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
Eagle
I like goretzka
Wenger Eagle
You’re right on Cristiano. Can’t just replace someone who gets 6-7 shots per match with the collective. Bale is the closest, but he’s not a greedy player. Benzema is more of an altruistic forward these days, needs two players who run in behind (he’d be perfect for PSG or Liverpool)
Bayern struggling is good for the soul.
Long it may continue. They’re a superclub who are not willing to pay the ridiculous prices that PSG, Real and Barca are willing to pay for premium talent. Guardiola wanted Neymar in ’13 as first signing at Munich, but he was deemed too expensive
Arteta should have put his name forward for the Villa job.
A massive club with massive potential.
I thought he would have jumped at the chance
unn
Firmino and Mane are both good for 15 in the league and Salah is good for 20, unreasonable to expect another 30 plus season from him as Messi he ain’t.
Sturridge looks as if he can chip in with a few, last season their 2nd option was Solanke who’s absolute dirt and then you have guys like Shaqiri and the midfield.
Re Giroud, 15 at best and that’s if he plays in every match. Morata similar, maybe even less.
Dream10
Ronaldo was also ironman, Bale’s just not an option as a successor given he spends so much time on the sidelines which is a shame as he’s an elite player.
Benzema’s has had his best days, Lopetegui was seriously naive to think that they could replace the 40 plus goals that Ronaldo provided internally.
unn
Schalke was his level, just like the others.
He’ll be found out in the CL.
Renato Sanches who struggled at fucking Swansea is now starting for Bayern I mean lol, says it all.
“Renato Sanches who struggled at fucking Swansea is now starting for Bayern I mean lol, says it all.”
I can’t wrap my head around that one.
I know not all good players can cut it a prem (Falcao Forlan to a degree Veron etc etc) but the difference here is so huge!
Dortmund sold all their old stars ..to Arsenal
They now have a team of uber-talented youngsters desperate to impress
On the other hand Bayern have gone so stale and old.
Liverpool will be just fine. They remain second only to City in terms of quality, and I actually think they could win it. They have been good without even their front three firing; think of what they’ll be if those three return to form. Dissenter Pretty sure Chelsea also have Jorginho, Kante, Willian, Marcos Alonso. And Sarri ball is a lot more than just Hazard, though Hazard is scoring the bulk of their goals. So too did Costa, though, so I don’t see why that’s a problem. We have a chance at fourth, nothing more. It’s us, United and Spurs… Read more »
Ronaldo’s exit has shown Gareth Bale for what he is … a class below Ronaldo/Mess.
The fans at the Bernabéu now routinely chant Ronaldo’s name.
Madrid have to sack Lopetegui, hire Conte and go on another spending spree.
GOB
Ha he’s shite at Bayern too mate, was just highlighting how poor their current plight really is.
How can you go from Schweinsteiger, Martinez, Thiago, Vidal, Alonso, Kroos to Renato Sanches?
Bamford
Re Chelsea; All those names you’be mentioned do not change games.
It was Hazard that got them their win against us and he’;s been instrumental in every game he’s played.
Sarri has the best defensive mid in the world stuck on the right. Sarri-ball is overrated. I think he’s been lucky to have one of the top 5-6 players in the world in Eden Hazard.
Without Hazard, Chelsea have 6-8 points less.
Did anybody ever consider Bale on their level?
And there’s no shame at all in that, they’re only the best players of the past three decades after all and possibly all time for Messi.
What should our formation be on return from the break? What’s our best XI?
The last 2 years have seen the premier league won with exceptionally high points totals …93pts and 100pts..this is the exception rather than the rule.
The previous ten years have averaged around 85pts and this season could well see a even lower points total as I believe it will be a more competitive league this season .
Whether Arsenal can be part of it only time will tell.
Ronaldo will never be universally revered across the board even though he ought to be.
He has won as many CL titles as Maldini did, which is ridiculous considering Maldini has a quarter of a century long career.
Dissenter
Not sure what your point is: we don’t have a single player who “changes games” — if Hazard is the standard — and neither does United or Spurs.
And that’s why you sign a player like Hazard: because he is that level. He’s not a weakness for them; he’s a strength.
And having watched a bit of Napoli last season and Chelsea this, I think there is something to Sarri-ball, namely quality passing, quality organization.
Chelsea have more quality than we do; there simply is no question about that.
Hand hazard can match salah
Giroud is more than capable of 15 goals
His goals to mins for arsenal was second o lot to aguerro in his time at arsenal remember???
Pedro and Willian both capable of matching firminho and mane in terms of goals and assists. Both have higher pedigree too.
Regarding goretzka. Well I guess we’ll see. I rate him. And I think his level is way higher than shalke. Bayern obviously agree.
Bamford
“Liverpool will be just fine. They remain second only to City in terms of quality, and I actually think they could win it. They have been good without even their front three firing; think of what they’ll be if those three return to form.”
