Winter Transfer Ignorance and Dart Throwing.

[I am invisible]

Don't hold your breath for the summer, we probably won't have much having spent this summers money last summer (on Pepe and Saliba) and probably with no CL football.

With Kroenke not willing to put his hand in his pocket I expect we'll be going for bargain basement signings and probably will have a bit more of what happened with Mari too.

It’s the wage bill that’s killing us - if you look for a list of what everyone’s earning, you can see at a glance just how much waste there is there. Draw a line through the squad at the £90k/wk mark, and I reckon we could afford to lose almost everyone above that line, except Auba and Leno, and replace them with players on half the money (or less).

Honestly, I’m no fan of the Kroenkes, but we really shouldn’t have to ask them for a penny to sort this mess out. This club generates more than enough to be competitive, even without CL revenue - we’re just not making it work hard enough. If I were the owners of the club, I think I’d want to see some evidence that the people spending the money can actually be trusted with it before I gave them any more...

[Bumble]

It’s the wage bill that’s killing us - if you look for a list of what everyone’s earning, you can see at a glance just how much waste there is there. Draw a line through the squad at the £90k/wk mark, and I reckon we could afford to lose almost everyone above that line, except Auba and Leno, and replace them with players on half the money (or less).

Honestly, I’m no fan of the Kroenkes, but we really shouldn’t have to ask them for a penny to sort this mess out. This club generates more than enough to be competitive, even without CL revenue - we’re just not making it work hard enough. If I were the owners of the club, I think I’d want to see some evidence that the people spending the money can actually be trusted with it before I gave them any more...

think for years we have overpaid in salaries, even when everyone was lauding Wenger for not spending money.... the money was being spent on salaries instead of transfer fees.

Anyway looks like Pablo Mari is joining on loan. anyone know if he is any good? think he has played for a couple of 2nd division clubs before Flamengo

[I am invisible]

think for years we have overpaid in salaries, even when everyone was lauding Wenger for not spending money.... the money was being spent on salaries instead of transfer fees...

Yeah, it was that communal wage structure he implemented - sounds reasonable in theory, but in practice it’s no way to run a business. Instead of keeping everyone level and happy we’ve ended up underpaying (and losing) the rare genuine stars we’ve had and overpaying a majority of average players who have then become incredibly hard to shift. Hoping we’re seeing the beginning of the end of that now.


...Anyway looks like Pablo Mari is joining on loan. anyone know if he is any good? think he has played for a couple of 2nd division clubs before. Flamengo
Great, now we’re gonna have Greta Thunberg showing up on our doorstep.

Honestly, can’t say that I really know anything about him, bar what I’ve read since the weekend. Tim Vickery (South American football expert, who’s opinion is generally trustworthy) seems to rate him very highly, so that’s promising, but who can say how he’ll take to PL football?

What I will say is that the bar is extremely low right now - basically, if he’s a) better than Mustafi and b) fit then it’ll probably be a good deal for us at that price. If Arteta can make our collection of shell-shocked, fatally-flawed defenders look semi-competent with just a bit of structure and organisation then I guess there’s hope for anyone, right?

[Mac76]

What I will say is that the bar is extremely low right now - basically, if he’s a) better than Mustafi and b) fit then it’ll probably be a good deal for us at that price. If Arteta can make our shell-shocked, fatally flawed defenders look semi-competent with just a bit of structure and organisation then I guess there’s hope for anyone, right?

agree, though the bar is extremely low as i genuinely believe there's 5-a-side players in the crowd on any given match day who are better than Mustafi

[GP]

Pablo Mari is confirmed

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1222508885006848000

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Media in transfer windows. :haha:

Absolutely fucking clueless.

[Marc Overmars]

Hope he turns out to be more useful than our recent loan signings.

Which shouldn't be hard.

[dazthegooner]

Well it's on Arsenal.com. Also just seen Giroud would be open to a move to the spuds <_<

[Globalgunner]

Well it's on Arsenal.com. Also just seen Giroud would be open to a move to the spuds <_<

He will fit right in. Giroud knows how to make a DVD

[I am invisible]

He will fit right in. Giroud knows how to make a DVD

:gp:

[Mac76]

so will our fans still sing his song when he comes to play us at the Emirates for spuds? :rolleyes:

[dazthegooner]

So when did we ever call him c**t?

