Arsenal welcome Leno and banish the ghost of mediocrity

by .

leno_0

COME ON PEOPLE, ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!

I mean, entertained is maybe the wrong word.

Are you not captivated by the ruthless efficiency of a well oiled Arsenal machine?

I am.

Arsenal is aggressively pursuing the goal of shaking out the mediocrity that’s hung over our heads for the best part of 12 years. Ivan Gazidis is finally demonstrating that he is a CEO with a vision. More importantly, his catalyst for change line from last summer wasn’t a PR soundbite, it was, in fact, the real starting pistol for life post-Highbury.

Inside 8 months:

  • We have someone sensible dealing with contracts (HUUUUUSS)
  • We have an elite Head of Recruitment (Sven)
  • We have the exSporting Director of Barca (Raul)
  • We changed our manager (#WengerOUT)
  • We ditched all his dross staff (Not including Colin Lewin or Jens Lehmann there)
  • We hired a new manager (#EmeryIN)
  • We let him bring in 5 of his pals (will talk on this another day)
  • We reshaped the spine of our side (Leno, Sokratis, Auba, Torreira)
  • We shipped out the deadwood (Theo)
  • We tied down Ozil (Should be a win)
  • We’ll likely tie down Ramsey (Could be SO good)
  • We binned Sanchez and he tanked (HOW’S THAT PIANO, MATE)

That’s how you say hello to the future. It’s how you shine light on the embarrassing carry on of the past. It’s everything we’ve been craving for ten years, achieved inside a single year.

Arsenal announced yesterday that Bernd Leno would be our new keeper. Sampdoria leaked to the press that Torreira is heading our way for €30m. The club said goodbye to Jack Wilshere, which was a shame, but a totally fair decision. One that I guarantee you would not have happened under the old regime. He’d be sitting pretty on a whopping £150k a week deal. Even more promising? It seems like we’re already eyeing a replacement in Banega.

I don’t want to enjoy this moment too much, but come on, how many years have we been castigated as the crazy ones? How many times were we told that it’s better to do deals at the end of the summer. That buying players wasn’t like going to the supermarket. That Brexit would make things difficult. That World Cups mean you can’t sign players. That only clubs like City can buy players. That it’s impossible to sell our shite players because they have big deals. That class, was the hallmark of rank amateur behaviour in the transfer market.

Didn’t we say that it was all nonsense?

The ‘careful what you wish for’ crowd are really eating a fat slice of ‘I didn’t have a clue’ pie right now. Even worse, the crowd of ITKs who faux-leaked that the issues were at board level and Wenger was just too honourable to rat them out. I told you at the time they were wrong, and fuck it, I feel vindicated. 10 years of having to listen to enablers talk bollocks about the real state of Arsenal and all along, the popular opinion was wrong. It wasn’t just a bit wrong, it was 1996-Gareth-Southgate-hide-your-head-in-a-Pizza-Hut-bag wrong. Each and every week that passes by, another nail gets hammered into the myth of yesteryear.

The banter era is over. At least from an infrastructure perspective. Sure the club will sign duff players, sure we’ll make mistakes, but the days of putting the club in the hands of total incompetents are long gone. We have the best minds our money could buy out there trying to prove they’re worthy of their status at the club. That’s exciting. The old boys club is over.

Can the playing side still go badly wrong? Absolutely. We have a horrendous start to the season. The players won’t know what hit them with the new management arrangement. There are still concerns about Emery’s ability to hit the ground running.

But it doesn’t matter. If he tanks, the club are now in the right shape to fix the issues. I honestly believe that outside a total disaster, we should give the manager two years. As long as we’re seeing a steady improvement as the months go by, I’ll be happy.

Fans won’t turn like they did before, the club is making a concerted effort to be better. They are serious about fulfilling Arsenal’s vast potential. This is what vision looks like. This is what strategic thinking brings to the table. This is how big clubs operate.

‘Careful what you wish for’ was an offence to progress. It was the talk of weak people happy with their lot. It was the death of curiosity bleated out by average thinkers who clung to the sagging teet of stale comfort. We were conned by positivity, fooled by stability, and held hostage by the past. That’s all over now. We’re about to experience the first season in over a decade where the feeling in the pit of your stomach before the start of the season will be butterflies. That’s something special.

