Aaron Ramsey has a calf injury… read into that how you like, but not before I give you a sweet hot take.
1. If he’s faking an injury, that’s bad news, because it means he’s leaving. Arsenal surely can’t keep him beyond the deadline day that’s looming.
2. If he’s reacted badly to double sessions and he’s injured already after not having a World Cup, that’s pretty much the standard way his career has gone for us.
We had a solid start to our summer, but we might end it losing last seasons star man and our CEO.
I mean, Ivan leaving isn’t a big deal. Part of me feels like that’s the sort of move you make after you realise that your grand plan might be a shite one. What sort of person bottles out of a project this early? If he’d gone when 90% of his job was being a propaganda machine for Wenger and FFP dreams, I’d get it. He had no power. But leaving just after he’s implemented an incredibly expensive plan is absolute jokes.
That’s the measure of the man.
Incredibly poor leadership. Bottled the managerial decision for self preservation (they wanted Arteta). Bottled controlling the new manager’s entourage (letting him have 5 staff). Bottled seeing it through (All but confirmed Milan is his new club).
Hopefully, Stan hires a football CEO for the next round. Let’s find someone who has grown a club to elite status. Little bit like the work being done over at Juventus. Smart branding, a focus on winning, new stadium, immense wheeler dealer-ing.
In other news… DEMBELE WAS IN A PICTURE WITH ARSENAL PLAYERS.
Auba snuck out the below on his father’s Instagram.
LOVE.
I remember being told the RVP used to tap up his mates and try and sell them to Arsene Wenger back in the day. Can’t help but think Auba is a recruitment specialist. Dembele is a superstar, he would be the icing on the cake this summer and I’d throw myself under a bus to see him in red and white.
Let’s see how that plays out. The players know what they’re doing there. Let’s hope the smoke is a roaring fire.
Right, my arm is hurting. See you in the comments.
x
YES via @EditsByRonan
For all you ITK’s, soon a vacancy will be open for application at the Arsenal management. Kindly apply so that once employed, you can show us how to run a real football franchise.
How was Ramsey our star man last season?
The entire midfield was awful. It was our worst performing midfield in wenger’s entire 20 year tenure and he was no particular exception
Monreal was perhaps the single player from the entire GK-defense-mf collective who was reasonable for us last year. Literally just him
Up front auba and laca were useful tho laca was mixed
You think Le Grove has a scope over just your tiny and myopic hamlet? Le grove is on the internet, in case you forgot! This is a global site not restricted to Arsenal fans. So if you keep running down your players, you devalue them. If you say your player are sh*t, the world would fart and pass on them. If you want your players all sold, cold will the hands that touch them. The world is listening and reading. No one is a fool. Yes, some players have underperformed, but dont deform them beyond repair so that you can… Read more »
Ramsey being ‘great’ or a ‘star’ is emperors new clothes bs We had to sit and listen to everyone drone on and on about how wilshere was elite and the next gazza because of a single elite season (and one particular game) when he was 18. And here we are now hearing how the world’s least remarkable ‘star’ is trying to put us over a barrel for ludicrous wages just because people ignore his previous 3-4 seasons of averageness in favour of his one great year. Madness. Sell the guy. Get what we can and move on. He shouldn’t be… Read more »
As far as chambers, iwobi and co contract renewals go, they are squad players which we need and they arnt comletely dire. No one has said they have all been given double your money deals! They have just extended which is good business for the club making sure they are tied down. If we didn’t renew and they all left on a free people would moan about that too. Also, if you think about it if they don’t get played much under the new regime and get frustrated, they can’t just wind down their deals and go. They are tied… Read more »
China, taken over Pierre ‘s job? Endlessly winning about Ramsey?
Lol are you seriously implying that other teams might hold off buying our players because random unknowns on this blog say they’re overrated?
Are you for real????
The focus on my whining isn’t actually Ramsey it’s the club for pandering to this bs and dragging it out.
