My word, another scouting report from Mike McDonald. I’m flying today, so likely not back online until tomorrow. Have a good one!
A new midfielder for Arsenal
This next transfer blog is about locating a Central Midfielder, not necessarily finding another Granit Xhaka.
Honestly, I think that would give Xhaka too much credit as his career would’ve been better served going to Serie A when he left BM.
You also need to know that this is not about finding a modern day, athletic DM as that blog is here…
Scouting Report: Where we are, where we should buy
It includes Partey, N’didi, Soumare, Danilo, William Carvalho, Witzel, Javi Martinez, Szoboszlai, Busquets, Sangare, Zakaria and Bruno Fernandez.
Modern day football has a midfield three in many forms. Either in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1/3-5-2 or 3-4-3 with an Attacking Mid/False Nine.
Modern day midfields are made up of …..
a) A destroyer
b) A play maker
c) A line breaker (with and/or without the ball)
Arsenal actually have all three already. Torreira is a destroyer. Ceballos, Guendouzi and Xhaka are all different types of play makers. Willock and Maitlind-Niles are line breakers. Smith Rowe could be a play maker or line breaker.
A few teams are still using an Attacking Midfielder. Often they move from wide areas as Ceballos does for Spain, Nelson could do, Ozil is currently doing, ESR and Willock have been tried and Pepe could actually find himself as.
In my opinion, as a coach myself, it is hard to say how good these options are as Mikel Arteta’s biggest asset is his coaching skills. In his first game alone Torreira, Ozil and Xhaka had their best games of the season so perhaps the answer is local?
What Arsenal might then do is buy based on profile rather than replacing.
The profile we lack is height, mobility, athleticism, speed, penetration and positional sense.
Again, I say that Arteta could change some of this eg; Willock playing as a ‘line breaking #8.’
Ceballos has the ability to be a ‘play making #6.’ I’ve even wondered if Guendouzi could be an ‘energetic pressing #10?’
Most likely
Name: Adrien Rabiot
Position: CM
Age: 24
Height: 6ft 2
Club: Juventus
Nationality: France
Potential fee: Loan or 35M
https://youtu.be/p7ot593dhn8
About: I’m going to keep this profile simple. If the goal is to find a better version of Granit Xhaka as a player, Adrien Rabiot is that.
Has better dribbling ability, mobility, defensive ability, agility, speed and and an ego to play at the highest level. His mother, who is also his agent, has been a hindrance to him as she has placed unrealistic demands on his career. Hence why after half a season at Juve, he is wanting to move on.
If we can get Rabiot for a five month loan, I cannot see this being an initial problem.
Others in same category: Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Salzburg), Thomas Lemar (A.Madrid), Emre Can (Juventus), Kessie (AC Milan)
Generational talent
Not all in this category are CM’s. Again, there is an argument that AFC already have a play maker/regista or two. Some of these could be AM’s or ‘line breaking 8’s’ in a 3 man midfield
Name: Eduardo Camavinga
Position: CM
Age: 17
Height: 6ft
Club: Rennes
Nationality: France
Potential fee: 50M
About: One day you might remember that you read about Camavinga. One day very soon. You remembered his name as you thought he was a Bond villain but now you feel silly because he’s now the most talented midfielder in Europe.
Unless he falls off the track, Eduardo Camavinga is destined for superstardom.
A regular for Rennes at 16 and dominating at 17, Camavinga has everything. Statistically he is the best ball winner AND passer in French football. Is best as a line breaking 8, but plays as a deep lying playmaker with the dribbling ability of a winger. Got spider legs that seem to time tackles like only Kante can, yet the passing range of DeBruyne.
Part of me thinks he should go to a club like Lyon, then to an Arsenal before he has his pick of the elite. The other part of me thinks PSG will snap him up and he will struggle to play and regret the move. Then I watch him again and remind myself that once in a generation there is a player that can play for and start for an elite club as the play maker at the age of 17/18.
