£14m technician could prove a bargain

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It would appear Arsenal aren’t quite as broke as we’d initially thought. The news dropping the loudest of rumbles at the moment is that we’re going in for Denis Suarez for £14m. However you feel about the player, it’s hard to disagree that he’s 1) Young (24) 2) Technically superior to Iwobi 3) Capable of hitting higher levels.

Most of his success came at Villareal in 2015-16 when he dropped his best numbers with 12 assists and 5 goals in 48 appearances. He also played under Emery in his last season at Sevilla where he racked up an impressive 5 assists, 6 goals, in 46 appearances. Also notable that he was signed by City way back when!

His numbers at Barca look, well, decidedly Iwobi-ish if I’m honest. I think he’s cut from a similar cloth. A little bit faster, but the type of player who stitches midfield and attack together with cute intricate play. I know it’s a basic, but just having someone out on the left who you can rely on to always have a good touch is where the bar is set at the moment.

He’s an upgrade. I just hope he’s not a £150k a week upgrade. Worth remembering that when he was a teenager, he was compared to players like David Silva. If he fulfils here, then we’ve unlocked a lot of potential value. (read here for an interesting scouting report).

Today we take on Blackpool in the FA Cup. I’m excited to see Saka land a heavily mooted start. I think we need to see more of these kids and they need to land pitch time. If they don’t, they might as well be out on loan. From the sounds of it, the manager is going to heavily rotate, hoping to inject some much-needed energy into the legs of players that have been drained over the past two months.

Short one today, have a great day!

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TheLegendaryDB10

CA

Anyway I slice it I cannot understand what the club were thinking.

They were trying to save face. After losing Sanchez they felt losing another big name would be bad for the club’s image and just caved in to his demands.

It also goes along with AW and Gazidis plan of increasing wages instead of re-investing in worthwhile players. AW, at the end of his tenure, was only interested in investing in weak minded players who would not rock the (his) boat.

Victorious

Bam
Willock offers very little”

Nice one Bammy

TR7

Can’t believe the same people who lambasted Wenger day and night for persisting with average players and rightly so are now defending Emery signing similar level of players.

Paulinho

“What’s happened to Ramsey and his glory hunting for goals….has he at last learnt what is needed to play in centre mid…very impressed with his all round game….”

That was always overplayed.

Unsurprisingly, as I predicted, we haven’t looked any more solid with two sitting midfielders than we did with him and one sitting (Xhaka).

raptora

Marc: “had no intention of staying”

I mean he’s not like Ozil and Alexis who were silent about it for months and months. He openly came out and said that he wants to stay. He even said that no one told him anything about why was the offer removed from the table and that he would like to have an explanation about it. He’s never looked like leaving or wanted to leave to be honest.

Marc

Eagle

If Overmars and Petit weren’t carrying some baggage why did we get them for £7.5 million and £2.5 million respectively?

WengerEagle

CA

We can’t be that broke, I mean Bournemouth have just dropped 20 million on a striker that doesn’t even score goals.

We charge the highest ticket prices in Europe, have relatively little debt and are we not getting a new Adidas deal worth a fuck tonne?

How have we not got 30ish million to spend on a proper player?

Marc

raptora

Then why didn’t he sign the fucking contract when it was offered? His statement about the contract being withdrawn was pure politics. Either that or he couldn’t find a pen.

Paulinho

As I said above, Overmars had a career-threatening knee injury not long before he joined us.

WengerEagle

Spot on TR7, if AW was behind DS there would be murder.

WengerEagle

Well there you go, nothing to do with lack of ability then.

Radio Raheem

Marc

He’s soon to be 25 I’m not sure fans will be that patient.

useroz

afc should still be cash rich

the cub is broke supposedly due to stan’s lbo of the Uman shares at 550m

if true afc supporters would appear to be paying for it over the next 10 to 20 years, like two stadium moves except that we may not ever see the books in future

stan hasn’t shelled out a dime and got the club

raptora

“Unsurprisingly, as I predicted, we haven’t looked any more solid with two sitting midfielders than we did with him and one sitting (Xhaka).”