I am so fucking charged to be an Arsenal fan right now. I hope you are too. There is no club more exciting than us this season, so enjoy it while you can

That’s me done, see you in the comments!

COME ON ARSENAL!

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DM

DM

Bankz

Bankz is here for the Tr4phy again

grooveydaddy

3rd

DM

Tr4phy

Bankz

BOOOOOOOM

grooveydaddy

Bollox

Damn you, DM

Bankz

Arsenal moving in a direction and precision as never before seen under Arsène Wenger.
There is just no way sacking Wenger was a bad decision.
I laugh everytime I see his loyalists still trying to make it sound like it was a bad call or that Emery won’t live up to our expectations

Guns of Hackney

Wenger out.

Bankz

Jack Wilshere finally leaving is like music to my ears.
Overrated piece of shit who got a career under the clueless Wenger

DM

WhoScored.Com – Bernd Leno
Strengths: Player has no significant strengths
Weaknesses: Saving long shots (weak)

Not saying he was a bad signing, in fact I’m v positive about it. Just strange that they clearly don’t rate him v highly! Let’s hope he proves them wrong.

(https://www.whoscored.com/Players/92173/Show/Bernd-Leno)

Guns of Hackney

The last time I gave a shit about Arsenal…I was in my 30’s and chasing strange.

raptora

Wilshere gone feels good man. Cannot wait for the moment we will be a proper team where if you are not a good, healthy footballer you have no place at our club. Things looking better and better. Jeez… It kind of feels like we are opening our eyes for the first time in 10 years ( last 10 years of the Wenger era) after a deep, deep, winter dream of some sorts. I will never be able to forgive him the time of our lives as supporters that he wasted. If he was a proper “dad” and our club was… Read more »

Guns of Hackney

Iwobi, welbeck, Elneny, Kos and mustafi next please.

lari03

Respect to all the people who spoke for change at the Arsenal.

Thumbs up Pedro.

Leftsidesanch

Complacency out!

Here here to the new era!

raptora

DM,
Well our very own Oooooospinaaaa has 4 strengths listed on whoscored – Shot stopping (Reflexes) Strong/// Saving close range shots Strong/// Saving long shots Strong/// Concentration Strong.
It’s not like he is a top keeper.
I also checked Lloris for an instance and he “only” has 2 strengths listed. Anyways, pretty excited for Leno. Think he will do good for us. Germany have always had the best keepers in the world. Le(no)hmann number 2 please.

UTarse

“We tied down Ozil (should be a win)”

REALLY ??

Guns of Hackney

The only metric I need in a gk is “can save”.

That’s it.

edu

Totally agree man. Great to see club and new structure being pro-active. Do wonder if plans are to do additional business through additional sales(if we sign caygar..chambers and mustafi) ospina, lucas perez, maybe owobi/wellbeck to go?. Would be good to see some younger singings to flesh out squad(think adli deal is off?) plus players from youth team. If his contract is ripped up, would be good to sign Willy Carvalho after being linked with him for the previous 10 summers. Hoping we get Gelson Martins.

lari03

Reiss Nelson could benefit the most from this new era!

HighburyLegend

“COME ON PEOPLE, ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!”
Certainly not with the WC lol

“We tied down Ozil (should be a win)”
Not really sure about this one…

Ashwin Gunner

Am sad we lost Jack. Could have been a legend at Arsenal. We lost him at a time when I thought he was getting to his best.

Leftsidesanch

it’s looking like 4 in atm (2 confirmed, two on the way) – I’d love to see another CB come in, another midfielder and a winger and we are cooking!!

HighburyLegend

“Manchester United have slapped a £100m price tag on Tottenham target Anthony Martial.”
Not even funny.
(although…)

Graham62

Ashwin

Unfortunately, Wilshere’s “best” is no longer good enough.

