I’m hitting you with a DOUBLE today because that’s just how free content can and sometimes WILL roll.
The reason is, I forgot to talk about the most boring transfer saga since we nearly tried to sign Higuain. Or Suarez. Or Alonso.
It’s been reported that we’ve bid for Wilfried Zaha. £40m + Chambers.
That’s a pretty sweet deal, but I would say somewhat derisory if you are Palace and you expect £100m.
I think the move has been made to look even more pitiful because we are cutting up the monies like we’re trying to pay off 5 years worth of credit cards at 23 years old with one helpful manageable payment.
Here’s what we don’t know…
What is the truth of this bid?
Is it for real?
Or are we back in the, ‘meh, we tried’ phase of transfers?
The numbers from Swiss Ramble are bleak.
Our wage bill is hideous. Our revenue is regressing. We’re having to sell players to pad the numbers. We only just stopped paying Wenger. Things are not moving positively.
It’s quite staggering the largesse that has gone on to allow that… Ivan Gazidis looks like and 80s corporate raider when you see the money he was extracting from the club towards the end.
But we are where we are… this is Arsenal, it needs to be reset in a big way and it’s questionable whether we’re going to do that buying in 27-year-olds that have limited resale value.
The very notion of Zaha is short termist and we’ve seen time and time again that short-termism on less than elite players is not a smart way of climbing back into the big time when the 4th best team in the league just bought the best young midfielder in the world.
Arsenal need to think about the future, we need to start being strategic and we need to move away from buying second-tier players and giving them monster deals we can’t escape a year later.
My point being, even if the Zaha bid is real, is it moving the needle? Is it doing anything to prove that we’re serious about Champions League? Not for me.
Right, that’s me done.
P.S. Look at how cute my niece is in her new Arsenal shirt.
I had to basically hide for weeks after the 8-2 OT match. All my closest mates were Manc supporters, the abuse was brutal and as an Arsenal fan had no choice but to spread the cheeks and bite the pillow. Then two for the price of one with the 11-1 agg Anfield/Stamford Bridge trips in 2014 when we were still technically in the title race. Has there ever been a bigger humiliation in football than AW’s 6-0 defeat at the hands of the man who deemed him the specialist in failure and someone he despised in Mourinho? For his 1,000… Read more »
People have to remember that Pierre is even more senile than Wenger.
If we lived in a civilised country he’d be euthanized.
Graham
They genuinely start to blend in together it happened so regularly.
Even lesser embarrassments like the 3-3 Anderlecht match after being 3-0 up on the hour mark get forgotten about amongst the litany of drubbings.
The Chelsea 6-0 battering was the one that broke the dam of my anger.
That one was funny.
Wenger’s 100th game and after all his bluster at Mourhino on the touchline, his team got spanked.
Someone was talking about our lack of identity…
WE I actually went to the game with two Man United mates. There was no taking the piss they just felt sorry for me.
Marc
That’s classical ageism
We don’t euthanize our elders, we renew their contracts a la Wenger.
The 1000th game I felt was very fitting for the man. Perfectly summed him up. Really can’t wait for the statue to go up
Dissenter
It’s a new age – now we get to club the old fucker. Think bat and baby seal!
“Personally, I’ve written off this season… and possibly the next as rebuilding time. “
3 seasons written off, what a weird view.
–
Marko
Id hold fire on the Ndombele chat, he’s a great signing when he’s fulfilled his promise. Not because Spurs have spent 65 mil on a potential belter. Talking like transfer flops and unfulfilled talent doesn’t exist. Behave.
If we somehow pull
Fekir Zaha Tierney
That would be excellent biz
Please God,, somehow make it happen
RH You might know by know im an Ozil fanboy. And tbh im all for replacing him with someone like Fekir. Surely an upgrade. But those of yall that think that he isnt gonna be here next season idk if yall can see clearly then lol. Him and his agent have constantly said He is gonna be at Arsenal until the end of his contract at least. So all im saying is that instead of criticizing him,support him. We arent RMD to boo at our own players. Substituting Ozil for Willock was as big an insult as any. Although he… Read more »
Guns
Sorry busy today!
After watching YouTube clips of martinelli I thought I would compare them with our own Saka and I have to say , Saka does look to have more about his game than martinelli who looks like a slightly slower version of Theo Walcott…
I didn’t really see a trick in his game which I think a quality winger needs in the prem otherwise they will soon get found out.
