Xhaka shows off his eagle + golden ref comment on new defender

by .

Screen Shot 2018-06-23 at 01.01.02

Our two Swiss boys had a good day at the office. Xhaka banged home a screamer from range on 55 minutes to give Switzerland 3 vital points. He celebrated with an eagle sign, a big fuck you to the Serbians, FIFA no doubt going to step in to punish him because they’re super hot on anything unless it’s proper racism. A bit of gentle goading about some genocide back in the day is sure to garner a ten game ban.

Lichtsteiner played his part, barking orders from the sidelines. I found this piece from a Swedish ref Jonas Eriksson on our new signing.

‘I have met several international players and to judge a person you have to meet them several times – and not just once when they have a bad day because everyone can have it. But I have met Lichtsteiner several times, and he is one of the most unpleasant players I met.’

PERFECT. Get me some of that unpleasantness in our side. Not because I like mean players, more because we’re a soft touch with refs in general.

There are some reports that we’re chasing Russian superstar Golovin. The 22-year-old has been impressive this year; we felt his talent first hand in the Europa League. Juve are favourites, but his current employers are pushing for £25m. He looks a player, can’t believe Everton aren’t chasing him down, looks like an Usmanov centrepiece.

In coaching news, Le Grove favourite Julian Nagelsmann shocked the world when he announced he’ll be joining Redbull Leipzig next season. It’s an odd move when you consider Bayern were very interested in his talents, but from a learning perspective, it’s really smart. He’ll get to work with Ralph Rangnick, who is a bit of a management idol from a mentor perspective. He’ll also have money to support him, a smart scouting network, and he’ll be able to raise a family with his lady.

The big transfer chases going off at the moment for Arsenal centre around Soyuncu. The Freiburg centre-back is going to wait until July to decide where he goes next. Then there’s Banega, who met with Gazidis this week. The Argentine, who has been missed this World Cup seems to be playing games. He’s working out his second stint at Sevilla, and he was upset that Sporting Director Oscar Aries left the club. Seems to me like he’s either looking for more money there or more money with us. So we’ll see how this pans out.

There’s a bit of chatter about Petr Cech heading over to Napoli. I wrote yesterday that we’d pushed our wage bill up a lot so far this year. He’d be a good one to ship off the list. Who wouldn’t want to retire to Italy?

Also, I missed off Per Mertesacker and Santi Cazorla off the out list yesterday. I didn’t do it on purpose. I promise.

Finally, there’s a great write up about Raheem Sterling, by Raheem Sterling on the Players Tribune. It’s rightly being received very well because now people are looking at this guy like a human. Every year, fans of football clubs grow a little. This summer, it seems we’re not about the nasty attacks the press perpetrate on our players. They’re our boys; we’re here to the support the, and the fans will control the narrative. It’s a breath of fresh air.

Tapping out early, but tune in at 4ish tomorrow because I’ll be on Love Sport Radio chatting about our amazing summer.

SPEAK THEN. x

828 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bankz

Bankz is here for the Tr4phy again

Boomslang

Here

Bankz

2

grooveydaddy

Tr4phy

Bankz

Nice one groovedaddy.

grooveydaddy

Nice!

Back to back!

grooveydaddy

Cheers Bankz

grooveydaddy

Xhakiri’s late goal killed me last night. I needed the 1-1 draw for the outright lead in my betting pool.

Now I’ve got to play catch-up…

raptora

I watched quite a lot of Shaqiri’s games last season. He was literally the only spark in that somehow dead team. Game in, game out he was the only person putting above par performances.

Re Wilshere, I know that they re different kind of players. Shaqiri definitely more offensively oriented than Jacky boy. Still though, the Swiss has shown great leadership qualities. I do like him a fair amount.

JAMES WOOD

Graham 62/Raptora.
It is also about value ?
Stoke would obviously up the ante
if Arsenal come calling but for an injury free type
player he is, he is cheap.
would Jack have an higher market value.
I doubt it.

Barking Arsene

Shaq went to Bayern to young IMO – he didn’t do too badly but I’d like to see him back in a top side now he is older and a little wiser.

Like I said before if it didn’t work out you would get your money back as he is worth far more than £12m

Barking Arsene

James

As far as I am aware £12m is his release clause. So I don’t think Stoke can do anything.