The biggest compliment I can pay him is to write a list of every quality that you’d want a midfielder to have. I’d say Camavinga at the age of 17, already ranks as an 8/10 or higher in every area.
If you haven’t yet seen Eduardo Camavinga bless your day and click above.
Name: Martin Ødegaard
Position: AM
Age: 21
Height: 5ft 9
Club: Real Madrid (on loan at Sociedad)
Nationality: Norway
Potential fee: 80M
https://youtu.be/Pc6frggNXF8
About: When Mesut Ozil was at Real Madrid he was at his peak. Raking up titles, both team and individual. The king of the assist that Arsenal have rarely seen on a consistent basis.
Martin Ødegaard has this ability but has arguably started excelling more consistently at a younger age. You may remember him touring Europe‘s biggest clubs picking where he wanted to go. Many feel that he has been the best player so far in La Liga and he’s at Real Sociedad. Much like Valverde (below), there is no common sense reason for Real to sell as he is their future. It’s Real though and so you never know. Ordinarily plays as a 10, but perfectly able to play as an 8, penetrating on the dribble or floating between the lines. What I wish Dani Ceballos was, who has this level of talent but prefers to simply maintain possession in his eternal rondo. Heerenveen to Vitesse to Sociedad to Arsenal then on to Real Madrid, perhaps?
Others in this category….. Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Salzburg), Boubacar Kamara (CB who has played FB and DM… Marseille), Dani Olmo (Dinamo Zagreb), Phil Foden (City), Kai Havertz, Dejan Kulusevski (Parma), Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax), Bruno Guimaraes (Athletico Paranese)
Established talents
Name: Fabian Ruiz
Position: CM
Age: 23
Height: 6ft 2
Club: Napoli
Nationality: Spain
Potential fee: 55M
https://youtu.be/wdDpxo8Jx9A
About: Much like Rabiot, see Xhaka, think upgrade. Faster feet than both and more likely to use all surfaces of his golden left foot. Fabian also excels in his ‘second touch,’ the one that accelerates you away.
His fine form has seen him as a staple in the Spanish national team. An achievement that Granit Xhaka would never touch (if he were Spanish), due to his lack of mobility.
Real Madrid have been sniffing around but Fabian must be careful if he were to move as he has established himself. Could return to being an after thought at RM.
Name: Houssem Aouar
Position: CM
Age: 21
Height: 5ft 9
Club: Lyon
Nationality: France
Potential fee: 50M
About: Smooth. Graceful. Makes the hectic look simplistic. Small of frame and light on his feet, Aouar is a natural footballer. Much like Weigel at Dortmund, he makes me a little insecure as he looks too lightweight but he seems to glide effortlessly away from physical pressure.
You may remember Mikel Arteta teaching the players the concept of ‘ball, opponent, space and teammate’ at the first session. Aouar plays this way.
I was trying to think of a comparison to a player we’d all know and then I watched the video again and saw Arteta himself in his Everton days. Interesting.
Others in this category ….. Doucoure (Watford), Pellegrini (Roma), Van De Beek (Ajax), Zielinski (Napoli), Koke (AM), Ruben Neves (Wolves), Isco (RM), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Merino ( Real Sociedad), Nandez (Cagliari), DePaul (Udinese), Sanson (Marseille), Cyprien (Nice), Pulgar (Fiorentina), Bentancur (Juventus), Weigel (Dortmund), Saul Niguez(AM)
Possible for different reasons
Name: Federico Valverde
Position: CM
Age: 21
Height: 5ft 10
Club: Real Madrid
Nationality: Uruguay
Potential fee: £50M
About: As hot as fire in the Spanish capital right now. Valverde has broken into a super competitive midfield with his all-action style.
Valverde is a supremely athletic box to box #8 who has recently been called a ‘jack of all trades and a master of ALL.’
So, why would they sell a youngster that has broken into the first team when they normally ship out youngsters on loan?
Aubameyang.
