Plenty of news out of France at the minute suggesting that we’ve agreed on terms with William Saliba about a move away from St.Etienne. This from Lequipe.
‘The Gunners will now enter into negotiations with the Greens to try to complete the operation. The idea of the different parties is to make a transfer, followed by a loan to ASSE for the coming season. The Forez club could thus finance its mercato, in addition to keeping its player an additional year.’
The reason this signing should excite you is two-fold.
The idea that we’re about to drop sexy money on an 18-year old that we’re not going to have in the squad next season is absolutely massive. It suggests we likely have more than £40m in the kitty, Stan K is buying into the future plan, and that the club is fairly confident of raising more funds from player sales this summer. If this move happens, it’d show we’re future planning at a far more ambitious clip than ever before.
The second part of this move that excites me is that it doubles down the hope that we’re moving towards a smarter model for rebuilding Arsenal. It means that the Dortmund+ vision is where we’re likely heading. That’s exactly how we win moving forward.
I’ve read some folk moaning that this approach is neglecting the short term, but here’s the rub, Arsenal has given a full throttle go at short-termism and it failed. We signed Auba, Lacazette, Sokratis, Leno, Xhaka, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Perez, Welbeck and Kola… at great expense and we didn’t make the top 4.
Short-termism comes at a cost, we bought in players on CL money and now we can’t move them on. We tied players down like Ozil and they’re not motivated.
The last thing we should be doing is giving the short-term game another go next season. It’s not sustainable, it’s dry to watch, and the Premier League is too competitive for that approach to be a smart one when you don’t have buckets of money to throw at the problem.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that Arsenal did stabilize last season. Sure, Emery finished worse than he started, but when all was said and done, we only had ourselves to blame for not finishing 3rd. That’s a good set of footings to build from. If we ship out the bad eggs, replace with capable young players with high ceilings, and rebuild the departments surrounding the manager with people that share Arsenal values, blended with a true winners mentality, we could be on course for improvement next season.
I’m being very hopeful here… the main angle I want to get at is that Edu is going to come armed with ideas, energy and a fresh footballing philosophy. Hiring in like Sevilla this summer would have been a disaster for the next manager. Next season should be a speedy assessment of infrastructure weaknesses, with an action plan for a rebuild. The recruitment seems to be off to a good start, let’s just hope Raul keeps things focused on elite youth so the transition to the next person is smooth and cost-effective.
The manager leaving shouldn’t break the club… hopefully that’s what’s being put in place.
Remember, 5 years ago Spurs and Liverpool were behind us on the pitch, as brands, and financially. Now look at them! We could have some of that, but the building has to start now. Saliba, Claude, Schubert and bringing back the kids is where we should be heading… very exciting if true.
We’re being linked to Kimpembe. He’s on Neymar’s shit list. He’s a good player, he’s young, could be an interesting move as PSG look to offload talent.
Even more exciting? David Ospina is nearly gone… feels like he’s been here so long, he should be landing a testimonial? Right? He’s like that one guest at the end of a house party, ‘shots, shots, shots’, no David, you just pissed all over the toilet seat again and you’re wearing my wife’s bra on your head. Time to go matey.’
One man I’d like to do shots with at a house party with is Steve Bould. He’d be doing them from fish bowls telling a crowd of people he’s not down with gender pronoun bollocks, ‘you are what you are, and while I’m here, gluten-free, fucking bollocks is what that is.’ I’d never tell Steve I drink oat milk. Not worth the aggro.
Anyway, he’s swapped roles with Freddie. I think the move is very simple, Steve Bould wants to coach and there’s probably not a lot of opportunity to do that under Emery. I like that he’s been kept in the club, he’s a great personality to have about the camp and he’s a legend. I’m also very excited about Freddie, I’ve heard interesting things about how he is, clearly hugely ambitious, has had a good stint with the kids, so it all looks very positive. Unai apparently has a thing about making sure anyone he hires outside his group of buddies can’t have any hair. It’s weird, but what can you do?
Can someone get me the odds on caretaker manager Freddie?
On that sexy note, I’ll see you in the comments x
1st
Hello
Banksy FTL haha
Tr4phy
Back now. Enough of this Bankz nonsense!
6th. Well played Marcus
I’m worried about Bankz..