[Mac76]

So when did we ever call him c**t?

i think i did quite a few times, normally preceded with the word 'useless' :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

We're apparently signing Cedric Soares.

Another loan with an option to buy.

:shrug:

[dazthegooner]

Think he's available for free at the end of the season so might be a nominal fee.

[I am invisible]

We're apparently signing Cedric Soares.

Another loan with an option to buy.

:shrug:
Interesting - RB, isn’t he? Could mean Ceballos back to Madrid and AMN into CM?

[Marc Overmars]

Barca have bid 100m for Richarlison. :blink:

[dazthegooner]

For a 100m that can have auba... :unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Barca have bid 100m for Richarlison. :blink:

They must be getting desperate.

Or this is the limit of Messi's football knowledge now. :rose:

[Niall_Quinn]

Barca have bid 100m for Richarlison. :blink:

WTF?

They can have Mustafi for £150mill, or £200mill if they prefer.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Mustafi has shown how destructive he can be up front. Barca could do worse.

[Marc Overmars]

Chelsea trying to sign Dries Mertens.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Soares would really be an odd one if it happens. We cooked the league season months ago anyway, so it all seems so futile.

[Bumble]

Soares would really be an odd one if it happens. We cooked the league season months ago anyway, so it all seems so futile.

maybe its so they can sell Bellerin in the summer even though its only a 6 month loan.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Speaking of which, I think the summer window will be even more frustrating for people than this one.

[Gooner23]

Soares would really be an odd one if it happens. We cooked the league season months ago anyway, so it all seems so futile.

Seems a bizarre one when money is so limited. I thought AMN looked to be improving in that role under Arteta.

[dazthegooner]

Think Arteta has AMN done for a midfield role he has mentioned he doesn't see him as a right-back.

[I am invisible]

Could mean Ceballos is going back to Madrid and we might need AMN in CM more than RB?

[I am invisible]

Speaking of which, I think the summer window will be even more frustrating for people than this one.
The club have certainly got their work cut out, with Auba, Özil, Luiz, Sokratis and Mustafi all down to the final year of their contracts come June. I’m not sure we’ve even made an effort to discuss new terms with 4 out of those 5, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Mari turned out to be the covert first move in a defensive rebuild (disguised as an emergency loan so no one gets suspicious and downs tools before the season’s over)?

[Marc Overmars]

AMN has grown into a RB so much so that I don’t even consider him a midfield option anymore. He’s been a RB for probably 90% of his first team career with us. Can’t even remember the last time he played CM for us.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I've always believed that if HE himself can buy into it, AMN could be a superb right back, often to the dismay and ridicule of other fans but Arteta is managing to make that not look foolish. I agree with the comment above though....I'm not sure Arteta really sees him there. I think he can actually cover RB and CM which is partly why I think the Soares deal won't happen in the end.

[I am invisible]

I'm not sure it would make a great deal of difference to him in Arteta's system? Look at the way Xhaka has been used down the left: starts in CM, but drops to cover LB - AMN is pretty much already doing the same thing on the other side, only in reverse: starts at RB, but then steps up to cover CM. Either way he's rocking back-and-forth between the 2 roles, so a big chunk of it should be comfortably familiar to him.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Actually will be a bit gutted if Ceballos moves on or doesn't really get used. I think he is a really classy two touch player (albeit sometimes 20 touches in a circle) who Arteta must be able to polish up. Even at the end of the last game he was cutting their backline with defence splitting balls for Saka/Martinelli.

[I am invisible]

...I think he can actually cover RB and CM which is partly why I think the Soares deal won't happen in the end.

Hmmm, I don't know... it sounds like it's pretty much all but agreed? Might have more to do with concerns over Bellerin's fitness than AMN's suitability for the RB role (I wouldn't like to put money on Hector staying fit until May).

Having said that, unlike Mari (who I suspect is actually a permanent signing in loan clothing) I'm not sure Soares stays beyond the summer - this one does genuinely feel like emergency cover, and a marriage of convenience for both sides.

[I am invisible]

Actually will be a bit gutted if Ceballos moves on or doesn't really get used. I think he is a really classy two touch player (albeit sometimes 20 touches in a circle) who Arteta must be able to polish up. Even at the end of the last game he was cutting their backline with defence splitting balls for Saka/Martinelli.