Pierre’s bollocks that Ramsey and Giroud were the people bringing us down. Jesus fk… And how spuds look solid because they have two players sitting back.

Paulinho

He got a cruciate back in the days when cruciates were a bigger deal than they are now.

raptora

Marc,

“”We all know that the contract was taken away off the table. I’m not sure exactly why because a few weeks before we sort of agreed and I was ready to sign … Something happened, I am not sure what.”

Victorious

Bam
Willock offers very little”

Nice one bammy.

TheLegendaryDB10

TR7

But the landscape has changed though. We don’t have the money to make heavier investments.

The Addidas deal kicks in at the end of this season. We will then have s bit more money to invest in, hopefully, a world class player.

Nelson

When do you think that Emery will bring in Saka for Iwobi?

Marko

Marko – You seem obsessed with his held down a position bollocks. I suppose Luis Enrique was shit because he could play in multiple positions for Barca? Are you for real? There’s a massive difference between the two one played in a great team with great players that challenged for major honours while Ramsey played in a shit team with shit players that didn’t challenge and couldn’t hold down a place in midfield on the right or as a CM. We had shit players at the time but it always seemed like there was someone better than Ramsey for that… Read more »

Dream10

raptora

Probably as a third CM in a 4-3-3/or as a #10 drops deep. Emery wants Bellerin and Kolasinac to bomb up and down the wings to create chances for Aubameyang.

Graham62

We ain’t that broke. It’s all a myth.

Our main problem over the years has been the disgusting sums of money dished out to bang average players.

Marko

None of those names blow my socks off Marko, some have decent potential but will cost more than a limb.

I would significantly temper your expectations as an Arsenal fan then.

Radio Raheem

I’m happy Ramsey is leaving will be happier if Ozil, Mkhi and a few others joined him but can’t be too greedy too soon.

Takes away the excuse of having Wenger’s team when judging Emery.

Nelson

Emery is talking to Laca. Looks like Laca will be playing.

Victorious

WE yapping shite abt Dennis Suarez

He’d come in and instantly be the best midfielder in the club.

There’s a reason the likes of Chavs,milan and Roma are hot on his trails.

TheLegendaryDB10

G62

That is indeed the biggest of our problems. Average players who are overpaid and have no actual re-sale value. Makes things very difficult for Sven and Raul.

TR7

I have no problem with Ramsey leaving. He takes too many touches for my liking and slows the game down.

Cesc Appeal

People also need to stop this ‘Emery’s signing’ thing, yeah Wenger might have got stick, because Wenger doesn’t have Mislintat’s record.

The guy that brought us Guendouzi, Torreira and Mavropanos in the short time he’s been here. Willing to trust him until he proves otherwise.

We don’t have unilateral decision making anymore.

Emery might want him but it has to get past Mislintat and Sanllehi.

Paulinho

Marko – Where did he play in the months before his injury? Central midfield. I seem to remember you a couple of months back claiming that was his main purple patch (instead of 2013-14) So I take it he impressed you then but not now? And then he impressed again in 2013-14 and last year, when he won fans player of the season. So the statement “We had shit players at the time but it always seemed like there was someone better than Ramsey for that position” is bullshit. When Ramsey has been properly fit post 2012 he has played,… Read more »

raptora

Dream,
He ain’t going to compete with Torreira or Xhaka probably. So we are getting a player to compete with Ramsey, Ozil and Mikki on our books?! And as a whole he doesn’t look not even a tiny bit of an upgrade? What is going on?!

WengerEagle

Vic

Lol talking bollocks, he’s 25 and is still picking splinters out his arse.

Seduced by his name.

Graham62

Pierre

Eddie Nketiah needs to learn about being ruthless.

He’ll be twenty in a few months and needs to show a hunger and desire to finish things off.

Michael Owen, even at 17, would have scored a hat trick by now.

He has to show a hunger to finish things off.

