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Mike McDonald back with a BEAST of a post about the hot centre backs of Europe. Pull out the popcorn, you are about to be educated. (Find him @Mike_MMcdonald)
Arsenal Football Club will be only be transformed when they correct three issues that have been largely ignored for over 15 years.
The right coach, a solid defensive unit and football that is 50% ‘off the ball.’
I’ve researched centre back options and with that said it’s fair to say that we may have our answer at the club already.
Sometimes a ‘good’ centre back can become the ‘perfect’ centre back with the right partner.
So it could be that Saliba and Holding is the answer? Saliba and Luiz?
Fair to say too that Saliba may not be able to fulfill his potential for a few years yet as he will only be 19 when he arrives.
Either way, with Arsenal far from being an intimidating defensive unit it would be neglectful to hope and not be proactive and at least be aware of who is out there.
When researching I discovered that there are 10’s of possible options so I’ve grouped them and commented on those I consider to be the best options.
Ligue 1 options
With the starting thought that it’s most likely going to be Saliba plus one, there is value in the thought that the perfect CB may need to be French speaking.
Benoit Badiashile
Age: 18 Height: 6ft 4in
Team: Monaco
Potential value: £30M
A target for Chelsea that could be snapped up before their ban ends.
A strong, powerful, quick modern day CB who has been trusted to play regularly since Henry departed the South of France.
Boubacar Kamara
Age: 19 (about to be 20)
Height: 5ft 10in
Team: Marseille
Potential value: £35M
A much sort after player. Small for a CB but also played extensively at LB and DM. Already a target for PSG, Kamara excels in recovery speed, tackling and being two footed. This ability, alongside his versatility, creates an unusually calm CB.
Malang Sarr
Age: 20. Height: 5ft 11in.
Team: Nice
Potential value: £30M
Sarr can play both at left back or centre left back. Played over 6000 minutes for a good Nice team at such a young age. A proactive CB who likes to pressure players whilst his partner sits off.
The 3 at PSG…Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe
Age: 35 (Silva). 25 (Marquinhos). 24 (Kimpembe)
Height: All 6ft
Team: PSG
Potential value: Free (Silva) £80M (Marquinhos). £50M (Kimpembe)
Silva may be in his last years but may compliment Saliba. Still starting for PSG after being replaced last year.
Marquinhos is having his best season. Arguably the best ‘footballer’ playing CB in world football. Can comfortably play DM too.
Kimpembe may get itchy if he can’t become first choice at PSG but may be waiting on Silva retiring.
Left sided CB who has been trusted by France ahead of many other great options.
French speaking and already playing in the PL
This may well be the best of both worlds. French speaking with PL experience.
Issa Diop
Age: 22. Height: 6ft 4in
Team: West Ham
Potential value: £50M (overpriced PL value)
A leggy interception king who has recently been monitored by Man. Utd as well as others. Been a large part of an improving West Ham team.
Willy Boly
Age: 28. Height: 6ft 3in
Team: Wolves
Potential value: £40M
An underrated regular in Wolves’ impressive team. Particularly dangerous at set pieces.
French speaking but playing elsewhere
Some very impressive names here. Some experienced, some younger. All with plenty of minutes under their belt.
Dayot Upamecano
Age: 21 Height: 6ft 1in.
Team: RB Leipzig
Potential value: £60M
We allegedly bid for him last summer and may go back in January. Rumor has it that he is our choice.
Has everything needed as a CB apart from international experience but that has more to do with the litany of choices that Deschamps has. Particularly quick and good on the ball.
Ibrahim Konate
Age: 20 Height: 6 ft 4in
Team: RB Leipzig
Potential value: £50M
Fast, powerful with huge potential.
Can look clumsy on the ball. The fact that Leipzig have achieved CL football with two very young CB’s is a credit to both Konate and Upamecano.
Nicolas N’Koulou
Age: 29. Height: 6ft 1in Team:Torino
Potential value: £15M
Tried to force his way out last summer. Experienced Cameroonian defender who has excelled in Serie A.
Raphael Varane
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 3in
Team: Real Madrid
Potential value: £100M
Unreal that he’s 26! Seems like he’s been around much longer. At his age and experience he would be ideal. Just don’t think he’s leaving RM for AFC.
Samuel Umtiti
Age: 25 (about to be 26)
Height: 6ft
Team: Barcelona
Potential value: £50M
If Barcelona would sell and if he didn’t have a dodgy knee he could be another perfect choice.