Yeah, there's a good player in there, if we can work out the right midfield role + system for him - might not be our choice though, if either the player or Madrid decide to call it? Not really sure what's going on there, or what the issue might be tbh...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

It does sound like that by how widely it's being reported, so maybe I'm just more wishful thinking than anything. Then again, Kuwhatshisface at one point sounded close to a done deal then apparently we came to our senses. Though I hear Arteta himself pulled the plug on that one.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Yeah, there's a good player in there, if we can work out the right midfield role + system for him - might not be our choice though, if either the player or Madrid decide to call it? Not really sure what's going on there, or what the issue might be tbh...

I think he is being a little bit forgotten at Madrid and he wouldn't be the only one. I think he is understandably eager to get into the Spain team this summer and is just a little bit restless and alarmed by his lack of game time. I think Arteta could and should have already used him a lot more. He is still roundly seen as a rising star of Spanish football and one of the best of their bunch so if he really is a star in the making, I hope Arteta gets hold of him and the situation quickly. There's something about the combination or technical quality and control from Spanish midfielders that is very difficult to find elsewhere.

I don't want to cry yet again about Santi....

[I am invisible]

I think he is being a little bit forgotten at Madrid and he wouldn't be the only one. I think he is understandably eager to get into the Spain team this summer and is just a little bit restless and alarmed by his lack of game time. I think Arteta could and should have already used him a lot more. He is still roundly seen as a rising star of Spanish football and one of the best of their bunch so if he really is a star in the making, I hope Arteta gets hold of him and the situation quickly. There's something about the combination or technical quality and control from Spanish midfielders that is very difficult to find elsewhere.

I don't want to cry yet again about Santi....
Yeah, maybe. Maybe.

It could just be a simple fitness issue, especially if he's only recently back from a lengthy lay off? Or Maybe he's just been mailing it in in training? who knows? If we had more to play for then I'd probably be more bothered, but as it is it's hard to care too much when the rest of this season is basically just prep for next year when he won't be with us.

Maybe that's it - maybe we're just keeping him fresh and hungry for the Europa League, as the only competition that holds any significant value for the club at this point?

[Mac76]

i think maybe he's not fitting in with Arteta's training regime, he apprantly said soemthign abotu playing Ceballios if he got himself fit enough

maybe he's not into the pressing game Arteta wants to play - from what i've seen he's mainly done a few showy touches in midfield before passing sideways so not sure how good he'd be for us anyway

equally i get a bit annoyed with coaches who rate anyone who runs around for them enough in training - it seems to be what keeps people like Xhaka and Mustafi in the side despite not being good enough

[KSE Comedy Club]

Ceballos is staying now apparently

[Mac76]

Ceballos is staying now apparently

Yeah i saw that - it seems geting some minutes against Bournemourh changed his mind... :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We haven't side Cedric the Entertainer yet.

That means we have something to watch Jim White day for later. :bow:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Transfer news:

the only incoming is likely to be Cedric Soares.

the only outgoing (if it really happens) is likely to be Auba to Barca

[McNamara That Ghost...]

And that outgoing isn't very likely.

[dazthegooner]

Won't happen today though if we don't get into the Champions league (premiership league top four finish unlikely) he will be off in the summer.

[Globalgunner]

Won't happen today though if we don't get into the Champions league (premiership league top four finish unlikely) he will be off in the summer.

Barca wont want him in the summer i guess, unless they plan on moving Suarez on which is unlikely. Suarez may be older but he is still a better striker than Auba in my opinion, plus Messi obviously loves playing with him

[GP]

Arsenal are expected to complete the signing of right back Hatem Trabelsi from Ajax.

[Marc Overmars]

United have bid 27m for Josh King. :lol:

[Gooner23]

That's a bargain compared to 100m for Richarlison!

[GP]

United have bid 27m for Josh King. :lol:

Banter club.

[Gooner23]

Cedric confirmed

[I am invisible]

Might have to pop over to red cafe to see how that's gone down...

[Marc Overmars]

Bit of PL experience and another body at the back.

Underwhelming but probably a useful signing.

[I am invisible]

Cedric confirmed

Cool.

Is that us done then? Can we take the rest of the day?

