Well, things are moving at a pace now…
Pépé will be announced in the next 48 hours. The picture from above is a leak from the Arsenal studio. The player was snapped getting his Arsenal merch yesterday. He’s well and truly a done deal. What a moment!
Arsenal is willing to spend £25m on Tierney. The Celtic left-back now looks ever more likely to move. I think the hope that fandom would keep him from moving to the bright lights was always a bit hopeful. I’d imagine the young player has just seen what happened to Zaha, a player that was one moment heading for a rebirth as a star at Arsenal… and is now having to move to Merseyside. Regardless of how rich Everton are, that’s hardly a step up. If Tierney doesn’t make this move now, who is to say a major club will come for him next season? Take the chance when it’s presented to you.
Edu has met with Rennes to thrash out a deal to move on Laurent K. This is smart. Keeping players against their will never smart, again, let’s see how the Zaha thing pans out for Palace if they dig in. I think this situation could have been even more problematic because of the seniority of the player. Also, he’s past it, we’d be holding onto someone that’d be injured all season and far from useful. Let him go.
Mustafi has multiple suitors looking at him, which should be pretty obvious, he’s a World Cup winner. He wants to stay and prove himself, but I’m assuming a double NO from Raul and Edu has the 27-year-old considering his options.
We’ll move for a centre back, no doubt. I’m not quite sure we’re going to get the blockbuster player we’re looking for, but hey, what the fuck do I know, I didn’t think we had a chance in hell of landing Pépé.
Daniele Rugani of Juve has been linked in and out this summer. Lots of people are clambering for Konate or Upamecano. Whomever we choose… it’ll be a huge upgrade on the accident prone sack of potatoes we have at the club at the minute.
ALSO: The hot take ‘analysts’ on the internet trying to paint him as a good defender show you the exact dangers of judging a player by a spreadsheet with limited data. A single data point cannot be used to judge talent, just remember that.
There will still be holes in the squad, no doubt. The fact that Xhaka is anywhere near being our captain is a huge worry. Ozil is still in the mix. Sure, he’s showed up for preseason, but we know exactly what’ll happen to him when the weather starts to fade. There are going to be major question marks over Emery this season. Even with new players, his approach to the game is unlikely to move us up a level.
HOWEVER:
It feels like we’re finally at ground zero. Most of the problems are being solved, and it’s starting to look like there’s a north star emerging for the club. A football club never solves all its problems, but attacking the most important ones is definitely a move in the right direction. In fact, just having a direction is nice.
Having Stan K running your club is always going to be a problem if you think you need the owner to be poring over details. However, it’s difficult to deny that he’s invested in the club. His biggest weakness has always been who he has let run the show. He gave Wenger and Ivan too much trust and they blew it.
Now he’s put the power in the hands of Raul and Edu.
Early signs indicate that’s at the very least a more exciting direction.
Let’s see where the season takes us.
Un,
No. Kingston, Jamaica, to Jamaican parents. Emigrated to the UK when he was a kid. Is British, plays for England.
Checkmate?
Gentlebris,
Good to see you took time off from crying over your missing internet buddies long enough to type that message.
Baby steps, saddo.
Both parents of Joe Willock are from Mont-Serrat, so according to your own criteria that makes him not English.
Same with Callum Hudson-Odoi. Both parents are Ghanean.
Both kids are born and raised Londoner. The nationality of their parents does not change that their main culture is British.
You do know that some people from the Carribbean are white?
So skin colour should not be a factor in deciding the nationality unless you still think that Apartheid was a good thing.
RH
Where would you go to?
Valentin,
Has anyone suggested skin colour determines nationality?
Un I’m not sure, I don’t think it’s exclusively that that winds them up, I wind everybody up – bit of a merchant.
“Both parents of Joe Willock are from Mont-Serrat, so according to your own criteria that makes him not English.”
Ouch, this should hurt Battle knowing how much you love English Boy Willock
“Same with Callum Hudson-Odoi. Both parents are Ghanean.”
Don’t want to be that guy but the correct term is Ghanaian
Valentin Willock was born in London Callum Hudson-odoi is Ghanaian?? Born and raised in fuckin Wandsworth Sancho born in Camberwell. Try again Valentin. So let’s get this straight because you’re so tangled up I think you’re actually confusing yourself Wilfred zaha who has two Ivorian parents and was born in the Ivory Coast is English but Hudson odoi and willock who we’re born and raised in London are not? Fuck me you need help Valentin. Just stop now. You’re changing positions to win the same argument and actually arguing against your original point but from the wrong angle. You’ve literally… Read more »
Receding,
I’m told Ghana is the place where you can find the best Jollof Rice……
Ouch, this should hurt Battle knowing how much you love English Boy Willock
Baldy
None of this is even remotely true
All three were born and raised in London
They are English
Zaha is not
Being eligible to represent a country doesn’t mean you are from that country.
