So the news is in, Eddie Nkeitiah has impressed the staff enough to earn a permanent move back to London. No Bristol City for him, it’s Holloway Road Nando’s every damn night… what an establishment by the way.
Competition will still be tough for the goal poaching Englishman, but I’d imagine he’ll have chances to play. We have a lot of games coming up, we’ll likely go big in the FA Cup and the Europa League. The Premier League will also be brutal. Part of me wonders if the superior fitness and Bielsa drilled work ethic he picked up at Leeds will have played a role in the decision.
I also wonder if this permanent move says anything about how Arteta sees Gabriel. Emery said the Brazilian was not a striker (said LT was a #10 as well), despite him looking like a beast through the middle. Arteta has used him out wide, so maybe that’s where he’ll continue to play. I mean, if he was seen as a striker, that’d put Eddie as 4th choice in that role.
His retention certainly bolsters the frontline. It might also add competition to Lacazette who is desperately out of form and continues to lack the required physicality and stamina for the league. We have Saka, Gabriel, Pepe, Auba, Lacazette, and Eddie to pick from. Very exciting if we can start to improve our chance creation from midfield.
The Bruno rumours continue to pick up pace, the Brazilian is a Kia player, who is the agent of Edu and Luiz. We’re also being heavily linked with Kurzawa. The PSG fullback is available on a free this summer, but word on the street is we might move for him now. His agent? Kia. I don’t like it. GFFN lambasted the move as being heavily influenced and a bit grim considering his injury record.
For me, it’s an Arsenal tradition to hire in players that are broken. Wenger made Overmars a star despite a dodgy knee and he made Kanu a hero despite the player having a heart attack. Things went downhill after that but we’ve continued to chase the dragon since then. My favorite will always be Kim Kallstrom, signed with a broken back, absolute peak Arsenal.
Broader concern here, I hate the notion of us being part of a super agent money trough. It’s grim and rarely leads anywhere positive. It also shows weakness of infrastructure. If the best full back we can find to cover for our injury-prone fullbacks is an injury-prone fullback, something is awry. If you can’t stay fit in Ligue 1, what hope do you have in a league where there are more than 4 tough games a year? I’m also a little bothered that he’s known for having a shitty attitude.
Still, he’s a quality player and am I really criticising Arteta? I’m an AKB, critical thinking out the door, I’d back the man if he brought Diaby in. That’s dedication. Also, I like how Kurzawa dresses. He also has a cool name.
Nice to see Spurs in a similar position. Signing a centre midfielder on a loan deal with a view to a £50m deal. An immense talent on paper, but one that couldn’t break into the Benfica starting 11 because of Abel Taarabt. Jorge Mendes special there. Inspired, or another example of Jose being brutally out of touch with modern football.
David Ornstein – who I now pay to listen for because The Athletic hit me for a year in one go after my trial ended -reckons we’re looking at 4 loan players. MAYBE I SHOULD POST HIS WHOLE TWEET BECAUSE I BASICALLY BOUGHT ALL HIS CONTENT. Anyway, broader message here seems to be that we’re skint, which we knew, and the only way we’re bringing in bodies is finding broken talent that needs games in their legs. He thinks we’re looking for central midfielders and defenders.
I’m fine with that. Why? Because I have to be you damn fool. What would me being unfine with it mean? Nothing.
On that note, listen to my pod and I’ll see you tomorrow. x
Boom
2
3
Trofee
2nd?
First off the headline should read: Kurzawa has poor injury record and attitude issues… but… Arteta is okay with the signing so that’s good enough for me. I hate the notion of us being part of a super agent money trough. It’s grim and rarely leads anywhere positive. Not true. Nice to see Spurs in a similar position. Huge difference between a highly rated 21 year old and a 27 year old bit part player. one that couldn’t break into the Benfica starting 11 because of Abel Taarabt. He played 40+ games the previous season he had a falling out… Read more »
We just have to wait to see how things unfold between now and the end of the window.
If kurzawa has attitude problem so also was aubameyang but bad habit is the last thing that can be used against the latter now that he is with us.
My only worry on kurzawa is the so called injury record.
Performance wise, I see him to be better and more skillful than kola.
A lot of names are linked to us but all should be treated as mere rumour untill we see confirmation from the club’s website.
For now, I’m more concerned about what the outcome of our next match could be.
“Emery said the Brazilian was not a striker (said LT was a #10 as well), ”
Quotes on that Pedro?
