Well good morning to you all.
Big thanks to Jonathan for the guest post yesterday, hopefully, more from him soon!
Also, I hope you tuned into our podcast yesterday, big thanks to Ash and Matt for that.
So what’s news?
Reiss Nelson is apparently going to sign a new deal with Arsenal then go off to continue his education in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim. The English attacker has clearly been getting good intel from Jadon Sancho over at Dortmund and I’d imagine minutes at a high-level is exactly what he needs at this time. Great thing about this story is I think it tells you how much better English kids are getting these days. Championship loan moves are no longer viable, they want to give it a crack in a top league against great players. That’s a positive for the national team. Also interesting that Real Madrid is eyeing a move for Raheem Sterling. English galacticos finally a thing again.
The BIG news is that Arsenal is close to agreeing a mega-deal with Adidas to take on the shirt sponsorship for next season. They’re rumoured to be ploughing £60m a season into Arsenal, giving us another £20m to squander on Dortmund players next summer.
I don’t mean to bang on about this, but there will be HELL to pay if Adidas don’t give us the modern take on the bruised banana kit. I remember going to a Futureheads gig once, only for them NOT to play the Kate Bush cover. Who do bands think they are not playing their classics?
Adidas, I know you’re all fucking urban-b-boy-hip-hop-street-art-vinyl-mod-scene-street-wear’d up to your eyeballs… but be real with the fans, give us the hit songs we’ve been praying for, and maybe I’ll hand over £90 (don’t make it too skin tight).
I really hope Adidas signs off a new era. Puma felt like the nearly kit, it was ok, it had promise, but up close it just didn’t really deliver. We need to rock a shirt that speaks to the future, whilst having some respect for the past. I really, really hope our new kit is good.
I have to say, when watching Mourinho crash to Spurs the other night, I was taken by both teams kits. Very nice.
Also, look at me coming through with the goods on Jose. Who told you he’d be shite at United? I did. Apparently, he has 10 games to save his career. Then its international-jobs.com for him.
I have to say, I was having this dark thought the other day… wouldn’t it be incredible if Arsene Wenger took over the reins for the rest of the season before Pochettino ducked out of the Spurs rebuild to takeover next summer? That’d be so fucking grand. The job is perfect for Wenger. Low expectations, a group of players who’ve been disciplined, shouted at and called fat c*nts… the club is ready for some of that fatherly love. Some of that sweet, sweet tactical freedom. He could possibly be a force. Similar to when he took over from GG (be real, it was GG). The tough work had been done, he just need to sprinkle expression and love on the side.
I would LOVE that because you know Mourinho would DETEST it.
Amusing that publications are running with ‘ARSENAL HIERARCHY BACK EMERY’ over the decision to not play Ozil. What the fuck else are they going to do, pick the team for him?
It’s also pretty clear that the issue is that Ozil has fallen out over being asked to play wide right. Just as he gets the number 10 shirt, Rambo gets put in his position. Must be a stinger. A real wet towel to the cold arse. Ralgex in the eye.
Also, word to Oziltoligists who have more excuses for their messiah than anyone… it’s really fucking distasteful to spread rumours that the reason for his sick days are centred around depression. I appreciate that it’s a positive that it’s now acceptable to talk about mental health in sport, because who hasn’t had to deal with issues themselves or with loved ones. However, it’s not cool to self-diagnose a player from your computer just to shut down the conversation. It is not an argument to say, ‘hey, imagine if he was really depressed, maybe just don’t criticise him’. It’s the 2018 version of ‘Arsene knows’… super grim. Shame on you if you’re saying it.
Happy to revisit the issue if there is one, but it’s unfair on the player to start hawking that theory around unsubstantiated.
Anyway, that’s me done, catch you tomorrow
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Yo
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Tr4phy
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4th
Yo.. DM you are back…..
wow. a clean sweep. Pep G of Legrove. Well done DM. Now you can go on your Jewish holidays
Ashwin, hey, when was I away? Just didn’t compete over the bank holiday weekend.
Peter – still a couple of weeks to go until that mate 🙂
Bit meh on the adidas sponsorship deals, the jerseys I liked the most were made by Nike, 03/04, 04/05 too.
Wishful thinking, but I love it. Arsene at Spurs – a bit like GG there, but far more joyful.
Oh dear! Poor little Ozil’s depression. We live in a culture of victim-hood, ladies weeping on TV, for this or that. In the old days it was a matter of pride to put on a brave face.
