Hosting is the worst thing you can possibly be asked to do. I had to chef a BBQ in 38 degree heat, no wind and no skill. I didn’t feel like a man. I felt like a fireman pulling burnt people out of a pit of hell. I had a flame rash across my chest this morning. Then to make matters worse, everyone stays after and drinks all you booze. I didn’t buy 20 bottles of fine spirit to share with people. I bought it because it looks pretty. People are simply atrocious.
I did catch some of the game yesterday. Again, I don’t want to get too deep into the preseason nonsense because who the fuck knows what’s going to show up for the Newcastle game.
However, we can distil the last month into three areas:
- The young players are making a case
- The defence looks really bad
- Will a winger make us better defensively because we appear to be banking a lot on that notion
Mr Willock put in another shift. He’s a very interesting player. There’s no fear in his game, he finds the right spaces, he’s a pretty good passer of the ball and he has an uncanny knack of getting into goalscoring positions (Freddie-ish, of course). Sure, his finishing is offbeat at the minute, but remember, the art is finding positions and good timing, scoring comes with age.
I thought Reiss Nelson looked on a mission yesterday. The most notable feature of his game is the pace he offers. We really lacked any sort of power moving foward last year. Auba is fast, but he’s kind of blunted as he’s the only player that can move at speed. Also, most of his goals come from 8 yards and closer. Auba at his peak was playing alongside Dembele, out of his 30 odd goals that season, most were a result of him getting to the 6 yard line fastest.
Back to Reiss, even if he’s green, he poses a different type of threat. Will a junior player with power and pace offer more than a senior player like Iwobi who has neither?
That’s part of the big debate my friends… a debate you can have in our comments section.
The other big news story was that Mustafi was booed.
Look, I’m all for virtue signalling that this is unacceptable… but I also don’t give a rats arse. If he were a Liverpool player he’d have 10 caravans in his front garden. If this were Madrid, they’d mail a pigs head to his home and harass him on the street.
Mustafi should be nowhere near the first team next year and him hanging onto a contract he ‘loves’ should not be a joyful experience. It is not my job to care about the retirement fund of someone that is bad at their job.
Fans taking action is fine by me. I’m sure Emery was secretly fist-bumping. Anyone who is crying about this won’t be when he’s using his hands to defend a pass from his own teammate against Liverpool in a few weeks.
There are rumblings that PSG are in for Pepe. I’m calm about it. The player wants to go to the bright lights of the greatest league in the world. Go to PSG and be a number, go to Arsenal and follow in the footsteps of African GIANTS of the game. Arsenal, despite its problems, is probably the best move for a player of 24 that wants to make a statement.
I am still a touch bothered about the lack of interest from other clubs. Notably, because the players relatives are working the deal. Is this a ‘hot goods’ deal’? Part of the intrigue of this deal is if it were a Wenger regime, we’d not be doing business. The worry is we go too far the other way and we’re facing a ban in 5 years time because we built his family a castle back in the Ivory Coast.
But again, my ethics go out the window when there’s an elite wide player with a super cool Adidas launch video incoming.
I’m done for the day, come into the comments and ask me about how I barbequed the shit out of a spicy Italian sausage… and won.
Also, listen to the below podcast. It’s a fucking banger about Arsenal vs United. It’s so well produced. Well played Team Mundial.
“The defence looks really bad” ==> Mustardi.
What Else ?
“It’s a fucking banger about Arsenal vs United. ”
8-2!! (sorry…)
A real possibility to see Khedira at Arsenal ?? A fan has took a picture with him at the Emirates Stadium yesterday!!
Please God, we already have Ozil…
4th?
They are so busy to slam each other, they don’t even saw there were a new post!!
lol
*was
PL + CL + ELC + FA CUP + Carambar Cup.
I think the PSG interest came from thin air.
“Back to Reiss, even if he’s green, he poses a different type of threat. Will a junior player with power and pace offer more than a senior player like Iwobi who has neither?”
Yes
I have always believed Iwobi doesn’t have enough about him to play for Arsenal and nothing he has done so far has changed that belief. I would sell him in a flash if anyone offers good money for him. Same way Pep tricked Leicester into buying the pony that is Iheanacho
I’d have Nelson, Willock should be given a first team squad place. Rather those 2 than el neny, mikhi, etc. Have to agree my main concern is our shockingly shite defence. Really really needs strengthening.
