Reports coming out of Germany today that the club is looking to bolster experience in defence again with the signing of 29-year-old Dortmund centre-back, Sokratis. I can’t say this signing makes me weak at knees, and I’m not really sure he’s adding levels to our game. I keep looking at the signings we’re making through the prism of culture building, versus seeing them purely as elite level talent hires.
The club appear to be looking beyond just the on-the-field dimensions with these names, they’re signing parts that they’re missing from a culture/leadership perspective. Now, it’s pretty clear that the Greek isn’t a world class addition, so he must be bringing something else to the table? Maybe he’s a solid leader, maybe he’s good with young players, maybe he’s a Remi Garde like signing? The more seasoned Frenchman was brought to Arsenal to help the young French players at the club acclimate. He was like a mentor type figure in a largely English setup.
The Greek is he looks every inch like we’ve signed Squillaci MKII. He’s bit of a journeyman, he’ll be 30 by the start of the season, he’s being signed as an experienced stop gap.
It’s very hard for players to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, especially when they’ve come over from a slower league with a winter break. The Greek is a ball playing defender who was listed as one of the best in the Bundesliga in January 2017 by Kicker. Tuchel liked him because he could play the ball and extinguish problems early (a bit like peak Koscielny would do), so it’s clear Arsenal are opting for a technical defender who can help us play out of the back, I’d also say they fear that Koscielny won’t be back for quite a while.
The comparison to old Seb reads unfair, but ultimately, he was a good player who’d played a CL final and for a top France team 21 times. One that was used to playing in proper systems and failed because Arsene didn’t protect defenders.
“You can see that from before my time and after my time. The style of play was a bit like Spain’s. It was very open, and often we found ourselves defending in the middle one on one with the opposition attackers. It was never easy. It was very attacking. But that was the club’s philosophy.
“I talked about it with coach Wenger. He told me, ‘I know it’s difficult, but I want us to play like this, I want the attacking players to have more freedom and less defensive work’.”
Emery is going to give everyone a chance to survive at Arsenal, because he’ll give the defence more structure and purpose, and he’ll also make sure the rest of the team is working for them. The setup might become more than the sum of its parts under the new regime.
Also, when you read around the background of the player, he has a lot of very good press. He’s played under Klopp, Tuchel and Allegri. So he knows how to play in a fluid system. He was also chosen to be the captain of Athens at 19 years old, before being picked out as a bit of a warrior at Dortmund. This extract from the Bundesliga magazine was also pretty hopeful.
Though he did not fully establish himself as first-choice until Thomas Tuchel’s arrival in 2015, his first two campaigns with Die Schwarzgelben still brought 43 starts and a formidable 66 percent of challenges won. His promotion came at the expense of Subotic, and since the 2016 departure of Hummels for Bayern, Sokratis has been the undisputed general of Dortmund’s rearguard action, a billing he has lived up to famously.
His 69 percent ‘challenges won’ ratio this season has been a major part in helping BVB enjoy a clean sheet tally in double figures, an admirable achievement given the gung-ho nature of his team, particularly under Peter Bosz. In the top 10 for touches this season — level with Naldo and just behind Hummels — Sokratis’ 90 percent pass completion means he is just as important in getting his own side moving forward as he is in stopping BVB’s rivals doing the same. And it is not just because referees fear writing his full name — Sokratis Papastathopoulos — that he has received just three five cards this season as his play includes more finesse than his nightclub doorman 6’1″ frame would suggest.
If we’re bringing in a younger player to bring a bit of wow (Caglar Soyuncu), then I can live with this signing. I just hope the extent of Diamond Eyes talent isn’t rooting out deals from Dortmund. It looks like comfort behaviour or a lack confidence in new decisions. We’ve signed Auba, Mikki and likely Sokratis. Even Mavrapanos was a signing he identifiued at his old club. Time to remove ourselves from the soft teet of the German club and move in on a new chapter…
UNLESS THAT NEW CHAPTER INVOLVES DEMBELE.
So far it seems we’re getting our less than spectacular signings out the way first. Lichensteiner and Sokratis are squad filler, versus players we’re going to truly build around, but if they have the right attitude, combined with a fighting spirit, it certainly gives us a little more balance at the back experience wise.