Don’t bottle your chance Eddie.

Radio Raheem

Eddie is no Owen he’ll be kicking ball for a League One side in a couple of years

WengerEagle

Marko

Sorry if a Wengeresque signing makes me an ungrateful/unrealistic fan then.

In that case, prepare to get nowhere nearer City or Liverpool in the coming years.

WengerEagle

CA

Mavro and Guen have done nothing as of yet, bit early to be citing them as examples of Sven’s prestige isn’t it?

Danny

Willock also defends well

Bamford10

Yes, we should have kept Ramsey (on around 180k/week) rather than signing Ozil or Mkhitaryan at silly wages, but that ship has sailed. We can’t afford Ramsey at 220k/week at present, whereas Suarez will give us a very good midfielder at a 1/3rd of those wages. We need to reduce our wage bill; see that Arsenal Truth piece.

Nelson

Kols’s defense is just terrible

Cesc Appeal

WE Not at all. We have no money. I think that is the beginning and the end of it. We spent £10 Million more on our total summer dealings than United did on Fred. We have no Sterling or Coutinho sell like Liverpool did to fund Klopp’s restructure and Wenger took us from 5th to 6th further hampering us. This is it for us, limited funds and we will attempt to use them smartly and find bargains or youngsters. If people want us to spend £150 Million on our defence you might as well give up now. For years we… Read more »

raptora

None of the currently playing youngsters will make it. We’re looking at the new JET and co at the moment. Just look no further than Nathan Delfouneso.

Paulinho

Two or three Suarez types and our wages our clogged again.

Let’s hope he is a success and we’re not left wanting to shift him on after a year to free up wages.

raptora

Yeah,
Let’s get Elneny MK 2 because you see, his wage demands are low…

Nelson

I like Willock. He moves fast. He has good size. He can cover a lot of spaces.

Cesc Appeal

The club has been going in the opposite direction to everyone else for about 6 years. We placed emphasis on cash despite the fact it was players that were appreciating in value dramatically. We bought terribly and because of our imbecile of a manager our players got worse and depreciated in value to the point that players like Mustafi and Xhaka were probably worth half of what we paid for them. We were commercially average, our football was getting worse and our squad value was diminishing whilst our wage bill was rocketing. We were probably one of the worst run… Read more »

Victorious

Seduced by his name.’ Lame, I mean who does that, rates a player by his name, typical from one with weak a pov though, gets called out on something iffy and have a daft response to offer up Surely u don’t expect Suarez(regardless of how good he is) to be a starter in this current Barça team, their squad is ridiculous and arguably the most talented in Europe,i mean he has the likes of Vidal as company in bench and have already bagged in Rabiot Suarez being touted for the move speaks less about his lack of ability and more… Read more »

gambon

Nketiah was a top finisher as a youth, but he needs to calm down and take chances at senior level.

If not he’ll have to make it as a wide player.

If not he’s a league one player.

Gut instinct is AMN, Willock, Nketiah are not good enough.

Smith-rowe and Nelson look to be a cut above.

Cesc Appeal

‘Gut instinct is AMN, Willock, Nketiah are not good enough.’

Hopefully we can sell them for decent fees.

Marko

I seem to remember you a couple of months back claiming that was his main purple patch (instead of 2013-14) So I take it he impressed you then but not now?And then he impressed again in 2013-14 and last year, when he won fans player of the season.So the statement “We had shit players at the time but it always seemed like there was someone better than Ramsey for that position” is bullshit. Right so he’s been here for 10 seasons and he’s had roughly two purple patches. He’s played CM, RM and CAM hence never really holding down a… Read more »

Danny

Shame no hattrick there

WengerEagle

CA

Those are figures that keep getting bandied about, Liverpool with 100 million signed 3 players up front that have made them PL and CL challengers.

150 mill for defenders? We know we’re not Citeh.

But rather than spend 100/mill on numbers, why not just pay that for 3 quality players that will improve our XI? Or even just 60/mill on two?

