Winter Transfer Missed Opportunities and Regrets

[selassie]

Surely Chelsea have bent some FFP rulings somewhere here? Absolutely insane expenditure under Boehly.

Those long deals they keep giving out to their new signings is what is allowing them to get around FFP. Their last 3 signings have been on 7.5 year deals apparently.

[Chippy]

Everyone knows our squad's too thin, that's the problem, we ran out of steam last season because he played people like Daka in eberu gamr, the same will happen unless we deepen the squad. Ok, we'll have Jesus, Nelson coming back and ESR is now available, but we need more IMO

The problem is, there is no plan B after Mudryk. The same old thing wil happen. We will get to March and injuries will fuck us over.

[selassie]

Everyone knows our squad's too thin, that's the problem, we ran out of steam last season because he played people like Daka in eberu gamr, the same will happen unless we deepen the squad. Ok, we'll have Jesus, Nelson coming back and ESR is now available, but we need more IMO

Aye, we have to do as much in our power to add depth and quality to the squad this window. If we fail to do so then realistically speaking the current squad will not be able to manage a PL title challenge and Europa league challenge IMO, injuries and fatigue will kick in like they did last season, it's inevitable. I personally believe we need a Wide player and Central Midfielder (Partey cover).

[IBK]

Yeah I hear you IBK.

If it was to do with valuation and that we always knew we were not prepared to meet it, and that Shaktar were standing firm on their valuation, then we should have walked away weeks ago and made progress on alternative targets?

The reality of the situation is that we are a Saka or Martinelli injury away from our season collapsing, as we are with our options or lack of them in Central Midfield if Partey or dare I say even Xhaka breaks down.

If it's not Mudryk, then it needs to be someone else, we desperately need adding quality to the squad ASAP.

P.S. Been reading this morning we have gone back in for Raphinha, apparently Barca want rid.

I agree with you that there is a risk that our top performers will break down and derail our title push - and we have seen the drop off when our first 11 is not fit. But (and I know that you will appreciate this even if more impulsive posters on here do not), there is a risk in signing players also. Mudryk looks a good prospect but he has played only 33 top flight games. He is EPL unproven. Transfers always create excitement because of the unknown, and the ability to dream, but its easy to make assumptions that players will be instant successes, when the reality is almost always different. Before moving to Manchester United in September 2022, the more experienced Anthony (at £86 million - identified by Ten Hag as integral to his project) made 57 league appearances in total at Ajax, scoring 18 goals and providing 14 assists. He's been OK for Manure under a very good coach, but has scored 3 goals for Manure this season.

I make this comparison to try to balance the hype. Those lamenting the non-signing of Mudryk do so mainly due to the idea that he would almost have guaranteed our title push, when there is no such guarantee. He would have been more a player for the future, with the hope that he would fire this season if needed. Would this be worth £100M? I think not. I think Arsenal was right not to be forced to pay over their valuation - and the fact that the player chased the money suggests that there may have been a question mark over his committment to our project. Plus our team's current greatest strength is its group togetherness - you will potentially affect this by doing a Chelsea and paying over the odds for a player - whatever the circumstances. Remember that Saka, Martinelli, Saliba are yet to be tied down to new contracts.

As for walking away when Shakhtar stood firm. I'm afraid I have to disagree. While there was a prospect that we might sign a player who apparently wanted to come to us and whom Arteta had identified as wanting we were right to continue to try to secure this signing. I guarantee that the fact this was so public was down to the player's agent and his club, not Arsenal, and the alternative would have been to give up because Chelsea were likely to offer more which I don't agree with.

For me, what is key here is not Mudryk. It's getting in cover. And if we are looking for this to assist a title push I would be more comfortable with the likes of Raphina or Garcia who are EPL tested. We both agree that getting noone in would seem negligent. Failing to secure Mudryk or Felix isn't.

[selassie]

I agree with you that there is a risk that our top performers will break down and derail our title push - and we have seen the drop off when our first 11 is not fit. But (and I know that you will appreciate this even if more impulsive posters on here do not), there is a risk in signing players also. Mudryk looks a good prospect but he has played only 33 top flight games. He is EPL unproven. Transfers always create excitement because of the unknown, and the ability to dream, but its easy to make assumptions that players will be instant successes, when the reality is almost always different. Before moving to Manchester United in September 2022, the more experienced Anthony (at £86 million - identified by Ten Hag as integral to his project) made 57 league appearances in total at Ajax, scoring 18 goals and providing 14 assists. He's been OK for Manure under a very good coach, but has scored 3 goals for Manure this season.

