Gooooood morning from sunny Paris! It’s so nice to be back in Europe, feeling thoroughly unloved by the locals.
So, what have we today?
Well, we didn’t speak about the fabulous news about our new kit supplier. Adidas has only gone and won the right to sell us that bruised banana kit, haven’t they!
Arsenal rocked a mega-deal that isn’t quite as good as United or Barca, but pretty damn close to what Chelsea are making. You can’t argue with £60m a year up from £30m. Especially when you’ve been utter dross for 10 years. That money can be put towards new players, an Arsene Wenger bust, or maybe another crazy contract if Ramsey keeps scoring wild goals like the one he did at the weekend.
I really, really, really hope Adidas take some liberties with our shirt. Do something iconic. Bring the fans something quality. Don’t play it safe. Also, get Rhianna back in the mixer, Ozil plays better when she’s around.
There’s been a barrage of positivity after our 9th straight win. Rightly so, it feels good to be competing. It also feels good for many to feel absolutely vindicated in wanting a managerial change. As I’ve said countless times before, regardless of what happens this season, sacking Wenger was the right thing to do (10 years to late). However, I do think some might be going a touch overboard, I read someone complaining that it was unfair we’d not been considered title contenders. We’re not title contenders. We’re doing well points-wise, but let’s not pretend this 9 game streak has been pretty to watch, or without major flaws.
The real opportunity is going to be 4th. Arsenal are going to have some dark times ahead. Our defence is still very worrying, and we have a nightmare schedule coming up. However, I do think we’ve seen enough to say that the strategy of hiring in experience and a dash of youth might be enough to put us in front of a very flat Spurs and a United that will have to change manager at some point this season.
I’m really looking forward to having Koscielny back in the side, we’ve missed his composure and quiet leadership at the back. It’ll be great to see him pair up with Sokratis. You’d hope that’d bring a bit more sturdiness to the backline as we move forward through the season. It’s such a shame the Frenchman is 33. We’ll need to replace him with some top class this summer, hopefully, we can do that with Champions League cash money.
There was a little bit of noise around the Ramsey celebration in which it looked like he was making a point about his deal. I don’t really get it, he scored a worldie against a shite side, that doesn’t make him a £350k a week player. I’ve no doubt he’ll end up somewhere half decent, but the club already made a shocking mistake by propping up Ozil’s retirement fund when it was clear no one wanted him. We can’t make the same mistake twice. We can replace Ramsey with two younger options and still have change to spare out of the money he wants.
This is why Champions League football is so important. We’re now in a situation where we have to pay players a premium to join us. Ideally, a club like us should get away with paying less because we’re a huge stepping stone. I’d love us to become a more elite Dortmund (who by the way, are back to their most exciting). A few more signings like Torreira and Guendouzi and we’ll be well on our way!
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments. x
Bankz is here for the Tr4phy again
tr4phy!
2
and again
BOOOM
Nice one PinoyGoner…nice one
I still think the league is going to be a straight shootout between Man city and Chelsea.
Good thing is, if we can manage our injuries and the team keeps clicking then we could end up 3rd or certainly finish 4th.
The Europa is a good shout though.
Missed ze tro4hy
Admittedly it’s a little too early in the season for predictions, but I can’t see us finishing about City, Liverpool, or Chelsea. Utd will no doubt spend in Jan. Spurs will too after their zero summer signings.
4th won’t be easy.
finishing above*
Cant see Chelseas Form lasting.
I have it mandatory u need a class CF on form to win the league
Guns –
It’s City’s to lose, imo. So much depth in that squad, especially at the attacking end.
Talking about us as title contenders is ridiculous, and it could put Emery under a huge pressure, an absolutely not welcome pressure.
Some fans are totally fucked up, the new manager just arrived, and they want us to lift the PL trophy just because we destroyed Fulham ???
LET THE MAN WORK IN PEACE, FFS!!
