I hit the big 35 today.
In footballing terms, I’m just in the squad for nostalgia reasons. I have no more than 23 games in me a season, mostly because I disrespected my body with heavy boozing sessions with Wayne Rooney in my twenties. Fans now clap patronisingly when I go for a sprint upfield. I’m called the wise head in the dressing room. I have TWO grey hairs in my beard, and I probably have 16 kids.
This year I’ll mostly be moving into punditry and doing a bad job of it because I neglected education during my career. I’m secretly very jealous that Europa Slayer, Petr Cech, has just landed a job at Chelsea as a Sporting Director… he’s the sort of guy who has savings as well. I’m going to go off the rails.
Damn… it’s depressing imagining yourself as a 35-year-old footballer.
IN THE REAL WORLD, Dalian have apparently suspended Carrasco as he angles for a move away.
I know I’d be doing the same if I were playing out there in my prime, but ultimately, the whole saga says a lot about who he is as a player in my opinion. Still, I’d rather him over Fraser every damn day…
James Olley reckons we’re reassessing our transfer moves now moves for both players have stalled. My thing here is this… just two players on our list of wingers? A whole season of watching Iwobi and we’re having a reassess targets like we’re now stumped? We should have 10 players we’re targetting. I know I’m getting angry about a guess from a journalist… but it all feels too familiar. We have an indecisive setup and we don’t have the key parts here to make it work. A disrupted preseason is looking more and more likely if we don’t shape up soon.
Bayern Munich player of the season waaaaaas… Gnabry. Another snappy bit of business. Ivan G and Wenger offering him a deal AFTER he smashed the Olympics. I also heard from a very good place that he was utterly horrified by how flummoxed Wenger was by a simple change in formation by a shite French team on the preseason tour.
One day, I’ll sit down and work out how much money we’ve wasted by losing good players for fuck all, overspending on wages, and buying players high and not being able to shift them. As a club, is there a better club in the upper echelons of football for making bad decisions? Doubtful.
Right, that’s me done. See you in the comments! xxx
What’s mcr?
I don’t comment much on here but the absolute rubbish u post on here CG is boring and repetitive like your Messiah Wenger . Get out in the real world man jeez get a life ! .
Some of the target seem as if the club are following news now as opposed to news now following what the club are doing…
Very clueless is the tune blaring out from the club.
Sussex
Personally I prefer him locked up in his padded cell – I sleep better at night knowing he’s not allowed out.
Now if they’d stop his internet access we’d all be happier.
Mcr is machine room
Dealing in files,codecs creating files for broadcast etc… bit out dated now stems from when all broadcast was done on tape machines .
So it’s you who cuts out all the good bits!
Nah…
It’s all commercials … uk , Europe South America …etc
Marc I agree. Mustafi is just a disaster and that is a classic example of a player at Arsenal earning too much and offering too little. Kozz isn’t the same as Mustafi because he has been useful but again, I don’t want to hear this talk of him getting a new contract. He’s on about £100 000 a week as well. You could chop about £8-10 Million off the wage bill in the defensive department and see an improvement in quality if the transfers are right. Xhaka I agree with you on…I do think he has uses as a player… Read more »
Agree too with CA and Marc. I wonder what is realistically going to happen with our outgoings. I’m sure we could get good money for Xhaka and for this reason I would get rid. Mustafi has to go and if we sign Tierney who looks just the job, I’d cash in on Kolasinac and keep Monreal. Kolasinac, although is highly paid because of his free transfer would be worth a lesser but still reasonable amount. If we could somehow lose Ozil and Mhiki, I think the revolution will have started in earnest.
Cesc
The problem with Xhaka is whilst he has some positives to his game where as Mustafi just gives me nightmares is the positives don’t get anywhere near being worth adjusting the set up to cover for the deficiencies.
He’s too slow, to slow to react and get’s caught ball watching too often.
I know people talk about the kids not having to clean the boots of the pro’s anymore – would we be able to make Ozil clean the boot’s of one of the kids?
Look I like Torreira
But if he wants out an we can double our money … sell.
It’s just as bad keeping players who want out as keeping players we should be clearing.
How can Barca buy Griezmann and Neymar in the same window,i smell foul play and how can any decent side compete with these money doped Juggernauts
i swear Barca and Real havnt made profit of 600 mil in any season.
Danish
Firstly wait until it happens – it could be click bait.
Secondly if it does happen they’ll probably sell several players to help fund the deal – this could be good for us pick up a few good players who are being shipped out.