It’s not likely as I’m sure they’d offer players they don’t want, but if Arsenal have the upper hand in negotiations, never discount a Real Madrid president from doing something that the coach and fans oppose, just to get a star player he wants.
Name: Santi Cazorla
Position: CM
Age: 35
Height: 5ft 6
Club: Villarreal
Nationality: Spain
Potential fee: loan or £10M
About: I wasn’t going to profile Santi but I went on YouTube and I couldn’t resist!
I think that this is a very real possibility for a variety of reasons.
The long term fix is likely to not have PL experience. Cazorla would give us this. If you are concerned about his age and form then recognize that he was not in Spanish squad whilst in his latter years at Arsenal. At the age of 35, he is now.
Five goals and four assists in 15 LaLiga games. A goal against both Barca and Real too. On fire!
Is it coincidence that he has mentioned many times that he didn’t say goodbye? Just saying.
Others in this category….. Allan (Napoli), Alcantara (Bayern), Lallana (Liverpool), Vidal and Arthur (Barca), N’domble and LoCelso (Spurs), Paredes (PSG)
Upcoming midfielders
Name: Kalvin Phillips
Position: DM/CM
Age: 24
Height: 5ft10
Club: Leeds
Nationality: England
Potential fee: 35M
About: Wow! How is he not playing in the PL? How??
I understand that he’s not played at higher levels but to my eyes he is quite easily England’s most talented defensive midfielder. That’s England’s weak point. How is he not in the squad? Watched the video yet?
Kalvin Phillips should become a top player at a top team. Hard as whatever is harder than hard. Fantastic feet too. Converted from a CM to DM but so talented , he could play either. Not entirely sure what PL refs and those lovely VAR folk will make of his force of tackling but they say Arsenal are too soft so..?
The modern day argument is, do you want a deep lying play maker or a ball winner. Kalvin Phillips says, ‘do you want both?’
Others in this category…..
Sander Berge (Genk), Mwepu (RB Salzburg), Aribo (Rangers)
Potential Attacking Mids in a 4-3-3
Ziyech (Ajax), Maddison (Leicester), Fekir (Betis), Mooy (Brighton), Grealish (Villa), James Rodriguez (Real), Yazici (Lille)
My choice
Initially after researching, I had a list of 48 options. Amongst a list of supremely talented midfielders, there was one stand out choice for the circumstances Arsenal are in.
I’d choose Santi Cazorla.
Arsenal have a young group of midfielders made even younger if Xhaka leaves.
A PL experienced player on a short term deal, who clearly wants to play for Arsenal again AND here’s the big one…. we’ve had an awful season so far. You want to lift the fanbase?
Can you imagine the happiness?!?
I’d also attempt to buy N’didi to initially partner Cazorla and Szoboszlai and send him on loan to a PL team to understand the physicality. I’d also buy back Bielik as a very useful squad player.
What will Arsenal do?
I think we will sign Rabiot on loan and buy Szoboszlai. I think we will sign Fernandinho and Thiago Alcantara in the summer.
You?
Like these transfer blogs? I write review blogs after every game @mike_mmcdonald
Graham
What’s that got to do with it?
You made a vague point which I clearly misinterpreted, I offered another take on your view and now you’re referring to Wenger’s educational background.
What was your point?
To be fair I wouldn’t ban him he doesn’t change with bans he needs to just stop being such a rigid melt.
Further, you don’t understand the point of me raising the poor recruitment, which you often write about, and the linking of this to KSE.
You don’t understand the point of me raising the ineptitude of KSE’s role in continuing to employ Wenger for 6-7 years too long.
Well, I’m surprised by you not understanding the reason I raise these points. I’ll explain. If KSE was run properly and there was a performance culture, then this will not have happened.
Same with the woeful financial results- even worse when set against out rivals.
CG
Blah blah blah.
HNY.
Pedro
Fly safe mate!
