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!
Really not doing a good job of showing us anything.
Why was Martinelli’s goal ruled out?
Would have liked a better angle to see Dembele’s run as well, offside or shite defending?
Mustafi can’t see the field. The fans know it. I think Emery knows it
Oh and Jenkins on 🙂
Lolz
Let me guess, Pepe will sort this shambles out?
The team, is shit. The manager hasn’t a cluedo.
Valentin
I’ll stop this conversation. For me, a 4 2 3 1 has a #10 feeding the two wingers and a striker.
Jenks is going to be our RB … starting the season.. just sayin.
Our defence is a mess.
Emery’s blind spot.
Looks to me like Ceballos could indeed do a job at CM both on and off the ball.
Much needed for the midfield.
Mustafi and Xhaka should be out sharpish. We aint ”the next level is the next level” with them in the team.
You can play with Messi-Griezmann-Suarez up front, if you have Xhaka and Mustafi you ain’t going anywhere.
Unai really is starting to piss me off badly on this point…
Ceballos looks game… oh don’t get hurt dude.
You don’t win matches consistently with a shit defence. Fact.
Once again, Emery rolls into the season with a team that conceded 60+ goals.
LB and two CBs minimum.
Highbury
Don’t start with this Emery crap. Is he supposed to go steal defenders from other clubs?.
He is a coach. Simple as that. He’s not in charge of transfers.
Dani ceballos reminds me of Tomas in the way he takes on players and passes the ball.
Nelson,
Some 4-2-3-1 have a #10 who dictate play when in attack.
Emery’s preferred formation don’t tend to have one. Willock was not the one spreading ball right, left center to other making runs. In contrary, he was making late runs into the penalty box. More akin to what Ramsey or Lampard used to do.
@Silverhawk : who the fuck are you ??
What an effort from Aubameyang
Oh wow Auba almost pulled that chip off… would have been a pretty sweet goal.
Unlucky by Aubameyang.
I don’t know why the Wengerites dislike Unai.
He’s carrying on the Wenger tradition of wanting to win matches 5-4 and he’s even wearing the specs to give him that academia look. Los Proffesor.
Values. Wenger values.
Sheesh… the Mustafi effect is in full force.. He comes on and the defense looks shattered.
You could tell right from the beginning of this match that Lyon were not here to be rolled over easily.
Well drilled on the ball. Decent passing patterns.
Mid
He has to go,
He is worse than gus ceases .
3 at the back with Zach Medley?
I like Burton.. the tall kid not sure about.. Medley.
Highbury
I made a mistake trying to engage with someone on your level of IQ. My bad.
Jog along now.
Oh no.
Mustafi might be injured.
@Cesc
Hard luck……..
Looks like it is still a back 4, with Zach Medley playing left full back.
Mustafi is indestructible .. we are lucky like that.. we didn’t deserve to lose that match .. not that it matters.. But we are going to have to score at least 3 goals a match…
FT Defeat 1-2.
Another defeat. Whoops.
Going well.
Laca in a walking boot
Well at least Ceballos in that little cameo looks like he can be useful for the midfield and just as importantly off the ball as well as on it.
Chambers still looks like the piff paff as he was known as before.
I don’t think we can blame Mustafi for the goals.
I thought that it was offside.
If Sokratis get roll over and lack speed, Mustafi who make enough mistakes of his own can’t take responsibility for Sokratis as well.
Lots of positives in terms of attacking play and some of the young players. I thought Willock looked very good again, Nelson looked much better today. Negatives though, the finishing was tame and obviously the defence. It’s got the stage now where I might actually rather have Jenkinson at RB over Maitland Niles…that isn’t a compliment for Jenkinson. Not sure what broadcaster I was watching it seemed very pro-Arsenal but if it was anything linked to the club I was surprised at how openly they were talking about it being bizarre if we don’t get a CB on top of… Read more »
Val.. it wasn’t I just saw the replay.. Mustafi played him onside and regardless instead of defending he raised his hand and didn’t move.
So Nicky Pepe coming in.
We’ll score more goals than you Arsenal! Arsenal!
First team to six goals then tea time. Jumpers for goal posts lol
Playing Xkaha in central midfield exposes any defence – let along a defence including Mustafi. He is slow, cannot tackle and gives ball away far to often.
Guns, you really are a miserable bastard. This is a pre season run out.
Willock and Ceballos ahead of Xhaka and Guendozi please.
High line for second goal
Mustafi standing round with his hand in the air as usual
Papa way off the pace
Mustafi at fault for the first
Always loses his man. No positional awareness whatsoever.
‘Mustafi played him onside and regardless instead of defending he raised his hand and didn’t move’
That’s honestly his specialty.
