courtesy @allthatchas
Today, I’m here to give you all a bit of a pep talk. NOT PEP G. Just whatever a pep is. What is a pep?
I’m here to give you a textual team huddle. NO, my office cleaning lady is going to take this one.
Over to you, Esther.
*hands over keyboard*
WE ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY
WE ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY
WE ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY
Good, right?
I think there’s a lot of deflated chatter amongst Arsenal fans at the minute. The lack of leadership at the club is breathtaking at times, we don’t seem capable of making good hiring decisions and we’re short on resource in important roles.
However, there is light at the tunnel.
Arsenal CAN compete at the top of the game. We don’t need £400m to get back to our best. There are other ways outside SPEND SPEND SPEND to achieve greatness.
Don’t believe me?
Look at Spurs. Our wage bill is at least £80m higher than their one. We spent £70m more than them last summer. They have dropped about £50m net since Poch joined. They are competing.
Look at Dortmund. 2 points off the top of the league with 3 games to go. They might not win, but they have found a way to make the league competitive. They’ve been to a Champions League final. They have won things.
Look at Ajax. They have been out in the cold for years. But, as Bamford from the comments said, they are the most exciting sporting story in the world right now. Accident? No way. It was a concerted effort from a group of their old boys to get back to the top of world football. There was a vision, a plan, and the energy to follow it through.
I have written about this many times before… Arsenal’s main issue is we’re not prepared to be honest about who we are as a club. We are never going to be City, we’re never going to be Bayern, we can only be Arsenal.
That means we are constrained by the realities of business. Which, if you’re totally fair, look pretty good for us. I repeat… our wage bill is about £80m higher than Spurs. We are through the worst of the stadium debt and can spend what we make. Sponsorships keep rising for reasons not related to performance. We have an outrageous net spend over the past 5 years, 3rd highest in the league. We have a bigger net spend than Madrid since 2010!
Our wage bill is 4.8x larger than Ajax. Mesut Ozil would represent 40% of their TOTAL wage bill alone. Don’t tell me we can’t play nice football and compete at the highest level.
What we don’t have is a vision. I think we expected better from Emery. Outside the bland football, across most statistics, he’s tanking. This data from @ShivWhorra is compelling if you don’t believe your eyes. Note that he’s not comparing us to last season alone, because ONE DATA POINT IS NOT HOW YOU ANALYSE. Wenger had largely the same crop of players, and if anything, Emery has a better squad after the great additions of Sven last summer (RIP brother).
I decided to take a look at Emery’s first season in charge in comparison for the last few years. All the data here is publically available through https://t.co/lfNHyt1kp0. It took me 15 minutes, you can check it for yourself. #thread #arsenal #coyg
— Shiv Whorra (@shivwhorra) April 30, 2019
Factor in that we’re the most clinical team in the league, with facts pointing out that we’re worse defensively, our points total will not be much of an improvement over ten years of data, our xG league position has us as a midtable team. When the luck runs out, which it will (it has), what are we falling back on? There are no visible foundations that have been set in a year (bar being more competitive against bigger teams). Pelligrini has had a rough year, but you can see what’s going on there. Chelsea have had an even rougher year, but you can see what the manager is trying to do, what are we doing?
You can say all of this doesn’t matter if we make CL next season, and you’d be right on the surface. This is a game of realities not xG hypotheticals. If he makes the CL, he’s done his job. However, a correction is looming, and even if we make the Promised Land (which I genuinely think we have a good chance of), I would say it’s still the beginning of the end. Reality always catches you in the end… a bit like the trophies Wenger won papering over the shit show he was presiding over.
The players are leaking to the press. Matt Law wrote a damning piece where other players are chastising their teammate’s selection. Hugely disrespectful, but when it all comes at the same time, it’s hard to doubt there’s an agreement in the squad that they’re not enjoying what’s going on.
So, where is the light?
Arsenal are going to bring in a technical director. We know that’s on the cards. There is no way Raul is going to do a Ralph Rangnick and take the rebuild on himself this summer. We will be hiring someone and I suspect it’ll be to great fanfare like the Sven signing.
A technical director is important for many reasons. Firstly, they set the tone for the future of the club. They are the visionary film producers of football. They know what they want to make, and they bring in the people to make it happen (anyone that tells me producers aren’t important in the comments land a ban).
