Oh man, it was totally an accident, I was wandering around the supermarket trying to find something that resembled healthy that could be cooked fast… and I accidentally bought something called Better Than Rice and a curry jackfruit pouch which is a vegan chicken substitute. I swear guys, this is NOT who I want to be…
Tasted pretty good though. Have to admit it. Also, I do feel smug because I’m pretty sure I just saved the planet with one meal? What did you eat? You fucking culinary terrorist.
Anyway, outside saving the world, I was thinking about the impact of Stan taking Arsenal private and Josh K telling us to all ‘be excited’ the other week.
Give it to him, he f*cking delivered hard. He even made Emery change his teeth, harsh, but that’s America people.
I wonder how they’re setting the club up financially now? Are they merging all their sports teams like some sort of mega content network? How is this summer working? How is Raul making the numbers continue to work? Or did everyone just get thrown off because Arsenal spent all season leaking they had no money to spend?
Everything the club is doing makes sense. They’ve invested in players before they’re out of our price range. They’ve taken a huge punt on someone that could be worth £150m in 2 seasons time. They’re trying to promote youth as a cost-saving measure. They’ve reorg’d around a serial winner.
From a business perspective, it would be a bad thing if we slinked into mediocrity. There’s no value in being shite in the world of democratised football content. This all makes total sense. But I feel uneasy, because Arsenal are finally doing things that make sense? What’s the catch?
I feel like one of those boys that went to Pleasure Island with Pinnochio. I’m out here, swigging citrus pale ale, smoking cigars, shooting pool with a puppet that has gender issues… but where’s the catch?
This just, you know, doesn’t feel very KSE.
Well, I guess that’s unfair. As we’ve constantly penned, Stan spends money, just not very well. The difference is KSE is now making good ‘soccer’ decisions. Maybe it took Josh to open his old man’s eyes to the utter corruption (legal) that was going on at the club. Everyone getting fat off over-generous pay packages, underserved long deals working in a no-pressure lifestyle. The opposite of an elite performance culture.
Now things have changed. There’s an urgency to the problems at hand. Let’s be more specific, there’s been an urgency in the last two weeks. This summer, if analysed in a debriefing, would still be classed as a bit of a mess.
I think the calmness from the fans has come from the realization that Raul seems to be a mafia-style killer in the world of football. We’ve not had someone ruthless before. Arsenal is on his terms.
The Nokia 3210 vibe of yesteryear is dead, we’re now dialling in on space phones. It looks great, we just need to see it move a little quicker because at the minute, we’re still fucked going into this season.
We’re still desperately under-resourced in defence. Jenkinson is in the squad for next year, Koscielny and Mustafi are still here and Nacho is now a captain and our first choice left-back.
Edu and Raul can pepper in as many exciting attacking players as they like, but reality will always bite in the Premier League if you don’t address the glaring realities. If you have a defence that collapses under pressure, you will be punished over and over again.
We are 7 days away from the Newcastle game. They are a terribly run club and they’ve let an elite manager slip away from them. They shouldn’t be a problem, but again, Emery and away form have not mixed well so far. I’ve read some people reverse engineer rationale for Pepe being so important because the club think our away form issue was a lack of pace going forward… could be… but that reads flimsy.
We’ll have to see what happens there.
This is a huge week for Raul. Does he pivot from Tierney after reading about his hip problems? Very worrying to read Adrian Clarke tweet that he had the same injury when he was young and it took a year to clear.
Who is the centre back? Raul is in Barca and we know they are desperate to move on Umtiti because… you know… he has a chronic knee problem. An outrageous talent and a World Cup winner, but no good to us if he’s taking 2 months off in December.
The Barca game today will give us some indication as to what to expect this season. La Liga for the Blaugrana starts on the 16th, so they’ll be fairly fit. Things we’ll need to be looking out for is who starts in defence and midfield. Is it going to be Xhaka and Mustafi again? If so, will Emery have done anything in preseason to address their glaring issues? Will Willock be a regular, adding more athleticism? How will Ozil be used? Will Ceballos be able to deal with the butchers in the league?
My big worry is preseason has looked pretty much exactly the same as last season. I also expect we’ll realise that most of the kids we’re purring over will not be features this season. Willock, Reiss and Martinelli are the big bets. I do like ESR, but he wasn’t exactly drowning in-game time at Leipzig.