That CG is like a parrot same old tosh everyday puts me off commenting , just a quick question does anyone see us selling one of our strikers to fund a overhaul of the squad or ?.
Marc I agree. If I could ship him out and buy in better I would. I was talking with Gambon about it a while back and if we could sell Xhaka, use the funds to buy Partey and bring Rabiot in on a free that would be my dream scenario. Having a Torreira, Partey, Rabiot midfield. Obviously the difficulty is convincing them etc. But the idea stands and I agree, if we could see and get someone in who brings mobility, physicality and tenacity into that midfield we would be better off. I would like Doucoure but I imagine Watford… Read more »
Sussex I have often thought that might be a good idea, having to play 2 up front/an ST wide unbalances us, would it be better to sell one and bring in a Pepe level signing? Or a really good winger who is not quite that expensive and a CAM/full back/CM with the funds? But the noises coming out of the club seem to be they want to keep both. Fine, if they can get done what they need to. You have to question are they better assets on the field (or do they unbalance the entire system/play out of position/sit… Read more »
I really can’t see us getting rid of many players (other than the obvious expired contracts) this summer. Either there’s no interest in them (taking into account a transfer fee and their current wages), or the club sees value in keeping most of them next season (terrifying if true). It wouldn’t surprise me if Mkhi, Ozil, Mustafi, Xhaka, and Kola are still at Arsenal next season. We’re hamstrung until they’re all off the books, and they’re probably all happy to run down their contracts and roll the dice like Ramsey did. We’re paying our strikers a small fortune too, but… Read more »
Yes Jamie. Agreed.
Our squad really is a shocking situation, a £240 Million wage bill and yet there are a handful of players that clubs would really go hard for in our entire squad (Lacazette, Aubameyang, Torreira and Leno).
Shambolic.
Cesc
Got to keep to the positives mate. With CL football we can afford that wage bill – clear out the current dross and we can afford some really top level players.
Just need Sanllehi to work some magic this summer and next.
I mentioned it the other day but if Koscielny leaves who do you think we will see as Captain this season? I know a lot of people say it is overrated these days but I still think we need the Adams/Vieira leader in the side.
I look through the squad and nobody fills me with confidence, perhaps at best Sokratis but he has only been here a year.
I’m all for singing the best youngsters but I think we also need a smart and experienced signing who can communicate and influence the other players.
Sure is fun to be an arsenal fan these days. Get to see drab footie when the season is underway and get linked to dross in the off season with no real transfers. Happy days.
Is Tierney good enough for arsenal not really watched to much of him , we need at least two new centrebacks plus a right back a replacement for Ramsey wingers not going to be cheap .
Sussex, as of now, sadly we are not in the position to be asking if someone is good enough for Arsenal. If we are truly asking that question, it is purely based off what we accomplished 15+ years ago. We are full on rebuild at this stage and can not afford to be overly picky or just buy whoever the heck we want like the oil tycoons and Real. We need solid players with heart and Tierney fits that mold perfectly.
Zimmie thanks for replying I’ve not watched Tierney much he has had his injury problems ?.
If PSG sell Neymar to Barca and Barca sell Coutinho to PSG they could each pay the other, say. nothing?
I think PSG would want more than a straight Neymar-Coutinho swap. PSG will surely get a player plus cash. Maybe Dembele rather than Coutinho?
Sussex
“”That CG is like a parrot same old tosh everyday puts me off commenting””
I see you share the same characteristics-as Unai showed during his contretemps with some unruly Spurs fans on the aeroplane the other week.
Gutless, defeatist and weak
Show some backbone and fight your corner.
Don’ t you be a Pathetic weasel too.!
Yeah show some backbone like good old Arsene did when he was the subject of all those insinuating chants over the years about him and kids. Unai definitely should have just sat there wrung his hands a bit and fiddled with his zipper instead of getting up and removing himself from an embarrassing situation for the sake of his wife. You see that wouldn’t have happened to good old Arsene because well frankly he’s alone these days. Divorced from the wife and estranged from his daughter he wouldn’t have to put his family’s interests first in a similar situation.
Marko
Wasn’t the event moron is referring to actually on a plane?
Yeah great idea get into an argument that leads to a fight on a plane – what sort of cunt even suggests such a thing?
Ignore the troll!
Marc it’s what Arsene would have done. He’d of kicked the living shit out of everyone on the plane then flown the plane himself and then had a glorious kick about with everyone on the tarmac when he landed. Everyone would be singing his praises. It’s unfortunate that that wouldn’t have happened though cause you see Arsene is alone these days. Something about having your family second best to doing a poor job of being a football manager on top of an affair will do that to a person
Be a good parrot and be quiet CG Polly want a cracker 😀👍.
