Why are Leicester out-summering Arsenal?

by .

Groundhog summer my friends.

Every day, I’m just here bringing you a slightly different blend of bland.

Reports in France allude to us having secured William Saliba for next season by dropping a £5m down payment today, allowing us to pick up the full tab next season. A bit like buying a sofa at DFS, except you let DFS have your sofa for a year while you basically sit on the floor like a lemon.

Anyway, I like the look of the deal, and for me it does tell you that the club, though moving slower than a golf cart in a tarpit, probably has a firm grasp of the finances. This sort of move doesn’t seem like the type that would predicate a begging bowl presentation from Raul and VV in America this week, does it?

I think this summer will likely land us where we want to be.

Wilfried Zaha is going to be a total menace to Hodgson if he isn’t allowed to move this summer. £40m (+Chambers) is great money however the deal is spliced up, and Palace know this is likely the peak of his value. They should cash in and spend their £94m wisely because making this drag on out of principle could be the difference between staying up and going down.

The Tierney deal chatter has gone quiet, but again, are Celtic really going to pass on £22m? They have a disrupted player on their hands as well, how many left back slots at big clubs are opening up that would see him as the ideal candidate over the next 3 years? He could end up at Southampton or Everton if he’s not careful. For such a pissy disparity (£3m), it’d be really fucking dim to let a deal fall away for both he and the club. That said, Arsenal might have a better player lined up, though I’d imagine signing a Brit appeals for many reasons.

If we throw a loan move for Raul’s fave Brazilian, Malcolm, you’d have to say that we’ve done some solid business for a small budget.

My big worry is the same as yours… it’s not really enough, is it? Additionally, summer is where you prepare and condition players for the season ahead. You have loads of free time to integrate new ideas, new players and a new team spirit. Introducing half-fit players in a months time is going to do us no favors. Having the rotting fish heads hanging around taking a sledgehammer to the ambience is also a disaster. Cancerous personalities can do so much damage to a team culture even if they aren’t actively pursuing destruction… the mere presence of someone you know is on the way out can be a distraction.

I’m also wondering what happens if we sell two or three of the wantaways at the death… do we just go really slim in defence or midfield? Will we be replacing? Or going with youth?

Still, back to the positives:

At the very least, there’s a platform emerging… it’s not absolutely elite, but it’s probably a little more interesting than a Hazardless Chelsea can do. Our summer might look better than the one going on over at United if Paul Pogba and Lukaku exit the building. I’m not sure it matters how much money you throw at Ole G, I am pretty sure the second half of his season is the real him and their season is heading for the central reservation.

I mean, this is a little rich coming from me, Emery has just as much chance of tanking next season as Lampard and Ole G… you can but dream. The 4th spot party feels like it’ll be decided on who makes least bad decisions this summer versus anything else.

My hope is that we don’t fall off a cliff next year because we don’t need Edu fighting forest fires again next summer.

The big worry is looking at Leicester having a good summer. Ayoze, Thauvin and Tielemann’s being added to an already competent squad with a very competent manager who will have had a chance to embed his ideas and ELITE motivational approaches.

‘Jamie, I have two fingers, I want you to pull one’

‘NOT NOW JAMIE, at the end of the season when the cameras are here.’

I’d imagine they’re going to lose BIG HARRY or someone like Chilwell, but if they can absorb that, they could be a surprise package next season.

Watching teams like Leicester do smart things is what keeps me going. Football rebirths don’t have to be a 15-year turnaround job. I thought Matt Scott put the situation very well.

Liverpool and Spurs made it happen in 5 years. Part of making it work is sticking to a plan for longer than 7 months. Our crushingly bad transfer windows over the past 15 years took a sharp turn for the better under Sven M, we identified talent early and finished our moves very quickly. He shifted on deadweights like Coq, Theo and Giroud. He bought some very tidy players. It was a mixed bag, no doubt, but the point for me was that we were following a process. That process would likely have produced if he’d stayed around.

Notable that since he landed the boot, our whole approach is a mess. We can’t sell players, it’s taking an age to buy them and it’s not abundantly clear what we’re attempting. Meanwhile, Sven has sold 11 players and signed 4 in Stuttgart. Is that a coincidence? Unlikely. Say what you will about the shaggy-haired scout, his German efficiency is certainly lacking at Arsenal at the minute.

That’s why Edu really needs to be a central pillar for the next 5 years because after 22 years of doing things exactly the same way year after year, we’re now one of the most schizophrenic clubs in the Premier League. Give me the calmness of a setup that gets its work done quickly and delivers closely to a smartly devised plan that progresses the club every season.

That’s all I’ll ask. Until I get it, then I’ll find something new to complain about.

We’re a week away from the 7th rebirth since Wenger left… this one is most certainly the one I’m looking forward to the most.

