Two posts in one day? Why the hell not. We just signed a brand spanking new player (on loan).
Welcome, Pablo Mari!
The deal for the Spaniard was rumoured to have fallen through on Sunday, turns out he forgot his walle, THE DEAL WAS ALWAYS ON GOD BLESS DAVID ORNSTEIN AND THAT EXPENSIVE PAYWALL. The medical has been passed, Arteta lands a ball-playing defender with a great left foot, that can lead, and hold a highline.
The player had this to say on his Instagram.
Today is the time to face a new challenge in my career.
I thank all the people without exception who were part of my story with @flamengo! These were unforgettable months, where I was able to live a dream with all of you. My thanks to the employees, members of the technical committee, comrades, and also to the entire RUBRO-NEGRA NATION. You will always be in my memory and my heart. ❤
Once Flamengo, always Flamengo 🎶
I will continue cheering for great achievements and vibrating with you!
Gratitude, Pablo Marí.
On closer inspection, it does appear that we’ve taken quite the punt on Pablo. He made 22 appearances in Série A (Brazilian top league) and 6 in the Copa Libertadores (CL of SA which he won). That is a very small sample size of data unless we’re working off internal stats Arteta had on the player from his City days where he spent time out on loan at NAC Breda and Deportivo (in the second division).
This signing basically looks like the work of Edu. It’s a Hail Mary. If it works out, he’s the god of transfers. If it fails, well, he’ll go on the scrap heap of central defenders that have passed through the ranks over the last 20 odd years. Stepanovs/Cygan or Kolo/Koscielny. Worth noting that the club has taken punts on plenty of players who have played next to no first-team games at the highest level, Matteo G being a prime example, Gabriel being another… difference here is Mari is 26. Regardless, there might be a small sample to look at, but he won the biggest club trophy in Brazil, which is quite sexy imo.
What I like about him is his height and build. He’s a very Premier League looking player. The ultimate worry is the added pressure he’ll be under in England. Granit Xhaka looked like a true great in the Bundesliga, then he came here and had 0.4 seconds on the ball and he couldn’t handle it. That’s a hell of a learning curve to deal with and many top players have struggled with the adaptation needed.
Part of the concern that many of us have with any signing that comes through the door is that we don’t really trust the people looking after deals. Raul has overseen a pretty average 2 years, he shipped out his data man and went balls deep on some very odd signings.
Is this hire out of the data pool that identified Gabriel and Saliba? I damn well hope so. If it works, then we can have some faith that the summer is going to be an exciting one. This is what our Technical Director had to say.
“Pablo is an experienced player who will provide us with additional defensive quality. We have been monitoring Pablo’s career for a while and we are very pleased to have reached agreement with Flamengo for him to join us initially until the end of our season. Together with Mikel and his coaching team, we are all looking forward to seeing Pablo in an Arsenal shirt.”
Edu really should know a good player, he’s been around enough of them during his career. He knows what it takes to make it here.
One player who does look a sure-fire data-driven demon from the future is William Saliba. The Arsenal folks behind the scenes think he’s a generational talent and the word coming back from St Etienne is that he’s bossing training sessions, Debuchy feeding intel back to the club that he’s the real deal.
I still think it’s a huge ask to expect him to come right into the first team, but the more I watch him, the more I think he’s a freak and he’d adapt fairly quickly. If we’re a 3 year project, next year could be about bedding in wild talent, then we go big the year after and push for honours.
We could go from a poverty defence to one that looks pretty good next season. Holding, Saliba, Luiz and Mari. Hector, Tierney, AMN, and Kola. You can work with that. Even if the talent isn’t quite there, this Arsenal side is developing a defensive structure that is built on the entire team doing its bit, so reliance on individual brilliance is not as important as it used to be. We are hard to break down after a month of Arteta, imagine what we’ll be like next season with better players more suited to the vision?
Sur une salsa, William Saliba et sa partenaire, Wissam Ben Yedder. pic.twitter.com/iPT2cNvsCO
— Tac (@EtienneShkPnk) January 28, 2020
I think the most important area that’ll need work in the summer is finding players that can move the ball between the lines in midfield. We really struggle there, part of that is a lack of players, part of that is a lack of athleticism in the middle of the park. Joe Willock can accelerate through the lines because he’s powerful, we need more players like that. Our whole squad should be built on power and pace because that has always been the only way to survive the Premier League.
Layer forward-thinking ideas over athletes and you really are in a good place.
UPDATE:
We’re bringing Cedric Soares to the club (Ornstein). The 27-year-old right-back is in on a loan with a view to a permanent deal. This from a Southampton fan.
