Wow, wow, wow… Raul S has pulled off the shock signing of the summer, with Dave Ornstein announcing the Spaniard has reeled in one of the best talents in Ligue 1 with Nicolas Pépé.
I am SHOOK.
Pepe to Arsenal. Hahahahah
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) July 13, 2019
The above tweet is obviously a massive L on my part, but there are layers to my unprophetic words. Firstly, the fact we’ve managed to scrabble together €80m for a player is quite incredible. If there were a saying from this summer it’d be…
‘It’s all about the instalment plan, fam’
Secondly, I am HUGELY surprised that we were the only major club outside Napoli in for his talents. I know I have repeatedly defended what Arsenal is to players and managers around the world, but I didn’t think we were in that league of intrigue for names that had clubs like Paris and Liverpool sniffing. Just goes to show you, London is a huge pull, the full stadium is unique, the training ground is special, the chance to play must also be important, and the new guys must be able to sell a dream.
What a moment, I can’t remember Arsenal dropping a signing this major since we brought in Thierry Henry. He’s the right-winger of our dreams. The most exciting Ivorian since Yaya Toure stepped foot in Boreham Wood (Jokes Kolo, jokes). He scored 23 goals last season and gave 12 assists. He’s been making a contribution to Lille every 101 minutes, which is far more impressive than what Zaha has been doing at Palace over the past season. The best he’s mustered is a contribution every 152 in his best ever year last season.
The player himself is a joy to watch, for some reason I spent a lot of time watching Ligue 1 last year and he’s been one of the stand out guys. He’s powerfully built, standing at 6ft. I think he’s slightly lighter in frame than Zaha, but he’s electric on the ball. He has deft feet, he moves at pace, he’ll come deep, he’ll stretch teams and in front of goal last season he blew up.
We’ve struggled for years to add players with athleticism to our frontline, it’s great to see we’re finally moving in on players that are a huge issue for teams on the counter. When you have a shite defence like we do, the last thing we need is to be pressed into our own half because the only person chasing a long ball is Auba (who can be crowded out physically in big games).
Outside that, this has been a fucking great signing for the fans. This is a premium signing. I really think Zaha would have been good for us, but that could have gone the way of Welbeck, or it could have just been a move that was ok.
Pepe has a higher ceiling than Zaha, I think he’s better technically, and he’s 2 years younger. Our guy has resale value as well, which is super important when you look how we’re going to have to work the ins and outs moving forward.
It’ll also be good for the squad morale. No one wants to go back to preseason and have no new faces to look at. This will add the squad vibes and it’ll be just as fun for the players as it has been for the fans.
I know that a few of journos are saying the move favoured us because we were willing to give his agency team the commissions they wanted. It seems like the cost of football these days, but it’s dodgy all the same. We’ve lost out on lots of big names in the past because we’ve ignored the dark arts of the game, and now it looks like that’s where we’re playing them… but like most things in sport, you cease to care if you have a shiny new player rolling out in a redshirt.
I did think it was quite amusing that Raul and the exec leadership team spent an afternoon getting pounded at the fan Q&A for basically no reason… they could have just said we’d be signing Pepe this week and everyone would have shut the fuck up. It’s a bit like chewing out your partner for not doing anything for your birthday, then packing up your bags and leaving them, only find out their last-ditch attempt to meet you was a surprise birthday party with the Rolling Stones.
What I find particularly handsome about this summer is that the roof of the house has blown off and we’re out the front painting with a really nice Farrow and Ball shade of gray. Where are the defenders?!
Are we Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle? It’s looking that way… but hey, at least the players are exciting.
See you in the comments!
Willock looks really good as much forward midfielder.
Early days but we’re looking sharp. Passing is crisp.
I like Willock’s forward thinking, always wanting to attack.
Good ball from Guendouzi.
Auba misses the rebound
If Willock can develop a wider variety of shots.. seems to favor the daisy cutter.
Think it Was Willock not Aubameyang.
We’re not getting rid of them barring divine intervention so only hope for us is that Miki drops a couple of pounds and him and Ozil up their effort level so that they become viable options in there rather than outright liabilities.
link: http://livetv.sx/enx/eventinfo/824083_arsenal_lyon/#webplayer_alieztv|96492|824083|1212879|5|1|en
Reiss Nelson impressive so far
Xhaka can’t track player. If Lyon were to decide to start attacking via the centre we’d be in trouble.
good move Nelson!
Nelson looks a threat every time he gets the ball into his feet.
The one thing I like about all our youth prospects they all seem to have a quick burst of pace.. and can get by players. Martinelli, Nelsen, Saha, etc..
Nelson showing a lot more in this game
Nelson, Willock and Guendouzi are working hard off the ball. Chasing and harassing players. In the meantime Xhaka and Mhikitarian don’t seem to be as committed to that press from the front approach.
Dismal..
I like some of your reads …
But launch the negativity somewhere else , least till the first 5 games
Great ball from Guendouzi
Great goal.
Goal Aubameyang!
For those watching, please how good is Yanga Mbiwa?
I recall there was a time he was touted as the next big thing on here by posters, whose names I will not mention
Nice.. Auba got his goal… Been really sharp this preseason.
Auba just has that knack, invisible for 30 mins and boom.
Micki plays better on the right.
Main man doing the business as thee #9
Solid cross from Henry Mkhi
Guendozi looking sharp. I really wonder if we’re inching closer and closer to a starting XI without Granite Xhaka in it…
Torreira
Ceballos
Guendozi
Willock
TallestTiz
Awful player, all over the place and I don’t recall anyone championing him on here to be honest.
Hope it wasn’t me lol
Jason Deneyer foray into our midfield is the illustration of soft center. Nobody to stop him, Xhaka, Mhikitarian just watch him going forward.