As I remember it he said that Martinelli is a striker but can also play on the wings.
Can’t remember ever reading anything about Torreira being a Cam either.
Typical us to watch our rivals strengthen their teams while we fiddle our thumbs and give new lifelines to players that’s been letting us down for years instead of shifting them and upgrading.
Mustafis and Xhakas houses must look like that scene from entrapment with all the lifelines going through them.
Never mind – Ozil is keen to stay!
Will be interesting to see what MA does with Nketiah. It’s been known for a number of weeks now that Leeds wanted another option at CF. It seems that Eddie was not putting in the required effort in pressing and Bielsa got tired of his play outside the box. Maybe this will be a wake up call for the boy.
AG
I’m pleased for Ozil that he’s pleased about his contract.
Thought he was supposed to be media savvy but his true motivations peeked trough there.
Not a move that’s going to endear him any more to the fans I’m guessing.
I always wonder what legroom would have written about Thierry Henry when Wenger brought the struggling player from Juventus. We have a 22 year old hotshot in Tierney already. This is just a to create competition for that spot. In a sense, it avoids the mistake we made with Bellerin who was allowed to exist without competition. This is a routine transfer of an experienced professional for very little. Much ado about nothing. Marko wants us to have a 21 year old to back up a 22 year old. If not so, then why even mention Spuds signing the Portuguese… Read more »
*legrove …not legroom
If we need full back cover who can help the team now why not go for thomas meunier at PSG who also has 6 months remaining on his contract if im correct. Would be an upgrade on Amn for sure and probably Hector also. Good Physicality and also not a bad record with injuries. We already have two specialist LB and one good cover. Also Kola is reportedly one of the Highest earners (around 150k a week i think). If you want to bring in Kurzawa to play second fiddle to KT and sell Kola for funds then it seems… Read more »
Still made the league cup team today.
Pedro, Any chance that they will play Eddie out wide and a Gabriel through the middle? Not an option?
Just listening to the pod as I type. Your microphone was a very good investment on your part. Your guest sounded very “tinny.”
Content is great by the way.
18 minutes of bit if Friday humour but also full of truth
https://youtu.be/wX78iKhInsc
Mid
Was setting up some Blues playlists and came across this tucked away in my digital collection and wondered if you have it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuU1hwJkBRU&list=PLSUHnu8Kt8GX7xrF2b0ilnsTMUvriZrYV&index=10
For those of us who lived through Alvin Lee & Ten Years After era of great music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB6OlJqV1rQ
Hope the Cowboy demolishes McGregor in the cage at the weekend
Marko wants us to have a 21 year old to back up a 22 year old. If not so, then why even mention Spuds signing the Portuguese talent?
I suggested a 23 year old not a 21 year old and I referenced the Gedson when Pedro said that Spurs were in a similar situation to us as in poor looking for loans and cheap players. I pointed out that they’re signing up a highly rated 21 year old meanwhile we’re signing up a bit part 27 year old.
Wasi
Like you I am completely dumbfounded by Arsenal’s business management. There are so many inconsistencies that it is quite obvious that anarchy has ruled among the management/executive for some time. I hope that we can now look forward to a degree of stability in executive function.
Having 3 LBs, two of which are expensive makes zero sense when we have gaping holes elsewhere
If we got Kurzawa it should be that we’re selling kola so net profit all in
And Kurzawa shouldn’t be on crazy wages or a long contract otherwise we won’t be able to shift him 18 months from now when Tierney is hopefully relegating him to a squad player
All of our attention should be on improving the spine of the team
No good team ever existed that had good peripheral players but a mixed bag spine
You put all your energy into the spine before anything else. That’s just common sense
China1
Common sense and Arsenal do not go well together and haven’t done since 2006/7
Kurzawa isnt qualidee, it will be one more arsenal player lacking ze mental strength, good one game 4 games plays with ze handbrake.
Another mikhi, luiz, sokratis type of signing
Im telling you this for free!
Are we the first club to sign a legendary Japanese director?
Miki, Sokratis and luiz all came here to be guaranteed starters. Their lies the problem. We are bringing kurzawa because he can be a better backup than Kolasinac. If we can get him back to the form he has shown on his last season at Monaco and his first season at PSG we are signing a really competent player. No matter how hard he tries Kolasinac doesn’t play like a left back. He is a wingback who has issues with finding his team mates from crosses. And he is good at accurately passing the ball which arteta likes in all… Read more »
Kurzawa* he
RB position at Arsenal is long-ignored. After Arsenal spent some 12M on Debuchy 6 years back, there has been no signing investment done on the RB position by Arsenal . High time a Meunier/Pavard type player is brought in and be partnered with AMN.