As a complimentary to their 15 mile offer for Kierney from Celtic Arsenal were prepared to let the likes of Carl Jenkinson, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah move to Parkhead but will have to submit an improved cash bid if they are to land the 22-year-old who is contracted until 2023 and is currently recovering from a double hernia operation. The youngsters are promising and could really turn out to be good under a good Manager ( other than Fart Emery). There are also rumours of Emery trying to get more Sevilla oldies he can relate to… Read more »
I’ve seen no rumours at all of any kind of weight suggesting Emery is pushing for ‘Sevilla oldies’.
The only rumours of Emery pushing for people I’ve seen is Tierney and Meunier.
“Sure is fun to be an arsenal fan these days. Get to see drab footie when the season is underway and get linked to dross in the off season with no real transfers. Happy days.”
The weirdest part is for me is still pains me each season in and out ….. *sigh* .
Cesc he posted a metro article written by a metro sports writer (no name) under the gossip category and it cites the Sun. Just assume the guy doesn’t have a clue
Seems we’ll all need to adjust our expectations for the coming season.
Lewis Hamilton wins French GP
That rumoured Milan offer…haha.
‘What are they smoking?’
To understand a lot of the press you need to take two things on board – they love ManU and the Spud’s.
Imagine the shit we would have got if we’d have fucked up the building of the Emirates?
Therefore it’s fair game for them to post anonymous stories talking about the manager having a level of control he just doesn’t have. Sanllehi is sorting out the shit from the last time we let a manager have too much control – you really think he’s going to let history repeat itself so quickly?
What Milan offer? They’re not going to sign Torreira I think it’s just a bullshit rumour and that they’re more likely trying to get a Madrid player on the cheap.
2 year loan with an £8 Million fee and obligation to buy at £34 Million at the end of it.
It sounds like bullshit, but it is Gazidis we’re talking about.
If it is true…f**k me, hilarious.
Cesc
That’s pure click bait from Spud supporters.
England v Cameroon
@ 16:30
Marc
I kind of want it to be true.
I feel as if people at Arsenal need a laugh.
I’d reject any offer from Milan for any of our players. I’d sell Torreira to Spurs before I’d help out that bald headed cunt
Marko
What about 75 million euros for Xhaka and Mustafi?
Cesc
What is interesting / surprising (to me at least!) is that Gazidis hasn’t gone in for Sven – he brought him to Arsenal and was the one who promised him the Tech Dir role. It’s not as if Sven’s at some huge club.
Milan aren’t spending any decent money on anyone. This is a club who’s been threatened with being banned from Europe if they don’t get their finances in order. They just loaned Kessie for two seasons and had to buy him and apparently want to sell him. If they’re targeting a midfielder it’ll be on the cheap or on loan.
Marc
Yeah I kind of feel it says a bit that he’s at a Division 2 German team now. Maybe what he wanted was beyond him? As a head scout people liked him but as a DoF not so much? Maybe he’s a difficult person to work with…it certainly seems as if he would throw his toys out the pram if people didn’t go for his targets. You can’t have that every time the manager/DoF/TD/whatever goes against your pick.
Cesc
Well there was the big story from a couple of years ago where he fell out with the Dortmund manager – I think it was Tuchel.
A total non starter for me. My guess is that they’ve tried to unsettle Torreira see if he forces a move to get him on the cheap. It doesn’t look like happening. As for us I recommend to my London friends if nothing is announced this week to go ape shit. We can sit here and theorize about how we’ve been quiet because of reported targets like Upamecano, Ziyech, Pellegrini and I’m hoping Atal and Neres are off on international duty but it’s getting to the point where that as an excuse doesn’t matter anymore. If something doesn’t happen this… Read more »
Rather spending £13.5m on Nkunku, I’d rather spend that money towards securing a good experienced centre back or two and a scoring winger like Zaha. His primary position is as a central midfield and we have a couple of players his age that can play there in Guendouzi and W.illock. Apparently he can also play on the wing on either side… unless he’s being brought in as a replacement for Torreira why do we need him? Sounds a little bit like a Denis Suarez type of player. No point bringing in a player for the sake of it if our… Read more »
Marko
The only thing that’s stopping having a meltdown is that there’s been next to no movement anywhere else.
Might be one of those years where one big transfer starts a huge round of musical chairs.