The Zaha goal last season being the best example. I think that’s a foul, better stand still and raise my hand.
Oh well.. everyone knows our back line is a mess.. its what do the suits do about it before the season starts.
Bob Guns has a role to play on here, be miserable and crack shit jokes. Once you feel like you have a role on here posters can’t step away from it and comment meaningfully.
Lyon came up with a much more balanced side in the second half and we started making a millions subs.
Wouldn’t read too much about today’s scoreline tbf.
A few interesting individual performances, shame we lost Lacazette so early also.
The defense really does need sorting out. Don’t think we can start the season like this. Bellerin might not be ready till October and AMN cannot defend. It seems like a year playing with Mustafi has rubbed off nicely on Sokratis. Chambers isn’t an Arsenal level defender but I guess we all knew that. The fact that we play a high line with the CBs we have is suicidal Xhaka can’t even receive the ball and turn as the deepest lying midfielder, played it back to the keeper or CB everytime and put them under pressure. Hopefully we get Tierney… Read more »
I don’t think this afternoons game told anybody at the club anything they didn’t already know in regards to Mustafi.
Arsenal 1 Lyon 2
Arsenal last 10 games of last season lost 5.
90% on here are clearly Just as Clueless as The Clown
Did Edu attend?
Teck Deck that !
Look
The elephant in the room is mustafi.
His confidence must be shot to pieces so hardly surprising.
Feel sorry for the man but it’s best he moves on for him an club.
If the club don’t address that then we are in trouble.
Dismal…
I speak for many
Reel it in lad are you trying to get a gig on aftv..
I said wait till Oct before the coating ffs
CG
Take a chill pill dude
Wingers won’t hold the ball up forever.
The problem is there is no spine to the team.
I hope all The Good Folk on here bought Lyon Goals like I suggested.
Oodles of Cash for Yours Truly Today
T.T.
RSPCA
He’s not attacking the ball properly
It’s used to be onthe best aspect of his game but he’s just fell to pieces in the last 18 months
Ah great, Tick Dick is here to complain about a pre season friendly. The youths look alright, the bunch I can remember us having, will save us millions if they can at least make it as backups, even better if one or 2 of them can grab a starting role in the future. Xhaka still a liability at the back and a hindrance in attack, just give the armband to Leno already. Mustafi still Mustafi. Ceballos looked sharp. Nelson released the handbrake today, haven’t seen him play like this for the senior team before, always been to cautious. Good to… Read more »
Bob
Hear hear
Boris … c’mon fella revert to the positive side of old
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2019/07/28/sami-khedira-spotted-emirates-stadium-ahead-arsenal-vs-lyon-10474449/amp/
Sami khedira coming to arsenal??
None of our CB have the pace necessary to recover from an onrushing player when we play a high line in defense.
We can blame Mustafi as long as we want, but unless we have different personnel in defense, we should not play that system.
If Pepe watched this he’s off to Napoli…
CG-
I bet on Auba with first goal … I’m good. Thanks for betting against Arsenal though it clarifies your fandam.. You only support teams that Wenger manages… got it.
Fred
Page 3 OF soccer management
Win your last home game of The season
Win your first game of The Season
It’s called
FEEL GOOD FACTOR!
Mid west Gun
What’s Wenger got to do with it?
I just want a Proper Head Coach in
Not this Looser.
Cg
You are acting like a twat/cunt / dickhead
Delete as you will.
Your single moaning won’t stop jack.
But you know that you love the adulation of people coating you.
It’s preseason.
Grow up. Or continue your call but you’ve been sussed jack.
Hard to see a scenario where this side tops above 4th unless defense addressed, not a single change this summer with roughly 10 days of window left.
Huge week upcoming for Raul and Co, he’s shown the gangster side lets see if he can go full mod boss and move the needle in right direction.
CG_
Has to do with you constantly posting scores and saying how much money you made off the other team… did you do that when Wenger was the manager cuz you would have cleaned up then too.
RSPCA
Dont be a Looser too!
You know I am Right…
Still recovering from Wenger’s Balkans fetish of a few years back.
We just look so square at the back so many times the easiest of balls finds us out.?
Put that with a total lack of pace along the back 4 .
And were doomed doomed.
Lyon looked like they where at half pace against us today.?
An old fashioned sweeper might help.?
But what we have again at the moment well it’s all been
said.DIRE. DIRE. DIRE.
Yep.. need defensive help… asap. Make it happen… otherwise.
Monreal, Papa, Chambers, Jenks is our backline to start the season..
CG
You sir are displaying signs of fomo
Missing out on being included in convos means you retort to abuse .
We’ve been playing well an will continue too.