Bellerin should be sold NOW! he has run his course. Pun intended.
Can’t argue with that peanuts
Aussie Maybe ( I hope) theres a plan to sell Kola this window or next as a few teams were reportedly interested in him. If that is the plan ill be more than happy tbh. Kola is not a specialist LB, he is a specialist wing back who is at his best in a team that plays with a 3 man defence. Imo he would suit Conte system the best but doesn’t have the end product that Conte demands from his wing backs. Kurzawa is definitely a better player than Kola i think. Defensively and offensively. Just fallen off the… Read more »
Reality bites ay, Arteta. “If it happens, we will have to invent something. We are already playing with full-backs that are not full-backs. “They are wingers or central midfielders and could we afford to lose full-backs? No, but we don’t have any full-backs.” Goes on to talk about Mustafi getting another shot, ffs! Its alright saying you have to earn your place in the squad but the reality is, even if you play shit we have no options to replace and, as no fucker wants to buy our rejects, we’re not in a position to buy in replacements. I know… Read more »
Regarding our left back situation
If Arsenal carried out a Root Cause Annalisis of this problem it would reveal they should never have bought the injured ( and injury prone ) Jock Crock Tierney in the first place
But they won’t and it will all be swept under the carpet and millions of pounds written off
I’m Just read the blog but nothing in there than what posters have been discussing/arguing here. Then I believe the blogger is doing himself a lot of dis-service by comparing the first five matches of Wenger, Emery and Arteta cos the first two had preasons with their respective team why the latter came midway into a team devoid of any idea and on the downward spiral. I also have to give it to him that he sees the team developing into formidable one under Arteta than under Mr. Good ebening. The overall.point remains the owner has to back Arteta to… Read more »
Un not I’m
I also don’t believe those lies on our so called limited transfer budget.
Can we actually be financially doing worse than team below us?
Where’s all this premier league tv money that’s making the little clubs flush?
………..
Straight into Mr. Ozil’s bank account.
Man this Kurzawa stuff isn’t nice, don’t want at all. It’s also increasing evidence of the influence Kia Joorabchian and other super agents are having at Arsenal.
£1.4 million per month.
Straight into his Santander 1/2/3 account where he gets 1.5% interest on savings up to £20,000 and cashback on his everyday bills.
Quick point Pedro, Ornstein confirmed we’re looking at 3-4 players in a mixture of loan and small fee deals. Will be interesting to know what we define as ‘small fee’.
Soon to be a paltry 1% interest.
“Can we actually be financially doing worse than team below us?”
Tee, our outlay on players since 2016 and the wages we’ve given to some players, combined with poor commercial income and no CL is what has hampered us.
Revenue is being badly harmed. We’ve basically been spending loads at a time when we’re not making enough. Can’t continue that.
Go into Santander Lite and avoid £5 monthly fee pay only a £1.
Still cash back up to a point.
I know the Kurzawa injury table hasn’t been created by Pedro but it doesn’t sit easy with me. It’s not in any order whether it be chronological, by length of injury or even alphabetical! Very shoddy.
James,
Are you a Martin Lewis fan as well?
You should let Mesut know, he won’t be able to sleep at night paying £4 extra a month for nowt!
Took out my mortgage with Santander on a decent fixed rate but it’s up for renewal soon so might have to shop about.
The fact Kurazawa is not Japanese bothers me.
It would like finding out Alan Brown was from Mexico.
It doesn’t work for me.
RP the unaccountable management doing what they do best: fail in both leadership and business acumen with no recourse from Wenger & Gazidis to the Kroenke.
All culpable in their individual ways adding greatly to their personal fortunes while squandering our finances running a Fortune 500 company like a corner shop.
Many of us here saw this coming years ago.
Now we have Raul the Del Boy fixer with his crony super agents doing deals on the never never.
Kurzawa was born to a Guadeloupean father, and a Polish mother.
…
Those Poles get everywhere!
RP,
If you are in a position to I would use any savings you have to overpay your mortgage.
Tony – they’re all culpable mate but ultimately we should lay this at the feet of the Kroenkes who have willingly allowed this all to happen under their watch with ni reproach. We’ve been very inefficient with our spending and we have not been growing our commercial acumen. Before they could hide behind the feet of Wenger but now they’re front and centre, there’s nowhere to hide.