Just two simple questions
For all the self proclaimed ITK – why didn’t Santi get a new deal? Seems to be settling in quite well at Villareal
Also why has Nacho not got a song? – Absolute disgrace
Whatever adidas do with the kits, I just hope they get rid of this season’s “shadow” stripe on the sleeves that makes us look like a team of captains.
ah hang on, we do have 5 “captains” don’t we ?!
Wenger at Manchester United, a club built around winner mentality, defensive stability and gaming the referees, would be a complete car crash. Worst fit that I could ever imagine.
Also why has Nacho not got a song?
cause nachos are copyrighted. Can’t make songs about cripes now, can we ?
You really can’t take anyone seriously who has attended a Futureheads concert…not one bit.
GOH signing off.
CD
“Wenger at Manchester United, a club built around winner mentality, defensive stability and gaming the referees…”
defensive stability? where’d you get that from? they had some great defenders under Fergie, but they’ve always prided themselves on their attacking football, which is why Mourinho was such an unusual choice.
pedro
fatherly love ? wengers as old as my nan. Grandfatherly love, more like it. be honest, grandads love you more than your dad…
“it’s really fucking distasteful to spread rumours that the reason for his sick days are centred around depression.”
Absolutely agree with Pedro on this one.
Wallace
Arsenal Edit
Highbury’s Art Deco east facade
The name “Bank of England club” or “Bank of England team” caught after the record-breaking spending of Arsenal in the 1920s and 1930s. Bernard Joy recalled that people “sneered at the ‘Bank of England’ methods of team building” after the five-digit figure paid for David Jack.[2] Arsenal continued to spend considerable sums on other players, including Alex James, and, in 1938, broke the English transfer record again with the purchase of Bryn Jones.
Pedro I am no Oziltologist (what ?) but clearly this season he has to perform or he will be sold. Lets not jump on the gun and criticize him now , Let Emery have his way with him first . Its new tactics , new strategies atleast wait till the Liverpool game , once we have a system which the players understand. Once Emery’s philosophy has taken hold.
El Gooner,
Nacho does have a song, last sung after he scored on Saturday.
“Nananana nana, Nacho Monreal, Nacho Monreal..” and repeat.
Not classic but but his own song nevertheless!
He will be sold ?? To whom ?? Who would be insane enough to buy him ??
Funny to use the word “insane”, thinking of the person who has renewed his golden contract…
We’re fucked, period.
Why is it more distasteful to suggest Ozil suffers from mental health problems than to suggest he has a recurring knee injury if he’s out sick?
Genuine question.
Any inside info on Yaya Toure to Arsenal?!
His agent’s words:
“Yaya Toure has passed a medical in London. Yaya is close to signing a new contract.”
“It’s not West Ham, 100%. Yaya is a champion. The last place is not for him.”
In London, as champions can be described us or chavs and chavs have already brought Jorginho and Kovacic so it looks highly unlikely that they would need him.
Arsenal on another hand. We don’t really have a player of his type. Age is a problem though.
Rumours making the rounds Yaya Toure in London for medical, Twitter going berserk with # Arsenal annouce yaya!
stranger things have happened.
“The last place is not for him.”
London ==> Chelscum or Tottencunt ?? What a suspense!!
Might be the cvnts down seven sisters road,except in no way or form anyone can relate to them as champions,so….
I wouldn’t mind having toure but he won’t be offering us much…
I wont at all mind him at Arsenal . Its Yaya Toure ! I would want the likes of Torreira and Guendouzi to learn from him . Pick his brains . The guy is hugely experienced
Or maybe its Watford 😀
Yaya would bring along bags of experience and winning mentality but the continuous targeting of oldies should pose a worry,i mean in the next 2 or 3 years we’ll need to replace first team starters like Licth,Papa,Auba,Mikki,Ozil,Monreal,Cech,Kos..which would undoubtedly be too much of an overhaul in one swing considering the penny-pinching yank at the helm ,that’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Still strong rumours linking Laccazette away, think he’ll leave in the next window at least if Emery continues chucking him on in the 46th mark in every match.
Considering Auba at the moment can’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo, I’d give him a look in against Cardiff, Auba from the left.
We don’t need Yay Toure
We don’t need expensive short term fixes. I’ve always struggled to understand the whole mantra of younger players “learning from him” – That’s why you pay coaches.
What does a 35/36 year old Toure give us with his rubber legs. Is he going to deliver the CL?
Terraloon
re ‘Bank of England’ club – yes, okay, in the 1930s we were the big spenders. but the last 40-50yrs we’ve definitely been far more cautious/restrained. Ozil, Alexis, Xhaka & Mustafi maybe the only 4 occasions when we’ve paid a good solid chunk for a player.
Yaya would be like Gallas all over again, bags of talent, ability, experience etc just absolutely no acumen when it comes to passing that onto others.