Let’s see what today looks like… a 3pm kickoff for me for the first time in a while! I think London has to wait until November until they get their first one… sad times, fuck Europa.
See you in the comments! x
Marko you well chuffed about Pepe lad?
Channeled the blog of lube spirit no doubt.
People need to get off the Tierney injury prone nonsense it’s getting ridiculous and this is from a guy who always preferred Grimaldo and Gaya to him. Would even consider Aaron Martin too. He’s 22 has played 170 games since breaking onto the scene and even completed 5 90 minute games since his hip injury. It’s pretty obvious that Lennon was talking about pain while kicking a ball as an excuse as to why he wasn’t in full training with the squad but we know why he’s not in full training with the squad
Steve Bould.is a fan of Lewis Dunk.
Cucurella is a possibility as he is surplus to requirements now. He’ll be cheap enough, so another LB can be signed if we get CL football.
We need a left sided CB. Would rather sign Diop or Upamecano rather than Umtiti.
Fullbacks are our Achilles heel… neither side is good at the moment… I know everyone wants more CB’s but to me we could scrape by, maybe.. assuming Holding is close to coming back.. but if we have the same fb’s we have now to start the season …we are screwed.
Although… it will certainly be exciting.. bit like climbing a mountain with no safety net.. no more 1-nil to the Arsenal… more like 4-3 to the Arsenal.
Marko yep he is on loan to Getafe. Just checked.
Pep rocking white T-shirt with beige chinos/white trainers, looks like he is on a Next catalogue photo shoot
1-0 City – Sterling. Sane off injured.
Regardless of the injury murmurs though their comes a time when you have to walk away.
Would be a different story if decent LB’s were scarce pickings but there are literally half a dozen minimum LB’s that are as good as Tierney and wouldn’t cost as much.
Celtic would be more than happy to keep him so there’s a strong possibility that we end up signing no defenders come this time next week if we are hell-bent on Tierney and him alone for a cut price deal.
First blood city
Sterling. Jafaican Englishman.
Poor goalkeeping
Midwest yes the center back thing has been overstated. Our full backs are also a problem. Those up field need to do better too. Defending shouldn’t be left to two center backs and a DM alone. Team shape also matters, Emery has to work on that too.
WE there are no words to describe how monumental the signing of Pepe and to a lesser extent Saliba is for the club going forward. Forward progressive long term planning on the Saliba signing and Pepe was just huge because it shows that going forward it’s not unthinkable when we’re linked to this or that top level talent that it could happen. It’s also probably the first major signing in decades that the club made while competing with other top clubs for his signature. Unheard of in the days of Wenger where he never ever competed for a player or… Read more »
Raul needs to pull another rabbit or two out of the hat this week or it’s going to be another crap for 4th.
scrap
Receding –
Yep… That’s always been my biggest complaint about Emery is defensive awareness and organization.. and chopping and changing .. relying on clearly useless players.. especially defensively. He used Miki once as a fullback.. anyhow.. I’m a little encouraged that Freddie will have a good influence on that.. The youth players all seem well drilled on defensive fundamentals this preseason. … spacing and organization so maybe some of that will rub off. I hope. And less Mustafi of course would help.
Klopp getting a bit of a belly on him these days.
Sort it out Jurgen
Not sure our weakness at CB has been overstated at all, we’re incredibly poor in quality there, and Holding seems injury prone. Sure, our fullback options are also shite but hopefully with Pepe and one of the youngsters stepping up they won’t have to bomb forward at every opportunity. We’re still soft through the middle though with Xhaka waving through the opposition so we really need a commanding CB. I wouldn’t touch any of the overpriced, average english CBs, 40-50m for players like Dunk who if he doesn’t work out we have to take a massive loss on? 27 already… Read more »
Midwest
Emery was never a great defensive coach in the past. Not expecting more than marginal improvement.
