Arsenal fans going through the meat grinder today.
Spurs are about the drop £70m on Ndombele, one of the best young midfielders in the world. United have landed Waan Bissaka for £50m. TEARS ALL OVER THE STATION FLOOR.
Meanwhile, David Ornstein has Arsenal out here contemplating selling Auba to find Wilfried Zaha (Palace trying to remove his sell on clause whilst negotiating with United), whilst also chasing Saliba and Tierney.
I’m not that fussed about losing Auba, he’s a very well paid 29-year old I’m not sure we have the luxury of having at this stage of our decline, certainly not if we’re going to have to up his salary. However, those goals are going to need to come from somewhere and it’s a huge ask to expect Zaha to double his output this season. Or are we thinking about giving Eddie a more senior role?
Unless the manager thinks the whole system lacked a good wide player, which will make the entire team score more goals. I mean, he could think that catching X on the overlap just needs better parts… in that case, I really am worried.
It’s frustrating to read around some of the Arsenal accounts trying to find reasons as to our decline when it’s been staring them in the face for years.
No club in the world has consistently made more bad decisions than Arsenal over the past 5 years.
We were way ahead of Spurs and Liverpool 5 years and we’ve blown our lead by giving £350m to a busted manager who spent it in a half-arsed way, we’ve given contracts to players that didn’t deserve them, we hoarded players and lost them for nothing, failed to give actual talent deals quick enough, refused to move our wage bill to one that was more meritocratic, gave Wenger a new deal despite him being on life support, sacked him and spent £17m to undo the mistake, then doubled down on our mistake by hiring in a head coach that has managed to make the whole scenario worse.
It’s even starting to look like we’ve blown a whole summer waiting for Edu to arrive at the club.
We don’t stop doing making the wrong moves.
Still, the one thing you can take from all of this… success isn’t permanent. Things can south pretty quickly in world football. They can also move north pretty quickly.
If Edu comes in and he’s made of the sort of stuff I have heard he is, then we might be capable of making a climb back to the top.
We need a vision, a footballing philosophy and someone that is going to hold people accountable for delivering. There needs to be a proper plan in place. Football shouldn’t be that complicated. It always has and always will start with hiring in great people. Your structure means fuck all if there are talent holes in it. Currently, we look like the aftermath of a drive-by shooting.
This season is already setting up in mediocre fashion. Europe is waiting to see what happens with our dross, so they’ll likely be with us at the start of the season. We are struggling to push deals for our targets over the line. There seems to be no hope of moving on Ozil. It’s also looking unlikely that we’ll be adding any sort of volume to the setup. 3-4 players max, with the rest being made up with internal promotions and return loanees.
… but there’s still time to make things happen. So don’t lose faith yet. But do realise this, we are in another transition year, because Edu is going to come in with new ideas and we’re most likely going to see what peak-Emery looks like… it won’t be pretty.
Let’s just hope the next manager has some really talented kids to work with. Let’s hope some of the youth step up when given a chance this season. Let’s hope Freddie can offer up a little bit of something special. Let’s hope season two of Matteo and LT is the next level.
The most important signing will be Edu. If we’ve blown that move, we are heading into longterm irrelevance as meteor-like speed. He really has to bring the goods and he has to be utterly ruthless in implementing his ideas.
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments x
DM
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Tr4phy
Tr4phy
Lol
“No club in the world has consistently made more bad decisions than Arsenal over the past 5 years.” Stop it Pedro Really effing stop it. It all started one hot day in May 2018 when we heard “good ebening” for the first time. Ndombele’s tranfser is a net positive for them after they sell Eriksen to PSG or Madrid. I recall the laughter among gooners when we got Ozil and they got Ericksen for a measly 11 million. One is stuck on us like a life jacked made of lead and the other player’s exit will help that club to… Read more »
There’s a paragraph there that was so right it starts off about how awful decisions in the past 5 years have led to us being overtaken by Spurs and Liverpool and how Wenger was busted at the end there but then it ends with stating the new manager has made things worse and you just think really. Anyway for the most part agree. Don’t agree with the Auba stuff he’s literally our only guaranteed source of goals.
I am still wondering how we are worse off than we were when Emery arrived here May 2018…..
I think we have to avoid short term fixes. We have made too many recently that haven’t panned out. That window seems to have closed.
