Winter Transfer Ignorance and Dart Throwing.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Any chance of us doing anything in January?

Probably more attacking players. :ninja:

[Gooner23]

Think we blew our load in the summer, can't see much happening in the way of incomings.

If a big offer come in for Auba or Laca, and no hint of a contract renewal in the pipeline for either of them, I'd be worried they will decide to cash in.

[Globalgunner]

Sokratis, Xhaka, Mustafi. Sell. Sell, Sell.!

[Özim]

Sokratis, Xhaka, Mustafi. Sell. Sell, Sell.!

We wish, those clowns seem to be trying to re-integrate Xhaka worryingly, so it's not beyond the realms of reality that they might keep hold of him and make him a regular again.

Only at this club can stuff like this happen, the guy should have never appeared in an Arsenal shirt ever again after not even having the decency to apologise, but here he is having played the last two games, the fans seem to have accepted it as well.

[Bumble]

there must be an injury prone creative little midfielder available on loan

[Bumble]

We wish, those clowns seem to be trying to re-integrate Xhaka worryingly, so it's not beyond the realms of reality that they might keep hold of him and make him a regular again.

Only at this club can stuff like this happen, the guy should have never appeared in an Arsenal shirt ever again after not even having the decency to apologise, but here he is having played the last two games, the fans seem to have accepted it as well.

we still need 11 players to play a game of football... you cant just get rid of every player... if we got rid of all our defenders you don't rate we will only have Bellerin and Tierney left.

plus you have to question the sanity of any club looking to take those players on in anything more than a loan. Maybe Xhaka is worth something say £5m as long as he doesn't have to play as the deep lying midfielder.

[Özim]

we still need 11 players to play a game of football... you cant just get rid of every player... if we got rid of all our defenders you don't rate we will only have Bellerin and Tierney left.

plus you have to question the sanity of any club looking to take those players on in anything more than a loan. Maybe Xhaka is worth something say £5m as long as he doesn't have to play as the deep lying midfielder.

Yes we do, but for a start we have two DM, Luiz (he's actually decent there, but hopeless at CB) and Torreira, Xhaka isn't needed. We have Tierney so Kolasinac doesn't have to play unless he's injured, not saying we should sell him now, but certainly in the summer. At CB we need to buy or loan one in January because frankly Sokratis and Mustafi are a car crash, get rid ASAP and players Chambers, Mavorpanos or Holding next to the new guy.

That would be a good start, we have decent attackers, Martinelli should definitely start ahead of Saka, it's not really that hard to pick a better team. The lineup on saturday was a car crash to be honest, if that's the best we can do we're in trouble.

[Marc Overmars]

Maybe we'll do something in January if we can sell Xhaka but that's most likely going to be a loan anyway. Can't see us doing much else, not a chance we've got the funds to buy a top CB mid-season.

[Özim]

Next season we have that Saliba guy coming in, so hopefully he'll be decent, but we needed another top CB.

[Bumble]

Yes we do, but for a start we have two DM, Luiz (he's actually decent there, but hopeless at CB) and Torreira, Xhaka isn't needed. We have Tierney so Kolasinac doesn't have to play unless he's injured, not saying we should sell him now, but certainly in the summer. At CB we need to buy or loan one in January because frankly Sokratis and Mustafi are a car crash, get rid ASAP and players Chambers, Mavorpanos or Holding next to the new guy.

That would be a good start, we have decent attackers, Martinelli should definitely start ahead of Saka, it's not really that hard to pick a better team. The lineup on saturday was a car crash to be honest, if that's the best we can do we're in trouble.

What has happened to Mav? is he injured as not seen him around at all. Not sure I would go as far as saying Luiz is decent as DM. Torreira should play defo no idea why he hasn't played there this season.

[KSE Comedy Club]

A new coach, that is all we can afford.

[Mac76]

Sokratis, Xhaka, Mustafi. Sell. Sell, Sell.!

or just give them away if necessary - i've said it before they are liiterally costing us money through their poor performances so forget trying to get anything for a loser like mustafi just get rid.

[Bumble]

or just give them away if necessary - i've said it before they are liiterally costing us money through their poor performances so forget trying to get anything for a loser like mustafi just get rid.

no guarantee that he would want to leave though. we would have to pay his contract up I guess. but we still use for Europa games and emergency league games. unless we get a new CB in then cant see us getting rid as we just have no quality or depth in that position.

[Niall_Quinn]

we still need 11 players to play a game of football... you cant just get rid of every player... if we got rid of all our defenders you don't rate we will only have Bellerin and Tierney left.

plus you have to question the sanity of any club looking to take those players on in anything more than a loan. Maybe Xhaka is worth something say £5m as long as he doesn't have to play as the deep lying midfielder.

Whatever happened to that kid who played well for a few games a while back? Greek lad was he? Stavros somebody or another? And when does the new kid come in, January or the summer?

[dazthegooner]

Maropapapappapapalopolos (sp) ;) think he was in training today impressed Ljundberg with his passing. And the new kid next season.

[Niall_Quinn]

Maropapapappapapalopolos (sp) ;) think he was in training today impressed Ljundberg with his passing. And the new kid next season.

Don't suppose he impressed with his defending?

[dazthegooner]

We can only hope.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Don't suppose he impressed with his defending?

:haha:

[Niall_Quinn]

Liv 2-1 Eve

Random stuff that ended up in the net.

[Edit: That's an update for those who can't be bothered to look in the PL thread - btw]

[I am invisible]

Whatever happened to that kid who played well for a few games a while back? Greek lad was he? Stavros somebody or another? And when does the new kid come in, January or the summer?
Summer for Saliba. Probably the smartest move we’ve made all season, tbh, keeping him away from this train wreck - at least we might have one defender to pick next year who isn’t suffering from shell-shock...

[Mac76]

Summer for Saliba. Probably the smartest move we’ve made all season, tbh, keeping him away from this train wreak - at least we might have one defender to pick next year who isn’t suffering from shell-shock...

He's talking about Mavropanos - search me why don't give the guy a go, got to be better than Mustafi or Sokratis

[I am invisible]

He's talking about Mavropanos - search me why don't give the guy a go, got to be better than Mustafi or Sokratis
First part was about Mavs - I thought the last sentence was asking about Saliba?

No idea what the issue is with Mavs? I know he was out for a long time with a groin problem, but that’s about it. Emery really didn’t fancy him, so I guess that’s one endorsement for him...

[Mac76]

First part was about Mavs - I thought the last sentence was asking about Saliba?

No idea what the issue is with Mavs? I know he was out for a long time with a groin problem, but that’s about it. Emery really didn’t fancy him, so I guess that’s one endorsement for him...

Ok, fair enough

But yeah it's wierd re Mavs, i'd actually forgotten about him, he should surely be considered given the circumstances

[selassie]

What's the betting we will go and spend another 70million on a winger!

Sort out Central Defence you bunch of fucking IDIOTS! Spend 70million there.

[Marc Overmars]

Chelsea’s transfer ban has been lifted.

Hasn’t been too damaging to them really, considering the contribution of their young players. With a couple of top signings they will probably challenge for the league again soon enough.

[Marc Overmars]

Sounds like Auba isn’t going to sign a new deal. :rose:

[Gooner23]

If a big offer comes in Jan I think we'll take it. Same for Laca. They won't want another season outside of the Champions League and at this rate we may not be in Europe at all.

[dostoy]

If a big offer comes in Jan I think we'll take it. Same for Laca. They won't want another season outside of the Champions League and at this rate we may not be in Europe at all.

Do ya think ?

I'd be happy staying in the premiership at this stage.

Europe has well and truly gone this season 200%.

[Letters]

Sounds like Auba isn’t going to sign a new deal. :rose:

He'd be mad to, frankly.

[Mac76]

We'll just have to hope Martinelli comes good, at least he's there to step in to the gap

[Özim]

We'll just have to hope Martinelli comes good, at least he's there to step in to the gap

This is anothe reason I don't understand why the club took so long to sack Emery and didn't have a plan when they did, our two strikers (and two best players) have 1 year left, if you want to convince them to stay and sign a new contract they need a reason, a big manager they believe in, positive results that show we're going somewhere or something like that.

Instead now they'll probably leave (can't believe it's happening again) and we'll be left with a huge hole to life and probably go another 10 years before seeing another decent goalscorer at Arsenal, I honestly don't know what goes through the mind of these people, these are the same people that gave Granit Xhaka, yes Granit Xhaka a new contract a guy with no market value whatsoever because he's not much good.

[Letters]

This is anothe reason I don't understand why the club took so long to sack Emery

Out of interest, when do you think they should have sacked him?
For once I don't really think they dragged their heels on this one but the lack of plan about what next is troubling.

[Özim]

Out of interest, when do you think they should have sacked him?
For once I don't really think they dragged their heels on this one but the lack of plan about what next is troubling.

Some people made a case for sacking him in the summer, but I think it was right to give him a bit longer the Sheff Utd result a shocker, but probably after Palace, we'd been poorly all season going back to the previous season, if not then then 100% after Wolves.

When you look at the performances at the tail end of last season and all the performances this season, really he should have been sacked before he was, as you said though a replacement should have been in place immediately, this scenario is a disaster we're dropping more and more points.

[Bumble]

Out of interest, when do you think they should have sacked him?
For once I don't really think they dragged their heels on this one but the lack of plan about what next is troubling.
Think he should have gone earlier but you are only talking weeks really. Not like august or September. We all thought we had a very good summer. Im hindsight spending 70m on a winger and not proper defenders looks foolish.

The board didnt want to sack him when they did hence no plan of what to do next or who. Am sure the board were hoping freddie could steady the ship and buy time.

