I feel like this summer, more than many that have passed before, is feeling like one of the worst.
14 years of neglect have hit us very hard.
We have regressed.
Our nearest rivals have progressed.
If we were looking at a graph, it’d be the saddest graph in the world.
5 years ago, Spurs and Liverpool were behind us in the league. Now they are Champions League finalists with monster transfer budgets. Both clubs invested in elite coaches with big ideas. Both clubs are now attracting the very best in the game. At the same time, Arsenal fans were purring at the idea of Wenger being given big money to spend.
£350m later… we’ve managed to make things worse.
Arsenal didn’t make hay while the sun was shining.
Many people are complaining that Spurs are spending after a stadium move. That’s because their frugal strategy of prioritising youth, smart buy and great coaching is reaping bigly in Europe. They had a coach that took them to the Champions League final after spending zero pounds last summer.
Arsenal’s issue, for all the bluster, is that we were never really that future-facing.
We hoarded Champions League money when elite players were adding 50%+ year on year. Remember when we baulked at £32m for Higuain? Remember when we fucked up Suarez? There are so many times we didn’t pull the trigger because leadership at Arsenal hid under the comfort blanket of Wenger’s perceived view of value.
Arsenal didn’t recognize the clear patterns that were emerging in football.
They didn’t preempt what the uplift in TV money would mean for agent expectations with contracts. Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Alexis would still be at Arsenal on £180k a week if we’d given them proper money when most major clubs were bumping salaries. At the very worst, we’d have sold them. We waited until it was too late and lost two for fuck all and had to keep the third on outrageous cash because of Ivan’s ego.
We never paid a premium when it made sense.
We didn’t take chances.
We didn’t refresh our talent, ideas or thinking.
We invested too much in players that were good for a culture of meekness. Too little in players that could have taken us to the next level.
Now we’re in a situation where we’re in danger of being gazumped by Spurs for Saliba, we’re being hardballed by Celtic with Tierney, and we’re seriously contemplating selling Auba to fund a move for a 27 year old winger who scored 15 goals last year.
Edu is having a week off after the Copa America according to Ornstein.
What a mess.
Still, Adidas is our kit sponsor, so who cares?
Thoughts on the leaked advert (someone in deep shit over that mishap):
This is a great spot.
I love the humour. The respect for the local area and the texture. I like the mix of old and new. I love that Wrighty is in it. I like that Adidas are massaging our egos pretending that we still run North London.
There’s a lot of hope in there.
It’s so great to have a proper sportswear brand backing us.
Mustafi is going to look about x4 better sliding into the back of Harry Kane next season.
Bring it on. Being shit with good clobber. Bit like me playing in goal with silver mercurials back in the day.
‘All the gear, no idea’ my friends teammates used to say to me.
See you in the comments. x
Essien, Malouda and Robbie Savage all looking for a road back in.
Cole now makes sense, i’ve seen the light.
“Only 47 years young.”
Just starting his career
“Essien, Malouda and Robbie Savage all looking for a road back in.”
Good shout on Essien and Malouda
Essien can play at DM until Matteo and Bielek are ready
Maluda can play until Nelson is fully ready
A no-brainier
Who remembers Stephen Appiah?
Ghana/Fener player with even worse knees than Essien. Was linked to death circa 2007/2008.
WE it means if Lukaku done so bad that he contemplated not being a footballer inside the next two seasons that Inter would have to still buy him.
You know that the money in the PL is nuts when Maguire looks set to go for £85m, and Leicester want to replace him by spending £40m on Dunk! Ridiculous.
Robbie Savage trying not to cry after the big John Terry mercilessly trolled him when he criticised Terry made for some TV gold didn’t it?
You sure Marko? I thought a permanent signing at end of season clause is the one you can’t wriggle out of.
Who can think of some of the funniest names linked to us in the past?
I’ll go first, 2007 favourite Felipe Melo.
Appiah was decent back in the day but my god he just never seemed to actually move anywhere. For some reason. Still would have done a job for us way back when.
WE obligation to buy not option to buy is being reported. Failed anyway it seems
Still think Owen Coyle was the most bizarre link to us
Zaha wants to leave Palace for another club in London. My sauce tells me a move to Charlton is on the cards
WE
Back in the day Trezeguet in 02 for WC fee after lighting the Serie A up, hows that for banter?
