strikers.

[I am invisible]

He committed to a figure of three players the other day but as to the quality of those players, that's an entirely different thing.
Possibly. I think he says these things fully expecting that every player other than those out of contract will be staying - we'll have to see how that target of 3 players pans out if any of the contracted players start agitating for moves (or if we receive silly money for anyone he feels he can live without)?

[Kano]

Wenger confirms Giroud will be our number 1 striker next season, but that he is on the lookout for another face to replace Wellbeck.

Looks like we're going to get another middle of the road forward (like Wellbeck, Walcott etc) and not the top finisher we've been crying out for for years, though oddly he acknowledges Giroud scores in cycles and has some strong and weak moments.

What should be happening is that we should be getting a new number 1 striker and he should be a backup.

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-transfer-news-arsene-wenger-confirms-olivier-giroud-is-firstchoice-next-season-despite-a3249451.html


"We will have to try [to sign a striker],” he said. “It will not, ideally, be someone just to make up the numbers.

“When you buy you want to buy top strikers. There is an international shortage. We need to find the right person but we have targets and hopefully we can do that.”

Who bloody well knows.

[Maestro]

Well, as things stand, we are starting the season down on squad numbers overall and quality in at least 3 positions;

Rosicky - squad filler gone
Arteta - squad filler gone
Flamini - squad filler gone
Oxlade - squad filler long term injury
Welbz - first team player long term injury
Walnut - squad filler touted to leave and shit if he stays
Striker - need quality, been a long term problem position
Right Winger/Forward - need quality, many players tried there and still no top quality
Central Midfield - need quality reinforcement, given all the departures
Central Defence - need quality reinforcement, given Per's arthritis and Gabriel's greenness ...no real competition there
Right Back - reinforcement may be required due to likely departure of Debuchy and Jenko's wilderness

Wenger relies on having a quality squad to achieve anything due to his tactical and motivational limitations. We have a decent team but gosh there is work to do and the injuries, departures and forever unaddressed key positions will see us struggle next season if we dither, deliberate and hang in limbo.

What Wenger do ....let me guess, dither, deliberate and hang in limbo. Well he's here for the long haul and he's buckled in tight, so let's sit back relax and watch what will unfold.

[Kano]

And possibly a keeper if Ospina clears off, although we may promote from within or use Ches if he wants to stick it out as back-up.

[Maestro]

And possibly a keeper if Ospina clears off, although we may promote from within or use Ches if he wants to stick it out as back-up.

True. I think we'll need to hold on to one of Ospina or Ches and one of Jenko or Debuchy, otherwise we'll end doing a rebuilding job rather than topping up and addressing the key weakness areas we already have.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

We should name this thread "Suicide Watch", this place will be in meltdown come the end of the summer when Wenger is rummaging around the bargain bucket in Ligue Two looking for backup strikers to Giroud.

:lol:

[Maestro]

apparently we are playing hardball and haggling over a £2m difference in valuation with Borussia Monchengladbach over this car jacker guy

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Yeah, I don't get it either [about Morata]? Admittedly I'm only going off YT clips, but, dare I say, I thought he looked pretty boring? Are we missing something?

I think a few things have worked in his favour....
1 - Scoring a number of high profile / important goals
2 - The affiliation with Real and the fact they have a buy back clause
3- The dearth of world class Spanish forwards


I really don't care what our outlay is......what I want to see is the club identify genuine targets they feel can take us to the next level.....and actually show some conviction in the player identify and pay whatever it is to get him.........whether it costs 50 million or 50p.

For example if we spot an obscure player who is slightly on the young side but we have a strong feeling he will be Suarez level..... sign him, even if it is more than the going rate for an unknown young player.

ANyway from what I hear we are looking at something like....

Raphaël Guerreiro (LB)
Rob Holding (CB)
Granit Xhaka(DCM)
Mystery striker?

But I'd like us to add someone of Reus's quality like Nabil Fekir or at least with that potential.....

[I am invisible]

Well, as things stand, we are starting the season down on squad numbers overall and quality in at least 3 positions;

Rosicky - squad filler gone
Arteta - squad filler gone
Flamini - squad filler gone
Oxlade - squad filler long term injury
Welbz - first team player long term injury
Walnut - squad filler touted to leave and shit if he stays
Striker - need quality, been a long term problem position
Right Winger/Forward - need quality, many players tried there and still no top quality
Central Midfield - need quality reinforcement, given all the departures
Central Defence - need quality reinforcement, given Per's arthritis and Gabriel's greenness ...no real competition there
Right Back - reinforcement may be required due to likely departure of Debuchy and Jenko's wilderness

Wenger relies on having a quality squad to achieve anything due to his tactical and motivational limitations. We have a decent team but gosh there is work to do and the injuries, departures and forever unaddressed key positions will see us struggle next season if we dither, deliberate and hang in limbo.