Also, regardless of what you think of the quality of the names, we’re doing business quickly for once. I don’t think we’ll be looking at our squad at the end of July wondering what the f*cking going on. We have a plan, we’re going hard at it, and there will be no excuses centred around the terrors of money and modern football come the start of the season.
Hopefully, Sven brings a little more creativity to some of the additional signings.
That was quick
TR7 sorry but the point I was making was Liverpool are acting on their current status of a champions league team while we for years in the champions league weren’t making the most of our status. Now we’re in the Europa league thanks to him and inevitably there’s certain players who just won’t come here now.
We’ve reset out sights to a lower standard
Its like buying bananas when what you really want is lemonade.
I’m sure Charles will on soon with some snappy retorts but facts are facts Fabinho would have been the perfect midfield signing and was a deal we could have afforded its no excuse. Instead here we are having endless Xhaka debates and talking about Seri and Doucoure. Just not quick or smart enough still
Apparently Pool are interested in Allison.
I’m sure Charles will on soon with some snappy retorts but facts are facts Fabinho would have been the perfect midfield signing and was a deal we could have afforded its no excuse. Instead here we are having endless Xhaka debates and talking about Seri and Doucoure. Just not quick or smart enough still
And we could offer him????????????
its not just about money – we cant offer a title shot or champions league
TR7
“Apparently Pool are interested in Allison.”
That’s been around forever.n It will cost them a pretty penny because Roma are still smarting from having to sell Salah.
It was Klopp who was trying to be too smart with Karius.
Marko
I got your point but it’s not merely about CL status.
Keita -70M
Fabinho -45M
Fekir -60M (reportedly)
That’s serious money.
I suppose when you look at it, Liverpool need to give brendan Rodgers a very big thank you for giving the club the finances to buy players near the top end of the market.
He bought Coutinho for 8.5 and Liverpool sold him for a profit of 135 million… That buys them salah, , keita and fabinho and still have change left over.
Incredible to think Liverpool’a first two signings are Naby Keita and Fabinho while our first two signings are likely to be Sokratis and Lichtsteiner. Hardly as impressive
AFC as pointed out previously are not going to announce they have only x to spend nor are they going to announce they have shed loads of dosh available.to announce either scenario is counter productive.who really knows what they have.its mostly all speculation.as gambon pointed out they just splashed £56 million & 300 grand a wk wages on pea when we least expected it.so it appears to be there when needed.so let’s wait & see.the only one who may have an idea is poss “ the Swiss rambler”….
Not to mention the champions league run Pierre.
Seeing as bakayoko as struggled badly in adjusting to PL football,,I wouldn’t jump the gun in judging how much of an improvement Fabinho will be to the dippers.we get someone like Dembele(unlikely but not impossible)in this window and that dwarfs the dippers effort,anyway it’s gonna be intriguing to see how it all unfolds.
Marko, Whilst I share your wishes for the club to show the ambition we all crave and a club of Arsenal’s stature deserves, I think you have to give this news set up the benefit of doubt for now…. after 10 years of stagnation and decline under wenger, the current changes are positive and definitely we have stopped the rot. We can’t go out and buy marquee players right now, we need to build it back up and that means shrewd signings and a blend of young and experienced. Let’s atleast give them this transfer window to see if we… Read more »
they just splashed £56 million & 300 grand a wk wages on pea when we least expected it.
you mean the panic buy to try n get top 4?
lol totally expected
I got your point but it’s not merely about CL status.Keita -70M
Fabinho -45M
Fekir -60M (reportedly)
Keita cost 52. It’s also a willingness to spend too and ambition to try for those types of players. I mean we spent 42 million on Ozil 50 million on Lacazette 55 million on Auba 35 million on Xhaka are seemingly willing to spend 30+ million on the Turk from Friedberg and Seri. We’re not skint we’re just not smart or decisive enough
Utearse I’m actually positive about the new set up but come on literally the most perfect midfield signing we could have made and afforded this summer has just been made by a rival. Big shame
If Liverpool get Fabinho, Fekir, to add to Keita.
Deary me………..