Would be remiss not to add Park Chu Young, but we actually signed him.
WE,
Yann M’Vila and Salomon Kalou.
Anthony Annan too.
Smudge
“”””””Still think Owen Coyle was the most bizarre link to us””””””””
We got the Spanish version though!
Unai Emery
Owen Coyle
Fits snugly too.
Absolutely Bang Average- The Pair of Them
Mark my words.
Emery will go the same way as Coyle when he is sacked.
(Airdrieioans Or Clydebank FC territory)
And Vinny and Raul would not change a thing……
Declan Rice would be the type of player we should be bidding on.
Was by miles on a different level for West Ham last season.
Recently,
Gareth Bale, Ballosdeep even the Vardy Party brings a smile as he shot us down.. it really is endless.
fam!!!! I always knew Zaha was a gooner uno, mad ting
Sky just reported that we are going to bid for Zaha
Trezeguet had nothing but ice running through his veins Sal, possibly the smoothest finisher I’ve ever seen.
M’Vila is a great shout. Rennes legend that he was.
Funny based on which criteria?
I’m sure I’ll have opinions once I’m clear haha
It also says that he wants to play European football, presumably not Europa League.
Enter Spuds…
China
Banter signings to names that became folk legend on here only for us never to actually sign.
The best business we ever did was signing kallstrom with a broken back
That’s funny on every imaginable level
WE
I was naive and desperate for that one, checking papers daily trying to find any info on web but it was early days for footie gossip and it was never going to happen.
Wenger went on record that summer I believe saying how Henry and him should play together, I was moist.
Ended up finishing his big club career right there with the mighty Juve, what a baller.
I can see Legrove has gone full retard today …we now want Ashley Cole?….Also since the general consensus here is that sleazy Stan is a terrible human being hell bent on destroying Arsenal football club…why don’t we just open a gofundme page and donate to hire an assassin to end the guy?
Ok so I hear Fener in for Mustafi.
So I google Mustafi, and see his wiki page
It lists him as 6 foot.
Bullshit…. dude is about 5ft 10 if that…
Yeah the trezeguet runours were sexy as hell
We also tried to sign both Robinho and baptista in the summer they went to Madrid
Obviously in retrospect we didn’t miss out, but at the time that was looking like some absolutely filthy business
I’m pretty sure that was the last summer when arsene cared about winning
Sal
Imagine a Henry-Trezeguet partnership with Wiltord the impact sub.
Although maybe was for the best in the end because Dennis and Thierry got on pretty spectacularly and no doubt Bergkamp took Henry’s game to another level with his mentoring.
I was most disappointed by letting Big Benz slip in 2008 tbh, not that we were ever really in for him but he’s one player that I would have loved to have seen play here in his prime.
I’d say mustafi is between 5’10 and 6’0
He’s not short but he’s not big for a CB
Joke Friday.
Breaking news.
“Arsenal fans have agreed a one year contract to stay at the club”.
Koulibaly only came out the other day and said that he was actually 6 foot 1 [1.86m] and that Genk listed him as 6 foot 4 [1.92m].
Google has him down as 6 foot 5 [1.95m], lol.
Sneaky ploy possibly to increase interest, you’d hope that Napoli have retroactively employed a measuring tape man since wouldn’t you?
It’s official, wengers newrly signed 11 is basically world all time 11 minus pele and maradonna
Baptista no matter how average he was here will always be held in high esteem with me for that beatdown that he inflicted on Liverpool at Anfield.
Same goes for Alliadiere.
Trezeguet and Henry are scoring enough goals to nail on the PL title
Fact
Baptista looked like the shit until he went to Madrid and arsenal and got found out
Kinda a shame. Potential was there
Dani
“why don’t we just open a gofundme page and donate to hire an assassin to end the guy?”
He’s a survivalist / doomsday prepper cooped up on a sprawling ranch with armed security.
A more realistic target may be sending said assassin to Cape Town to liaise with a certain forum irritant.
Tick tock.
King Benz was a giant miss, with prime Fabregas pulling strings?