What I doubt will happen is anything drastic when they arrive. As many of us have experienced when we’re young, you take a big job and make big changes too soon, everyone hates you and you struggle to recover.
The new man is going to come in and assess what the fuck is going on at Arsenal. One of the things Emery has going for him is the whole club is a burning mess, there’s no way they’ll do anything drastic to his contract until there’s an understanding of what the plan is. Sometimes you have to let things break, that way, people beg you to fix it. Fix before and you’ll have doubters and moaners. Make them grateful for implementing your agenda.
For me, this new technical director needs to be grounded in reality. He can’t be an exBarca exec. They’ve lived the life of luxury. I read a great book called Principles by Ray Dalio, brilliant if you run anything, a very process oriented look at how he built the Bridgewater hedge fund. Anyway, in his book, there’s a loose comment where he’s like… ‘oh man, everyone needs an AI guy in their office’… errr… not in the real-world my friend.
That was always my fear with Raul. He’s never slummed it with an Elneny in his life. If we get a TD from Barca, and they’re like, ‘oh man, let’s get a Neymar in here’, things aren’t going to work.
We need to have someone who can assess the club for what it is. Bottom of the elite in terms of financial power, but built in the GREATEST CITY EVER, incredible training facilities, massive stadium, ability to play great football, and a wonderful heritage of winning things.
I will say this a thousand times. Our best way back to the top is to set an exciting vision of how the game should be played, i.e. Wengerball 2.0… then get the best young players, coaches and visionaries in the game to make it happen.
That’s what Ajax has done, that’s what Dortmund do, like it or love it, that’s what Spurs has done. To a lesser extent, that is exactly what the RB franchise has done (3rd in the league this year).
‘But who would manage Arsenal?’ is such a pony fucking response. Who wouldn’t! Ok, so maybe we’re not prime meat for Allegri. But why would we sign a coach that is in the top 3 in the world if we can’t offer him a reality he needs to succeed (big money / ready-made players / Champions League in season 1)?
We need someone capable of building a squad, someone who can develop players, a person with a point to prove, and a candidate with something a little special about the way they think. There are a lot of great coaches in the game, there are good options everywhere, we just have to be smart about where we look. It doesn’t have to be a big name at Arsenal. Poch came from Southampton, a massive risk for Spurs. Monchengladbach have just hired Marco Rose from Salzburg. Dortmund have been brought to greater heights by Favre. RB hired in Nagelsmann. Rennes just won the French cup with Julien Stéphan (38) and he’s been great for them in the league.
This simple approach works for the club as well. Tell Josh and Stan that we’re going to hire in a young coach with elite ideas for £2m a year and give him two hires of his own, we’re going to hire the scrappiest Chief Scout in the game that finds diamonds (RIP SVEN MISS U), we’re going to play the best brand of football in the world, we’re going to do it with young hungry players who we’ll heavily bonus, and we’re going to build out a backroom of elite coaches so if the manager tanks, we don’t lose ten people and get a massive bill.
If this works, we push into the Champions League and compete again. If it doesn’t, at least we have a squad of young players that didn’t cost a lot, but will likely still be in the top 6. We could also sell on players for massive money and build from there like Liverpool has done.
It won’t be an instant success, but if the club is honest and open with the fans, who wouldn’t buy into this sort of plan?
This technical director role is so unbelievably important. They will have their ear to the ground, they will make impartial decisions about the club, and most importantly, the brain we hire in will be the vision for the club for the next ten years.
Get it right and we’re on the way again after a sputtery start to the post-Wenger era.
Fuck it up, and we’ll slide into mediocrity and become an Everton like irrelevance.
All on you Raul, all on you. x
DM
2
Bankz is here for the tr4phy again
Tr4phy
Too quick for me
Nice piece Pedro
I’d like to ask a favour though – could you stop doing positive pieces the day before a match? Every time you do it lately it’s followed by a terrible performance!
“Poch came from Southampton, a massive risk for Spurs. ” The Poch was not a massive risk for the Spud’s. Look back at the list of managers Daniel Levy has appointed it’s like a comprehensive list of clueless and stupid. The Poch is just one that worked out.