Im Rafa we trust

[Marc Overmars]

We need footballing men at the top who can make the tough calls and have the foresight to see where things are going and hold the team to a certain standard.

Sarri wasn't deemed good enough despite finishing 3rd and winning the EL. If Emery delivered that he would have been given a new contract. Levels.

[Özim]

We need footballing men at the top who can make the tough calls and have the foresight to see where things are going and hold the team to a certain standard.

Sarri wasn't deemed good enough despite finishing 3rd and winning the EL. If Emery delivered that he would have been given a new contract. Levels.

You're right, this club hasn't had football men for a long time, it started with Gazidis who profited massively from our failures and then walked away, the new guys again aren't really football men other than Edu and it's pretty clear.

Another day still no sign of a new manager, despite the horrendous results, unbelievable really, how long are they going to wait, until we're in the relegation zone?

[Bumble]

Depends what you define as football men. Do they have had to play football or be involved in football admin. As gazidis and sallehi are from a football admin background. Think the sallehi power grab is really hurting us. Minesalat sounded like the future planner particularly on the player front. But there seems to be no plan anymore.

We are 4 points ahead of the drop zone.

[Chippy]

We are 4 points ahead of the drop zone.[/QUOTE]

It seems unreal. How the fuck can we be in this state?
I used to love football, but now it is a dread to watch or hear the results.
I am finding myself looking nervously at the results of the teams below us!
I dread to think if we lose to the Spammers tomorrow night :(

[Niall_Quinn]

We are 4 points ahead of the drop zone.

It seems unreal. How the fuck can we be in this state?
I used to love football, but now it is a dread to watch or hear the results.
I am finding myself looking nervously at the results of the teams below us!
I dread to think if we lose to the Spammers tomorrow night :(

Do you really care that much? I don't. Not because we're losing. But because, around about 8 years ago, we stopped playing football that was worth watching. Tip tap. Tip tap. That's how they killed it for me. The dreadful, year upon year, relentless, tip tap. Can we qualify for the top 4 with tip tap? Will we get relegated with tip tap? I really don't care.

[Chippy]

It seems unreal. How the fuck can we be in this state?
I used to love football, but now it is a dread to watch or hear the results.
I am finding myself looking nervously at the results of the teams below us!
I dread to think if we lose to the Spammers tomorrow night :(

Do you really care that much? I don't. Not because we're losing. But because, around about 8 years ago, we stopped playing football that was worth watching. Tip tap. Tip tap. That's how they killed it for me. The dreadful, year upon year, relentless, tip tap. Can we qualify for the top 4 with tip tap? Will we get relegated with tip tap? I really don't care.
I wish that I didn't care, I really do.
But, after so many years of supporting Arsenal, it is difficult to just switch off.

[Globalgunner]

Are tonight we will all know if relegation is a real possibility

[Globalgunner]

NQs favourite AM/DM Arturo Vidal may be available this january. Rumours are that Barca are willing to offload. Xhaka to get upgraded? Say yes to the switch.

[Letters]

Are tonight we will all know if relegation is a real possibility

No, we won't.
We aren't going to get relegated or anywhere near it whatever the result is tonight.

[GP]

No, we won't.
We aren't going to get relegated or anywhere near it whatever the result is tonight.

Leeds

[Marc Overmars]

The team are so switched off and lacking in confidence, being too good to go down doesn’t really mean anything. At the moment we cannot beat anyone and the teams we have beaten this season, it’s been a slog.

What have we shown this season that suggests we are miles better than the teams below us? Nothing.

Yes we probably won’t go down but if the coaching situation isn’t sorted out, I’d wager we will finish closer to the drop zone than the top 6. Every team in the league fancies their chances of getting a result against us, that’s why it’s only going to get harder every week and why things shouldn’t be taken for granted.

[Letters]

Leeds

They got themselves into real financial shit and had to sell all their best players. They had nowhere near the finances or fan-base size we do.

[Xhaka Can’t]

No, we won't.
We aren't going to get relegated or anywhere near it whatever the result is tonight.

Don’t get cocky, kid.

A loss tonight would be a major blow. Particularly considering our next three opponents at home. I can’t see many points being earned.

If that wasn’t enough, we don’t even have a manager.

And the cherry on top of it all? Our two star players could be gone during the transfer window.

We are more likely to be closer to the drop than moving away from it between now and the FA Cup 3rd round.

[Letters]

I'll judge whether we get relegated at the end of the season :sulk:

[Marc Overmars]

Imagine the scenes if we did go down though...

[Letters]

Imagine the scenes if we did go down though...

I would "Be Careful What You Wish For" the shit out of y'all :p :lol:
Part of me thinks it would be kinda funny. I can't see it happening but if we don't get a proper manager in soon it's certainly going to see us in trouble. I honestly can't see us winning a game any time soon but history tells me that we will pub team a win at some point and it'll probably get us going again. Top 4 is long gone though :wave:

[Niall_Quinn]

Don’t get cocky, kid.

A loss tonight would be a major blow. Particularly considering our next three opponents at home. I can’t see many points being earned.

If that wasn’t enough, we don’t even have a manager.

And the cherry on top of it all? Our two star players could be gone during the transfer window.

We are more likely to be closer to the drop than moving away from it between now and the FA Cup 3rd round.

The FA Cup is like a trophy. If we can win in the 3rd round it might give us the confidence to go on a run and start closing the gap to Liverpool.

[Marc Overmars]

Emery is being considered for the Everton job. :lol:

[Globalgunner]

Arsenal considering Chris Smalling....Urgh! Cant be true can it.?
Slow ageing ...check
ManU/Chelsea reject....check
Injury prone...check
High wages...check

Yes we are definitely interested

[Globalgunner]

Emery is being considered for the Everton job. :lol:

We should just sign Silva in retaliation

[Bumble]

We should just sign Silva in retaliation

nah Moyes would really hit Everton fans where it hurt

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Give it to Unsy!

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsenal considering Chris Smalling....Urgh! Cant be true can it.?
Slow ageing ...check
ManU/Chelsea reject....check
Injury prone...check
High wages...check

Yes we are definitely interested

Yes, but what about the transfer fee? If it's low enough then he's good enough.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Arsenal considering Chris Smalling....Urgh! Cant be true can it.?
Slow ageing ...check
ManU/Chelsea reject....check
Injury prone...check
High wages...check

Yes we are definitely interested

I was laughing at this post for about 3 second until I realised this is a post grounded in experience and reality.

I’m not laughing any more.

[Mac76]

The FA Cup is like a trophy. If we can win in the 3rd round it might give us the confidence to go on a run and start closing the gap to Liverpool.

err, the FA Cup IS a trophy :lol:

and it would get us back into the nohopa league - if that's what we want... personally, if it's not the CL then i'd prefer no European football and do a Chelsea / Leicester and be able to focus on the League a lot more. that way we might be tenth next season...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Liverpool have signed Minamino, they were struggling for attacking options I suppose. :unsure:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50849473

[Marc Overmars]

Sounds like he could be a bargain really. Klopp hasn’t got many of his signings wrong.

[Gooner23]

Xhaka linked with a return to the Bundasliga in Jan, hopefully we can get reasonable money for him.

[Mac76]

Xhaka linked with a return to the Bundasliga in Jan, hopefully we can get reasonable money for him.

sure though i'd be happy with getting 5p for him if that's what it takes to get him out of the club

[Bumble]

Xhaka linked with a return to the Bundasliga in Jan, hopefully we can get reasonable money for him.

bid €45m...... the mind boggles how that is realistic even for paper talk.

[Gooner23]

:haha: what a Christmas present that would be

[Niall_Quinn]

Liverpool have signed Minamino, they were struggling for attacking options I suppose. :unsure:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50849473

It's almost as if their owners are interested in what's happening at the club.

[Marc Overmars]

Xhaka has agreed terms with Hertha Berlin. Move is now dependent on the transfer fee.

Bye.

[Gooner23]

:wave:

[Chippy]

Xhaka has agreed terms with Hertha Berlin. Move is now dependent on the transfer fee.

Bye.
Who will come in?
What a massive mistake letting Ramsay go in the summer. 😣

[dazthegooner]

Mistake probably but Ramsey is still injury prone the biggest mistake we made is letting his contact run down and not getting a fee.

[selassie]

We'll get next to no money for Xhaka, he is literally begging to leave, not subtle at al.

He's provided some real decent performances lately but he has burnt his bridges with that crazy behaviour.

If we get 20mill we should cut our losses and get rid. We need an upgrade immedaitely

[Gooner23]

It needs to be someone more suited to the pace of the league

[selassie]

It needs to be someone more suited to the pace of the league

Ndidi of Leicester.

Honestly, to an extent we are going to need to spend big and pay big wages in certain positions to see an immediate improvement. Agree about getting a player familiar with the league, especially in that position.

P.S. The reality is we are no longer seen as a decent destination for any decent up and coming player in PL, I mean hand on heart, we would struggle to convince a Leicester player to join us regardless of the money we throw at them.

[I am invisible]

Leicester keep finding guys like Kante and Ndidi easily enough whenever they need them - there must be others out there. Need to start scouting and analysing data better...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Well we are going to have one happy Zim on this forum. :lol:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Even if Ndidi wanted to come, he'd cost us 3 times what we will get for Xhaka.

[I am invisible]

Well we are going to have one happy Zim on this forum. :lol:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmXCvjNAouw&feature=youtu.be&t=4

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Xhaka has agreed terms with Hertha Berlin. Move is now dependent on the transfer fee.

Bye.

This is almost too good to be true.... pls let it be true :pray::pray::pray:

[dazthegooner]

Belated Xmas present (or an early one for next year,well it will be in January) ;)

[I am invisible]

Who comes in if Xhaka does go out?

Or do we muddle through with what we have until the summer?