His deadline to sign or not should’ve been a solid week ago. We’re going to find ourselves in another ozil position and whichever way that goes we lose either spunking insane money on an unremarkable player or burning 35 odd million cash to accommodate him for the last year
I don’t actually care about Ramsey, that’s the point. I am bothered that it really appears we are continuing to mismanage his situation
Losing Gazidis in itself,is of minimal concern, what is more worrying might be the real reasons for his departure, if we ever get to hear of those. Maybe he wants to be part of an organisation going places and doubts Stan will deliver on that, or perhaps,as Pedro alludes to, he was completely over ruled during the Wenger replacement. And if he was, that at least is a good thing, Arteta would have been a huge risk. The other concern is who Stan picks as CEO, I imagine it will be a full time busy job which may rule out… Read more »
No not really?
Would you buy what is advertised poorly, even though the advert people know jack about the product? we may not be technical or tactica people, but we are fans. we may be wrong as we do not have the right index for analysis. yet, the buying club have fans too, and banter would have it that i dont buy what my competitor has labelled as dross…Eg Mikel Syl-divest the Man U. reject
I am fairly sure that when heads of recruitment come knocking at Arsenal’s door to buy an arsenal player their point of reference isn’t the opinions of a dozen or so unimpressed fans commenting on an obscure blog. Ramsey is a widely known player. You can probably find footage and stats of every minute of every match of football he has played over the last 10 years if you care to research it. I’m honest and humble enough to acknowledge that my opinion of him is worth a grand total of zero in terms of his market value If thousands… Read more »
1. Ramsay is a division 1 player.
2. Ivan: who cares?
3. Peter. You broke your arm and I’d assume that it is either in a cast or you’ve had surgery. It shouldn’t be hurting. Seriously, shark attack victims don’t make this amount of fuss. Butch up you millennial, paperweight.
I kid…mastabation breaks are the worst. Get well soon.
Surely wenger couldn’t be Ivan’s replacement as CEO.
Surely!
Surely!!!!
Surely…..? ;((((
China
Calm down. Even if that’s a joke…if you say it three times he appears…like candyman.
Who the fvck is Damagoj Vida and why the fvck are linked with him?
The squad looks bloated with average players already, why pile in more shit?
Yerry Mina who’s also average,might i add is at least decent and would make more sense,also has age on his side, Emery better pull it together and ensure we have a decent campaign because One thing is certain though and that is when the honeymoon is but a distant memory and we’re still shit the pitchforks will swiftly come out and rightly so.
I also see that greaseball, kolsnatchavic is out for three months. What a bust this chump has been.
I’m actually flummoxed the following shits are still stinking the place out: Perez,Bellerin,Welbeck,Ospina,Jekinson,Campbell etc
at least the window doesn’t close for sales until 31st
Ramsey is not world class but he is rated one of the best home grown central midfielders and therefore despite some of the negatives posted on Le Grove an asset to the squad. As I have written before it makes sense to offload him if one he refuses to sign a new contract and two you are able to find an upgrade to replace him. When you analyse our squad and starting eleven the upgrades needed for me are still the same as before namely a world class centre back, a decent left back now more of a priority in… Read more »
China i admitted as much that our opinions may not matter in the grand scheme of themes. But the picture am painting is bigger than this blog, bigger than Ramsey, bigger than the stadium. We have family and friends who support rival clubs. We meet at pubs and rant about our teams. My best friend is Chelsea fan, and my word, he never stops hating Bakayoko. Now as a fan, not as the recruitment people at Arsenal, i am beginning to see Bakayoko through his eyes and would never want him at Arsenal. PUre banter. This is not universal law… Read more »
I won’t lie Pedro. Now this Arsenal shirt that you posted is one I would 100% buy. High quality stuff!