It’s over on the Sky News website that Scouse fans have been filmed pushing locals into a fountain in Barcelona, with one idiot then racially abusing someone trying to fish himself out.
On one hand this is an expected embarrassment of the UK. On the other at least they haven’t killed anyone yet.
But please all remember it’s not their fault they’re the victims really.
Wish this was up before i started taking a shit…
But please all remember it’s not their fault they’re the victims really.
Marc
What about the Turks and Italians stabbing our fans? What about the poles Russians and Ukrainians attacking our fans?
There are idiots everywhere so try to maintain at least some consistency
@ Un Na naai
Literally the best focus comment I’ve seen this year.
Pedro
Good post.
Although one thing I disagree on…..
The long term plan of AFC should be to be the biggest spenders in the PL. Biggest transfers, biggest wage bill. Any other plan isnt sustainable for success.
For me, going out and finding exciting young gems, should be a phase in our development, not the long term plan.
Our ambition should be to have the biggest budget in English football.
Start from there and work back to where we are now.
Un
I do retain consistency – I always think Scousers are lying criminal vermin who should hang.
@ Un Na naai
The one about you taking a shit I mean, although I’m not actually interested in you taking a shit. Just your comments eluding to the action of shitting.
Oh never mind…
Rennes just won the French cup with Julien Stéphan (38) and he’s been great for them in the league.
Another cue taken from Valentin? Listen Rennes are sitting in 11th in Ligue Un with a minus goal difference 11 wins on the season and 1 win in the last 9 if you think that’s great or are inferring that he could be a better option than our current manager please kindly take that nonsense elsewhere
Positive post @Pedro however, the future is looking pretty grim mainly because I dont trust the board and management to drive us forward. For me, the last 3 results has casted a tiny bit of doubt on Emery. Is he bottling the PL (He has previous) or is he solely focussed on winning the Europa League, similar to the Mourinho scenario – Who knows?
Whatever happens, We’ll look back at this in the summer with a shiny new European trophy in the cabinet and none of this will matter
i really think we should take van der beek from ajax he is a great player and ideal ramsey replacement
but his value must of soared now
but i take david neres too
“However, there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Yeah, it’s called an oncoming train.
Great read. Could work, Trouble is I fear Raul has now gone all Wenger and will not want to dilute power with decent appointments.
Guessing edu or Overmars for TD?
Overmars has just signed a new contract, and will probably want to spend the £200m he will get from selling DeJong, DeLigt, Ziyech & Tagliafico
I think when it comes to a technical director, Marc Overmars has to be one of the favourites now.
“So Marc, tell us about one of your achievements”
‘I won the Champions League with a team of bottle fed 12 year olds’
Casilas apparently has suffered a heart attack in training
I do wonder how Edu will work for us considering the rumors that he wouldn’t be taking on the job until July after the Copa America. I mean I’d love it if we could nab Paul Mitchell or Campos from Lille but there’ll be bigger and better clubs with bigger budgets looking at them
Standard:” Arsenal have been told they will have to pay a fee in the region of £17.2m to sign 21-year-old forward Christopher Nkunku from Paris St-Germain. ”
Is this a good spend of 17 million?
Thus kid isn’t the physical pieces we should be seeking to sign.
Bankz must be the dumbest poster here!
DM? Don’t you cringe after posting 4th??
Light at the end of the tunnel? Any evidence to suggest this will actually happen? It’s like saying I’ve bought a lottery ticket therefore it is possible that I could win the lottery. Just because a possibility scenario exists it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. We have right to be depressed (again)
Our current reality is :
A win against Palace AT HOME would have meant a win on Sunday guaranteed CL for us.
Still let’s create a parallel universe where all our dreams come true.