Dan Axel Zagadou
Age: 20. Height: 6ft 5in.
Team: Dortmund
Potential value: £35M
Quite possibly available as he’s only played twice this season. A monster of a player with strength, pace and obvious power at set plays. Can be error prone.
Serie A options
Always good to remember that Serie A teaches defenders to truly value clean sheets and the tactical side of the game.
Few Italian’s travel to the PL but the majority of this list are not Italians.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Age: 28. Height: 6ft 1in.
Team: Napoli
Potential value: £120M
Well known by the majority as one of if not the best defender in the world. Doubtful that if he ever leaves that Arsenal would be his choice.
Gianluca Mancini
Age: 23. Height: 6ft 3in.
Team: Roma
Potential value: £40M
Speed, technique and dominant in the air and becoming a regular member of the Italian National team.
Nikola Milenkovic
Age: 22 Height: 6ft 5in
Team: Fiorentina
Potential value: £40M
A versatile CB having played many times at RB too. Another Man Utd target who excels in his reading of the game and his unusually composed play belying his size.
Armando Izzo
Age: 6ft Height: 27
Team: Torino
Potential value: £25M
An AFC target (probably a Mustafi replacement, but SM didn’t leave), excels in ball winning and interceptions. He led Serie A in both last season. An impressive stat considering the many good defenders in the league.
Alessio Romagnoli
Age: 24. Height: 6 ft 1in.
Team: AC Milan
Potential value: £50M
A leader in the AC Milan team who has performed well in a team that has underperformed. A brave, front foot defender with the yellow cards to prove it.
Milan Skriniar
Age: 24. Height: 6ft 1in
Team: Inter Milan
Potential value: £60M
Currently considered to be one of the best in Serie A.
The Slovakian is an all rounder that doesn’t have any clear lack. His strengths are 1 on 1 defending, positioning and use of the ball.
Very doubtful that with Inter’s resurgence that he leaves.
Stefan DeVrij
Age: 27. Height: 6 ft 2in
Team: Inter Milan
Potential value: £40M
Another all round defender that has slowly worked his way to the top of the game. Recently called the best defender so far this season in Serie A.
Bundesliga options
Four very interesting options. From an experienced CL player who may want a final challenge to three established, fast and physical options.
Manuel Akanji
Age: 24. Height: 6 ft 1in
Team: Dortmund
Potential value: £45M
Well known as being the smartest footballer currently playing. A math genius (what does that mean) with a naturally analytical mind.
Super quick with springs in his feet.
Become a regular since Diallo went to PSG.
Johnathan Tah
Age: 23 Height: 6ft 3in
Team: Bayer Leverkusen
Potential value: £40M
When all talk about wanting a ‘Van Dijk’ type, my thoughts go to Tah.
A huge and imposing athlete with obvious leadership and organization skills.
Mattias Ginter
Age: 25 Height: 6ft 2in
Team: M’gladbach
Potential value: £35M
Much like Varane, Ginter has been around for many years.
After years of injury and bouncing from big to small club he’s found home at Gladbach (currently top of the league) and a part of the national team.
A strong, quick leader.
Jerome Boateng
Age: 31 Height: 6ft 4in
Team: Bayern Munich
Potential value: £30M
A huge unit. Experience at every level. A little beyond his peak but has forced his way back into the Bayern team, although not regular.
Premier League options
Some out of sorts, out of favour and almost out of contract to three players who are rising stars and flying.
Toby Alderweireld
Age: 30. Height: 6 ft 4in
Team: Spurs
Potential value: Free (as close to being out of contract)
On one level he is perfect. On the other, he plays for Spurs.
Nathan Ake
Age: 24. Height: 5ft 11in
Team: Bournemouth
Potential value: £40M
Underrated, probably because he plays for AFCB. He also regularly starts for the best Dutch side in a generation.
Fast, brave and very athletic.
Available I’m sure.
Caglar Soyuncu
Age: 23. Height: 6ft 2in
Team: Leicester
Potential value: £70M
Apart from a bizarre greasy rockstar hairstyle, Soyuncu has improved rapidly. Put on significant muscle this summer to add strength to his power, pace and aerial ability. Flavour of the month which will make him very hard to get.