Saliba is basically Varane like 8 years ago. He’s likely to turn out to be a great defender for years to come. Won’t help us next season sure but he’ll likely help us immensely 2-3 years down the line
Pedro
I haven’t said this in a long while due to Areta-gate but thanks for this daily Arsenal lollipops
Excellent post today and I agree with 100% of the sentiment and spirit of the post .
*these daily Arsenal lollipops
Saliba day! Still nothing signed, sealed and delivered?
Well we’ve got a month to go in player acquisition and sales. Anyone to put a punt on a surprise signing(s)?
He is a monster frame and looks the business with 2 or 3 more years under the belt he will be a rock in our defense but what happened to Mavropanos this looks like more of a Djourou or Senderos deal.
Great article today, Pedro.
“Arsenal has given a full throttle go at short-termism and it failed.” Spot on. We failed in our attempt at moving to a galactico model (Ozil, Sanchez etc.). We failed to make the quick return to the CL by making big investments in old, proven players (PEA, Ozil, Mkhi, Sokratis). The rational and most promising avenue now is to re-trench by bringing in exciting youngsters who haven’t yet done enough to make the jump to the top tier clubs.
That was classy from Bould
The academy thrived when he ran it until 2012.
Solid post Pedro.
Looking at the profile of players we’re mainly linked with coupled with the promotion of ‘youth coach Freddie it would seem we are indeed going all ‘Dortmund plus’.
Best way to go under our alleged financial constraints and Ex-elite current standing
What happened to Mavros?
There was never extra-special potential there. The people playing the hyping tunes based on 1.5 competitive games have all gone quiet about the lad. Why are we signing 18 year old defenders when we have Mavros?
Isn’t he supposed to be that good?
Dissenter
You didn’t answer what “major ditch” we’re in right now.
Why don’t you follow up on that before making your usual Arteta remarks and going on a customary attack of Mavropanos?
So we don’t sign up Saliba because we have Mavropanos? I mean you can have more than one highly rated prospect on the books Dissenter
Forget Mavro…. he seems to be a myth. a legend of sorts.
Appears once a season
Not worth the hype anymore IMO
Marko
A “highly rated prospect” is not Mavros
This Saliba kid…yes because clubs are willing to pay that money just to loan him back.
I’ve been accused of Mavropanos-o-phobia before. We signed him from the Greek division two and at best he’s a punt that may eventually pan out.
Just had to check and yes Mavropanos is just 21 and was out for months with an injury last season. He has a contract until 2023. I predict a loan move he needs games
Of course Saliba will have to wait 2 or 3 years to realize he won’t win any trophy with us, then we will let him go… for free or not ?? That is the question, but we already know the song by heart.
CC
C’mon man. You don’t think Wenger and Gazidis drove the club into a major ditch but you’re willing to lambaste the new people in charge for a lack of identity at the club?
I mean you’re willing to savage Vinai for an internal email that was leaked to the media while seeking to isolate Wenger from blame.
Where do you want me to start?
Dissenter I would say that he’s still considered highly rated. Last summer at 20 he was apparently the subject of a bid from Sevilla for 10 million. That’s after doing fuck all outside of a couple games for us. There’s something there that clubs can see. Something that you are not seeing.
I’d never tell Steve I drink oat milk.
_____________
Pedro, Let’s be honest with yourself.. unless your in Cali… you should never tell anyone you drink Oat milk.
Also, Odds on Freddie getting manager isn’t a thing yet at the sports books… Just a little FYI… latest odds..
Arteta 3/1, Vieira 5/1, Allegri 7/1, Deschamps 7/1, Tuchel 10/1, Ancelotti 16/1, Brenda 16/1, Conte 20/1, Henry 25/1, Jardim 33/1.
Or the Banter choice.. Poch 40/1.
Info provided by PaddyPower: Sack race.
This is exactly what the club should be doing. Not only making us stronger but they are addressing the mess Gazidis and that buffoon Wenger left us in. Should come out of the summer with some good young prospect buys and having gained some control over the ridiculous wage bill. The foundations are being laid for the club to excel in the future. Wenger denies us foundations for over a decade. It’s actually pretty impressive the speed with which the club has had to put all these things together over 12 months when they should have been slowly implemented over… Read more »
Like the look of the saliba deal….if it happens. Fact is, we kind of need to reset the clubs transfer strategy. We have probably made more transfer market/contract mistakes than any team in world football in the last few years. The most important thing is the ceiling of the player. We need players that have high technical and physical ceilings, not average players like Welbeck, Chambers, Mustafi and Xhaka or complete rubbish like Elneny, Asano & Perez. Clearly we cant go and buy ready made “high celing” players, so we have to bring in players that have all the attributes… Read more »
Love that picture of Freddy.