If you want to get an idea for who we may sign this summer, its worth looking at what we did last summer. Of the 5 players we signed: 1 was a freebie 2 had buy out clauses 1 had 12 months left on his contract 1 was a young player (19 years old) I think you will see the same again. Looking at possibilities with this criteria: Out of Contract: Adrien Rabiot (CM) Ander Herrera (CM) Juan Mata (AM) Alberto Moreno (LB) Rafael (RB) One Year Left: Nabil Fekir (AM) Timo Werner (ST) Thorgan Hazard (AM) Pablo Sarabia (AM)… Read more »
Producers arent important pedrooooo
Nabil Fekir (AM) Timo Werner (ST) Thorgan Hazard (AM) Pablo Sarabia (AM) Ryan Sessegnon (AM) Thomas Meunier (RB) Eric Bailly (CB) Allan St Maximin (ST) Mario Hermoso (CB) Ryan Fraser (AM)Buy out clauses:Hard to know but Julian Brandt has one for £25m apparently. There’s actually some outstanding players in there for us. For one I think we absolutely should be in for Brandt who’s release clause is an absolute steal. Alderweirald too has a 25 million release clause this summer too. I’d also factor in some players like Lozano who are at small clubs and who’d be pushing for moves… Read more »
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6980761/Unai-Emery-hails-Aaron-Ramsey-Arsenal-manager-confirms-outgoing-star-rest-season.html
Bye bye Aaron
Plus it’s also not guaranteed that we’d go the same route as last summer. It’s very possible champions league football and the implosion of certain individuals would lead to the club doing more this summer
In that parallel universe we won against Everton, Palace, Wolves & Leicester as well as the other games – 3rd is secured and we’re all celebrating St St Totteringham’s day
Dissenter “Standard:” Arsenal have been told they will have to pay a fee in the region of £17.2m to sign 21-year-old forward Christopher Nkunku from Paris St-Germain. ”Is this a good spend of 17 million? Thus kid isn’t the physical pieces we should be seeking to sign.” He’s not bad but I think the other ex PSG youngster Augustin has more talent than him but he is naughty boy and has been frozen out at RB Leipzig. If he could be tamed he could really come to the fore. Augustin even though he has not played much this season would… Read more »
Ishola
“I don’t think physicality means as much in the forward positions apart from the pace.”
I want attackers that can meaningfully contest and win aerial battles with defenders.
As it stand we don’t have a single forward player that can win headers
Alderweireld wouldnt join Arsenal, just dont think its realistic.
I think he’ll almost certainly be a UTD or Liverpool player next season.
Ishola,
Physicality would be a bonus, however, I want players that can handle pressure especially during the last 10 games of a season
You want to try to find the next Mbappe Dissenter.
He’s not really a force in the air is he.
Neither Thierry H.
We seriously need to upgrade at least 6 spots in the first 11 with genuine quality. Can’t see how we are going to do that with a shoe strong budget. I believe we may have 60m and whatever change we can get from player sale.
Don’t kid yourself, our youths hardly make the jump from reserves to playing for Arsenal.
So I think we are royally fked for next season too. And here we were, thinking we had turned a corner.
Let’s play the blame game now, the speciality of le grove 🙂
Pedro If Arsenal are playing a long term game to get back at the top level of English Game I could understand your point of view. Unfortunately “patience is not a virtue” when you discuss EPL, because there are a large number of clubs who can and will “outspend” us to get into top 4 Clubs like Borussia Dortmund and Ajax should not be compared with us because their route to Champions League qualification is a lot easier in German and Dutch Leagues. Also Spurs have a much better balanced squad than ourselves at the present time. They are currently… Read more »
Ishola
Henry used to win some headers. He scored some beastly headed goals, every once in a while.
Laca and Auba NEVER win headers
Forwards that can dribble with pace and technique scare the shit out of defenders.
Look at the worlds best forwards in the past and now.
So look for a youngster that has high dribbling rating, high rating for passing which indicates technique and good rating for finishing and is playing first team football somewhere at a young age.
After you find him pass the info onto Arsenal FC.
Pedro :”All on you Raul, all on you. ”
I would rather say:”All on you Josh”. Raul is an ex-Barca man. He’ll play it safe. He’ll never gamble on tanking one or two years unless authorized by Josh. The bottom line is that it has to be a comprehensive plan acceptable by the owner and the fans.
He was all about the dribbling though at pace wasn’t he Dissenter.
That’s what made him one of the world’s best.
ishola
‘After you find him pass the info onto Arsenal FC.”
That may be why we signed the Brazilian kid from Ituano.
I want attackers that can meaningfully contest and win aerial battles with defenders.
Peter Crouch is set to be available. Plus we don’t really play aerially so we don’t really need a big lump of a striker.
Ishola
The dribbling helped Henry no dobt but it was his spontaneous inventiveness that set him apart.