What Wenger do ....let me guess, dither, deliberate and hang in limbo. Well he's here for the long haul and he's buckled in tight, so let's sit back relax and watch what will unfold.
:good:

Definitely going:
Arteta (CM)
Rosicky (CM)
Flamini (CM)

Almost certainly going:
Debuchy (RB)

Quite possibly going:
Ospina (GK)

On loan, and might not come back if we get a suitable offer:
Szczesny (GK)
Jenkinson (RB)

Meh:
Walcott (CF/RW)
Gibbs (LB)

No defined role / not really sure what they do for us:
Ramsey (CM)
Oxlade-Chamberlain (RW/CM)

Long-term injury:
Welbeck (CF)

Not getting any younger:
Mertesacker (CB)
Koscielny (CB)
Monreal (LB)
Cazorla (CM)

Wilshere:
Wilshere (CM)

As you say, it's the depth that looks like it needs the real work here. The starting XI could certainly benefit form a little bit of extra world-class in a couple of areas, but in general, with all of our best players fit, I think we have a solid 13 or 14 players who contribute well. Unfortunately that's about half of what we need for a long season, competing on 4 fronts (with internationals thrown in for good measure).

Not all of those players listed above necessarily need to be shipped out, and I'd be happy enough to see a few of the more promising younger players and loanees get a chance if they're looking ready, but I'd still be looking at a lot more than 3 additions, no matter how good those 3 players are...

[Toronto Gooner]

:good:

Definitely going:
Arteta (CM)
Rosicky (CM)
Flamini (CM)

Almost certainly going:
Debuchy (RB)

Quite possibly going:
Ospina (GK)

On loan, and might not come back if we get a suitable offer:
Szczesny (GK)
Jenkinson (RB)

Meh:
Walcott (CF/RW)
Gibbs (LB)

No defined role / not really sure what they do for us:
Ramsey (CM)
Oxlade-Chamberlain (RW/CM)

Long-term injury:
Welbeck (CF)

Not getting any younger:
Mertesacker (CB)
Koscielny (CB)
Monreal (LB)
Cazorla (CM)

Wilshere:
Wilshere (CM)

As you say, it's the depth that looks like it needs the real work here. The starting XI could certainly benefit form a little bit of extra world-class in a couple of areas, but in general, with all of our best players fit, I think we have a solid 13 or 14 players who contribute well. Unfortunately that's about half of what we need for a long season, competing on 4 fronts (with internationals thrown in for good measure).

Not all of those players listed above necessarily need to be shipped out, and I'd be happy enough to see a few of the more promising younger players and loanees get a chance if they're looking ready, but I'd still be looking at a lot more than 3 additions, no matter how good those 3 players are...

A very interesting list. I think that Cazorla has one more year as a strong contender for the starting XI. However, I saw an article (rumour)(http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/516546/Liverpool-Transfer-News-Jurgen-Klopp-Mario-Gotze) that said that Goetze was interested in Liverpool but only if they could provide European football. I would love to see Arsenal go for him.

Taking everything with a tonne or two of salt, it seems that Arsenal are definitely in for Morata and Xhaka. Add someone like Goetze and a young centre back, things would be looking really good.

[Kano]

Thing with Gotze is where he would fit. He was excellent for Dortmund behind Lewandowski but being played out wide at Bayern and Germany he's not been so hot. Same problem if he goes to Pool, as I can't see Klopp shifting Coutinho out of the picture.

[Toronto Gooner]

Thing with Gotze is where he would fit. He was excellent for Dortmund behind Lewandowski but being played out wide at Bayern and Germany he's not been so hot. Same problem if he goes to Pool, as I can't see Klopp shifting Coutinho out of the picture.
Agreed that there is a problem of where he might fit. However, could he be a very good replacement for Sanchez if the rumours of discontent are true?

[Niall_Quinn]

If we lose Alexis we're done. A whole season on and I can't for the life of me understand why L'Crackhead didn't at least make a bid for Vidal, the perfect addition to a good start in signing Alexis. Now here we are, another also-ran, nothing season under our belts and we have to listen to talk about the players who are just in the door looking to head back out. Clouseau needs to get a fucking clue this summer and start showing some intent. It's not his fucking club to do with as he wishes.

Alright, apparently it IS his fucking club to do with as he wishes. Regardless, spend some fucking money.

[Kano]

Agreed that there is a problem of where he might fit. However, could he be a very good replacement for Sanchez if the rumours of discontent are true?
I'm not convinced he works too well out wide, which has been a problem at Bayern/Germany. He would drift inside a lot as that's his natural inclination and that adds to the usual over crowding and focus on central play. We could do with at least one player that is comfortable playing out wide as we haven't had one in ages and it helps stretch play and not rely so much on Bellerin/Monreal then being caught out of position on the break. Given counter-attacking is heavily used in the league again, that's an important point I think, given our high line. Gotze playing centrally I can see but Ozil is there of course and Wilshere behind him. Play him on the wing and I don't think we'd see what he can really do.

[Niall_Quinn]

apparently we are playing hardball and haggling over a £2m difference in valuation with Borussia Monchengladbach over this car jacker guy

That's not hardball, that's the entree. When we get down to haggling over 50 pence pieces, that's when we go hardball.

[Toronto Gooner]

I do not believe that the team would be done if Sanchez leaves. Yes, there will be problems but the team will survive and thrive if he is replaced properly. As for Vidal, I recall talking to a friend at the time. My freind is an Inter Milan fan and keeps a close eye on the Italian scene. Most of the reports in Italy were saying Vidal wanted to go to Bayern, so there was little to no chance for Arsenal to get him.