Joe Gomez
Age: 22. Height: 6 ft 3in
Team: Liverpool
Potential value: £40M
How is Gomez two inches taller than Koulibaly!?!
An impressive athlete who has found himself as 4th choice at Liverpool. You’d think he’s gettable but would Liverpool sell to us?
John Stones
Age: 25. Height: 6ft 2in
Team: City
Potential value: £50M
A little mistake ridden and out of form but there is a very good CB in there.
Tyrone Mings
Age: 26 Height: 6 ft 3in
Team: Villa
Potential value: £45M
An old fashioned defender. Loves defending, huge passion and a fan favorite for those reasons. Not many ‘Tony Adams types’ left in the game but I see Mings as this.
La Liga options
Lesser known but all highly rated.
Hermoso was available last summer and Nuñez and Torres are new to the Spanish squad.
Pau Torres
Age: 22 Height: 6ft 4in
Team: Villarreal
Potential value: £35M
The first of three Spanish players linked with Arsenal over the last 3 months. Torres is having a fine season at an improving Villarreal. Strong in his game focus, desire to keep clean sheets and long passing. Could put Santi in his suitcase, 2 for 1. Yes, please!
Mario Hermoso
Age: 24. Height: 5ft 11in
Team: Atletico Madrid
Potential value: £40M
Available all summer until Atleti picked him up late in the window.
A modern day classy CB on the outskirts of the Spanish first team.
Unai Nuñez
Age: 22. Height: 6ft 1in
Team: Athletic Bilbao
Potential value: £35M
Another Spaniard with a strong passion for defending. Reminds me of Gabriel who was a better defender than many gave him credit. Good on the ball and at set pieces.
Portuguese options
It’s important to not forget that Portugal have won two major tournaments recently and that many of their players have achieved great success in the PL.
Ruben Dias
Age: 22. Height: 6ft 2in
Team: Benfica
Potential value: £45M
A modern day ball playing CB.
Aerially dominant. Recently broken into a talented Portugal side. Been linked with Arsenal recently.
Young options/new names
Do Arsenal want two young CB’s?
Robin Koch
Age: 23 Height: 6ft 3in
Team: Freiburg
Potential value: £25M
A versatile CB/DM combo who has just broken into the German squad. Elite level fitness who blends a warrior style with a finesse that few young CB’s possess.
Ethan Ampadu
Age: 19 Height: 6ft
Team: RB Leipzig (on loan from Chelsea)
Potential value: £30M
A natural footballer. Could comfortably play midfield as well as CB. Represented Wales more frequently than Chelsea or Leipzig which is a concern, but has the world at his feet.
Brandon Mechele
Age: 26. Height: 6ft 3in
Team: Club Brugge
Potential value: £15M
Not a new name if you are Belgian, but a late bloomer who has recently made the National squad. A right footed versatile CB/RB.
A two footed ball winner.
Jhon Lucumi
Age: 21. Height: 6ft 1in
Team: Genk
Potential value: £15M
A Colombian left sided CB with a big future. Pace, strength and bravery with lightning acceleration.
One for the future, or a risk for the present? Plays alongside Sander Berge who Arsenal need to keep eyes on too.
Merih Demiral
Age: 21. Height: 6 ft 4in
Team: Juventus
Potential value: £20M
A very interesting option. A Puyol type in attitude with similar fire. Quick, aggressive and determined Turkish international who is unfortunate to have only played once so far for Juve. Concern that he’s never settled anywhere, but cheap and itching to play. Could be the perfect fit for the club.
My recommendations
I have a shortlist of 8 based on availability and best fit for Arsenal.
SHORTLIST (in order of how I would approach them)….
- 8th….. Ruben Dias
- 7th… Johnathan Tah
- 6th…. Willy Boly
- 5th… Nathan Ake
- 4th…. Martin Demiral
- 3rd…. Dayot Upamecano
- 2nd….. Caglar Soyuncu
- 1st…. Tyrone Mings
My 1st choice would actually be Soyuncu but I think City will go for him leaving us flailing. Who doesn’t want Koulibaly too, right?
For the same reason I think Arsenal have little chance.
Mings might surprise you but I think Arsenal need a PL experienced CB. I also lean towards defenders that LOVE to defend. I’ve never understood the notion that ‘ability to play out of the back’ is the most talked about quality of any defender. It should be defending.
He has ridiculous stats on tackles and blocked shots in particular. He makes me feel safe.