Also wouldn’t it be nice to take their best player off them as well…. cunts.

Leftsidesanch

Read sterlings article yesterday, good read. People can be judgemental without knowing what goes on and what has been previously.

gonsterous

better wingers out there than shaqiri. But who knows, he could do a salah.

Emiratesstroller

Pedro 1. I don’t think that our wage bill is quite as critical as you suggest. I am sure that the club will be able to make adjustments in their accountancy. Also the club had a lot of players and staff on their payroll last season. I suspect that the numbers could well be reduced in next financial year. 2. On the playing numbers in squad I would mention that several clubs have been reducing their squad numbers going for quality rather than quantity. Both Real Madrid and Man City reduced their squad size to 23 last season. 3. I… Read more »

Barking Arsene

I don’t know what we could reasonably expect to get for Ramsey but let’s say £35m based on the fact he has a year to go.

Ramsey out for £35m
Iwobi our for £10m
£45m sales

Shaq in for £12m
Golovin in for £30m
£42m spent

It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that we could pull that off.

gonsterous

how many changes have me made to the first team so far ? GK, CB and midfield. Not bad. Fair part of the window still left.

Barking Arsene

Gons

We are doing well IMO. Seem to have addressed (or are in the process of addressing) most of the issues required, except maybe for a wide player.

Not worried if these guys are older – get a couple of years from them and start bringing in younger replacements during that time. Seems like we have a strategy at least.

PessimisticPat

Stroller I would like to agree with you on banega but as we have so little quality in central midfield beggars can’t be choosers. Plus imagine we don’t sign banega and ramsey leaves. Elneny xhaka for the season? Jesus.

People seem concerned about sell on value for players who we buy but aren’t bothered that we might dump 200k a week on a player who misses 40% of games every season. Baffles me.

Masterstroke

Would somebody please enlighten me. What is the significance of the ‘eagle’ thing Xhaka did after scoring?
I’m not a fan of the whole of the old Yugo block, so anything that gets up their nose is OK with me.

alexanderhenry

Pedro

100% with you on lichsteiner’s unpleasantness.
I hope he’s especially unpleasant to bellerin next time our sartorially silly RB gets himself caught out of position.

Emiratesstroller

This is always “silly” season in transfer market with clubs claiming to buy/sell players plus agents and the media creating stories as well. If you believed a fraction of the rumours Arsenal would be buying half the players on the planet. Analysing our squad and what might be done there are in my view only two possible positions in team/squad where we might still enter transfer market> These are an additional centre back and/or central midfielder. In the case of Centre Back position I am assuming that Koscielny is out until Xmas and either Chambers or Mustafi are being offloaded.… Read more »

PessimisticPat

What if we play 433 stroller?

raptora

I believe he meant exactly if we play 4-3-3.

Gunnergetyou

Shaqiri flopped at Bayern and then Inter. I think he’s a player who’s capable of looking top class at times, but does not perform consistently over the course of a full season. The fact he went to Stoke in the first place is enough to put me off, but then you also have to wonder why none of the big clubs have been linked with him since, despite him being available for cheap.

Barking Arsene

If we are to play a three man midfield then we need one more CM with attacking ability.

Torreira, Xhaka and Elneny not able to play the more attacking role that Ramsey does. AMN *might* be able to buy is still young.

Banega would fit the bill and not break the bank.

Six midfielders for three positions is not overkill when you factor in the EL and cups etc

PessimisticPat

Well I wish emery luck trying to get ozil and ramsey to work in the same side

Emiratesstroller

PessimisticPat/Raptora

I have not included in my list attacking midfielders i.e. we have got on books
Ozil, Mkhitaryan and even Iwobi can play there.

The only position where we could conceivably recruit and find space in squad
is a quality winger, but I don’t think that we have the budget for that player.

Emiratesstroller

For the record I am working on the premise that we are playing 4-2-3-1 formation, which is why I omitted attacking midfielders from my original list.

I don’t see us buying an additional CMF if Ramsey signs. It is far more likely
that we bring in an additional CB if Emery decides that Mustafi is simply not
good enough for starting eleven. He should not be relying on Chambers,
Mavropanos and Holding to fill in whilst Koscielny is out injured.