Can’t even decide what kind of midfielder(/s) Arteta might need to make his ideas tick.

[Mac76]

Who comes in if Xhaka does go out?


I almost don't care, just not having Xhaka will be a huge positive, no more suicide passes and tackles and telling us fans to fuck off...

Can't wait to see him go

[I am invisible]

I almost don't care, just not having Xhaka will be a huge positive, no more suicide passes and tackles and telling us fans to fuck off...

Can't wait to see him go
It does feel like the perfect chance for Arteta to lay down an early marker about the culture he wants: you’re either fully committed to the club or you’re gone.

Apparently he didn’t train with the rest of the players at the stadium yesterday - read into that what you will.

[Mac76]

It does feel like the perfect chance for Arteta to lay down an early marker about the culture he wants: you’re either fully committed to the club or you’re gone.

Apparently he didn’t train with the rest of the players at the stadium yesterday - read into that what you will.

He's not even on the bench today - that's it he's gone :satan:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Haaland to Dortmund confirmed. :blink:

https://twitter.com/FCRBS_en?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7C twgr%5Eauthor

[Master Splinter]

Man United :haha:.

[dazthegooner]

Haaland to Dortmund confirmed. :blink:

https://twitter.com/FCRBS_en?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7C twgr%5Eauthor

Manure :pal:

[Bumble]

We need a goal scoring midfielder. We are totally reliant on auba.

[Niall_Quinn]

Having watched our performance against the dirty, disgusting, anti-football chavs, I think we actually have enough already to make a decent team. A commanding central defender wouldn't hurt, but if we haven't got 80 mill spare then we've still got enough.

First time I've felt positive about this squad in years.

Key thing is we keep Auba. Spend the funds keeping him here. And Ozil, of course. No-brainer.

[Chippy]

Having watched our performance against the dirty, disgusting, anti-football chavs, I think we actually have enough already to make a decent team. A commanding central defender wouldn't hurt, but if we haven't got 80 mill spare then we've still got enough.

First time I've felt positive about this squad in years.

Key thing is we keep Auba. Spend the funds keeping him here. And Ozil, of course. No-brainer.
Too many injury prone players. Chambers added to the list today. If Auba goes in January, we will struggle to stay up. Simples.

[Niall_Quinn]

Too many injury prone players. Chambers added to the list today. If Auba goes in January, we will struggle to stay up. Simples.

Hence, spend the money on keeping Abua here.

[Chippy]

Hence, spend the money on keeping Abua here.
Its imperative we keep him.
I also think letting Xhaka go atm is a mistake. He is the best of a bad bunch. We have fallen so far, it is scary.

[Özim]

Rumours flying around that Aubameyang has handed in a transfer request and that his agent wants him to leave in January after the Chelsea defeat. If we lose him we are in serious trouble, it also coincides with recalling Nketiah.

It was always going to be an impossible task to keep him after appointing Arteta.

[Bumble]

Rumours flying around that Aubameyang has handed in a transfer request and that his agent wants him to leave in January after the Chelsea defeat. If we lose him we are in serious trouble, it also coincides with recalling Nketiah.

It was always going to be an impossible task to keep him after appointing Arteta.

think regardless of who we appointed it is going to be difficult to keep Auba unless the appointment came with 10 points as well.

we don't have to get rid of him in January but agree to let him go in the summer if he continues to put in the performances.

laca has gone off the boil, so we will not score any goals.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

We are not a club you need to hand a transfer request in to get a move. :lol:

Also, we're bringing Nketiah back to loan him elsewhere.

[Letters]

We are not a club you need to hand a transfer request in to get a move. :lol:.
Generally all you have to do is to become captain :(

[Chippy]

think regardless of who we appointed it is going to be difficult to keep Auba unless the appointment came with 10 points as well.

we don't have to get rid of him in January but agree to let him go in the summer if he continues to put in the performances.

laca has gone off the boil, so we will not score any goals.
Not even our board would be stupid enough to sell him because of the threat of relegation.
As for Lackofthreat, he is done, get rid in the summer. 🙄

[Mac76]

Not even our board would be stupid enough to sell him because of the threat of relegation.
As for Lackofthreat, he is done, get rid in the summer. ��

Laca really can't score for toffee at the moment, tbh if we had a good-quality replacement target we could get i'd even sell him now - we'd be better off with someone like Ings or Jimenez right now

[Özim]

Not even our board would be stupid enough to sell him because of the threat of relegation.
As for Lackofthreat, he is done, get rid in the summer. 🙄

Don't put it past them, apparently he wants out and won't sign a new contract, his agent is lining him up for big clubs like Barca and Real and the club know they'll get the most money if they sell now when he has a year and a half left on his contract and is 6 months younger than they would in the summer when we'd be desperate to sell.

I can see this happening, we're being linked with a move to bring Giroud back as well (oh dear). To be honest this board doesn't seem to know anything about football, they probably aren't in the least bit worried about that, if they were they wouldn't have employed Arteta that's for sure.

These are the same people who spend 72 million (deferred over many years) on a winger when we desperately needed a quality CB, bought a CB only to loan him back for a year (and again defer payment - so we should have very little to spend next summer) and then brought Luiz in to play CB. They're also the same people who gave Xhaka a new contract and allowed Ramsey to walk away for free, so don't be surprised by anything.

[Niall_Quinn]

I wonder if Pepe is part of their transfer plans? Maybe his transfer was linked to us getting top 4? Maybe that's why he's not being played?

[Mac76]

I can see this happening, we're being linked with a move to bring Giroud back as well (oh dear).

Please god no, we'll be even more of a laughing stock than we are already ( if that's possible)

[I am invisible]

think regardless of who we appointed it is going to be difficult to keep Auba unless the appointment came with 10 points as well.

we don't have to get rid of him in January but agree to let him go in the summer if he continues to put in the performances.

laca has gone off the boil, so we will not score any goals.
Yeah, I agree - Arteta coming in will have given him a more reasonable excuse, but the fact is we’re probably looking at at least another 18 months without CL football, whoever had been appointed, and Aubameyang just doesn’t have enough years left to wait around and see how a rebuild pans out.

At this point I’d start thinking of replacements because trying to keep him is going to be massive waste of time and effort. If we can talk him into staying until the summer then I think we’ll have done well, but then if someone like Madrid come knocking with a good enough offer then I could see him being gone by the end of Jan...

[Marc Overmars]

If he wants to go then cool, he's done his bit for us and there are clearly far better places to play football than at Arsenal these days.

I think we need to be stern though and tell him he can leave in the summer with our blessing but not in January. I don't think it's a good idea to let him go next month given how productive he still is even though the team is struggling. We'd then be relying on Lacazette to become more prolific than he's ever been with us and also Martinelli to make a quick step up. Not worth the risk to remove by far and away the biggest goal threat in the team midway through the season.

[Bumble]

Sounds like chambers is out for the season. Just like last year with holding our 2 bright hopes in central defence get season ending injuries.

[Ralpheroo72]

Cheeky loan bid for Ramsey?

[dazthegooner]

Think he's injured (who'd have thought?)

[I am invisible]

Makes more sense than Rabiot - probably the last player we need if we’re trying to turn the attitude of this group around!

[I am invisible]

Can’t even decide what kind of midfielder we need if/when Xhaka goes? Think we might end up needing two (although one can probably wait until the summer)...

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Lots of paper bollocks about Dayotchanculle Oswald Upamecano.

Arteta already linking us with the biggest names in world football. :bow:

[Gooner23]

Chambers ACL injury confirmed, so unlucky to lose another player to the same injury and feel for him just as he was moving up the pecking order. A CB surely has to be top of the shopping list in Jan now?

[Mac76]

Chambers ACL injury confirmed, so unlucky to lose another player to the same injury and feel for him just as he was moving up the pecking order. A CB surely has to be top of the shopping list in Jan now?

Yes a real shame, i like Chambo, he's got a good attitude and is a very useful player, able to slot into a few positions.

And agreed on the need for a CB, hopefully we can ship out mustafi too

[I am invisible]

Yes a real shame, i like Chambo, he's got a good attitude and is a very useful player, able to slot into a few positions.

And agreed on the need for a CB, hopefully we can ship out mustafi too
It is a real shame for the lad - he probably would have been right up Arteta’s street too, with his ability to switch between CB, RB and DCM, and there’s finally a clear vacancy in the side for him. Shocking luck.

[Niall_Quinn]

Chambers ACL injury confirmed, so unlucky to lose another player to the same injury and feel for him just as he was moving up the pecking order. A CB surely has to be top of the shopping list in Jan now?

That's probably him done for us now. Arteta had to strengthen the defence anyway, now we'll need extra cover and hopefully we won't be looking at cheap stopgap options. Plus we have that new kid coming in the summer. If things go to plan we'll have a markedly different squad in 9 months and surely a settled defence, else what's the point of any of this? Very tough break.

[Mac76]

That's probably him done for us now. Arteta had to strengthen the defence anyway, now we'll need extra cover and hopefully we won't be looking at cheap stopgap options. Plus we have that new kid coming in the summer. If things go to plan we'll have a markedly different squad in 9 months and surely a settled defence, else what's the point of any of this? Very tough break.

Maybe, though i'd like to think we'd keep him for the depth of squad we need, with cup games etc, providing he makes a good recovery, and assuming i's enough for him not to start every game

[Niall_Quinn]

Tierney also out for 3 months. He's almost like a non-signing.

We're now linked with signing everyone, including players who turn up to visit their mates during Christmas. Definitely won't be giving attention to any of the media shite this month. It's just clickbait now, no actual news anymore. No wonder the legacy media is dying. To be replaced by...

social media :doh:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I'd still be somewhat astonished if we signed a top CB this window.

[Gooner23]

Links to Jerome Boateng. No thanks, he's well past his best now.