Just a whiny distributive force waiting to happen. Such a shame because his talent on a 12 month contract (relatively low wages) would be ideal to blood Torreira/Guendouzi.
Remember guys : if Yaya is coming, we won’t be allowed to forget his birthday cake.
(and it is well known that his birthday cake is a pretty expensive one)
Yaya Toure has agreed to a move to Olympiakos.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/yaya-toure-agrees-olympiakos-return-13157393
Been a couple post that I had to catch up on. Last post, by the US guest writer was decent.
Keep plugging, Pedro.
Just so I understand your position from yesterday, Charlie, is it correct to say that you think the current Spurs XI:
– is just as good as City’s XI;
– features the best back five in the PL; and
– is better than the Arsenal XIs that won FAC’s in ’14, ’15 & ’17?
Please confirm or clarify. Thanks.
Wallace
In ’95 we spent £12mill on Bergkamp and Platt.
In today’s terms (as a %age of total revenues) it was the equivalent of spending £180+ mill on two players.
For reference & for discussion purposes, below is the Arsenal XI that won the FAC in 2014:
Łukasz Fabiański
Bacary Sagna
Per Mertesacker
Laurent Koscielny
Kieran Gibbs
Mikel Arteta
Aaron Ramsey
Santi Cazorla
Mesut Özil
Lukas Podolski
Olivier Giroud
grooveydaddy
yes, guess they were both pretty big outlays at the time. christ I hated Platt.
Banford I explained yesterday’s comments yesterday funnily enough. It isn’t a hard one to follow: Spurs have an XI as good as anyone in the prem, yet they’ve managed zero tangible success in Pochs period in charge. They’re stable, competitive, but nothing more impressive than ‘Arry had them for a season or two. I noted Spurs XI particularly after Marko decided to excuse Poch from winning any cups citing his teams were “lesser”. Pointing out they were no lesser than Wengers latter Arsenal that still scooped a couple of FA cups. Ya know, that logic you like to go on… Read more »
sub Alexis for Poldi and that’s a pretty sexy side.
Bamford, am obviously not CC but for what it’s worth,
No
Yes
Yes
Groove daddy, was going to say something similar….
2014 side ok but not enough pace….
Wallace
Ehh 3 of the back 5 are very meh, and Rambo/Ozil is the same shoehorning we see today
CC
wasn’t that Ramsey’s glory season when Arteta kept him on a tight leash and he actually did the defensive stuff first?
When we beat spuds in the 3-rd round of FAC our team looks much better on paper than theirs. Fabianski Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Substituted for at 45 ‘ minutes Mertesacker Monreal Wilshere Substituted for Flamini at 71 ‘ minutes Arteta Substituted for Özil at 75’minutes Gnabry Rosicky Cazorla Walcott Lloris Walker Dawson Chiriches Rose Lennon Bentaleb Dembélé Eriksen Adebayor Soldado Substituted for Chadli at 63’ Their CBs are trash, they have Bentaleb, two gash CFs (30 yo Adebayor) and Tim Sherwood in charge. Could have gone only one way. We had a strong team back then. The things keeping us… Read more »
Raptora, both teams turnover of players dramatic, sadly Spurs’s acquisitions so much better than ours, particularly in defence.
I thought international break was this week not knowing Cardiff was on the line.
We shall come good this season beyond expectations.
Özil better come good or else he’s gonna faith wrath of some fans and the media.
So predictable that Ozil’s “defenders” would start with the depression stuff, it’s the logical next step after the specious allegations of racism. The victim agenda continues…
Anyone who is actually on his side (like Emery) would be telling him to man up and take some responsibility, rather than pandering to his persecution complex and mental weakness.
Wallace
Quite possibly was mate, the years since haven’t been kind to Ramsey from a central perspective so any iteration with him there instantly gets my attention.
Swap Per for an athlete, Fabianski for a top Gk though and that was a side
Yaya Toure would be 10 years too late….but better late than never lol
CC
Ah yes, William Gallas.
Yet another meaningless acquisition under the Wenger regime.
Too much buddy buddy with Wenger for my liking.
Petulant to the extreme.
We all remember St Andrews 2008.
CC
“Swap Per for an Athlete”.
That’s being disrespectful to those of us who can actually move.
Galas wasn’t a bad signing at the time. I think he was a good choice in the moment though in retrospect he didn’t quite do enough in an arsenal shirt
I was always a big admirer of his at Chelsea mind
Gallas was an excellent CB. but needed a strong, leader-type alongside him.
“Germany head coach Joachim Low says Mesut Ozil did not speak to him before announcing his international retirement.”
