summer '22 transfer craziness and stupidity

[I am invisible]

Don’t see Tielemans happening unless we sell Xhaka.

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say I don't think the two are directly linked - we thinned the squad down massively over the last year, and we already have both the squad-space and the money free to add Tielemans without needing something else to shift first, so I don't see Xhaka's situation impeding that move.

As for Xhaka, it's kind of up to him whether he wants to stay or move on. Tielemans coming in would most likely mean he'll spending a lot more time on the bench, but then again I think the 5-subs thing is going to be a pretty big deal next season, and I can really see it changing how teams think. I have a feeling we'll see a move towards what they've been doing in rugby where you have players who start games and players who finish games, and a lot more switching between systems if something isn't working - Xhaka gives us the option of a double-pivot when we need it, which might be useful? Don't know how many minutes that will translate to, but it's a consideration.

If he does go, it's 50/50 whether we replace him - whoever comes in would be looking at the same situation, so it would depend on the player and the price.

[I am invisible]

Signing Fabio Vieira doesn’t impact Arsenal’s pursuit of Youri Tielemans. Club still see Tielemans as a top priority and remain confident of agreeing a price with Leicester.
https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status...41163250601988

is he any good? Been a bit underwhelmed whenever i've seen him play bar the odd goal

Tielemans or Vieira?

[Munchies]

Tielemans or Vieira?

Tielemans

Don't have high expectations for Vieira as is lol,

[Globalgunner]

Xhaka leaving would be just like a new signing. Dont know if we should wait until after the WC. He nominally plays better for Switzerland than he does for us and is captain. We might be able to grab an extra 10m from Mourinho after the WC assuming Xhaka isn't sent off in the first game

Wijnaldum should be Xhaka`s replacement. Our resident Pool fan seems to think he would be good for us.....I trust his judgment in these matters

[I am invisible]

Tielemans

Don't have high expectations for Vieira as is lol,

He looks perfect for our 433, IMO. Very much an all-rounder - can create a bit, score a bit, carry the ball, put in a challenge. He's not a 6'3 monster, but I don't think he needs to be - everything we've done over the last year has been about reducing the distance from front to back (esp. with more athletic defenders who can play high) so the guys in the middle tend to be more about working in tight spaces as they no longer have vast distances to cover. From what I've seen of him he has good, tight control, he's relatively comfortable with both feet, and he has a lovely ability to take a ball on the half-turn, roll his marker and then accelerate away over 10-20 yards - those last two (two-footedness and taking the ball on the half-turn) are traits I think we now look for in any player we sign (Vieira also has both qualities).

Not really sure what to expect from Vieira, but €35-40m from the Portuguese league isn't exactly chump change, and he's already being repped by a super agent, so that hints at a good player. Think he's being brought in to provide cover for Ødegaard and Saka with a view to being able to challenge both when he gets used to the league.

[Mac76]

Xhaka leaving would be just like a new signing. Dont know if we should wait until after the WC. He nominally plays better for Switzerland than he does for us and is captain. We might be able to grab an extra 10m from Mourinho after the WC assuming Xhaka isn't sent off in the first game

Wijnaldum should be Xhaka`s replacement. Our resident Pool fan seems to think he would be good for us.....I trust his judgment in these matters

Let's just get rid now, if we wait it could work the other way at the WC and he does a Xhaka and gets a straight red, putting off potential buyers

The sooner he's gone the better

[Mac76]

No, I believe he suffered.

He had no pre season with us, then he was brought on in games here and there to try and get him up to speed. Then Emery was sacked and Arteta came in and didn't really like him and never gave him a chance.

If he had time to properly bed into the team, I think we would have gotten a much better version of him in the long run.

I agree, although the money involved in his signing was also blatant corruption by Raul and co and it didn't help him as expectations went sky-high, if we'd signed him for £25m or so it would have played out differently though Arteta's attitude may have been the same

[Letters]

Let's just get rid now, if we wait it could work the other way at the WC and he does a Xhaka and gets a straight red, putting off potential buyers

The sooner he's gone the better

Not a fan?

[Munchies]

�� Arsenal defensive priority this window is Lisandro Martinez. Wanted for ability to play LCB / LB + 24yo Argentina international said to be keen. Sources indicate ~€30m bid already rejected by #Ajax but #AFC will keep pushing. That & more

https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/s...42321672347652

[I am invisible]

Interesting… wouldn’t hurt to have a left-sided Tomiyasu.