Thud.

by .

I can’t say I was expecting to come away from the Barcelona game with a win, so there’s no point in throwing my kale puffs at the laptop. It’s preseason, Emery appears to still be feeling out his starting 11, nothing matters until the Newcastle game.

We had a fairly positive first half. We took the lead from the usual suspect… Auba. He received a ball from Mesut and unleashed a devastating strike past the Barca second choice keeper. It really was a brutal strike from a man who looks at the absolute peak of his physical and technical powers.

There was a notable performance from Willock. He didn’t let the game overawe him. He works hard, he shows great composure for a 19-year-old and his ability to read play and turn the ball over fast is going to be a big asset moving into the new season. That goal-line clearance he made really was spectacular, absolutely ace concentration.

The same problems were still there, hanging around like those greasy pigeons that eat the Chinese food at the Camden stables. The issues are now so familiar my heart doesn’t skip a beat. We looked confused in defence, particularly in the second half. It doesn’t matter how you chop it up, AMN is not a right back, Chambers is never going to make it, and Mustafi will always, always let players get in behind him. I’m also not sure about our continued attempts to play out the back from way deep, especially when we’re relying on slow players that make lots of mistakes to move the ball forward.

We also have the same old issues up top. Mikhi has been a disaster signing. He’s lost the pace that stood him out, and now he looks like he’s lost interest. He gives the ball away far too often and he’s painfully casual about being average.

The kids are showing promise, but most of them are greener than a bowl of salad. The pace on offer gives us a different dimension. There are flashed is excellence. I just struggle to see Emery giving them a chance in such a high-pressure season. Martinelli, Saka and Reiss all look like they need another loan… but given the choice, I think I’d rather see them in our starting 11 over Iwobi or Mikhi.

The transfer gossip post-match is centred around Umtiti and Tierney. Both are better than what we have. Both were very robust players until last season. Both represent a huge risk. Raul is in a tough spot, his contacts game has its limits, he didn’t have a chief scout for 7 months, and now he’s backed into a corner. If he blows money on them and they’re good for 40 games, we have a very strong chance of Champions League. If things go wrong, on the basis of what we’ve seen in preseason, we really could be in for a bit of a nightmare defensively.

Still, quite exciting, wouldn’t you say? In January we were all shitting our pants that this summer was going to be about #AnnouncePerisic and #WelcomeEverBanega. I’d take your shoe over those two.

Let’s see if Raul can make some magic happen before Sunday!

Check out the first podcast of the season. Big thanks @TopicalStorm for bringing the GOOD chat. You can stream the below through Stitcher, Spotify and iTunes. x

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Cesc Appeal

If it’s true £7 Million would be really good business.

MidwestGun

Next 3 days are going to be crazy with the rumor mill in full force. The Pepe signing makes anything plausible.

Dissenter

I think Raul used Kochielny to draw a line in the sand.
Message sent; We are not going to let anyone leave for nothing.

Freddie Ljungberg

Carts

So it’s not enough that we’re starting to use all our resources to build a team of the best young players we can afford, they have to be unknown and cheap as well? Preferably have a name containing at least one clicking sound maybe to make it extra exotic?

Is that you Arsene?

Dissenter

There’s no way we got £7 million from Bordeaux for Koschielny. He turns 34 y/o in September and is injury riddled.
I believe they gave us 2-3 million and we added that to the last year wages that was saved to make up the 6-7 million that’s being quoted. .

Freddie Ljungberg

Brilliant business if we got 7m for Kos, a lot better than just letting him go for free like some absolute geniuses here wanted.

If we can get 12m for Jenks and Kos that’s about as good as we could possibly hope for.

Get Upamecano in and do the same with Mustafi, Elneny and the rest of the ragtag gang and our summer is a 10/10.