When it comes to transfer reports and rumours, we have to be very sceptical about them. Until a player is presented by the club, we have to remember that many rumours are "leaked" in order to strengthen a party's hand in negotiations.

[fakeyank]

Frankly we can buy 5 world class players and it wont make a difference. I can see Wenger playing them out of position and employing tactics which increase tippy tappy efficiency and not goal efficiency. Add to that our defensive frailties to set pieces and we will fighting for 4th place trophy again.

Enthusiasm :rose:

[AFC Leveller]

Ben Arfa is a free agent, he has had a great season for Nice. He is the type of player to produce something out of nothing and can actually beat defenders, unlike many of our wingers/attackers.

[I am invisible]

A very interesting list. I think that Cazorla has one more year as a strong contender for the starting XI. However, I saw an article (rumour)(http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/516546/Liverpool-Transfer-News-Jurgen-Klopp-Mario-Gotze) that said that Goetze was interested in Liverpool but only if they could provide European football. I would love to see Arsenal go for him.

Taking everything with a tonne or two of salt, it seems that Arsenal are definitely in for Morata and Xhaka. Add someone like Goetze and a young centre back, things would be looking really good.

My concern with Cazorla is that he's 31 (32 in December) and has just done his cruciate, so I'm not sure to what extent we can really count on him as a member of the starting XI throughout a long season from now on? No question about his ability at this level - just his durability. If we add another sentral midfielder this summer, which looks pretty nailed on at this point, then I'd be tempted to use him as a top-quality utility man, providing cover in centre mid when needed, but also competition and cover for Özil behind the striker - I think he's good enough to seamlessly switch between the two roles without breaking stride. However, it then becomes a question of whether Cazorla will be happy with that kind of sparing, utility role, or whether he might think he still has a few years at the top level left in him back in Spain? I wouldn't be at all surprised if he fancied one last move back home.

And I can see that same sort of thing happening throughout the squad...

If we sign a proper striker this summer, then what will Giroud or Walcott make of it? Unless the new player turns out to be a complete dud, it would surely spell the end of their hopes of being guaranteed first-choice CF. Will they then start considering a move while they still have some good years left?

With another decent CM probably coming in, on top of Elneny in January, Wilshere returning to fitness (hahalol), Coquelin and Cazorla (if he stays) then maybe Ramsey might start looking at and decide that it's not going to happen for him in centre mid at Arsenal? Again, I could actually see a role for him as an alternative to Özil behind the striker, and I'm not as against him playing on the right as some, but would Ramsey be happy with that? I'm not convinced.

There's been talk about Ox maybe going back to Southampton, if the stories are to be believed? I know Wenger would be against it, but, again, you've got to think about what the player might do. He's always seen himself as more of a central midfielder than a winger, and with competition starting to look pretty strong in both areas, he may decide that he needs a move to stop his career sliding into obscurity?

Ospina sounds like he's unhappy on the bench, Wenger doesn't seem to really fancy Campbell for some reason (should have added him to the list above), Özil and Sanchez are both stalling on their contract talks...

All of which brings me back to what I was saying earlier about Wenger and his target of 3 players - I'm sure he's come up with that thinking that the only losses that he'll be looking at from the current squad will be Welbeck, Arteta, Rosicky, Flamini and probably Debuchy, but I can see our needs and vacancies being a lot more fluid than that as the summer rolls on.

I think a CF, a CM and a RB are pretty much nailed on, whatever happens with everyone else - those are gaping holes in the squad that need to be filled.

I'd like to see a new CB come in regardless, if someone good enough is there for the taking, although I think we might have another year's grace to sort that one out? (Kos, Merts, Gabriel, Chambers, occasionally Monreal, and maybe even one of the younger players like Bielik(?) will probably be enough to see us through another season, if it comes to it.)

LB is also a slight concern, but, again, I don't think it's critical just yet. Monreal still has another good couple of years in him, and Gibbs seems happy enough as his understudy. The problem comes when Monreal needs replacing as first choice, because I'm not convinced Gibbs is up to it.

Beyond that, I think Walcott is probably done at Arsenal now - he'll be well aware of what the fans think of him after this year, and losing his spot in the England squad will have stung him. He doesn't strike me as the sort of player that will look at himself and think that he has to do better - I think he'll ultimately blame the fact that he hasn't been given enough chances as a CF and decide that it's everybody else's fault. Chuck in the likely arrival of a new striker, who will hopefully walk straight into the starting XI, and I just don't see him sticking around, whatever Wenger might say about wanting to keep him. His wages might be a stumbling block, but with this new TV money that's flooded into the Prem, I'm not even sure that's quite the issue that it was?

Would he need to be replaced with a big signing? I think it depends on the signing. If someone like a Mhiktaryan or a Mahrez were genuinely be available, then I think that's the kind of player that you make room for, but then I also think that our wide options are already looking a lot healthier than they were at the start of the season, with the emergence of Iwobi and Campbell? Toral sounds like he's done about as much as he can to impress on his loan spells, so he could be an option, and I'm also hearing a lot of big talk about Chris Willock being on the cusp of the senior squad? I'm not quite as worried about this area as others.

Ramsey and Ox I'm not too fussed about either way at the moment - happy to keep them around, as long as they're nowhere near CM, but I honestly wouldn't care much if they wanted out either. I'd also be happy to promote a youth player or loanee to replace them, providing we're talking about someone of at least a similar(ish) level to Iwobi (who already looks more useful than both of them).