Look at the difference having Auba up front has made? He cost just 3 times what Solanke has.

You get what you pay for in most cases, certainly in the case of 25 year old Suarez.

Nelson

Kola was 5 yards upside.

Victorious

Suarez numbers for Villarreal in 15/16

33 appearances double figures in goals/assist

Mki/Ozil/Iwobi combined can’t boast of that this season

Danny

Clear offside

TheLegendaryDB10

Offside but goal for Iwobi. 0-3! We’re in to the 4th round.

Nelson

Now, bring in some youngsters.

WengerEagle

Vic

Copa is like FA Cup, in early rounds you play PT fisherman and school teachers.

It’s not that he can’t start for Barca, it’s that nobody has shown concrete interest in him and the fact that he looked his best at 21 that is concerning, he literally hasn’t improved at all.

Even Tello is a better player.

Paulinho

Marko – Real Madrid, Juventus, PSG, Bayern were after him and he is set to become Juve’s second highest earner.

So no, no sentiment. Everything I’ve said about him as proven to be justified, when the likes of you and others were constantly disparaging of him and having a jolly old laugh at Everton and West Ham being his best bet after Arsenal

Now you’ve been proven woefully wrong it’s all ‘i predict he will struggle there and be sold in two years”.

Marko

Sorry if a Wengeresque signing makes me an ungrateful/unrealistic fan then.In that case, prepare to get nowhere nearer City or Liverpool in the coming years.

I don’t. But if you’re turning your nose up at the likes of Havertz and Pepe and Under and Fornals perhaps Arsenal isn’t for you. I don’t see us getting better than some of those players in the foreseeable future. Perhaps we are better off keeping Ramsey

Danny

Iwobi such a selfish cunt

Victorious

Gut instinct is AMN, Willock, Nketiah are not good enough.

Would agree if you didn’t happen to lump in AMN

WengerEagle

For Villarreal he had 4 goals and 4 assists in a full season of La Liga.

Iwobi numbers.

Globalgunner

Iwobi will be playing for Blackpool in 2 years time

WengerEagle

I’m not turning my nose up at them Marko, I touted Havertz on here before it was trendy.

We’re not going for any of this lot though, are we?

Marko

So no, no sentiment. Everything I’ve said about him as proven to be justified, when the likes of you and others were constantly disparaging of him and having a jolly old laugh at Everton and West Ham being his best bet after Arsenal How does him going to Juve on a free justify anything? Haven’t you criticized Matuidi and Khedira in the past? Cheap or free pick ups by Juve hardly means much these days. He hasn’t even kicked a ball for them and he’s already a success. If anything I’m totally proven right because Aaron Ramsey has been here… Read more »

Bamford10

WE

One, Liverpool also spent 11m on Coutinho. That worked out pretty well, no?

Two, from what I’ve seen, Suarez will probably be our best attacking midfielder the minute we sign him.

Three, I get that people are hoping for Dembeles or Mbappes, but it’s the January window and we’re not going to be in for players like that any time soon. Not when they’re already proven commodities at least.

LeMassiveCoq

Why on earth do any of the big clubs in Europe want Ramsey? He’s fucking shit

Marko

Two or three Suarez types and our wages our clogged again.

Two or three Suarez’s types or one Ramsey…tough I know

WengerEagle

Bamford

I was hoping for Felipe Anderson in the summer, 35 million pick up and look how well he’s played for West Ham. Same age as Suarez.

Nobody is mentioning M’Bappe or Dembele, that’s just a cop out like Arsene used to pull saying that we couldn’t afford to sign Messi.

And Coutinho was 20 when Liverpool signed him, massive age difference.

Paulinho

Marko – I said he was one our best players at the very least and that provoked a whole heap of derision.

I’ve been proven spot on, especially considering Ozil attracted no interest at all.

Remember, as I’ve said countless times, any praise for him was always in the context of our squad and that he wouldn’t look out of place at the ‘top table’.