It is a possibility that Liverpool are playing slightly more cautiously than previous seasons hence their more improved defensive record and looking more compact as a team .
This in turn will make it more difficult for the front 3 to create space for themselves especially if the full backs and midfield are more disciplined.
Thought for a few years Madrid were achieving beyond their ability, so not surprised they are struggling. Ronaldo obviously kept dragging them through European campaigns, but it was clear to see even then they simply weren’t a real top side, even if history will have them down as one with the multiple champions league victories in a row.
Never been a big fan of Kroos, at least relative to his rep, and likewise Casemiro, so their midfield is meh by top level standards of yesteryears legendary sides. Modric quality but coming to the end.
Paulinho
I think Kroos is overrated too. Very very good player but I think he’s held in to high esteem. Modric is the best medifeilder in the world now. Not many others around to challenge him.
Un
Watching Chelsea this season ,I have been impressed by their quality especially in.midfield .However I do feel they may be a little vulnerable defensively …playing jourginho at the base of the midfield and kante further forward makes them weaker defensively but on the plus side ,jourginho dictates the play from that position and so far it’s working well ….maybe in the future teams will put a player on jourginho to nullify his influence on the game .
Too high
Arsenal should be aiming for the title not 4th spot.
They havr shown they can go on a run, now they have to raise their game against teams they historicaly have struggled against.
Pep’s Barcelona side was as good as we’ll ever see for CM. Prime Iniesta and Xavi were just a different beast altogether, dominated any opposition midfield with ease in the league and CL. Their 6-2 win at the Bernabeu in 2009 and 5-0 win I think the year after are still the most one-sided Clasico’s I’ve ever seen and Iniesta and Xavi were both at the heart of it. Still can’t believe that Chelsea fluked their way past both them and Bayern to win the CL. Ironically with their worst side of the Abramovich years as well, the early Jose… Read more »
Pierre
Yeah I agree but Sarri is an Italian. And if push came to shove I’m sure he’d be more than capable of moving things sufficiently to toughen up at the back
Don’t get me wrong I’d love to see them flop but I too have been impressed by their style this season. It’s clearly unleashed the best of hazard too, who on his day is as good if not better than anyone bar Messi and Ronaldo
WE – Love the look of Arthur last week against Spurs. It was like watching Xavi. That ability to turn and completely face the play and carry the ball for little five yard bursts forward before releasing was great to see. Maybe Barca are sorting themselves out at last.
Said it numerous times Kroos was massively overrated but such was the success of the current Madrid side that nobody was buying the arguement. Dele Alli is another one – a limited player but many experts talk about him playing for Real Madrid.
Paulinho
Said it back in August, my favourites to win CL.
Coutinho has fitted in seamlessly too, he’s no Iniesta but he brings his own quality and will score some crucial goals to take the weight off of Messi and Suarez a bit.
Malcom hasn’t even kicked a ball yet and he’s very good, then you have Dembele growing into his role, Arthur improving the midfield with Vidal as cover and Lenglet looks decent too.
They recruited very well in the summer which makes a change from all of the shite that they accumulated in the past few years.
Agree with Red. We should be targeting the title, not 4th. Let’s come top 4 as a consequence of not winning the league. Not target 4th and scramble into it
As the old saying goes
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” If you’re aiming for something, even if you don’t achieve it, you’ll still be somewhere better than where you started.
Don’t think you can say that Kroos is overrated, he’s won everything in the game and was Germany’s best player in the WC win.
He’s a level below Xavi and Iniesta for sure but he’s elite, no doubt about it.
“Coutinho has fitted in seamlessly too, he’s no Iniesta but he brings his own quality and will score some crucial goals to take the weight off of Messi and Suarez a bit”
Yeah, they are addressing that disconnect that occurred when they had the top strikers but relative tripe behind them. Now there is more rotation behind the forwards and they look a much more potent team that can adapt to different sides in the latter stages of Europe.
Hard to say what our strongest side is. We looked fairly balanced this weekend, although most teams would against Fulham. We certainly didn’t miss our chief chance creator, but we’re definitely lacking in quality on the flanks, and we’re missing midfield baller to pair with Torr or Guen. Mikki can play on the right, but we’re weak on the left with Welbeck and Iwobi. The striker conundrum is a nice problem to have. I’d be happy with either Laca or Auba starting up top. A 3-5-2 or a variation of a 4-4-2 would allow us to start with both. Back… Read more »
Anyone noticed we havnt seen ‘Wengemery’ mentioned in a while?
WE
Forget Xavi, Iniesta…. would you take Kroos over even Xabi /Gerrard /Scheweini ?
Un
I get the feeling that sarri will keep jourginho at the base of the midfield ,he may drop in kante alongside him if push comes to shove.