If do manage to sign a CB I'd like it to be one for the longer term, and a player with more mobility as we are severely lacking in that department.

[I am invisible]

Pass. No more ageing stop-gaps on massive wages thanks.

[I am invisible]

Don’t see Upamecano happening in Jan - not unless we’re sitting on a lot more money than I know about.

Being linked with Nathan Ake at B’muff - could be a tough one to pull off while they’re in a relegation scrap (and with Chelsea having a buy back option), but I could see him fitting in well in Arteta’s more compact, high-energy, Arsenal collective.

I quite like the look of that Brazilian lad, Gabriel Magalhães at Lille too - 6’3, 22yo left-sided CB, already looks a serious athlete. Need Edu to have a word.

Who else?

[I am invisible]

Also being strongly linked with Max Aarons at Norwich - again, not sure I see that happening in Jan, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if we tried to replace Bellerin at some point this year (whether it’s with Aarons or someone else)...

[I am invisible]

Pau Torres maybe? Another CB we’ve been linked with this year, and comes with Santi’s seal of approval - might be easier to pry away from Villarreal than some of the other targets (depending on who else is sniffing around)?

[Marc Overmars]

Pass. No more ageing stop-gaps on massive wages thanks.

Agreed but it looks like this could be legitimate interest on our part.

We need to change the profile of player we go for, hope Arteta makes that clear so he gets the players that suit him and his system.

[Özim]

Hope these Boateng rumours are nonsense, we don't want to waste any of our money on ageing over the hill CBs we'll need to spend to replace in a year, just like we did with Sokratis, you'd hope the club would learn it's lesson, though you never know with this club.

Also worryingly, this sounds very similar to something Wenger might have said, if worded slightly differently:


Asked about Arsenal’s transfer plans for January, Arteta said last week:

‘Obviously we have a bad injury with Calum a few days ago that will change our plans at the back. ‘The reality is we will not be able to do much. I’m more concerned about getting players back from injury and try to improve the players I have here, get everybody on board and understanding what we’re trying to do.

'And if something extra comes up and we think it is the right opportunity to improve what we have, then let’s do it.’Asked about Arsenal’s transfer plans for January, Arteta said last week: ‘Obviously we have a bad injury with Calum a few days ago that will change our plans at the back. ‘The reality is we will not be able to do much. I’m more concerned about getting players back from injury and try to improve the players I have here, get everybody on board and understanding what we’re trying to do.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/05/bayern-munich-warn-arsenal-jerome-boateng-transfer-mikel-arteta-12004322/

The players coming back will be like new signings :coffee:

[I am invisible]

Agreed but it looks like this could be legitimate interest on our part.

We need to change the profile of player we go for, hope Arteta makes that clear so he gets the players that suit him and his system.
I don’t often take the owners’ side, but if I were Stan or Josh I’d be livid, if I heard the club was looking at this kind of player again - that combo of high wages and no resale value is everything we should be avoiding right now.

If the interest is genuine then it needs to be a 5 month loan only, with nothing in there about buying at the end of it...

[Xhaka Can’t]

Hope these Boateng rumours are nonsense, we don't want to waste any of our money on ageing over the hill CBs we'll need to spend to replace in a year, just like we did with Sokratis, you'd hope the club would learn it's lesson, though you never know with this club.

Also worryingly, this sounds very similar to something Wenger might have said, if worded slightly differently:



https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/05/bayern-munich-warn-arsenal-jerome-boateng-transfer-mikel-arteta-12004322/

The players coming back will be like new signings :coffee:

That is some reaching.

[I am invisible]

Hope these Boateng rumours are nonsense, we don't want to waste any of our money on ageing over the hill CBs we'll need to spend to replace in a year, just like we did with Sokratis, you'd hope the club would learn it's lesson, though you never know with this club.

Also worryingly, this sounds very similar to something Wenger might have said, if worded slightly differently:



https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/05/bayern-munich-warn-arsenal-jerome-boateng-transfer-mikel-arteta-12004322/

The players coming back will be like new signings :coffee:
Expected really - he’s only had this group of players for a couple of weeks, so he’ll want some time to see what they can do for him before he starts drawing up a shopping list.

Moreover he sounds like he’s just being realistic / pragmatic about the situation: we’re low on funds and January tends to be a restricted, expensive window at the best of times. Odds are nothing much will happen, so best to concentrate on the parts of the job that you can affect, while you wait to see what Edu and co can find.

CB is at least an obvious one that doesn’t need much assessment and can’t really be ignored - we’re down to two older, less athletic / energetic options (who haven’t had a break over Christmas) and Holding, who hasn’t played for a year, and could be blighted with minor setbacks for a while to come. Don’t know what exactly has gone wrong with Mavropanos, but if he hasn’t played by now then I’m not sure he ever will. This one definitely needs an addition...

[Letters]

The players coming back will be like new signings :coffee:
Are you suggesting that injured players should be disregarded in our planning?

[Mac76]

Tierney and Holding have been major losses, also MartinellI

it's definitely going to strengthen us a lot to get them back

[Letters]

Right. And we can't go around spending lots of money to replace players who will be back in 6 months, although we should be looking at opportunities to strengthen the squad to mitigate the impact of injuries to key players.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Expected really - he’s only had this group of players for a couple of weeks, so he’ll want some time to see what they can do for him before he starts drawing up a shopping list.

Moreover he sounds like he’s just being realistic / pragmatic about the situation: we’re low on funds and January tends to be a restricted, expensive window at the best of times. Odds are nothing much will happen, so best to concentrate on the parts of the job that you can affect, while you wait to see what Edu and co can find.

CB is at least an obvious one that doesn’t need much assessment and can’t really be ignored - we’re down to two older, less athletic / energetic options (who haven’t had a break over Christmas) and Holding, who hasn’t played for a year, and could be blighted with minor setbacks for a while to come. Don’t know what exactly has gone wrong with Mavropanos, but if he hasn’t played by now then I’m not sure he ever will. This one definitely needs an addition...

You've forgotten the Emirates favourite, Mustafi.

[I am invisible]

You've forgotten the Emirates favourite, Mustafi.

Mustastrophe must never play again!

[Özim]

Expected really - he’s only had this group of players for a couple of weeks, so he’ll want some time to see what they can do for him before he starts drawing up a shopping list.

Moreover he sounds like he’s just being realistic / pragmatic about the situation: we’re low on funds and January tends to be a restricted, expensive window at the best of times. Odds are nothing much will happen, so best to concentrate on the parts of the job that you can affect, while you wait to see what Edu and co can find.

CB is at least an obvious one that doesn’t need much assessment and can’t really be ignored - we’re down to two older, less athletic / energetic options (who haven’t had a break over Christmas) and Holding, who hasn’t played for a year, and could be blighted with minor setbacks for a while to come. Don’t know what exactly has gone wrong with Mavropanos, but if he hasn’t played by now then I’m not sure he ever will. This one definitely needs an addition...

To be honest, I personally wouldn't expect that, anyone that watches English football can tell you which players can't cut it, Mustafi, Xhaka, Sokratis Luiz (at CB), Kolasinac, they don't need to spend months assessing these guys, they just aren't good enough point blank.

It worries me considerably that Arteta wanted Man City to sign Xhaka and that he's been so complimentary about him to be honest, the guys just isn't up to it and if someone who has seen him play can't come to that conclusion I can only think there is something wrong with their eyesight.

The facts are there, we've struggled this season and for good reason, we had a manager who didn't know what he was doing and some absolute calamities in defence, those are the facts, what we need is better quality players, the last thing we need is another manager who insists on using these guys moving forward, they need to be in the past, they aren't part of the future, not if we want to achieve anything anyway.

[Özim]

Are you suggesting that injured players should be disregarded in our planning?

Not all of them, maybe Chambers who IMO is going to struggle to get back and isn't much of a defender IMO and maybe Bellerin who is hugely overrated and maybe we should consider cashing in on.

[Özim]

Tierney and Holding have been major losses, also MartinellI

it's definitely going to strengthen us a lot to get them back

I'm not convinced about Holding, he seems to have become a better defender in many peoples' eyes whilst he's been injured, I think he's an OK defender but nothing special IMO, we can do better than him.

We don't really have many outstanding young players to be honest and we have none in defence, it's seem Mavropanos was a waste of money as well, when he's not injured he's not getting game time.

[I am invisible]

To be honest, I personally wouldn't expect that, anyone that watches English football can tell you which players can't cut it, Mustafi, Xhaka, Sokratis Luiz (at CB), Kolasinac, they don't need to spend months assessing these guys, they just aren't good enough point blank.

It worries me considerably that Arteta wanted Man City to sign Xhaka and that he's been so complimentary about him to be honest, the guys just isn't up to it and if someone who has seen him play can't come to that conclusion I can only think there is something wrong with their eyesight.

The facts are there, we've struggled this season and for good reason, we had a manager who didn't know what he was doing and some absolute calamities in defence, those are the facts, what we need is better quality players, the last thing we need is another manager who insists on using these guys moving forward, they need to be in the past, they aren't part of the future, not if we want to achieve anything anyway.

I think you're looking a little too far ahead here, mate - the kind of mass-culling that you're talking about is something that you tackle in the summer, when you've got time to disappear off somewhere for a couple of months to knit a new team together.

For now, I'm not really looking beyond what we might be able to do in January, and that doesn't sound like it's going to be much. You raised concerns yourself the other day that we've already committed a significant chunk of next summer's budget to financing the Pepe deal, so I'm not really sure what your expectations are here? Personally speaking, I think we'll be doing well if we can even find a decent CB to come in and cover the loss of Chambers, and, reading Arteta's comments, it doesn't sound like he's pinning any hopes on it either.