Charlie he’s gone for 65 million for a reason. But yeah element of risk with every signing I suppose. Tell us again about how Zaha is more of a guarantee to hit the ground running again? Can’t remember the specific word you used. Behave etc until he fulfills his promise etc etc
Really you could say that about everyone I guess. Hold off on being excited about Hazard Real fans until he fulfills his potential.
I haven’t seen anything of Ndombele to comment – can I assume he’s a replacement for Eriksen?
Pierre Its not about the tricks tbh. Its about the work and dedication one puts in. Theo walcott had everything at 17 years of age and nothing by 28. Look at Leroy Sane he just relies on his pace and his movement. Best dribbler in the world MESSI doesnt really have many tricks up his sleeve does he, but he will beat 4 defenders head on. Thats the hard work paying off. Maybe if walcott had focused more on football and less on his hair maybe he might have been at least as good as a Zaha. And Saka seems… Read more »
Marc
You could say ndombele is a replacement for Dembele. Dont really know much about him but seems like a mossa dembele 2.0.
Wengerevil
Scraping the barrel there to prove a point I’m afraid ….8 of those games we by 3 goals or less .
How about
Chelsea 1-4
Leicester 0-3
Liverpool 1-5
Bate 0-1
Rennes 1-3
All in one season and all as bad or worse than we have seen previously.
Marc
Lo Celso would be more of an Eriksen replacement, N’Dombele is an upgrade on Wanyama and Sissoko.
Marko
What’s with the “tell us more” nonsense?
I think it’s pretty obvious how much more likely it is for Zaha to adapt to Arsenal, than Ndombele to Spurs.
I said it’s as close to a banker as we will get this summer. I stand by that. He lives in London, can driver in the prem against anyone, and has been burned at United so knows exactly what to expect from a big club.
WE
Cheers – I didn’t the guy was a striker / forward.
“Really you could say that about everyone I guess. Hold off on being excited about Hazard Real fans until he fulfills his potential.“
Yes, 28 year old Hazard is the exact same as 22 year old Ndombele who’s never set foot outside France.
At least you’re consistent with your dramatic nonsense.
Wasi
When I say trick , I don’t mean anything fancy , I mean a drop of a shoulder , a drag back , a feint , a change of pace to lure the defender into a tackle…….Walcott never manager to bring that to his game……I may be wrong but he looks like it’s all about pace but he’s still young so has enough time to learn hopefully.
Isnt it funny. Spurs breaking their bank months after moving to their new more expensive stadium while we couldnt make even decent signings for years after moving to a less expensive Emirates. Though we had a bigger fan base, better turnover and everything just better than Spuds just mayne not the accounts manager. Who was also the manager,head coach,physio , scout and whatnot. No diss to Wenger just curious.
All in one season and all as bad or worse than we have seen previously.
Good one. Big Weng has you under his spell still
Pierre
Yeah hopefully he hits the ground running in the pre-season and turns out to be a gem. And we dont have to spend 80 mil on a 40 mil player.
So on the day we announce a 6 m signing
Spurs announce a 60 m signing…
Something ain’t right is it…
I said it’s as close to a banker as we will get this summer.
That was it.
I think it’s pretty obvious how much more likely it is for Zaha to adapt to Arsenal, than Ndombele to Spurs.
I mean one could substitute first time playing outside of France with 26 year old who failed at the only big club he was at.
Martinelli looks like a one-footed Hleb, loves his instep. I expect absolutely nothing from him this year so if he brings anything of note that’ll be a welcome addition.
Wasi
Let’s wait and see what the Spud’s net spend is at the end of the transfer window.
Marc
It will probably be positive.And that is also due to proper management of contracts and stuff. The stuff we have mastered init.
Wasi
Yeah but there’s a world of difference between spending £1 net and £100 million net.
If Levy is so clever then why did he fuck up the stadium project so much?
Marko
Failed is such a lazy tag for Zaha at United, he failed in what regard? He made his league debut on December 7th then was back at Palace by Jan.
He “failed” because he was 19 and clashed with Moysey, he had fuck all time to fail at anything football related. Also, Forlan failed at United too, and Salah and KDB failed at Chelsea going by your logic.
Worth nothing.. Zaha would be moving to current Arsenal, not the fucking invincibles lol he’s not got to nudge Pires aside.
No mention of Ostersunds in any of the extensive lists?
It can’t of made conversations with the boss any easier –
Moyes “Zaha why are you late for training?”
Zaha “Sorry boss but I was putting one of your daughter – she’s a real goer you know?”
CC
You really like Zaha, don’t you.
Will Raul become your best friend if he succeeds in getting Zaha?