Sanchez and Özil are the big ones - chuck whatever money it takes at them to keep them happy, because I have almost no faith in our scouts and negotiating team being able to arrange top-quality replacements for them on top of everything else! Just bringing in Wenger's original 3 players will probably push them to their very limits!

[Xhaka Can’t]

I am wayyyy too hungover to read all that

[Munchies]

Get in Gotze/Isco for Cazorla

[Munchies]

@honigstein
bit of a twist in the Xhaka story. official bid has now come in much lower than Gladbach expected after negotiations with 3rd parties.

https://twitter.com/honigstein/status/733286121703149568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw


:haha: :haha: :haha:

[Munchies]

Arsenal bid of €25m revealed for Granit Xhaka; Gladbach want €40m [BILD]


:haha:

[Munchies]

Max Eberl "There is an offer. With an offer in this range we cant talk seriously"

[fakeyank]

I am wayyyy too hungover to read all that

:gp:

:haha:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal bid of €25m revealed for Granit Xhaka; Gladbach want €40m [BILD]


:haha:

It's a fair bid, if true.

[Toronto Gooner]

@honigstein
bit of a twist in the Xhaka story. official bid has now come in much lower than Gladbach expected after negotiations with 3rd parties.

https://twitter.com/honigstein/status/733286121703149568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

:haha: :haha: :haha:
Interestingly, if you read the Twitter feed, there is a question raised about a post by Honigstein on May 11th which states that Arsenal were going to pay the full amount (https://twitter.com/honigstein/status/733286121703149568?ref_src=twsrc^tfw). I suspect that there is a fair amount of "playacting" going on.

Is it a question of Xhaka or Kante, but not both? All we can be assured of is that we will never know exactly what goes on behind the scenes.

[Toronto Gooner]

It would seem that this alleged impasse is the result of an inactive buy-out clause. A tweet from Raphael Honigstein says "Xhaka has a release clause for €30m, by the way. But it only kicks in in 2017."

[selassie]

Max Eberl "There is an offer. With an offer in this range we cant talk seriously"

Classic Arsenal, watch this one drag on for a month until City or Chelsea swoop in and pay the market valuation.

[Munchies]

Interestingly, if you read the Twitter feed, there is a question raised about a post by Honigstein on May 11th which states that Arsenal were going to pay the full amount (https://twitter.com/honigstein/status/733286121703149568?ref_src=twsrc^tfw). I suspect that there is a fair amount of "playacting" going on.

Is it a question of Xhaka or Kante, but not both? All we can be assured of is that we will never know exactly what goes on behind the scenes.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ci1BxAHWkAA-Fb_.jpg

It seems done!

[Toronto Gooner]

Classic Arsenal, watch this one drag on for a month until City or Chelsea swoop in and pay the market valuation.
I suppose the question is whether City and Chelsea have ever paid market valuation? This is not to excuse a deliberate low bid, if that is what happened, but using those two clubs as paragons of market valuation is not a good idea.

[Marc Overmars]

No such thing as market value anymore, Premier League clubs are swimming in cash and are bound to attract a higher premium.

[GP]

There's nothing wrong with negotiation.

I wouldn't put much stock in the words of people with their own self interest.

[Niall_Quinn]

The player better be shit hot if he's 30mill plus. You can get 60 Mahrez's for that!

[Toronto Gooner]

The player better be shit hot if he's 30mill plus. You can get 60 Mahrez's for that!
Sadly, Arsenal no longer have the luxury of buying a player like Mahrez for such a low fee. Disregarding the outpouring of anger and frustration from some fans, the club has a double premium on any transfer fee: 6th richest football club in the world and a EPL club.

[selassie]

I suppose the question is whether City and Chelsea have ever paid market valuation? This is not to excuse a deliberate low bid, if that is what happened, but using those two clubs as paragons of market valuation is not a good idea.

You have totally missed the point of my post but I will reply to what you are harping on about.

City and Chelsea have skewed the market to an extent, as have all the other Big European spenders, but the reality is they dictate the market prices to a degree, that's not to say we should follow suit and match them bid for bid but if we are in the market for a player who is a young semi-established international talent that captains his club side then we are going to have to pay a price.

The point of my post was more about us lowballing, if the selling clubs demands a fee, then we should negotiate from a realistic starting point if we want the player. We have form for lowballing and missing out on players hence why I posted the comment, in this instance it appears to be a hoax and the player appears to be close to joining us but in the past we have lost out on a fair few players through a combination of lowballing and dithering.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I said a while ago I'd be surprised if we signed him for the reported 40 million but I think it is probably a formality. We won't be signing Kante as well though......he will be the contingency.

The most important signing will be the wide forward or centre forward if we are to seriously challenge though.

[Toronto Gooner]

You have totally missed the point of my post but I will reply to what you are harping on about.

City and Chelsea have skewed the market to an extent, as have all the other Big European spenders, but the reality is they dictate the market prices to a degree, that's not to say we should follow suit and match them bid for bid but if we are in the market for a player who is a young semi-established international talent that captains his club side then we are going to have to pay a price.