‘Well past it, and wasn’t brilliant in the first place – would say decent enough lower third of the Barclays full-back.’
Coaching staff are going to have their work cut out here.
Right, listen to my podcast and have a wonderful day.
To be honest, I think there are many top quality players out there who look at Arteta and his methods and philosophies and say, yeh, I wouldn’t mind some of that.
Even after just a few weeks.
We are on the up.
I can feel it in my gut.
How is Giroud a scumbag if he joins Tottenham? He was a warrior for us for several years until we made it clear that he was no longer wanted and sold him to Chelsea. Now Chelsea have frozen him out. He’s got two young kids and probably doesn’t want to uproot his family this late in his career. Looks like he won’t be joining them but good luck to him if he does.
I am well up for some arteta every fan should back him
Can’t believe people are chuffed with us signing a broken player
You’d think they would’ve learnt their lessons after the Kallstrom debacle,joke club can’t just stop embarrassing themselves apparently
Arteta getting me worried allowing shit like this happen
cant be upset with Olly.
Dude was shown the door forcefully to get Auba…
He went… we got Auba
Always tried for us… despite his limitations didnt do so bad at times
Victorious
So were you this worried when your master was starting to cock things up?
Just asking.
Soares deal does seem to be a bit of a head scratcher but I’m sure we don’t know the full details…. if Freddie’s citing of telegraph numbers are accurate then it does make more sense.
Arteta obviously thinks we need another body at the back and this one could be economically prudent.
Soares is out for 3 weeks and we have a 2 week break coming up. Hardly a deal breaker.
Imagine this deal is made to assess if we can give him a long term deal to be the main back up to Tierney and Bellerin, with AMN and Saka able to play there too and cash in on Kola.
If we can get 10-15m and get his 110k off the wage bill it’s a win in my book for someone not good enough to be a starter for us.
Beauty from Matic. Hes really made a difference to united.
Ugly challenge from Diop
Pierre “Emery was weak.Arteta is strong . If Arteta is not keen on a player, they wont come.”
Absolutely right – that’s what i love about him – he just looks in complete control. Don’t forget before he was appointed the senior players were openly petitioning for Ancelotti – which is a shite start for anyone. Arteta didn’t seem phased at all and it is clear he has not only got the dressing room back (which Emery had completely lost months ago) but is completely commanding it.
I’m sue he has done the same with Raul and Edu too.
According to my top level contacts Arteta is completely enamoured with Sanllehi and his ability to close a deal.
Wonder how Pedro will cope with that?
Fair enough Freddie I live in hope
Freddie
One of the things I’m most curios about is where the club see Saka’s future being. Out of the crop of home grown players he currently looks like the one most likely to make it. For a young player he’s been pretty solid at LB, if the club see him as a LW then I’d like to see him given some time there this season.
Nelson has a weird bone to pick with Pepe who for the most part has played reasonably well under Arteta.
Marc With Soares on the way and Kolasinac soon back to fitness we’ll probably get to see him there. Unless Arteta persists with the failed experiment of Laca in the middle and Auba out wide. Should be Martinelli/Saka left, Auba/Laca center and Pepe/Nelson right. Going to be interesting to see what happens with our 2 strikers in the summer. Hope Laca gets sold, doesn’t offer enough imo. We could use that money elsewhere and Martinelli replaces him. Trickier if Auba leaves, but can’t afford to let him go on a free the season after and a new massive contract for… Read more »
The fraud is too scared to drop makeweights Xhaka, Mustafi and Ozil
Freddie
Agree – Laca just doesn’t look right at the moment. We either need to get Auba tied down to another contract or sold, I think Martinelli looks like he’s going to be top quality but expecting him to step in and contribute 20 plus PL goals is too much too soon.
Arteta needs to start putting rounds pegs into round holes.
Red
Your criticism would look more effective if you took a second to think about it. Mustafi only got into the team because of injuries / suspensions. The Xhaka situation is a slight on his judgement., Ozil upped his game for a few matches but now looks worn out and needs to be moved on.
Cc
Like your sky post bout new man.
I have my doubts, mainly by the lack of pace but jt20 has shown that a good footballing brain is Ok to build a defence from the back ?
We could play three at the back with Fabio as the sweeper role if he reads the game that well.
Also theee at the back would allow the wing backs good chances.
Saliba Fabio holding
Bel. CJ
Xhara. Torr
Pepe. Ozil. Martinelli
Laca
Left
Pepe was the first to be subbed out by Arteta isn’t it. He costed £72m. You find him delivered more than Saka or Martinelli in last game.