Zaha is a short term fix, like a sugar high that will dissipate very quickly.
If we sell Auba, it should NEVER be to fund signing a 27 year old Zaha.
I loved edu as a player and I hope I’ll love him in his new role if it actually happens
Wouldn’t Edu recaure a vacation after a hectic Copa America in his home country?
I don’t think he would be really running the show until the autumn.
I am still wondering how we are worse off than we were when Emery arrived here May 2018…..
Worse might be a stretch but certainly stagnant, like not even 1% better from Wenger
I still prefer we play with one striker and go back to 4 3 3 0r 4 2 3 1 formation. This double striker formation will not work on away matches with the opponent parking the bus in the middle.
Victorious
Your honesty is certainly welcome.
Can’t take anyone seriously when they say that we are worse off.
“I am still wondering how we are worse off than we were when Emery arrived here May 2018…”
We’re not. People just lose all powers of reason when their emotions get in the way, and write a load of rubbish in blog comments 🙂
Not even 1% though? Better top 6 head to head and a better points total and one position better off. How about like 2%? Can certainly agree hasn’t made the scenario worse
There is no way we are worse off than our standing in May 2018, there may be marginal improvements if that but worse off? Come on Peds!
“The most important signing will be Edu. If we’ve blown that move, we are heading into longterm irrelevance as meteor-like speed. He really has to bring the goods and he has to be utterly ruthless in implementing his ideas.”
If this fails will you come out and support Kronke out like you did Wenger? Because the buck stops with the owner if the slide to mediocrity isn’t halted.
Problem with Pedro now is every time he references Emery it just sounds like sour grapes over Arteta.
I really think any manager would struggle with the level of imbalance in this squad.
Aubameyang out, Lacazette #9 and Zaha on the left. It saves you money as you won’t have to pay 250k a week for Zaha like Aubameyang. However, we’re already short of presence in the penalty box. Lacazette lacks dynamism and often doesn’t get on the end of counters and tap-ins.
I dont think “any manager” would have taken a team that conceded 51 goals, spent £70m on the defence, then conceded 51 goals again.
OK FINE. I tried not to, but it’s rant time. What you people don’t seem to understand is that we are SO MUCH better off than we were under Wenger simply because we are NO LONGER UNDER WENGER. We had years and years of the same shit, KNOWING that we would never again challenge or be taken seriously under the same regime. We had to endure watching a man who took us to previously unimaginable heights, sink to depths that were devastating to see. A good performance was all well and good but, ultimately, futile, because it was never going… Read more »
“Aubameyang out, Lacazette #9 and Zaha on the left.”
Didnt Auba score more than both combined last season?
DM you forgot to add 23
Well any manager could conceded more than 51 goals, any manager could have finished lower than 5th and just a point off fourth and two off third.
These idea we are at our lowest is misleading, Liverpool in their dark days did finish 8th, |Chelsea once finished 10th
Thoughts on Saliba gambon? Before you start bringing out xG and all that. Is he a moan worthy signing or what?
“Didnt Auba score more than both combined last season?”
He certainly did. Some in media suggesting that the sale of Aubameyang is a way for Arsenal to sign Zaha. Wrong move for us.
Getting rid of Auba for Zaha is hilarious, and makes my head hurt.
“Getting rid of Auba for Zaha is hilarious, and makes my head hurt.”
Ridiculous suggestion and i hope no one at the club fed Ornstein that
Upfront is the one department of this side that is actually competent. They are also the main reason for any ‘success’ we experienced last season.
Far more needs to be done elsewhere unless your sacrificing a player like Lacazette for Pepe.
“Let’s hope season two of Matteo and Guendouzi is the next level.”
Er, the same player getting called out twice, assuming that Torreira was intended.
Trust me Left, during the few seasons ahead, your head will hurt many times.
Saliba looks a good prospect. As I always say with younger players, its about their ceiling, not necessarily what they are capable of now. There are very few 18 year olds that have played 20 pro games, are 6’4″ and fast, with good technique. Loaning him back is the right thing. He will be the same player in 12 months if he stays here. If he plays 40 games in Ligue 1, he’ll be a far more developed player. It wont come out of this years budget, it’ll be next years, so its basically a 2020 signing. I think we… Read more »
DM
Well said mate.