Even Adebayor scored 30 in that heat zone.
Changes entire complexion.
Are we talking about Kroenke or CG?
If it’s CG I’m in.
‘Baptista looked like the shit until he went to Madrid and arsenal and got found out’
He did score them the goal that won them the 2006/07 La Liga title on H2H record in the 1-0 win over Barcelona in the Clasico. tbf.
He also scored in the QF, SF and the Final of the 2007 Copa America win for Brazil. Not a bad old career.
King Benz was a giant miss, with prime Fabregas pulling strings?
Even Adebayor scored 30 in that heat zone.
To be objective as I can… I still hold to the idea that if Adebayor wasn’t such a character he could of hit some the top level echelons of football.
Same for that how clique of Strikers we had.
Eduardo, vela and crooked Rvp.
Rvp did eventually but in the long run of his career it was a brief light that fizzled out as quick as it came
Xabi Alonso and the now fabled £3m undervalue is another criminal decision at the hands of Wenger and co.
We missed out on some good young talent…..
… and we still are 😂😂😂
Alonso is such a shout, fucking hell that one takes the prize.
Guy was brilliant for nearly a decade after we scrimped out on him.
VALENCIA JOINS LDU QUITO
Antonio Valencia has completed a free transfer to LDU Quito, back in his native Ecuador, after leaving Manchester United.
The club announced his capture with a small video via their Twitter account which you can watch below…
#CastaDeCampeón pic.twitter.com/zlN5p6iEo3
— LDU Oficial (@LDU_Oficial) June 28, 2019
At least we are assured that horror isn’t happening
Adebayor was basically Drogba without the champion mentality and about 20-30lbs.
I’d argue that he was a better footballer even, attitude stank though as soon as he hit the big time with the 30 goal season.
Inter to bid for Lukaku
Conte really is a fan of ole Romelu isnt he.
.
WengerEagleJune 28, 2019 16:01:38
Who can think of some of the funniest names linked to us in the past? I’ll go first, 2007 favourite Felipe Melo.
Actually WE Melo was auite the deal back then solid DM for a while I don’t know what happened to him…as for me it has to be kalou…he was linked to arsenal in like every summer
Must mean Icardi is off, interesting to see where to.
Another that’s put up elite numbers barring this season but isn’t much of an all-rounder at all.
I don’t see many teams putting up the kind of cash that Inter will demand.
I know he was Dani I just meant funny as in the names that were shit hot way back when.
Kalou has actually played decently for Hertha in Germany, used to cringe when he’d be linked every window but he’s far from meme-worthy.
I got to admit the adidas video was nice… as is the shirt..
Waiting for the away shirt to launch
“Wilfried Zaha wants to leave Crystal Palace and Arsenal are expected to make an offer for the forward, Sky Sports News understands.”
Please god.
Let this not be at the expense of Aubemyang.
Guns
100% – it will be a disaster if Auba goes to ManU so we can sign Zaha.
@Wenger Eagle
I renember all my ols chelc friends used to say Kalou had no brain 😂😂😂.
Wenger was a special case, then took that £15m ear marked for Alonso into the January window and landed AA23, not even addressing the holding MF position that plagued us for years and years and… years.
On the up Torino seem to be taking Milan’s place in the Europa league, how jammy would it be for City to be disqualified and…..
“100% – it will be a disaster if Auba goes to ManU so we can sign Zaha.”
As much chance of this happening as me succeeding Theresa May as PM
sal
Maybe the Zaha rumours are because we’ve been given a heads up!
In the real world however!
DS
Post @ June 28, 2019 15:38:40
This theory sounds very Arsenalesque though. I wouldn’t be surprised if we were hoping thst City will get kicked out of CL.
One just has to look at the overconfidence that both Raul and Vinai exuded when stating that they were confident in UE winning the EL.
We always seem to look for the easy route to move forward. A bit like AW and Gazidis belief that FPP would allow us to be top dogs due to our good financial health and respect for the rules.
“In the real world however!”
Thats where I live.. and we my friend are a Europa league side for the foreseeable.
Boris
What the fuck are you doing on here?