West Ham are shite.
Wide open on the counter.
Interesting report on Saliba now he’s back playing again
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/william-saliba-laurent-koscielnyarsenal-17116629?int_source=taboola&int_medium=display&int_campaign=organic
He didnt ask to be valued at 72m Nelson. He’s all in all not doing too badly and needs our support. He’s not a problem for this team.
Nelson
How did Pires do in his first 6 months at Arsenal?
This season our FBs have been the least of our problems. Yet we were supposedly in for kurzawa now soares Odd transfer strategy to say the least when our midfield is so light in terms of depth
Marc, im glad Pires wasn’t around in this social media era where every fan is an expert, no patience and overly opinionated.
Hillwood
” Odd transfer strategy to say the least when our midfield is so light in terms of depth”
Depth, quality you name it our CM lacks it. Torreira has been good since Arteta took over, Xhaka has marginally raised his game but it won’t last and it’s much the same with Ozil.
Leftside
Henry and Bergkamp would also be burnt at the stake.
China
This season our FBs have been the least of our problems. Yet we were supposedly in for kurzawa now soares Odd transfer strategy to say the least when our midfield is so light in terms of depth
That’s a bit of a weird statement unless you are confident Tierney Bellerin Holding Chambers Kola Sokratis don’t get injured which is somewhat optimistic
Chambers already out long term
Left/Marc
The problem is that the club is skint and Pepe costed £72m. We could have used the fund for defense and midfield. We could be sitting near the top4
Nelson
With how the first half of the season went there’s no proof that that would be the case. I would add we spent circa £58 million on defenders.
Hindsight is 20/20 Nelson. If you were on here in the Summer various posters were over confident if anything after all our transfer business. Our season hasn’t panned out as positively due to poor player performances combined with woeful management by Mr Emery. Pepe isn’t the cause of our woes so I’d lay off him.
Marc
I was a tad premature hitting the post button at
21 02 21
Nelson been going on about Pepe constantly. Complaining that he doesn’t use his right foot, when he’s been using it more and more in games to cross the ball.
Why don’t you give the lad time instead of going on about if we had done this, if we had spent the money here and there.
Emery was manager at the time and there no guarantee we would be in a better place. Defender also take time to settle, this is Arsenal you are talking about.
Pablo speaks very well. I have high hopes for this guy.
The mental side of football is so important and he seems strong in terms of the route he’s taken to get where he is….at
Arsenal and voted the best defender in South America .
You can have a big name and all the talent in the world but if you shirk when the shit hits the fan those players will never reach the very top, the special ones are the ones that thrive under pressure hopefully Pablo can be our defensive king pin.
Moderation matey come on!
Spuds only going for Giroud because Llorente is not available! At least the Spuds will now have one good looking player! They have got to be the ugliest squad going – superficial I know but I ran a poll at work with all the females voting! You have to stick it to the Spuds every time the opportunity arises!
Giroud potentially going to Spurs shows exactly the type of person he is. I remember after we signed Lacazette, Giroud would play the Europa League games and was so selfish. He was shooting from everywhere, wouldn’t pass to a team mate in a better position. Then, after the Europa League Final, there was the stupid video of him on the Chelsea team bus singing “Thank you Arsenal” and mocking us. He wouldn’t hesitate on moving to Spurs.
Its an arsenal tradition to sign an injured player during the winter kallstrom, suarez, soares.
Qualideeee
It makes no sense signing a crocked player to cover for a crocked player.
Lets call a spade a spade
If we follow through making the two loan deals permanent them it will make sense.
However if neither of Pablo and Soares is kept then it will be a waste of 10 million for 6 month loan deals.
The Soares deal is strange one. Yes, he’s a decent player who can cover for left or right back, and is available on a free at the end of the season.
But we have Bellerin and Maitland-Niles both fit and playing well. Saka is making the LB position his own. Kolasinac is now fit again and Tierney will be back in March, although he may take time getting back to full fitness.
I can’t imagine Soares coming in and playing as well as AMN, Bellerin or Saka at the moment.
It will be more than 10m wasted if at the end of the season we haven’t made Europa
85 mill for Richarlison (spelling) and you have some posters on here suggesting we take 50 mil for Auba now as it saves us the hassle in the summer lol ……….lol you people need to hook me up with some of dat shit your smoking as you people are higher than a British airways flight over Iran
The Soares deal is mid table ambition bollocks at best , is this really what it has come to, depressing
Alexis Sanchez left Arsenal not just for financial reasons, although some on here feel it was the only reason, he left because of the regressive environment and players like Giroud who gloated in their self importance and somewhat selfish attitude to the cause.