JAMES WOOD

9.49.33.
Gonsterous./
i would not call Shaquiri’s position a winger.?
But on that point the winger Australia played
wide right .LECIE was excellent in the last game.
I believe he plays in the Bundesliga?
We should take a chance on players like this.?

gonsterous

James

I agree. shaqiri is more of a wide play maker, like what Nasri was. Hence why he wasn’t good enough for Bayern. they wanted a ribery/ Robben 2.0 and shaqiri isn’t that apart from having a good shot…

raptora

Well I honestly believe that if Shaqiri goes to a team in the EPL, but a team outside of top 6, he will be their best player. At least offensively. I believe he is far better than that team of Stoke that he shouldn’t have even been at, but I guess it was a good thing for him to gain some self belief. Now that his prime years are starting he should be ready to leave a mark in a good team. Whether it is Arsenal or not, we shall see, but he could definitely be useful.

JAMES WOOD

Gonsterous.
I can see that.
Trouble is Arsenal are not at the moment
anywhere near what we should be.
It”s about value and what we might be able to afford to move forward again.

grooveydaddy

Masterstroke

The eagle is an Albanian national symbol (they’ve got a double headed one on the flag).

The gesture was a bit of a ‘f*ck you’ to the Serbs for the atrocities committed against ethnic Albanians in the past.

Marko

People calling for Shaqiri to be signed honestly need their head examined. It’s been a slow decline for Stoke and Shaqiri has been a part of that these last few years his club performances haven’t been good enough. Also be weary of signing up a player off the back of a good international tournament and be especially weary of signing a player off the back of one single game

Barking Arsene

ES

I would factor in that although Emery prefers 4-2-3-1 he also plays a 4-3-3 sometimes so is presumably going to need adequate cover.

I do think we have one more CM in us, even if it is a fairly low cost option just to replace Jack.

We look to be addressing the gaps though which is great news going forward.

raptora

ES, I wrote about it several days ago. Situation is mostly Torreira, Xhaka, Elneny, AMN covering for the 2 positions of CMs playing closer to our defence. Then as AM we have only Ramsey and he is probably the main option, but then again Ozil and Mikki who were also used as wide players by Wenger can play there without problems. So if Ramsey isn’t available Ozil or Mikki could move there and in their place we could see Welbeck or Iwobi. It is a healthy number of players already. But put in perspective that we just lost 2 midfield… Read more »

raptora

Hard to believe that Coquelin never managed to score a single goal for us in the ~10 years and 160 games played of his Arsenal career, but he moves to Valencia and 2 months and 5 games later, he nicks one from a corner. #madness

Cesc Appeal

Really just want Torreira to be officially done as fast as possible, I’m tired of hearing all the it’s basically done stuff, he is exactly what we need and if we get Banega in addition then great but let’s focus on Torreria first.

Cesc Appeal

The hold up with Soyuncu is likely Arsenal trying to get the fee lowered a bit and probably to do with us trying to sell Mustafi first or have a deal in place.

raptora

Yeah, cannot wait for Torreira to be announced. Hopefully everything goes smooth as a baby’s butt. Dunno about the Caglar dude tbh. Haven’t seen or hear him, maybe he’s top notch but he will probably need a season or two to get used to everything, no? CB is a very fragile position, very, very important so imo would be too high of a risk to put your whole faith on the shoulders of a 22 yo CB, never played in the league before, with 2 seasons as a professional footballer, and 2 red cards in 25 games in 2017/18. Excuse… Read more »

mysticleaves

If Ramsey goes I think we should be all over Rabiot. The same situation with PSG and they won’t want to lose him on a free

Shaqiri has that star dust about his game where he can win a game off the back of one purely genuis move. Problem is he has been criticized for being lazy and not helping teammates in defence

PS: It’s amusing that Xhaka’s performance yesterday has gone lowkey on le grove. It’s a bit of a humble pie moment when the villain of the moment puts in a good performance.

Marc

Marko

Agreed guy has one good game and we should sign him – FFS what is wrong with people?

Cesc Appeal

Raptora

I will feel a lot better when Torreira is anounced.