Left,
From Un
We have 3 more children who are all born and educated in India. They are white and speak English at home. Are they Indian?
Un,
If Zaha’s not English in your eyes, then I presume Stirling isn’t either?
“RH
Where would you go to?”
Leftside Canada is in vogue here, i have had at least a dozen or more colleagues granted permanent residency in Canada. Can’t say i like the country that much though.
If i had my pick probably somewhere in Europe or Britain. When i was much younger i had my eyes set on New Zealand or Australia, got rejected thrice by both!!!!
Raheem Sterling is the pocket aces.
He’s as English as Zaha. Foreign-born, to foreign parents, moved to England as a child, is British.
The only other criteria he met is that he declared himself available for the English National Team, not the Jamaican. Not sure anyone told Zaha he needed to play for England in order to be considered British.
“Receding,I’m told Ghana is the place where you can find the best Jollof Rice……”
Blasphemy!!!!!
I will have you know Sir Nigerian Jollof is where it’s at, Senegal a distant second
Un,
I am confused.
So what are the exact criteria to be English according to you?
Having English parent?
That can’t be because you said that Owen Hargreaves was not English.
Be born in London?
That can’t be because Raheem Sterling was born in Jamaica.
Raised in England?
That can’t be because Zaha is not English.
Left you’re not alone but (forgive me if I’m overreaching here) I’d say it gets under their skin because of their pride in being Nigerian and having a preference for that rather than identifying as English
And there’s nothing wrong in that at all.
If I had kids in another country I wouldn’t see it that way at all. I’d say that they are x first and british second and that they should respect and love the culture they grew up in above that of their British heritage. That’s my view.
I’m told Ghana is the place where you can find the best Jollof Rice……
How dare you!!!!!!
Knowing that the Jollof rice is named from the Wollof people, a Senegalese tribe, I would say that the Senegalese Jolloff is the best.
Best Served with some fried fish.
Receding the last place you want to live is Britain.
Lol your hatred of foreigners consumes you un na
It’s honestly sad to watch
What with my wife being chinese and my toddler born in China I assume you’d rather they weren’t allowed in to the UK to steal your job or whatever weird ass shit you think foreigners are going to do to you that upsets you so much
He definitely nose best….
Probably a student of karim.
China
Don’t be ridiculous
Read my posts before making unfounded assumptions.
Interesting that the excitement over the Pepe transfer has died down before the official announcement has been done!
Fair enough Un but whilst they’ve taught us their traditions and are proud of it, they’ve also embraced that we are British born and identify us as British so it lends to what I was saying about their response to being wound up by me.
I’m no CG (I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t Mike Tyson him he’s that grating) but I can be a wind up too.
Valentin
From Un
We have 3 more children who are all born and educated in India. They are white and speak English at home. Are they Indian?
They’re both
France won the Afcon
Africa won the world cup
Marc,
Apparently there are some administrative details to iron out before he can be announced, I’m just gonna wait – I have no doubt that the deal is done. A part of me even wondered if they were trying to wrap up Tierney aswell and give us another double whammy. Prob wishful thinking, although that is another deal I reckon gets done.
Leftside
There’s a major difference between a humorous wind up and being a cunt.
“Receding the last place you want to live is Britain.”
Really Tony??
Well i will take your word for it . Not a lot of good tidings out of Britain these days to be fair, but name me a country without problems.
Leftside
I wouldn’t be surprised if we wanted to do a double announcement. Sanllehi’s blown our media budget on signings!
“Interesting that the excitement over the Pepe transfer has died down before the official announcement has been done!”
Totally in character
Arsenal are always the last to announce their own deals these days
Marc I don’t even think he’s that, I think he’s barking insane.
Vickingz you seem to be seeking some sort of bank and forth with me which i have no interest in Do you even know Cohen Bramall?? Absolve Emery of what failings?? How many first team appearances did Cohen Bramall make prior to Emery?? If he is good enough why is league 2 Colchester the next destination for a player you believe Emery should use at Arsenal?? You are too thick for an interaction so stay in your lane As for your last silly question, our play in preseason has been largely fluid and more cohesive, yesterday was a run out… Read more »
“Receding the last place you want to live is Britain.”
Where would you say is the best place to live Tony??
Receding,
As I’m sure Raul has told Mustafi many, many times, the best place to live in the world is Monaco.