We all remember the 3-3 draw at Bournmouth in January 2017.. There was Giroud gloating in his equaliser, whilst Sanchez stood there wanting to get the game restarted.
It was clear there was no love lost between these two.
Whatever you felt about Sanchez, he was a born winner.
Giroud, on the otherhand,was not.
Hence, if he does go to Spuds, I won’t lose any sleep.
Shaun Auba is 31 in tye summer and will have 12 months left of his contract, Richarlison is 22 and has 5 years left of his. Spot the differences in your drug induced state. Soares is brought as a backup for 2 positions, he’s not going to be a starter, we need players like this too. Especially if we don’t have the funds this window to buy the starting players we want. Sorting out the fullback positions now saves us that work in the summer and we can focus on finally fixing our midfield, and depending on Maris impact maybe… Read more »
Fred mate just share your supplier …. Rico will never provide the goals Auba has and is still is your probably sad Walcott went as well
Shaun
Maybe not but he’s 8 years younger and has more than 2 years of top fottball left unlike Auba, he also has a long contract so Everton doesn’t have to sell, unlike us if Auba doesn’t sign a new contract.
Maybe you’re new to this whole football thing but this is how it works.
5 year deal , 8 years younger …. yes we know all this but do you really think Barca really want maybe might be Ricoh when you can get dead cert Auba even for two more years of guaranteed goals , we are not talking Everton here we are talking Barca and they want it now …..get it
it’s good to bolster cover for defence to make the best of 2h of the season but are our senior folks in command or ‘guided’ by the same agents again? Especially if we pay well above the already inflated winter loan market… Both have prominent agents. Mari is with Canales and Soares has Mendes! i’d think most of us feel good when the club spends some (we ask dont we?) but not when it’s screwed. Consumer mindset? A reported 5m loan +wages for Soares! Not cool to loan another journeyman when he’d be out for 3 weeks,plus integration etc that… Read more »
FL. some people are best left in their parallel universe. In the real world, the figures for both players make total sense. On ability there is not that much between Auba and Richy and Richarlison has ways to go. Auba is at his peak. If i was at Barca I would come to the same evaluation.
I doubt Shaun understands the numbers so I wouldn’t waste your breath
Under Arteta we have conceded 8 goals in 8 games. Only 3 of those 8 goals were conceded before the 83rd minute, meaning we are unable to see out games . Conceding 5 goals so late on is a killer for any team taken into consideration that we have only scored only one goal after the 63rd minute of games under Arteta. This is a follow on from Emery’s spell at Arsenal , we were very negative in the last 3rd of games and struggled to score in the last half hour. This is a mind set I believe, its… Read more »
“Whatever you felt about Sanchez, he was a born winner.
Giroud, on the otherhand,was not.”
Don’t forget Giroudis a born winner ar hotels and pubs… though i suppose Sanchez has learned well.
If Giroud reunites with the one, he’d have scored a hattrick and win the journeyman ballon d’or 2020 for his uncanny ability to hopping across all major London clubs! And a grand slam when he signs for West Ham after got flushed down the toilet bowl say after the one is sacked.
you lot are why we are where we are …if you do not think Barca have some of the best potential strikers in the world already in there ranks then you are pretty dumb …Auba already has a record of scoring a hi numbers of goals when playing with Dembele let alone Messi , this is proven not potential …Auba is predatory and does not rely on pace alone so has at least 3 years left at the top …so dummies you do not take 50 mil in January FOR A PROVEN 25 -30 GOAL A SEASON STRIKER . That’s… Read more »
My sauces tell me Arteta is at Arsenal on loan, once we win the EL he will be off to a club with ambition.
You heard it here 1st!
If luiz is 7-8M then Auba should be 70-80m, basic logic
Im telling you this for free!
Exactly Sid lol………………………lol and you should defo start charging some of these dum mofo’s
If mari loan is 6m then Auba loan should be 60m, basic logic
Im telling you this for free!
I love Auba. I don’t want to sell him. But we don’t have a money tree and a £50m fee for him with 18 months left of a 3.5 year contract gives us an accounting profit of around £24m (£56m ÷ 3.5, amortized at £16m per year). This is important because it gives us more to play with in future windows. The question is could we replace his goals? Hard to say. He’s single handedly kept us competitive over the last two seasons. Lacazette just doesn’t score enough and I think would be better suited to another league – I’d… Read more »
Sid
A dumb comment once again.
Federer hanging in against Novak.
Not 100% though.