Guns of Hackney

Zaha.

raptora

I think I have time for Mustafi. He reminds me a lot of Otamendi with his rash decision making. But Otamendi was top class in his season with Valencia and went back to his best this year under Pep. Feel like Mustafi can be worked with and he can be a proper center back with the right guidance. So I will be okay with just Sokratis coming and no Caglar. Not sure what do we do with Kos. Not sure if he has a place in the starting lineup anymore and if Emery thinks the same, would he be okay… Read more »

Guns of Hackney

Wilsheres best was 45 mins 10 years ago. He has been a passenger forever.

This is absolutely no loss. A footnote in Arsenal’s history.

Leftsidesanch

We never got the best from Jack, partly because he wasn’t fit enough to play for much of the time. Then he leaves because he can’t be guaranteed a regular starting spot. Last season was his opportunity to show that he could contribute effectively to the team and he didn’t pull up any trees. When you take the sentiment out of it you’ll see its the best decision for all parties involved.

Better players have came and left.

gambon

Remember when John Cross ran a piece saying Wilshere and Arteta were due to sign deals imminently?

Absolute fraud of a man.

Still, Receding Hairline believes him when he says Emery loves Lacazette.

Guess the AKBs have to cling to whatever they can.

Leftsidesanch

John Cross out aswell! Absolute weasal.

steve

“Am sad we lost Jack. Could have been a legend at Arsenal. We lost him at a time when I thought he was getting to his best.”

___

Lololol please stop. The guy couldn’t stay fit so save his life and when he actually could he was average at best. Good riddance.

Coach 15

Absolutely the right decision to let Jack go. There was a player in that injury plagued physique,dont think those bandy legs and being wengerised helped the lad,that’s a shame on all fronts.

Guns of Hackney

Somewhere in the middle of a field…hundreds of Wenger’s little lads are running about free range. Jeffers is there…Wilshere is on his way. Diaby and Denilson are there.

It’s like utopia but with shit players.

HighburyLegend

“We lost him at a time when I thought he was getting to his best.”

Quote of the summer so far.

Guns of Hackney

Wilshere couldn’t make the Bournemouth team.

Let’s leave it there. Okay.

englandsbest

Today we lost our mosy naturally gifted home-produced. player. Watching England’s win against Tunisia, it was quite clear that a fit, at his best, Jack Wilshere would have transformed the laboured unimaginative midfield. Not too much criticism of Gareth Southgate, Jack has not been at his best. Wilshere praises Wenger but IMO the Club’s recently departed dictator takes a huge part of the blame for this disappointing finale. Too much praise too early on. An exuberant youngster he needed words of caution from Wenger. Insrtead he seems to have been encouraged to take risks. I hope Jack goes on and… Read more »

Coach 15

John ‘kinda of,sort of’ Cross.
For a journalist he slings these phrases into most sentences when on radio or TV,very annoying to listen too.
Can’t stand the fella,he’s right up there with the enablers who have talked bollocks about Arsenal over the last 10 years.

raptora

“Wilshere praises Wenger but IMO the Club’s recently departed dictator takes a huge part of the blame for this disappointing finale. Too much praise too early on. An exuberant youngster he needed words of caution from Wenger. Insrtead he seems to have been encouraged to take risks.” I don’t want to be a Wenger defender, but Cesc emerged at an early age, under Wenger as well, Messi emerged at an early age, Michael Owen and all the rest. Jacky had problems with injury and probably mainly with himself. Busy being bad boy off the pitch and a thug at the… Read more »

Up 4 grabs now

Great post Pedro,

The optimism from you and most fans is brilliant.
It honestly feels like waking up from a seven year nightmare, and finding out things will finally change for me.

Signings being done early instead of a late supermarket dash for the reduced items nobody wants.

I’m sure tactics will be reintroduced instead of just go out and express yourself.

Over to emery now to work his magic.

gonsterous

Jack like bellerib got totally wengerized and thinks he’s a world class player that needs to start every single week. He still hasn’t woken up to how average he is. At least I feel that welbeck knows he’s average and can’t compete with the likes of Auba and Laca…

Mo

Jack is a true arsenal man give him some respect

gonsterous

“We lost him at a time when I thought he was getting to his best.”

joke Friday’s come a bit early this week…

gonsterous

I have this feeling that Jack will go to a mid table team and then one week he’ll put up a performance against the relegation threatened team (maybe get 2 assists ) and then then the AKBs and le grovers will jizz their pants and proclaim how it was wrong of us to let him go…

raptora

Talking for the “once was” Jacky Wilshere, he was a top talent. One of my favorite players from that after Highbury time. Great touch, great close control, vision, tricky, smooth on the ball, lively, always looking to be involved. Was close to Cesc level for a short while with potential to as good as him. Sadly, it didn’t turn out the way it could have. Good memories as a whole. Decision was a couple of seasons late.