Good move for Saliba, high ceiling but there are no guarantees.
Hope he eventually comes as good as we hope.
Kroenke needs to take sensible risk with Arsenal.
Let us spend that cash idling away in bank vaults on footballing assets. There is no reason why Arsenal should be keeping 100 million+ as cash balance.
It’s not like we are in receivership. Spend the money on the best 18-22 year old talents out there and find a manager that will play them meaningfully. If Emery won’t play them then fire him and bring someone else.
The appreciation on good players is exponential compared to just earning 1% annually on a bank business account.
Dissenter
No I don’t, but still waiting on your explanation of this “major ditch”.
I didn’t “savage” Vinai for the internal email, I literally posted the link to it and said “good grief”. You fancy offering up something that isn’t dripping with hyperbole for a change?
HL
If we have to become a stepping stone club again in order to build up critical mass to have another go at breaking into the elite, then so be it.
The alternative is continuing the slow decline towards becoming genuinely mid-table, having to buy ever-older has-beens with no re-sale value, just to try and stay in the same spot as a EL hopeful.
One thing that’s certain: we are all going to have to wait quite a while to see us as a relevance at the top of the game again.
What’s with the oat milk stuff? Cows milk is for the rich who can afford stomachs that can handle that shite. I prefer almond milk though I will try oat milk see if it floats
Well if it’s true about Saliba it’ll make Cesc very happy.
On a serious note really nice piece Pedro – we need a little positivity and it gets really bad on the comments section sometimes. I’ve no issue with you not being pro Emery but posts like today remember he’s a cog in the machine – yes it’s an important cog – but he’s not got the power that Wenger had.
One of the best posts from Pedro from a looooong time
Nice one mate
Expect Mustafi to be starting next season then .
Amazing scenes in Hong Kong by the way
25% of the population taking to he streets in peaceful protests. I don’t know the nitty-gritty of the local politics but those images are amazing.
Marko
Almond milk is the Chelsea of the faux milk world, all the rage for some but upon further review it damages the environment.
Oat milk on the other hand, silky, oozes class the pundits calling it the sustainable project looking forward with real potential to upsetting the high spending titans.
I’m ok with the Dortmund+ plan … if in fact that’s the plan.. But I’m not sure our fan base is ready for that… Because we are basically saying the next 2 seasons or 3 are throwaway seasons. Most of our links are for players that won’t help us until then.. so.. Most likely next season is looking more of same. Meanwhile.. the usual suspects will be buying ready made players. If we get rid of Miki, Mustafi, Xhaka and broken downs like Kos then ok… But unless we improve our midfield massively for next season..with a couple players that… Read more »
Damages the environment? How? I can handle oats so I’ll give it a go. Turns you into a titan you say.
The stories emanating from Roma are made for a reality TV series. Th are in a mess about one year since they reached the semi finals of the CL.
Totti pulling out of the club ans saying he won’t be associated with it till new management comes in. Pallota [the billionaire owner] hasn’t visited Rome in more than one year after virtually moving his office there [from Boston] till last year.
The club had to pull out of preseason friendlies in the US to take part in EL qualifiers
No Mustafi, no party!!
Another Day. Another Engaging Post. And Another Nail in the Emery Coffin. Off course- the biggest unanswered Question of the Day is : Who instigated the Freddie promotion? Did Emery or did Raul force it through? If we find the answer to this riddle- we will also find out how Emery got the job in the first place. If Raul- did compel Emery to make changes to his backroom team-its basically over for the Chameleon. No manager of any self esteem can tolerate that, surely? Not only – he is being told who should be on his coaching team. He… Read more »
Everything was going so well in the comments section until…
“Tick Tock” and STFU.
Just let it go Marko… not worth going down that rabbit hole.. and besides you just got back.. lol I call it the Keyser rule..