“Well, I don’t know who you think you are.” An anonymous fellow posting on a football blog Vickingz.. “Did emery even give d young guy a look out?” Guess you mean a look in..well if at 23 he hasn’t played one senior game for Arsenal prior to his arrival i wonder why the buck stops with Emery to give him a look in. “Yeah, let’s play with the “he’s not good enough narrative” but even if you are being fired, you at least get the courtesy of being reached out to, don’t you?” Wasn’t fired. Contract was up and he… Read more »
Kenya gunner,
😉
I would not go as far as that as some of the Black players in that French squad are not from Africa, but from French West Indies.
However I would say that the French football education system won both competition.
From the French squad, only Griezman has been educated outside of France. He was considered too small and went to Spain.
At AFCON in both finalists squad most were trained in France. Even in the Senegal team, some that were trained in Senegal were trained at Patrick Viera football school managed by French educators.
“Receding,As I’m sure Raul has told Mustafi many, many times, the best place to live in the world is Monaco.”
Don’t think it would be that lovely if one cannot speak a word of French Words and isn’t a millionaire
Nairobi
I’m French with Algerian parents, can I celebrate both titles ?
Proud card carrying US citizen.. born and raised.. but my spirit animal country is the Bahama’s…. No worries. Pass me another Kalik.
Anyhow… yeah we need that announcement asap… people are starting to lose their shit. Understandable given the Wenger banter years.
Valentin For me you have to be born and raised here At the very least you must then have some form of English blood/heritage through parents or grand parents Zaha has no tie to England other than moving to London and I’m sure he loves the place and the fact he was given such opportunities but it doesn’t make him english The reason I am so into giving our youngsters a chance is because they ARE ENGLISH. Willock, nelson, AMN are English I want them blooded and I hold them dearer to my heart because of this. Same with welbeck… Read more »
Marc
“There’s a major difference between a humorous wind up and being a cunt.’
let us know which one you are as it’s very hard to tell.
50 50 for me Marc. 🙂
Un na except it’s not really ridiculous. It’s a sufficiently commonly held view (skeptism of foreign family members to British nationals) that the government has sought to make it harder for people in my shoes to bring their family in. It’s a populist move, because there are lots of racists and dimwits about and they vote unfortunately Was it not you the other day claiming that our in the lovely white heavily British majority West Country that it’s lovely and has a safe crime free environment? It’s because of this kind of wrong bs being believed by enough people that… Read more »
Tony
Devon, Dorset and Cornwall are still beautiful, peaceful and polite regions in which to reside. If I don’t settle down abroad I’ll head there myself. 😝
China
My brother has married a Mexican girl
Jumped through all the same hoops and hated it
None of this is my fault nor would it be my choice.
Anyway. Enough of this or I’ll end up banned. I’m not allowed to discuss societal issues. With the season so close I don’t want to tempt fate.
Un,
“For me you have to be born and raised here
At the very least you must then have some form of English blood/heritage through parents or grand parents
Zaha has no tie to England other than moving to London and I’m sure he loves the place and the fact he was given such opportunities but it doesn’t make him english”
—-
So you don’t think Raheem Sterling is English and therefore shouldn’t be playing [nor have ever played] for England?
‘You have to be born and raised here’
Un na I challenged you whether you think my son shouldn’t be allowed in and seen as british because he’s born and raised so far in China and you said it’s ridiculous
Now you’re saying to be british you have to be born and raised in England to be English
You can’t even last a few comments on this comments section without giving the game away
Is this Kenyan gunner aimed at me?
😂 😂 😂
Hats off. I like that one
My son has half british blood but his first language is chinese and culturally he’s more chinese than british so far
What is he?
What is he?
_____
If he has sweet tekkers, a burst of paced and can shoot like Ronaldo… He is a US citizen and I can make it happen. 😀
Un,
“For me you have to be born and raised hereAt the very least you must then have some form of English blood/heritage through parents or grand parents.”
Joe Willock was born and raised in UK, however
Both parent of Joe Willock are from Mont-Serrat so no blood heritage there. What does that make him? According to your own rule not English.
Looks like players you like can be English others are just bloody foreigners.
“let us know which one you are as it’s very hard to tell.
50 50 for me Marc. ”
That’s easy I’m a funny arrogant cunt.
What is he?
Both
China
You’re being ridiculous and it seems to me you’re looking for offence
Of course your son should be allowed in
What the fuck??
Valentin
He’s English
How many times
Un,
Is Sterling English?
Lucas Moura Tweet after Sp*rs Audi Cup Win
“Very happy to get my first trophy with this amazing club. The best way to start the season! We will work hard to keep building this winning mentality.”
Someone have a word….