That’s the type of shit Guendouzi has to cut out
The ball hit the hand But the hand was next to the body.
Wait til VAR gets a hold of that one in the season ….in slow motion everything looks like an intentional handball.
Cesc
Exactly – I hate when guendozi hugs the pressure on his back and goes down so easily. He gets that call what feels like about 75-80% of the time but it’s those other times where he gives up possession usually in bad areas and is left lying on the pitch
I posted that Guendouzi lacked defensive awareness and that when under pressure he caugh up the ball expecting the referee to signal an non-existent foul.
The usual flat-earther dismiss that assessment, but it look I was spot on.
Karim
lol.. definitely not you.
Since he’s all over the place like you’ve said, I’ll not mention names, no matter how tempting… For the sake of peace on this blog tonight.
Nelson’s final ball needs improve
Nelson final ball will improve once he gets more attuned to the run his teammates usually make.
WTF is Monreal doing!
Good half from us but we still make bad decisions at the back, the only chances Lyon have had are the ones we’ve created for them.
Wow… Monreal.. rooted to the spot.. bit lucky there. Anyhow scoreline is fair we were much sharper then them overall.
Valentine
Exactly. That’s why I expect so little from Guendouzi. Something is lacking in his game. In-between awareness and swift movement to evade people
Actually pretty entertaining for a preseason match.
Should we give up on our pursuit of Tiernney and use the money to get Zaha in ? We can sell Iwobi to fund the move. PEA, Zaha, Laca and Pepe will be quite something.
TR7
I’d very much rather prefer Everton. That’s if we can get him for £25 million max. However, we would definitely need to offload Mkhityran.
Iwobi can alternate between competing with Nelson, Everton on the left, and competing with Ozil, Willock/Ceballos in midfield
I hope Emery is training Nelson to play on the left.
Receding trying to force a race row
Nothing new there
I don’t know why Emery is training Willock as a 2nd striker. I thought that’s Eddie’s position.
Would like to see Ceballos for Miki second half see what that looks like. How many subs to we get for these matches..? Like to see a bit of Martinelli too.
Aouar, Tousart and Dembele in
All of them France u23 players
Eddie, Eddie , Eddie! hahaha he has a perfect name to chant..
Nelson,
Willock does not play 2nd striker.
We play 4-2-3-1.
LFB CB CB RFB
CM CM
LCAM CAM RCAM
ST
With Willock the CAM.
Eddie replaces Micki?
Hi Karim.. didn’t see you here…. earlier.. half asleep…. Good to see you back on Le Grove.
Seems that Eddie replaces Guen
Eddie replaces Mkhityran… as per flashscore
As always our defending on counter attacks is pretty bad….
AMN has to challenge the shooter.
No. Willock plays in midfield now. Guen is replaced.
Hey Middy
Was waiting for you to fully wake up !
Lyon looking a little better now.
Oh no Lyon might have figured out we have AMN as a fullback now..
And Monreal.. can be beaten with one simple pass in behind. just doesn’t have the legs anymore.
Eddie! Oh MY!
Eddie.. looked a bit like Welbeck on that attempt.. hahah but always love his energy..
Nketiah has two chances he has to do better with
Valenti
Do see Emery play a #10???
In the first half and now in the 2nd half, it looks more like we are playing two strikers.
Emery in Heart Attack territory on the line good job
it’s a friendly as such.
One of the kids is going to score eventually.. come on.
Nelson has been much, much better today.
Decision making still needs work, but that’s understandable.
Use him off the bench this season and see what he’s got.
CG You really need to take it easy with the whole Zaha thing dude. If there’s anything that the Premier League has proven about Zaha ,it’s that he’s not a 80m player. Also, Zaha is on £130k per week and with a move to Arsenal he could’ve expected a bump in pay of at least 30-50 k per week, whilst Pepe’s rumored salary is around £ 100-105k per week. That’s a difference of having an equivalent of another £60-80 per week player on our payroll. Also, Zaha has a tendency to go down under minimal contact and while that hasn’t… Read more »
Go Eddie! lol he is fun to watch you have to admit..
Does anybody have a good stream? It’s so draining clicking through 50 odd fake stream links to malware
Nelson,
I see a 4-2-3-1, not a 4-4-2.
Eddie showed a trick there unlucky good save.
China live sports tv on the IPad
Valentin
According to you, who plays the #10 spot now.
In the second half, I see Willock playing deeper in Guendouzi role alongside Xhaka.
Yep… Depay abusing AMN again.
Val
That’s he’s preferred formation .
Defenders day dreaming.
Far too easy.
Pathetic effort from Maitland Niles and bad marking from Chambers.
I don’t see 4-4-2, so I don’t see a #10 per we.
I see Eddie on the top with Aubameyang moving to right wing.
Maitland-Niles still can’t defend. Get rid.
Careful Arsenal !
Ceballos !
Lyon scored in slow mo.?
We need a RB as well as a LB… Unless Bellerin is 100% match fit within 2weeks. Can’t see how he will be.
Ceballos will play
Oh joy Mustafi… lol he got booed.
Here come Mustafi…
Mustafi booed!
If AMN gets injured, we have nobody to badly play RB.
Lacazette in a walking boot
AMN looks to be injured.
Fuck off man
Martinelli!
Great stuff.
Martinelli … nice… Kid does seem to be in the right place to score when he plays… has an eye for goal.
Chambers at RB?
Offside I guess.
Why was that ruled out?
Martinelli sharp reaction.
Mustafi at RB?
Who just saw Ceballos winning the ball in his own half
wtf? Mustafi already with his amazing influence on match..
That looked well offside.