As I wrote earlier this morning on previous thread Arsenal have secured in 2018 three significant commercial deals with Emirates, Ruanda Tourism and now Adidas.Combined these are worth at least £100-110 Million and does not include additional revenues from other 28 sponsorship deals. When you analyse current sponsorship we are below Real Madrid, Barcelona and Man Utd, but these clubs have been significantly ahead of us in global football brand and status. Bayern, Man City and PSG may also earn more than us from commercial sponsorship, but they receive deals which are not available to us through either connections with… Read more »
The only certainty for me this season is that Manchester City will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season unless they have massive injury problems. Chelsea and Liverpool have had excellent starts to the season ,their football has been of the highest quality hence the expectation for those clubs to be challenging for the title. I am of the opinion that early form means nothing as a couple of dodgy results can change things very quickly and teams and players lose confidence. Despite what most are saying ,I don’t believe that Chelsea and Liverpool are guaranteed title… Read more »
I suspect we are underestimating Unai Emery. Nine wins running from a disjointed disheartened squad is remarkable. Some would have us believe that it’s happened by chance, that it will soon end when reality returns. They point to flaws in defence, to unexpected goal-scoring form from Lacasssette, bad finishing by the opposition, and so on. To an impartial observer, it must appear far more likely that the results are good because of the new manager. We (as fans)don’t want to tempt fate, count our chickens. Some of us still love Wenger, others don’t want to be proven wrong about Arteta.… Read more »
We ain’t title contenders. But we are king OK. Its quite impressive.
Merson is predicting a thrashing ahead. He may or may not be right. We take each game as it comes. The so called big reams haven’t been potent as usual
The new commercial deals, which are well outlined by Emiratesstroller, are definitely very good news. My sole reservation is what Sleazy Stan plans to do with the extra money.
We would all be ecstatic if he hands at least some over to Emery. But Stan has never invested a cent in the club and I will not be holding my breath. I do not trust Stan Kroenke.
Having the money in the bank is one thing. Spending it is a totally different ball game.
Craig Bellamy & Paul Merson are on a boat…
Please, SINK IT!!
I don’t understand why we trumpeted the size of deal with Adidas so publicly. Why couldn’t we have just said a one or two liner in the financial press to satisfy the regulatory authorities, the stock markets and to fulfil our legal obligations? As long as the club knows we have this money, surely that is good enough… why dpes rest of the world have to know about it? Since players and agents know that we have this money won’t average players just target Arsenal to get a piece of the gravy train for themselves? Especially in light of the… Read more »
Good post Pedro,
4th is a realistic aspiration but that depends more on utd and spurs than it does us; I think if the aforementioned were playing to top form then 6th would be where we are at as a squad in terms of genuinely competing for the league. We have seen huge improvements already though and I said preseason I fancied us to surprise a lot of people this season because I genuinely feel the squad is a lot better than how Wenger’s mismanagement has led us to believe.
Leeds
Agents have an excellent knowledge of the club’s finances including what other similar players earn. That’s one of the most important rule of negotiation; knowledge is power.
It doesn’t matter whether you release it in one liners, morse code or with smoke stars – they know.
Besides the marketing gain of a full pompous release benefits both sides significantly.
It would be a shame if the memory of that truly special goal, started and finished by Ramsey, were sullied by the club backpedaling on their correct decision not to award him an inflated contract. Don’t think it will happen, though.
*smoke stacks
Leeds: Good point.
But will Stan let Emry spend the extra dosh ? I doubt it.
Reality check – Stan has never spent a penny on developingn the club.
No one will pay Ramsey the 250k weekly he’s asking for.
No one in England anyway
He may get the deal in Guangzhou, Anzhi Makhachkala or Qatar though.
Dissenter, as I’m sure you’d agree, if Ramsey goes on a free then his agent can negotiate say a 12m signing on fee, which would equate to 60,000 a week over four years. His salary would be less but his package would have been boosted by a Bosman.
Fabregas is in the final year of his contract at Chelsea. He’ll be 32 at the end of the season too.
Can see Chelsea replacing him with Ramsey for anywhere between 160-200k a week. He’d go, too. Giroud and Ramsey at Chelsea would be pure comedy.
Although they’ll finish above us, Liverpool’s form last season was so much better last season. Their fabled front three is not firing at the moment.
Koscielny is shit.
Arsenal should be aiming for the title and 4th place is shit too.
Leedsgunner
This should please you: now that Stan is sole owner, nobody will know anything about Arsenal finances.
BobN16
That’s a distinct possibility I admit.
Do you see any club in the first six in England starting Ramsey?
Liverpool are struggling to work in Fabhino,Chelsea have Ross Barkley, City don’t need him and United are still trying to fit Fred in.
He wouldn’t dare go to Spuds.
He’s over played his hands.
If we manage to get that sweet, sweet UCL spot, in the summer we’re going to have so much more to work with, especially players not wanting to join because of the lack of UCL football. I predict that we would spend over 100m net. IF we manage to get that sweet, sweet UCL spot one way or another that is.
Arsenal have shown they are capable of going on a run, they just have to raise their game against 2 or 3 teams with whom they have struggled with in the past.
BBC 5 live’s football podcast had a fantastic segment with Ian Wright last night… and how he is proud of his sons… and especially one Bradley Wright-Phillips, at the end of career is doing very well there at the moment.