Mounier a better option than kurzawa, then sell Xhakalson play mounier or AMN in midfield, play 352
The xhakalson nonsense dropping into defense has to stop
Im telling you this for free!
I think Leeds wanted Nketiah to stay but Arsenal intervened and took Eddie back. Why would Bielsa snap at us if it wasn’t the case? He’s doesn’t sound happy cause according to him Leeds kept all of their promises re Eddie but are now forced to shop for new players.
LT, would be ideal but have my fingers dipped in a few pies at the moment. Plus I spend quite a bit of time trading so assets are currently tied up.
RP,
As long as you only have your fingers stuck in pies! 🙂
I haven’t got the balls for trading.
Left testicle doesn’t have the balls…
Ironic.
First recruit from the Chosen One : KURZAWA!!
Wow wow wow, just… WOW that would be an AMAZING signing!! (lolz)
“Also, I like how Kurzawa dresses. He also has a cool name.”
Pedro feeling allowed to joke about the futur of our club… the Handsome Mikel effect!! Congrats to you, Sir!!
It is crystal clear that Arsenal are neither in good shape financially or in the performance of our squad. We are in reality now a middle ranked football club and far behind the so-called competitors in the top six. The Kroenke family have made it crystal clear that they are only interested in investing in shares and property and the club must operate a self investing policy when it comes to buying players. All very commendable but not exactly likely to make us competitive. The club has bought and sold badly over several years and until now I have not… Read more »
Romford
Amy Lawrence was on the Arsecast and she said the Denis Suarez loan cost 5-6m for the six months. You’d imagine the Kurzawa will be in the same ballpark as he is coming from another superclub
That 5-6m could buy another Martinelli.
“Amy Lawrence was on the Arsecast and she said the Denis Suarez loan cost 5-6m for the six months. You’d imagine the Kurzawa will be in the same ballpark as he is coming from another superclub”
This is ridiculous Dream. Honestly I see no reasons to sanction this Kurzawa deal unless it’s a loan. I’m just not sure of the positives of this deal outside of being a money-making exercise (selling Kola in the summer).
RP I said here years ago that the club/Kroenkes have nil understanding about appreciating assets: players.
They were too intoxicated with growing TV revenues as easy money to reinvest proactively in talent for the future.
Managerial incompetence at the highest level fueled by avarice and resulting in a fractured fan base hurting for years to come that the board see as irritating noise.
We just have to wait for Kroenke to sell, which could be 2021 onwards or if the club’s value depreciates below Stan’s bottom line.
Romford It might end up being a money exercise, but it’s poor process. Add that to the Ceballos loan which doesn’t seem to working out. He’s unhappy with lack of playing time and injuries. Similar to Denis Suàrez deal. I don’t rate both players highly. They are talented if they were/are on the Real/Barça books, but it’s up to Arsenal to do their due diligence on their physical and mental suitability to the PL. Raul is not looking good so far. Amy also mentioned that Raul was interested in a new three year deal for Emery. If I recall, Ornstein… Read more »
Romford
What’s so ridiculous about it?
Kolasinac vs Kurzawa, how does it chop up as you see it?
“Raul is not looking good so far.” Can’t lie I don’t like him at all. “Amy also mentioned that Raul was interested in a new three year deal for Emery. If I recall, Ornstein said something similar about talks of a new deal at the back end of last season. Alarm bells should fcuking going off” i thought this info about a new deal for him was common knowledge. After being sacked, Emery did an interview with Balague where he confirmed that Raul wanted to offer him a new deal. How Raul could entertain that after the way the end… Read more »
I come on here to discuss reality and very rarely get involved in discussions on players who we should or should not buy. Not my scene I’m afraid. What I do know is that we have a new manager, with new ideas and philosophies , who we have to trust in to make things work. Christ, in just a few weeks, we can all see the benefits that Arteta has brought to the team. Mustafi may, just may, flourish under Arteta. We all know that neither Emery or Wenger were capable of developing his game. I would prefer it if… Read more »
CC, Well firstly I think he’s crap. Not that I rate Kolasinac much higher but I honestly don’t see the point. Kurzawa is on high wages at PSG, has attitude problems, spent 4/5 seasons injured. He is another Kia Joorabchian client. So we’re signing players based on what we can get rather than doing proper due diligence. I don’t like it at all.