We love you Freddie,
Because you’ve got red hair,
We love you Freddie,
Because you’re everywhere,
We love you Freddie,
Cos’ you’re Arsenal through and through
Highbury
The best thing about tick tock is that it means that tit is one heartbeat closer to death with each second.
Like your take on that CG.
James
I can’t tell if that’s sarcasm or a cry for help?
Good post, Pedro. I am fully on board with the new model as a sound basis for the long term. Makes sense.
The obvious weakness is Kroenke’s lack of ambition. All plans, long term or short term, will require some level of investment. Since Sleazy Stan is not prepared to invest money in the club, the Dortmund model is highly risky.
Great if it pays off and we produce a continuous production of a talent.
But what if we don’t – what is the alternative ?
Dissenter – I would be amazed if we earning even 1% interest on our cash balance, Europe has introduced negative interest rates to ‘encourage’ orgs to spend money.
I think I know who CG is.
Pedro-
Not even us Californians drink Oat milk
Ive seen goat milk tho
Anyway, this Saliba kid look fast and powerful-perhaps we banking on a VVD in a few years with his physique.
Size and power- a major plus compared to our lightweight defenders
But I’ll keep that to myself lol
Marc I even cried when Bamford got the 3 strikes and out.😂😂😂😂😂😂.
James
I hate to say it but you really need to man up!
Pedro
You have drawn a number of conclusions, all of them good. I hope you are right. It would confirm what many of us have been hoping for. Not a short-term ‘mend and make do’ but a long-tern project to bring Arsenal back amongst the elite.
Samesong
Well don’t leave us in suspense.
I am betwixt and between about another youth project to sell us future – I like idea of developing young players into world class but I also loathed Wenger two youth projects. I think youth way to go as long as we have ambitious plans and not reactionary ideas like Wenger era.
The criticism Mavropanos received from some Arsenal fans after the Watford game, was way ott.
This lad is still learning the ropes.
I hope Emery gives him his chance
50m pounds from United rejected for Wan-Bissaka ..they don’t like the structure of the deal. They want 50m pounds cash or no deal. No add-on’s or installments
We need to have a mix of here and now and the future in our signings. Very hard to do with a supposed modest transfer budget and a demanding fanbase. Need Saliba mixed in with Upamecano and Claude Maurice mixed in with the likes of Ziyech. Would help if the owner could be more involved financially. Not that I believe in the 40 million budget stuff but it’s the perception of it that makes us and the owner looks bad. Some sort of public statement or statement of intent by the upper levels of management is needed
Mavro has hope he has a high ceiling…..Mustafi on the other hand lives in the basement. The floor is his ceiling
Marc June 17, 2019 16:18:04
You come to know certain writing styles over the years and I am sure it is this person.
I could be wrong though.
Some sort of public statement or statement of intent by the upper levels of management is needed
________
I agree.. There is the possibility they are waiting for Edu to be announced and let him make a statement of intent though. Along with Adidas rollout in first week of July and announcement of any signings most likely will have a clearer picture of what it is. I assume they would like people to buy season tickets.
Nothing wrong with a bit of Oat milk if your’e intolerant like me.
love me a bit of
Coconut milk
Oat milk
lactose free milk
Dont like Soya shit though.
https://africa.espn.com/football/club/arsenal/359/blog/post/3876156/arsenal-keep-or-dump-what-should-unai-emery-do-about-mesut-ozil-and-co-this-summer
Keep or dump
Pedro
Positive post…
I said earlier in the year next arsenal manage will be Freddie.
Laurent Koscielny (33, 2020)
OGDEN: “Sell if you can, but you probably can’t. He’s very overrated, always has a mistake in him. He’s regarded as one of Arsenal’s best defenders, but that’s just because the rest have been so poor.”
Brutal on Kos ….
So potentially
Leno
Ossei. Holding. Saliba newbie
Torreira beliek
Wilcox
Aubameyang laca acm/nelson.
Krystian Bielik (21, 2021) OGDEN: “OK, so he had a good season on loan, but that was in League One. I’d get rid. Sell if you can get £4-5m for him; if not, loan him again.” MARCOTTI: “Charlton won promotion and he was good. He’s only 21 and a season in the Championship will give us a better idea of what he can do. Loan him again and possibly extend his deal to retain his value if he looks good. Then you decide whether to sell or keep him.” I think it’s always nice to see what other “impartial observers”… Read more »
Nacho Monreal (33, 2019)
OGDEN: “He’s been poor, time to let him go. I’m displaying the ruthlessness that’s been missing at Arsenal for many years!”