Considering Almiron seems to be a done deal and he’s from the MLS, I thought it was an interesting listen.
Koscielny will only make us worse not better. He may read the game well but not better than Papa who is stronger in the box than Kosc ever was. He should be looking to go back to France and play a couple of seasons more under less scrutiny. We were crap with him and will be shit if he is let back in, These are players on more than 100kpw and contributing little on the pitch. I was never a fan. Holding, the Greek kid, and Papadopoulos are our main 3. We should seek to upgrade on Mustafi, though he… Read more »
Struggling to see where Ramsey goes, I wouldnt be surprised to see a turnaround in that.
Also, Merson and Bellamy are a pair of cretins.
So I’m guessing Pedro is done crying into his milk over Arteta?
Would people have Cesc Fabregas back if he was available on a free? To provide leadership to the team and an example to the youngsters coming through? Even though he is in his thirties I reckon he could still give us a great option from the bench. I know he left us under a cloud to Barça but I was disappointed when Wenger didn’t sign him back when he left there. Personally I think he could have done a better job than Xhaka. If Fabregas came back he would be a great leader and squad player and hopefully a coach… Read more »
Id take Fab back in the team.
Would be an upgrade on Ozil or Xhaka.
Bringing back Fabregas would be baggage.
Too many coaches spoil the broth..We have one coach let’s keep it that way.
Remember the Jardim vs Emery debates from the summer.
That worked out well didnt it.
Jardim getting sacked, Emery doing pretty well so far.
Quite happy with Laca being overlooked again for the NT, he was initially overlooked by Emery too and looks like he’s got a real point to prove, he also has learnt the rigours of the English game and looks fully fit so long may his form continue.
Cesc can fuck off….so can Fabregas.
………………………Appeal I kid, I kid.
I can see an upgrade argument for Cesc but you should never go back
We need to merge in new younger talent and find a real no 10 who can play Emery’s system
Wouldn’t be very funny if the club succeeded in luring Beppe Marotta to Arsenal? Especially as Ivan’s successor?
Gazidas’ weaknesses will be exposed wide open by a person who actually understand what a general manager at a football club does.
Gazidas’ made grand statements.
Marotta delivered results to support Allegri who won titles.
N5
Didn’t you get fired from being Batman?
“Also, Merson and Bellamy are a pair of cretins.”
The word “cretins” is far too nice to describe them.
Interesting that the formation used against Fulham was very Atletico Madrid
Still not convinced by Chelsea and Sarri. So he came 2nd in Italy with Napoli, hurray, he came 2nd in a 2 horse race. 19 teams managed and no silverware, he is a glorified Allardyce. Chelsea’s season is riding on and depends fully on Hazard’s form, much like Liverpool and Salah. This is City’s title to lose.
Big match for both teams right after the break.
Chelsea v united.
The Newcastle match for united could have been a turning point for them. A rally in point. Hope the 2 week break kills the momentum of it.
Kos is not the answer. A 33 year old injury and mistake prone defender isn’t going to save our defence.
Let’s hope Jan see us bring in a CB and a winger and a ransey replacemt
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11521934/eleven-manchester-united-players-contracts-expiring-at-end-of-season
Not alone
Leicester and CP away before we play Liverpool.
If Emery can maintain our form going into Liverpool and we pull off a draw , the players and club will be flying high going into Tottenham.
We could be looking very good going into dec.
Like I said yesterday , we will drop points where we shouldn’t , it’s how we rebound after that will show what effect Emery is having
Tottenham have west ham and city after the break. They could drop points in both esp as their form hasn’t been the best.
Kos coming back is a bonus-provided he’s fully recovered of course.
He’s had his rash moments but in general he’s been our strongest defender over the past six or seven seasons and the nearest thing to a leader on the pitch.
Emery has done very well so far but our defence has looked suspect. I expect kos to play a part this season.
CC
As I’ve said before, mourihno blew it at Chelsea second time around.
Players won’t play for him anymore.
Alex
They sure looked like they were playing for him when they came back from 2 nil down.
You don’t do that if your trying to get your manager fired
Alex
Mate right there with you, he’s poison. Joe loves him though.
We should be tapping up one or two of those boys entering the daylight stages of their contracts there. Martial being a prime time get potentially.
The Ramsey goal was sick. I have to admit. that had me yelling!
Does anyone know the $ amount for CL qualifying? How much do we get when we get 4th place?
“Kos coming back is a bonus-provided he’s fully recovered of course.”