Weird that Gervinho was mentioned.If I’m not wrong the last time we brought 2 players from the French League in one window, was 2011/12. 8 years ago. Gervinho and Park.When it’s been really obvious that players usually have no problem acclimatizing to the EPL and we had Wenger, who’s obviosly French and had connections and was a huge name in France among players and football people, why the hell did we stop buying from France?!So many big name players have came through there or were born in France but came through another team. Legends in the Prem like Henry, Vieira,… Read more »
If the next two signings are happening, we’re not that bad going into the season:
First XI
Leno
Bellerin, Sokratis, Holding, Tierney
Torreira, Ceballos
Pepe, Özil, Aubameyang
Lacazette
Back up
Martinez
Maitland-Niles, Mavropanos, Chambers, Monreal
Xhaka, Guendozi
Nelson, Willock, Kolasinac
Nketiha
And we still have Jenkinson, Mustafi, Mkhitarian, ++
However, I’m surprised we’re burning off around £72m on Pepe but not going for Maguire for £80m.
Nah, you can’t play Ozil behind a front three of Auba, Laca and Pepe. Our midfield would be overrun.
As for booing Mustafi, i believe he has caused enough damage by his being bad as his well paid job to warrant booing
Pepe will be a cracking signing if it comes t pass. Still can’t get my head around it.
Throw in Tierney and a CB that doesn’t resemble Mustafi (In ability or looks) and we’re cooking on so much gas we’re gonna blow up to 4th come may.
I’m starting to get excited.
“BREAKING NEWS
Nicolas Pepe is expected to have a medical at Arsenal within days.
Sky Sports News understands a deal has been agreed with Lille and that the player has also agreed to join Arsenal. It’s expected the 24-year-old winger will be an Arsenal player this week.”
Sky sports are shameless
It’s true that a lot of our play will be funnelled through the middle with Pepe, but the fact he comes deeper should mean it’s not particularly bad thing, and could be a strength.
I don’t really get the issue with Pepe and Auba making the same run. That issue will only arise on counter attacks, and there is nothing wrong with them making the same run anyway. Could work in our favour as teams will have to catch both offside, and one might slip through the net.
^ lol they literally make things up as they go along. The transfer show at 7pm is the worst, both of those clowns lying through their teeth.
“According to Sky Italy”
Sky Italy, sure.
T2T
£80m for Maguire would be crazy money, think someone’s getting egg on there faces if they pay that for him.
That’s a relief. Apparently PSG made a late bid.
Thank god for Sky putting fans at ease and breaking the news.
“Thank god for Sky putting fans at ease and breaking the news.” LOL “I don’t really get the issue with Pepe and Auba making the same run. That issue will only arise on counter attacks, and there is nothing wrong with them making the same run anyway. Could work in our favour as teams will have to catch both offside, and one might slip through the net.” Well Paulinho there is a school of thought that Pepe and Auba will have to share the same goals as they make the same type of runs. One can be forgiven for having… Read more »
Talking about crazy money, Barcelona want to get rid of Malcom, but they’ve fixed his price at 50M euros…
(lolz)
Sell Iwobi for ~25m and get Malcom for ~40m. It would be an upgrade.
“One can be forgiven for having images of both Auba and Pepe going for the same ball like amateurs in his mind”
The first siamese twins to play for Arsenal.
I pray with all optimism Pepe doesn’t end up like Gervinho.
This deal took everybody by surprise. Sky and so called itks should admit they were blinded out of unnecessary criticism of the club and missed what was happening behind the scenes.
Of all the transfers done (us and other clubs) the one that will be underwhelming imo, is Sergei-Milinkovic Savic to Utd. If they think Pogba is a problem, wait and see SMS play. Guy is overly slow and doesn’t influence game that much.
Happy we got Pepe for the same amount Utd will be paying for SMS.
“Harry Maguire: Brendan Rodgers insists Leicester do not need to sell defender”
Meanwhile… “Harry Maguire did not take part in training with Leicester City on Monday, after phoning in sick.”
Ah ah ah, I love this period of the year.
