It’s always amusing when an Arsenal enigma player falls out with the club. The super fans that revel in the vaguery of the talent; leaning on disconnected stats to prove a point, desperately hope a Barca or a Madrid will come to the rescue are always disappointed.
Granit Xhaka? Try Big Steve Bruce’s Toon Army. I love that. Granit and Jonjo Shelvey keeping them up. What a pairing. I absolutely need to see this.
Quite incredible that in the space of a month, we’ve gone from Captain Xhaka to a pretty nailed on exit from the club. I liked the comments he made in his dethroning interview where he’d basically been hanging out with his over-woke Stoke Newington friends who’ve been telling him that it’s ok for men to show their feelings… anyone that can reflect on the Palace incident with the fans and be happy with the response needs their matcha tea confiscated.
… but look, that’s what coffee culture can do to you in London. One minute you’re one of the lads, crashing back Stella’s in the park, jumpers for goal posts on a Sunday, the next thing you know, you’ve met Oatmilk Sally, you’re wearing washed-out khaki three quarter lengths, you have your velcro wallet secured to your belt with a carabiner, and you’re in a group therapy for dogs with social anxiety.
I think it’d be quite interesting to see if Ivan Gazidis and AC Milan come to his rescue. I love that Ivan is having an absolute disaster over there again. I was a little worried he might learn from the mistakes he made at Arsenal and double down on repairing his reputation in Europe. It’s a disaster over there, 14th in the league, internal politics galore, hopefully, we can add to the mess by handing him a player that’d be well off the pace in any league. Would love Xhaka to feel the wrath of Italian fans after he’s gifted a third goal to Inter Milan in the derby.
I jumped on a podcast with Matt Scott yesterday, one of the points he raised was the lack of a powerful defensive midfielder at Arsenal. Our Ndidi has been Xhaka. No power, mobility or discipline. With his impending departure, that leaves the club a space free in the squad. It would be absolutely ideal to replace him with someone a little more suited to the league. I don’t think LT is a cultural fit and I think he lacks presence to survive the league. I’m a little stumped as to where we go with a destroyer in the middle of the park?
Maybe that’s the game we play in the comments today. Who would you hire?
Only way you can play is to listen to the podcast.
… and give it a 5* rating.
Maybe a nice comment too.
Can you give me some money as well?
Ok, 5*will be fine. x
1
3?
Tr4phy
4
Tr4phy
Tr4phy2
damn you DM
poor internet service cost me! 😎
Poor counting, more like 😉
4th
Fu@ks sake
My posts are in moderation because I had a typo in my username
Doh!
Ndidi, Dacoure, Zakaria, Ibrahim Sangaré
Anyone from last list your guest blogger put up a few days ago.
I’m partial to sangare I think?
Since Vieria and Gilberto left we have missed a big unit in the middle of the park
When you look at that central midfield area it’s easy to see why Nzonzi appealed to Emery so much.
Surely this is where the scouting network should be coming into its own. Who is going to be our Ndidi? Someone strong, a bit nasty, plenty of stamina and a bit of wit about positioning and not diving in to tackles.
As for Xhaka… the sooner he’s gone the better. Our disciplinary record will improve dramatically, and the number of unforced errors leading to goals conceded will reduce.
Unfortunately, increasingly looks like we will also lose LT this Jan so we may need 2 MFs.
Could be Rauls cunning plan to save Emery, he will replace those two with Nzonzi and Eber Banega
I think we can do better than Nzonzi and Banega. They are also not forward thinking hires.
It’s a shame about LT. He looked the part in his early games but I wonder if his performances have tailed off due to the absence of any tactical nous from Emery. LT can’t be everywhere, then he found himself benched in favour of the long haired headless chicken, who offers far less in front on the back line.
Things are shit at Arsenal, but what’s happening with Granit Wanka….sweet.
The silver lining in the Cloud and all that.
Leopard can’t change its spots. Being a manchild will come back to bite you in the bum sooner or later.
That reminds me of a famous ‘guy’ on Le grove too.
I think someone like Matuidi, Kondogbia, or William Carvahlo would be the best fit. But we need a box to box in order to balance the team. We have no trailer runner into the box, or someone to carry the ball through the midfield.