The point of my post was more about us lowballing, if the selling clubs demands a fee, then we should negotiate from a realistic starting point if we want the player. We have form for lowballing and missing out on players hence why I posted the comment, in this instance it appears to be a hoax and the player appears to be close to joining us but in the past we have lost out on a fair few players through a combination of lowballing and dithering.
I did not miss the point of your post. As you note, this appears to be a hoax. Monchengladach's post that there is an agreement but that it is pending suggests that the fee has been agreed. Do you know for a fact that we have regularly low-balled in a negotiation, or are you relying on "media" reports?

And if you feel I am harping on about something, feel free to not respond.

[selassie]

I did not miss the point of your post. As you note, this appears to be a hoax. Monchengladach's post that there is an agreement but that it is pending suggests that the fee has been agreed. Do you know for a fact that we have regularly low-balled in a negotiation, or are you relying on "media" reports?

And if you feel I am harping on about something, feel free to not respond.

Relying on "Media" reports, it's the only medium we can form our opinion from. I can't claim to know more than anybody who is not involved in the negotiations, I only go by what I have read, direct quotes in the media from people who have been involved in negotiations with Arsenal. We are known for lowballing, whether that is 100% fact is open to question but we do seem to have a bit of a rep for it. It's hardly a surprise with Wenger being involved :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

Sadly, Arsenal no longer have the luxury of buying a player like Mahrez for such a low fee. Disregarding the outpouring of anger and frustration from some fans, the club has a double premium on any transfer fee: 6th richest football club in the world and a EPL club.

Not sure that's entirely true. The time and the circumstances are important too. Take Cech for example, he wanted London. That was a major factor for him so the gypos and mancs were out of the running despite their cash piles. And he was already moving away from the chavs. So we got him for £10-11mill which was a steal. Same with Ozil, we stole him. It was a late deal thing that didn't allow other clubs to get their acts together. And there was the same sort of feel about the Alexis deal too, except super early before the hype bandwagon could get rolling. I think you have to have your eyes open, be willing to strike when there's a deal to be done and not worry too much about who else is playing. Grudgingly I think we haven't done too badly on the major transfers recently. That's not the issue. It's how we then use those players that's the big problem, but that's another topic. I bet there are good deals out there if there's a real intent to get the deals done. We shouldn't be fucking around this summer. We all know what's needed. Even Wenger knows what's needed. Surely.

[Niall_Quinn]

You have totally missed the point of my post but I will reply to what you are harping on about.

City and Chelsea have skewed the market to an extent, as have all the other Big European spenders, but the reality is they dictate the market prices to a degree, that's not to say we should follow suit and match them bid for bid but if we are in the market for a player who is a young semi-established international talent that captains his club side then we are going to have to pay a price.

The point of my post was more about us lowballing, if the selling clubs demands a fee, then we should negotiate from a realistic starting point if we want the player. We have form for lowballing and missing out on players hence why I posted the comment, in this instance it appears to be a hoax and the player appears to be close to joining us but in the past we have lost out on a fair few players through a combination of lowballing and dithering.

Just remember that agents are slime. Their whole reason for living is cash and they'll do anything and say anything to get as much of it as they can. Most of them don't give a fuck about the players, they view them as commodities to be traded. You can see this by the amount of promising young players that ended up in the chav or gypo reserves, or the "wonder kids" that went to Marketing and were never heard of again. We're entering silly season and everything that gets reported in the media (the whores that hang on the words of liars) needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, lime and a stiff tequila.

[Niall_Quinn]

I said a while ago I'd be surprised if we signed him for the reported 40 million but I think it is probably a formality. We won't be signing Kante as well though......he will be the contingency.

The most important signing will be the wide forward or centre forward if we are to seriously challenge though.

I hope Kante stays at Leicester. Why wouldn't he? I don't get these players. Worshipped by the fans, PL title over the fire, everything balanced just perfectly, life is good. So where can I move to make more money. Horrible cunts basically.

[fakeyank]

Even Wenger knows what's needed. Surely.

Did you just start following Arsenal? :lol:

[mastermind84]

Just remember that agents are slime. Their whole reason for living is cash and they'll do anything and say anything to get as much of it as they can. Most of them don't give a fuck about the players, they view them as commodities to be traded. You can see this by the amount of promising young players that ended up in the chav or gypo reserves, or the "wonder kids" that went to Marketing and were never heard of again. We're entering silly season and everything that gets reported in the media (the whores that hang on the words of liars) needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, lime and a stiff tequila.

you can say this same exact thing about clubs, tbf.

[I am invisible]

I am wayyyy too hungover to read all that

Condensed version:

Definitely need a CF, CM and RB.

Might need a backup Goalkeeper.

CB and LB are going to be needed at some point, but aren't critical yet.

I think Walcott will leave. Would be nice to bring in a proper, world-class wide attacker in his place, but I'd also be happy to give someone like Willock or Toral a chance.

Ramsey and Ox should be spanked in front of the other players, and made to stand in the corridor.

Keep Sanchez and Özil at all costs! Not because they're irreplaceable, but because our negotiating team seems to struggle with anything more than one or two deals per window.

[Niall_Quinn]

Did you just start following Arsenal? :lol:

No, but there must be a word that describes a thing that has become so obvious it is way beyond obvious. Whatever that word is, it describes where we are now. The situation is like a cold, dead salmon being slapped around his face so maybe Wenger will notice?