The number of here who seem to live under the premise of Pol “Wenger” Pot and year zero that started in May 2018 is shocking. Emery is criticised for being half way down a cliff – well we did he start from?
If they mess up on Edu, hope is lost, cannot think of anyone else the club would actually go for, unless Stan is hankering for the return of “the best sports coach I know” in an upstairs role where he can impart his values, socialist wages, financial prudence etc
Watching Iwobi playing rubbish for my national team at the AFCON right now. Trusted with the play maker role but can’t seem to keep the ball or pick a pass
I fear a lot of people on hear are going to be copying and pasting previous comments just changing the name to Zaha if we sign him. Not performing, doesn’t score enough goals, over paid and cant’ shift on spring to mind.
Too much is being made of the Edu appointment in my opinion
Yes a TD with a plan is good, but what are his antecedents?? On what are we drawing these conclusions he will be a hit??
It wont come out of this years budget, it’ll be next years, so its basically a 2020 signing.
So you agree that it’s stupid for people to assume that we’re wasting half our budget on someone who won’t even be here next season. Cheers for your rationale
Receding
I would have no issue with moving Iwobi on if the funds could be used on a real winger.
As always a riveting read from PedRo. Containing an absolute gem of a Line too: “Currently, we look like the aftermath of a drive-by shooting.” (Magnificently apt.) And As always Free. And I, off course thank him for it.. But There does though- seem to be a shocking naivety with This Edu Appointment…and what the man can and will actually do. This is a man who came out with the “” it’s not easy being Neymar “” line….and was immediately labelled Sycophantic by the Brazilian media. Quelle surprise- we have another Sycophant on the AFC payroll! (He will fit in… Read more »
Marc he is my country man and all but he really shouldn’t be playing for a club with lofty ambitions.
Does somethings right but is overall a very average footballer
Receding his appointment is going to be key going forward. In fact he is going to be tasked with taking the club forward over the next few years not Emery or Raul. There’s no guarantee that he’ll be a hit there’s no guarantee of anything really but I would feel more comfortable with him driving us forward than Raul especially in the transfer market and I feel like going forward the manager as very much expendable is ultimately a good thing
Dissenter “I recall the laughter among gooners when we got Ozil and they got Ericksen for a measly 11 million.” One of those players has helped bring silverware to the club and fans 3 times and one of those players has won nothing for his club and fans. One of those players won 3 trophies playing under a ( according to Le Grove) tactically inept manager and a bunch of average players and one of those players won nothing playing under a( according to Le Grove) tactically astute manager with a team of talented footballers. Will also add that one… Read more »
He is a Wet..
So close to a racist comment? And I, of course thank him for it
“I feel like going forward the manager as very much expendable is ultimately a good thing” I beg to differ Marko How will a manager be invested in the project if he is expendable?? If he has to play players largely picked by someone else?? Is the manager expendable at CIty?? Is the manager expendable at Liverpool?? Is the manager expendable at Spurs?? Is the manager expendable at Athletico Madrid?? Yes Chelsea do the revolving door thing and has found success but i still believe they are living off the winners mentality firmly instilled there by prime Mourinho I am… Read more »
We are not going to unveil any signing before July 1st because our new kit deal with Addidas doesn’t kick in until then.
Surely we are not going to do photo shoots in Adidas kits when we are still under a puma contract. That would bean easy breach of contract lawsuit.
Wait until after Monday lads.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest that Emery would want to sell Aubamayang. He’s not really his type.of player is he….plays with way too much intelligence, some on here think it’s easy to be in the right place at the right time in a packed penalty area…….it’s not. His ability to find space in the box is 2nd to none and is a skill that is too often underrated, to sell him would be a massive error of judgement in my opinion , putting the ball in the net is still the hardest thing to do in football ,… Read more »
Receding
I too saw the poor form of Iwobi at the AFCON. He doesn’t even stand out at all.
How will a manager be invested in the project if he is expendable?? If he has to play players largely picked by someone else?? That’s the way it’s gotta be. We don’t want to get into another situation where the manager is all powerful. Is the manager expendable at CIty?? Is the manager expendable at Liverpool?? Yeah. There’s a reason why you might think differently and that’s only because the managers at those clubs mentioned are successful and that’s why they’re in the job still. How many managers did City go through and they didn’t miss a beat. I’m not… Read more »
I am not saying dependent Marko, i am saying he should have a say.