With regards to Soyuncu, just have to trust Mislintat on this one. He has been watching him for a long time apparently.

No problems selling Mustafi because we have Sokratis arriving and I think that Chambers will be sold as well before the window closes.

mysticleaves

“Excuse my pessimism but if it was up to me I wouldn’t sell Mustafi and risk too much on a young player that might be the next Chambers or Holding.”

Spot on! We already have Calgar in Chambers and Holding. So if Calgar is to be brought in as a prospect at 22 then C and H should be treated as prospects too. This possible transfer is a head scratcher

Cesc Appeal

CBs last year: Mustafi, Kozz, Mert, Chambers, Holding

CBs this year: Sokratis, Soyuncu, Kozz, Mavropanos, Holding

Midfield last year: Ramsey, Xhaka, Wilshere, Elneny

Midfield this year: Torreria, Banega, Ramsey, Xhaka, Elneny

Some of those are signings that seem likely but the turnaround in the squad would be good, I think.

mysticleaves

“No problems selling Mustafi because we have Sokratis arriving and I think that Chambers will be sold as well before the window closes.” So when our business is done we have Sokratis and Calgar starting for us at least till January? That idea is fucking nuts. Why sell Chambers though? He was an excellent prospect when we signed him. And when he played with us in his first season with the coaching he received at Soton he was aweosme. Wengertritis took over and here we are. Whether we have to trust Sven or not is moot at this point given… Read more »

raptora

CA,
Problem is that Kozz is out till New Years. That’s a heck of a lot games in a row and pressure to put on a young CB hence my thoughts that Mustafi will probably stay.

Dissenter

I wouldn’t sell Chambers
He’s gone through his developmental phases and had a reasonable loan at Middlesbrough two seasons ago.
He’s just about set to enter the next phase of his career.
Let’s see how he talkes his opportunities. We still need some British-ness in our backbone.

Dissenter

raptora
I don’t think Koschielny is just out till January.
I really think he’s out of the top leagues for good.
He’s struggled with this archilles tendon issues, surgery isn’t going to just make it better.
He’s gone next summer for an undisclosed fee.

Dissenter

If I had a choice between getting a Soyuncu or a home grown talent like Jamaal Lascelles from the Championship.
I would,get a UK talent.
I’m not going to just give Mislintat that benefit of doubt. We need to scout far and wide, including the Championship. There are some excellent young defending talent there..
It just seems to be anything Bundesliga or previous Emery player for now.

Marko

PS: It’s amusing that Xhaka’s performance yesterday has gone lowkey on le grove. It’s a bit of a humble pie moment when the villain of the moment puts in a good performance.

Think Charlie said it best last night guy was pony and then had one great bit of magic. Very Ramsey like I’d say can be quite anonymous for the majority of the game and then a back heel and a goal and all is forgiven

raptora

I don’t agree with those who say that after 1 good game people started talking about Shaqiri. Everyone knows that I like Ramsey a fair bit but around a week or two ago I said that getting Shaqiri for 12m and selling Ramsey for 45m+ would be top business. That was before he showed his class. Anyways maybe he’d be better in the position that Ozil has been playing lately as a right wing positioned playmaker. Thing is we are so bad in a lot of things that if we buy Shaqiri overnight he’ll become our best dribbler, best free… Read more »

Marko

CA my guess is with Caglar Soyuncu we’re trying to negotiate a reasonable fee which is absolutely fine because in no way should he be going for 35 million. I think another defender is on the cards too. I’d be shocked if Mustafi isn’t sold and then that’d leave us a bit short

Cesc Appeal

Raptora

We have to balance the books though, I think that is the problem for us.

Mustafi sold and replaced by Sokratis, Chambers sold and replaced by Soyuncu is probably the way the club is looking at it with Mavropanos developing as well and then Kozz returning from injury.

We still need a winger though, likely Martins given that he might be free.

raptora

Yeah, Kozz is done at the top level for me as well. Decline has been similar as with Cech. This summer was the moment to sell him but oh well.

Masterstroke

Grooveydaddy
Cheers for that info.

Marko

If I had a choice between getting a Soyuncu or a home grown talent like Jamaal Lascelles from the Championship.
I would,get a UK talent.