Tony
“Receding the last place you want to live is Britain”
In so many respects, I agree with you. After 17 years living and working overseas, we came back to the UK in 2001.
Has got to the stage now where we’ve sort of had enough. Apart from beer gardens, our unique sense of humour, Brighton and large parts of London, that’s about it for me.
Where to live though?
What does the blood heritage point mean anyway?
If my son is born in China, if he never bothered to learn English and if he lived here his whole life, would he still be british to you on the grounds of blood?
The whole point you don’t get un na is that there is naunce to this conversation that goes beyond your coordinates on the planet at the exact second of being pushed out of a vagina and the exact coordinates of one or both of your parents when they too were pushed out of their ma’s vag
China
You want me to decide the nationality of your son?
Don you bang on about English this and English that is in your heart, but in a previous post you talked about emigrating to Canada or Australia. Now your infinity with India and 3 English speaking kids there, joke, right? You taken your meds this morning Don? I say this with all best intentions that other posters can keep up with you. I’m blaming 6 Long Island Iced Teas with Grey Goose instead of gin for my confusion and am just about to head out in BKK for the night nicely warmed up to meet some of my MC brothers.… Read more »
I just want us to get our transfer business completed… hopefully address the backline… and get our season started already…..after that last dismal preseason match with the 3rd string team….. I’m ready to get this shit started for real.
I’m done with evaluating the youth mode.
China Ok. This is my opinion but this is how i see it Your son was born and raised in China, Chinese culture and language to a Chinese mother and British father He’s chinese with british heritage/roots Just like I’m born in England to an Irish father and xxxxxx mother so I’m english with Irish and xxxxxx roots Of course it’s nuanced. I’m not saying there aren’t nuances, every single human being on the planet is nuanced in so many different ways it’s almost inconceivable. But we are talking about football here, not your son. Zaha is not English, Willock… Read more »
Un,
Why are you ignoring the Sterling example? Is he English?
Un what perfectly sums up how nuanced the nationality debate is, is what I can tell you about my son’s legal nationality
The Chinese consider him Chinese and don’t recognize him as British and the British recognize him as British and not chinese in legal terms
broad brush determination you use for nationality are also used by governments leading to nonsensical situations like my boy’s because they’re too set in their own definitions to acknowledge that nationality is more complex than this
China 1
“My son has half british blood but his first language is chinese and culturally he’s more chinese than british so farWhat is he?”
Is he confused?
Just kidding.
I have an adopted Mexican son 23 and a half Thai half English son 11 (soon), and an adopted 100% Thai daughter 21 my wife’s niece she took on @ 6 months old and I adopted when we married. The latter is a Chinese Thai culture situation.
Doesn’t leave me much room to talk.
Midwest
Barca on Sunday and that’s it for us. It’ll be here before we know it.
Tony
India was just an example.
Yes was thinking about Oz again but what’s that got to do with zaha not being english?
I have a selection of take away menu’s but I treat them all equally.
There’s no place for racism in food.
Zaha and Sterlings situation is identical. Born in their home nations and none of their parents are British. So why is Sterling British while Zaha isn’t??
Jamie
Not for me no
Haha Tony he most definitely is confused!
He speaks great mandarin and his English is ok but not close to his chinese
Had his first trip back to see his English grandparents and great grandma 2 weeks ago and spent the entire two weeks bamboozling them with chinese because he didn’t feel like using English lol
And he couldn’t clock that my parents have no idea what he’s talking about haha
Confused he was.
The Arsenal fans on the official Twitter feed.
Every post that isn’t the Pepe announcement they are getting angrier and angrier.
Some of it is actually quite funny.
Un –
Well, at least you’re consistent.
Someone should inform the FA, no? Don’t you feel like a bit of a fraud supporting a foreign impostor in an England shirt (Sterling)? Genuine question, because I think he’s English, as is Zaha since they meet almost identical criteria.
Lille making some neat profit off Rafael Leao
Signed on a free transfer last summer, now sold to AC Milan for 27.3m pounds
China 1
Brilliant sounds like a great kid.
Marc
Good answer.
I’ll give you funny as you reflect humour in most of your posts and often make me smile.
Have you still got a season ticket? Thought I read it somewhere.
China1. Your son is a citizen of the world. Just buy him a DVD of 101 Dalmatians in English and let him watch on repeat. His education will be complete. My kids love that film.
Cesc
The club photographer is on the receiving end of some funny tweets too. Arsenal fans are quite the sight to behold on twitter.
The cartoon version though. The live action version is not a patch on the 60 yr old film
“Have you still got a season ticket? Thought I read it somewhere.”
Nah made that up never been to a game!