GillespieRoadNoMore

Loving the news coming out of Arsenal on an almost daily basis – points to joined up thinking and a vision for the future, we have to remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day but what we are seeing suggests strong foundations for the future.

Can’t wait for the new season.

Up 4 grabs now

Guns

Iwobi, welbeck, Elneny, Kos and mustafi next please.

Unfortunately mate with the home grown rule we will need to keep a few around.
With Jack off the books, would be amazed if Iwobi and Welbz goes as well.
Elmo signed a new contract a few months ago so would be surprised if he goes.

With koz out till December he won’t be going anywhere. which leaves mustafi unless he wants go, I think emery will want to take a look at him and pair him up with our Greek beast once he comes.

Jim Furnell

Best review for ages Pedro – There comes a time when the pain of existence must transcend the fear of change. We have suffered the pain of existence under the old regime for too long. There comes a time for change, the time is now.

Emiratesstroller

Arsenal have planned this summer major changes to the club’s coaching staff and that was absolutely essential in view of the culture which existed under Wenger. The only question mark is why Steve Bould has been allowed to stay as Assistant Head Coach? Sofar the transfers agreed or signed are what can be described as solid rather than spectacular. Leno is an experienced goalkeeper reaching his peak. The club needed urgently to find this summer a first string. The question is now who will be retained as second string. Will it be Cech or Ospina or indeed could Martinez or… Read more »

Rob The Goon

Great post.

Feels so good to be an Arsenal fan.

It’s been a long time coming but we’re acting like a big club again.

Bamford10

Good post, Pedro. Much to be optimistic about.

Chika

So glad Jack is off. Onto the next one please!

Freddie Ljungberg

ES

Torreira, Licht, Sokratis and Leno is about £60 million.

We can sell Perez, Ospina, Welbeck and Mustafi or Chambers and get 50 back.

That leaves us with £60 million left out of the reported 70m budget with no loss of quality in the team.

Pretty sure we could get a decent winger for that…

Then there’s Ramseys contract, we’ll have to see how that goes.

Rob The Goon

EmiratesstrollerJune 20, 2018 10:18:22

Me personally, I would’ve got rid of Steve Bould but I can see why he was kept on. I reckon Bould will be Emery’s mouthpiece until he perfects his English. After that, who knows.

Maybe Steve Bould will find his voice

Up 4 grabs now

If we need to recoup some money now we’ve had a a small spending spree, we can keep cech for the last year of his contract.
And sell ospina which may get 8-10 million.
Jenkinson 3-4 million
Kolasinac (built well but not enough pace for this league) 8-10 million
That’s 20plus million to balance the books.
Plus wages saved 200k to go with per, Santi, Campbell, and jacks wages another 300k
Gives 500k for the boys coming in.

Bamford10

Raptora

Good post re Jack at 10:13:36. Fully agreed. Great and promising player when he was young and fit. A shame that injuries and other things got in the way.

Jamie

Jack should’ve signed whatever terms were offered up without hesitation. It’s clear he wanted more money, so he puts out a statement citing footballing reasons for his departure in an attempt to appease the fans. He’s an average-to-good footballer, nothing more. He could’ve stayed, fought for his place, like all good players should have to be doing, and cemented himself as a fan favourite in the years to come. Good luck at West Ham, Jacky boy. How many Spurs songs is he going to be able to sing on open bus tours now? Plenty, I guess, if he’s on an… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Freddie Ljungberg

Yes we can do that assuming a] Emery wants to offload all these players and
b] we get the sort of transfer fees you are anticipating.

However, whilst Arsenal have done remarkably good value transfer business
sofar this summer I don’t think that finding a top quality winger will be easy
to find and come cheap.

The player that I would want to bring in is Martial, but somehow I don’t see
Man Utd selling him to us.