He’s Newcastle United’s Capt

Marko

CBs last year: Mustafi, Kozz, Mert, Chambers, Holding Merte doesn’t and didn’t count last year. I’d be shocked if Holding didn’t get a loan and if Mustafi wasn’t sold and with that in mind we’d be down to Sokratis, Caglar, Chambers and Mavropanos with one absolutely not ready and two really maybe three that could go either way really. I’d be surprised if we didn’t sign up one more defender. With reports that we bid for Luiz and interest in Benetia and Rugani and Diallo and Pavard (who I’d prefer because he’s very much capable of playing RB) it looks… Read more »

mysticleaves

I would really look at getting a winger and bring back one of Ozil or Miki to the middle. With our options at CM I think we are ok bar a Ramsey departure.

Miki Ozil and Ramsey in that order for our AM role supported by two of Xhaka, Torreira, Ramsey is not bad at all

Cesc Appeal

Marko The problem is the defence and midfield needs a complete overhaul and that is going to cost a lot of money, we’ve been very fortunate if we can get Martins for free because that saves us a lot. What can you sell from the squad? Mustafi £20-25 Million, Chambers £15-20 Million, Wilshere has left for free, you won’t get anything for Kozz as he cannot be sold, Ozil cannot be sold because of his wages. Welbeck and Perez might get you £20-30 Million. It can be done, but it is a lot of work this is why I always… Read more »

Leedsgunner

Along with an established winger I would really give Reiss Nelson a good run in the team as a winger… especially on the left. We need to use him sensibly or we’ll end up losing him!

London gunner

Lukuka not a perfect player has his flaws but he is world class

Marko

CA the names we’ve been linked with on top of the supposed 70 million budget coupled with sales and i see no reason why we can’t sign some of the players that we’re being linked with. In fact because most of them seem to be quite shrewd and cheap enough in the current market I’ve got a feeling of a potential marquee type statement signing being made by us later in the window. Now whether a Lozano or Pavon or Rabiot or Kondogbia would be considered by some as a statement signing is something else. Seemingly the most we’ve spent… Read more »

Barking Arsene

Think we will need to keep hold of Mustafi this season – we may even get him looking like a proper defender in that time.

A proper winger would be nice but we might have to wait a season for that to happen.

mysticleaves

Yea, Nielson deserves a crack. Has he signed yet?

PessimisticPat

Cracking game this one. Biggest problem we have is trying to figure out how to use ramsey ozil and miki together. Makes sense to sell one.

Marko

Along with an established winger I would really give Reiss Nelson a good run in the team as a winger… especially on the left. We need to use him sensibly or we’ll end up losing him!

No way shape or form is he good enough. He was given opportunities last season and he didn’t impress. Maitland Niles and Mavro did. We’re a big club no way should a Reiss Nelson be anywhere near the first team yet. Loan him

Marc

I’m I the only one who just doesn’t rate Lukaku?

Also Phil Neville is a really irritating cock.

Leedsgunner

Our U23 squad did really well last year.

Along with Nketiah, (whom I’ve championed before) and Reiss Nelson we have good youngsters like Emile Smith Rowe and Ben Sheaf, who the club should use for League Cups and encounters with weaker (lower league sides) sides. This way we can keep our strongest players for EPL games and crunch Europa games… and keep them fresh and fit.

One of the reasons why we have failed to mount a title challenge is because our best players often not available in key matches.

Leedsgunner

*best players were not

TR7

‘I’m I the only one who just doesn’t rate Lukaku?’

Are you talking about the donkey who plays for Man United? Yes he is ordinary.

Leedsgunner

Marko

You and I will differ, respectfully, in this one.

Reiss is good enough, but he was used poorly by Wenger. Only time will tell.

Kenyangunner

Shaqiri celebrated with the eagle sign too
The two have Albanian roots

mysticleaves

Marc I rate Lukaku but of course he’s not world class. Still has a lot to learn

London gunner

Lukuka has a wasteful first touch

But he has everything else. Pace a d strength in abundance, very clinical finisher, great movement and runs, top class hold up play and brilliant Header and volleys, underrated link up play and performs for domestic and international teams. Amazing record as a young striker as well.

Hardly a donkey

London gunner

Mystic

Has had some of the best striking stats for I don’t know how many seasons. If Kane is wc then lukuka is to for my money.