Regardless of the injury murmurs though their comes a time when you have to walk away. I get this it’s been a common theme on here all summer whether it’s things not done in a timely manner or impatience or whatever but I think given how things have panned out the club have had a plan and they have their targets and we should back them considering that. Problem for me is they clearly see the LB as a problem position and want to address that and that’s great but why in gods name is the RB position not being… Read more »
Marko I agree on Pepe and I know that I’ve mentioned he’s padded his stats a bit with spot kicks but I do like his skillset and what he brings to the table, prefer him to Zaha and very glad that we opted for him out of the two as he brings more goals which was the number one priority that we needed to add to the frontline with the over-reliance on Auba and Laca. Lacazette imo needs to step up his goal count now too, he should be hitting 25ish rather than late teens with his pedigree. Given that… Read more »
Mid
“and chopping and changing .. relying on clearly useless players.. especially defensively. ”
Valid criticism, until you remember that almost all our defensive players are in that category:(
Hope to fuck we get at least 1 defender in and that it’s a top class one.
Surprised that Upamecano is always the name on everybody’s wishlists from Leipzig, Konate is better and younger.
Steve Smith putting England to the sword…..again!
Cheats do prosper.
Imo, should have been banned from test cricket for life.
Salah needs to get his head up.
Dream- Yeah I know that worries me… but nothing I can do about it at this point except strap in… I do think given Pepe. Failure is not an option for Emery this season. Although lets face it… failure should never be an option for a manager at Arsenal for a very long period. .. That’s all I ask really is that we keep accountability, which is what I feel we lost with Wenger. If Emery does well.. I will be happy about it. I got nothing personal against the man. But if he continues to make errors, I think… Read more »
Yeah that’s a fair point too. People presuming that Bellerin comes back from a near year long lay-off and ACL reconstructive surgery the exact same player have another thing coming and who’s there to ease his transition back into the first team picture anyhow, AMN?
Salah gets so many chances, great player but he really is wasteful. Favourite for the golden boot again no doubt mind given the amount of times he gets himself into goalscoring positions.
I guess they aren’t carrying the City.. Pool match over here.. Sports Networks here are useless. sometimes.
Convinced that Pep only still persists with Otemendi at the back to sucker teams in and give them false hope.
Given that we have only really brought in one first team addition from last season in Pepe though [Ceballos hopefully can bring the level that Ramsey did here], do you not feel that we have still overall failed to properly address the side? Still time though. Yeah I was expecting more starting 11 additions as things stand now we’ve only addressed the starting 11 to the tune of two players but there’s every possiblity that it’ll be 4 by Thursday (knock on wood). But last summer it was 3 in Torreira, Sokratis and Leno. So it’s the slow rebuild that… Read more »
Wenger Eagle
Agree. Think Konaté is the better player. If we can sign him, convert him to an LCB. However, believe Leipzig are willing to sell Upamecano this window. Konaté and Mukiele are two I would love from Leipzig. Mukiele can play RB, RWB and CB in a three. He’s fast, agile and a decent height.
Surprised that Upamecano is always the name on everybody’s wishlists from Leipzig, Konate is better and younger.
I think it’s mostly cause he’s got two years left on his contract. There both basically the same in terms of potential though for me. Upamecano shades it cause I think he’s less likely to make a mistake.
As for the RB stuff I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if someone is targeted considering that not only is Mustafi linked with a move but also Jenkinson. It’s why Boubacar Kamara makes sense cause he can do a job at RB
WE
He’s also got 4 years left on his contract, Upamecano has 2. And he’s the one that’s been linked to us.
not sure he’s that much better either.
Heard a bit of noise on Twitter that Ozil could be involved in the Coutinho deal in a swap plus cash deal. Ozil much more suited to and knows the Spanish league, likewise Coutinho the Premier league.
Being 3 years younger I would take that deal in a heartbeat.
Not to be controversial.. but I feel like Bielek is about the most over rated player talked about on here… lol
Dude is literally irrelevant. But yet he gets talked about a ridiculous amount. He started one Carling Cup match once I think… or maybe he was a sub.. Never saw the big deal. We need a replacement for Xhaka and he isn’t it.
Marko
We’ve only made one addition with Pepe though? Ceballos is a replacement for Ramsey.
Dunno if you’ve seen that stat on Pepe being the most dispossessed Ligue 1 player last season is making the rounds, no doubt pulled up and circulated by a Manc or a Spud.
Prolific dribblers are always going to be among the highest turnover rates, nature of the game that they play. Zaha was dispossessed more than any player in Europe’s top 5 leagues last season by FAR [4.2 times per game, Pepe was 2.9 times per game], conveniently wasn’t mentioned.