Hence the comments about him assessing the players he has and trying to figure out a way to make them useful (as he already has with several of them) - if we can make one or two deals happen then I'm sure he'd welcome them, but I also think / hope he's smart enough to realise that he could be stuck with this group of players until at least May, and needs to keep every player on side, confident and motivated. If you're going to ditch a player then you do it quick and clean, with no warning and with the deal for a replacement already done - however, right up until the very moment before they leave, they're still your player and you might still have to rely on them, so you keep your mouth shut. If you want an example of how not to do it, just look at last summer when we very publicly tried to force out Mustafi and Özil, couldn't find buyers, and then ended up with two fucked off players in the camp who we eventually had to recall and ask to do a job for us! Hearing Mustafi being told to find another club might have sounded great to us fans, but practically speaking it was disastrous management. I really hope Arteta is wiser than that.

If it makes you feel any better, I think the manager's opinion may almost be irrelevant when it comes to moving certain players on in the summer - unless we get back into the CL pronto (or the senior players are all prepared to take pay cuts) then the numbers will probably make the decision for us.

[Mac76]

We got it wrong on Ozil for sure and i actually blame Emery partly for that, he tried the same thing with Neymar but he again ended up being the one to go.

As for Mustafi though he can be told to do one IMO, i don't care how pissed off he is, the more the better in fact, we just don't need him, every time he gets played he shows how he's the biggest waste of £34m ever

[I am invisible]

We got it wrong on Ozil for sure and i actually blame Emery partly for that, he tried the same thing with Neymar but he again ended up being the one to go.

As for Mustafi though he can be told to do one IMO, i don't care how pissed off he is, the more the better in fact, we just don't need him, every time he gets played he shows how he's the biggest waste of £34m ever

Again, I think you need to do it quick and clean, if you're going to do it - if there's even a chance that you might end up having to recall the player to the starting XI (as we've had to do several times this season) then you keep any plans to move them on quiet.

Believe me, I get it - as fans, we desperately want to see some kind of sign that the club are on the same page as us, and are seeing what we're seeing. Ultimately though, it's counter-productive to play these things our in public - sounds good for 5 minutes, but then we're stuck with a miserable player, dragging down morale. Even if he doesn't have a single friend in the group, the other players will still look at him and think 'Will that be me if I hit a bad patch?'

[I am invisible]

Bored - announce someone.

[Mac76]

Again, I think you need to do it quick and clean, if you're going to do it - if there's even a chance that you might end up having to recall the player to the starting XI (as we've had to do several times this season) then you keep any plans to move them on quiet.

Believe me, I get it - as fans, we desperately want to see some kind of sign that the club are on the same page as us, and are seeing what we're seeing. Ultimately though, it's counter-productive to play these things our in public - sounds good for 5 minutes, but then we're stuck with a miserable player, dragging down morale. Even if he doesn't have a single friend in the group, the other players will still look at him and think 'Will that be me if I hit a bad patch?'

Mustafi's a unique case IMO, it's rare one player makes so many goal-conceding mistakes and then compounds it by blaming the nearest teammate.

tbh i'm amazed they haven't all given him a group kicking by now.

it beggars belief that i've heard him, Kola and Ozil are some kind of clique - wtf is the most talented ball-player in the squad doing with someone who makes Gunnersaurus look like Pele?

[Globalgunner]

Mustafi's a unique case IMO, it's rare one player makes so many goal-conceding mistakes and then compounds it by blaming the nearest teammate.

tbh i'm amazed they haven't all given him a group kicking by now.

it beggars belief that i've heard him, Kola and Ozil are some kind of clique - wtf is the most talented ball-player in the squad doing with someone who makes Gunnersaurus look like Pele?

It must be a religious connection. Mustafi is awful on every level. worse even than the lanky donkey he replaced in our squad Mertesaker. At least he didint actively make goal conceding mistakes 4 times each game. Merts was simply slow and unathletic.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

To be honest, I personally wouldn't expect that, anyone that watches English football can tell you which players can't cut it, Mustafi, Xhaka, Sokratis Luiz (at CB), Kolasinac, they don't need to spend months assessing these guys, they just aren't good enough point blank.

It worries me considerably that Arteta wanted Man City to sign Xhaka and that he's been so complimentary about him to be honest, the guys just isn't up to it and if someone who has seen him play can't come to that conclusion I can only think there is something wrong with their eyesight.

The facts are there, we've struggled this season and for good reason, we had a manager who didn't know what he was doing and some absolute calamities in defence, those are the facts, what we need is better quality players, the last thing we need is another manager who insists on using these guys moving forward, they need to be in the past, they aren't part of the future, not if we want to achieve anything anyway.

I keep saying to those who love Maureen that he too was very public of his praise for Xhaka.

[GP]

I keep saying to those who love Maureen that he too was very public of his praise for Xhaka.

Xhaka has played under 4 Arsenal managers now and they have all picked him consistantly.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Well they all speak German (and in 2 cases are German) and are muslim, which might not seem a lot to many, but is a big deal when you are in another country.

Holding is exactly the sort of player we shouldn't be selling. He cost peanuts and still has plenty of time to improve. In 2-3 years time we would still be able to make a profit on him.

I would actually still really love a player like Dunk. Good age at 27, the right player type (imo) and has a good amount of experience which would help someone like Saliba if he's playing next to him.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Xhaka has played under 4 Arsenal managers now and they have all picked him consistantly.

I'm not the guys biggest fans but this version of him I have a lot less issue with. If Arteta thinks he is useful for now, that will do for me for now. On his head be it....

Hell I even saw Xhaka skip past a few opposition players against Leeds which up until now has been a very dormant skill in his repertoire.....albeit he failed to deliver a few very simple passes at the end.

[Mac76]

Well even the worst players occasionally get something right, but ultimately he's a banter player IMO and if we're truly gonna be competitive, people like him need to be left behind.

[Marc Overmars]

The thing with players like Xhaka is they have a very specific way of playing the game. In the right team he could easily look like a world beater because despite whatever you think of him, his long range passing is at times extremely good. But in our team where short, sideways passing is often the go-to, then players like him will always be exposed.

[Niall_Quinn]

Arteta's probably not getting any cash this window so he has to make do with what he's got. Given the injury list it's all hands on deck, including Xhaka, including Mustafi. We'll probably need everyone come the end of the season, certainly if we manage to progress in the FA Cup and EL and assuming we want to finish competently in the PL. Unless we're going into the transfer market, I doubt we can afford to lose anyone.

[I am invisible]

Xhaka is definitely a problem that can wait until the summer - hopefully his stock will have risen a little by then, and we'll be able to demand more than Hertha's €20m (or whatever they were offering)...

[Penguin]

I'm happy for him to stay until the end of the season. But I don't see how we can move forward if he's still a starter for us after that. We need to get rid of the weak links.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I know he is yet to come back from his untimely death but I had no idea Sane's deal expires in 2021.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51069360

Sign him up, for a knockdown price. :pray:

[I am invisible]

The universe does owe us a German winger after Gnabry

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Poldi to come back. :bow:

[Niall_Quinn]

Sounds like Mustafi to Galatasaray is a done deal.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

How has Arteta pulled that off?

[Niall_Quinn]

How has Arteta pulled that off?

Blackmail.

[Mac76]

Sounds like Mustafi to Galatasaray is a done deal.

:pray:

[I am invisible]

How has Arteta pulled that off?
Told him they were going to Disneyland.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Spuds signing Gedson Fernandes on loan.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11907635/gedson-fernandes-tottenham-close-to-18-month-loan-deal-for-benfica-midfielder

Man Utd in talks to sign Bruno Fernandes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51093854

[Thierrymon]

Mustafi looking like he is on his way out, Mavrapanos out on loan, Chambers out for the season. I sure hope we have some defenders lined up.

[Marc Overmars]

Bit of talk that we’re considering a loan move for John Stones.

[Globalgunner]

Mustafi looking like he is on his way out, Mavrapanos out on loan, Chambers out for the season. I sure hope we have some defenders lined up.

Squadron Musfafi about to touch down in Istanbul. Yippee!

[Mac76]

apparently atletico might go after Laca - tbh if we could get someone like Ings as a replacement i'd be in, laca can't score for toffee right now, the only danger is if it loosens our hold on Auba

[fakeyank]

I like Laca but if a good offer comes in, I'd let him go and keep Nketiah here.

[Niall_Quinn]

I don't get how any fan could want Laca gone at this point. He's absolutely essential to what Arteta's trying to do, as is Torreira and (increasingly) Xhaka. These are the three who carry the ballast when Ozil is having an off-month or (particularly now) Auba is not there or when Pepe is being Pepe-ish. Some fans are even suggesting the statue be brought back in his place. That's just crazy talk.

[fakeyank]

I don't get how any fan could want Laca gone at this point. He's absolutely essential to what Arteta's trying to do, as is Torreira and (increasingly) Xhaka. These are the three who carry the ballast when Ozil is having an off-month or (particularly now) Auba is not there or when Pepe is being Pepe-ish. Some fans are even suggesting the statue be brought back in his place. That's just crazy talk.

Would you be okay letting him go if we got 80 million quid? Dudes going to be 29 in a few months and hasnt set the world on fire for us. I like him, I like his effort but we'd be foolish to not accept a big bid for him.

[KSE Comedy Club]

I think the problem with Lacazette is: when is gonna start scoring?

His work rate is brilliant and he battles with the best of them, but he hardly ever scores.
No point having a 'top' striker if he cant score :shrug:

[Marc Overmars]

I think the problem with Lacazette is: when is gonna start scoring?

His work rate is brilliant and he battles with the best of them, but he hardly ever scores.
No point having a 'top' striker if he cant score :shrug:

Yep. Giroud was great at all the donkey work too but couldn’t quite score enough when he was really needed.