Man United wouldnt have gone for him if he wasn’t

WengerEagle

He’s anything but a clinical finisher…

Very good CF though, an absolute handful even when he’s playing poorly.

London gunner

WE

Doesn’t he have won of the best goals to shot ratio in Europe?

Marko

Now Nketiah I’d give a chance to. In fact I’m all for getting rid the fuck of Welbeck giving Nketiah the third striker spot and signing up a proper left winger (we’ve got zero LW’s zero). Give Eddie minutes in the cups and Europa. Lad got proper fucked over by Wenger last season was pretty much given one opportunity and he impressed and then that was that.

WengerEagle

LG

Does he? Always feels like he misses a sitter every time I watch him.

Still have doubts about him at the very top level too. We’ll have to wait and see but don’t see him stepping up in the knockouts myself.

TR7

‘Pace a d strength in abundance, very clinical finisher, great movement and runs, top class hold up play and brilliant Header and volleys, underrated link up play and performs for domestic and international teams. ‘

I wonder why he rarely performs against good teams despite possessing so many brilliant qualities.

Redtruth

DeBruyne and Hazard getting found out . Lukaku is shit.

WengerEagle

Hazard so dangerous when he goes through the gears like that.

raptora

Oh lord, did KdB actually gave a bad final pass or was it on Lukaku? Anyways problem of KdB is that he ALWAYS looks for the pass. It was a position where he could have easily scored.

Tunisia are not a match for Belgium but I reckon they won’t go further than a quaterfinal.

London gunner

WE

Funny that’s when I see him stepping up the most. I’m those cagey knockout games I can see him scoring from a cross or heading in a free kick.

He is a big presence who never hides.

WengerEagle

Props to the lad though he certainly knows where the net is.

40 international goals by age 25 nothing to sniff at.

champagne charlie

Raptora think you’re trying too hard to sell Shaquiri as an option. Guy has a talented player, but at 26 he’s never delivered a season to make you go “ok, have a look”. Arnoutavic was able to put together about 18 months of top drawer football at Stoke before a lull, and eventual move to West Ham where he’s back playing well. Shaquiri can do moments, and “look good” all he likes but he’s not delivered a noticeable period of good football. He’s known for his laziness and being a bit heavy, I think WC fever is at play a… Read more »

London gunner

TR7

Who says he doesn’t?

In fact at Everton he had a very good record against the big teams…

Marko

Has had some of the best striking stats for I don’t know how many seasons. If Kane is wc then lukuka is to for my money.

Last 4 seasons Harry Kane 135 goals all comps Lukaku 98 goals all comps.

Barking Arsene

I like Belgium a lot.

Be interested to see how they do in the knockout stages and who they draw but they have a group of players good enough to win the whole thing.

Would need to play 100% and get a little luck obviously but it’s possible.

If anything I’d worry about Martinez and his tactics more than their playing staff.

London gunner

Marko

Those are very good stats, Kane are better but lukuka has been playing at Everton for some of that time….

Fact he scored the amount he did for a fairly shit Everton shows what a baller he is

WengerEagle

Weird seeing Drogba bald…

champagne charlie

Lukaku and “underrated link up play” together in the same sentence. Sheeeesh

Lukaku is a poacher, a well-rounded poacher who can occasionally dominate CB’s. He’s not this elite specimen designed for greatness, just a very good forward who had a 25 year olds body at 17 and has started right from the off.

Marko

London point is he’s a level below. And honestly he’s not a big game player. It’s what he’s become known for these last few years

London gunner

To be honest Belgium have the talent and they also play as a team unlike day Argentina.

Belgium have shown better performances than Brazil, france, Germany and been comparable to Spain and Portugal.

London gunner

Marko

Point is I disagree

WengerEagle

Btw Pedro ‘Drogba’ should be on the banned list.

Causes enough distress to Gooners.

Redtruth

Lukaku given too much time for his first goal.

TR7

Of the 25 goals he scored at Everton in his last season, 21 came against bottom 13 clubs in the league. Even playing for United he rarely scores against top 6. Not just scoring, against good teams he mostly goes anonymous in general play. Good at padding his stats though.

1 2 3 9