From previous post Frankly if as a unit we’re more effective, I don’t care if PEA doesn’t score as many goals as last season. We’ve needed a top class winger since Sanchez went off the boil and it looks like we’ll be getting one. I know some of us are getting a little carried away with expectations but if Tiernay comes in, I honestly think we could be pushing for third place. EL is much easier to deal with pre Xmas than CL and if Holding and Bellerin stay fit, our defence will be better than last year. Ceballos looks… Read more »
KAY Boss
Amen to that
I have always had my doubts with him based on the way he blew up relatively quickly and also it appears we initially identified Zaha as first choice. With Zaha we know what we are getting but with this guy we have to pray he adapts.
It is a risk worth taking
“even when Mustafi commits a terrible mistake”
Which means lots of times.
“£80m for Maguire would be crazy money, think someone’s getting egg on there faces if they pay that for him.”
Agreed. Still hoping Man U end up being the eggy ones.
Crimson
Legrove is over run with right wing idiotic loonys and trolls.
Vamos Arsenal! ❤️ Fuck spurs
Yeah, it’s getting tiresome
Some really think that PEA & Pepe will be constantly making the same runs into the same blade of grass…?
Hahahaha…. Okaaaay!!!
karim/Valentin or Valentin/karim ?? lol
Booing is alright but today i read somewhere some fans tried to chase after Mustafi on a road signal. Man had to break the signal and speed away. Idk if thats true but if it is,its utterly disgusting. Anyways getting tierney and pepe we would be easily challenging 3rd position. We have a better attack than Spuds,chelsea manu and a with cabellos our midfield should look quite good too. Emery clearly stating we are in hunt for a CB and names are on table. If we can get a solid CB with the above mentioned incomings i think that 3rd… Read more »
Wasi
I’d take that story with a pinch of salt. There’s a cross road’s opposite the Tollington where I drink that the majority of players drive past on leaving the stadium. You nearly always have people mostly kids waiting to catch them at a red light to get an autograph.
Sounds more like that and shit stirring than anything else.
I noticed hairline, Freddy and ishola were pretty quiet about the performance of willock yesterday
Another game, another quality showing. This kid is gonna be hot shit 🏴 🏴
Marc
Sure.I was just stating we have class and should never try anything like that even on a Spud’s player.
Pedro Pepe is clearly a “class” player. No-one who has played with him or has followed his career suggests otherwise and apparently his lifestyle offield is fairly solid as well. We have of course been arguing for a long time about recruiting a proper winger into the club. So he will probably provide that solution. My concern is that Arsenal have lining up at the club a bunch of Academy players like Nelson and Saka who will also want to play in the first team in the next one or two years. What is the impact there. One of the… Read more »
Would people be happy with Pepe, Tierney, Khedira, Rugani before the end of the window?
Great podcast Pedro. Just listened to the first 30 minutes or so while having a coffee in the park with the dog and what an excellent start to the day. Stopped at “Wiiiillltooorrrrddd!”
“I noticed hairline, Freddy and ishola were pretty quiet about the performance of willock yesterday”
Good performance …but yesterday was still a preseason game
I expect him to play games this season though
karimJuly 29, 2019 16:02:29
Crimson
Legrove is over run with right wing idiotic loonys and trolls.
Vamos Arsenal! ❤️ Fuck spursYeah, it’s getting tiresome
Karim
Tough shit. We can’t all eat the nonsese we are spoon fed by globalists in the pursuit of dumbed down, NPC consumers.
Some of us think for ourselves
Un na
We do have a potential major problem with Willock though. If he carries on showing improvement we’ll have to drop Xhaka to accommodate him in the team!
CA
people would kill for that. Just exclude Khedira from the list.
“Would people be happy with Pepe, Tierney, Khedira, Rugani before the end of the window?”
What problem does Khedira solve Cesc??
Rh
So you’re warming to him? Come on. The kid looks the part. Every time he played he’s lighting up the field
Cesc
Can you arrange for Ana de Armas to give me a blowjob as well?
Yeah fuck sami. He’s been over the hill for ages.
Marc
Or Ceballos or ozil
Un
Fair enough but why on here ?
Same reason as everyone else
It’s a highly engaging forum
“So you’re warming to him? Come on. The kid looks the part. Every time he played he’s lighting up the field”
yes he has looked very good, very assured. Much better player than Guendouzi in my opinion
Pepe reminds me a bit of Mahrez. Seems a bit less flaky though in deeper areas. Hopefully anyway.