Easy on Stoke Newington Pedro.
LT was great last year but a combination of not settling in England and a manager that has no idea how to use him will see him leave the club sooner rather than later. In terms of replacements proper coaching I guess can make any young DM with potential great, I always felt Ndidi was a bit of a liability but with Rodgers he’s finally fulfilling that potential. He’d cost 60 million right now. Doucoure would be a nice buy and affordable especially if Watford remain where they are in the league come May. Not a fan of Banega, as… Read more »
“Xhaka out, who would you replace him with?”
Well as him leaving is already my Christmas present I’d feel guilty and greedy in demanding who is his appointment.
Zakaria for me.
Not sure where we’re getting money from next summer to buy anyone. We’ve already hocked next year’s money and if we fail to qualify for the CL as gets more likely the longer emery stays in place, we will have to sell some of our more valuable players to make ends meet.
Xhaka won’t raise much now, even from Milan. Torreira’s stock is down. We may have to be creative, which is not a great call for that position.
Joke Friday – A cowboy rode into town and stopped at a saloon for a drink. Unfortunately, the locals always had a habit of picking on strangers, which he was. When he finished his drink, he found his horse had been stolen. He went back into the bar, handily flipped his gun into the air, caught it above his head without even looking and fired a shot into the ceiling. “Which one of you sidewinders stole my horse?!” he yelled with surprising forcefulness. No one answered. “Alright, I’m gonna have another beer, and if my horse ain’t back outside by… Read more »
A priest, a rabbi and an imam walk into a bar. The bartender says, “What is this, some kind of joke?”
A guy walks into a bar and starts a drunken conversation with one of the patrons. “Hey what’re you drinking?” the patron asks. “Magic beer,” says the guy. After arguing about it for a few minutes the guy says, “I’ll prove it to you.” They go outside and walk to a nearby cliff. The guy chugs his Magic Beer, then jumps off. Miraculously he floats back up and settles down next to the stunned patron. The patron runs back to the bar and says to the bartender, “I want what he’s having!” pointing to the guy. The patron chugs his… Read more »
A guy walks into a bar and orders a shot.
“I’m celebrating my first blow job!” He says to the bartender.
“Congratulations,” says the bartender, “Here, have another one on the house.”
“No thanks,” the man declines, “If the first one didn’t get the taste out of my mouth, the second one won’t either.
Actually think Torriera and Xhaka works better than with Guendouzi thrown into the mix, but Emery either chooses, or has been told to play guendouzi in virtually every game.
Butt, as Matt Scott was saying, every other team has a proper DM, so they shouldnt be that hard to find, or as hard as this club seem to make it
“Can you give me some money as well?”
Just ask to Mesut.
I’m sure he will be happy to help you.
Moray – We can get more than 40 million for each one of LT and Xhaka both are starting internationals and one is his nations captain. We’ll also get Elneny and Mhki money, possible Mustafi money. No reason why we can’t look at DMs now for a structure payment plan come the summer.
Joke Friday
Granit Xhaka
replace Xhaka easy……my old mum she’s quicker
LT would be fine if he was told to never be more than 5 yards in front of the last defender or told not to cross the halfway line. Emery trying to use him as a number 10 is laughable.
When we bought both Guen and LT two summers ago, I was hoping they would be our next Petit/Vieira combo in a few seasons but does not look likely now. We spend much time critiquing Emery but not enough looking at our squad, which is not fit for purpose at moment. Emery would need to be superior human being to get our team playing well, they are inadequate to say least. I listened to podcast last night and it was excellent, Scott is well informed and has interesting thoughts about Arsenal. I will listen to second part tonight when my… Read more »
I remember that both Soyuncu and Evans were available to us. We were too greedy and we didn’t think they are good enough. Under good coaching and playing in a good system, even average players can become good players. I think it is more important to hire a good coach first. He may have his preference of players. I would think that with good coaching, Chambers can be developed to become a good DM. Guen and Willock can become box to box CM.