Marko

Look lads with Koscielny and Jenkinson off and possibly Mustafi before September 2nd how could we not be bringing in someone else. It’d be criminally stupid not to and they don’t seem criminally stupid if we’re honest

Marko

I believe they gave us 2-3 million and we added that to the last year wages that was saved to make up the 6-7 million that’s being quoted.

You yes you please stop making predictions please. Wait until you know more before shooting from the hip

Valentin

Rumours on French media (not very reliable) say: Koscielny transfer
€3 millions fixed
+ €4 millions of add-ons.

From add-ons €2 million possible and €2 million very unlikely (Bordeaux to qualify for Champion’s League).
No info if €3 million paid upfront or paid in instalments.

Leedsgunner

“Benjamin Henrichs to Werder Bremen is off because AS Monaco are only willing to sell for €20m, according to Bild.”

Benjamin Heinrich is an excellent versatile player. For that price we should definitely interested…

Marko

Rumours on French media (not very reliable) say: Koscielny transfer
€3 millions fixed
+ €4 millions of add-ons.

Totally worth it. Could you imagine letting him go for nothing… 🙂

Dream10

Looks like Koscielny will leave this week. Rugani, Upamecano, Umtiti the names doing the rounds. Each one has a flaw. Umtiti has the pedigree, but comes with an injury record. Also he’ll have to defend far more here than he does for France and Barça. Two elite teams with coaches that play with structure at all times. Emery plays an open game with plenty of gaps, so CBs will have to defend on an island. Not sure he is a high volume defender we need. Rugani is a bit soft. Don’t want to pay 30m plus for an Italian Holding… Read more »

Leedsgunner

£3m for Koscielny is fair enough. If we got £5m hard cash plus £2m add ons for Jenkinson I’d be pleased.

I think we should be prepared to take a huge loss for Mustafi because I cannot see anyone paying more than £20m for him at most. Anything more than £10m for Elneny should be accepted.

With Pepe’s arrival, Mkhitaryan becomes irrelevant and if we got £10m plus for him we should sell him.

That’s £48m just from selling our fringe players… get it done Arsenal. A decent fee for a great prospect at centre back.

Dissenter

Marko
You really think anyone will pay more than 2-3 million tops for Koscielny, who turns 34 y/o in September? Lol, you do like to suspend disbelief.

That said, 2-=3 million is still better than nothing.

Dissenter

I don’t know where all these upfront payment stuff came from.
So long as the money is guaranteed and jot dependent on clauses , Arsenal can bank on it.

Caligooner

Best HBO shows:
Deadwood
The wire
Game of thrones
Rome
Curb your enthusiasm

Dark Hei

https://global.espn.com/football/arsenal/story/3913552/sources-koscielny-in-bordeaux-to-finalise-move

ESPN reports the figure at 5m euros.

Honestly I think Kos forced Arsenal to make the right decision . 5m for a 34 yr, chronically injured defender is very decent money.

Dark Hei

Dissenter Kos beef wasn’t the free part. It was the initial valuation of 10 freaking million bucks. It was totally unrealistic. And Kos probably realized that with Mustafi’s form and Holding still not ready from injury, he will have to likely play 2-3 times a week. The club was going to break what’s left of his tendon and throw him out onto the streets next year where he can’t get a job because he wouldn’t be able to walk anymore. He wanted a pay as you play extension as insurance for staying but the club wasn’t interested. So if I… Read more »

peanuts&monkeys

Those reports abt some forensic report justifying defence could be neglected…is that true?

If that was so true why is Arsenal in the market now for defenders?

The backpass

DissenterKos beef wasn’t the free part. It was the initial valuation of 10 freaking million bucks. It was totally unrealistic. And Kos probably realized that with Mustafi’s form and Holding still not ready from injury, he will have to likely play 2-3 times a week. The club was going to break what’s left of his tendon and throw him out onto the streets next year where he can’t get a job because he wouldn’t be able to walk anymore. He wanted a pay as you play extension as insurance for staying but the club wasn’t interested. So if I was… Read more »

peanuts&monkeys

Dark Hei bang on about Arsenal defence and why Kos wants to leave.