Anyways what is up with AMN. seems like he is degrading as a player . He has been playing out of position alright but what does he want? He would never slot into our current midfield and he doesnt really have the end product to solve our winger problems. His over-confidence seems like complacency now. So much talent going to waste.
HL
You will find there’s a world of difference between a good old joke about the french and someone spreading hatred for a living.
I will be talking about football from now on.
Cheers. ( Bamford style )
Pépé is a good signing. It’s a show of intent. Not massively concerned by the lack of (supposed) interest; although rumours of PSG, Napoli and Liverpool have circulated.
Given out financial constraints, we’ve done well IF this transfer goes through.
You’d imagine this all but spell the end for Mhk and/or Iwobi?
Karim Can I also point something out. Right wing has become a dirty word. Deliberately this idea is pushed by mainstream leftists and it’s caught on until recently. Being right wing doesn’t mean that you walk around in a white vest with a shaved head and an iron cross tattoo onto your forehead Most of the Time it’s about preservation of one’s environment, culture and heritage. It’s about contentment for the way things are It’s about small government and more personal freedom It’s about less surveillance, stronger borders, better justice systems, the encouragement of the traditional family unit and a… Read more »
Khedira is a crock that played 8 games last year in Italy, Rugani supposedly comparable to Mertesacker ie big and slow.
Would be underwhelming unless I’m miles off on both.
“Pepe reminds me a bit of Mahrez. Seems a bit less flaky though in deeper areas. Hopefully anyway.”
Ceballos’s legs reminds me of Mahrez..lol
Rh
There we go. See. So you agree that he should be getting used more often. Cup games and off the bench for league games unless he makes such an impact he can’t he denied a starting place any longer?
He’s a midfielder so he won’t win that spot at this stage but he’s knocking hard on the door
Un
Yeah agree but he meant far right
Wasi RH
Seems to be linked now and not just because he was at the game yesterday. Rumurs starting to pick up a bit now.
Marc
Ask Sanllehi to sort it out for you.
Probably talk her into the age defying power your joystick has.
I surely cant be in The Minority in thinking that we would be better off splashing out £80 million on Harry Maguire rather than this Pepe Chap. Goals Conceded are our Chronic Problem Goals Scoring is not. (Signing Maguire this summer and Zaha next summer – and we would start to Go places….) Very noticeable from afar: That Man Utd are Going Back to Basics Building that Defence with a new right back, new Centre Half and new contract for De Gea. Whilst we seem to be getting Frivolous, Flaky Forwards From France…. Is Pepe much better than Nelson? Nelson… Read more »
Khedira is at least 6 years too late. He’s another unreliable crock. Avoid!
Again unless Kimbempe has better offers or they are asking for a sale alone, why not him on a loan with an option to buy. Rugani has Suarez vibes about him, a youngster who made a big team move too early, stagnated and now looks miserable
“Seems to be linked now and not just because he was at the game yesterday. Rumurs starting to pick up a bit now.”
Cesc he will be a waste of a squad place in my opinion Khedira, does not solve a pressing need.
“He’s another unreliable crock. Avoid!”
He’s Mesut’s best pal, to avoid at all cost!!
RH
Guendouzi last pre-season looked like Zidane.
You cant judge a player on what he does in the pre-season . It would be interesting to see if he can usurp guendouzi come the season. Both will get their chances . Anywayd such fierce competition can only lead to good results and surely we’ll get at least 1 elite midfielder in 2-3 years or maybe even 2.
“RH
Guendouzi last pre-season looked like Zidane.
You cant judge a player on what he does in the pre-season”
Again i agree
Although Guendouzi even in preseason never showed the ability to get in the box and be a threat that Willock has shown albeit in preseason
I really we have someone in The AFC Dept checking Pepes Passport ( not Edu off course- he should steer well clear of Passport Issues)
24 years old????
Age Alert!
Those African Passports……mmmm!
RH
Not saying he does just seems to be growing links with him.
The fact he’s one of Ozil’s friends is enough for me to say no.
Going to be an interesting 10 days.
CG
He was born in Paris, I think it will be fine.
Thanks Karim
He looks over 24 to me.
The views on Ozil are clear at this point but if we can somehow get him playing a tune then that could be the biggest coup of all this summer moving forward.
Speculative as it comes, but if Khedira is a pal and that turns Ozil on to being useful again it could be worth it for that reason alone.