We do not know what Raul will be like running a club..he has never run one solely before
Edu has not been technical director at any club before
No antecedents, no body of work to judge them on
a bit unsettling
“I too saw the poor form of Iwobi at the AFCON. He doesn’t even stand out at all.”
He is actually standing out this afternoon but for the wrong reasons
No one’s is saying no say but final say that’s a no for me. It’s a structure that works throughout European football. It also makes a manager expendable. Otherwise you’re tying players signed to that of the manager’s tenure.
“Surely we are not going to do photo shoots in Adidas kits when we are still under a puma contract. ”
They definitely wouldn’t release pictures whilst another contract is running. It would also be a bit stupid to unveil a player in a shirt sponsored by a company that has less than a week left.
Indeed we are prone in making wrong decisions which always cost us problems and yet we dont learn lessons from the past mistakes.
Selling PEA to fund Zaha sounds pretty dim to me, interesting situation we are in at the moment. Looking at Spurs with new stadium about to pull a signing with a transfer fee breaking anything we’ve done.
The decline has been swift, nobody has a clue what this clubs got planned this summer. Ornstein throwing darts against the board.
Deals can be announced and unveiling done later
Has happened countless times
You know you can announce a signing and hold off on the official pictures shite for a while.
Receding
I’m not so sure about that
The club formally announces the deal when they’ve done all the unveiling formalities
Ozil’s deal was an exception because he had his physical done by the German national team doctor and posed with an Arsenal short.
You can also announce a signing but have it go through on a certain date like July 1st so that it goes down on the next fiscal whatever. Like when we signed Nasri
Vinicius Jnr on loan if Madrid lands another winger like Neymar,
Arsenal needs to be on this asap.
Keita Baldé gaining some traction, financially way more doable that Zaha whom Palace essentially don’t need to sell with fee they pulled for Bissaka. Coupled with his signing extension last year, contracted thru 2023 season.
Naby Keita has gone down four times already this match
He is down again
Something tells me this fellow might not live up to the lofty expectations
Keita Balde is rubbish
Would rather watch Saka learn his trade
I’d rather many things Receding, but those seem to be beyond Arsenal’s reality zone at the moment.
Keita Balde could be interesting if you got him maybe on loan and get him back to his Lazio performing days
Stay tuned until the end of August for the first panic buy of the Emery era.
Nelson and Zaha
wingers
All we need to cause chaos in attack.
Both Spurs and United have submitted proposals to Sporting for Bruno Fernandes
Nice window this
Really do not get the hype around Nelson for the coming season
While other teams will cause chaos in our defence.
For once and for all Edu is a done deal . He joins after Brazil are finished with the Copa America
Some people on here need constant reassurance
Why the fuck did we let it get to this?
Still baffling some didn’t see/refused to see the train wreck coming.
Years in the making.
Like Pedro said idiotic decisions, idiotic decisions, idiotic decisions for years.
Henry
Remind me what I need again?
“Really do not get the hype around Nelson for the coming season”
Fading away at Hoffenheim by October seemed to be the assurance we needed he was ready to take on the premier league
Saka is a more exciting talent for me
Highbury
The transfer window closes on the 8th August.
@Henry Root : after all the shit we have been through the past decade, are you serious when you say that we need “constant reassurance” ?? Amazing…
@Marc : thanks for the reminder lol
This focus on Edu strikes me as another piece of wishful thinking, a re-hash of Raul and Sven, and yes, Pedro, Gazidis, too. Many of us fell for that one – including me. The Brazilian may turn out well or he may not or he might not turn up at all. The fact is, we are all clutching at straws. And no wonder, given the awful place the Club is in. There is little hope of any meaningful net transfer money. The mess left by Wenger/Gazidis will likely convince Stan that the money will be wasted anyway. And the Club’s… Read more »
Highbury
No problem just means you won’t have to fill out that new prescription for Prozac, you’ve only got circa 6 odd weeks.
RH
So many Arsenal fans think he’s the wide solution. Couldn’t even get a starting spot at Hoffenheim, a team that finished 9th in Bundesliga.