Ashwin Gunner

May be I was a bit sentimental with Jack, because of the promise he brought in as a young lad. Being home grown just added to that sentiment. Agree that he couldnt do much in the last 10 years of his time at Arsenal where he was given a free run by the manager. Mostly due to his fault of not being fit enough. I still believe a fit Jack can walk into any team in the world. the main issue was with his fitness. But with the new regime which is known to instill discipline in the players he… Read more »

Leedsgunner

Jack Wilshere ended his career at Arsenal, like he spent most of it… making excuses for himself rather than showing what he was capable of on the pitch. This, “the club gave me no choice” line that he’s bleating on about is so weak and devoid of reality. The club gave him 17 years to prove himself. Here’s the thing before you feel sorry for Jack Wilshere, imagine where we would be right now if we had let Jack go and Harry Kane stay. Instead of blaiming the club, he should be thanking the club without any caveats. If he… Read more »

Rob The Goon

JamieJune 20, 2018 10:31:21

Brutally honest.

Spot on!

DM

Emiratesstroller

Re the winger – think we should go for Gelson Martins. I know I’m committing the cardinal sin of judging a player based on his youtube highlights reel, but boy it’s an impressive reel lol. Add to that the fact that we could probably get him on the cheap… what’s not to like?

HighburyLegend

“I will give you a good national team” – A. Wenger c.2013”
lol another promise he won’t have keep.

(among so, so many others…)

qna

“Iwobi, welbeck, Elneny, Kos and mustafi next please”

Perfect

Emiratesstroller

Professional Football is an “unsentimental” business. It has taken Arsenal a long time to recognise this. Whilst Arsenal’s loyalty to its traditions, staff and players was endearing there comes a time when you recognise that club had become stagnant and the staff and players did not punch their weight. Wilshire was a good footballer, but his career had become stunted through injury. He was frankly not good enough to play in the starting lineup of a top 4 EPL Club. He is good enough as a squad player but at 25 it is understandable that you want to be playing… Read more »

qna

One of Mkhitariyan or Ozil should be sold and adequately replaced as well.

DM

———————-Leno———————–

Bellerin——Sokratis—–??—–Monreal

———————–Torreira——————-

————-Ramsey——-Mkhitaryan——-

Martins———Lacazette—-Aubameyang

Something along these lines, if all the moves come off (inc Martins, who I’d quite like). The other CB could be a new one if he comes, or one of Kos/Mustafi/Mavropanos. I’d be interested to see how well we could work Lacazette and Aubameyang together, so gone for this. Also dropped Ozil for now.

Emiratesstroller

DM

No-one is going to bench Ozil at £350K pw.

For all the negativity about this player from posters, the media and press he is
a wonderful footballer albeit a sensitive soul.

He needs to get his head in order and that has to be the priority for club. There
is plenty of mileage in this player if we build the right structure to play around
him.

Rob The Goon

DM

I think Ozil will struggle under this new regime, Kos is finished and I’d take Pavon over Martins

qna

@DM, swap Mkhitariyan with Lacazette and bring in another CM.

Lacazette to come on as a sub. Clearly we don’t want a £18m a season player who can’t make the first team. Ideally we sell Ozil for whatever we can get and use the wages for the other CM or Martins.

qna

Emirates: albeit a sensitive soul.

Lol.

Leedsgunner

“For your love, for your commitment and fighting spirit, for THAT Norwich goal, for the FA Cups, for the 2013/14 goal of the season, for the 2014/15 goal of the season, for the 197 appearances, for the 17 years and for just being you…”

The club’s quiet dignified reply to Wilshere’s “Woe is Me…” statement.

Well done Arsenal.

Black Hei

I will have to give kudos to the new administration; they get deals done very quickly and very efficiently.

Torreira, Lich, Sokratis and Leno are still however very much mid table signings. Leno is not even in the World Cup as backup.

Let’s not kid ourselves; if Wenger signed these bunch, the tune would have been very different.

Black Hei

But I am glad that we are realistic and efficient.

Arsenal understands that we are still unconvincing, so the club dives straight into the signings they want…..and with a lot of conviction.