Vida would be a shit signing. I’d honestly have to question Sven if the best defensive reinforcements he can come up with are Sokratis and Vida
This is the last pre-season game today, would like to see something close to what Emery has in mind for the game against City. Leno as GK, Bellerin at RB who needs to get his s**t together, Chambers and Sokratis at CB and then Monreal at LB for me. Time to see Torreira as well and see if he can cover for Xhaka’s many weaknesses. Guendouzi is surely going to be rested today, he’s played a lot in pre-season and the way he’s played and injuries may mean he has a role in the first team at the start of… Read more »
Safe to say If Guendouzi starts again today then Emery sees him as a First 11 player
Mcbright fair enough. I respect your choice In light of my recent and ongoing ranting about the Ramsey situation I have to clarify that I’m very very excited about Guendouzi. This kid is absolutely losing potential. If he doesn’t start in the first 11 that’s fine but I really hope he’s getting regular chances from the get go. It’s only pre season, it’s only a handful of games and all that but there appears to be something very different about this kid. We’ve seen a million false dawns at arsenal and I may well be wrong but I have a… Read more »
Oozing* not losing potential lol
Would personally love to see AMN in CM and see how he gets on,hope he doesn’t get shunted to LB now Kolasinac is out
You need a LB? then go get one now the window’s still open
shafting square pegs in round holes bullocks was a major weakness of Wenger and i hope Emery know better
AMN is a midfielder and should be given minutes there.
The last arsenal kid at arsenal to look as legit as Guendouzi does right now was Jack Wilshere
What a waste that he had glass ankles and no coaching to match his bad attitude. He could’ve been the real deal. Guendouzi looks very professional though. He’s playing like someone 7-8 years older.
China
I agree.
He looks a real prospect and a real find by Mislintat.
We cannot overplay him though, I do not buy into the if you’re good enough you’re old enough idea. A young player needs looking after, his form will be all over the place and he will make mistakes during the learning process that he needs to be protected from.
With a careful approach and an actual manager and actual coaches now we should see him develop well along with some others.
Jeez, it seems Perez is going to Sporting Lisbon for £4.4 Million.
We really do have some shit in this team that we simply cannot sell.
It is all well and good slamming Mislintat and Sanellhi for not selling but how do you shift what no one wants?
The players were part of a failing club or were mishandled and often are being paid far too much money.
“Safe to say If Guendouzi starts again today then Emery sees him as a First 11 player”
Could also be whether to make a decision of loaning or keeping as squad member. Guendozi is not really ready is he? Would love to see…
AMN is a midfielder and should be given minutes there.
He’s barely played there in preseason. It’s very possible that Emery doesn’t see him in that position and he’s so far down the pecking order his best chance is probably at full back
Could also be whether to make a decision of loaning or keeping as squad member. Guendozi is not really ready is he? Would love to see…”
Depends on how you view him,he’s good enough for a squad place though, we have about 4 tourney to play in so should be enough game time to show what he’s about,a first team player? absolutely too soon,not sure he’s physically ready yet
He’s barely played there in preseason. It’s very possible that Emery doesn’t see him in that position and he’s so far down the pecking order his best chance is probably at full back”
I mean if people feel Guendozi is ready for a first team place then AMN should be in the discussion no?, he’s got more experience in EPL and also physically in good shape..
who do you feel is more ready?
who do you feel is more ready?
Guendouzi. He’s shown it in preseason and even though it was Ligue two and only 24 games last season he’s got more experience playing a role in midfield. I’ve only really seen AMN impress in midfield away to United last season and he faded as the game went on and let’s be honest that game was played like a friendly with nothing to play for. He was still good though but now he’s down the pecking order quite a bit
Vic
Guendozi has looked like a real find in pre season but until we see him in action in the PL its had to judge. Personally I think he might need a couple of months to acclimatise, either way I’m convinced he’s going to be a first 11 player come the new year. I think if we’re playing 3 in midfield then the starting line up for the early season will be Ramsey, Xhaka and Torreira – fitness etc allowing.
I’ll make one guaranteed prediction. If we see any major players leave the PL after Thursday i.e. Pogba, Hazard, Courtois or Ramsey etc then next season the TW will close inline with the rest of Europe.