[I am invisible]

I hope Kante stays at Leicester. Why wouldn't he? I don't get these players. Worshipped by the fans, PL title over the fire, everything balanced just perfectly, life is good. So where can I move to make more money. Horrible cunts basically.

I agree. I also think there's something a little bit shitty about ripping Leicester's squad apart the moment they'e achieved something? Feels like a cheap, lazy way to get ahead of your rivals...

[Marc Overmars]

Sod Leicester. Hope their team is picked apart tbh.

[I am invisible]

Just remember that agents are slime. Their whole reason for living is cash and they'll do anything and say anything to get as much of it as they can. Most of them don't give a fuck about the players, they view them as commodities to be traded. You can see this by the amount of promising young players that ended up in the chav or gypo reserves, or the "wonder kids" that went to Marketing and were never heard of again. We're entering silly season and everything that gets reported in the media (the whores that hang on the words of liars) needs to be taken with a pinch of salt, lime and a stiff tequila.

I think we've also got to realise that we, as Arsenal fans, are probably the softest touch going when it comes to football gossip and rumours. We've been so starved of top-quality signings over the last 10 years that we desperately want to believe anything that links us with any big name. But at the same time we're all so cynical about our club now that we'll also immediately believe anything that suggests that we've ballsed something up. We're pretty much the perfect marks for any internet or newspaper hack...

[Munchies]

@AFCArsenalHorse
Xhaka is at London Colney now finalising his transfer to Arsenal. Fee said to be £35mil approx.

https://twitter.com/AFCArsenalHorse/status/733573433573793792

:bow:

[Munchies]

@AFCArsenalHorse
We have been told from Colney that it's going to be a very busy summer. #Arsenal

http://i.imgur.com/pbLqP6H.jpg

[Kano]

We can read Mumbles, enough with this big bold size 40 shit in the posts from Twatter.

[Munchies]

We can read Mumbles, enough with this big bold size 40 shit in the posts from Twatter.

it's size 4, calm down and stop being a fanny

[I am invisible]

ITKs :bow:

[Kano]

lolz melt m8 jokz

[Munchies]

lolz melt m8 jokz

put some respeck on my name :lol:

http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article688570.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/arsenewengerlecture.jpg

[AFC Leveller]

put some respeck on my name :lol:

http://i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article688570.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/arsenewengerlecture.jpg

Are you finished or are you done?

[dostoy]

If or when we sign this Xhaka bloke, what does that mean for Ramsey and Cazorla ?

Will Xhaka play as one of the two in a 4-2-3-1 alongside Elneny or Coquelin ?

[Marc Overmars]

I think Coq will take up Flamini's mantle of being the pubber who comes in once in a while to do a job.

We'd have a plethora of central options though as the rest all seem interchangeable. Knowing our luck with injuries we'll never have to deal with the issue of them all being available anyway.

[I am invisible]

I think Coq will take up Flamini's mantle of being the pubber who comes in once in a while to do a job.

We'd have a plethora of central options though as the rest all seem interchangeable. Knowing our luck with injuries we'll never have to deal with the issue of them all being available anyway.

:good:

Yeah, it looks like the game (at the top level, at least) is moving past midfield 'specialists' now, and towards more rounded players, who are expected to be able to do a bit of everything. Which, on paper, probably sounds a lot like an old-school box-to-box midfielder, but I think there's probably far more emphasis on positional discipline / awareness and solid judgment in the modern role (e.g. you want them to have the ability to carry the ball out of defence, if it's safe to do so, but you don't want them trying to dribble out of trouble every single time, like Diaby used to). I still see an important place for terriers like Coquelin in a squad, but I see them more as tactical options now, rather than the first name on the team sheet, every game.

Xhaka, Elneny and Wilshere (when he's fit) look like they fit the modern brief. Cazorla's maybe not so strong defensively, but his passing and control is that good that you'd always try and find a place for him (while he still has the legs). Ramsey has the raw attributes, but I just don't trust his judgment or awareness - for me, he has the mentality of an attacking player, not a central midfielder...

[I am invisible]

If or when we sign this Xhaka bloke, what does that mean for Ramsey and Cazorla ?

Will Xhaka play as one of the two in a 4-2-3-1 alongside Elneny or Coquelin ?

I'd be tempted to use Ramsey as a completely different option to Özil behind the striker? More of a runner and goal-scorer than a play-maker, who might hassle and chase oppo defenders a bit more? In that kind of area of the field, I think his natural, marauding style would be an asset in certain games - in centre mid it's starting to feel like a liability.

(And that doesn't always mean dropping or resting Özil - let's not forget he's more than capable of playing down the left or right himself.)

Cazorla could be more direct cover / competition for Özil, as well as cover and competition for CM. Probably wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to lessen his workload a bit though - he'll be 32 in December, and has just done his cruciate, so his days of starting every game in the engine of the team are probably over...

[Gooner23]

Ramsey should be understudy to Ozil or back up wide right during (inevitable) injury crisis. With Xhaka, Elneny, Coq, Cazorla and Wilshere there is no place for him in centre mid to fuck things up.