Let Emery work his magic on this group of players.

Pedro

Black H, reaction would have been just as exciting. The cloud would have come from knowing he was incapable of making it work.

Rob The Goon

Let’s not kid ourselves; if Wenger signed these bunch, the tune would have been very different.
___________

Wenger wouldn’t have signed these players – Instead, Jack would’ve re-signed, Ramsey would refuse to sign and we would be celebrating the signing of Jonny Evans

Carts

Ha! Wenger must be flipping table right now. The man who refused to properly invest in a GK for plenty of seasons. I’m waiting for Wenger to come out and say that there were no available GK until Cech was deemed surplus to requirement by Chelsea. A fucking rival. But yeah, I’d be lying if my optimism hasn’t increased, some what. I feel that a SWOT analysis, of some sort, has finally been done. We’re now taking a thorough approach in addressing gaps in our team. There’s a few players I still need to see the back of (Welbeck, Cech,… Read more »

Jamie

Emirates –

“He was a loyal servant to Arsenal…”

I respectfully and completely reject this notion.

He was compensated for over 10 years at a rate which far exceeded his ROI. At his first ever opportunity to show some loyalty (after finally regaining some fitness) and give a little back to the club, he slaps away the handshake. He isn’t prepared to graft for a starting spot. Acts the hard man, is soft as shit.

He could’ve been a fan favourite, instead he’ll probably end up a journeyman. No sympathy for such shortsightedness.

raptora

“Leno is not even in the World Cup as backup.”

It’s not that shameful to be benched by Bayern Munich’s number 1 and Barcelona’s number 1.
Trapp being the third keeper, after 4 games in Ligue 1 for the whole season, is a complete joke and it shows how weird and clueless in a way, Loew’s decisions have been.

Anyhow, I’m happy that he was left behind, so that we can make this deal nice and easy. Good job Loew.

qna

BH: Let’s not kid ourselves; if Wenger signed these bunch, the tune would have been very different. Nail. Head. Sokratis and Lict in particular. I am not excited about Torriera but I am comforted that it was definitely NOT a Wenger signing. Sven has an excellent track record. I expect Sven to be able to spend £25m on a young player wisely. Not that excited by Gelson Martins either, but if we do buy him, then same story. Trust Sven until he gives us a reason not to. I am fully on board the Leno train. Liked him for a… Read more »

Carts

Ever Banega is a classy player. Sure he has a couple seasons in his legs before who fucks of to San Lorenzo, or some shit, to retire.

I think someone like Banega has the ability to dictate the pace of the game. Something we’ve struggle with since Cazorla was having a dozen operations on his ankle.

I think Banega will be a £10m signing. Not the worst, I guess.

HighburyLegend

“One of Mkhitariyan or Ozil should be sold”

Ozil out please.

Bamford10

a sensitive soul!

Too good.

OleGunner

Excellent transfer window so far! I’m quite happy with the singings made and further potential arrivals of Torreira and hopefully a direct ricky winger. Shifting on the deadwood like Wilshere is also a plus (sad but necessary) and jokes like Campbell need to happen. Really feels like we are unshackled from Wengers horse shit approach to transfers involving pissing around with paltry offers, waiting eons for deals to happen or waiting till the final days of the window. Also the total shake up to the backroom team announced yesterday was great. All the Wenger holdovers have been booted and Unai’s… Read more »

Ishola70

Good balanced post by Pedro. Like everyone else pleased that moves are being made but also tempers this reminding people that these moves do not automatically mean instant really marked improvement i.e. top four or title challenge. As CA said at least the club look like they are trying. Arsenal are shopping in a certain store within a certain price range. Although these players are shiny and new doesn’t mean that they are nailed on to be successful for Arsenal. The signings of Leno and Sokratis come under the let’s wait and see category. Both have positives about them but… Read more »

DM

“Let’s not kid ourselves; if Wenger signed these bunch, the tune would have been very different.”

But this says far more about Wenger than the signings. Wenger signed Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette, even kind of Aubameyang… and then let’s go back to the Podolskis, Arshavins, etc., etc., and has proven that he can’t make them work. So sure, these signings under Wenger WOULD be very different. But under Emery, I’m delighted, and very happy to give it a couple of years and see how it pans out.