How the hell could Perez fetch under 5m? Cheaper than some Championship deals ffs …
Surely Perez is better than some crap the bottom teams (even mid table ones) have upfront. 5m+ under market value … or our contract/ commercial guys are shittier?!
useroz
It’ll be his wages – unless a player is moving to either another PL club or one of the big European clubs no one can afford the wages.
On an amusing note it looks like Welbeck is being linked with Everton – what are the odds that Wenger ends up there after the manager is sacked in Feb?
You people now understand what one poster was saying about how the media perceives players and teams. The fact that Arsenal haven’t done well in 2 seasons and every player we have is perceive as shit have had a knock down effect on the price and excitement surrounding our players.
mystic
It’ll be more along the lines of “if a player isn’t good enough to get into an under performing team how good are they?”
I think that’s one of the reasons we’re signing a lot of the squad up on extended contracts. If Emery does his job then we can then unload some of these players to generate funds without the “he’s only got one year left on his contract”.
Marc
I think you’re right.
Sign them up try and get some performances out of them and improve them a little to then sell them on having added £10 Million or something to their value to then sell next summer or in January to fund moves for big buys.
Guendouzi. He’s shown it in preseason and even though it was Ligue two and only 24 games last season he’s got more experience playing a role in midfield. ” Ainsley Maitland-Niles played more than 15 times for the first team last season, and speaking purely on experience that should just about dwarf Whatever Guendouzi had at lorient,the jump from french League2 to EPL is very huge AMN’s experience last season should see him improve his awareness on the pitch as well as the defensive side of his game when faced with a one-on-one challenge, something he specialised in at left… Read more »
Pep on Jorginho:
“We were close but in the end Jorginho decided to stay with Sarri.
“I’ve said before that I want players who want to come here. He didn’t want that. We tried, we believed it was done but at the last turn he decided on Chelsea.
“It’s quite similar to Alexis Sanchez [for whom City were beaten by Manchester United in January]. Nothing to say but good luck at Chelsea. English football has an exceptional holding midfielder.”
Personally I think he might need a couple of months to acclimatise, either way I’m convinced he’s going to be a first 11 player come the new year. I think if we’re playing 3 in midfield then the starting line up for the early season will be Ramsey, Xhaka and Torreira – fitness etc allowing.”
Quite with you Marc, Dont feel he should be thrown in at the deep end yet,The EPL is aggressive and unforgivable in nature,if he has a bad start his confidence might go to shit,not worth the gamble
We keep buying players no one else’s wants then express shock when we can only move them on for peanuts.
Perez should have been sold at a loss for about £10 million last summer, one year after his £17 million move from Deportivo.
4 million is about right for him since nothing has gone well for him in the late two seasons.
We need to move on these players; Welbeck st al for whatever the market dictates.
Beats me why people rate Bellerin. He is a second-rate right full-back and a tenth-rate right-winger. Perhaps Emery can persuade him to stick to the former. Or better still, sell him.
How many chances were given away last season because of the huge empty space he left behind him? At least two or three a game. How many goals conceded? Twenty?
If Emery is worth his salt, Bellerin will be back-up not first-choice.
englandsbest,
In the end it was Bellerin’s error that gave Costa a chance to score the crucial goal in in the second leg in Madrid.
Not saying it was his fault because other things happened over the two legs.
I just never rated Bellerin from the get-go, always thought the hype about his “speed” and Barcabackground propelled him into a major contract too soon.
Gonna be nice to see licht get hopefully 45 min tonight, Torriera get a game, and see him paired with Guendouzi.
Wouldn’t mind chambers getting a start and also more minutes for mavrapanos this game.
In the end it was Bellerin’s error that gave Costa a chance to score the crucial goal in in the second leg in Madrid.”
And this is just one instance out of numerous errors from the brain dead player that led to goals against us last season,awful player
Emery has to play Lictsteirner ahead of him no matter what,dont care if his legs has gone but no way he can be any worse to Ballerina.