If a CB is not brought in, entire investment of this summer will get wasted.

The backpass

Dark hei “Kos beef wasn’t the free part. It was the initial valuation of 10 freaking million bucks. It was totally unrealistic. And Kos probably realized that with Mustafi’s form and Holding still not ready from injury, he will have to likely play 2-3 times a week. The club was going to break what’s left of his tendon and throw him out onto the streets next year where he can’t get a job because he wouldn’t be able to walk anymore. He wanted a pay as you play extension as insurance for staying but the club wasn’t interested. So if… Read more »

Receding Hairline

Dark Hei I guess you admire Koscielny cos everything you just wrote is heavily biased towards him. He wanted to leave on a free, end of. Nobody was going to load him with pain killers to play if he gets injured.

Anyway good riddance, next Jenkinson then Mustafi.

Receding Hairline

So if we brought in new defenders Kos would have sat down picking up a pay as you play pay check which might not come if he didn’t play?? I guess Bordeaux are more interests in him as a coach then not a player, let’s see how many games he plays for them next year.

vickingz

Did anyone see willock telling our senior players to get into position? Willock is a better coach than emery.

Thorough

If Upamecano has only 2 years on his deal then this is what I think we should do: get someone to tell him not to do a Zaha and sign his future away, ‘you’re guaranteed a free run into one of the top teams in world football with a double-your-salary offer at the least man’. Then go back next year and offer them 30 mil tops. This terrain is dirty and we’ve got to get some grime on our hands ffs. Spent whatever we have now on Tierney and a loan deal for a center back. If Tierney is as… Read more »

Pierre

We will more than likely bring in a centre back , however it’s all a little bit wengeresque .
We have had 3 months to target players we need and now it’s going down to the wire.
In fact we should have brought in a centre back or 2 in January so that would make it nearly 8 months to find someone suitable and now we are down to the last few days.

Dark Hei

“Those reports abt some forensic report justifying defence could be neglected…is that true?”

Probably Mustafi was working as the analyst for the day.

Un na naai

vickingzAugust 6, 2019 06:52:02
Did anyone see willock telling our senior players to get into position? Willock is a better coach than emery.

Vickingz

Yes!! I did. Having a pop at xakha
This kid is mustard. What an impressive few months he’s had. Let’s hope he continues on such a steep upward trajectory. All the sweeter that he’s a local lad from the academy.

Un na naai

Not like Wilf Zaha

Un na naai

If de Ligt went for £67m then is Upamecano really worth £70m?

De Ligt is highly considered as the kid who is going to be the player of his generation so why pay £70m for a player who’s less highly rated?
I’d got to £60-£65m and see what happens.

Un na naai

French centre backs and wingers are dominating the world.

Un na naai

https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/08/05/arsenal-will-ainsley-maitland-niles-learn/

Marko.
I know this is a bit early in the day for you but this perfectly sums up the AMN situation for me.

Dark Hei

“If a CB is not brought in, entire investment of this summer will get wasted.”

Personally, I think getting a pair of FBs is more important.

Playing a back 4 in a stable lineup will bring more stability and calmness to the entire team.

Monreal can play as an emergency left CB.

I will also prefer someone who can start immediately rather than Tierny

Graham62

We could get hit by a meteorite before the start of the 20-21 season!

Consequently a defence made up of players who we can’t have playing for us until then, is sort of pointless.

One other thing, the fact that Tierney has had a double hernia operation, at such a tender age, is very worrying.

There may be underlying issues that could mean potential ongoing problems for years to come.

Un na naai

Na we need a centre half above all else
Keep getting undone by a simple ball over the centre backs
Every time
Either that or he abandons his high line and forces the centre backs to sit deeper and watch what’s going on around them.