[Niall_Quinn]

Not sure why we can't go back to the system that was insanely successful in Wenger's earlier years. I don't believe any of this modern football bollocks. Seems to me like modern football is all about slow, plodding ball retention with its signature being a total inability or desire to cross a ball. Old Utd and Arsenal teams would rip the shit out of any team in world football today, they'd just have too much mobility, direct pace and raw power for the powder puff brigade. And raw talent, because that seems to be something else missing from the modern player, with a few notable exceptions. Leicester just proved that if you go back to playing football it works. The ballerina and pub outfits don't know how to handle real football.

[mastermind84]

Ramsey should be understudy to Ozil or back up wide right during (inevitable) injury crisis. With Xhaka, Elneny, Coq, Cazorla and Wilshere there is no place for him in centre mid to fuck things up.

Ramsey isn't a 10, he a box to box and a great asset

He should start as he is our best athlete in central mid. We should go with 3. Ramsey, Santi/Jack, Xhaka


Özil could play head of a diamond or on the right in a 433

We would have the best midfield in England by far

[Niall_Quinn]

Ramsey isn't a 10, he a box to box and a great asset

He should start as he is our best athlete in central mid. We should go with 3. Ramsey, Santi/Jack, Xhaka


Özil could play head of a diamond or on the right in a 433

One flaw in that plan is there's nobody up top for these guys to work with. Nothing really works unless the manager wants to get serious about bringing a striker in.

EDIT: A young Anelka would kill it with those players behind him.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I hope Kante stays at Leicester. Why wouldn't he? I don't get these players. Worshipped by the fans, PL title over the fire, everything balanced just perfectly, life is good. So where can I move to make more money. Horrible cunts basically.

He has a release clause so if a club offers it there should be little complaint..........If Leicester don't want to let him go, then they don't have to........though I question the veracity of these things after the Suarez debacle....

[AFC Leveller]

If we manage to get a proper striker in this summer them I believe we will have a serious team that would challenge for major honors properly.
However, even the current team can look lethal if we play everyone where they should.


------Cech-------
Belerin-Merts-Kos-Mont

------Xhaka-------
Elneny----Santi
------Ozil-----

-----Giroud----Sanchez

442, players playing in their favourite positions and seeing as are width comes from the full backs, we don't need to worry a out wingers.

[mastermind84]

One flaw in that plan is there's nobody up top for these guys to work with. Nothing really works unless the manager wants to get serious about bringing a striker in.

EDIT: A young Anelka would kill it with those players behind him.
I'm saying this under the assumption that we are signing a new CF

[Kano]

If we manage to get a proper striker in this summer them I believe we will have a serious team that would challenge for major honors properly.
However, even the current team can look lethal if we play everyone where they should.


------Cech-------
Belerin-Merts-Kos-Mont

------Xhaka-------
Elneny----Santi
------Ozil-----

-----Giroud----Sanchez

442, players playing in their favourite positions and seeing as are width comes from the full backs, we don't need to worry a out wingers.

Without even a striker that can contribute to similar levels of Giroud, nothing will change. Then throw in the injuries and mis-management of the squad by Wenger and things look different. I'm excited by new signings as much as the next fan but let's not forget what we have seen for seasons on end. We always end up short in the squad somewhere and our style of football has become pretty rancid too. We've seen a lot of teams and squads look 'great' on paper in the past decade but reality turns out to be vastly different. Don't want to put a dampener on optimism because that's half the point of being a fan but we can't forget where we are at the moment.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Sanchez and Ollie have as much chemistry as a badger and donkey lev!

[mastermind84]

Sanchez and Ollie have as much chemistry as a badger and donkey lev!

Sanchez doesn't have chemistry with anyone on the pitch. And allegedly off the pitch he isn't liked that much either.

[I am invisible]

He has a release clause so if a club offers it there should be little complaint..........If Leicester don't want to let him go, then they don't have to........though I question the veracity of these things after the Suarez debacle....
Nothing to question, mate - there was a release clause and Liverpool's owners just lied through their teeth about it!

Honestly, their PR team have played an absolute blinder with that story - our bid should have legally triggered his release clause, but somehow we've come out of it being mocked by all and sundry (including our own fans)?! How our manager and board must wish we had their spin team at the moment...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Sanchez doesn't have chemistry with anyone on the pitch. And allegedly off the pitch he isn't liked that much either.

Have you watched the games?

Are you saying we should sell him?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Nothing to question, mate - there was a release clause and Liverpool's owners just lied through their teeth about it!

Honestly, their PR team have played an absolute blinder with that story - our bid should have legally triggered his release clause, but somehow we've come out of it being mocked by all and sundry (including our own fans)?! How our manager and board must wish we had their spin team at the moment...
Shouldn't the necessary authorities have taken their arses to task? I never understood why that didn't happen.....particularly after admitting they lied. What's the point of the clause if you can just lie about!

[I am invisible]

Shouldn't the necessary authorities have taken their arses to task? I never understood why that didn't happen.....particularly after admitting they lied. What's the point of the clause if you can just lie about!

I guess these contracts are between the clubs and the players, so it would have been down to Suarez to take any private action? But the impression I got was that even Suarez had started to question whether he his release clause was valid in the end - that's how good of a job they did!