I’m willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the new guys in charge because I bet it’s tough to negotiate for Saliba given the price and St Etienne wanting him on loan and I’d say that we only recently started talking about Tierney. But in saying that it’s been weeks on Saliba and it shouldn’t be hard to get Tierney in so get it done
Come On England
Anyone know anything about Nico Elvedi? Rumours are that City are looking at him as a long term successor to Vincent Kompany… someone we should be considering?
If City are interested in him just assume that we can’t get him
Leeds
Nkunku is nothing like Denis Suarez.
He is a physical player, direct and pretty quick.
I’d have doubts about him central but he could do a job on the flanks.
He has the technique of Iwobi but unlike Iwobi puts himself about on the pitch and is more physical than Iwobi. Iwobi is too languid in his play more than enough times.
Marc I predict in the next week it’ll get a bit busier and in two weeks it’ll be mental in the English window. Some players will be finishing holidays in the next week and in two weeks I think all the tournaments will be over
Marko
With the window closing before the season kicks off it’s got to start soon.
England 1 up
Sunday day dreaming used to be about signing Bonucci or Vidal but evens dreams are now tempered down! cheers Arsene…anyways here’s what I’d do for a two year plan for a PL First 11 which I would pay to see again, and a reserve team that should get to the Europa Semi Finals… Tierney – Celtic – £20m: replace Kola (£20m) Coady – Wolves – £30m: replace Mustafi (£15m) Mavro (£5m) Perriera – Leicester – £25m: replace Licht & Elneny (£10m) Van De Beek – Ajax – £35m: replace Xhaka (£20m) Doucoure – Watford – £40m: replace Chambers (£10m) AMN… Read more »
Gunnermjj
“…here’s what I’d do for a two year plan…”
Good thinking. Regrettably we are saddled with an absentee owner who is not interested in football and doesn’t do “plans”.
CG
You are too much.
You are the one who sat for all those years pruning yourself and licking your #####.
Gutless ? That’s you my friend.
Anyone that gives the final year of the past regime 3/10,can never be taken seriously.
mjj
You’re wasting your time looking at other PL players. All of the other teams just have too much money so will only sell at crazy inflated prices. Look at the links for the Palace full back and Maguire at Leicester. If they both go you’re looking at circa £135 million combined.
Mjj
Also worth emphasising that every club in the world knows we are forced sellers. Everyone knows Kroenke will not be investing in the club, which means we can’t spend and will be forced to accept bargain-basement prices for the players we do offload.
I would only consider that Milan offer if Torreira was really pushing for an exit because he doesn’t think he can adapt, even then they need to include Kessie in the deal with the same terms. I mean what the hell are we going to do with a 8m loan fee if we also have to spend decent money replacing Torreira, would be like shooting yourself in the foot, we have enough to do already. Would much rather send them Xhaka though, straight swap. Torreira – Kessie – Dominick midfield could be really good. A lot harder to break down… Read more »
England 2up
Cameroon losing the plot
Would sooner watch Cricket than Women’s football tbh.
Any latest on Tierney?
England 3 up
WE
David Dein would disagree with your view
He is at this match
David Dein picked the right tournament to attend.
France v Brazil up next
Second bid for Tierney turned down.
After all the press and attention no way Celtic sell for less than £25 Million now.
Still well worth it.
Cannot stress the importance of us getting actual full backs enough. Along with an actual winger it will change the way we look as a side completely.
It’s actually quite embarrassing i think….Why not just pay the 25 million and be done with it if? Again why i said there hasn’t been that much difference for me….We’re still haggling deals slowly when we should be wrapping them up and moving to the next target
We’re like the only top club that takes a whole month to get just one transfer done.. Other clubs just get their business done quietly and announce. We keep going in with embarrassing bids which we know would ultimately get rejected.. It’s like amateur hour….And this is my issue with the new guys, things like this were meant to be different and new as the old guard had left but it all feels too familiar for my liking
Full backs + Winger would be satisfactory for me.
Batistuta
Because what if Celtic would accept £20 Million or £22 Million? A player swap bringing down the price? Do you just pay a house price asked of you or do you haggle?
Never visit a market abroad my friend. You will put their kids through college.
CA again anything more than 25 million and we might as well just go for Grimaldo or Gaya or Firpo or Tagliafico or Aaron Martin
Firpo’s price is set at £45 Million.
Tagliafico has said he isn’t moving, I think, and Ajax are about to win the lottery with De Ligt.
I doubt Grimaldo will be less than Firpo.
Gaya not sure about.
I think at £25 Million we will have done well getting Tierney in.