I also think that in a short period he could lead the team.
Tyrone Mings for me.
I’d also sign Boubacar Kamara and loan him to an English team.
You?
*FA Cup tie*
Xhaka is not a captain anymore.
Breaking news. 😊
One bit of good news there.
Auba the captain now
All this indicates is that Emery was wrong to make him captain and now he is admitting to it.
Xhaka has even been taken out of the group of captains.
Why did it have to take the fanbase to force him to make the decision.
A gentlemans club that will just sail along unless challenged.
Chelsea concede yet again.
1-1
We’ll score more goals than you Chelsea.
Your basing your prediction on mings… after 2 months, ffs
Lad was out with bad injury for nigh on two years and is a left back by trade.
For that to me it blurs and undermines what else has been wrote. Soz
Also bit surprised no mention of Saliba, soyanco was a targe5 two years ago…
Do yer research lad…
Could one say Emery has literally been forced into his best decision as manager of Arsenal FC.
Sal
Where your thoughts on laca n Auba on not signing new contracts .
Club won’t lose money again they will be sold imo .. either jan or next summer…
RSPC
Hows it going mate.
I certainly wouldn’t sign a new contract with the shit show of manager at moment if I was in either’s shoes, keep my powder dry and see whom club hierarchy goes with for next manager.
From clubs POV think with potential rise in Martinelli they should lock one down selling other, at moment Laca looks to be one that will move if that happens. Zero chance imo either move in January with Champions league a necessity.
Why the hell didn’t we get Ziyech again?
*shrugs*
All well
Graham (from previous) Yes and we moved stadium in 06 But it was only ever going down hill after 04 Best side the prem has seenBut either way that wasn’t the question Are you saying that those sides deserved no credit? Played the best football we’ve ever played in those years Yes he let it slip at the back for us but no credit? That team was an absolute delight going forward and anyone who was fortunate enough to have watched us in those days still link us to the higher end of the beautiful game because of it Those… Read more »
Terra
Reading your post , then I would expect us to sell laca n mustafi , we will be lucky to get 50m the pair.
Good game this Chelsea.
According to the latest report (rumour? See my previous post,) Real are interested in taking Auba off our hands come summer. Seems they may offer James in some kind of deal.
Sal..
Doing well thank you sir..
Hope your the same.
Agree
Laca will go January moving up Martinelli
With possibly Eddie back next season..
You never know.
Ishola
“I have never said I don’t rate Willock.”
Ishola
That’s bollocks
You and Freddie were cunting him off the day we got Ceballos
2nd hottest day of the year
I remember it well. Parked up in some shit hole in Camberwell sweating my tits off arguing with you that I didn’t rate Ceballos and that he would cut down on Willocks playing time
Which he has, and willock is still outplaying him
😂 😂
No Don
I said he was being over-rated by some fans like yourself in relation to how much we have actually seen of the guy in the first team.
This ties in with with wanting to see more of him before shouting from the roof tops about him.
Unlike yourself I don’t care what nationality he is. I just care that Arsenal have good players.
Your mania for English players extends to wanting to see Spurs win football matches. lol
Safe to say Xhaka is one leg out of the club.
I expect him to be gone in January.
Shocking from Barcelona this evening, absolutely shocking.
Xhaka takes the fall for now ….guess he will be getting the Ozil treatment for a few weeks. I expect him to push for a move come January, he is done here.
The best part of this is that Xhaka will want out in the winter window.
The game attending fans are the ones driving this club forward. I hope they never act like nice guys in the best traditions of the Arsenal way.
We should get the Ajax coach,Guy is dripping with sauce!
I like Conte’s Inter.
Xhaka is done for at the club.
Victorious
“We should get the Ajax coach,Guy is dripping with sauce!”
Maybe so but he is also exploiting what we all know.
That Chelsea are very dodgy defensively.
Ishola
Ooooh. Backtracking are we??
Funny. I mention I remember the day and your little flaps go.
Na matey, you were arguing for Ceballos and stating how superior the is to willock. How you’ve watched him and I haven’t and bla bla bla. You and Freddy on the case.
Ishola
Or maybe I could just see that he was a better option than Ceballos months ago and you couldn’t
So now you’re using the my attachment to youth players to attempt to discredit me
I was right.
You was wrong.