Moan-arko
“Incredible to think Liverpool’a first two signings are Naby Keita and Fabinho while our first two signings are likely to be Sokratis and Lichtsteiner. Hardly as impressive”
stick to play station
Why do have this irritating habits of always comparing the players we go after to that with the dippers,we absolutely have different needs and certain types of players targeted to fit into Umery’s style of play
since you apparently can’t get your head out the dippers ass, why not switch allegiance already?
Liverpool putting together some team. Their champions league money should be enough or 85% of the money spent on Fabinho.
We bought two Strikers costing over £100m and two Defenders at £70m not to mention Ozil £42m and Sanchez £35m, so the intent is their.
Lets stop pissing about signing cheap over the hill players.
So whats the most important thing about owning a football club
Kroenke – “ensuring financial stability so i dont have to spend any money”
Werner – ” fucking winning everything”
The board are insulting our intelligence signing two.players that bring nothing to the team.
Fekir just been subbed – expecting him to sign Pool contract in next 5 mins
Lets go for Jorginho
Marko,
Agreed, but the fact that they signed him so early tells me it was wrapped up a while back, we were very much concentrating on replacing wenger…. the recruitment drive stars now… let’s see what these guys come up with.
Koulibally quick Sven
I’m beginning to see an emerging pattern.
To many, it seems it doesn’t matter who we sign so long as it is blessed by Mislintat and fits with. Unai Mery’s plan
We sure know how to place too much faith in those holding the reins of power in the club.
Emery knows best when it is sanctioned by Mislintat.
Bla bla bla
Marko I rate Fabinho, more wank commentary from the resident tosser of toys. Thought you didn’t care about what business others did? Don’t care, but happy to talk like you’ve definitive knowledge of our going’s on. We missed out because we dithered? That Arsenes fault? Svens? Emerys? ..one question…what if we hadn’t the faintest interest in him? Then it’s just some geezer getting his knickers hosed over eventualities that were never going to happen. Proper PlayStation stuff every bloody day with you, you’re genuinely a teenager. We need players that fit what Emery wants to do, and for the budget… Read more »
stick to play station Why do have this irritating habits of always comparing the players we go after to that with the dippers,we absolutely have different needs and certain types of players targeted to fit into Umery’s style of play
Needs like Fabinho? Also PlayStation? You’re so used to inaction and dithering from Wenger that you think they only way a club makes a signing is if it’s done on a console. Please someone tell Liverpool its never that easy to sign up a player
Good signing for Liverpool isn’t it Charles.
An old RB. An Greek Centre Back.
It’s not looking good.
Have to say Liverpool’s business in the last 12 months has been amazing.
Best player in the PL, best CB in the league, best B2B in Europe, one of the best DMs in Europe.
Putting us to shame just recently.
Marko
You know what I’m going to ease up for a change.
Look, appreciate what others do by all means, but we’ve just had a massive change at the club. You need to have a little respect of that and entrust the process a little.
To drag out something from a recent past, “judge them at the end of the window.” New Director of football, new head of recruitment, new manager, new strategy/direction. Let it fucking a breath a touch man jesus.
Gambon we didn’t need them they don’t fit our needs…some might say.
Let’s just say Liverpool have done some great business and that’s okay
“Bla bla bla”
Bleak sheep
Have you any opinion of your own besides bleating about supposed moaners?
You’re just a voided waste of moaning commentary
Already got my plastic pool mates jumping for joy talking about fekir next. How do they sign someone so quickly and we are dithering as usual
Charlie be honest you wish we made that signing you must an obviously fantastic player for an affordable price. It’s admirable what they’ve done. Hey I’m giving the new guys the benefit of the doubt but they’d have to have some great bit of business lined up to beat Fabinho for 43 million. Even if we were all City fans here I’d be questioning Jorginho for 50 million and Mahrez for reports saying about 70 million while Liverpool are getting Fabinho for cheaper and Fekir for cheaper
Dysentery
“Bleak sheep
Have you any opinion of your own besides bleating about supposed moaners?
You’re just a voided waste of moaning commentary”
bla bla bla
gambon,
They are buying players as required and going with what exactly what’s needed.
@ arsenal, we always try to be too smart and we end up being stupid.
1.Coudnt decide on time onSanchez
2.Ozil took advantage of that situation.