MARCOTTI: “If he’ll take a one-year deal, maybe you keep him. Only reason I say this is that funds are going to be limited and there are other priorities beyond a reserve left-back. Another season of Monreal might be a cheaper option.”
Carl Jenkinson (27, 2020)
OGDEN: “He’s the Phil Jones of Arsenal, the great survivor. He’s an honest performer, too; you keep him because he’s another body and he’s not 33.”
MARCOTTI: “You sell him if you can, but I doubt anyone will give you money for him. You don’t really need him because you have enough right-backs. (In fact, they had four last season.) Send him on loan if he wants to go, if not, you’re stuck with him.”
Doubt if anyone will give you money for him…lol
Mesut Ozil (30, 2021)
OGDEN: “Get rid of him. I’d even take £10m just to get his wages out of the club. He’s such a drain, he’s all flair and no effort and is obviously not a player Emery rates.”
MARCOTTI: “You’re on the hook for another two seasons of massive wages, so I don’t think anybody is going to buy him, and he seems content in London. I agree, though: A change of scenery would be best, even on loan, but unless Emery freezes him out or he takes a pay cut, it’s not going to happen.”
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (30, 2021)
OGDEN: “He doesn’t do enough and games seem to just pass him by. He’s not going to make a difference and he’s on big wages. If you can’t get rid of Ozil, get rid of him. Maybe you can get up to £20m.”
MARCOTTI: “I’d sell him for the right price but I doubt, given his wages, that Arsenal will get that. So best to try and make it work with him. Emery seems to like him, and you have enough other issues to address.”
Alex Iwobi (23, 2022)
OGDEN: “I find him frustrating as he hasn’t really developed since coming on the scene. I guess he stays by default; you can’t sell everybody.”
MARCOTTI: “The problem is that you want to rebuild but you have very few sellable assets. He’s one of them and I’m not as down on him as Mark, but unless you get big money you keep him around.”
Very few sell-able assets indeed ….but don’t talk about the ditch Wenger and Gazidis left us in
Danny Welbeck (28, 2019)
OGDEN: “I would have given him another season rather than releasing him as they did. He had a bad injury, but he’s an experienced player and a good guy in the dressing room.”
MARCOTTI: “I thought the way it ended was harsh, but you don’t want him to stand in the way of other players who need minutes.”
I also thought we were harsh on Danny, i like Danny despite the poor goals return. He is a hard worker but made of glass though
“OVERALL ASSESSMENT Top of Arsenal’s shopping list has to be an elite central defender, ideally one who is equally comfortable in a back four or back three. You’ll need an alternative at left-back to Kolasinac, too, because he struggles in a back four (unless you take the cheap option of giving Monreal another season). If Ospina goes and Emery decides he doesn’t trust Martinez as a backup, they will need a viable reserve keeper, too. Central midfield is fine, as are the strikers, but you could use another option in attacking midfield given Ramsey’s departure and the uncertainty surrounding Mkhitaryan… Read more »
It will be interesting to see what Freddie’s role will be on the bench.
Proactive one feels.
Receding they might be impartial.. but they concluded this…
“Central midfield is fine”
How can our CM be fine when it consists of Xhaka, Matty G, LT, Ozil, Miki and I guess you could throw in Iwobi. Couple that with virtually no wingers so 1 or two of these have to play on the wing…. and our midfield is hot garbage.
So anything else I read would have to be discounted immensely.
The common theme is our wages are a fucking mess.
This is what I was saying about the incompetency of Wenger and Gazidis. Contracts run for 4 or 5 years and that is the length of time a single fuck up in football can give you issues.
Jenkinson, Mustafi, Elneny, Ozil, Mkhitaryan all of them and doubtless more will give us massive issues in trying to sell them because of their ludicrous wages.
Neither of those morons should be allowed near a football club again.
It’s laughable Milan looked at our mess and thought ‘yeah this bald headed twat’.
Thanks Mr. J.Wood*
(Always been a fan..)
I hope you can help me out…
Who promoted Fred to the first team?