Now eat your humble pie 🥧
The Ajax team is just a joy to watch,playing football as it should be with so much freedom skill,how exciting it must be for their fans
Over at araenal we are left watching paint dry every week by Mr bland
I’d absolutely get the Ajax coach and ask him to take Ziyech along..
Don The case still stands that Ceballos has more experience than Willock in first team football and prior performances in his overall career to date even though he hasn’t lived up to the hype and expectation of him from his first match for Arsenal. A 25 yard goal from Willock against an understrength Liverpool team in a kickabout match in the beer cup doesn’t mean Willock all of a sudden is the undoubted bees kness. He was being substituted in the more competitve matches prior for being invisible in matches. The situation still stands. Need to see more of Willock… Read more »
Ishola
Ziyech is such a smooth Player though ,recall a handful of posters like yourself and I screaming for his signature in the summer
He would have been such a glorious signing
That Chelsea are very dodgy defensively
Agree Chavs are such suspects defensively but Lamps do make up for such deficiency with by making them so devastating attacking wise
Imagine a basket ball score when we play them.. Lol
We don’t have a defense and now the attacking play is stalling as well, just so much pain watching this present arsenal wouldn’t u agree
Grant ElkinJuly 18, 2019 12:09:31
Uni sacked a Christmas, Mourihno to replace him! You heard her first fams lol
Jeeze
This was a prophetic post
I wonder how much we can get for Xhaka in Jan…
teams that are desperate might pay over the odds….
Emery hasn’t been sacked yet and Mourinho hasn’t been appointed
Maybe hold on to the prophecy a lil bit more till it actually happens
Ishola
That one goal in the “beer cup” is more than Ceballos can manage with far more minutes.
Ceballos is wank. Like I told you in June. Should have saved the loan fee and just stuck with willock. Given him the minutes and get him prem ready for a proper coach next season
Who can take you super serial anyway you weirdoooo?
You were claiming that Wenger and Kroenke was forcing his playing style on emery this season
Hahaha
Mong
Freddie LjungbergJuly 18, 2019 12:11:37
I mean apart from his pace, vision, dribbling and finishing Ceballos is exactly like Arteta minus the lego hair, they’re both spanish right? Must be it.
Un na naaiJuly 18, 2019 12:13:47
Freddie????
You what kid? Dribbling and finishing?? Erm, nope. He’s just a leightweight ball circulator. Which is no bad thing in the right side and league but he’s the midfield version of Morata for me. Wait and you’ll see. He will bomb and Madrid won’t be able to offload him. Take it to the bank.
Ooooooh man was I right.
MarkoJuly 18, 2019 12:21:32
Yes. I’d have him ahead of Cabellos. Where on earth does that indicate he’s in my first choice 11 for arsenal football club?Must try harderCeballos would be a starter for us. Did I just blow your little mind? Don’t worry about it
Ah marko the cunt
No wonder he’s in hiding. Every big call he’s made since wenger left has exploded in his face. Like a water balloon filled with spunk
Un na naaiJuly 18, 2019 12:26:56 MarkoJust like Suarez and Lichtsteiner? Guendouzi? Yeah everyone who comes to the club is an instant starter. Baptista? Another one. Yossi Benayoun. Kim kallstrom…..:Cabellos is coming in after playing 16 odd games last season to the fucking premier league and is going to instantly command a starting place in our team? This isn’t Kroos or Modric. He’s not even a xakha or a torriera. This is Cabellos. A tippy tappy, leightweight, skinny little Spaniard. Not much difference with Suarez but he’s an instant starter??With all the time you have sitting around all day you’d… Read more »
Both these cunts gone into hiding now
Hahaha
Along with joe
At least they feel shame
More than I can say for Bamford, ishola and chubby bald cunt
MarkoJuly 18, 2019 12:35:46
Don thinks we’re going through the whole effort of convincing Ceballos to join us over Spurs to then not start him. Oh Don you never cease to amaze me with your stupidity.
😂 😂 😂 😎 😎
Ah I should take a trip down memory lane more often. So sweet reading the mugs Make these half arsed predictions. Like they know a thing about football they haven’t learned off their PlayStation
Only news now that can be more exciting than Xhaka been stripped off the armband is Emery getting the sack
Lets hope Xhaka gets frozen the way Mesut was. I just hope Torreira returns at DM role now with Ozil at nr 10 role to give us some balance. OX scores again??
Watching the Liverpool game. Now why was chamberlain sold to Liverpool?