Thoughts on Zaha… I like that arsenal are offering what he’s worth and not what Crystal palace wants. If they really rate him THAT high then let’s add 10m in achievable clauses like making 15 goals or getting 30 starts. I hope this 40 is the highest bid we will go for him. Not worth anymore. Especially when we can have Fekir for 30m. Which brings me to Fekir. He’s an awesome player who has downed tools as he didn’t get his move last season. He also has 1 year left on his deal and will sure as hell not… Read more »
Also, Forlan failed at United too, and Salah and KDB failed at Chelsea going by your logic
Yeah but then moved to other big clubs and did well. Zaha at 26 has spent the majority of his career at Palace having failed at United. Failed isn’t a lazy tag for his time at United it’s an accurate description for a player that made no impact and that they sold for a loss. Banker though you say. I also have serious doubts about his temperament given recent comments about whether or not he even likes being a footballer.
Mystic
Careful mate, thread carefully if you’re not all over Zaha.
Worth nothing.. Zaha would be moving to current Arsenal, not the fucking invincibles lol he’s not got to nudge Pires aside.
Very good point. It is beneficial that he won’t have to work that hard to get into the team. His work ethic is probably okay. I still have my doubts about his price. Banker or not
Marc Daniel Levy is not a genuis. But tou could say he is smart at managing the financial aspect of the game. The stadium project was an 800mil+ project and not a school project. Theres a ton of variables involved. Anything could have gone wrong. Countless people working on the stadium mistakes are meant to be made. About the financial aspect. Couple years after building the stadium we couldnt make any signings as we apparently had no money. Henry wanted to go to barca to win the UCL. He was allowed to leave and should always have been allowed to… Read more »
Marc with a c
Levy an his uncle are very shrew.
Very creative with money…
There is no way they will foul up.
There stadium cost more no flats to sale an still more money than us.
Just proves this millennium are are and will always be a shockingly bad company.
Marko
Isnt single-handedly keeping a clun in the Prem a big enough impact in and of itself? Zaha for 50 mil will be worth it even if we lose 1 or 2 of mkhi/mustafi/elneny/chambers to get the deal done . Though i would love to see how chambers fares next season at Arsenal.
Marc
You’re still on your Spurs-won’t- spend crusade.
I’ve told you since the beginning of time that they can fund a proper squad rebuild with outgoing transfers. They don’t even have to touch that 95 million they earned for reaching the CL finals.
Sit back and watch.
I would consider Fekir for sure. 25 has gotten double figures in goals and assists every season bar one since 14/15 season. An absolute banker given he’d be joining the current Arsenal squad and not the invincibles one. And he’s cheaper than Zaha.
Dissenter
Yea I rate Zaha, I’ll point him out if we sign him mate so you’re clued up. Probably have him confused for Rondon or some bollocks.
I’d hold fire on cracking the jokes after your recent outings on here Sherlock. Steady stream of absolute doozies you’ve delivered this summer. Have another slice of that humble pie sitting in your fridge.
I mean Fekir has put in 2 average seasons along with that one top class season since he ruptured the ACL.
CC
yea yea
Que será, será
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que será, será
What will be, will be
Que será, será
Who cares. Put me back in your boring file.
Anyone involved with the running of the club since 2000 should hang their head in shame.
If they are still involved they should be sacked.
Arsenal have been run by politicians . Who only care£ for there own self interest.
We are now seeing what a complete an utter bollocks wenger and the bald one left us,
Their pockets fille£ there was no more money they could get n ducked£ off.
We will be like Sunderland and there new stadium.
Spurs will be like athletics Madrid.
Great time to support spurs.
Thanks arsenal.
Average seasons? 14 goals and 11 assists the season after his injury then 23 goals and 8 assists (wrong on the double assists every season) and 12 and 9 last season. Since his injury 49 goals and 28 assists. Depends on how you define average.
RSPC
A week or so ago I called you a miserable cunt and you got pissed off.
This isn’t an attack but you are fucking miserable sometimes. Since “2000” er 2 league titles including a double and an unbeaten season. Moan about how things are now, moan about thing post 2006.
As for the Spud’s they still haven’t won anything.
We really need a fire extinguisher on here sometimes to put out those who have set their hair on fire and are running round screaming.
Lol. Dissenter I see you anad Charles are disagreeing on a lot lately. Still yet, not so much to like about Zaha for the price quoted. Cos we will be looking to see if he can step up. He’s quality is not guaranteed, compared to someone like Fekir.
What’s going on about Auouar? Thought he would be the owner of this transfer window?