I appreciate Arsenal fans are clutching at straws in desperation but seriously…
Arsenal need to put a time frame on this whole Torreira thing.
We don’t want to sell him, give Milan a certain window to offer at least £50 Million or over and then tell them no bids (save for something truly outrageous) will be entertained after that.
Don’t want this everyday for the rest of the summer.
Cesc some Arsenal fans are desperate for “one of their own” hence the Nelson hope
englandsbest
You’ve gone completely round the bend. Wright, Merson, Arteta or Keown as manager good grief.
Merson as manager, you want us to be battling Norwich and co for survival?
Cool, I hear you.
Leftside
I think you’re being incredibly over optimistic there!
Going back to bring all former players who won things at the club in search of inspiration ….wow
Receding
Maybe they could job share.
As a fan, I am desperate all the time
DM
Nice rant.
Everything you say is 100% correct.
“Trying” is what it’s all about and yes, under Wenger, we all lost that belief that we would be able to challenge and compete on a consistent basis ever again.
Emery deserves at least one more season to try and make things work. His short term goal is to create some positive vibes for the fans, something we can all hang on to. Will it be the purchase of Zaha?
Who knows?
Shows you what a mess where are in when Iwobi – who needs to be binned as a priority along with Xhaka – is basically on easy street and guaranteed another year of flaffing about fucking about every single attack with a shit pass or shot that barely reaches the goalkeeper.
Like Ozil though, he will score a goal in the pre-season sunshine and there will talk of how hungry and lean he looks.
For me.. Having a midfield of Ozil, LT and Xhaka with Matty G, Iwobi and Miki as back up.. which seems to be the case unless I’m missing something is doomed to failure. Doesn’t matter who we bring in on the wing and fullbacks if the middle of the park is a wide open highway to your goal. So getting rid of Auba who can score goals to finance Zaha given this reality is crazy because it doesn’t solve the real issue of why we can’t win on the road when the opposition press our midfield and there is no… Read more »
Getting a little hysterical on here. I’m sure we’ll get some transfers over the line soon. Suspect phone calls to Kroenke, David Copperfield stylee, ‘Please xan we have more sir?’ Step up Josh and spend some of your inheritance.
Pedro This blog needs to be upgraded.Like adding a feature to reply to someone’s comments in the comments section.So that we dont have to go through the pain to find the reply to our opinion. Why is Raul not touting the deadwood to other clubs. Theres no way we are gonna sell the likes of mkhi,mustafi,elneny for their actual value.If we can get a combined 50 mil. for the three ill happily take and Emery should too.We can get 2-3 young and talented players for that amount. Selling Auba not as ridiculous as it sounds.If we can get an elite… Read more »
What happens if we sell Auba and Laca gets injured?
Oh never mind it’s only 35 PL goals a season down the drain.
MidWest I completely agree. I said before Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil is basically no engine, no legs, no balls. It doesn’t really fit any purpose. It can’t press with Xhaka and Ozil, it’s not great at possession football with Ozil hiding from the ball, Xhaka not great under pressure and Torreira not that accomplished, it isn’t fit to be solid and launch counters, not with Xhaka and Ozil etc. It can’t do anything. Not to mention Ozil is more CF than CAM which means it’s basically a 2 man midfield with a player with limited stamina and a player with no… Read more »
Gambon “”Loaning him back is the right thing. He will be the same player in 12 months if he stays here.””” A week in Politics is a long time A Year in football is an eternity. How can we assume that… Injuries Loss of form Complacency..( he has got his big move money sorted )He is 18!! Its totally illogical to spend £28 million on anything ( let alone a footballer ) and wait a year for collection of your goods. By all means buy the player. Because he looks the part. But pay extra and introduce him to the… Read more »
Marc
I may be completely round the bend, but you haven’t even reached the starting gate.
You know the problems, how about some solutions? Imaginative ones, not the same old, same old.
Marc
That’s why we have to keep both PEA and Laca. Especially with Ramsey gone, there are no goals coming from the midfield (Ozil, Mkhi, Iwobi, Xhaka, Torreira combined might offer 10-15 goals).
If we sell PEA in order to improve the wide play, then Laca gets injured, we are absolutely f*cked. If we had goals from midfield and wide, like Chelsea, we could afford to take the risk on diversifying out from strong CFs, but we don’t, so our hands are tied.