Things are NOT looking good for Auba. Man has shamed his nation with his elitist behaviour. The partying pre-AFCON, the COVID likely because of the partying, and the strong rumours from Gabonese media that the player got totes wasted and had a fight with security at the team hotel when he brought babes back.
Not cool.
Still, goals are the prime currency in football, so hopefully someone comes in with a deal for him this January. CBS is reporting that there’s an offer from Saudi to take over his contract. That’d be epic, though a little sad, because that really is a retirement deal.
The great nation of Coromos delivered us the December Christmas present we all asked for — they knocked out Ghana in a spectacular giant-killing for the ages, which means Thomas Partey, barring anything weird, should be back in England very shortly.
I don’t know whether he will be fit for the Burnley game, but to be honest, it’s not like anyone else will be. I just hope he’s not sad about the early exit because if we’re getting peak Partey back, we are dancing in the streets.
Arsenal vs Liverpool is on, which means a number of big journos are going to have to find those newspaper website clicks somewhere else this week. Martin Odegaard is passing those lateral flows like he connecting the midfield with attack. Well. Not sure if that last sentence worked, but you saw the ambition of it, and that’s what matters. I’m interested to see who we roll with, the good news is that those extra few days should have an impact on our player’s legs. We can have a crack at them.
In transfer news, we’ve ripped up Kola’s deal. He’s the last of the bad eggs out of the club. Somehow, he’s managed to land a move to Marseille. I don’t know how they sold that to their fans, but who cares, he’s gone, we can move on, and we’ll NEVER have to see him rolled on as a center-back again.
There are also strong rumours that we’re going to move Elneny out of the club, Fenerbache have come knocking, Mesut has clearly put in a good word, that would be a great deal for us if we can get more than £16 in fee.
I have absolutely no idea what we’re doing with our midfield with regards to signings. The Melo deal is off, we’re not being loudly linked with anyone, unless bringing players back from loan and hoping Patino/Azeez grow up real fast is the solution. It’s a little worrying… but you would guess that if we’re moving out players, we have a plan that doesn’t look like we’re smacking ourselves in the face.
The Vlahovic rumours are moving into ‘dangerously boring’ territory. The Italian press keep saying he doesn’t want Arsenal, if that’s the case, the story is dead. No way Edu is on the phone begging him to join. The worry is that, yet again, there are no alternatives being linked. Not that being linked is the be-all and end-all, but usually, there’s a bit of smoke.
Only one recognised striker for the rest of the season is a bit shit. That one striker is 29 and leaving in the summer. Eddie is playing like it’s May 31st already. Even more worrying if Auba has heart problems. Not sure many men with kids would risk their life over football. So let’s hope the issue isn’t that bad. Even then… Auba isn’t exactly suitable, is he?
Thomas Tuchel, 2014 Le Grove dreamboat, 2021s ‘ARSENAL LACK AMBITION FOR NOT SIGNING THIS PERFECT HUMAN’ is in a bit of a crisis at Chelsea. They drew against Brighton, no shame there, but a shame when you are slumming it in 3rd for an Abramovich team. If Arsenal win their 3 games in hand, which is ambitious speculation in the name of gloating, we’d go level points with them. Quite something, wouldn’t you say?
Just think about this: How many of the ‘elite’ things that happened this summer at other clubs… that some of our fans used to slam our ambition… have come good?
Tuchel? Nah.
Varane or Kounde over White? Nah
Onana over Ramsdale? Nah
Lukaku?
Grealish?
Jadon?
Emerson Royal?
Auoar?
Just because it feels sexy, doesn’t mean it’ll be sexy.
Put that quote in my obituary.
Right, short post today. Have a nice evening. x
P.S. CLICK IN THE YOUGOV SURVEY TO UR RIGHT AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, PLEZ x
Some in the Italian media are reporting that Arsenal have moved to official bid stage when it comes to Dusan Vlahovic.
Here is what I don’t understand: If AFC knew who they were targeting in October, why does it take until Jan 17 to place a bid?
I am just asking that, it’s not a criticism, I’m still in the ‘don’t know what you’re talking about’ dog house after thinking the Arsenal press release was too naive. We might not have even placed a bid here.
What does seem clear from factual evidence sourced in the FT is the agents of Dusan are the worst kind. They tried to extract £6.69m in fees from Fiorentina just to keep the player there. I read one random thread that stated there could be as many as 15 parties trying to extract fees from this transfer. Edu is more than comfortable running in those circles, the guy was shameless enough to put Willian, his agents player, on £250k a week and do the signing at the Kia’s house. Not sure he’s getting that sort of long leash these days. Certain clubs might indulge mega agents, but I don’t think Arsenal are rich enough to be adding 10-15% on top of a big fee… did I say rich? Stupid.
PART TWO GUEST POST FROM COACH MIKE MCDONALD, ENJOY.
To fully understand what’s happening at Arsenal you will need to read the first piece I wrote so that this piece makes sense. It’s about Arteta adopting the ‘Juego de Posicion’ ethos and almost re-teaching football into positional play.
(Le Grove’s most popular piece last year)
If you were wondering what the hell Mikel Arteta is attempting at Arsenal, this write up by @mike_mmcdonald is excellent. He’s a coach IRL, so has a very nice way of explaining complex ideas. Enjoy! I did https://t.co/rG5IEBJ42F
Arsenal managed to convince the Premier League to have the Spurs game postponed.
This is a monstrous piece of work from Arsenal leadership, truly, a very powerful move.
One of the elements that I think confuses everyone is that we’re all looking at the one or two COVID cases and wondering how you can have a game canceled based on such low numbers.
Late to the party today because I’m traveling back home, BUT MY WORD did I enjoy 10 man Arsenal making Jurgen Klopp has his false test army look distinctly average against a 10 men Arsenal.
Make no mistake about it, the German rockstar coach had the game from the previous week moved under dubious circumstances because 1) He’s under pressure after tanking the league again, he really needs an insurance trophy 2) He knows that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is very much on the rise.