With Auba, Laca, Pepe getting service from an actual version of Ozil, instead of the shadow we’ve had to watch the past two season, we could have a season.
Of course, school out, so now he’s back with a bang…
RH guendouzi and willock both have their pros and cons you could say. Willock is better positionally ,can control the game well, ability to sneak into the box(ramsey like), Also his composure is way beyond his age(both inside and outside of the penalty area). Willock id say seems like a hybrid of Xhaka and Ramsey. He is like a control tower with ability to get into good positions and make himself useful in the final third. Guendouzi is more like a box-to-box midfielder. Easily drives into the opposition’s defences, good vision ,good passing long and short ,Good engine, Good composure… Read more »
CG
I would love to learn the art of knowing a person’s age just by looking at him.
CC
Actual version of Ozil behind pepe,auba laca would rip our opponents apart. We’d be winning every match 4-2 and 5-2.
Wasi which is why i don’t want Khedira, let this two youngsters get games and continue to improve
Rugani is a yes please. Any upgrade to Mustafi is preferable and literally any player on two legs is an upgrade to Mustafi. If he plays one minute this season in an arsenal shirt something is terribly wrong. Give him away for a cheeseburger and a plane ticket if you have to but he must go. Then reevaluate the position when Saliba gets here next season. Then our four defenders are holding papa rugani and chambers. That should do in a pinch. If it doesn’t then spend money on a defender again in January and shift out chambers. We should… Read more »
RH
Nobody wants Khedira and nobody should want Khedira. He was a very slow player even in his prime. PL not for him . He couldn’t even get game timr in the Serie A last season.
After going all project youth, i dont think we are going to be signing him. Emery said yesterday that it was the first time he heard him beint linked with us. But that wasnt the type of response he gave when asked about Pepe.
Cha Chs
(You know your soccer.)
Who makes us better?
Pepe at 80 mill or Maguire at 80 mill?
Pepe is so much sauce that no-one even cares there was a dead body found in Elneny’s home.
Id rather 80 mil for Zaha then Maguire. Very good defender but not worth more than 50. But its manu so leicester will probly get their wish.
Wasi,
Here is a training video on this. You are welcome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEf2ML7wkBE
Wasi
Dead body at Elneny’s gaffe, and Ozil attacked by knife-wielding car-jackers in the space of a week.
I thought it was coincidence but maybe Sanllehi really is a gangster trying to intimidate them out the club!
CG, you are demented. From the little I’ve read about Pepe, he was born in France. Talking about his age, are u saying g he’s over the reported age? Who told u other parts of the world don’t cheat when it comes to age. You are the main reason South Africa went thru arpatheid.
King Kanu, Kanu.
He’s older than me and you.
His real age is 62
King Kanu, Kanu
Cc
Great point regarding ozil. Never thought of it but he has friends at arsenal too and it hasn’t made any difference in the last year. Do you feel the arrival of Khedira would really motivate him that much?
How have you lot not figured out how to ignore CG….It’s like some of you actually enjoy engaging with him…Weird
“How have you lot not figured out how to ignore CG….It’s like some of you actually enjoy engaging with him…Weird”
Super weird
Suga3
Thanks for the lessons.
Elmo
Sanllehi is a real G. All his detractors are now praising Sanllehi for Pepe signing … We need a song for Pepe and Sanllehi.
We shouldn’t need to sign an over the hill midfielder to motivate someone who is on £350k pw to play football.
Super serial you guys!!!
Unaai Idk mate, it’s pie in the sky speculation on my part. What I do know is Ozil has been mince for us for two years and Emery hasn’t done a thing to get a tune out of him since he’s been here. Maybe, just maybe, with the additions of Pepe and Ceballos there will be a new vibe in the camp. Then were we to introduce Khedira we could see a change from Ozil. Maybe Khedira is a pal, but a pal that actually has a game face, unlike Mustafi. I’m clutching, but bottom line is a proper Ozil… Read more »
The only 25+ player we should be trying to sign is Dani Alves .
Ah that bad boys seen was good Suga3
You do love a good YouTube clip
The other one with Hitler was good too.
Scene
Emery hasn’t done a thing to get a tune out of him since he’s been here.
Cc
Didn’t you watch him vs Leicester before Xmas
What more do you want from him?
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9602442/elneny-dead-body-arsenal-egypt-electrocuted/amp
😂😂😂😂😂 3rd wold bantz