A)Emery
B) Raul
C) Edu
We solve this.
And We have a transparent and tantalising glimpse into the future….
* I am relying on you – some on here are Braindead as well as Brainwashed…..
@RH : you should make a book of this.
Long enough…
Tick tock…
There is the possibility they are waiting for Edu to be announced and let him make a statement of intent though. Along with Adidas rollout I’ve got no doubt that we are working behind the scenes. I’m not quite throwing up my skirt like certain fans it’s pretty obvious that the various tournaments on at the moment are probably having an effect on our and a lot of other clubs business. Outside of Madrid and Dortmund there’s a bit of a lull in the market at the moment. My personal hope is that we’re seemingly quiet at the moment is… Read more »
“So anything else I read would have to be discounted immensely.”
The central midfield is fine bit also threw me, they are either drunk or don’t consider us relevant enough for proper analysis ,….who want’s Elneny kept at a top six club for crying out loud
I also checked Ogden’s ridiculously early next season predictions, has Liverpool winning the title and us finishing fifth
Yea good stuff that impartial viewing. Elneny is grand and CM is fine.
Insights are pure with no Arsenal attachment, shame neither have a clue on football.
“,….who want’s Elneny kept at a top six club for crying out loud ”
Well actually I do, just not Arsenal and preferably with a great fee.
Uff, Charlton throwing a lot of shade at Lee Bowyer after he rejected a new contract and is set to walk…
All over our team is unbalanced except for at ST and GK. Literally the two ends of the pitch are fine it’s just everything in between! This is why I’ve cut Emery so much slack this year. Firstly, I think he’s here only until Arsenal have their act together anyway and secondly, for fuck sake look at this mess. No full backs. No competent CB pairing. A central midfield that is hideously unbalanced with no CAMs who aren’t retired. No wingers. Implement sauce and vision with that…anyone. On top of this, ‘then make changes to the squad’ people cry. Okay,… Read more »
At some point RM have to sell some players.. I would kill for a Kroos or Isco.. but that’s my own personal pipedream.
Yoof in the 18-23 bracket yes.but def NOT the young boys of wenger yoof .pleassssseee.had enough of listening to that Manure c**t Evra banging on about “ men against boys” & still to this day gets his sly little digs in whenever he can.Nor do we want the “ yoof” who can’t deal with a kicking from the “ orcs” ( stoke) so we have to be careful….
By the way excellent post pens.along with cesc you’ve nailed it.only way to go.
Cesc
right on…. the entire team is messed up. WE cannot go another season without 2 wingers either
Yeah ESPN is really struggling if that’s the kind of commentary they got over there. It’s pointless anyway these people can only say certain things publicly and have to watch their language. You ask an Arsenal fan privately and they’ll tell you Ozil is a bug eyed sponge, Koscielny is a walking calamity, Monreal has deteriorated dramatically, Jenkinson is not a footballer, Mhikitaryan has done nothing to warrant being kept on. All should be sold in fact outside of 2-4 players (Saka and Nelson being two) everyone else has a price.
Cesc
100% in agreement.
A big thank you to the two “morons”, Arsene and Ivan.
“A big thank you to the two “morons”, Arsene and Ivan.”
Shhhhhh
You are supposed to look ahead not behind ..our club was a European power house just 12 months ago, it was this regime that messed everything up
West Indies getting blown away by Bangladesh.
So much for my prediction last week that Windies would win the whole thing.
Mid I honestly wouldn’t touch any Madrid players outside of Hakimi (who I think is going back to Dortmund on loan) maybe Reguilon on loan and Marcos Llorente. Everyone else is likely to be too expensive and not worth it for us.
Graham
“”””It will be interesting to see what Freddie’s role will be on the bench.Proactive one feels.”””
He will be our next manager Graham ( albeit possibly temporary)
But he is pole position.
Freddie,Edu
X 2 Wenger Invincibles
Chameleon Days are numbered.
The Writing is on The Wall.
(“Go Back to Seville !”)……perhaps
Can envisage Sol Campbell being recruited as Defensive coach next season as Fred’s assistant.
Hopefully to school the young Greek stopper in the art of defending-scandalously ignored by Emery..( as you correctly highlighted..)
Chelsea will have an “”FL”” in charge and so will we…