That capacity to just make stuff up, on the dime.
Pedro, No offense.. but I don’t feel Peppy? after you pep talk. Here’s why… “Arsenal are going to bring in a technical director. We know that’s on the cards.” We do? What the fuck are they waiting for? Armageddon…cuz it’s almost here my friend. We get bounced out of Europa league or beaten badly with no chance of recovery and also slim chance to recover in the League then we are set back again for maybe another 2 years or more because we will have to reset. I can’t believe I’m going to agree with Champagne Charlie.. but don’t you… Read more »
IShola
Allan St Maximin.
Has monstrous dribbling numbers, good shooting and chances created.
Hasnt quite come together for him in terms of goalscoring yet, but it definitely could soon.
One year left on his contract.
Could be the new Zaha, could be the new Gervinho.
Could take Welbecks role, then maybe a succession plan for Laca & Auba if he improves.
I think he probably doesnt have the technique, and will go to a mid table PL team, or someone like Milan, Inter, Lyon.
Dissenter dribbling is paramount.
Mbappe is a great dribbler, Messi, Neymar, Henry and so on.
lol at the kid from Ituano. I think I would prefer a youngster from a more established known club team. That can be a good indicator as well.
Allan St Maxim
Heard he’s got attitude problems.
Thorgan Hazard has already agreed to a Borussia Dortmund summer switch.
If we’re nabbing someone from Nice make it that RB Atal who’s supposed to be brilliant 22 and has 6 goals on the season
Lacazette is not a bad dribbler at times around the penalty area but he lacks that drive and pace to go with it.
tbf though he has shown more better moments in his time at Arsenal than Aubameyang has so far.
If we’re looking in France, I’m still raiding Lyon.
They were outstanding in the CL until they got Messi’d at the Camp Nou, which happens to most.
Good positiuve post Pedro and I agree with most of your sentiments. We should certainly think big and set proper goals for the future.
Unfortunately I fear the edifice comes crashing down with Kroenke. The man has no interest in football, has never invested a single penny in our club and has demonstrated a pitiful level of awareness of Arsenal’s current position when measured against say, the potential return from sensible investment or the turmoil at Chelski, Spurs’ stadium debt, etc.
I sincerley hope I am wrong. But while Kroenke owns the club, Arsenal are going nowhere.
Sad news about Casillas, career over at the least, hopefully no future problems for him.
We know for sure we’re hiring a technical director? I mean, we certainly have been trying, but we might want to check the calendar. Summer plans should be very advanced by now, wouldn’t you say?
gambon
“Allan St Maximin.”
He’s lively isn’t he. Definitely got the pace and drive.
And he has good rating for passing which can be a good indicator.
Maybe he hasn’t got that real killer eye for goal though which would put him in Gervinho range.
Yeah interesting player though.
If I could choose two from Lyon I’d take Aouar and Mendy but N’Dombele and the others look top notch too.
Fekir you’d have to break the bank for because he’s their marquee player and I don’t trust his body to hold up after the injury he suffered, hasn’t looked as mobile this season.
Think Aouar would cost our whole summer budget, therefore wont happen.
Rabiot and Brandt would cost £25m and totally change our midfield.
Ishola
Joelinton at Hoffenheim ticks the dribbling/link-up and technique boxes, he hasn’t put the finishing touch together yet but he’s only 22.
7 goals and 5 assists in the Bundesliga isn’t a great return but the potential is there to see.
Did Emery get on with Rabiot?
I’ve always liked Rabiot, question marks over his attitude obviously but that’s the risk you have to take and it’s why a player of his ability is leaving for nothing after being frozen out.
Joelinton is the kind of player that could suddenly break out.
Selling Laca and signing him could be interesting.
Did Emery get on with Rabiot?
A helluva lot more than he does Tuchel for sure. He played a lot for him so I’d imagine so. I don’t think issues with where he plays would be an issue for us because he wouldn’t have much competition for places here
WE
He would be seen as a more all round striker wouldn’t he.
That’s not to say that all round means better but he’s quite a big guy and looks like he can be a target striker as well as the dribbling you talk about.
What’s his pace like?
As you say he has to show better stats in regards finding the net but again interesting player.