Ishola70

Dream10

“Rugani is a bit soft. Don’t want to pay 30m plus for an Italian Holding and send him to Roma/Milan on loan in 18 months time with an option to buy. Not sure he’ll be up for the constant action and the volume defending he’ll have to do”

For an Italian defender he looks a bit passive in his defending.

But you can say he is the opposite to Mustafi in that he doesn’t seem to be impetuous which could be a good thing.

Jury definitely out on him though.

China1

Cmon Raul bring us da Frenchman!

Then tell Celtic to go shove it

Would be a dream!

Carts

Mid “I think he is confusing scouting with decision making on who to bring in to fill the needs. And identifying the needs. Two different things. And we have had some turmoil in changing who those decision makers are” Scouting and decision making go hand in hand. Like Wenger essentially being the final decision maker back then, is how Emery is the decision maker at present. I highly doubt there’s any complicated process to deciding on whether to sell Bielik or release Pleguezelo, for example. Cos equally something informed the purchase of Holding & Mavropanos the same way it did… Read more »

peanuts&monkeys

Receding Hairline, did you just brand Koscielny as a waste-material which is better got ridden off?

can you really remember a better defender than Kos Arsenal has had in last 10 years?

the least Kos dereseves is gratitude from us fans for his unfailing performances till he was 32 and started getting injured.

peanuts&monkeys

So, Mavropanos is not as great a signing as we were making it out to be? Is Holding now better than Mavropanos? What went wrong, and when?

Ishola70

Koscielny has not only done himself a favour in forcing a move but he will also do the team a favour as well.

He was regressing alarmingly and it was a poor decision from the club to want to keep hold of him for another season.

Win-win for both parties ultimately.

Pierre

Personally , I would like us to play a flat back 4 with the full backs predominantly sitting in and only occasionally over lapping. Chelsea had a back 4 of aspilicueta, Ivanovic, Terry and Cahill that was very effective , they played as a unit, similar to George graham’s back 4. Their first job was to defend the goal , if they could support the attack they would but you rarely saw them caught out of position due to good organisation and having a leader at the back in John Terry who knew the importance of keeping it tight at… Read more »

fsaf

Ishola70,
I heard several people saying that Kos leaving on a decent fee is the best thing.

Thing is imo the plan was to hold on to Kos for a year until Saliba comes, and instead sell Chambers this summer. Callum could have brought ~20m which is at least 15m more than what Kos is going to bring. The 15m could have been crucial for the club’s plans and be the deal breaker between us and RB Leipzig for Upamecano.

Mr Serge

Peanuts we know you are a spurs fan go do one
Kos is a traitor to our team just like Sol was to yours now jog on

Pierre

Un Is a good article on AMN , he is obviously a very talented player ,good composure,good technique and superb pace . Originally it was thought that he was filling in at either left back or right back over the last couple of seasons to help the team out but this last season he either played full back or was on the bench . I would like to see him given a run in midfield in the europa and league cup to see if he has the ability to play the role …I would say his style of play would… Read more »

Dream10

Mavropanos has very good potential. Young for a CB. Don’t think Emery rates him. If he doesn’t work out here, he should get himself a move to Germany or France. They’re two leagues which have similar game speed to the PL. Health is important for him. He’s probably heading on the path that Bennacer, Jeff took.

Un na naai

Pierre
Me too. I also think he’s quite tenacious off the ball but his biggest issue is he can sometimes be too relaxed on the ball.

I’d like to see him in central midfield where his energy can be best utilized
Who knows? He could usurp xakha
Willock Torreira Niles

It could work in away games

PessimisticPat

Peanuts “the least Kos dereseves is gratitude from us fans for his unfailing performances till he was 32 and started getting injured.” And when he was injured we didnt pay him did we? We didnt give him a contract extension at near 100k a week in 2017 till 2020 when we knew he had achilles injury problems????? There is a lot of revisionism in the wake of Koscielnys behaviour. He wants to be released on a free. We said no, as is our right. Unfailing performances???? Seriously? Birmingham City? If he was so good how comes no bigger club came… Read more »

Dream10

fsaf Ishola70

The club have made a mistake in holding on both to Koscielny & Monreal. They were past their best at the end of 2017. Emery rushed Koscielny from his career threatening Achilles injury and legged out what he couldm They were two of the three worst performers in the EL final. Basically, they’re both less than half as good as they were in 2015. Get a fee for both. If not, release them and sign more durable players. They’ve both been good for us. Poor planning from Emery and co to rely on them as key performers.