WE I remember you saying something similar a couple of summers ago when we were linked with Bruno Fernandez after the whole fiasco at Sporting. Ah sure can’t make everyone happy I suppose.
We’ve been linke£ with many, then told fuck off not offering enough.
Now it is round 3
Somebgerman kid n a real m cast off
What happened to all the others…
Could something be happening behind the scenes that’s slowing it up.
Can’t just be waiting for edu surely.
Odd that WE is tagging Fekir average based on his output, which for a CAM is outstanding but has a hard on for “quality” Firminio. Also I wonder where Zaha lands. Somewhere below average going by this metric
Zaha is not worth $10m. What resale value will he have after two years? Our focus should be on players below the age of twenty-three. Operation youth here we come! Zaha my foot!!
Dissenter
I’m not saying they won’t spend I’m saying they won’t have a huge net outlay. The stadium cost overrun is almost as much as we paid for the Emirates and yet you don’t’ see any consequence to that?
Take a realistic view of Arsenal and the problems we have – definitely.
Build the Spud’s up to be the most amazing team that ever lived – don’t think so. Not till they’ve actually achieved something or won something.
Marc with a c
Your talking last the last terrace house on the street attitude ….
We are 5 years plus behind them.
RSPC
That’s funny I thought we were one point behind them.
Marko
His Ligue 1 stats in 2016/17 were 9 goals and 4 assists. In 2018/19 they were 9 goals and 7 assists.
His last goal came on matchday 27 in Ligue 1 on March 3rd and it was a penalty. Mid February was his last goal from open play. 4 of his 9 goals were penalties.
I mean Thauvin and Pepe’s numbers blow his out of the water.
Marko
You implying I didn’t want Fernandes? He was on a heap of shopping lists I put up on here last year so you’re looking a tit now.
Mystic
That the Firmino that won the CL with Liverpool yeah? Funny, not sure Klopp shares your opinion on him either.
Anybody that watched Fekir at all last season would know he literally put no effort. Was bitter about not getting his move. Clearly needs a new challenge. He’s a baller
Marc with a c
One point last season is not a measure to judge by. .
I really hope we catch up but right now I can’t see it.
Lols WE, nice drift. The firmino that scored 12 goals and 4 assists in 2018/19.
Am sure Lyon manager shares your opinion about Fekir too yea?
England women getting completely dominated by USA in the SF.
RSPC I’m not suggesting it’s going to happen over night or be easy but you do have a habit of falling into “we’re all doomed”. We have a crazy wage bill they have a £1,000,000,000 plus stadium bill. They also put a story out last week that they’d spent a million on doing up the players lounge or something – who the fuck spends a million quid on doing something up that’s a couple of months old? That’s a club trying to hide stuff – most construction projects have “remedial work” done, stuff that doesn’t meet / isn’t up to… Read more »
As with all of my International football affiliations all I can say is “Go USA”.
I usually don’t support England but anything to do with Phil Neville is an abomination.
I just saw that Nike ‘accidently’ put Tierney done deal on their website before removing. Has it been covered here?
Mystic
Done deal to where?
Dissenter
You’ve not left the boring file, don’t presume. Your needle is met in kind, nothing more.
Mystic Not sure how Firmino is relevant to this tbh, he scored 25 goals last season and picked up 15 assists in all comps last season and scored 12 and assisted 6 in the PL this season which is better than Fekir’s output considering he didn’t pad numbers with penalties. Are we able to sign/trying to sign Firmino? Nope, so he’s utterly irrelevant to this anyway. I rarely if ever mention him on this space since he signed for Liverpool for this very reason. Stop deflecting away from the fact that Fekir looks to have regressed due to the injury.… Read more »
England women strike back. 1-1!
Marc
Spurs have very good operational business management. Asides the cluster fuck they made with the stadium they have just been under excellent. Their purchases this season will most likely be funded by player sales. They are stocked with assets. The stadium won’t handicap them as we think. They will continue to be a UCL club, make enough money for corporate sponsors and also turnover players at the right time. Kane, Alli, Sanchez, Ndombele* in 2 years time.
From*
WE
Careful they’ll be a story tomorrow that we’ve put a £40 million bid in for Townsend.
Then you’ll be screaming for Fekir!
For the sake of female football, it needs a new champion not decked in the American colors.
New rivalries need to form over time.
Can’t see Tierney picking Napoli over Arsenal tbh, think Ornstein gets perverse pleasure out of torturing gullible Arsenal supporters that hang on his every soundbite.
Comes across as a snarky prick.