Laca simply has to deliver in the next few games with Auba suspended. No excuses.

[Globalgunner]

Replacing Laca with Giroud is going backward. If we Let Laca go it must be for someone better like Danny Ings if we are staying local or an upgrade on the continent.
Arsenal fans are a nostalgic lot. A few want Ramsey and Wilshere back. 20 games a season between those 2. Hey lets just get Walcott too. Can he still run fast without falling over?

[Özim]

I don't get how any fan could want Laca gone at this point. He's absolutely essential to what Arteta's trying to do, as is Torreira and (increasingly) Xhaka. These are the three who carry the ballast when Ozil is having an off-month or (particularly now) Auba is not there or when Pepe is being Pepe-ish. Some fans are even suggesting the statue be brought back in his place. That's just crazy talk.

You think Xhaka is essential, what has the world come to, the guy is slow, can't tackle and consequently gives away fouls left right and center and has a bad attitude. The sooner we sell this guy the better, then we can get a proper CM who has more energy and drive to play alongside Torreira.

As for Lacazette, he's hopelessly out of form at the moment, I hope he can come good, but with Aubameyang probably on his way out we can't afford to lose him as well really.

[Özim]

I like Laca but if a good offer comes in, I'd let him go and keep Nketiah here.

Nketiah couldn't even get a game at Leeds and hasbarely scored any goals, I don't see the merit in keeping him around until he's proved himself on loan.

[I am invisible]

Watching the way the shape of the team shifts between attack and defence, it looks like Lacazette is playing a kind of false 9 role, where he leads the line when we're defending, but almost drops back alongside Özil as a second 10 when we attack (with Kola moving down the left and Auba moving central)? Definitely needs to start finding the net, but he's still contributing well outside of that.

Martinelli looks like a really good fit for that LW/CF role, so hopefully the shape and system won't suffer too much while Auba is out - maybe this will even force certain players to step up and stop relying on him so heavily for goals? (Also, I'm thinking it might be wise to delay sending Nketiah out on another loan until after Auba's suspension is up? Certainly until after the Chelsea game, anyway - I'm not so fussed about B'muff in the cup.)

Long-term, I think Lacazette will probably be sold. As it stands he's yet to sign a new contract, and it will probably take an offer far in excess of what he's worth to persuade him to sign one - something we shouldn't even be considering. However, I think it would take an absolutely obscene offer from someone for us to even consider selling him in January.

[I am invisible]

You think Xhaka is essential, what has the world come to, the guy is slow, can't tackle and consequently gives away fouls left right and center and has a bad attitude. The sooner we sell this guy the better, then we can get a proper CM who has more energy and drive to play alongside Torreira...

I think what he means is that Arteta has a system that he wants to play and he only has this group of players to choose from - Xhaka is currently the best fit we have for one of the roles within that system, so that in itself makes him essential right now.

It doesn't mean that we can't find / shouldn't look for a better, more dynamic option at some point - it's more about pragmatism for the moment. My gut-feeling is that he will also end up leaving in the summer - regardless of how much Arteta likes him as a player, or whether he can coach him back to some kind of usefulness, I just think his relationship with the club and the fans may be too far gone at this point. What we're seeing at the moment is probably some kind of mutually-beneficial agreement between the player and the club / manager to hold off until the summer: the player gets to build his reputation back up for 5-6 months with the hope of attracting some better offers; and the club don't lose a senior player that we wouldn't be able to adequately replace half way through the season (and might be able to get a bit more for him, if he looks a better player by the summer).

[Niall_Quinn]

You think Xhaka is essential, what has the world come to, the guy is slow, can't tackle and consequently gives away fouls left right and center and has a bad attitude. The sooner we sell this guy the better, then we can get a proper CM who has more energy and drive to play alongside Torreira.

As for Lacazette, he's hopelessly out of form at the moment, I hope he can come good, but with Aubameyang probably on his way out we can't afford to lose him as well really.

I didn't say Xhaka is essential, I said Arteta seems to find him essential right now, at this early stage of us learning to play effective football again. Assuming we aren't buying Arteta's ideal 11 this month (and probably won't be buying anyone at all, given all the talk of loan deals) we have to make the very best use of what we have. Xhaka may not be a world beater, but he's improved in the last few weeks and is doing a job for now. Doesn't mean we can't get someone better when the chance arrives (if ever), but also doesn't mean we should cut our noses off.

[Niall_Quinn]

Would you be okay letting him go if we got 80 million quid? Dudes going to be 29 in a few months and hasnt set the world on fire for us. I like him, I like his effort but we'd be foolish to not accept a big bid for him.

Of course I'd take 80 million quid. I'd take 160 million too but nobody will pay either. And even if they did, I'd be wanting to see that money spent - this month. Do you have any confidence that would happen?

[Mac76]

I definitely don't want Giraffe back and as for Xhaka i completely agree with Ozim - he simply isn't good enough, is too slow and has too many suicide moments to be part of a genuinely successful side

i'm slightly worried about how Arteta's so positive about him, but i'm hoping that he's just seeing him as important to tide us through to the end of the season until he can rebuild a bit

if Arteta saw Xhaka as part of our longer-term future i'd be really worried

[Marc Overmars]

It's difficult to judge anything that happens at the moment because I'm sure Arteta has plenty of ideas on how we should move forward but we currently don't have the time nor funds to make that happen this season.

We knew when he was appointed the remainder of the season was a bit of a free hit because of how poor we've been. Lets just hope we can finish a few positions higher in the league and win one of the cups, preference obviously being the EL.

Then let the real work begin in the summer.

[Özim]

It's difficult to judge anything that happens at the moment because I'm sure Arteta has plenty of ideas on how we should move forward but we currently don't have the time nor funds to make that happen this season.

We knew when he was appointed the remainder of the season was a bit of a free hit because of how poor we've been. Lets just hope we can finish a few positions higher in the league and win one of the cups, preference obviously being the EL.

Then let the real work begin in the summer.

If we don't qualify for the CL by winning the EL our summer funds will probably be limited, we've already spend 30 million on Saliba and a chunk of the Pepe money has been spread over several seasons so there's probably 20 odd million to be paid there as well, that's probably about 50 million already gone.

Think we hedged our bets that we'd qualify for the CL thus covering these purchases.

[I am invisible]

If we don't qualify for the CL by winning the EL our summer funds will probably be limited, we've already spend 30 million on Saliba and a chunk of the Pepe money has been spread over several seasons so there's probably 20 odd million to be paid there as well, that's probably about 50 million already gone.

Think we hedged our bets that we'd qualify for the CL thus covering these purchases.
Agreed - the whole thing felt a little desperate to me, with no real strategy behind it. In some ways, I'm kind of glad it didn't work out as planned because we now have to be smarter than just throwing money at our problems.

Tbh, I'm not overly fussed about how much we might have to spend in the summer - for one thing it might actually force us to sell before we can buy, but also I'm not actually convinced that we do our best work at that [expensive] end of the market anyway? I'm mostly anxious to see whether Edu and his scouting team can keep the unknown gems coming - Martinelli was a good start, but how many more can they come up with? What other markets do we have expertise in, or is it just Brazil / South America? How is foreign recruitment going to work after the UK leaves the EU?

[Chippy]

Agreed - the whole thing felt a little desperate to me, with no real strategy behind it. In some ways, I'm kind of glad it didn't work out as planned because we now have to be smarter than just throwing money at our problems.

Tbh, I'm not overly fussed about how much we might have to spend in the summer - for one thing it might actually force us to sell before we can buy, but also I'm not actually convinced that we do our best work at that [expensive] end of the market anyway? I'm mostly anxious to see whether Edu and his scouting team can keep the unknown gems coming - Martinelli was a good start, but how many more can they come up with? What other markets do we have expertise in, or is it just Brazil / South America? How is foreign recruitment going to work after the UK leaves the EU?
Dont worry! An African Billionaire is going to buy us in 2021and spend shit loads of Money 😁

[dazthegooner]

He can't buy us he will have the pay the $10,000,000 he promised me :sulk:

[I am invisible]

Dont worry! An African Billionaire is going to buy us in 2021and spend shit loads of Money 😁
That guy’s back is he? Let me guess - he’s just working on some oil deal first... but after that, he’s definitely going to buy us!

[Gooner23]

We're signing Kurzawa from PSG apparently.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Always rated him.

:unsure:

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Youngy is off to Inter.

:wave:

Good news for Man Utd.

[Özim]

We're signing Kurzawa from PSG apparently.

injury prone, 3rd choice left back for PSG. Will fit right in, another one we can add to the list of substandard players we can't shift if we do sign him.

[I am invisible]

Loan or perm?

[Marc Overmars]

I'd rather just let Sako learn his trade instead of buying another established player who we won't get much of a return on. Kola isn't out long term anyway so I don't see why we need to lumber ourselves with 3 high value left backs.

Not buying a RB when Bellerin was injured helped AMN a lot, so lets offer Sako the same courtesy.

[Özim]

Loan or perm?

Talk is of a 6 million permanent 5 year deal.

[Mac76]

I'd rather just let Sako learn his trade instead of buying another established player who we won't get much of a return on. Kola isn't out long term anyway so I don't see why we need to lumber ourselves with 3 high value left backs.

Not buying a RB when Bellerin was injured helped AMN a lot, so lets offer Sako the same courtesy.

yeah especially when we could do with bolstering our centre midfield and CBs

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Arteta the driving force behind Citeh's continual purchasing of full backs. :ninja:

[Özim]

yeah especially when we could do with bolstering our centre midfield and CBs

That should be our focus, no wasting money on full backs, we've got full backs it's just that they're injured but Kolasinac won't be out too long so Saka can fill in.