Don’t let us down Edu… and Raul, get cracking on those signings. x

237 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ivan

Marko

– your comment about Ozil – pure gold, i laughed my ass off.

Marko

CA I don’t think it means that they’re not going to possibly be loaned still this season I think it’s more of a case of acknowledging them as seniors now. I would be shocked if ESR wasn’t sent out on loan.

Mr Serge

Well said Marko

bennydevito

Cesc Appeal,

I was just about to post the same comment.

4 youngsters promoted to the first team squad for this season and extensive game time from Iwobi, AMN and Guendouzi last season prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the notion of Emery not liking youngsters and only signing journeymen is a total load of bollocks.

Looking forward to seeing what our youngsters can do this season.

Graham62

CC

Thought you’d enjoy that one Charlie.

Mark

@Marko ” Sky now reporting the Ozil loan to Fenerbache ” I’d celebrate that almost as much as Wenger leaving. Pierre When are you going to open your eyes & let them connect to your brain? Instead of this hero worship which seems to blind you to people’s faults. Did it with Wenger too!!! In Today’s game you want players who ; are brave ,influence, lift, battle and give all for the team . Ozil falls short in most of those and for what we pay him, it is to the detriment of the club and team. What were his… Read more »

Samir

Ozil out would be great for the club. Even if we have to subsidise half his wage for the next few years. We need to start over.

Mark

@IvanJuly 9, 2019 21:02:37

“Ozil’s greatest enemy is his flimsy character and lack of ability to adapt or improve apects of his game that are not related to his talent.”

Good post Ivan. You said it better than I did. 😁Totally agree.

Cesc Appeal

Marko It seemed he was likely to go back out on loan, I wonder if given the situation with the squad and lack of ability to make many transfers they are going to see how he does in preseason? The rumour was that he would go back to Leipzig. Benny Was always a stupid notion, wasn’t it? Agenda fueled, you might say. I like the look of Willock, I think he could potentially develop into a useful player. I’m really not sold on Nelson, would like nothing more than to be totally wrong. But something about him and his time… Read more »

Marko

CA better than nothing I guess but I don’t see ESR or Nketiah making much impact next season. A loan would be better

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

I disagree marko

Sometimes players need to be given a chance.

Cesc Appeal

Marko

I agree.

I think Nketiah will be one for the exit in a year or so, I don’t think Smith Rowe is physically there yet though he has a lot of potential and Nelson…I don’t know, I just don’t get any kind of feeling he might be good from him. People go on about his loan, he started well as an impact player but never established himself and fell out of favour completely in a side that finished 9th in Bundesliga.

China1

Is iwobi even that young now? He’s been in and around the first team for about 3 years already. He’s not a kid anymore even if he’s reasonably young

China1

Cesc didn’t Nelson get injured for a while which heavily disrupted his playing time?

I’m not sure but I thought that’s what I read somewhere

China1

Nelson and willock are the two youngsters I have my eye on this season.

Marko

Nelson was dropped a lot

KAY Boss

A loan will be good for Nketia. A punt on Mariano Diaz won’t be bad. What do u guys think.

Cesc Appeal

He’s a ST, isn’t he?

No point really unless you’re selling Lacazette and want to use the majority of the funds on Zaha or another winger.

Edu me a favour

In a world where Serge Gnabry couldn’t get in a Tony Pulis West Brom team – I dont think we should be worried about Reiss nelson and his time in Germany – ( which was actually pretty decent , even tho it tailed off a bit towards the end ) let’s see how the kids get on this season before we write them off completely.

Leedsgunner

Forget Diáz. We are well served in the striker department. We need defenders.

As I said the other day, we have a Spanish coach and a Spanish head of football… and the Spanish under 21 s won the U21 European Championships this summer. We should be exploiting their contacts and bringing in the stars from that squad.

Jorge Mere and Nunez would be a great start.

Leedsgunner

Celtic beat FK Sarajevo on Tuesday 3-1 in their first game of the season… a Champions League qualifier and most importantly for us Tierney was nowhere near their first team.

I know he is recovering from a hernia operation but I just wonder, with the Saliba deal now virtually done he will be the next deal to be announced. Ironically Saliba staying in France has freed up the money to bring in Tierney.

Tony

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7228799/Arsenal-confirm-appointment-Edu-new-technical-director.html

Thought I’d post that before heading out on the road.

Lip service comments from Raul and Edu (strong squad) for the press.

Over to you Edu you’re under the microscope now with the hopes of gooners around the world on your shoulders.

Just hope Raul and Emery doesn’t micro manage you to wrong decisions.

Emiratesstroller

This would be my take on acquisitions and departures this season.