I make this comparison to try to balance the hype. Those lamenting the non-signing of Mudryk do so mainly due to the idea that he would almost have guaranteed our title push, when there is no such guarantee. He would have been more a player for the future, with the hope that he would fire this season if needed. Would this be worth £100M? I think not. I think Arsenal was right not to be forced to pay over their valuation - and the fact that the player chased the money suggests that there may have been a question mark over his committment to our project. Plus our team's current greatest strength is its group togetherness - you will potentially affect this by doing a Chelsea and paying over the odds for a player - whatever the circumstances. Remember that Saka, Martinelli, Saliba are yet to be tied down to new contracts.

As for walking away when Shakhtar stood firm. I'm afraid I have to disagree. While there was a prospect that we might sign a player who apparently wanted to come to us and whom Arteta had identified as wanting we were right to continue to try to secure this signing. I guarantee that the fact this was so public was down to the player's agent and his club, not Arsenal, and the alternative would have been to give up because Chelsea were likely to offer more which I don't agree with.

For me, what is key here is not Mudryk. It's getting in cover. And if we are looking for this to assist a title push I would be more comfortable with the likes of Raphina or Garcia who are EPL tested. We both agree that getting noone in would seem negligent. Failing to secure Mudryk or Felix isn't.

I agree, I am just desperate for us to do something (even loans) if it means adding quality depth and giving us a real chance of success this season. I am starting to think we can genuinely win the league if we do add to the squad.

[Marc Overmars]

In addition to a winger/forward, I hope we’re on the look out for a Partey alternative. His importance to the team is immeasurable, the drop off in quality without him would be disastrous.

[HCZ_Reborn]

In addition to a winger/forward, I hope we’re on the look out for a Partey alternative. His importance to the team is immeasurable, the drop off in quality without him would be disastrous.

Don’t see that happening before the summer, I think we only went in for Douglas Luiz because it was feared both Partey and Elneny would be out for a long time

I’m of the view that Partey should be rested in certain fixtures to make sure a) he’s not playing too many games and b) we are capable of getting results without him.

I think whatever else we have to conclude that Lokonga is useless and we need to cut our losses on him in the summer…he has been without doubt the worst player in an Arsenal shirt this season and as much as I chide Arteta for not rotating, he’s been dreadful every time he has played. If you cannot impose yourself on the game against Oxford United, the premier league is not for you.

To be honest as much as I hate to say it, I think the wisest option might be to keep our hands in our pockets until the summer. Some of the players we’ve been linked with as alternatives for Mudryk (Trossard, Raphinia) leave my blood running cold….they absolutely would be the epitome of panic signings.


This summer might be the time for offloading a few players. Elneny possibly (he’s not getting younger and we need someone who can step up and do the job just as well as Partey is). I think we should probably cash in on one of Vieira or Smith Rowe (we simply don’t need both players) and I think Tierney might be best shipped out as well

[Marc Overmars]

Trossard would be an interesting option in the short term but yeah I don’t feel like we should be splashing out on players for the sake of it. Doing that is what got us into the mess post-Wenger.

Recruitment has been spot on for the last couple of years and if the club feel like keeping the powder dry then I’ll back that.

The question is how enticing is that dangling carrot of a PL title at the moment? As it stands our squad is wafer thin and we’re relying on a lot of luck to keep us ticking over.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

In addition to a winger/forward, I hope we’re on the look out for a Partey alternative. His importance to the team is immeasurable, the drop off in quality without him would be disastrous.

Again I agree with you and this is the only position that really worries me as it's so obvious that even a below average Partey is so superior to any of the options we have ATM.

The guy's contribution to the team is just unbelievable...it seems like he single handely runs our midfield and dictates tempo no matter how poor he is. I still believe his absence was the main reason we lost to Man U. I don't know how to put it but he just makes us look like we are playing an extra man in the centre.

If we are spending money, that is the position I believe we should spend anything to get adequate cover for. Partey is irreplaceable in this team and like you said without him the dropoff in quality of our play is just to obvious.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Trossard would be an interesting option in the short term but yeah I don’t feel like we should be splashing out on players for the sake of it. Doing that is what got us into the mess post-Wenger.

Recruitment has been spot on for the last couple of years and if the club feel like keeping the powder dry then I’ll back that.

The question is how enticing is that dangling carrot of a PL title at the moment? As it stands our squad is wafer thin and we’re relying on a lot of luck to keep us ticking over.

I just think it’s too much of a gamble to bring in players that we have no use for long term in the hope that they can win us this current title, when nothing will guarantee that…we aren’t favourites…Manchester City are and we are 18 games in not 25…we aren’t in the mid way point yet to put our current league position down to anything other than an anomaly caused by other teams showing indifferent form.

As it is we haven’t secured 4th yet. But neither should we be panic buying to get that over the line