I hope so, Bob. If we hang on to both strikers we may have to increase their salaries considerably. It’s going to be tight next year. I think we will get a decent price for Torreira but I doubt we will raise 40m for Xhaka.
Isholaaaaaaaaaa, get in here mate!
Until we buy someone in January Torreira and Chambers both have enough defensive awareness and tactical ability to be deep lying DMs. Torreira did it in the first half of last season, and Chambers did it Fulham (yes I know, but he was still their player of the season)
That’s not the problem: the problem is that Emery has insisted on playing a regista or deep lying playmaker, and has preferred first Xhaka and now Guendouzi in this role. Neither player has sufficient tactical or defensive awareness.
We are not getting the best out of the players we have, it seems like the less structure & tactics we have, the less application we are getting from them, I’m sure we would be doing a lot better under a decent coach.
We badly need to fix our midfield. I think our midfield is in worse shape than our defence.
Xhaka, LT, Ceballos OUT
Zakaria/Partey, Doucoure/Sangare IN
Btw EmeryOUT!
Id say we need a midfield destroyer and a box to box midfielder. A midfield 3 consisting of a destoyer, a creator and a box to box would be good for us . As Emery doesnt have a football philosophy like Klopp’s or Pep’ so three different type of players would be best. As for the DM you could go for players like Zakaria, Ndidi , Sander Berge and Tonali are highly rated maybe we could go full project youth. For Box to Box I think someone like Docoure would be perfect. Watford are primed to get relegated at the… Read more »
Soumare has been getting some good reviews.
Ofc forgot about Partey who reportedly has a releo clause around 45 mil in his contract. Should be our absolute prime target this Jan if Xhaka leaves or Summer .
Words on a blog & Bergkamp63 – so true. The issue isn’t with the players when it comes to the midfield question.
Moray – The only reason I believe we’ll get £40 million for Xhaka is his stock is still high in germany and his performances for the Swiss national team are better than his Arsenal performances.
David O’Leary for manager! Make it happen!
Arsenal have made contact with the father of Reinier Jesus as he travelled to Europe to visit potential suitors for his son. Atletico Madrid are said to be favourites to sign the 17 year-old Brazilian who’s release clause is now at €70m.
[@Sport_Witness]
Fingers crossed. That lad would be an immense prospect if signed.
As for the Bamford ban look he’s a repetitive annoying idiot but I think it speaks volumes about this place that he gets a ban meanwhile some truly horrible individuals who say some offensive shit on the regular are still allowed to post. But alas that’s just the way the world is going I suppose.
Also Val pushing falsehoods again this time Raul not Sven signed Sokratis and Lichtsteiner instead of Soyuncu and Ricardo. Also blames the Saliba signing on Sven despite him being long gone. Horrendous liar as per
Guess it doesnt really matter who we get with a lame duck manager , and a good portion of the players wanting out
Watching the Ox last night thinking where was that player for Arsenal, just have this feeling Xhaka might be serviceable in the right system with the right coaching.
Not saying hes a world beater but Emerys doing a good job of making our best players look wank in the same way Wenger used to.
lets not forget we need a creative mid too- we have a serious lack of that right now.
Marko, I ban people, then I let them back on if they repent. The only way to rehabilitate is forgiveness and pointing out bad behavior.
Forgiveness is what this place is about. Semi-religious if you will. If you really wanted to make a moral stance, you could take your business elsewhere, but you don’t, because you like it here… possibly because it’s a bit like a welcoming church.
“lets not forget we need a creative mid too- we have a serious lack of that right now.”
True. But it will not matter who operates in midfield if they are drilled to pass sideways or back to the keeper. We have a serious lack of creative palyers – and a serious lack of creative thinking.
Unai, its entirely possible. Remember Liverpool’s midfield three of Xabi Alonso, Sissoko and Mascherano? Alonso was protected enough to spray the ball left and right, so something similar for Xhaka might bring the best out of him.
The caveat to that is he does make stupid decisions from time to time whereas Alonso was an incredibly intelligent midfielder.
Micheal,
Complaining about Arsenal players passing backwards?
How else are they gonna keep those pass completion statistics high enough?
70 mil for a 17 y.o is unfathomable unless ur Mbappe . If he really is as good as they say 30-40 mil should be our limit.