His full recovery will take many games, + he was psychologically devastated to miss the WC with France….
omarOctober 9, 2018 00:35:19 Jenkinson, Wilshere, Walcott, Gibbs, Ox. Our so called English core, the brainchild of Wenger. A bunch of average, overhyped and/or overrated players that Wenger used to massage the nationalistic side of the home fans as a means of keeping them on his side while he drove Arsenal to the ground. After he no longer had the French connection to cover his deficiencies he had to go this route along with the 4th is like winning a trophy mantra to cover his ass. So refreshing to watch Arsenal now. Yes we will lose games and drop points,… Read more »
Don,
why do you start this shite on a freaking football blog? Fml…
I like Mourinho
He’s a character. Football is too dull these days. Full of robots.
I wouldn’t think he’d be a good fit with arsenal but he makes the game more colorful
I just realized that Sokratis is over 30, I had no idea.
Alexanderhenry
Emery has done fantastically well on breadcrumbs, which just goes to show what you can do with a bit of coaching.
Mouninho is everything that is wrong with football at the moment. Highly paid primadonna just like the players he has at his disposal. Always makes everything about himself. Arrogant prick.
People like Emery who work with a smile on their face is what we need to see more. It’s so refreshing to have a manager who doesn’t complain all the time but keeps working quietly but relentlessly like a good bee.
Raptora
Agreed – Emery is a quiet hard worker…. consistent and determined
Una na
Why do you start all these nonsense talk. You just had to stick Islamophobic jibes at “Omar”, didnt you?
You’re a first class shit head.
You’re only good when you’re genuflecting to tonyD when he pats you empty head.
http://dailycannon.com/2018/10/report-emery-expected-to-promote-youth-rather-than-spend-big-in-upcoming-windows/
In principle I don’t disagree with this. We should promote youth, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of Nketiah and W.illock. However promotion of youth has to go hand in hand with the introduction of key experienced winners. This way the club can progress and challenge for titles and cups at regular intervals… because if we don’t these youths will more often than not, leave the club to win honours.
goodivinin, goodivinin efrybody…
Joe
duck confit or duck arse?
Monaco want Henry to replace Jardim
I wonder why they didn’t ask for golden boy Arteta
Dissenter
Suck my balls. I didn’t commit a crime
Not really a fair comparison, make no bones about it Emery is exceeding expectations atm but he is working with much better players than Jardim.
Monaco are literally unrecognizable from their 2016/17 side, only Falcao who’s aging by the week and has always been very reliant on quality service, Glik and Sidibe remain from that entire XI.
They made an absolute fortune off the back of all of those sales but they’ve replaced these with bang average players so not a shock to see them struggling so badly.
As for ourselves, nope not title contenders yet but you have to walk before you can run.
I’d be delighted with 3rd spot and would also gladly take 4th if you were to offer it right now, looks like it’s a battle between ourselves, Chelsea and Spurs for that, expect the top 2 to pull away in the coming months.
“I wonder why they didn’t ask for golden boy Arteta”
Dissenter
The Monaco board isn’t bold and ambitious.
#Una9Emery…9in a row is no joke. Can joykillers kindly jump over the Thames and let us enjoy this new found joy for my dear Arsenal.
Wenger eagle
Chelsea are looking a better bet than Liverpool right now
I’d say it’s us and them for 3/4th spot at the moment. But as we all know that could change very quickly
unn
I’d still favour Liverpool, their front 3 have all been below par so far and we know that they can play better.
While Hazard is literally in peak form and is bound to have a dip at some point, who steps up once he does?
Salah, Mane and Firmino have only scored 10 goals in all comps between the three of them in 30 combined apps.
Wenger Eagle
Monaco 16/17 played quality football in Ligue 1. Easy on the eye, fast and simple. They killed teams down the sides. Lemar,.Silva, Mendy and Sidibe got behind teams at will.
Hazard alone has scored 8 goals in 9 apps, only 6 of those even starts.
They’ve got a very tidy midfield now eagle. With some great reinforcements on the bench
Moratta and Giroud up front could be quite formidable given the right service.
Like I said it could all change again but all of a sudden Chelsea look better than Liverpool and only a Sturridge long shot saved their blushes the last time.
Dream10
M’Bappe was great for Falcao as well and played a huge part in him regaining his near peak form. His pace and movement pulled defenders out of position and afforded Falcao more chances in good positions.
They were expecting miracles out of Jardim replacing a group of world class talent with a bunch of kids and misfits.
Dissenter
“I wonder why they didn’t ask for golden boy Arteta”
Agreed, but I think the real question is why didn’t Arteta go for the position if he thinks he was so ready for the Arsenal job? Both at Aston Villa and Monaco?
With every vacancy that goes passing, Arteta shows that the only reason why he went for the Arsenal position was because he thought it was going to be a coronation… and given to him on a plate.