He’s turning 28 by the start of next season. I’m struggling to see the upside. He’s already older than Kolasinac, even if it is only by a year.
Well said as usual ES Apart from MA- the club is a stinking cesspit in comparison to bygone days. With people like Stan and Josh Raul and Edu and Vinny Kia and Co. Now firmly in charge. Things will only get worse ( as I Have stated numerous times) A totally Haphazard transfer policy. These idiots have no concept of a player s value( eg Pepe and Tierney) Their judgment clouded by their personal relationships with their agent contacts. Every window that goes past- the ousting of the forensic Dortmund Eye looks more scandalous. (He had no skin in the… Read more »
Graham, it’s a balance though mate. Arteta has already shown his impressive coching methods but that is pnly gonna get us so far. A lot of our players have limitations both physically and technically so all the coaching in the world is only gonna do so much. Arteta can’t make players who can’t run, faster. We will need to dip into the market. Where I do agree with you is that we shouldn’t buy just for the sake of it. I think we need to start a rebuild but it needs to be with smart, logical signings rather than Raul… Read more »
Didn’t want to watch the Emery interview with Guillem Balagué.
Can see us signing Willian. (a player that I like)
He’s looking for a long term deal
Chelsea only offering him one year since he is over 30. Either Arsenal or Spurs for him. Doesn’t need to move house.
“Can see us signing Willian. (a player that I like)”
He’s good but the age profile we should be looking at for all players we sign should be 21-26 imo.
Romford Pele I get all of that but what I’m saying is that since his arrival in August 2016, Mustafi has been involved in a never ending cycle of negativity under both Wenger and Emery. Wenger never concentrated on our defensive defiences whilst Emery just over complicated matters. Yes, we all know Mustafi has a tendency to make stupid mistakes but if Arteta can get him to concentrate better and cut back on these failings in his game, we could have a half decent defender. The fans will quickly change their perceptions if they see a marked improvement in his… Read more »
“Didn’t want to watch the Emery interview with Guillem Balagué.”
Fascinating fact about your private life…
G62
Mustafi has had three and a half seasons of chances. Seems longer. That ship has sailed.
Graham – Normally i’d agree but even Mustafi I think is uncoachable. Think back to that Chelsea game when he failed to engage Tammy and then he got turned by him, eventually leading to the winner. He’s just not good. That’s the fact of the matter. He’s had so many opportunities and has messed up on numerous occasions. At some point you just have to cut your losses. It’s not even like he has redeemable qualities. He’s not a ball-playing CB, isn’t especially quick and sucks in duels. I gave everyone a clean slate apart from him. I really think… Read more »
RP ” Well firstly I think he’s crap. Not that I rate Kolasinac much higher but I honestly don’t see the point. Kurzawa is on high wages at PSG, has attitude problems, spent 4/5 seasons injured. He’s turning 28 by the start of next season. ” for someone normally so balanced in your opinions ,I would say there is a slight over reaction from you to the potential signing of Kurzawa. Your sinking to the level of Marko, Receding and Azed by only looking at the negatives . CC has highlighted the positives of such a deal …There is also… Read more »
Arteta should be given the breathing space to make a proper assessment of our squad before we start recruiting new players. The man has only been in the job for just one month. There is frankly no pressure on him to deliver Champions League qualification this season, because we know already that is unlikely to happen. So I would prefer to see him make a proper assessment of the current squad and then make decisions by the end of season. In the meantime Messrs Sanhelli and Edu should devote their time improving our scouting programme and hopefully find the requisite… Read more »
If I remember correctly, in the Man City docu, Arteta instructed his players to target Arsenal’s full-backs when they played us. If he believes that area to be our weak spot then it’s not surprising he has identified our backs as the first place to look at bringing in replacements.
“for someone normally so balanced in your opinions ,I would say there is a slight over reaction from you to the potential signing of Kurzawa.Your sinking to the level of Marko, Receding and Azed by only looking at the negatives .” Pierre – i’m not someone who’s negative for the sake of it. This is a guy that has been plagued by injuries over the last 5 years. He’s already on a decent wage and will be 28 this year. He’s coming to a more intense league from an athleticism standpoint. And as I said previously, he’s a Kia client.… Read more »
Well, Kurzawa just announced that he’s switched to a London based agency, that’s usually a pretty clear sign of something going on. ES Why would Arteta need more than 1 month to assess the same players that’s been failing us for years and years, Is he a bit slow? There’s plenty of players out there that would improve us greatly, both now and for the future. Thing is they’re getting snapped up by our rivals because we’re standing around with our thumbs up our arse hawing and hemming about that pesky January window. If you stand still too long you’ll… Read more »
“Emiratesstroller
January 17, 2020 09:49:14”
Can’t argue much, EmiratesStroller.