FIRST X1 REQUIREMENTS
CB
LB Tierney ?
AMF
RW Zaha ?
FIRST TEAM SQUAD ADDITIONS
CMF Willock [U23 Promotion]
AMF Smith-Rowe [U23 Promotion]
RW Nelson [U23 Promotion]
LW Martinelli
ST Nkietah [U23 Promotion]
FIRST TEAM SQUAD LOAN
CB Saliba
CB Mavropanos

DEPARTURES
GK Cech
GK Ospina
RB Lichsteiner
RB Jenkinson
CB Chambers
CB Koscielny
DMF Elneny
CMF Ramsey
CMF Suarez
AMF Ozil
ST Welbeck

Emiratesstroller

Sofar the club has offloaded Cech, Ospina,Lichsteiner,Suarez,Ramsey and Welbeck.

My gut feeling is that Ozil and Koscielny could leave in addition to Jenkinson,
Chambers and Elneny who are clearly surplus to requirements.

Arsenal might be prepared to SELL other players in squad but only if there are significant offers made with adequate replacements found.

However, I think that it is unlikely because I think that our arrival, replacement and departure list is already fairly large.

Bob N16

ES…no Mustafi? He’s top of my departures list!

Emiratesstroller

Bob N16 I made a list of 11 departures. 6 have already gone and I have added another 5. Several weeks ago I did not think it likely that Ozil would leave, because I thought that no-one would be prepared to pay his wages. Now I think that situation may well have changed now that he has married a Turkish Girl and has built close relationships in that country. Somehow I see Fernebrace finding the money or at least reaching agreement with Ozil perhaps at a lower rate. Arsenal are unlikely to get a transfer fee of any significance from… Read more »

Leedsgunner

Even Mustafi has Mustafi at the top of our departures list! 😉

Emiratesstroller

Leedsgunner

In an ideal scenario I would replace both our starting eleven centre backs this
season. Sokratis is also fairly mediocre and probably no better than a bench player at a top club.

Sadly Arsenal are not going to buy two centre backs this season as well as Saliba.

If I have the choice between Mustafi and Koscielny I would opt to keep former.
Koscielny at 34 and injury prone is no longer capable to play for club at our level. That has been blindingly obvious for two seasons.

Left testicle

That Ozil to Fenerbahce story on Sky Sports Transfer Centre was their version of clickbait. They put two and two together and came up with five.

Receding Hairline

“Haha Leicester City more appealing than Arsenal.”

I blame Dissenter for this love-in for a club that have finished 9th, 9th and 12th since winning the league. They did not even pretend to kick-on from that miracle. Yet they are “attractive”

Reports coming out that Tielemans and his agent wanted to wait for United but decided to join Leicester since a bid wasn’t forthcoming from United. Yea Leicester are attractive all right.

Receding Hairline

“That Ozil to Fenerbahce story on Sky Sports Transfer Centre was their version of clickbait. They put two and two together and came up with five.” Yea it was nonsense People need to get their head around the fact Ozil will be here one more season. It is up to Arsenal to freeze him out, play him in cup games and the Europa league and he might forgo that last year. Problem with that is the fans on social media will start circulating clips from the Leicester game at home once we have a bad result, one will be forgiven… Read more »

Chris

Özil leaving is now like Wenger leaving.

Only dare to believe when it is on Arsenal.com

Chris

And still idiots like Pierre and all the deluded on Twitter still defend Özil and spend all day producing nice pretty colourful flow charts stating his apparent worth, when they simply fail to use their eyes and see that he is worthless.

Dissenter

Finally things are beginning to get and a positive atmosphere is beginning to seton
Saliba is done if you believe the tabloids
Tierney’s deal appears to have gone too far for it not to happen. The Glaswegian lad is not going to skip a major London club and go to little Naples.
Celtic can have their pick of either Emile Smith Rowe or Nkettiah on loan to facilitate the deal.

Dissenter

At this stage, everyone can see that Pierre’s obsession with Ozil is pathological.
Please show some compassion for Pierre. If you’re religious, light a candle for him.

Graham62

The Leicester debate is interesting. My point yesterday, which was mocked by some, was based around what Leicester City have achieved these past 4 years and how they are perceived by the footballing community worldwide. Some on here still belittle them for winning the league title in 2016 and consider their success of that season as a fluke of nature. However, the way they won it was based on a belief and desire to succeed against all the odds. It was Roy of the Rovers stuff. We all got caught up in the hype. Could a small provincial club knock… Read more »

Gonsterous

Don’t see the fuss with Leicester. They are spending money on average players who are mid table players in the PL. They will have their lukaku moment but apart from that I think Leicester just flushed 100m down the toilet with those purchases. Not to Say we aren’t a joke. All we have to show for is that martinelli chap who reminds me of denilson. Will be sold after a couple of seasons. Tierney looks decent, and if the malcolm and zaha rumours are true, we may have a decent team. I think the main priority of the club is… Read more »