Bullet dodged.
Sarri-ball – Eden Hazard = ZERO
Sarri-ball is Eden Hazard, no more no less
Chelsea are middling average without Hazard. They will run out of steam very quickly.
unn
Even in that match Liverpool created the better chances and should have won.
Not at all convinced that they have enough goals in them unless guys like Barkley and Willian can become a regular source of goals which is unlikely. Giroud and Morata have both been wasteful since they’ve arrived and have scored very few goals between them, especially Morata who’s averaging about 1 in 3 which is what you’d expect from a midfielder, not a so-called worldie CF.
Any CF worth their salt at a top level club should be scoring 2 goals every 3 matches, not 1 in 3.
Eagle
No guarantees his form will dip or he’ll get injured
And no guarantee that Liverpool’s players will repeat last years performance.
Chelsea have new players ready to dominate midfield and in Giroud the perfect front man to post balls off.
Wish we fukcing did them earlier this year though. Wed be top of the league had we converted our chances agaisnt the chavs. That would be lovely.
It goes to prove that Jardim just happened to have an extraordinary bunch of players in that 2016-2017 season. He’s a good manager no doubt but sometimes you happen to be at the tight place with the right players and at the right time. Like Leicester, like Monaco. I look back at how Monaco hung on for dear life in that second leg of the 2015 CL last 16 game to realize that Jardim isn’t as elite a manager as some made him out to be. We bossed them in the away game and were unlucky to lose the home… Read more »
Eagle
They do t need to be world class to finish above Liverpool let alone win the league.
Look at mharez and vardy for Leicester.
They are more than capable of finishing above Liverpool
And hey, trust me, I’d love to see Chelsea drop some the table I just think they’re findin their groove and right now look the more likely to challenge city
Especially when you factor in their previous title experience in co parison
Now that we have won 9 games on the bounce , are we all of the opinion ( as I have been all along)that the squad is pretty decent,with exceptional striking and creative talent or are some sticking to the same mantra that Emery has taken over a pile of shit .
I believe that Torriera has and will continue to make a massive difference to the balance of the side ….the other signings have not made a significant difference though Guendouzi and Sokratis and more recently Leno have settled in well.
*right place…not tight place
Dissenter
Well HE was the one who brought most of them to the club so you can’t just say that he stumbled upon a world class group, that’s nonsense.
And he had them punching above their weight in the previous seasons, I mean they had a 50 year old Berbatov leading the line in the season they beat us in the CL.
If I were Arteta, I would rather be Pep’s assistant for a couple of years than take the reins of Aston Villa.
At City he is learning the craft from the world’s best and working with top class players. Mind you he is still very young, plenty of time on his hand to take the role of a full fledged manager. He doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone right now. The world’s best manager trusted him to be his deputy. Besides, there’s very little upside to managing Aston Villa.
Jardim deserves credit. Monaco went from being ultra defensive to an attacking force while.maintaing CL football. Bigger clubs like.Lyon,. Marseille didn’t recruit well, weren’t coached thoroughly and struggled for consistency.
unn
Leicester won the league with 80 points, that’s not even enough for a runners up spot these days.
Citeh cracked 100 points last season, the level has dramatically risen and you’re not going to compete for the league without at least one player cracking 20 goals in the league, if not two.
Chelsea possibly have one in Hazard but even that’s asking a lot, his previous best was 16 and he’s played six seasons of PL footy. It’s entirely possible that he’s just in a purple scoring patch.
Even the most ardent anti-Ronaldo crowd would have to admit that he was the absolute point of their attack, heard a good few saying that they would improve as a collective without him as he’s become a hindrance on the team dynamic.
Well here we are, 4 scoreless matches on the bounce for the first time in fook knows how long and 3 defeats in 4 to Sevilla, CSKA and Alaves.
The CSKA match in particular is just a match that Ronaldo never would have lost in his time at RM.
And is anyone else taken aback at Bayern’s total lack of a plan past Ribery and Robben aging and becoming a shadow of their prime selves?
For such a well run club in the past they’ve made a few baffling decisions in recent years on the recruitment end, guys like Rudy, Wagner, Gnabry, Tolisso and Goretzka were never Bayern level talent.
And if Eintracht hadn’t have beaten Bayern in the Cup Final, would they even have considered Kovac?
Eagle
You do t think Giroud can nick 20 goals with chelsea’s Service? His style never yelled at arsenal but if you play to his strengths he’s well worth twenty goals
Even if he isn’t he’s still good for 15
As are most of their forwards. You think anyone apart from salah at livrpool are 20 goals and up?