Marc
I was about to ironically defend Towsend and say that at least he will be nailed on to score a corker against Citeh and just remembered that Fekir did as well last season didn’t he…
Marc, Arsenal I think. No one else saw the news? I just saw the headline passingly.
WE
The way you rate players marvels me, is all. Fekir did not regress. Y’all want Zaha to down tools to force a move away. Well that’s what Fekir has done. And he seems to be getting his wish. Hope we get him. Certainly not am average player. If he makes 9 goals with 5 assists in the prem for us I’d be delighted
Mystic Sorry but where do you get this from? “Spurs have very good operational business management” “make enough money for corporate sponsors and also turnover players at the right time.” Levy is a fucking moron – just loot at the list of clowns he appointed prior to lucking out on the Poch. They still haven’t done a deal on the naming rights on the new stadium and as for turning players over at the right time? Eriksen, Alderweireld, Vertonghen and Janssen’s contracts are now down to 1 year. They have Dier, Sissoko, Rose, Davies and Wanyama on 2 years so… Read more »
Marc
You’re a proper gooner, I grant you that.
You can’t see any grain of goodness in our north London neighbors.
Mystic
I wondered why it was a Nike story – of course he could be sponsored by Nike but it just seemed a strange one for them to publish when most Arsenal sporting brand news at the moment will be all Adidas.
Mystic How so? I just try to call it as I see it. I don’t consider Fekir an average player at all, he had the potential and still does to be a superb player, he comes at a huge risk with the ACL though. It’s not an injury too many return the same player from and he’s struggled this past year. Combined with Liverpool pulling the deal last minute after his medical it makes you question the wisdom in putting any decent chunk of change behind him. Just seems an unnecessary gamble to take when there are plenty of players… Read more »
Dissenter
Grains are useful – you can make all sorts of stuff with them. Spud’s are cunt’s and that’s the better ones.
tbf the oracle boy Ornstein did say that it is still in Arsenal’s hands the deal with Tierney.
But yeah he was trolling when he said Napoli have “overtaken” Arsenal for the signature of Tierney.
Besides the player more than likely prefering a move to the EPL Napoli can’t make a move for Tierney until they sell off Mario Rui which hasn’t happened as yet.
Marc with a c
I’m a realist
Cynicism is the new realism .
I think you are making a grave error in thinking the stadium will bog them down and hold them back.
Sad reflection is we buy 6 m now they buy 60 m….
Infants and adults difference.
I think Spurs are set to be the better team in the foreseeable future. It’s going to take time to whittle down the gap that’s forming.
It’s like we are mired in quick-setting cement while everyone else is on electric scooters.
Ishola
Isn’t Ghoulam still there too?
Marc totally agree mate bollocks to spurs the bunch of twats
RSPC
Maybe I’m the cynic looking at their predicament. How you can just write off a billion of cost amazes me.
There was no need for Fekir to “down tools” at Lyon season just gone.
They were always going to try to flog him off this summer due to his contract running down regardless.
Serge
Nice to have another on here.
It get’s like a Tottenham Cunt’s sorry I mean Hotspur’s appreciation society on here sometimes.
Marc with a couple
Yes levy did learn on the job, he did make errors of judgement,
All the while he was learning he was seeking the right people to have in his tea,
Spoke with knowledgable people in the game then went an got a superb back room team who recommended poch.
He had made bad buys , but is now in postition to Make big cash like the bale transfer..
Don’t like the guy but you have to admire him.
WengerEagle
“Isn’t Ghoulam still there too?”
Yeah.
They have decided Rui is the one to get rid off out of the two and they can’t do anything on that front until they sell him off and seems no interest in him at present.
They are hamstrung going for a LB until they can ditch Rui so even in the unlikely event that Tierrney fancies the Neopolitan they can’t move for him.
Marc with a c
Good sponsorship deals.
Had a different sponsor for different cups few years back.
A wealthy owner yank.
Who will put his money in.
Our stadium does look a bit tired compared with their fabulous new stadia …
RSPC
Are you having a fucking laugh? You make it sound like he appointed a couple of guys who didn’t work out. His record of appointing managers has been a shambles outside of the Poch and that was pure luck.
Someone who makes 2000 bad decisions and then 1 good one hasn’t turned a corner they just met the odds.
How can anyone not respect Mr Levi.
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when we were 5-10 years ahead of Spurs.
Now we are ecstatic when we beat them in the odd derby. It’s like Christmas came early.
RSPC
Joe Lewis isn’t American he’s British and a tax exile. He’s been looking to sell the club for years but no one comes knocking.
I’d love to see some evidence of where he’s put money into the club as well?