Zaha rumour hotting up
Knowing how arsenal operate I’m now fully convinced we won’t be signing him
The Tierney chase is becoming ridiculous as well,has gone too public with too many pundits sticking their noses in, would be surprised if we make a second bid now.
Should point out that the Zaha rumours are Sky who are running new versions of Torreira to Milan – every time they run a new version the money goes down.
Last one I saw was £4.5 million loan fee with a £25 million purchase after.
sal
Fortunately the foreseeable is 9 months give or take.
I can’t see Zaha happening. Even if he acts up to force move that would likely take a season and there’s no scenario that lowers the price that justifies his signing for me. Even if they decided to go as low as 50 million there’s still better out there for me. I’d prefer Pepe
‘But doubling down on that suggestion is even more bizarre, trying to justify it with the fact some bloke played for Brighton at a late age, Brighton the team that narrowly avoided the drop (yes i know we did not beat them)’
Thought Brighton is elite.
Why the heck cant we just do our business quickly and quietly
Seems every summer- we get our asses called out so fast with targets that we give up
I would like to see us get this done faster
Then again, ive posted this same post every summer for the last 5 years.
Fuck
Won’t go near Zaha or Pepe to be honest, watching them in the current ongoing AFCON and youre left wondering what the fuss is about
My hope is the silence regarding Ziyech might mean we’re doing some background work to bring him in, now that would be a move to make things look interesting once again
Weren’t we strongly linked to Mahamadou Diarra, back when he was a thing (about the same time as Appiah)? Google search and first result Arsenal Mania forum posts: “If we are about to pay 12m euro for Simao and real gets Diarra for 17m £ that msut mean that M Diarra refused to go to us, because if Wenger can’t see the value of a players like Diarra 17m£ well worth it IMO, and more pressing then another winger” “Waste of money on that type of midfielder. £17,000,000 i would expect a match winner, someone to do something sublime, somebody… Read more »
ManUre are due to get 25% of the Zaha fee.
Zaha can happen, with or without some sweets like Iwobi.
No Wenger to take the heat for Kroenke now and he knows it.
There’s already ‘Kroenke out’ movement on Twitter.
Believe me, Kroenke wouldn’t risk being hunted by the fans.
So he can pull the money out of his silly hat……ZAHA CAN HAPPEN!
Sky just reported that we are going to bid for Zaha
Sky playing joke Friday with you 🤣
Why the heck cant we just do our business quickly and quietly
Seems every summer- we get our asses called out so fast with targets that we give up’
Yea it’s gone pretty messy this Tierney chase, now we hear might also be gazumped by fvcking spuds for Saliba
Historically arsenal always come out with the tail between the legs when deals get too public
Would be surprised if we don’t walk away from the Tierney deal
“Won’t go near Zaha or Pepe to be honest, watching them in the current ongoing AFCON and youre left wondering what the fuss is about”
Would actually pick Zaha if i am offered the two
This common belief that Nicolas Pepe is a super star in the making amuses me, i just don’t buy it.
Nor is he worth the money Lille are asking either
bris
“Believe me, Kroenke wouldn’t risk being hunted by the fans.”
Yeah I’m sure he’s shaking in his boots – assuming he even reads twitter.
Zaha or Ziyech?
With reasons, Zaha.
Gut feeling backs Ziyech.
Vicky
I love when you are down on players and if Zaha was to come in and hit the ground running, I would love to hear what you got to say then.
Valentin June 28, 2019 15:32:49
Jamie,
No I would not take Kieran Gibbs back, but for him it is not a question of age but quality. He was always positionally suspect. If he had not be English, he would have been sold age ago.
—
Just a quick heads-up here, Valentin. Elmo mentioned Gibbs, not me.
That said, I’d take Gibbs over Cole if I had to choose between them. Although it’s kind of like being asked to choose between receiving a punch to the throat or a kick to the plums.
Cole was finished years ago.
““Believe me, Kroenke wouldn’t risk being hunted by the fans.”
The one characteristic which separates people like Stan Kroenke from the rest of humanity is that they really do not give a shit about anything except making money and accummulating power. Verbal or social media protests against Sleazy Stan will be water off a duck’s back.