That’s how it has played out. You and others knew Juve had Matuidi and Khedira when you predicted West Ham and Everton were his level.

Redtruth

If Ramsey were the bees knees we’d pay him £300k a week or he’d command at least £90m on the transfer market.

Bamford10

Marko

Barcelona were interested in Ramsey in 2015 and for something like £50m. Rather than continuing with this bogus Ramsey-has-never-been-a-good-player line, you’d be better off conceding that he is and has been a good player, but that he has ultimately been too inconsistent, too error-prone, too injury-prone, too Hollywood, and now, too expensive.

Article from 2015 below.

“Ramsey to Barcelona: midfielder ‘flattered’ by talk of £50m move to Spain”

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/aaron-ramsey-to-barcelona-arsenal-midfielder-flattered-by-talk-of-50m-move-to-spain-and-admits-he-10415575.html

TheLegendaryDB10

Glad we won and kept a clean sheet. The game itself was pretty drab. But can’t complain as we have done the job.

Next game vs West Ham. As long as we stay focused they should not be a problem.

Marko

I’m not turning my nose up at them Marko, I touted Havertz on here before it was trendy.

You were critical that we as a club were looking at the likes of Suarez I said we were looking at the likes of Havertz and Pepe and others too and you said they don’t blow your socks off. What would blow your socks off I wonder? We’re looking at some very good players the only thing is can we get any of them this month or do we wait until the summer? But don’t we need some bodies this month?

Redtruth

Ramsey before his injury in December 2013 had scored 10 goals against relegation fodder bar Liverpool…. shit player.

Paulinho

Redtruth – 90% of the league relegation fodder.

Un na naai

Boring boring arsenal
Back to being boring but without the trophies

Fuck me at least wenger kept us entertained AND made champions league
New arsenal is dull as dish water

Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Daz

What the fuck is adams wearing 🤣🤣

Nelson

This game has proved one thing. We can’t count on Koscielny anymore. If we didn’t sign any CB this month, this board is worse than the Wenger era.

Un na naai

Redtruth

God you’re nearly as dull as emery

Change the record you old fool

Marko

Bamford respectfully and I do mean that but that article is bullshit and you’re an idiot if you ever believe that we would refuse such an offer. It’s ridiculous. But it hardly means anything anyway he’s flattered by rumors of a 50 million pound bid that never took place? Amazing really it truly proves it once and for all how great he is. My mother once told me I was one in a million I’m sure that means I’m pretty fucking great doesn’t it? No. We sold Fabregas for 35 million and Van Persie to fucking United for 22 million… Read more »

Bamford10

WE I like Felipe Anderson, but why do we have to choose between the two? Why is it one or the other? Anderson could play wide left, while Suarez can play through the center. We’re going to need several quality players, not one or two. Further, is Felipe Anderson really all that much higher a caliber player than Denis Suarez? I’m not convinced of that. I think they’re both talented, quality attacking players. And btw, if we weren’t talking about Suarez right now and you floated Felipe Anderson, any number of people here would be saying “he’s West Ham quality,”… Read more »

WengerEagle

Anderson is a far better player than Suarez, take it you never watched him at Lazio?

I’m not some savant, was obvious to anyone who watched Anderson at Lazio that he would be brilliant in the PL.

And Coutinho reference was wank btw.

Un na naai

Marko

You bellend

What would blow your socks off?? Apart from the world descending into nihilistic chaos?? Dublin elevating itself from the barrel scraping bottom of Irish culture?
How about a woman who’s actually attractive and emotionally Blind enough to see past your anti world, anti human nonsese?? Any redeeen factors in nihilism st all or all just bull shit doom and gloom

HillWood

Danny
How can the same competition have VAR in some matches and not in others
It should be used in all matches or no matches

Bamford10

Marko Great, so you concede that Ramsey is a good player, but that he has ultimately been too inconsistent, too injury-prone, too Hollywood, and now, too expensive. I am glad that we’re making some progress. As for Neymar, yes, I’m sticking with my view that while massively talented he has character issues and has yet to how that he has the steel or will of a Messi or a Zidane or a Ronaldo and that he has yet to show that he can be the decisive player on the field in the biggest matches and on the highest stage. I… Read more »