Kepa a joke keeper.
More than I can say for Bamford, ishola and chubby bald cunt
Did chuckle me diswan..Hahahahah
I think Emery will try and exploit Xhaka in an attempt to make amends with fans.. He is desperate at the moment, at least sth good will come out of this..
Ishola70July 18, 2019 14:41:59
Dissenter
“The Ceballos deal will help Willock, competition is a very good thing..”Yes it can.But if both players perform to their capabilities Willock will not get a look in.And this loan deal shows really that Willock is indeed not good enough as yet.
Ishoooola
The sage of le grove
Emery is a cowardly opportunist.
Like Ozil, and now Xhaka, he creates the smokescreen to protect his ass.
maybe he is smart
Now the whopping boy for Mr bland is out of the firing line all fiery darts now should be directed towards Mr bland by the fans
He has no place in this club
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50309446
He should never have been made captain in the first place. He’s a liability of a player.
lol Don is on a victory parade it seems for some reason.
Told ya Willock is the bollocks he yells.
Don Willock was substituted in two games in succession in more competitive games before the Liverpool kickabout at Anfield.
He still has lots to prove.
We hope you are correct in your assertion that Willock is the real deal but this early trumpeting smacks of desperation and premature.
I just hope you haven’t put the blockers on Willock given your poor predictions on here in the past.
Reminiscing about Wenger is a safer past time for you Don.
lol
Un
Why do you think I call them the know nothing’s. ..
Lol at Granité.
Lol at the Chavs.
Un
Not sure Ishola should be grouped with the Emery ass lickers
He tends to plead Player poverty a lot though but ultimately still hold the position the man is whack
Blind got fouled first
lol Teedle Dee joins with Teedle Dum.
Pierre the football sage advocating fullbacks don’t pass the halfway line.
Proclaimed Lichtsteiner a good looking signing. Indeed praised him in his first few matches.
Come on Pierre. There is getting it wrong and there is getting it wrong.
Lichtsteiner.
And Ceballos was one of Pierre’s fav players a few months. Always liked him he said. Fav player of mine he said.
Ajax doing their best to lose this game now.
No to the ajax manager
Ajex received two RED within one play.
Ajax Lisandro Martinez looks a player…
All going Chelsea’s way now.
Joke of a decision
That Jorgino good at penalties. Cool calm collected.
Madness at the Bridge, Ajax on 9 men with some pretty suspect officiating.
If this the end for Xhaka?
Don had time for him in the past.
Plenty of time.
He liked his on the ball attributes. Couldn’t care less that he was a pauper off the ball. Typical Wenger fan outlook. Does not care how crap a player is off the ball.
Ishola
Noooo. Don’t try it. The original discussion centred around Ceballos being a wasted signing when we had willock
You claimed that Ceballos would tear it up, that he had skills and could dribble open teams up and I said no, he just flops around the centre circle playing short passes and goes nowhere
I said he would get in the way of willock
I said willock was better for us
So far I’ve been right. And yeah, little victory parade
Yay for me. And not the 3 goons.
4-4
We will score more goals than you Chelsea.
Oh dear …looks like ishola likes to give it but can’t take a bit of banter.
Maybe Ajax don’t want the victory tonight
Not so sure end for Xhaka, signed on until 2023 selling in January would mean taking absolute bath on value.
Boss management.
Don I was agreeing with your man Pierre who stated Ceballos as one of his favourite players.
I didn’t go as far as Pierre. hahaha
Pierre
Lots of banter.
Both my way and of course undobtedly your way. No problem.
Is Ceballos still one of your fav players Pierre?
I was actually the only one on here after that Burnley match that said that Ceballos isn’t silky smooth and runs with a gait.
Other posters didn’t like that at all at the time. Nah he’s smooth as silk they said.
Lol
Lucky havs have turned this around ..5-4
Oh no goal..VAR
Goal overturned, mad game
Nelson
“I like Conte’s Inter.”
Do you still like them?
Interesting folk think Xhaka is done and going to want a move in Jan.
I wouldn’t blame him if he fancied moving on, but I don’t see some untenable position or whatever else. The manager of the club is about to get volleyed out of North London, I don’t think any player feeling twitchy to leave.
