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.
Boom
2
3
Top Ten ?
Tr4phy
Trofee
Bollox. ..
Lacking confidence
Soares?… Lol don’t do it Arsenal!!!!!
Pedro
“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”
Where is this coming from? Do you also have an insider working at Arsenal.
A generational talent.?
“My legs won’t support me.”
Lets get Soares 5m versatile full back
The nature of the game is to keep the first teamers hungry and if they dont perform they got someone else ready to take up their space.
I think/hope Mari surprises some Folk, specifically about how good a player can be even if he’s not in a continental euro side or playing in the epl. We all forget most players come from somewhere else and develop in the epl, part of The challenge of joining a new side/new league What i like about him from the little i’ve watched is that he’s got a solid head on his shoulders and can work w the ball at his feet. This guy could become a Spanish national team player if he works hrd and slots into the prem… who… Read more »
I find that our team can play out from the back properly now. Seems that the new coaching staff knows what to do.
I prefer we switch to a 4 3 3 formation. Arteta was with Pep the past few years. He can definitely set up something similar to MC.
Pedro Re: comments about david luiz signing in the pod… It may not be a popular POV but if we’d signed a less experienced CB last summer instead of him i believe we’d be in a much worse situation. Luiz is not the worlds greatest but he is experienced, he is a team Player, he is a good fellow for the youngsters to be learning from. If we hD signed someone w less epl experience, less experience in winning big games against big sides and less experienxe w the flux that comes from tough managerial situations i really doubt we’d… Read more »
I agree. Luiz has become a leader. He can definitely help Mari to adapt to the EPL.
Sites are saying we in for Soares… would be good to have …. experienced and pre tested… loan him too
Mari Carey?
Not for me.
Soares in as well, for a loan fee over 5x what Inter paid last year.
Good we getting Soares… can cover both FB positions. With Bell and Tierney, I am not convinced either can last an entire season without breaking down…
Good move this one…
Can move AMN out of RB now, and into DM or other mid positions…
Cedric soares, Arsenalization is soaring to new heights
Im telling this for free!
Joke signings
Hey at least the club is addressing the area of biggest need finally.
Its only took about 3 ACL tears to make it happen
SMH
I know some posters like Marko have been clamouring for an RB for awhile now but doubt this is what they had in mind.
But if bodies is what we need then I guess I’m glad they are bringing more in.
” imagine what we’ll be like next season with better players more suited to the vision?”
Cum Shot. (not the first, not the last)
HL
God forbid anyone orgasm on your watch. Misery loves company.
“Soares in as well, for a loan fee over 5x what Inter paid last year.”
We’ve finally confirmed our place as a mid table club.
Mari gets the nod from Tim Vickery, was also ever-present in a record breaking Flamengo team.
Good enough for me. Only a loan too so if he’s dreadful, bin him off in summer no biggie.
Barcelona throwing 85 mil at Everton for Richarlison, we’ll do you a special deal for a quarter less lads come on over.
Cedric is the Kurzawa of RB’s, decent competition for Bellerin (at long last), good physical profile, knows the league, and for pennies. Won’t gripe too much with that one.
AMN potentially freed up to offer something more centrally, should be interesting to see with a coach at the helm.
At this rate pretty soon the club will be filled with handsome Iberians. CG’s worst nightmare.
Barca really are desperate aren’t they. 85m bid for a bordeline mid table player in Richarlison, lol.
United are just after signing a far better player in Bruno Fernandes.
They are absolutely fucked once Messi regresses properly.
“Cedric is the Kurzawa of RB’s, decent competition for Bellerin (at long last), good physical profile, knows the league, and for pennies. Won’t gripe too much with that one.”
The problem with both deals (for me) is that we now have a collection of average/past it defenders with no great one.
I hope there’s a serious clear out this summer.
Why do we need 3 fit right backs?
Arsenal really are an odd club sometimes
85m for Richarlison? And it got rejected.
Wtf is going on with football wow.
Cedric is ambidextrous isn’t he? Plays LB comfortably as well.
Must be the thinking behind it, you’d be concerned about Tierney wouldn’t you. Seems the lad is going to end up a perma crock.
“Olivier Giroud would be open to a move to Tottenham from Chelsea this month.”