Marko, Sorry to disappoint you, my use of tenet has nothing to about movie, but it is due to my reading a book about belief and religion. And how belief and religiosity was making a big come back. The author was arguing that contrary to the popular belief that the religion such as Islam extremist or evangelical movement would pass with more technology the opposite would ring true. The less people feel in charge or in control of technology and their life, the more likely people would turn to religion and cultist belief to give a sense to their life.… Read more »
Jamie, RVP wanted to go to Manure – He even went on trike to force his move. We could not have had more for him unfortunately. I am a fan like you – But I always look at things objectively. I may disagree with a lot of things Wenger did but it does not mean that I will blame him for all our woes. He has been a great servant to this club. The problem of the past was that we took on building a stadium which we paid for from our own resources. Kronke did not put a cent… Read more »
Valentin
“but his take on the danger of belief over science was interesting.”
What was the gist? We’re seeing evidence in this type of thing with the anti vaccine crowd.
Bill
Can you stop responding to the now-banned Bamford.
No one is awarding you medals for winning the argument.
He’s gone so you too need to let it go.
Really hate it when Le Grove turns in to Le Bamford. We have a new manager who is doing some nice things with our team and yet we all end up talking about an attention craving, insecure and ignorant narcissist.
Interesting snippet from this video on Ancelotti , it says he was in the frame for the Arsenal job but Raul Sanllehi vetoed the move for Arteta instead
Raul responsible for Arteta. The Don is back
MGooner
I do not love the Kroenke’s – my preference would have been to keep the club under mixed ownership. I do not like Usmanov – heard too many things about him.
My defence of the Kroenke’s is only that historically they have allowed the club to spend it’s own money – I also point out to people that those who say he should put his hand in his pocket are living in dream land.
There are also a lot worse owners out there.
Marc
How can someone with a masters in Economics approve 50-60k a week for players like Denilson, Almunia and Bendtner?
Luteo
‘ If you only knew this was the root of all your loneliness and lack of friends and lack of sex.’
Bravo 👏 😂
Oh Bamford, you spent so much time trying to rebut my arguments with, in all due respect, an ill-thought out stream of consciousness. In your inferences you make huge assumptions that are not supported in the text you are critiquing. Your assumptions are legion and enduring eg I discount fans watching from tv. No I discount your view pushed as fact that is SOLELY reliant in your eyes watching TV and unsupported by data which YOU STATED would not aid analysis as it was “IMPOSSIBLE”. I note the changing of goalposts that you now incorporate data. Well gratis not what… Read more »
Graham
So you’re saying Wenger was the cause of our financial problems?
Bill is a straight up killer.
Registered kills 1
RIP Bamford!
I medal Bill.
“ “If you can affirm that statement — i.e., that your and my opinions on Arsenal and football have equal standing — then I would be happy to accept your olive branch.””
This is brilliant
you lot on here don’t actually realise how much we need Bamford around – he’s like the xhaka of the comments section 🤣😂
Please never change Bamford, never ever change
The balls you have , to type these things AND post them , are to be admired
bravo
Interesting snippet from this video on Ancelotti , it says he was in the frame for the Arsenal job but Raul Sanllehi vetoed the move for Arteta instead
Raul responsible for Arteta. The Don is back
This changes a lot of the narrative about Raul here.
Pedro
What has Pam said about the above?
Raul will have had final say, but Arteta is an Edu decision. Not sure Raul was ever after Carlo… Nuno more his style.
Finally, you bristle at me giving you friendly advice and state that you won’t be dictated to and that I’m “not the mayor” of this site, but you then tell Pierre (?) not to bring up a subject again. WTF. You play the victim by endlessly terming disagreement as ad hominem, when the basis of rejection is logically set and NOT properly termed ad hominem because of this. True I have made personal comments, maybe I should have refrained from this, but it’s rich coming from you as you ROUTINELY label other’s views as “nonsense”, “dishonest” , “bogus” and “deluded”.… Read more »
Graham
‘ How can someone with a masters in Economics approve 50-60k a week for players like Denilson, Almunia and Bendtner?’