3.Every body knows Per /Koss[career over]/ Mustafi [rubbish] all shoudnt be counted on.we should have identified players to replace them long term.
4.DM is a must[No debate].
Am not against experience but these guys can come now and be injured half the season and Chambers/Holding start running headlessly in defence again.
Bunch of moaners…ffs wait till the transfer window end first before nagging.
Fabinho for £39m early in this window and Bernardo Silva for £43m early last summer shows just how disorganised we were as a club to be ending up offering £95m for Lemar at 4PM on deadline day.
Even though there’s a need for more quality, at least it looks like there’s a plan now and we’re getting deals done early on, so the manager can get to work crafting a team.
You guys moan like school kids let’s see what happens jeez
Marko Your “affordable” price stuff is presumptuous don’t you think? Personally CM, whilst being important, is less important than GK and CB for at present. Kos is out, Cech is finished. I think it’s more telling we get the right GK in than CM. You’ve got the reserve judgment though it’s honestlt becoming annoying to read your knee jerk stuff in response to others business. You’re popping at Fabinho for 44 and Seri for 35 when we’ve not even signed Seri or seen him play for us. If Seri is a better it for what Wmery has in mind then… Read more »
Who the fuck has a second team anyway ?
If you had asked me 12 months ago what spine I wanted in the team, I wouldve said Keita, Fabinho & Van Dijk.
Depressing stuff.
I guess Fabinho doesnt or hasnt played for Dortmund, so Sven doesnt know who he is.
Liverpool are a GK and another CB away from a complete team, Klopp has to translate that now into success, he has had enough time and he has been permitted to build a great side.
A serious title challenge and a trophy next year at least.
The Fabhino deal and the contract signing was well orchestrated by Liverpool. It was well concealed from the press even though the player would have been in England over the weekend.
They won’t have time to dwell on Saturday, already their fans are buzzing again.
Your “affordable” price stuff is presumptuous don’t you think? 43.7 million plus add ons is that too rich for our blood. Very affordable. Yeah I’ll be honest with you our midfield has been shocking for a while no protection and all that so someone like Fabinho would have done the trick as opposed to Seri whose defensive statistics are questionable. But sure look can’t change it now. But I reserve the right to be critical of this club’s shit transfer policy until it’s plainly obvious that we’ve learned from past failures. Signing Seri for slightly less than Fabinho is still… Read more »
Also justifying us not going for Fabinho because a CB and goalkeeper is more important well they need a keeper and a defender too its not one or the other you know
Marko
Fvck off to the scouse then. You nag a whole lot. My granny doesn’t nag as much as you do. damn!
Arsenal failed with a late bid to sign Fabinho (SkySports)
Well, at least we now know a DM is being targeted,
That is something at least then, we are trying, interesting to know if it was a low offer or no UCL that did it.
Or just the positions of the club, Wenger has left us in a mess.
Not buying this £50 Million budget nonsense at all then
Marko, hold it. Fabinho is fantastic. But would honestly prefer Rabiot. He’s available, Unai knows him. We could get him. He’s equal to Fabinho IMO.
However, it took Liverpool 3 years of Klopp to sign Fabinho and Keita. They also got Salah because Klopp had already embedded his structure/system/style and knew what he wanted. His first major CM signing was Wijnaldum.
Now can you give us the time to work on our team? When the time is right and we are lucrative enough we will make marquee signings
Well you know what at least we tried turns out that we were late to the party but at least we made an attempt to nick the transfer out from under their noses. Under Wenger we’d have hid under our beds until he joined Liverpool
CA it looks like he’d already agreed to join Liverpool they were just a little quicker
Marko, hold it. Fabinho is fantastic. But would honestly prefer Rabiot. He’s available, Unai knows him. We could get him. He’s equal to Fabinho IMO.
Fabinho was needed more he’s more of a DM who can cover at CB and RB whereas Rabiot is a box to box. Still good though
CA it looks like he’d already agreed to join Liverpool they were just a little quicker
lol this so cracks me up
Liverpool werent quicker – they are just better, can offer more and everyone can see what they are building
We are so far behind, dont expect what we cant get
I must say that I’m enjoying Marko’s new disruptiveness.