I’m hanging on to the fact that Sarri maybe another pochettino in that trophies are hard to come by…… Some managers seem to struggle to get over the line.
I wouldn’t completely rule out a title challenge if we keep Torreira fit.
If we’re in the mix by Christmas then we shouldn’t wave the white flag simply because it’s ‘too early’. Some top sides in the league but I think under Emery we can mix it with them on level terms. Guardiola teams under pressure can falter.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TiU8ypdOvFU
Beautiful to watch
TR7
Kroos over Schweini for sure, Alonso it’s pretty much a coin toss with Kroos better going forward and Alonso better defensively and from deeper.
Gerrard was quite a different player, he was at his best just behind the striker in the Torres days.
Kroos way better than deli ali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyfUc4-DZCY
The ball control and ability to weave out of tight spaces was second to none.
WE
Kroos over Schweini for sure
Really? why?
Gerrard better than both
Any manager that wont play the best defensive midfielder in the world wrongly is suspect.
Sarri is playing one of the pivotal players in two premier league winning teams and a world cup winning side wrongly.
I agree with Pierre that he is one of those managers who will never win anything.
Sorry Sarri is over-rated. Anyone that tucks Kante away to the right needs a psych assessment not praise.
Paulinho
Agree. If we can keep it tight until Jan and buy 1-2 players in the TW. We will stick around. We won’t catch city i don’t think but we won’t be 20-40 points back either.
Scheweinsteiger at his very best was just marvellous. Real shame injuries cut his career short otherwise we would have been talking about him as one of the true greats of the game.
I find Sarri to be a revolutionary manager in the mold of Pep, absolutely top top class.
azed
Just a better player for me, higher technical level.
Schweini was a top player, make no mistake I just rate Kroos above him.
Iniesta for me is the greatest midfielder ever. Better than Zidane and also, for me, in that bracket with pele, maradonna, Puskas, Wilshere and Messi
I’d question Sarri a bit, always fell at the final hurdle in pursuit of Juventus and didn’t do much in Europe.
Iniesta was a joy to watch and he’s the one player that says trust your eyes over stats.
Yeah people always say Zidane but I’d have prime Iniesta over any midfielder I’ve seen in my lifetime.
What he achieved with Barcelona and Spain from 2008-2012 in particular was just something else and he was their best player in all of those Spain sides and 2nd after Messi for Barcelona.
Yeah Iniesta the greatest midfielder for me too, he edges past the great Zidane who was my favorite player in his playing day.
Messi, Iniesta and Zidane the top 3 players that I have seen in my lifetime.
Liam Brady……you can’t persuade me otherwise!
“Iniesta in the same skill bracket as Wilshere.”
Genuinely laughed at that one. Nice one, Don.
The question is who is number 3 in the world Neymar, Hazard???
Samesong
Mbappé??
Before Fabregas went to Barca he was up there with the best also.
Samesong
There shouldn’t be number 3
It should be number 1…….2………x……..4
There’s no one that should be mentioned in the same breath with Messi and Ronaldo
It’s amazing how those two found the consistency to perform at that high octane highest level
Bob16
If only we had chippy brady now….I was at white Hart lane when he hit that superb 4th goal in our 5-0 thrashing of Tottenham……top top quality player.
I like Rambo
But wait a minute….
He ain’t a word beater
A very good player…
Has had to many bad performances over the years…
Max 200,000 a week…
Take or leave
Jamie??
Mate, you think that was a joke?
Cesc wasn’t in the same league as Iniesta. Not even close.
Tr7
In the day I always preferred del piero. Loved that man. And Totti. Two of my favourite players of all time. An absolute joy to watch. But still not in inesta’s league.
There was talk of del piero to arsenal frequently too. I’d have died happy for one season of him at arsenal.
Dissenter
Also the fact that they both played at the same time for deadly rivals with opposing styles. Ying and yang. Like Batman and the joker.
I don’t wanna kill you….You complete….me…..
Don –
Yes. Wilshere would too.
Almost as funny as Guns of Hackney’s “I’m an aristocrat” clanger the other week, but more funny than Pierre’s “I’m an old man, really I am” routine.
A solid 8/10 joke. Keep it up.
RSPCA
I would pay him that. £180k max
Woildnt I meant
Iniesta awesome. Zidane better than awesome.
No not close to Iniesta but in the top 20 midfielders.
Title contenders?
Top 4 would be a marvellous achievement based on what Emery inherited.
As for Ramsey, although I like him, he’s nowhere near as good as he thinks he is. Unfortunately, the Ozil saga has made things very difficult.
Can easily be replaced.
Emery will get it all sorted.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihxhf0KQV5c
Just watch this magic. Don del Piero. Miss the old baggy shirts of the 90s too. Way better than these skin tight cyclist shit they wear now with better designs too.
One of the very best FK takers of all time too Del Piero was.