To be honest, part of me actually thought 'Good for you, Liverpool' when they just folded their arms and refused to deal - I remember their owner saying something about how players rarely honour their contracts, so they just decided to do the same. The only thing that still massively irks me about it is that we're still regarded as the arseholes in the whole debacle, when in actual fact we did nothing wrong and did pretty much everything necessary to get the deal done?

[Marc Overmars]

I think it was just down to Suarez to force the move through but I don't think he was arsed about joining us in particular, he just fancied CL football and we just happened to be the ones with an offer on the table. With him, we would have won the league at least twice in the 3 seasons that have since passed. Annoying.

[Globalgunner]

Surely Suarez` agent is the one who should know the minutiae of his players contract. I dont think we heard a peep from him throughout. maybe Pool paid him a bung tyo keep quiet, maybe Suarez wasnt that arsed about coming to us, either way, we would have probably played him at DM anyways, or more realistically he would have forced a move to Barca after 1 season.
Anyways lets get Morata in and there is still the issue of a new LB. Gibbs can do one.Poor, poor player

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Even Gordon Taylor said it wasn't a concrete release clause; just a good faith agreement that we would sit down and negotiate. That's the part we ignored, we basically just told you to do one.

Unless we drew up a fake contract and no one noticed.
But yes, even if we did act illegally, it would have been down to the player to take action.

[AFC Leveller]

Suarez was never gonna kick up a fuss to join us and I remember Gerrard saying he asked him for one more season and then he could go to Barca or Real and that's what happened.

With Suarez up front we would have walked the league the season we missed up on him and this season for sure.

[Niall_Quinn]

Suarez is where he wants to be. We would have been a stepping stone and nothing more.

[I am invisible]

Even Gordon Taylor said it wasn't a concrete release clause; just a good faith agreement that we would sit down and negotiate. That's the part we ignored, we basically just told you to do one.

Unless we drew up a fake contract and no one noticed.
But yes, even if we did act illegally, it would have been down to the player to take action.

John W Henry later admitted that there was a clause, so I don't think it's really in question...

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/mar/02/liverpool-john-henry-luis-suarez-clause

As I said, I don't blame Liverpool at all for refusing to honour it - I actually applaud the stance in a lot of ways. These players are happy enough to sign the things and take the money, but, as Henry rightly says, they then seem to think it's completely OK to only honouring them when they feel like it, so why shouldn't the clubs do the same? So f--k Suarez, and whether it was illegal or not!

The only thing I didn't like was the media assault against us that followed - the whole "What are they smoking at the Emirates" bit, that was picked up by the media and the fans, and turned into a massive piss-take, that is still going on today. I don't suppose your owner meant it as anything more than a throwaway quip, but it's become a stick that everyone, our own fans included, use to hit us with...

[I am invisible]

Surely Suarez` agent is the one who should know the minutiae of his players contract. I dont think we heard a peep from him throughout. maybe Pool paid him a bung tyo keep quiet, maybe Suarez wasnt that arsed about coming to us, either way, we would have probably played him at DM anyways, or more realistically he would have forced a move to Barca after 1 season.
Anyways lets get Morata in and there is still the issue of a new LB. Gibbs can do one.Poor, poor player

Probably, but you're making the assumption there that these agents are professional businessmen, and not an oily bunch of leeches who do very little, if anything for their money. They seem like a bunch of chancers to me, and I can well imagine that a lot of them would cave instantly (or at least be riddled with self-doubt), if a multi-billionaire, and obviously incredibly smart man like John W Henry stood up to them, even if it was a total bluff! I think a lot of them would just assume that this a guy who knows his shit, and that they must have missed something...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

A stepping stone for sure, nobody is under any illusions here. If the prettiest girl at school thinks you're an idiot but gets with you because you're cute, hey you might get something out of it even if it isn't going to be happily ever after.

Personally I'm glad the racist little shite face didn't end up here but we would have had a world class player for a few years and sold him for a kings ransom.

[Kano]

John W Henry later admitted that there was a clause, so I don't think it's really in question...

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/mar/02/liverpool-john-henry-luis-suarez-clause

As I said, I don't blame Liverpool at all for refusing to honour it - I actually applaud the stance in a lot of ways. These players are happy enough to sign the things and take the money, but, as Henry rightly says, they then seem to think it's completely OK to only honouring them when they feel like it, so why shouldn't the clubs do the same? So f--k Suarez, and whether it was illegal or not!

The only thing I didn't like was the media assault against us that followed - the whole "What are they smoking at the Emirates" bit, that was picked up by the media and the fans, and turned into a massive piss-take, that is still going on today. I don't suppose your owner meant it as anything more than a throwaway quip, but it's become a stick that everyone, our own fans included, use to hit us with...
I think bidding one pound over the 'clause' has stuck around far longer than Henry's comment. That was the most ridiculous aspect about the entire saga and summed up Wenger's approach to the market in many ways. Go in at 40.5, 41 even - it really wasn't a surprise that bidding a miserly100p over the limit became so ridiculed and wasn't taken seriously.

[mastermind84]

Have you watched the games?

Are you saying we should sell him?
I've watched 95 percent of his matches here. He doesn't have an on pitch relationship with anyone except Theo at CF.

Don't want him sold unless we can get someone if similar quality but more in tune with the team.

[AFC Leveller]

Rumor has it that Jack will be going to City after we tie up the Xhaka deal.