This kinda thing is why the can't progress, we seem to always sign the wrong players in the wrong positions.

[Gooner23]

Lot of chat that our transfers are now being driven by Raul's close ties with the super agents e.g. Mendes and Joorabchian which is a bit worrying.

[Penguin]

It's probably bullshit anyway but it doesn't make any sense to buy another left back. Kolasinac won't be out for long and Tierney is due back before the end of season.

[Özim]

It's probably bullshit anyway but it doesn't make any sense to buy another left back. Kolasinac won't be out for long and Tierney is due back before the end of season.

That's the logical approach but when does this club ever do anything logical, last summer we spent 72 million on a winger when we desperately needed a CB, then scrambled and signed a poor CB for cheap after signed a 30 million CB and loaned hin out for the year so we didn't have to pay for him there and then. This guy is also cut price, or free if you wait till the sumer, so it makes perfect sense to the club.

Could only offer Aubameyang 3 1/2 years but are willing to offer this guy 5 years, go figure!

[Mac76]

It's probably bullshit anyway but it doesn't make any sense to buy another left back. Kolasinac won't be out for long and Tierney is due back before the end of season.

The arseblog podcast had a guy on who knows about the player, who basically said he's a jack-the-lad who doesn't work that hard and often gets injured - sounds like a great buy :rolleyes:

[IBK]

It's difficult to judge anything that happens at the moment because I'm sure Arteta has plenty of ideas on how we should move forward but we currently don't have the time nor funds to make that happen this season.

We knew when he was appointed the remainder of the season was a bit of a free hit because of how poor we've been. Lets just hope we can finish a few positions higher in the league and win one of the cups, preference obviously being the EL.

Then let the real work begin in the summer.

Sensible post. IMO the last couple of results have merely underlined what we all knew - there is no quick fix for this team, and Arteta's task is a long term one. What we needed to see was some team shape and positional discipline. We have seen this since Arteta came. As fans we want to believe that a manager can be a magic bullet but this is usually the exception rather than the rule. I'll take the modest progress so far as part of a longer term progression, and I am prepared to acknowledge that Sheffield United are a good team who have also drawn at Spurs and Chelsea this season, and at home against Manure. We need a player overhaul and more potency up front, but the manager can only work with what he has got ATM. Patience needed.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sounds like journeyman left back Layvin Kurzawa will be joining on a free. But not until the summer. Can't see the benefit really, beyond a bit of cover. And if this is a hint of the calibre we'll be chasing in the summer, pretty uninspiring.

Never know, he might buck the trend and be useful.

[Xhaka Can’t]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200120/debdc1c1e7605d37a74b02e173e90c0f.jpg

[Ralpheroo72]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200120/debdc1c1e7605d37a74b02e173e90c0f.jpg

Sign him up!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Fooling nobody Lineker.

[Mac76]

Fooling nobody Lineker.

:lol:

[Gooner23]

Apparently Barca want Aubameyang.. on loan :haha:

[fakeyank]

Apparently Barca want Aubameyang.. on loan :haha:

Sure, if we can get Messi on loan.

[Marc Overmars]

Ceballos apparently wants to return to Madrid this month.

Bye.

Enough with these pointless D-list loans now. They're never of any use.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Kinda gutted personally. I think the kid can really play. I'd have thought if you could get a tune out of XHaka as well as persuading him to stay and half a note out of Ozil, you could get something out of Ceballos.

[Özim]

Ceballos apparently wants to return to Madrid this month.

Bye.

Enough with these pointless D-list loans now. They're never of any use.

I'm not a fan of the loans to be honest.

Ceballos hasn't worked out well at all, he struggled a bit (but then it does take time to adapt to the PL) and then he got injured. Since he's come back Arteta hasn't given him a game and doesn't seem to fancy him, so the guy probably realises he's wasting his time here and with the Euros around the corner wants some game time.

I'd have given him a runout to see what he can do personally, we lack a bit of creativity and only have Ozil. Arteta has been happy enough to give players like Xhaka and Mustafi game time, strange he couldn't do the same for Ceballos.

[Penguin]

I like Ceballos, bit surprised that Arteta has frozen him out tbh. Arteta has even been subbing on Willock instead of Ceballos. I suppose Ceballos is gonna fuck off at the end of the season anyway so why not give game time to our young players.

[Marc Overmars]

We’re signing Pablo Mari. Whoever that is. He’s a CB though.

A loan with an option to buy.

:shrug:

[I am invisible]

Ok, sure.

Can’t pretend I know shit about him, but this kind of left-field move appeals to me far more than Boateng or Kurzawa (who is thankfully going to Juventus, apparently)..

[McNamara That Ghost...]

That's who we'd Marry, who do we shag and kill?

[Master Splinter]

Best Spanish CB in England.

[Mac76]

Well at least we're buying a player for the right position, hopefully this signals the end of Mustafi :pray: though i hope it doesn't serve as a block to Holding's progress, i still think he's a good long-term prospect

[I am invisible]

Holding probably needs us to bring in a new CB this window more than anyone. The lad’s been our for a year and needs to be eased back in at his own pace - the last the he needs is to have to play every week because it’s him or Mustastrophe!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Just goes to show how much media bollocks there is.

First I've even heard about this guy and it seems it's the one we're bringing in. :lol:

[Mac76]

And i'm really glad we're not aigning kurzawa, had a real stink of 'agent stitch-up' about it

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Don't know much about this guy individually but Flamengo did defend pretty well against Liverpool.

Best CB in the league tbf.

[I am invisible]

Wonder who’s behind this one? He was on Man City’s books for a couple of years (Arteta?) before moving to the Brazil (Edu?) and is represented by Arturo Canales (one of Raul’s agent-mates)...

[I am invisible]

Opinion from Tim Vickery, FWIW...


...The secret of this Flamengo side - one of the most refreshing things to happen to club football in South America for years - is that they pose question after question, threat after threat.

The front four - strikers Gabriel and Bruno Henrique backed up by attacking midfielders Everton Ribeiro and Giorgian De Arrascaeta - are so fluid, exchanging positions, opening up pockets of space, continually stretching the opposing defence with both physicality and subtlety. The midfield duo, Gerson and Willian Arao, offer hard work, talent and versatility. And the attacking approach is made possible by the high defensive line, commanded by the Spanish centre-back Pablo Mari.

The 26-year-old was signed from Manchester City, who had parked him on loan at Deportivo La Coruna. Given City's defensive problems this year, they could have made a mistake letting him go, because he has been a vital part of the Jorge Jesus jigsaw. Without his capacity to play in and organize a high line, the team would be stretched out and vulnerable, with a gaping hole in front of the defence. The steadiness of the Spaniard allows the two veteran full-backs, Rafinha and Filipe Luis, to spend more time in the opponent's half than in their own, constructing the play from the back...

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/conmebol-copa-libertadores/story/3972247/manchester-city-reject-pablo-mari-instrumental-in-flamengos-copa-semifinal-triumph%3Fplatform%3Damp

[Globalgunner]

Nooooo.! Jerome Boateng needs a new home. Hertfordshire to be exact. Where will he go now?

[Penguin]

Well at least we are signing a CB. Loan with an option to buy though so the club's not convinced enough to buy him outright. :shrug:

[Özim]

Mari deal has allegedly hit a hitch.


Arsenal's deal for Flamengo defender Pablo Mari is in doubt with the player heading back to Brazil.
Mari arrived in London on Saturday for his medical after Arsenal technical director Edu Gaspar had agreed a deal with Flamengo to sign him on loan with view to a £7.5m transfer.
Edu had travelled with Mari on his flight to Heathrow and did not anticipate any problems.
Arsenal sources say Mari, 26, a former Manchester City centre back, had his medical and was set to sign with friends even congratulating him on his move but a late hitch has seen negotiations stall at the final stage.
A disappointed Mari is now heading back to Rio de Janeiro. Negotiations are ongoing between Flamengo and Arsenal though the Gunners are also having to consider new targets.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7933661/Arsenals-deal-Pablo-Mari-verge-collapse-Flamengo-defender-heads-Brazil.html?fbclid=IwAR36gkhsOW5HygN58zmq0FgFsCtcd ASPjiR6MceXKadwbHqdUI_h33daKIk

[I am invisible]

Sounds like Flamengo are digging their heels in about making it an immediate purchase - might not bean option for us until the summer, though, depending on how close we're already sailing to the PL spending rules? Will probably come down making that 'option' to buy more of a 'promise' to buy.

All very odd, but it wouldn't be an Arsenal transfer without some weirdness. If we really want him, I suspect it will get done - you don't let you a player fly out half way across the world to speak with another club and have a medical unless it's mostly there...

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Hopefully it gets done eventually. He's a good age, tall and seems like he has experience commanding a back line. I've always been quietly worried way to much will be expected of Big Willy who himself is the same age as Martinelli....something we seem to be forgetting and has had a few injury issues of his own like Holding has.

Somehow, Rob Holding is 6 years older than the both of them!

[Niall_Quinn]

Isn't the fee around £7mill? If we can't get that done we must be in some real shit financially.

[I am invisible]

Isn't the fee around £7mill? If we can't get that done we must be in some real shit financially.

Something like that.

I get the feeling this is less about the size of the fee and more about whether we can get it to show up under next season's expenses or not.

[Niall_Quinn]

Something like that.

I get the feeling this is less about the size of the fee and more about whether we can get it to show up under next season's expenses or not.

7mill though. How the hell can that have any serious bearing on a club the size of Arsenal? Just pay it. Get the player in. Sell Mustafi, or let him go on a free. £7mill will be the least of our worries if we have to go with Mustafi for the remainder of the season.

[Özim]

Arteta thinks he can turn around Mustafi's career. Oh dear.


Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi, 27, was linked with leaving the London side in the summer but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta believes he can turn around the German international's career at the club."]http://Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi, 27, was linked with leaving the London side in the summer but Gunners boss Mikel Arteta believes he can turn around the German international's career at the club.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/01/26/mikel-arteta-backs-rescue-shkodran-mustafis-arsenal-career/

Maybe this is why we don't want to pay what's needed for the South American. Anyone else sick of this nonsense, having to put up with mediocre players and having to hear your manager telling you they can make it, despite 4-5 years of being awful? Didn't we have the same thing with Wenger?

[KSE Comedy Club]

Fuck me.

I thought this transfer was nailed on.

Seems we cant even afford £7m now :shrug:

What the actual fuck is happening to all the money at this club!?!

[I am invisible]

7mill though. How the hell can that have any serious bearing on a club the size of Arsenal? Just pay it. Get the player in. Sell Mustafi, or let him go on a free. £7mill will be the least of our worries if we have to go with Mustafi for the remainder of the season.

All true, and of course it won't have any bearing on us whatsoever. But it doesn't matter - if the PL rules say that clubs can only add X amount to their annual expenses each season relative to their commercial income, and if we've already maxed out our limit for this year, then our hands might be tied? (*That's just a guess, but it would explain why we're trying to structure any and every potential deal as an initial loan with an option to buy later / in the next accounting period.)

Would love to sell Mustafi, but that's easier said than done, as we found out last summer. I'm not even sure we can give him away at this point? If he's decided to sit on his fat Arsenal contract and would rather rot than go elsewhere for less money but more games then there's not really much we can do about it. Feels short-sighted to me, but he's legally well within his rights to do it...

[Niall_Quinn]

Arteta thinks he can turn around Mustafi's career. Oh dear.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/01/26/mikel-arteta-backs-rescue-shkodran-mustafis-arsenal-career/

Maybe this is why we don't want to pay what's needed for the South American. Anyone else sick of this nonsense, having to put up with mediocre players and having to hear your manager telling you they can make it, despite 4-5 years of being awful? Didn't we have the same thing with Wenger?

This would be a miracle too far.

I suspect this is code for: "Nobody will touch him with a bargepole!"

[Niall_Quinn]

All true, and of course it won't have any bearing on us whatsoever. But it doesn't matter - if the PL rules say that clubs can only add X amount to their annual expenses each season relative to their commercial income, and if we've already maxed out our limit for this year, then our hands might be tied? (*That's just a guess, but it would explain why we're trying to structure any and every potential deal as an initial loan with an option to buy later / in the next accounting period.)

Would love to sell Mustafi, but that's easier said than done, as we found out last summer. I'm not even sure we can give him away at this point? If he's decided to sit on his fat Arsenal contract and would rather rot than go elsewhere for less money but more games then there's not really much we can do about it. Feels short-sighted to me, but he's legally well within his rights to do it...

If true, it makes the Pepe deal even more bonkers. Almost as nuts as the the gossip about Lemar coming on loan. Why would we need him?

[I am invisible]

Arteta thinks he can turn around Mustafi's career. Oh dear.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/01/26/mikel-arteta-backs-rescue-shkodran-mustafis-arsenal-career/

Maybe this is why we don't want to pay what's needed for the South American...
Could be the other way around - Flamengo aren't interested in a 'loan now, buy later' deal, so we're now having to big up Mustafi in case that's what we're left with?


Arteta thinks he can turn around Mustafi's career. Oh dear.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/01/26/mikel-arteta-backs-rescue-shkodran-mustafis-arsenal-career/
...Anyone else sick of this nonsense, having to put up with mediocre players and having to hear your manager telling you they can make it, despite 4-5 years of being awful? Didn't we have the same thing with Wenger?
Yes. Honestly, the next time we redesign the logo we should consider going with a guy in coach's outfit polishing a turd - it wouldn't be too far from the truth.

Slightly different with Wenger though, as he was a manager and had total power over recruitment - Arteta and Emery have been hired as coaches, and their job is to get the most out of the players they have. They can, of course, ask for better, but that will be done in private - in public, you keep the players you have confident and motivated and fighting for you (right up until the very moment before you hand them their p45).

[Globalgunner]

So no one spoke to the accounts department before Edu went to Brazil or before he left to return with the player. Whose running this place. Mr Bean and Benny Hill?

[I am invisible]

If true, it makes the Pepe deal even more bonkers. Almost as nuts as the the gossip about Lemar coming on loan. Why would we need him?

Yup - totally nuts. That one's all on Raul - he bet the farm on a quick return to the CL, and it's blown up in our face.

The one saving grace here is that we now have no choice but to start running this club properly - it's going to be brutal in the short-term, but that wage bill has to come down, and the focus has to be on smart recruitment and better coaching.

[I am invisible]

So no one spoke to the accounts department before Edu went to Brazil or before he left to return with the player. Whose running this place. Mr Bean and Benny Hill?

You're talking about a guy who tried to move to England without his passport - don't set your expectations too high.

[I am invisible]

Fuck me.

I thought this transfer was nailed on.

Seems we cant even afford £7m now :shrug:

What the actual fuck is happening to all the money at this club!?!

There's no mystery here - we've got a squad of players on CL wages, and we've now gone 3 years without CL income (and the increased commercials that go with the prestige of that competition). Next year will be year 4.

I think we had enough in the bank to cover the shortfall for the first couple of years, but we're now into loss-making territory so some harsh decisions are going to need to be made.

On the plus side, some harsh decisions are going to need to be made.

[dazthegooner]

So it looks like we wanted the player even got him to come over for a medical only then discover that we can't afford it (or we did but think Flamengo would budge on the fee) how arrogant are the board? (stupid question) so cannot see us getting anyone this window unless we get rid of a few players and going by what Arteta has said the one's we need to get rid of he wants to work on hoping he will improve <_<

[Globalgunner]

Now that Mustafi is injured in his leg. (Brain is permanently on the blink anyway). Can someone put in a call to Brazil and tell them we have found some Euros under the rafters. Or do we have to start a Paypal Go-fund me account. Im willing to put in a tenner. Im sure NQ will be good for at least 50.?

[Özim]

Deal has collapsed apparently.

https://twitter.com/ZRAFC/status/1221818374243651584

[Marc Overmars]

Sounds like we’re getting cold feet.

I’m not totally fussed though if I’m honest. I’d rather we just ride out the season and do it properly in the summer.

[I am invisible]

I'm just waiting for the news that we've recalled Mavropanos 2 weeks after sending him out on loan...

[Letters]

I'm just waiting for the news that we've recalled Mavropanos 2 weeks after sending him out on loan...

I read that quickly and thought Mavropanos had a sequel.

[I am invisible]

Sounds like we’re getting cold feet.

I’m not totally fussed though if I’m honest. I’d rather we just ride out the season and do it properly in the summer.

I reckon it all hinges on whether it's an option to buy or an obligation to buy at the end of the loan - you don't send your technical director out to hold the player's hand on the plane unless you're sure about him and most of the figures are already agreed.

Either way, I don't think it stops us going after another CB signing - can't see Mustafi and Mavropanos surviving the summer, Sokratis and Luiz will both be down to their final years (and I can't see both being offered extensions), Chambers will probably be out until 2021, and Holding is working his way back from a year out.

[I am invisible]

I read that quickly and thought Mavropanos had a sequel.

Tbf, if he played for spurs that would definitely be a DVD.

[Marc Overmars]

Eriksen has signed for Inter.

They seem to be signing everyone these days. Doubt they will stop Juve though.

[Özim]

Sounds like we’re getting cold feet.

I’m not totally fussed though if I’m honest. I’d rather we just ride out the season and do it properly in the summer.

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.

[Özim]

I reckon it all hinges on whether it's an option to buy or an obligation to buy at the end of the loan - you don't send your technical director out to hold the player's hand on the plane unless you're sure about him and most of the figures are already agreed.

Either way, I don't think it stops us going after another CB signing - can't see Mustafi and Mavropanos surviving the summer, Sokratis and Luiz will both be down to their final years (and I can't see both being offered extensions), Chambers will probably be out until 2021, and Holding is working his way back from a year out.

If it's agreed though, the deal doesn't collapse after you've given him a medical.

Arteta wants to turn around Mustafis career so don't expect him to be leaving. Common sense works, however at Arsenal not so much, we went and spent 72 million on a winger when our defence was the major weakness so just because it's logical it doesn't mean it's going to happen.

If we do get a CB it won't be a top quality one, it'll be the usual cheapish buy.

[Mac76]

Arteta wants to turn around Mustafis career so don't expect him to be leaving.

very depressing - can't he see the guy is a massive bucket of grade A steaming shite???

[Letters]

very depressing - can't he see the guy is a massive bucket of grade A steaming shite???

Don't hold back, will you? :lol:

[Mac76]

Don't hold back, will you? :lol:

i could have gone further.... ;)

[I am invisible]

If it's agreed though, the deal doesn't collapse after you've given him a medical.

Arteta wants to turn around Mustafis career so don't expect him to be leaving. Common sense works, however at Arsenal not so much, we went and spent 72 million on a winger when our defence was the major weakness so just because it's logical it doesn't mean it's going to happen.

If we do get a CB it won't be a top quality one, it'll be the usual cheapish buy.

Mustafi is another one who is going to be down to the final year of his contract in the summer. Ignore what's being said - do you see anyone at the club falling over themselves to offer him a new deal? No one wants him here - not really. They'd get rid of him in a cold minute if they could.

I'd take Arteta's words with a massive pinch of salt - he's basically said the same about every player in the squad, a) because he knows he's probably going to be stuck with this same group until the summer, and b) because, quite frankly, getting the best of them is the job he's being paid millions of pounds a year for.