Ishola70

All hearsay fsaf about Chambers.

He is a player that should have been moved on a couple of seasons ago and there are some that think he is sitting on his contract at Arsenal.

Ishola70

Yes Monreal should have been shown the door as well.

Pierre

Pat the pessimist.
” GOES ON STRIKE. Fuck him and good riddance.”

A little harsh.

Maybe Kosielny is a better judge of his own capabilities than our manager.

A player tends to know when their game is not up to the standard it should be and a perceptive manager should also recognise the signs.

So ,instead of berating Kosielny maybe we should acknowledge the fact that although I’m sure he did it for his own satisfaction ,he also had the club’s interest at heart, though I’m sure many on here will disagree with those sentiments.

Gentlebris

‘The club was going to break what’s left of his tendon and throw him out onto the streets next year where he can’t get a job because he wouldn’t be able to walk anymore’

He wouldn’t have been exactly thrown into the streets. He has been raking millions here over a long period of time.
He would have been thrown into his palace built from money he got while not playing due to his weak tendon.

fsaf

Pierre, Kos forced a move out of Arsenal. How he’s had the club’s interest at heart… Coming out of your mouth, the one saying how super important was Terry’s influence for Chelsea’s title under Conte. Come on man. Keep a pattern. As old as Kos is, he’s still Chambers. And now we gonna be stuck for a full season with Fulham’s player of the season that conceded 81 goals last season. He forced his move out and he wanted to be let go for 0 transfer fee. He fked up massively, went on a riot, refused to travel and acted… Read more »

fsaf

As old as Kos is, he’s still BETTER THAN* Chambers.

Leftsidesanch

new post

Gentlebris

‘Maybe Kosielny is a better judge of his own capabilities than our manager.A player tends to know when their game is not up to the standard it should be and a perceptive manager should also recognise the signs.’

It wasn’t about that, it was about securing gratuity.
It was all for money.

Pierre

Fsaf
We have had since January to find a suitable centre back or 2.

We needed defenders in January and we need defenders now , whether Kosielny stayed or not .

To blame Kosielny on our shortage of capable defenders is just a futile attempt to deflect the blame from the manager who obviously wanted a past his best Kosielny to stay.l

At the end of the day Kosielny has done the club a favour by taking this stance , it is the manager who’s judgement should be brought into question……again.

Valentin

Dark Hei, I agree, because from the get go, Bordeaux and Lyon made noise that they were willing to pay up to €3 millions, but Arsenal quoted them the unrealistic 10 millions. That was never going to happen at that price. Realistic negotiation should have started straight away, instead of trying to convince him to stay. Once lawyers got involved, the relationship was over. This weekend, Emery was still thinking that a truce/peace deal was possible. According to reports, he organised a reconciliation meeting that Koscielny simply refused to attend. He is likely to be fined his last paycheck for… Read more »

peanuts&monkeys

Koscielny

One Birmingham city is simply not reason enough to boo Kos.

Defensively Arsenal were far poorer after Kos turned 31.

You cannot blame Kos if Wenger could not get better CBs in 2015.

Today Arsenal team mngt could not identify the risks and sense the danger of missing out on Kos. Why blame him for that?

Good for him Kos is not playing for Arsenal this season. Else, typical Arsenal fans those are here, and those who boo Cesc/ Nasri/ RvP/ Sanchez, would have booed him.

Arsenal does not deserve any further services from Kos.

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