Can actually rest a little easier now. There was always a nagging feeling that we’d just target someone like Seri or Praet and have them partner Xhaka which would be underwhelming to say the least but the bid for Fabinho tells you we’re targeting more than one midfielder and one’s a defensive type
Liverpool close to Alisson for about £60 Million, they would be a CB away from their issues being solved in days.
Marko
I just think our position has been so hit by the last few years, we really needed to have got shot of Wenger years ago. Better late than never, but the fans need to realise we have to recover now, but also hold those idiots who kept him around responsible for the self inflicted wounds resulting from keeping Wenger around.
That late move might have shown our hand a little, Fabinho is different to what we have been targeting or what the press have said we were targeting. Also says something about our budget as well.
Rabiot is as adept at DM as he is at b2b. Unai plays and prefers him there. Either way just as you said, Fabinho is elite but Rabiot is too. I wish we get him. He would be within same price range too. Got just 1 yr left of his contract and says French Ligue is a joke.
Other things now seem to have what they need in the midfield area so we might get a free run at him and then end up making a 90m bid 25mins to end of the TF window.
Can you imagine if the manager were …Mikel Arteta strutting around London Colney with Pep’s blessings?
Dissenter lmao. Pedro wouldn’t care. thanks goodness we got Unai
Can’t wait for the league next season.
There’s not way City runs way with the title again.
Hope we can just close some of that gap. I think fourth place will be very hard with the disruptive impact of Thursday night games.
Hopefully we win the Europa league, that’s always a good launching pad.
Gambon
“Have to say Liverpool’s business in the last 12 months has been amazing.Best player in the PL, best CB in the league, best B2B in Europe, one of the best DMs in Europe.”
And still can’t win a trophy…. They messed up in the final after getting a nice easy run.. Roma, porto, sevilla, maribor, sparta Moscow, hoffenhiem and city…. Not exactly elite is it.
The best they can hope for next season is the fa cup, the trophy that the likes of marko, ces Appeal, qna, Gambon belittle….
Liverpool out the blocks a la Man City last summer.
Not going to shoot my load just yet, but irrespective of Klopp’s penchant as runner up in cup competitions, it’s evident that Liverpool have a strategy.
Fabinho is a fantastic signing; better than Can, but a slightly different player.
As Cesc said (welcome back by the way) they’re a GK and CB away from looking like title challengers.
Not sure Solanke & Ings are adequate back up for their trio, though
I think we need to prioritize EL. that’s the easiest way of getting into the ucl next season. Have to say it will be hard to make up the points and topple Chelsea and spurs in a season that is generally transitional.
Whatever we do next seasomwe must prioritize the EL
Always thought the £50m budget was nonsense.
Mystic
Motta not Rabiot is the DM. I’m not sure how often Rabiot has filled in, in Motta’s absence, but I tend to recall Verrati doing the DM role.
Lo Celso then slipped in and it looked like PSG went with Draxler- Lo Celso – Verrati/Rabiot (because Motta spent more time nursing injuries)
That late move might have shown our hand a little, Fabinho is different to what we have been targeting or what the press have said we were targeting. Also says something about our budget as well.
Exactly. Kind of relief to be honest
Allison is a solid keeper but that €70m price tag is nothing short of banter.
Liverpool, though desperate for a GK, can’t really be that frivolously stupid!
Whatever we do next seasomwe must prioritize the EL
Absolutely not. Our league and a minimum top 4 should be our priority. We must better our league position if it has to be a dog fight for it then prefer the squad for a fight
Carts Le Celso was definitely the most attacking of the midfielders PSG paraded this season. True, they mostly interchanged but verrati really hasn’t played DM for PSG in stretches. he’s their Xavi. It has always been Motta and Rabiot sharing the DM role.
But Rabiot is more of a CM, agreed, who is adept at playing DM too.
Anyone know of Praet? Linked to us. 22m release clause. 23yo. Sampdoria. The internet scouts are saying he’s perfect
Marko
it will be foolish not to win the EL. There are more chances there can us making top4. who do you think we can dislodge next season?
Carts
“Allison is a solid keeper but that €70m price tag is nothing short of banter.”
Liverpool wont be surprised since de they basically mugged off Roma for galah
They squeezed Roma because they had to meet FFP requirements by essentially getting the player to demand for the transfer. They would have gotten more had he gone on the open market.