If you look at the economics of the above, having a socialist wage structure (don’t agree should be meritocracy) and keeping squad harmony contributed to Champions league qualification for 20 out of 22 years.
So yes you can see why it was approved through the results achieved Graham.
It’s a relatively simple premise.
Azed, the idea of a veto suggests the footballing side weren’t in agreement.
You can’t veto a decision that wasn’t made.
Arteta the frontrunner as soon as they spoke to him. Think some wanted Poch, but that was obvious, he’s the best manage unemployed… but was never going to work with Levy.
@Marc There is nothing to chose between the previous mixed ownership and KSE as the latter did not inject a cent of his own capital to help in player acquisitions during the time we needed it most. The purpose of Dein finding a new owner was to help with funds – we did not need just a pointless change in the name of the shareholders. I like the way you say, you do not like Usmanov as you’ve heard to many things about him. My view is that the world has changed – if the laws of the land allow… Read more »
Bill, Bamford is in the sin bin.
Pedro
“Raul will have had final say, but Arteta is an Edu decision. Not sure Raul was ever after Carlo… Nuno more his style.”
Yes, Raul pretty much said that during the joint Arsenal TV interview he did with Edu.
Raul gave Edu space to do his job, at least give Raul credit for that but.
Marc, He used the anti vaxx movement as an example of a fringe movement that grew out of the social media. No amount of science can convict those people that they are wrong. His more sensible view is that science should be mandatory at school up to 16 years old. No religion should be allowed to impact the scientific curriculum. As a very American view, his view is that the US Empire is declining. If nothing is done the US will be overtaken over by China, Brazil, African and even old Europe. Currently most of the American scientists are in… Read more »
I think that was a total decapitation by Bill this evening. Finished him off for sure..Though it never was in doubt.. I saw that bit about the fallacy of the majority-Perez Hilton mentioned to dispute Bill’s school of thought.Then,used that same argument to support his own view of many people agreeing with him.Smh… Never heard so much drivel in all my life,especially from a so-called academic. Oh well..Can enjoy the rest of the new year on this blog now, without it resorting to-‘The Perez Hilton Show..’ I think I gave it till Feb,before he’d be shit -canned.To be honest,I was… Read more »
RE: Arteta
I’m never going to question Pedro’s taste in men again. Spot on, what a snack he is.
Pedro
“he’s the best manage unemployed… but was never going to work with Levy.”
Don’t understand Levy could not stop the Poch joining us. They could put an anti competition clause in his payoff but that would have a limited timescale so it might have been he couldn’t join us till the summer or so but that’s it.
Dissenter, nothing delights me more than Raul having very little to do with this move.
Edu should be setting the technical side and Raul should help him drive through what he needs.
Edu, Per and Mikel could be a mean team.
Marc,
1) Poch will have come with a hefty wage. If Jose was getting £15m, he’d have wanted the same as a more relevant and better coach.
2) There’s a £12.5m clause in his contract. He can’t coach until next season.
3) I think he told us to wait until the summer… but he had options and they’ll likely grow (Bayern/City/PSG)
Bill, tough for Bamford to respond when he’s been banned!
Luteo, damn right, I think everyone knows what I meant by sauce now. Wonder how long those youthful looks will last. Huge pressure coming his way next season.
MGooner
You do know that the first thing Usmanov said after getting his first batch of shares was along the lines of “what do you mean there’s no fucking dividend”.
You’re looking for a sugar daddy to buy the club, well I’m looking for a Supermodel to fuck my brains out and yes before anyone says it there’s not a lot of brains to be fucked out. Somehow I think we’re both going to be disappointed.
Pedro
Agree with all of that but it has fuck all to do with Levy being able to veto where the Poch goes next.
I was blown away by our performance against Manu even if their midfield was weaker than that of Chelsea. .
Was skeptical of Arteta and thought we have gone for him because he is cheaper than Carlo. Maybe we did sign him because of that, we will never know, but what a change we are seeing in the team.
