summer '22 transfer craziness and stupidity

[mandela8]

So he costs us every season yet continually gets picked by every manager who is at Arsenal. If he was that easy to replace we would have upgraded on him already, we have been spending money the past few seasons so it's not even as if we haven't had the budget to replace him.

I'm no fan of his, but he is nowhere near as bad as you and others on here are making out.

Well, he played for Wenger on his way out when the fans basically hounded him out of the club. Then he played under Emery who was shit. Now under Arteta who's lucky to still be in a job. So I wouldn't be using his managers as justification. Also, I think he's benefitted from more immediate problems (players leaving and having to be replaced) and players not working out (Torreria, Gendouzi, for example).

I don't think there's any doubt that almost every arsenal fan would have him as the one player they'd replace.

You can make senseless arguments like "look at results without him", when there are far too many variables for that to be valid and could be easily countered by "look at arsenals league positions since he arrived", which is probably equally unfair...but really, the simple eye test tells you all you need to know.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Indeed, and whether Tielemans is the replacement we need for Xhaka remains to be seen. I am biased as I am a big fan of the player and have wanted him at the club since he was at Monaco.

That there may be someone far better out there is something I am readily willing to concede

That Xhaka is a liability and needs upgrading on should be beyond doubt

[selassie]

Well, he played for Wenger on his way out when the fans basically hounded him out of the club. Then he played under Emery who was shit. Now under Arteta who's lucky to still be in a job. So I wouldn't be using his managers as justification. Also, I think he's benefitted from more immediate problems (players leaving and having to be replaced) and players not working out (Torreria, Gendouzi, for example).

I don't think there's any doubt that almost every arsenal fan would have him as the one player they'd replace.

You can make senseless arguments like "look at results without him", when there are far too many variables for that to be valid and could be easily countered by "look at arsenals league positions since he arrived", which is probably equally unfair...but really, the simple eye test tells you all you need to know.

It's not really justification, but more related to the fact that the club has been through turmoil, has rebuilt the playing squad but yet he is still here getting picked every week. Do I think he can upgraded on? Absolutely. Do I think he is the route of all our problems no? He is somewhere in the middle. Xhaka is no more of a problem to me than say Partey.

[mandela8]

Xhaka is no more of a problem to me than say Partey.

Genuinely the single worst fitba opinion I have ever heard.

Incredible.

[Globalgunner]

This is why even in courts witness testimony is never taken as gospel. Many people can witness the same assault and there will be 1 person who defends the guy wielding a knife.

"Milud, I saw the plaintiff run headlong onto this mans knife. He repeatedly bashed his abdomen against this fellows defensive instrument"


I have always said that the test of a good player is to ask yourself. If he was playing for any other club apart from Arsenal, would you be clamouring for the manager to buy him?. In the case of Xhaka, that would be a 99% fan NO

[Letters]

I definitely wouldn’t be coveting Xhaka if he was elsewhere.
But I don’t think he deserves all the hate he gets.
He deserves some of it tbf.

[Globalgunner]

Its not hate, that another culturally misused term. He hasn't stolen any fans wife or lunch. He is just a genuinely poor football player in the EPL.

[selassie]

Genuinely the single worst fitba opinion I have ever heard.

Incredible.

Says that man that gives Saka a 3 rating every game. You think I take your posts seriously? 🤣

[mandela8]

Says that man that gives Saka a 3 rating every game. You think I take your posts seriously? ��

Well, it's only been 2 games and I don't think anyone honestly rates him higher, tbh.

[Letters]

Its not hate, that another culturally misused term. He hasn't stolen any fans wife or lunch. He is just a genuinely poor football player in the EPL.

I think poor is harsh. But he's certainly not the level of player we need if we're going to step up and start thinking seriously about a title challenge.