Arsenal should start planning for Next season’s top-4.
ES
“”””In the meantime Messrs Sanhelli and Edu should devote their time improving our scouting programme””””
Yes but that is unseen work.
(No one would notice that)
They need to be seen to doing something.
That’s why these ridiculous positions like Technical Director and a the laughable Head of Football Operations….( can you believe someone thought of that title??)
are so unnecessary and ultimately ruinous.
All you need and will ever need in soccer is:
A powerful and competent manager
A talented Chief Scout and his team
A talented Chief Executive.
And that’s it.
“Well, Kurzawa just announced that he’s switched to a London based agency, that’s usually a pretty clear sign of something going”
Agency owned by Kia.
You’d assume the deal is imminent.
RP let’s leave out of the debate the politics of agents. The question is whether we need a third left back on our books in January and compelled to pay a transfer fee for the privilege. If Kurzawa is recruited then it must be assumed that Kolasinac will leave. Kolasinac may not be the best defender on the planet, but he is by no means my priority for departure in the current transfer window. There are other players on our books who I would choose to offload before him. The only justification for bringing in Kurizawa would be if he… Read more »
CG
Making quality scouting appointments is being seen to do something positive.
We have offloaded over past 12 months a lot of scouts including Mislintat, Grimaldi and Morrow.
Watching Mustafi this season in the few matches he’s played recently , it looks to me as though the “diving in” criticism has affected him and he has gone too far the other way. Away to Norwich and home to Chelsea are 2 games he was criticised for not getting tight to the defenders , allowing the attacker to get their shot away. I believe t this is a consequence of the previous criticism and now he is afraid to make a tackle . For what it’s worth , I don’t mind Mustafi , he is very good in the… Read more »
“If Kurzawa is recruited then it must be assumed that Kolasinac will leave. Kolasinac may not be the best defender on the planet, but he is by no means my priority for departure in the current transfer window.”
ES – I don’t disagree. Assuming this signing ,means Kolasinac leaves in the summer. I don’t think Kurzawa is better than Kolasinac for what it’s worth.
We have other areas of concern. LB would not have been one i’d have been looking to address tbh.
There’s that poor recruitment policy I’ve been banging on about for a while now… Kurzawa was benched by a freebie in Bernat from Bayern, that should tell you something really and then add to the fact that he’s injury prone just like Kolasinac and you have bad bad bad written all over this one.. His biggest problem is actually staying fit plus and again, why are we buying a player who’s suspect defensively? I don’t get it at all, we already have clowns in pur defence who need upgrading and then we go and get another player who looks good… Read more »
Freddie Ljungberg
I don’t see any evidence of the “plenty of players” who are an upgrade on what we have got and certainly not for the level of transfer fees we appear able and ready
to pay.
Please name me the players you consider are available and we can afford to buy.
RB needs to be addressed before LB.
It smacks of anyone who is half decent and free/cheap we’ll be interested in.
Any mention of three LBs as indicative of bad business is just silly.
If the Kurzawa stories are true, then surely it means Kolasinac is being sold off to Napoli or someplace else this winter break.
Would you all like the story to be that; “Arsenal reduced to one crocked LB and are desperately seeking a replacement LB after selling Kolasinac”?
Good business practice is to get the replacement in before making the outward transfer.
lol Kurzawa.
The amazing thing about the criticism directed at Mustafi is that we had had a defender at Arsenal for more than 6 years, in Per Mertesacker, who was just as much a liability(if not more so) and yet was seen as a hero because of one decent game against Chelski in the 2017 FA Cup Final. I know I’ll be criticised for saying this but where was all the criticism and finger pointing when Mertesacker couldn’t track back, avoided physical contact, was unable to consistently hold the line , was being turned inside out by attackers and was sliding all… Read more »
Mertesacker is just a part of a problem that hasn’t been addressed for years.
The other possibility is that Arsenal know that Tierney will not be available or
match fit this season.
The suggestion is that he will only resume training in mid March so it does not
seem likely that he will be match fit sooner than April.
Tierney might be fit for the Europa Final. 🙂