The team is compact, we move the ball with speed, players hunt in packs when we lose the ball. We are looking good.
M, he was signed because he was hands down the best candidate available. Might not have had the experience, but he had the passion, the ideas and cultural understanding of the club.
Raul is not the technical director. He doesn’t set the way we play, Edu does. Raul manages the Club including Edu. It is because of him we had a successful transfer window last summer. The only unplanned move was for David Luiz. Our scouting doesn’t fall at the feet of Raul. We have a scouting department. Anyway I don’t know why he is seen as a villain even after he gave his critics what they wanted and hired arteta. If arteta does turn out to be great he will have done his job successfully. I see Raul as an advantage… Read more »
Dissenter, nothing delights me more than Raul having very little to do with this move. His hands are all over it I’m afraid. I know it goes against the Boogeyman persona that gets pushed around about him but he’s the common denominator left from the interview process the first time around and whether or not you want to claim it’s Edu’s doing without Raul’s say so it doesn’t happen. In fact his appointment backs those rumours before that Raul wanted Arteta and it was Ivan the great deceiver who got cold feet and went safe with Emery. Since he’s gone… Read more »
Valentin As a huge fan of science in education I get so fucked off with the general lack of knowledge people have with how the basic things in the Universe work. It’s not a huge ask to expect people to have a very basic idea of why the sun shines! The anti vaccine thing is criminal – one of these nut jobs will end up getting sued for some equivalent of corporate manslaughter and rightly fucking so. The guy behind the MMR scare over here had a financial interest in a competing product but that never came out until years… Read more »
The debt will be cleared soon since the share price will rise. People thinking the Arsenal deals in arms with WW3 around the corner!
@ Marc
If you are a minority shareholder, you will want to fight with whatever toold you have and claiming a dividend is one way to weaken KSE and push them towards selling. Its boardroom politics.
I’ll remind you that Usmanov is ten time richer than the Chavs owner.
On having a sugar daddy – No, we do not want one. But hey, if someone comes banging on your door and tells you he has a spare billion to give you, believe me I would not scratch my head too much. It called being in tune with your times 😉
Pedro, I am not so sure that Pochettino will have such a choice this summer. Leonardo was not a fan of Tuchel, but he has also realised that the players love him. Managing Neymar to offer to Cavani a penalty in the middle of of his goal draught required psychological finesse that the next coach may not have. So for the moment if Tuchel has decent results in the Champion’s League, Tuchel may have an extra year. Real Madrid is fluctuating from brilliant to ridiculous on a weekly basis, but Zidane has keep them in the race to both main… Read more »
Pochettino going to United after OGS gets binned this summer.
@ Sid
“The debt will be cleared soon since the share price will rise.”
Please would you elaborate?
KSE holds all the shares. It does not intend to sell them. So just unrealised capital gains. How does that clear our debts.
MGooner
It’d take a lot more than a billion, closer to three and possibly even more.
Oh sorry lads. I missed Bamford being sin binned
@Valentin
Benitez was relegated with Newcastle. He used to manage Real Madrid, won stuff with many other clubs.
Who is Poch?
Also Kroenke doesn’t realise a profit on his investment no matter how high the value of the club goes until / unless he sells.
“ManUtd should put OGS out of his misery”
How dare you – I’m thoroughly enjoying what he’s doing.
Marc, One of his better example on how people have lost touch with basic science is the dwelling number of repair shops. Most appliances or motor vehicles either cannot be repaired at all or need electronic connection to do so. He said that Toyota sell cars in Africa that are repairable, but that in the US it does not. He mentioned that he complained about that to a Toyota executive and that the executive shot back that half the Americans can’t change a tyre or know where to put water in the car radiator. Not letting them put their hand… Read more »
I’d like to see us fuck off the FAC this weekend, I know it’s historic and all but we have a bunch of injuries and it will give MA more time either senior squad. I don’t think it’s important in the scale of things this season
Valentin
I’d be highly cynical of that – My view is that Toyota will take a view that they can sell a replacement car in the USA say every 5 years in Africa it’d be 25.