I don’t understand why Bamford kept drilling on the same issue. There will always be posters who don’t agree with your opinion. So what. Just move on. However, I find Bamford’s posts were never offensive. He truly believed what he said. Hope he can clear up his mind and gets back soon.
Bob, exactly, I’d also go as far as saying that some of the individual errors we see under Emery and previously under Wenger are a symptom of tactical naivety.
Like I say, Xhaka is no world beater, neither was Ox but in think both have been let down by poor management.
“Complaining about Arsenal players passing backwards?
How else are they gonna keep those pass completion statistics high enough?”
I knew there was somehitng I was missing 🙂
Nelson, offense isn’t the problem, I’m protecting the flow of the conversation.
It is incredibly boring to watch people jump in on the same thing over and over.
When it goes to far, people start arguing.
Then it gets nasty.
Then we’re in victim territory.
Repeat. Rinse.
Very boring.
If you really wanted to make a moral stance, you could take your business elsewhere, but you don’t, because you like it here… possibly because it’s a bit like a welcoming church. My moral stance is ignoring and not engaging when the shit gets offensive and horrible that’s my moral stance. Clearly yours is… But you’re right I do like to engage with Arsenal fans around here. The other shitlords I could do without but they need a place to call home I suppose. Hey look you don’t think there’s a problem with banning Bamford but allowing Don and Normski/Aubergine/whatever… Read more »
Pedro,
Not to mention that some of us (I.e. me) are deeply offended by Hate Crimes and Hate Crimes Against Logic…
2.3 million comments to date. Think I have a pretty good grasp on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the community here.
Wasi Rainier isn’t going for 70 million that’s just a ridiculous release clause they have but he’s certainly going to go for Rodrygo Vinicius type money which is 30/40 million ish. Imo worth the risk given the potential. Lad was tearing it up in the lower levels and since getting into the senior team he’s got 4 goals 2 assists in 11 games. Lad is a baller.
“Man City interested in signing Leicester duo Söyüncü and Evans.” – Sky Sports
In other news – “Arsenal keen on plodding on with Sokratis and Luiz.”
Anyway, having been at the game, Raul and especially Edu would have seen the gulf in quality in certain areas between the Arsenal and Leicester squads. Surely, this Arsenal team needs much more than a “Pepe”.
January can’t come soon enough.
Pedro that’s comments how many unique visitors? How many article views? Comments sure I contribute to half of that total. Anyway as I said if you don’t think that’s a problem with banning annoying repetitive commentors and keeping offensive commentors then that’s okay no big deal. Should be a terms of service or specific rules around bans though like certain words or practices I don’t think it’s gravy to ban annoying shits or people who disagree with you
Binned?
Anyway moving o and Bamford’s gone good riddance. Onto Arsenal finding their Ndidi and links to Mangala suggest they’re doing just that.
Marko – ffs, for a second I thought we were talking about former man city player mangala…………………………..
Is the Stuttgart version any good? Suited for the prem?
I bet if you went around and spoke to each and every Arsenal player, on a confidential 1:1 basis, they’d all say the same thing.
“I can’t take this any more, I need to get out of here!”
That’s why Emery has to go…………….NOW!!
Just how attractive are Arsenal FC in the greater scheme of things?
Take us out of London and we’d really be in the shite.
Haven’t read post yet as just got back from hike with wife and baby…
Who to replace Xhaka Khan with?
Yoot. Promote youth from within. Why go and blow another spunk ton on waster like Pepe when we have some hungry young guns in the set up?
Now I’ll read the post.
BTW. Heavily into a bottle of Shining Path Gin at the moment. It’s good. Too good. There will be blood.
Marko Would love to sign him if we can get for anything below 40 but I think its going to be real hard. We’ve already utilized next year’s money and unless we make it into the CL we’re gonna have very little to spend in the summer. Sure Mkhy , Elneny , Mustafi , Xhaka can generate about 50-60 mil in the summer. But we already have a lot of holes we need to fill before we start spending 40-50 mils on 17 y.o. Our Chances of getting him are already slim considering the competition and without the CL i… Read more »
“2.3 million comments to date. Think I have a pretty good grasp on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the community here.”