— > What a c*nt.
“Alexandre Lacazette could quit Arsenal this week, according to reports in France.”
–> WTF ???
Wallace
The Bergkamp and Henry signings were very big at the time.
However, it’s not cool to self-diagnose a player from your computer just to shut down the conversation.”
When backed up into a corner people always lash out with the one angle that will get people to back off of them.
Kind of like Ozil himself crying racism because he was getting roasted by the German press(amongst others) and decided to throw a grenade to get everyone to back off of him.
Throw shiiite against the wall to see what sticks.
Don’t feel like reading through all previous post’s comments, so could someone do me a kindness and give me the gist of the Spurs/Poch debate?
Agreed, gallas with sol Campbell would’ve been top class
Kolo was awesome but like gallas he was always the second CB to a beast in his early years. That style of CB is absolutely quality when partnered with a dominant kind
In that era I feel we only bought ‘second CBs’. Kolo gallas vermaelen and kos were all quality players but none of them would dominate oppositions to the extent that a Campbell, Ferdinand, Adams, stam could.
Yaya’s agent is a grade A troll,I mean how desperate can you get in seeking attention by coming out with the waffle of his client in London for medical just to send the media and especially hysterical arsenal fans into overdrive while paperwork for his transfer to mighty olympiakos were finalised, so that was the champions team right, yeah Greek champions alright.
Suddenly rumours abound that Arsenal is not an happy camp. Most players want out or now other players refusing to join us because of Emery and his atrocious reputation in France and in Russia (See how he was sacked at Spartak after poor result and a very public revolt by the dressing room). Torreira’s agent is already stating that Lucas is regretting to have joined Arsenal over joining Napoli. The uncertainty due to the change of manager from arribto Ancellotti gave an opening to Arsenal. Lucas Mourra is now confirming what was whispered behind door. He is a petty little… Read more »
Seems a troll is out in full force …Valentin
On the attack Valentin!
Alexhenry
“The Bergkamp and Henry signings were very big at the time.”
yeah, but Henry was 11m paid out of the 23m we received for Anelka. hardly extravagant 🙂
Hilarious from Valentin!
What was Emery supposed to do, bench Neymar or Mbappe for Lucas Moura? Good one.
Yea Torreira’s agent is another who’s had a mare today, actually thought that was a bizarre statement to come out with for a player who hasn’t started a match for his new club yet, WTF..
couple of things per and kos when we won the FA cup were in their prime. Kos especially could cover a lot of ground very quickly. We had santi in the team that commanded the CM. And we had a lethal left foot on podolski ( I always liked him, but wenger hardly ever played him ) Secondly, spurs at that time had a shit team, they were still getting there. Also, if laca leaves, we won’t make top 4, we don’t have cover for auba and we would be losing one of the better players in the team. Although,… Read more »
I hope that Pedro will finally accept that we have replaced Arsenal’s greatest manager by an inferior one. Not only inferior but in fact mediocre.
oh Jesus.. joke Friday came early. hahahaha
‘If Arsenal had collapsed then Napoli would have been perfect. He’s adapting well to the Premier League, he’s settling well and he’s happy.’
Heavens forbid an agent makes it known his client was not short on offers, i think you would have been happy if he had said, Arsenal were the only club in for him and we are forever grateful they signed him..pffttt
Gonsterous, would agree with all your points but Podolski’s left foot appeared to operate in a very small area in the inside left channel. He gave the impression that his heat map would have been very easy to locate! Top social media presence though.
That ‘impassiomed’ defense of Sanogo takes the biscuit though 🙂
impassioned*
Valentin… reminds me of George Romero’s “Zombie”.
“When there’s no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.”
You have to replace “hell” by “Untold”, of course.
Raptora
You are talking bs.
The only thing keeping us from competing was striker, keeper and a coach. Yet you said we have a strong team? But you are insinuating this current spur side is overachieving?
When in fact those arsenal teams that achieved 3 fa cups actually overachieved.
Yaya Sanogo feat in one of the finals, let that sink in.
To win the 3 fa cups we defeated; spurs, united, Chelsea and man city.
Be consistent in ur argument
be real, it was GG
——————–
No Pedro, you can’t rewrite.
Bruce Rioch turned us around after the disastrous final days of GG, brought the legendary Dennis Bergkamp plus David Platt and he got us back into Europe.
Lets see if Emery will do better.