Obviously making up the numbers there being anyone produces stats etc but it shows how a company will take a commercial view.
It’s been long reported that light bulbs could be made that would last a life time problem is you’d only ever sell 10 or so per property.
@ Marc
Bloomberg estimates he is worth just under 17 billion. He is the 77th richest man on the planet, ahead of Ray Dalio who runs the largest hedgefund in the world.
Since he sold his shares in AFC he has become closer to Everton. If Moshiri asks him to become a shareholder, Everton will have the richest shareholder in the league. It’s early days yet, but keep an eye on that club.
TBM
Well if we rotate and use a mixture of youth and some of the players returning from injury then it’s productive. If we get through even better.
MGooner
I didn’t say I disliked Usmanov because of his personal wealth – I’ve heard too many things about him that have nothing to do with money.
Marko, you have to give up telling me what goes on at Arsenal. You get your info from Google. I do not.
Valentin, forgot about the United job. Pocha and Fergie used to dinner date… would be a great move for them. But Woodward is a forever joker, so wouldn’t be surprised to see a 4 year deal head the way of OGS.
Valentin
There are 1990s Toyota cars still on the road in the states. They are highly reparable everywhere. People don’t keep old cars because we live a debt driven lifestyle.
The American spec of cars is the most highly sought after in the international used car market. It’s more durable and loaded with a lot more specs than the Asian or European versions.
“You get your info from Google. I do not.”
How is Doris the tea lady getting on Pedro?
Marc, I also share your scepticism, however I do believe that there is some truth in the diagnostic tool he was referring to. Better for all concerned that no untrained personnel can mess the internal of an expensive car. Ever hear about the apocryphal story about the Luxemburg banker working in Germany? McLaren cars have a diagnostic program, so that whenever a car returns to base it automatically send the information to McLaren. A Luxemburg based Banker was driving every morning about 200km on German motor way at an average speed of 180km/h. Alledgedly a week after he took possession… Read more »
Arsenal reject £10m offer for Mikhi?
It seems Harry Kane will be out for a long long log time.
Lets all grab the popcorn and watch Mourhino slowly melt over the winter.
Lol Bamford is binned because he doesn’t believe arsenal is a better squad than man.u He was actually saying his reasons for this, even though you are in agreement or not doesn’t mean people have think he is a troll. He has been posting for close to 7 years here, i dont like him but i enjoy reading debates and differing views. Some actually come here to write only about Bamford and claim he is looking for attention ( which is quite true). While some try to wind him up ( like the poster who said he was avoiding bill… Read more »
Pedro
“Arsenal reject £10m offer for Mikhi?”
Yup….we want 10.001 million
Valentin
I was only averaging 165kph and I’m not a German banker!
IS Micki still an Arsenal player?
He could come good under Arteta. We should give him a chance.
Dissenter
You can really see that ending in tears – it should be worth hours of entertainment.
Marc
Is there a more Spurs-hating gooner than you anywhere on the planet?
I doubt not
I’ve just realised we’ve really missed out on a bit of banter entertainment that would have gone down as an all time hit on here.
Why didn’t someone find out where Pedro was flying from / to and report he had a stomach full of drugs.
Full body cavity search baby!
Dissenter
I’m actually seen as a bit of a moderate in the stadium!
Personally, in the short term we should call Elneny and mikki back from loan as I think in the current system they would be a lot better than they have looked under Wenger and emery.
Get a CB in jan and go big for the uefa cup and hard for 4th.
It’s not beyond this current crop, and I’m hoping Leicester will have a second half of the season melt down.
Surely this Boateng signing speculation is type for
some second rate reporter.?
He was at MC in 2010 when he received a bad injury
the guy has more miles under his feet than a Black cab.?
The backpass, this blog thrives on free-flowing opinion on football. Bamford makes it about himself. He’s condescending, he’s rude and he can’t move on from being hideously wrong about Unai Emery. I can’t have the same argument dragging on into month 3, pissing every single commenter off.