Regardless of the result I will still take the Ten Haag the Ajax manager
Arsenal don’t do defense anyway so a manager who would have us purring and scoring loads of goals for fun should always be welcomed
Guy absolutely shits on Mr bland
Ishola “And Ceballos was one of Pierre’s fav players a few months. Always liked him he said. Fav player of mine he said.” Nice try but not quite true is it….in fact I would go as far as to say you are talking bullshit. I knew very little about Ceballos before he came to Arsenal and my original comment when he came on in the Emirates cup was that he was as slow as Xhaka or he reminds me of xhaka … Hardly a great endorsement. However, on reflection, I do think he is a decent player but is playing… Read more »
Goodness Pierre just denies and tells fibs for fun.
You were all over him Pierre after the Burnley match.
All over him like a rash.
One of my favs you said.
CC
The best thing will still be for Zhaka to make the move
Any manager worth his salts wouldn’t select him anyway so unless we bring in another doofus as coach after Emery I think he’s finished at the club
Pierre
“However, on reflection, I do think he Ceballos) is a decent player but is playing under a manager who hasn’t a clue so it is impossible to judge his level.”
Neither have Real Madrid a clue hence sending him out on loan.
Pierre
While we all reflect on Ceballos I think really he just doesn’t have the real top quality.
At least you were willing right at the start to give him a go and see what pans out.
Ajax still attacking with 9 men.. Lol
I can see an example being made out of Granite and he will no doubt want games as a professional and even more so with the Euros pending.
I can only see an exit for him. Unai was in typical waffle form when questioned on Xhakas future prospects at the club.
Ishola
Yes but in Pierre’s defence, Ceballos had a good game. It was the only time in 3 months that he’s looked anything above a 5/10
Other than that he’s done nothing.
You however where shaking your little maracas way back in July along with the other retards on how he was a great signing and that he would be an instant starter and that he would outperform willock and Guendouzi
Need a napkin mate? For that egg? It’s everywhere…. you stink of egg
Anyone who rates Ozil is a cluck
.
Ishola
I think this will put this matter to bed.
“Pierre
July 30, 2019 09:46:50
Ceballos is not too dissimilar to Xhaka in the way he plays the game , he has more flair but the pace of his game looks the same . I hear a lot on Le Grove about his dribbling skills but he is no Cazorla that’s for sure ….Xhaka and Ceballos in midfield doesn’t look a good combination.
Again , he may be taking up important game time that Willock and Guendouzi need and deserve.”
The perfect storm
Emery leaves and takes Zhaka with him
Ishola I was perfectly willing. I even complimented him after the burnet game and said I’d be happy to eat my words That’s not what we are discussing here though. We are discussing you talking shit about a player you claimed to have watched whilst dismissing the (at the time) unpopular view that we may actually have better options already at the club and that wasting money and time on another lightweight Suarez type would impede the growth of a player like willock who’s shone more often than not when called upon So far, at 19, he’s outplayed Ceballos Just… Read more »
Well Willock hasn’t outperformed Ceballos in the proper competitive games first team matches has he Don so in that sense bang on the money. heh.
Don you didn’t have a clue about Ceballos and was against him right from the start one because he was seen as an Emery acquisition and another because you were flag waving the St George.
Great stuff Don.
Ishola
No. I just didn’t rate him and thought he was a waste of time.
And yes willock has outperformed Ceballos in competitive games this season.
As Bamford would say-no question guy
Don
It has not even been cemented that there are better attacking midfield options than Ceballos in the squad however much Ceballos has been seen as underwhelming.
Willock was taken off twice in succession after disappointing in the proper first XI games just a few weeks ago.
Only in your head and imagination is Willock undoubtedly a far superior option to Ceballos.
Chelsea are leagues better than us. LEAGUES. And no, not primarily because they have a manager who knows in precise terms what he wants to do with them, although that doesn’t hurt. It’s mostly because they have much better players. Lots of quickness, lots of pace, lots of athleticism, and plenty of technical players as well. They’re way, way ahead of us.
Un Na
I haven’t said “guy” here in a couple of years. And Ceballos has his limitations, but he’s a much better footballer than Willock.
Bamford
They conceded four goals though at home.
Do you not care about their defensive frailty?
Pierre
On point as per…. some of us know the game, others know what they learn on their Xbox
Pierre September 5, 2019 23:22:53
“Is it ridiculous to assume that a player of Ceballos outstanding quality, as he proved tonight for Spain, should be a starter for Arsenal …I don’t think so .”
What a cock….lol