Think Iniesta is by far the greatest midfielder I have seen. Zidane had some really wow moments but Iniesta is untouchable.
As for no3 in the world, it’s Neymar by a country mile. Hazard and Mbappe ain’t close.
Samesong
Of all time??
Ok let’s do a list
1 Wilshere
2 iniesta
3 zidane
4 bobby charlton
5 platini
6 xavi
7 Scholes
8 Keane
9 vieira
10 pirlo
11 Gerrard
12 Zico
13 Socrates
14 Beckham
15 Giggs
16 Lampard
17 makalele
18 lothar matteus
19 Gascogne
20 ruud gullit
21 Glenn hoddle
Till he was 28/29 Zidane was a Mikitaryan. Pretty much inconsistent and thrived off making wow moments and scoring goals off both foot with aplomb. He settled into something of a conductor/creator very late into his football career
Eagle
That video almost brought me to tears. I’ll neveer get to watch him play again.
Mystic????
What the fuck? He won the World Cup at 26 and was world player of the year that year???
You can’t exoect to get taken seriously with comments like that. I fucking wish Mkhitaryan was even 50% as good as zidane before he was 28
I know im late on the ronaldo chat,but real without him look poor. Notice now when the players misplace a pass there isn’t anyone on the pitch glaring at them. They miss more than just his goals,he demanded excellence from his teammates,and if you didn’t cut the mustard you knew about it.
Utarse
Iniesta was fucking magic mate. Turned up more often than zidane too.
Pat
Barca look a few levels down without xavi and iniesta too. I do wonder how Messi would have done without those two in the side with him.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii-7UMtlfck
Just watch this shit man.
Not one mention of matthaus.?
He has to be up there in the reckoning for best ever
un
“A Mikitaryan” is different from Mikitaryan. I didn’t compare both players. He won it after winning the world cup. proves my point. He was more an impact player than a dominant player like Iniesta. He grew into that role later at Madrid and it was in his late 20s
“Barca look a few levels down without xavi and iniesta too. I do wonder how Messi would have done without those two in the side with him.”
Not being watching Barca recently and even when Iniesta was in his peak? Messi could have done it alone.
Like I say iniesta was a tremendous talent but Zidane did things with a ball that I haven’t seen many do.
“Zidane was a Mikhtaryan”
Hilarious.
I am not responsible for what you lot understand.
Mystic
Turn it in, you’ve mugged yourself right off
Till he was 28/29 Zidane was a Mikitaryan
Almost as ludicrous as mentioning David Beckham in a list of best CM’s of all time
Low calling up Leno only after Trapp was ruled out with injury. Leno has made 5 appearences for us and has impressed Trapp is on loan at Frankfurt and made 2. A real shame about some of these international managers
Beckham is one of those players that was extremely overrated during his playing days but is now extremely underrated after he’s hung up his boots and called it a day.
He was a top class wideman with arguably the best cross of the ball and set-piece delivery ever seen in the PL. you’d swear he was just some playboy model the way some go on about him now.
Rooney is another that springs to mind.
Hella overrated as a youngster but underrated as his career went on and now not held up as highly as he should be in all time talk.
Sooner or later they will be on the end of a big score – defensively they are all over the place,” he told The Debate.
“The one thing that gets them out of trouble is that they’re always going to score goals. But defensively, they are just not good enough.”
Paul Merson going full idiot. I mean I’m worried about the defence as much as the next guy but we didn’t get thrashed by City and we should have drawn against Chelsea so this idea that the first good side we’ll play will inevitably hammer us is a bit unfair.
Liverpool will have a slight fear coming to the Emirates now vis a vis maybe 4-5 weeks ago…. this is what we need back, teams fearing us like City feared losing at Anfield…yes they are better organised and better defensively but maybe now they won’t be so gung ho playing us.
Marko
Merse has never been a prospective brain surgeon has he?
He has a point about our vulnerability at the back but yeah it’s unlikely we’ll be on the receiving end of one of those traumatic pasting that became a regular feature under AW.
He was a top class wideman with arguably the best cross of the ball and set-piece delivery ever seen in the PL. you’d swear he was just some playboy model the way some go on about him now. He really wasn’t top class. Great set plays no doubt but he was a wideman with no left foot who couldn’t head a ball and could not ever go past an opposing player. He was totally overrated as a player considering the limitations he had and you’ll notice I’m not saying rubbish or anything but top class or in the conversation of… Read more »
Beckham was also an extremely hard working players during his playing days.. No coasting with him..always full commitment. I admired him for that. He was a brand yet worked so hard
We need Auba to strap on his shooting boots vs Pool because he’s been wank against any decent opposition since joining us.
Stank the place out against Citeh and single-handedly cost us points at the Bridge. Also did nothing vs City and Spurs last season, think he actually choked a penalty vs Citeh if memory serves us right.