He’s been warned. He ignored it again. He is in the sin-bin, again.
Who is our back up for Torriera?
If he doesn’t play against Leeds, I’m curious to see what Arteta does with the DM role. He is very integral with the way we play.
I can’t think of any player in our squad that is capable of replicating what he does.
Talks about Mkhitaryan are apparently ongoing.
The ultimate context dictates efficacy of any given decision. Outrage at rejecting £10 Million doesn’t look bad if we end up with close to £20 Million.
Didn’t we reject the initial offer for Iwobi?
Cesc
Who with?
Marc
Roma apparently.
If we end up with anything close to £20 Million for Mkhitaryan it is a serious bonus.
CA, I think the worry is more that we’re bringing him back for a rebirth.
More British players at Arsenal and we will be winning the big trophy we all dream.
Pedro
Surely Senor Sauce Face wouldn’t allow that? Or Senor Sauce Executive?
Doubt it very much.
This is Arsenal behaving like 99.999999999999% of clubs and rejecting the first offer to extract more money.
Football /sport is all about momentum and Arteta will understand this . He will go into the FA cup with a strong side I have no doubt as it is important to build on the feel good factor. The Leeds game is also an ideal opportunity to work on the tactics ,the positioning of the players and to build confidence. Imagine what a resounding win would do for the confidence of the squad , whereas a defeat with a weakened side would be a massive set back. The team will have had 5 days rest since the United game and… Read more »
Cesc
It’d be about the best we could make out of the situation – the only other thought would be if they have any players we could look at in part exchange.
No Bamfords pink slip should be permanent.
Marc
The way Mkhitaryan performed here he wasn’t worth £10 Million.
If we end up with £15-20 Million out of him that is excellent.
That could be near half Upamecano’s fee.
Maybe the club might think loan Mustafi to a slower league as well and see if the same thing works.
Move Miki On please. I was willing to let him go for free if let us off the hook of his 200k salary. 10 mil is a dream man.
There are so many things we don’t know here.
It might be we’re not asking for more money, rather more money up front (the whole lot most likely) to allow us to make some moves.
Marko, you have to give up telling me what goes on at Arsenal. You get your info from Google. I do not.
Facts are facts mate. Those guys I get my info from on Google are usually football writers and institutions in the know. You know reputable sources. I can’t speak to your sources but given you referenced something I said in a tweet, something Val said in a post and thought Upamecano was injured for 350+ days last season recently I wouldn’t go thinking that you know everything.
Great point.
What does he have, another year on his contract?
That would be his £200 000 a week off the wage bill.
Pierre
I couldn’t agree with you more
Leeds offers Arteta another opportunity to get his ideas in. He will start with a lot of regulars and sub in kids like Tyreece John-Jules
CA, he seems to love Xhaka and Mesut… not sure many saw that coming.
https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/03/bayern-munich-willing-let-jerome-boateng-join-arsenal-no-transfer-fee-11998380/?ito=newsnow-feed
what do you guys think of this move mustafi on and replace with boateng. Not on those wages though.
Besiktas want Elneny on a perm. Lovely.
* this, move mustafi on
CA, I think the worry is more that we’re bringing him back for a rebirth.
That would be another W for Pierre so
Pierre
It’s a tricky balance for Arteta – he’s asking the players to play at a much higher tempo than they have been so a chance to rotate is tempting, at the same time losing to Leeds undoes a degree of the feel good factor.
I reckon we’ll see a mix, some of the returning injured players given a run out, maybe a kid or two but with enough experience to see us through (hopefully!)
Red
Remind me what the Tory majority is again?
Pierre, very much doubt he’s thinking momentum… he’s probably looking at all the injuries and players coming back to fitness.
His success depends on keeping players in good health. Leeds will rest players because they have a light squad in good shape in the league. Arteta will go with youth.
Roma are in a bit of a mess at the moment, off the field.
Maybe Raul senses a weakness