Our budget is minuscule and we’re basically trying to make every penny count.
It’s so pathetic basically Tierney and Saliba and that is our budget.
Tierney for £25m still makes sense if we can keep his wages at a reasonable level – around £50k a week.
Huge fee for an SPL player though..
Jamie It is a big fee for an SPL player, but about right given the inflation in the transfer market. If this was 4 years ago he’d likely be a £10-15 Million player absolute tops. As you say, what is important is the wages. He should be on about what you’ve said, maybe £40-50 000 a week. Means we’ve got him for 2 years on reasonable wages before we think about an increase and that’s if he’s proved himself. If not, likely he was a regular player in the EPL and we can easily move him on with those wages.… Read more »
Batistuta
As you well know, this has been the case for many years.
The one common factor in all of this is SK and not enough of the senior management/ BoD questioning things.
Our spineless attitude to all business related issues continues.
What are they scared of?
If we only have money for Tierney and Saliba, we may as well chuck in the towel now for next season too.
It simply doesn’t add up, where in Christ is all if the money going to if our budget is 40-50m? West Ham have already spent more than that this summer.
@WE – Where is all our money going???!!
Cesc –
Yeah, you’re probably right about SPL inflation. Plus add the ‘Arsenal Desperation Tax’, which is good for an extra 20% of the market value of the player we’re chasing.
Keeping a handle on the wages is critical, like you’ve mentioned here recently.
I was genuinely puzzled when a few folk were talking up handing Guendouzi 70k or whatever a week after the season he’s had.
Is left back position really a pressing concern for us ? While we could of course do with an upgrade but given our limited funds I would rather we focused on other areas. Defensive midfield, wide areas, central defense and right back are easily the 4 most important areas needing an upgrade. It’s not about not signing a player as yet but rather this sinking feeling that we still haven’t got a clue about how to.operate in transfer market is what has got me worried.
It really puzzled me that Pedro and Gambon were cool with a pay rise for Guendouzi. I mean we spend days bemoaning our wage bill and yet we want to bump up every average players wage after a season. Yes he is average for now.. Doesn’t even know what he is good at himself.
As for Tierney I believe we will seal the deal, the hurry up and stop embarrassing us squad really need to learn what negotiations are. He isn’t a supermarket product with a price tag.
WE
Sanchez- cock-up!
Ozil- cock-up!
Ramsey – cock-up! Ultimately caused by the above.
That all “adds up” to a fair bit.
C A
“””Cannot stress the importance of us getting actual full backs enough. “””
We have two excellent full backs.
(Unfortunately Hector is injured.)
Barca want our left Back
Athletico Mad want out right back.
They cant be that bad…if those clubs want our players??…
Fullbacks are a pressing concern both sides. Kolasinac is not a full back and Monreal is finished. How anyone can watch Monreal this season without coming to that conclusion baffles me.
If we get actual fullbacks it will help our defensive play. Add in wingers to keep the opposition full backs on their toes and it gets better. Yes the center is still porous with Xhaka in there though.
I just can not see how Tierney is an upgrade on Sead K……..
Looking good in Scotland – actually means nothing……
Has he played well for Celtic in Champions League fixtures???
Season ticket holders have a decision to make. A difficult one: to renew, or not to renew. That is the question.
TR7
Well we don’t have a LB currently, so it’s a pretty pressing concern.
I agree RB is also a concern, RB, LB, RM/RW and LM/LW need to be addressed in an ideal world.
Baffling the fact this squad has no width unless you change the entire system to accommodate to wing backs.
Amateur hour squad building.
Z
A
H
A
!
Proven Prem Quality
Buy Wilf. And We are buying 6 points before you even start.
(We will beat Palace Home and Away next season.,now)
Zaha/PEA/Laca.
Keep it Simple
Its only football.
englandsbest
Bearing in mind the majority of these same folk continued to renew even after we hit the iceberg, I think the question is relatively easy to answer.
“the hurry up and stop embarrassing us squad really need to learn what negotiations are. He isn’t a supermarket product with a price tag.”
New “squads” being made up left and right to divide up those with different opinions. Cute
Haha Jim was a rhetorical statement mate 😉
We have no decent fullbacks. None that can’t even be debatable at this point. Bellerin is probably the best of a bad bunch and his best was over two seasons ago. AMN is absolute gash, Monreal has nosedived as a defender and Kolasinac is a total liability. This is what we’re dealing with I’m afraid. A squad in need of some major rebuilding in a tonne of areas all on an actual relegation teams budget. Oh oh oh to be a gooner