Dream
With you on Mukiele, Halstenberg at LB and Orban at CB are also very good defenders, close to prime age too.
Leipzig really do have a brilliant defence, shame that their midfield isn’t all that when compared to Bayern and Dortmund.
As for CB, why not bid for Ake? Leicester are now rumoured to be in for him to replace as too are City because they lost out on Maguire. He’s only 24, knows the Prem, is fast and good in the air. If City and Leicester are in for him we should be too and I reckon £35m would get him.
FL
Both are top prospects but Konate is better, ahead in his development. Was ever present for Leipzig last season in a really durable backline and shares the same physical gifts as Upamecano does, edges it when it comes to their ability to read the game for me.
No way Barca would touch Ozil with a bargepole after these last two seasons.
His name is Dunk!
LEWIS Dunk!
Never shaken; Never Stirred
The man who will finally cure our defensive ills.
100% Guaranteed.
Am I right or am I right? ( bd)
Eagle-
SHHHHhhhhhh Ozil just needs proper management.. he is amazing… Think of the chances he would create for Suarez..
😀
WE
Maybe, would certainly not say no to either of them, but feel Upamecano is more gettable because of shorter contract, would maybe fit better with Saliba as well.
Gone quiet on that front anyway so not likely to happen. Would be over the moon if it did though.
It makes sense for Barca to consider a Coutinho loan because let’s face it, his market value has plummeted in the last 18 months since his arrival in Spain.
If he comes over here and kills it on loan, they can sell him on next summer [still only 27-28] and probably take in 100m odd as opposed to 60-70m which is all anybody would pay for him now.
25m loan fee is absurd and obviously would turn everybody off the idea, 10m loan fee much more reasonable.
Mid
Haha tbf the way Barcelona have been run these past few years, wouldn’t even shock me tbh.
PSG will pay full whack for Coutinho once they agree something for Neymar.
Weird seeing RVP with full-blown grey hair, face still looks 21.
Not sure PSG would accommodate Coutinho any better than Barca did. He’s not cut out to play in a front 3 and is a liability defensively in a midfield 3.
Another like James, Isco, Ozil, Dybala that needs to be indulged and catered to. Draxler is better in a midfield 3 due to his build and running power.
WE-
We need to promote Ozil more.. to Barca… maybe we can get Pierre to write him a recommendation..
If I’m PSG as well, I’d want Dembele as part of the Neymar swap much more than Coutinho.
M’Bappe will be the CF within a year or two when Cavani declines and that will open up a flank slot. Even this season he could play RF with M’Bappe LF.
Weagle
That’s what happens when you get tangled up with miss Nigeria
Bettering elhneny shouldn’t be a point yet this elhneny still plays for arsenal earning how much again, RH? Yet the player better than him ain’t good enough for arsenal and you still opened your mouth to any convenient radius to call me “dense”? Well, we know who is so dense between you and I.
I hear he’s shit hot at Fortnite mid. Can also rustle up a mean Kebab.
“Firpo just went to Barca for 17m plus add ons, Nico Schulz went to Dortmund for 17m, Theo Hernandez to Milan for 20m.“
Well said Wenger Eagle. Why we didn’t make a make a move for any of them… especially with our limited budget is a mystery.
Hopefully with our exciting moves in this transfer window other targets will be more attentive when we come calling.
As for defenders why not choose between Upamecano and Konate? In an ideal world I would want both of them….
Wenger Eagle
PSG need to knit the CM and attack. They plan to play Gueye/Verratti/Herrera in CM. All play behind the ball. One of Coutinho/Di Maria to link the attack so Cavani/Mbappé can function as outlets. They need the Brazilian shot merchant because they don’t have elite fullbacks.
Ake is a baller he is comfortable on the ball and can play from the back.
20 mil and a bag of sweets should do it, although the sweets could be in quarter pound installments.
Marc I think Celtic are desperate to sell now it’s more that they think we will blink first and know we can afford to meet their demands (especially after the bielik sale) They’ve already bought tierney’s replacement which is a massive screw up if they don’t plan on moving him on. All the more reason why I’d much rather see us go hard for a CB instead and laugh at Celtic for thinking they’re anything more than a big boy in a pub league If it actually happened and we got a quality CB and Celtic fail to sell him… Read more »
Dream
They really are a poorly constructed side aren’t they? Really sub-par CM besides Verratti at the elite end of the spectrum and as you say good but not great fullbacks in Meunier and Bernat.