[I am invisible]

Just out of interest, has Luiz always preferred to play on the left side of central defence, or has he usually played right for Chelsea / PSG / Brazil? (Or is he happy to play either?)

Just having a think about how we might shuffle things around with the two loanees to choose from...

[Penguin]

I have a feeling that AMN might have told Arteta he doesn't want to play RB anymore. Or that he wants more opportunities in midfield.

Otherwise I don't see the point in the Soares loan. I'm perfectly happy with Bellerin and AMN as cover.

[Özim]

Bit of PL experience and another body at the back.

Underwhelming but probably a useful signing.

Yeah true, he's out for another 3-4 weeks after a spell on the sidelines, so it'll be a while until he's fit. I'm not sure I see the logic is signing someone who's been out and is still injured for a month and will take time to get fit.

Think we're paying something like 3 million plus add ons and he's free in the summer so we'll probably sign him them. The worry is he'll be 29 and we'lll be going into the same territory we are with Sokratis, Luiz, we'll need to replace him in no time.

[Özim]

Just out of interest, has Luiz always preferred to play on the left side of central defence, or has he usually played right for Chelsea / PSG / Brazil? (Or is he happy to play either?)

Just having a think about how we might shuffle things around with the two loanees to choose from...

Stick Luiz in midfield and get rid of Xhaka. You'll solve two problems, Luiz is no longer a liability and Xhaka is out of the team allowing us to move forward.

[I am invisible]

Stick Luiz in midfield and get rid of Xhaka. You'll solve two problems, Luiz is no longer a liability and Xhaka is out of the team allowing us to move forward.

Yeah, I'm thinking, if Mari has a decent range of passing on him from the left side of defence, and if Luiz can shower the passes around from the right side, then do we need a midfield quarterback like Xhaka sat in front of them? Or can we go with someone a little more dynamic?

(To be fair to Xhaka, I actually think he's been decent over the last month - this is more about having the scope to add another dimension to the team instead of doubling-down on the same option.)

[Ralpheroo72]

You never know, Cedric could be similar to Paul Warhurst, start as a defender, but lethal in front of goal.

[dostoy]

Arsenal have finally signed the Southampton reject.

I can stop biting my nails now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mac76]

Stick Luiz in midfield and get rid of Xhaka. You'll solve two problems, Luiz is no longer a liability and Xhaka is out of the team allowing us to move forward.

:gp:

:clap:

[Mac76]

Arsenal have finally signed the Southampton reject.

I can stop biting my nails now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

does make you wonderr, that Saints haven't even been playing him and been doing very nicely thank you

however if it means no Mustafi then... :dance:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Yeah, maybe. Maybe.

It could just be a simple fitness issue, especially if he's only recently back from a lengthy lay off? Or Maybe he's just been mailing it in in training? who knows? If we had more to play for then I'd probably be more bothered, but as it is it's hard to care too much when the rest of this season is basically just prep for next year when he won't be with us.

Maybe that's it - maybe we're just keeping him fresh and hungry for the Europa League, as the only competition that holds any significant value for the club at this point?
I was hoping we would eventually sign him permanently, but that looks less and less likely. I also don't think the fee reported is ridiculous given his ability and age. Sometimes you just watch a player love and become convinced of his fundamental ability. That's how I feel about Ceballos. I think people are quickly forgetting that he amongst any other is as willing to 'put a foot in' on an opponent when useful.

Still utterly underwhelmed by Soares as it's the type of signing that stops you getting worse rather than makes you any better. Even if as a signing it is of some use, he will still need to be playing, in theory, better than AMN is to justify being put in ahead. Otherwise, still, what is the point of him playing? The fact he is an actual right back only really matters if he can play better than whoever we currently have there.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arsenal. :bow:

Why sign Suarez permanently when you get Soares on loan. :bow:

[I am invisible]

I was hoping we would eventually sign him permanently, but that looks less and less likely. I also don't think the fee reported is ridiculous given his ability and age. Sometimes you just watch a player love and become convinced of his fundamental ability. That's how I feel about Ceballos. I think people are quickly forgetting that he amongst any other is as willing to 'put a foot in' on an opponent when useful.