They call him the new Firmino lol
I think Emery and Rabiot disagreed on where he should play.
That said, he played more under Emery than anyone else.
We should at least try.
Yes there will be a number of big teams interested, but if we’re not prepared to go up against top teams for players, we may as well ask the FA to put us in League One.
gambon
Agree said as much a month or so back, I’d ideally keep Laca and sell Auba as I rate the former higher but Laca no doubt fetches more on the open market given his age.
Hoffenheim are a very good side, their LB Nico Schulz is another one that would help us out.
I like Maxi Gomez if we’re talking striker signing
All on you Raul, all on you.
_______
I mean this is depressing too.. So we are relying on the man who didn’t want to give Sven the job but had no replacement lined up to now fill the job 5 or 6 months after the fact. Succession planning isn’t really his strong suit is it.
Marko
He’s going to West Ham bud, done deal.
I’m not keen on Rabiot.
Yes he’s got the technique and looks smooth but I don’t think this is what Arsenal need for the midfield.
He’s not going to be much a help defensively is a bit of a primadonna. Strolls around too much. Yes he’s far better than a Xhaka but we see Xhaka strolling around too much as well.
I’d rather see a player with real drive and more of an all round player than Rabiot. All round meaning more physicality as well as technique.
You gotta factor in the interest in Rabiot has somewhat wanned too so he’d probably be inclined to join us if we tried. But you get the idea that his wages could be what stops us from signing him. It’s all well and good not wanting to give Ramsey the big wages and wanting to rid yourself of Mhiki and Ozil’s wages to then give Rabiot big wages. In saying that he’d likely actually contribute enough to warrant those wages
Agree, Rabiot is easily worth 50 million plus on ability so if he can be tamed he’s potentially one of the biggest bargains of all time given his age and talent.
And hopefully Emery isn’t a pussy like AW and doesn’t shirk these kind of players like the plague.
Ishola
If we were to sign Rabiot, we could go 4-3-3
4-3-3 with better full backs and no Mustafi would definitely help the defence.
Although TBH we cant go 4-3-3 unless we sign better wide players.
You cant have 4-3-3 with wide players that score 3 goals per season like Iwobi.
Ishola
He’s no lump, he’s not rapid but his pace is more than serviceable and he’s no less quick than any of Lewandowski, Suarez, Benzema, Higuain ever were.
Makes sense, Brazilian and young plays for Hoffenheim, has an excellent all-round CF skill-set.
Just needs to bleach the fuck out of his nashers.
West Ham haven’t signed him. They’re going to announce huge losses on the season because they overspent there’s no way they’re getting him now
So without dealing with the wide positions, what about this as a team next season:
——————————-Leno
Bellerin——–Sokratis———-Konate———Chilwell
———-Rabiot————-Torreira————Brandt
—New AM——————-Auba—————–New AM
For me, that would be a much better team, with a net spend of about £20m
Obviously this all falls down if we dont get Rabiot, as that level of CM would cost £40m.
Ah thought the deal was done, apparently it isn’t.
Maxi’s a bit on the lumbering side though isn’t he Marko?
Yeah team looks much better but Brandt isn’t a CM, he’s a wide player.
WE
Brandt has converted to an 8/10 this season, similar to DiMaria under Ancelotti.
Hasnt got the accelleration or goal scoring instincts to be a top wide player.
Brandt is quality but he doesn’t score enough goals so wouldn’t help us out much in that respect.
Creatively we’d be on another level though, so as long as we had a 20 goal[ish] wide player on the opposite flank with Auba/Laca CF it would work nicely.
Gambon thanks for finally acknowledging the squad is shit. As in not good enough to compete at a top 4 level. so your keeping 5 starters from this season and 1 of them had a season ending injury.. For what it’s worth I like when you do player breakdowns and scenarios much better then some of the hyperbole you go on about aka Spanish Tony Pulis. Besides Emery is more Roberto Martinez then Pulis. I think you will find most believe Emery isn’t good enough but it’s a combination of an average to poor talented squad with few superstars and… Read more »
No more lumbering than Joelinton. He’s a top prospect for sure
@Marko,
Tuchel wants to play Rabiot but he has barred from doing so by the PSG management.
gambon
He offers nothing defensively and he’s lightweight, I wouldn’t like him in CM and no.10’s have been phased out of the game.