Areola in goal is average too. Only really elite players that they possess are M’Bappe, Cavani, Neymar who wants out and Marquinhos.
That makes a mockery of VAR
Dunno if you’ve seen that stat on Pepe being the most dispossessed Ligue 1 player last season is making the rounds, no doubt pulled up and circulated by a Manc or a Spud.
Wouldn’t worry about it there’s plenty of other positive stats doing the rounds on him. I like that 100+ take ons 100+ fouls 100+ shots stat if I’m honest
Ain’t a goal @ James wood
Lolz @ sterling. Doing a Walcott there
https://www.football365.com/news/how-arsenal-might-still-have-26-5m-left-to-spend-this-summer
Talk about making the most of what you have!!!
YOUR CORRECT Vickingz.
Old mans eyes playing tricks on me.
20MM THE WRONG WAY.:)
What’s going on with Kyle Walker’s barnet? Looks like he’s going the way of Pep only a couple of months after having a crazy thick head of hair.
Nah, Ted Walcott likely scores in that situation.
City look in form. With Liverpool likely to struggle, particularly after long seasons for their star men, they have a chance to establish a double digit point advantage by New year’s day.
Origi has so many things in common with iwobi
I like origi
Much better feet than iwobi. Quicker too for a bigger bloke
Scores on the biggest of stages
Almighty chamberlain
Origi is a perfect squad player. Basically a better version of Welbeck that you can rely on for more goals.
VVD such a baller for a centre half.
Goal… Think you might have written off Pool a little early Dream.
This is without Sadio Mane too who’s a top 3 player for Pool.
Almost didn’t recognize Ox with the highlights… he should go full on Ozil with it.
Also Benny don’t do it to yourself regarding Ozil and Coutinho rumours
Great match this you have to say.
Best two sides in the PL by quite a distance.
Yep unfortunately.. they are better then the rest.
does this go straight to pks? although looks like Pool might score again.
Liverpool have built an unbelievable side, going toe to toe with Citeh over a 38 match season and looking every bit their match today, arguably should be in front.
Yep straight to penalty’s
Like that coming from klopp, pep does these stuffs just for show
Inter threatening to bench Icardi for 2 years of his contract he has left, lol.
Not exactly having people banging the door down for him after that revelation with their valuation of him at 60-70m.
Ok Thanks James W.
Weagle
Best team In europe for last two seasons and done without oil money or bankrolled from government. They did it as a premier league under dog essentially
Not Salah’s finest hour here, could have had 5.
Crazy clearance from Walker there though, props.
Unbelievable from walker there
oh Wow….. that’s was crazy…
Salah should have scored a hatrick today!
Klopp letting pep know he ain’t the king no more
Unn
They’ve spent all right but a pittance when compared to City. And you have to respect how much Allison and VVD have transformed them even if they cost 140m combined. Worth every penny and then some.
How can you not be jealous of what they’ve accomplished since Klopp’s appointment.
Yep, these two teams will be occupying the top two positions at the end of the season.
50:50 who finishes top.
Klopp dressing like he is going to a redneck concert in the dirty south here.. Pep looks like he is going to the beach..
Guess they are trying to pretend it doesn’t matter.. but they both want to win..
Now it’s a coin toss.
RVP is like Cesc, super intelligent about the game.
Kyle Walker with a Sagna at Aston Villa type clearance. Great coordination
Absolutely Middy, Klopp is the only gaffer with a winning H2H record against Pep, 8-6 with 2 draws too.
When one sees Kyle Walkers athleticism and acrobatics in the 93rd minute…..it makes you wonder if our Clowns actually watch soccer?
And They still want Tierney….?
Walker is a modern day full back
Poor Tierney can just about walk to the bathroom….
They are clueless.
Utterly clueless..
I just know my live stream is gonna crash… now.
Salah always seems to miss when he cuts in, and it’s because he always tries to drill it instead of lifting it over the keeper or curling it. He just seems incapable of varying his finish when close to the keeper.
Nice save… Bravo.
Cg
Walker is an accident prone mistake machine
Wow that should have been saved..
They really ought to call the Shield the Super Cup, makes it sound that much more important.