Still utterly underwhelmed by Soares as it's the type of signing that stops you getting worse rather than makes you any better. Even if as a signing it is of some use, he will still need to be playing, in theory, better than AMN is to justify being put in ahead. Otherwise, still, what is the point of him playing? The fact he is an actual right back only really matters if he can play better than whoever we currently have there.
I guess you can’t blame him for holding out for his chance at Real Madrid - he’s done the hard bit, and is already one of their players, so he just needs an opening. I’ll look forward to seeing him in an Arsenal shirt until May, but I’m more interested in tracking the development of Willock, Guendouzi and Smith Rowe on his loan.

Soares doesn’t really bother me one way or the other - as I said, it feels very much like a temporary marriage of convenience between the two parties: we need depth at RB (with question marks over Bellerin’s fitness, and Chambers out for a year); and Soares needs to put himself in the shop window for 6 months to get the best free transfer he can. Unless he turns out to be brilliant, I don’t see it going any further than that...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I don't blame him at all. I do think that in a parallel universe where we actually finished in the top 4 last season as we fully should have and just signed Arteta in the first place, we might be talking about buying Ceballos now rather than loaning him. I think he is keener on Real than they are on him. As always, their club is far too distracted with stardom and big names that their fringe decent players falling by the wayside could easily be to our benefit. As it was supposed to be with Ozil....and Higuain.....

Anyway this all seems kinda futile. We will finish out the top 4 and hardly spend a penny net this summer and simply hope Arteta really continues to get our ish to together.

[fakeyank]

I guess you can’t blame him for holding out for his chance at Real Madrid - he’s done the hard bit, and is already one of their players, so he just needs an opening. I’ll look forward to seeing him in an Arsenal shirt until May, but I’m more interested in tracking the development of Willock, Guendouzi and Smith Rowe on his loan.

Soares doesn’t really bother me one way or the other - as I said, it feels very much like a temporary marriage of convenience between the two parties: we need depth at RB (with question marks over Bellerin’s fitness, and Chambers out for a year); and Soares needs to put himself in the shop window for 6 months to get the best free transfer he can. Unless he turns out to be brilliant, I don’t see it going any further than that...

Bringing Soares in till end of season does not bother me. What bothers me are the numbers I am seeing about this transfer.. 5 million quid for the loan?! If true, that sounds ridiculous!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Not sure how Sky will try and keep up the excitement until 11pm.

It seems anything that was proposed to happen today already has or is already off.

Some berk reporter in Selhurst Park refuses to go home, even though he was told by the club to do so. :lol:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Kaziah Sterling has gone on loan from the Spuds to Leyton Orient.

Big news!

[Mac76]

Smith-Rowe on loan to Huddersfield, John-Jules on loan to Lincoln

oh and Olayinka (no, me neither :shrug:) on loan to Northampton

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Emre Can went to Dortmund in the end, on loan.

There was some bollocks about us being after him.

[Mac76]

can Emre go to Dortmund? yes he Can...

:getcoat:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Breaking news.

Man Utd in talks with Odion Ighalo.

He's still a thing?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sheffield United sign Panagotis Retsos from Neverkusen. :unsure:

[dazthegooner]

Wasn't we after him? No thought not...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Cue Goldberg's music, Jim White is in the studio next.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Dharmesh Sheth is as creepy and pointless as ever.

50/50 for this Ighalo deal.

So that means it'll happen. Or it won't.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Man Utd have signed Ighalo on loan. :lol:

Leicester sign Bennett on loan from Wolves.

Rose went to the Barcodes on loan too.

[Niall_Quinn]

Cedric?

WHO???????

WHY?

WTF?

At least it's just a loan.

That aside, I suppose we needed a CB and we got one. Bit of a wildcard but you never know. Can't be as useless as Mustafi, surely?

[Letters]

Cedric means Cedric :sulk:

[dazthegooner]

Better not be true.... https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/mesut-ozil-offered-arsenal-exit-21412546

[McNamara That Ghost...]

They can't even name the club. :lol:

[Niall_Quinn]

They can't even name the club. :lol:

ISIS FC FYI

[Globalgunner]

Still cant believe United signed Odion Ighalo. The guy is tripe. Ole has truly lost his marbles

[Mac76]

Moan u are a basket case, i'm not sure any manager could succeed there right now, if i was a player i'd avoid them if i wanted to win anything, same as spuds