ES
‘As I said earlier today Gazidis has been in job 10 years and it has taken him almost 9 years to shift out Wenger and put in place a half decent football management structure.’
That’s some claim. I really don’t think Gazidis spent his entire tenure at arsenal trying to oust wenger. They were singing from the same hymn sheet for years:
‘self sustainability’, ffp, ‘the english core’, ‘investing in youth’, bitching about other clubs spending more money, and of course arsenal’s ‘values’.
China
Agreed on Wilshire.
Played in the right way as a deep lying midfielder with a good range of passing as opposed to the bull in a china shop- no pun intended -role he played before, I still think he can be effective. Not for us sadly.
Is Xhaka a better bet? I hope so.
I think it’s fair to say that the whole of le grove agree on Bellend is a shit player and shouldn’t be near the starting 11..
and rightly so..
Alexanderhenry
Just out of interest how many teams in the major European leagues can you name who aren’t “self sustaining”?
I think of 2 and an argument can be made for 3 or 4.
Sell
Perez 5m
Ospina 1m
Mustafa 15m
Welbeck 5m
26 m to play with
Marc
If you look at the period when arsenal first moved stadium, the club was actually making large profits in transfers, effectively flogging off all its best players or unable to keep them.
I think this was unnecessary and hugely damaging.
Also, at the time all we heard from Gazidis was ‘self sustainability’ and the promise that in the near future we’d be like bayern munich.
alexanderhenry Not what I asked but I’ll bite anyway. Firstly there was a period after the stadium move where we had to sell to generate funds. No one was “pocketing” this money. As for what Gazidis talking about competing at a higher level – isn’t that what we should be doing? Over the last 5 years we’ve had the 3rd highest net spend but haven’t looked anywhere near being value for money in the league. Every comment you make always has this underlying tone of it’s all Kroenke’s fault because he didn’t give Wenger enough money. We’ve spent enough it’s… Read more »
Interested to see what happens with Xhaka this year and how he responds to Emery and having Torreira in the midfield.
His assists return was not bad last year at 7, but he needs to improve on scoring with just 1 goal in the EPL.
Now that his defensive duties will be limited somewhat and he shouldn’t be exposed that much anymore he is one that has nothing to hide behind, we need him to be a CM playmaker for us now.
RSPC
If Everton are interested in Welbeck then we should be able to get more than £5 million out of them.
In the current circumstances clubs need to have to different prices for players. One for going to another PL club or a Barca etc and another if your selling to everyone else.
Cesc
I’d like to see a decent return out of Xhaka this season just so we can get a return when we sell him next summer!
Marc
Yeah unless Xhaka can make himself central to that midfield in a CM playmaker type role I can see us moving him on now we have Torreira and if Guendouzi continues to develop.
You really want more of a Fabregas, Pjanic, Thiago type CM now that you would still do CM work but would create and make the attack work.
Gives us a year to try and find that player unless we’re going to go bit which we could well do with UCL money, new commercials and selling players whose values we’ve increased.
Cesc
If all goes to plan (it’s what I assume the plan is before anyone jumps all over me) I think we’ll see a mixture of Sven picking up gems plus a marquee signing on a regular basis – maybe one a summer maybe one every other year. It’s as much about attracting the sponsors as anything else.
It’s really hard for left footers to playmakers and be comfortable on it. You’d try to name many of the top of your head. They often look imbalanced and one paced.
Ozil, James Rodriguez, Asensio, Fekir off the top of my head…
ramsey is a good player but we can get so many better players. just don’t think we have the budget to do it. we need a winger as well. if ramsey stays but we get dembele, I’ll be very happy. If ramsey comes and no one comes in, I will be very unhappy…
mystic
take your meds please..
David Silva and Juan Mata
Yeah I’ll be honest not a great comment any way you look at it
I meant if ramsey leaves and dembele comes in, I’ll be happy but if he leaves and no one comes in, we are in trouble…
New post. Luckily for mystic’s last comment