You esquire are a very dismal deluded individual.
But yer a goone who is entitled to his opinion.
Not one new defender in the window.
Chambers is not the level we want.
Who is our defensive coach?
Pépé’s final decision between Arsenal and Napoli next week.
In other words, Pedro is a dick.
HL
Why is Pedro a dick? But strong don’t you think?
“Sami khedira coming to arsenal??”
Ozil’s best friend ?? That would be the cherry on the cake!! (lol)
Yay! We’re getting pepe. He’s gonna solidify our defence and breakdown opposition attacks…. yay smh
“Why is Pedro a dick?”
Why don’t you check his last post’s headline one more time ?? To pretend that we have signed a player, while in fact nothing is signed yet, that’s totally dumb and unprofessional.
Has The Clown got the Bloody video machine working yet?
Play holding papa chambers with medley as cover
Ignore the others
Team is being set-up again for flat track bullying just like it was under Wenger in his second period.
Now flat track bullying can get you CL football perhaps and a top four place but it’s not serious in trying to make the team on the highest levels.
Needs must I suppose but then again we have been talking about defensive weakness for over a decade now. When will it ever be addressed.
Flat track bullying sees you getting mullered at Anfield.
Wa wa wa
HL
But this isn’t his job. It’s his hobby. Why so precious? He’s just an excited arsenal fan sharing his opinion like the rest of us. No need to be a dick about it
Mustafi should be ashamed of walking on a pitch… oh I forgot, money is all that matters to him.
Leno
Bel hold papa yoot
Torr
Calebos wilcox
Pea laca nelson
Team with players we got
It’s already been reported that arsenal paid his agents and offered him a better contract. That his agents are pushing him towards arsenal. Why would he go to Napoli when we beat them at a canter 3 months ago, twice.
Very bitchy HL. Needlessly so.
Mustafi should be ashamed of walking on a pitch… oh I forgot, money is all that matters to him.
HL
You drinking?
Scoreline isn’t important but the performance didn’t tell us much of what we didn’t already know. By far the biggest positive to me was the performances of Nelson and Willock, especially the former. Only one game but Nelson ran their full-backs ragged and deserved a goal/assist for his efforts, Nketiah missed the ball when he had put it on a plate for him. For me they look like they can play a role this season off the bench and have more life to their game than Iwobi does. Auba did what Auba does and stuck away a great goal, could… Read more »
https://celtsarehere.com/super-sub-moussa-dembele-shuts-up-arsenal-fans/
Celtic fans are hella salty
Nketiah looks shite I’m sorry, heavy touch and erratic timing of runs.
Lool the Celtic fans really are a pathetic bunch and at war with themselves, but let them enjoy their diminutive “victory” over us.
Emery says Lacas ankle isn’t serious but will be checked over coming days.
Eagle
He’s young mate. Give him some game time. Origi has come on leaps and bounds under klopp
Agree regardimg the others.
And I’ve been saying this about the high line all last season. It’s suicidal. How can he not see it when most arsenal fans can. Just drop it and play 3 central midfielders.
Why is everyone so negative? We’ve beaten Bayern Fiorentina and drew with Madrid
It’s onky a friendly vs Lyon. Yes Mustafi and sokratis were poor but it means nothing
I am concerned over the high line and playing Mustafi constantly though.
Celtic fans are some of the most arrogant wankers that you’ll ever meet. Can’t come to terms with the fact that their league is a complete laughing stock around Europe and a million miles off the PL, hilariously used to hear that Celtic should be added to the PL and they’d finish top half of the table at least from that lot. They’re lucky that Rangers got shitcanned from the SPL because they were completely dominated by them since the late 80’s. Rangers won 16 of the 24 SPL’s from 1989 till their financial collapse in 2012. A two-horse league… Read more »
Celtic fans championing this opaque victory is even more funny when Dembele came from Fulham. Short man syndrome is rife in that country/league.
What’s the point booing mustafi? Not like I defend him but maybe we can get something of him? Booing doesn’t help.
WE
After reading your comments(and not only yours) i feel arsenal fans are the most arrogant wankers on the world
Unn
He’s giving me flashbacks of Afobe/Akpom. Even Sanogo stuck away a few in pre-season, remember him scoring 4 against Benfica at the EC?
If even only one of Nelson/Willock come of age we ought to be delighted, both and we’re in dreamland. My money is on Nelson of the two.
Jay
It may help him push for an exit, light a fire under his agents ass if he finally gets that he’s not wanted at the club. If so I’m all for it.
If he stays it’s a bit counterproductive sure.
Something needs to be done at CB though, even if it’s only a loan.
Jay
Go on son elaborate.