RH
Probably right on Pepe,.Lille looking to mug off some club with the price quoted,shock error no serious link from any of the bigger boys so far
Think he would eventually go for half of the price quoted by Lille.
My priorities for wingers would be:
Ziyech
Zaha
Neres
Chiesa
Nice kit , embarrassing advert trying to make Arsenal look relevant.
Sad times
Not one of those names will go for under 50m.
‘Yeah I’m sure he’s shaking in his boots – assuming he even reads twitter.’ Josh comes on Twitter, Marc. ‘The one characteristic which separates people like Stan Kroenke from the rest of humanity is that they really do not give a shit about anything except making money and accummulating power. Verbal or social media protests against Sleazy Stan will be water off a duck’s back.’ Michael, guys like Stan are mean but not thick. He knows it would take the fans three months top to shut him out of Arsenal. He knows there was already some fuss when he was… Read more »
I love when you are down on players and if Zaha was to come in and hit the ground running, I would love to hear what you got to say then.”
Look I like Zaha and think he would improve us a lot if we can pull it off but honestly the price quoted by Palace is just taking the piss isn’t it..80M? Lol, I mean for 10 goals and 5 assists? No way sorry..thanks but no thanks
‘My priorities for wingers would be:
Ziyech
Zaha
Neres
Chiesa’
Neres is a no for me, not built for the prem. Don’t know really know Chiesa’.
“If you have met people like Kroenke, you would agree with me that self preservation is their motto.”
Gentle:
Through my job I have met dozens and dozens of Kroenke types around the world. They are driven solely by money and power. And most have no respect whatsoever for other people – particularly those who not driven solely by money and power.
Chiesa is very good but he’ll end up at Juventus.
Them Italians don’t like emigrating.
I know the eredivisie can be a piss take but Ziyech recording 20+ goals and 16 assists? You’ve got to sit up and take notice
Think Marko is spot on when he said we’re gonna look utter ass-wipes if we end up going 60M north for Zaha while Ziyech moves for 30M or less.
Eagle
Ziyech is being priced at 30M..we should be all over that unless he wants CL
Micheal
Just curious – are you a lefty?
Vic
Zaha won’t go for 80m though! More like the 50 ish Mark.
bris
“He knows it would take the fans three months top to shut him out of Arsenal.”
Really – what’s this amazing plan?
This common belief that Nicolas Pepe is a super star in the making amuses me, i just don’t buy it.
Zaha over Pepe really. Pepe has 37 goals and 19 assists the last two seasons. I’m betting that you’re going to look foolish if we signed up Zaha while Liverpool ends up with Pepe. Only Mbappe scored more goals in France last season
Then from another angle:
Zaha’s mind is made up, he wants to join the big boys but stay in the prem.
Let’s see the options:
City: They have more than they need on the flanks unless Sane goes, which is unlikely.
Liverpool: Well, they are rich on the flanks too, and don’t seem interested.
United: Well, let’s say they are wary of bringing another one back for huge bread after Pogba.
Spuds: Well they have spent their budget on Ndobele, haven’t they.
The Arsenal: No elite winger, a chance to stay in London, ONLY PARTY INTERESTED.
“Micheal. Just curious – are you a lefty?
What relevance is that for a footbal blog ?
“There are a serious number of posters on here who are more hysterical than a 13 year girl at a boy band concert.All need to fucking man up!”
Quick question, how does a 13 year old girl at a boy band concert Man up?
Ajax signed up Promes too and they’ve already said that Ziyech is going to be sold. PSV just signed up Bruma so expect one or both of Lozano and Bergwijn to be on the move. I’m telling you there’s far more worthwhile players available than Zaha for whatever he’s going to cost.
Palace was trying to renegotiate with utd to drop or lower the sell on clause for Zaha.
Maybe players and cash is the way to go.
Chambers, jenkinson, elneney. And loan Iwobi And 25 million.
It’s a deal, it’s a steal, it’s the sale of the century!
Micheal
Your take on Kroenke seemed to be dripping with loathing of decent wealthy people.
‘This common belief that Nicolas Pepe is a super star in the making amuses me, i just don’t buy it.’
Face it Marko, how many goals did he score from the wing and how many assists?
What else could inspire your belief?