The likes of Isco and James aren’t even starters anymore and they are world class CAM’s.
Out wide he could replicate a Rosicky/Hleb kind of a role.
Marko
Joelinton averaged nearly 3 dribbles per game in the CL, Maxi’s averages a dribble every 2 matches.
They’re not similar players at all.
Brandt’s excelled from CAM this season he’s on about 16 assists for the season. He’d be a major coup for me.
If we need a striker with a bit of physicality who knows the league and can head the ball I would get Giroud on a free this summer.
Sell Aubameyang and Mhikitarian and get Pepe or Thauvin.
Sell Mustafi and Jenkinson get one of the two French U21 CB currently playing for RB Leipzig for the same amount.
Sell Xhaka, Elneny, Mhikitarian and get NDombele from Lyon.
I assumed you meant lumbering as in tall and not that fast. Which I think they’re both tall and not that fast. I’d take either to be honest. I think though Gomez might be a little better suited to the premier league though
Judging by Gambon’s taste and knowledge of watches, I’ll say he’s in the banking or accounting industry. Speculate to accumulate gives it away. Not that I am complaining…Gambon and I have done the rounds on here for a while. Money in the bank IS utterly useless…especially at the industrial level Arsenal are at. Hoarding £300 billion or whatever fictional sum arsenal have is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. Players win games. Players cost money. Players that win games cost lots of cash. Managers that motivate and innovate cost money. Teams that win spend a lot. Mostly. Teams that… Read more »
Gambon
Nice list you created there.
We do need as Ishola mentioned, a dribbler and creator in the middle of the park.
Someone like Hazard with power pace and dribbling ability.
We lack that middle creator badly, All this creating from the wings doesnt work, especially without a decent header of the ball for crosses getting whipped in
Cesc would be able to unpick the parked bus but I would love to see a faster and better scoring version of him
how the heck is Thorgan hazard? Similar to his bro???
Le Grove is at its best when future players are being discussed, lineups being drawn up and tallied in to the wage bill… with slight hint of optismism on horizon.
Nice one Pedro.
Yes its nice to read about prospective line ups and what we can obtain
Now is the time to keep talking… maybe Emery will take a gander and read the comments section
I don’t know about that, this lad can definitely run.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JREbLTSUGOE
Brandt would be terrific and his clause is only €25m. Think he’s a bit more CAM-y but has tons of wing experience so could do since that’s one of our weakest areas imo. Certainly cheaper than trying for Zaha I’d expect.
Another random CM I haven’t seen much but like a lot is Nicolo Barella at Cagliari. Could do a terrific all-around job and would be a big Xhaka upgrade.
Like Chilwell a lot too but I think he’d cost quite a bit.
Shit, there are just too many areas to address.
Tottenham Will soon be forgotten,Ajax have one shot at it next year they Will be more depleted Then Mustafis ability to defend.Wenger tried project Ajax and failed miserable because he gave ordinary pkayers to much room.For Arsenal to sustain the ability to win things we must mix it up the Odd superstars and a good bunch of youngsters.
‘All this creating from the wings doesnt work,’
Works just fine for Liverpool.
Re Thorgan, very good player who puts up quality numbers for a wide player, double figure goals/assists. Not quite as spectacular or explosive as his brother but he’s a top wide man in his own right.
Dortmund have just signed him though.
Ajax the most exciting football story in the world ? Well as much as their footballing philosophy is admirable and I agree some of their players have good technical skills I still don’t think they are a top side. A knackered Spurs team without Son, Kane and Vertonghen was all over them in the second half. Not sure Ajax are good against physical sides which can press high. Juventus don’t press high up the pitch. They gave Ajax players space and time to play and suffered as a result of it.
Noone gets ti the very top without a super coach a shedding a serious Olaf of cash and Kroenke Can do that but happen to give Zero fucks about Arsenal.
For LB I like any of Telles, Nico Schulz, Mendy, Grimaldo, Gaya, Chilwell.
All are playing at selling clubs too.
Wenger Eagle
Regarding Joelington
“7 goals and 5 assists in the Bundesliga isn’t a great return but the potential is there to see.”
That’t the same territory as Reiss Nelson, isn’t it.
Why not just bring Reiss Nelson back?