I think Emery has been too slow to start Lacazette. He’s clearly made us look more of a threat when he’s come on, so why not give him a run in the side while Auba works on his finishing? I confess that when we were waiting to hear who our new manager would be I had written off Emery as not a serious contender. Nothing I’ve seen so far has turned me around about him. The defence looks no better. Passing is appalling. Confidence doesn’t seem to be growing. I just wonder if Emery’s more recent record means the players… Read more »
Receding
What that information does is cloud the players head and pin more pressure on him,d lad should be allowed to settle in, it was widely reported all over the tabloids that Napoli was in for him no need banging on that drum, looks to me there’s a snippet of regret in there,like fvck Napoli would av been perfect.
Wallace
Ok, but arsenal did used to make big signings by the standards of the time: Ian Wright, David seaman , Charlie nicholas.
Ozil is depressed? Shit, he gets 50 grand a day! Sits on the bog for half an hour and he gets a grand! How much do we get paid for taking a dump?
This Valentin guy is the one praising Sanogo just last night… Re Lacazette rumours – absolutely impossible for him to leave, now that we can’t buy a replacement. Something like Lacazette out to fund a Fekir in would have made perfect sense. But not anymore. Arsenal would never ever sell and he didn’t strike me as an unhappy player when he celebrated our second goal and all of the team, including Auba, Ramsey and Monreal, went to hug him and congratulate him. Just the opposite – it looks like there are no more camps in our team and players are… Read more »
Maybe he’s depressed because he don’t know what to buy anymore ??
Pedro ‘Similar to when he (wenger) took over from GG (be real, it was GG). The tough work had been done, he just need to sprinkle expression and love on the side.’ That is revisionist nonsense and you know it. I hope so anyway. It’s seems to me that you’re obsessed with discrediting wenger at every level and at every opportunity. I suppose it’s been this blog’s raison d’etre and since he’s gone, you can’t drop the habit or perhaps you can’t come up with anything else to discuss. You hate wenger. We get it, but he’s gone, it’s over,… Read more »
“I’m hoping he’s not the Spanish Eddie Howe, who can do a job at Sevilla but will do little elsewhere. ”
Eddie Howe will sacrifice his family jewels to have the coaching career Emery has had, in case you are not well informed, Emery also did a hell of a job in Valencia, let me guess , you would have preferred Arteta or Jardim (no one has actually explained why Jardim is a better manager)
Bob
Top social media presence though.
hahaha. something our players these days lack…
Maybe you should buy a life size cardboard cut out of wenger, stick it in your flat and throw darts at it.
lol, You could literally say the same for the vast majority on here. I think its called ‘obsession’ very hard to get over with.
Sanmi, I’ve literally said 0 words about spuds under Poch lately and haven’t been active in the forum due to holidays for around a week. Maybe you’re mistaken me with someone. Re us I think that we did just the opposite of overachieving. I think we’ve had one very good team back then and were very close to competing for the title with that crop of players. Just needed the addition of couple of players and another manager. Nine of the positions we had were pretty settled and we had good reserves also. With that set of players we had… Read more »
“Maybe you should buy a life size cardboard cut out of wenger, stick it in your flat and throw darts at it.”
I have one myself, but with Maureen.
“You could literally say the same for the vast majority on here. I think its called ‘obsession’ very hard to get over with.”
Indeed… (lol)
alexanderhenry
It’s only revisionist in the sense that it was Rioch rather than GG. The fact remains Wenger inherited a core of a side that was strong. Once the legendary back five had gone and Wenger had tapped out of French replacements, he failed to build a proper back line.
We have the evidence of our own eyes today to see what our defence was left to become under Wenger.
I actually think Emery is a great signing. But the English media and fans (basically the English) aren’t known for their patience. It’s been three games with 2months gone at a new job, where he doesn’t speak the language. I’m sure emery is more pissed that the players can’t do what he wants them to do. He has to drill them in his way and that could take at least a season to get right. As I keep saying 4th this season will be a success. But Every one is asking for a miracle. We already got one Miracle (Wenger… Read more »
RH
“let me guess , you would have preferred Arteta or Jardim (no one has actually explained why Jardim is a better manager)”.
Far from it. The thought of Arteta horrified me. Jardim might have proved interesting but again he didn’t float my boat. I wanted more of a Tuchel or Simeone kind of appointment because no matter what happened it wouldn’t be boring.
pep didn’t win anything in his first season and I’m sure he spent a few quid for players (don’t know the exact figures, maybe more or less 70m)…
It is quite obvious that the club’s slow decline began once David Dein left the building.
He was the one keeping Wenger in check and vastly responsible for the successful period of late 90s-early 2000.
It was all downhill after that, with the French assclown left alone at the top, hence the dictator attitute and the mental transfer windows of the past decade.
“the English media and fans (basically the English) aren’t known for their patience”
Our ex manager agree!!