“Not even close. But to claim zaha is more English than Ivorian is just tosh. He’s not even a little bit English. Not a slither.“ Ehh? Lol I’ll never understand the relevance of where a person is born, it’s where you’re raised that influences you. Where your born is literally just the place your mum aimed her fanny. Zaha hit the deck in Africa, but he’s as English as any other kid that grew up in London from aged 4. He’s also got some knowledge/experience of African culture through his immediate family who were/are raised in the Ivory Coast. But… Read more »
Global truedat!
When you’re married to a foreigner, have lived abroad for so many years and your kids end up in this nationality debates you really do start to see yourself as a global citizen
Tho does that mean my son and I could qualify for a world XI???
Also 101 Dalmatians is a classic. It’s been too long
Announcement by 6pm apparently, so the twitter lunatics can rest easy for a few hours
“Announcement by 6pm apparently, so the twitter lunatics can rest easy for a few hours”
You can say that again. Imagine getting so worked up over a transfer announcement. I have moved on from Pepe, now i want to know what we are doing about that defense. Emery saying he hopes Kosceilny stays makes me believe he sees these defenders as competent which is shocking
Emery’s on his own with that stupid statement about wanting Koscielny to stay. The guy really wants to win games 5-4 as he alluded to in his dossier.
Cc
No he’s not
He’s Ivorian
Leftside For the sake of public health Arsenal just need to announce it now. RH I’m not sure taking everything he said as a whole. The last part seems to suggest that he would like Kozz to stay but ultimately its the player’s choice and he wants to leave so we now need to see about bringing a player in. The fact that Tierney was one of Emery’s top targets suggests he does see what we all see. We’re apparently looking at a lot of different CB options as well. Kozz and Mustafi are the most likely to be sold,… Read more »
The Arsenal fans on the official Twitter feed.
Every post that isn’t the Pepe announcement they are getting angrier and angrier.
—–
Ikr… twitter meltdowns are up there with some classic Le Grove meltdowns. Good times being an Arsenal supporter. If you don’t have a sense of humor your probably not gonna last long. If we didn’t sign Pepe now for some reason the internet might actually explode.
Graham Boris and Brexit should have you looking at the atlas. I guess it depends on how close you are to your family in the UK. I assume your wife has family in Africa? Thailand works for me, but I always hankered to live in Japan. Did you go there on holiday? The more I read about the UK and the knife crime you couldn’t pay me to live in the UK or London where I’m from. Depends what you want from life and how that fits with the family. I didn’t get married untilI was 52 having met my… Read more »
Swing and a miss on this one Unaai for my money, undid your own ‘reasoning’ above too when you diagnosed China’s kids.
Cc
How do?
If his kid was born in China to a Chinese mother then the child to me is chinese first.
There is nothing English about Wilfred ahaha other than he lives here
Cesc
Lille have apparently just signed and sent us the necessary documents, it should only be a matter of hours now.
I have been convincing myself all afternoon that Wenger and Gazidis are gone now and that we just can’t possibly screw that one again lol.
Receding
They have Luis Campos who helped Monaco make all that cash a few seasons ago and it is looking like he’s doing it yet again although Lille doesn’t have the same kind of players.
If we didn’t sign Pepe now for some reason the internet might actually explode.
This reminds me of the guy who went on AFTV after we lost to Stoke and his voice broke as if he was going to burst into tears. He abandoned the interview, always does the job when you want a laugh.
Arsenal fans would probably find themselves protesting outside the stadium if this one fell through.
Emery is such a push over. Doesn’t exactly command respect. A manager with balls would tell Koscielny he can train with the kids team for the remainder of his contract.
Jamie
On the contrary. Zaha and Sterling are the imposters. They are posing as Englishmen when they are not.
So the student is the teacher, and the teacher is the student…
WTF ??
MidWest
Some of the comments are actually quite funny. Some people do not to relax though. As Karim alluded to I think it is a hangover from the past incompetent regime.
Karim
I think a lot of Arsenal fans feel the same.
We’re so used to f**k ups in the window etc that even when he’s holding the shirt people will probably say ‘until he walks out the tunnel against Burnley I won’t be convinced’.
‘Nah made that up never been to a game!’
Sure I live in Timbuktu really lol
Kozz is subject to disciplinary action, isn’t he? Training with the U23s and was fined.
If the manager wanted him to stay that is not what you would do.
“I have been convincing myself all afternoon that Wenger and Gazidis are gone now …”
karim – I am doing same as you , the clowns known as Wenger and Gazidis have left the building and it is not possible to constantly fcuk up deals like those two did.
Good to see you back here and that youre alive and well.