Marko

I said he was one our best players at the very least and that provoked a whole heap of derision. True but hardly justification for keeping him is it? Oh you’re only slightly less rubbish than some of the rest so let’s give you a big deal and continue as is. That’s how it has played out. You and others knew Juve had Matuidi and Khedira when you predicted West Ham and Everton were his level. I’m telling you now he may be linked with some big clubs but he won’t be starring for any of the big clubs. He’ll… Read more »

Victorious

Except you’re a stat nerd who firmly has judgement base on the numbers then you should know a good player when you see ’em play Can’t for the life of me wrap my head around reasons why someone will compare Suarez to iwobi,absurd really Suarez is a utter baller though,hands down better than all our current AMs, technically superb,two footed and insane dribbling ability and then you factor in the amount £14? and it becomes a no brainer He’s been on the fringes at Barça yet has decent outputs,i mean it stand to reason he’ll do wonders if settled properly… Read more »

Bamford10

WE

Sorry, what’s wrong with my Coutinho reference? My point was simply that quality attacking players can sometimes be had for reasonable sums. I wasn’t suggesting that Suarez is the next Coutinho. But he’s a good player; I don’t see how anyone watches him and denies this.

Pierre

Cesc Appeal
Yes you’re right…the club will have limited funds to spend so nothing has changed from the last 10/12 years.

At least fans have finally realised there isn’t this wad of cash waiting to be spent by our manager ,whoever he is.

Marko

Great, so you concede that Ramsey is a good player, but that he has ultimately been too inconsistent, too injury-prone, too Hollywood, and now, too expensive.

I would say above average to occasionally very good. Not anywhere near good enough for another deal or to be kept on at Arsenal even for 180,000. We as a football club deserve better

Bamford10

Nice try, Pierre. Wenger spent 52m+ on Lacazette, 57m on Aubameyang, 35m on Xhaka, 35m on Mustafi, 300k on Ozil’s wages and 200k on Mkhi’s wages.

And at that time, we had the largest cash reserves in all of world football.

Wenger had plenty of money available to him and he spent plenty of money. He just spent it poorly, and he was a tactical dinosaur.

Victorious

Bottom line is Suarez looks quality to me, and some of our signings are going to need to be inexpensive. If he is not getting time at Barcelona, it is because they are loaded with talent, not because he isn’t talented. IMO, at least.”

I mean literally right from my mouth. Well done bam

Pierre

Basically,if Saurez is going for 14 million and we can get him ,then he’s worth a punt ..

If he can’t track back ………then forget it.

Un na naai

#brexit

What do we want? Brexit
When do we want it? Now

Marko

he has yet to show that he can be the decisive player on the field in the biggest matches and on the highest stage.

Direct quote.

As for Kane, my view hasn’t changed at all. But that’s also been talked to death and irrelevant, so I’m not sure why you’re bringing it up.

Because it shows how wrong you are and how pig headed and stubborn you are. He’ll eventually go on to a bigger club and it’ll be for a lot more than 40 million and you… will pretend you meant something else

Un na naai

Pierre

Are you for real?? You’ve been defending THE ONE PLAYER who refuses to do any defensive work whatsoever. He can’t dribble. Can’t shoot. And is an ugly bug eyed mono toned skinny headed earth worm Jim character who’s cost us £100m plus just to grace us with his eye balls twice a season

Victorious

I think I might become an #EKB if he brings in Suarez.. I’ve always liked the player

Marko

If he can’t track back ………then forget it.

I heard he doesn’t play Fortnite so that’s a plus right there.

Marc

“but that he has ultimately been too inconsistent, too error-prone, too injury-prone, too Hollywood, and now, too expensive.”

I think the too expensive is irrelevant. The other 4 issues make him a player to move on, we just should have got a fee.