Leedsgunner

If you want to blame anyone for Wilshere’s departure, blame Wenger for treating him like Peter Pan and not requiring the boy to grow up into a man…. and constantly making excuses for him rather than holding him accountable. The first opportunity that he has to repay the club for standing by him for all those lost years what does he do? He throws his toys out of the pram and says “I’m out of here if you won’t give me what I want.” News for you Wilshere, Arsenal made you, you didn’t make Arsenal. No one is greater than… Read more »

Paulinho

Mixed feelings over Wilshere. On one hand he is physically not up to running the distances needed to compete at the top level, but he is still by quite a distance our most talented ball player.

He purposely draws players towards him in order to create overloads. In comparison, Xhaka bricks it and runs a mile backwards into space before checking whether the coast is clear so he belatedly turn and face the play.

Time will tell on that one.

Emiratesstroller

James

You cannot blame Wilshire when a club pays him an inflated wage.

He has acted in good grace with reality of his current situation and that should
not be criticised.

Bamford10

Banega highlights from this past season. Good signing for the price for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxSwfyCDHyg

Emiratesstroller

Leedsgunner

I don’t think that Wilshire has acted the way you suggest.

To be brutal I think that Wilshire was left with no misunderstanding by Emery
that he was no longer viewed as a first choice player at the club.

The money on offer and terms reflected that fact.

Receding Hairline

Wilshere was made an offer …he was not released , he decided not to take that offer and try elsewhere. The last time he did that he ended up dropped from the Bournemouth starting eleven.

Unai Emery should not guarantee anyone a place in the starting eleven, let alone a player that spent most of last season doing nothing.

Jamie

Receding nailed it above.

Dissenter

Emirates
“Wilshire has himself understood the situation and acted with good grace. Leaving on a Bosman will afford him the opportunity to find a club, where he
can play at his level and be paid a decent wage without the club being encumbered with a transfer fee”

You’re the king of long hand prose here
So Jacky boy wasn’t been paid a decent wage. The 100k plus generous bonuses didn’t seem lavish enough for you?

This was solely about getting more money.
No manager will guarantee him more time. He has to fight for a place anywhere he goes.

Bamford10

Pubs & restaurants are running out of beer in Moscow, apparently.

Paulinho

Mesut Ozil should be benched for Germany’s second World Cup group game against Sweden, according to Stefan Effenberg. Arsenal midfielder Ozil played the full 90 minutes as Germany slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Mexico in their Group F opener – the side’s first competitive defeat since their semi-final exit from Euro 2016 when they lost 2-0 to France. Effenberg questioned Germany head coach Joachim Low’s decision not to include second-half substitute Marco Reus in his starting line-up, calling for the Borussia Dortmund man to be in from the outset against Sweden. “Low should put Ozil on the bench and… Read more »

Dissenter

Emirates
Do you think Jack should disclose the private conversation he had with Emery.
He was trying to peg the “blame”of his exit on the new manager.
He’s presenting is as being pushed out and that he “had little choice”

No manager will guarantee Jack more time. He’s a bench player everywhere h goes. If the make the ,intake Eddie Howe did by starting him initially they will correct t quickly (like Eddie Howe did by dropping him on the bench promptly.

Savage

“Remember when John Cross ran a piece saying Wilshere and Arteta were due to sign deals imminently?”

Wilshere confirmed the new deal was agreed. Basically he just needed to hear confirmation of his value from Emery and he never got it.

I agree with Pedro – nobody to blame in this story. Wilshere might still have a successful career.

Dissenter

Germany have to beat Sweden to give themselves a chance.
A draw and they could be on their way out.
Stranger things have happened in football.

Leedsgunner

Wilshere would have a ground to complain if the club didn’t make him an offer. They did… with a reduced basic wage but highly incentivised to reflect his injury plagued background. If Jack loved the club so much, he would have stayed, still making a living money denied to most mortals, and fight for his spot… and forcing Emery to play him because his standard was good. He didn’t want to fight for his place, he wanted it to be handed on a plate. Why? What makes him so special? Last time I checked, his name wasn’t Neymar, Ronaldo or… Read more »

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