The 70-80 million being bandied is a Liverpool tax. Liverpool will pay it though. They have to Geta. reasonable keeper after the horror show.
It’s easier for them to sign Brazilians though, they have a community already.
*Salah*. not galah
“Signing Seri for slightly less than Fabinho is still failing. “
This is why you’re impossible to take seriously.
“Failing” without either having kicked a ball is precisely the logic of a FIFA merchant. Does Fabinho have a higher futhead rating than Seri?
Nothing more annoying than hearing that you almost got a really good player this is what pisses the fans off why dither
If we really wanted the guy we should’ve been going after him just as hard as Liverpool
Come on team be more forceful
Just so I’m clear, SKY didn’t have a fucking clue that Liverpool we’re wrapping up Fabinho until two hours before he was announced…
But those same “sources” say Arsenal missed out? I love the media circus
It’s not hard to fathom Charles we need a defensive midfielder a ball winner and Seri is not that so signing someone we kind of don’t need for 35 million as opposed to someone we do need for 43 is failing to address a need. But look at least we tried I can’t criticize them too much they tried late on.
If this is the tactic of arsenal to spoil the party late then it’s bullshit .we need to identify our targets and go after them hard from the start none of this last minute squeeze it under the line bullshit
But those same “sources” say Arsenal missed out? I love the media circus
You don’t believe them? I hope they’re right and we at least tried for him. It certainly shows more ambition than a back up 34 year old RB
We have tried late mane times
Ic walkways thought this was a pr stunt to get the fans thinking we are doing something
Same old bs
Many
Liverpool are depressing me man!!
I hope they have a cataclysmic world ending debacle of a season like klopp had in his final season at borussia.
Jokes Aside their Spine is absolutely mustard.
Unreal recruitment at Anfield .
Defo playing FIFA 19 with Liverpool
Loooooooool
Mystic
I’d have to disagree on Lo Celso being the most attacking from MF. Imo, that person was Draxler.
He’d peel out to the left especially when Neymar moved into the #10 dog behind Cavani.
But I agree that due to a lack of proper DM (even with Diarra) it was almost a pivot as to who assumed DM duties
Marko
Your ambition nonsense is cringeworthy. Arsenal only have Bellerin at RB, we clearly need a fucking RB and a bosman like Lichtsteiner is first rate.
I’d much rather Arsenal buy what they need for Emery than try and impress numpties like you with flash names.
Dissenter
I suppose when you put it like that, it kind of explains it a bit better.
Roma definitely let Salah go £15m cheaper that’ll they would’ve liked.
But let be honest, the form he’s displayed this season is probably a whole 100% more than his last season at Roma .
Should we be looking at Allan/Diawara at Napoli? I think so!
Reactionary stuff trying the pip Liverpool to Fabinho. Rarely hose who do that have succeeded.
I remember when Spurs were angling for Son, I hoped we’d nip in and scupper the deal. He was a steal for £19m.
Early doors, but I hope Sven is taking an holistic view of the transfers. No doubt he should be. I mean that in the sense of him not get too hung up on Bundesliga ..
Looks like the England cricket team have a comfort blanket worthy of Colney under Wenger
I hope we do more international scouting in
South America where we can uncover some gems
Europe is overly scouted we need to expand the horizons more
I like the variety in the comments I’m seeing. Honestly, I believe in this “surgery” process as one mentioned in an earlier comment. Lets all trust believe and support the fact that we are in a semi rebuilding process, a transitional period. We gooners are hungry and eager to see Arsenal back as a serious top 4 team, like we used to be, and where we actually belong. Top 3 is even more like it. Arsene’s legacy remains, but our identity will slightly take a turn, because Emery comes in withbhis “interesting” philosophies. The pressing ideas are the ones that… Read more »
Fabinho for £44m is a great signing. Wish he was ours.
I heard he was not interested in us but Liverpool
Can’t blame him right now
We really need to get going on signing a defensive midfielder this is taking a little too long . Identify and make strong first offer
Please no more wenger negotiation torture
I’d much rather Arsenal buy what they need for Emery than try and impress numpties like you with flash names.
We need a DM though and that’s my point arguably the best available one was just signed by someone else.