Yeah but 2.2 million are calling you a tosser!
Sorry Pedro – couldn’t resist it!
Has Bamford been banned again?
“Has Bamford been banned again”
No, but you might for your obscene comments.
What a shambles. And I’m the one into gin. You dick.
Mykhi slamming Unai for ruining him.
Everything is falling in place for Unai to be sacked. Looks like when not if now.
On a serious note if Pedro banned any poster who said something another found to be offensive they’d be no one on here.
It’s something we’re seeing in the wider world where an opinion is silenced because someone deems it to be offensive – there are reasonable codes of conduct that people should be able to follow with it being a problem.
Guns
What obscene comments you cunt!
Guns in 30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGkBBsqR5d0
sal
You mean Guns is almost going to die from being hit by a coconut?
One would not get into trouble again, if one suggested it’s our workaholic PedRo thats needs access to G of H ‘s Peruvian Gin. Having to listen to 90 minutes of Mr.Scott’ s twaddle yesterday no wonder why PedRo’s post is a tad lacklustre today.( by his consummate standards.)- he deserves a stiff drink. Re: xhaka He just seems to be one of numerous players that want to jump ship. Little Legs wants out. Bellerin agent is putting out feelers. Laca won’t sign. PEA wont sign. Mikki dont want to come back. Even our no.2 goalie ain’t happy. And The… Read more »
PedRo
And Kudos on your numbers.
🗽
I’m guessing Father Ted?
Wasi you are probably right I don’t see us buying Rainier not least because of the likely price but because of the clubs being interested in him. In saying that if we can we should because he’s outstanding. I’d much prefer we talked up a potential signing at CAM instead of whether or not Ozil can get the finger out for the umpteenth time (last two league games suggest it’s still a no).
Marc, exactly, I unbanned you after your outrageous comments about Arteta.
Now we are pals again.
I unbanned you after your outrageous comments about Arteta.
Oh shit what’d he say?
Pedro
Didn’t know you’d banned me. Does that mean I’m famous!
Wasi
“Mykhi slamming Unai for ruining him.”
Like he blamed Mourinho previously.
The player is a Grade A waster just like Ozil.
Be more selective in your turd throwing.
There are enough turds to throw at Emery as it is without picking up the slimy ones like Mhikityrian.
Marc
Everyone’s been banned.
This is midland gin. I won’t say exactly where from in the midlands as it might give away my location in the country. And I don’t need a stalker.
Arteta would shake up the club in more ways than the obvious. This is a good thing.
Ishola
Agree we’ve got plenty of genuine things to criticise at the moment no need to add a smokescreen.
Marc/Ishola
Who do you both want taking the reigns from Emery who’s a dead man walking at this stage.
15 .16
Salpsradiscyn
Used to play darts in the Atlas pub in Stoke Newington
against a very young Eric Bristol and he’s dad who was decent.
And played snooker in the Mildmay club in that area.
Good old day’s.
Up market now I would imagine.?
Bristol.?😂
Bristow
Woah. Someone else is from Stokie? Apart from me and Bob N16, I didn’t know there was another Hackney Pirate on the team sheet.
BTW Eric Bristow, although from Stoke Newington and Hackney was a Spurs fan. The bastard.
Guns of Hackney.
I was from Hungerford rd of York way.
But played in the Hackney and Leyton leagues
BothFootball and Darts and later pool.
Now residing near Sunny Folkestone.
WengerEagle “Who do you both want taking the reigns from Emery who’s a dead man walking at this stage.” Unlikely but I’d like Nagelsmann but even if he did decide to move from his project at Leipzig he would only go next summer of course. I’d say Nagelsmann because of the influence he would have now working with Rangnick. Rangnick has a footballing project and philosophy at Leipzig which is bang up to date unlike Arsenal. Not interested in Arteta because I think he will still be for possession for possession’s sake which is a bit old hat now. Nagelsmann… Read more »
Had to laugh at this Pedro,
“2.3 million comments to date. Think I have a pretty good grasp on what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the community here.”
I just imagined Wenger saying it.