What a scumbag.
Barca has a once in a lifetime team and hung in there by signing Neymar and Suarez. With Neymar gone and Messi and Suarez getting older Barca are looking increasingly average by big club standards.
The Barca of 10 years ago would absolutely smash this one
Real are also not that special
The only team which looks special in 2019-20 is Liverpool. Second best team would have to be city but they’ve had their wobbbles
Pablo Mari came across really well in his interview I thought. Best thing I’ve seen written about him is a testament from a coach about his time in Holland: “He impressed us from the very beginning,” Bresser tells Sky Sports. “In pre-season he came in as a foreign guy and within five weeks we decided that he should be the captain of the team. He was open-minded and eager to learn. He was a real professional. “He was defensively good and good at building from the back. That season was important for his development because he played over 30 games.… Read more »
Soares was decent till two years ago. May have gone off the boil recently but if we get him back to his euros form he is a decent back up for bellerin. we are getting him on a loan to which gives us time to asses him and see 8f he deserves a contract. I like how we arent committing to stupid 5 year contracts on the go. Very smart from our management. AMN moving to midfield means we have enough midfielders too. All signs are looking at a major investment in midfield come summer. Creative, defensive and Central midfield… Read more »
“The problem with both deals (for me) is that we now have a collection of average/past it defenders with no great one.”
Don’t see how they relate, not all signings are with the intention of being special. These ones are clearly more about suitability and competence. Personally I’m all for us becoming a ‘really good’ side first, and then adding the guys that move the needle that much further akin to VVD, Salah etc
China Agreed, all of the elite teams have significant flaws barring Liverpool and even they lack guile and creativity from midfield if you’re being picky. Selling Neymar was a massive mistake on Barca’s part, guy was a generational player and the only close to Messi and was the obvious successor. Now they have ended up wasting all of the Neymar money on Coutinho and Dembele, neither of whom kick a ball for them anymore. La Masia has gone to the dogs too. Sergi Roberto was the last decent player it produced and you’re nearly going back a decade for even… Read more »
Southampton just loaned Kyle Walker Peters from spurs so the Soares thing seems to have some legs. Not a bad move honestly, can cover both fullback positions, good age for an experienced backup. We have our starters already in Bellerin and Tierney so unless one of those gets sold this is the level you can target, unless it’s a talented youngster. We have to be in quite a state financially to not address that midfield and only doing small level loans in defence. Spurs just overpaid on their stadium by the tune of 400m and still signed Lo Celso(permanent now)… Read more »
I think AMN has been adequate at rb and doesn’t look polished enough for midfield
Really an odd move to bring in a RB this winter
Am I the only one who sees Richarlison succeeding in Barcelona? Granted the fee is inflated and it was always going to be after Everton signed him for 50 mil but theGuy is really good In front of goal. Everton just keep moving him from left wing to CF to right wing whenever they want to. But I see him as a really good replacement for Suarez.
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
Can’t help but feel our transfer strategy feels like firing random shots into the dark for the most part
I hope the club has the sense to go hard at the spine in the summer
Un
Yeah agreed RVP is a different level of footballer than the strikers we’ve carried since.
My point was more that the expectations for Giroud may have been higher than his capabilities considering who he was replacing, he’d also led Ligue 1 in scoring the year prior so we were expecting goals. But more than anything it was that Wenger was bringing in a French striker, and whenever he brings in someone of that profile there is was a small part of every fan thinking, wishing, hoping it could be another Thierry.
Soares is good cover… back up to Tierney and Bell.
Both are suspect and with Kola also up and down this season, good to have an extra defender
Im sure he could deputize at CB also if needed. If this is a loan… its good.
“Our whole squad should be built on power and pace because that has always been the only way to survive the Premier League.”
This
I know this now a space of shut up and support the team but anyway toy dress it the averageness of the players we are signing and linked to shines through
This isn’t the Dortmund or Ajax model preached on this pages until recently
United nabbing Fernandez is the signing of the window
Huge signing for a real problem area for them also ,he’ll definitely take them up a level,Guy is genuinely a masterclass and could have walked into our midfield like a boss
Never mind though we seem to be on a mission of stock piling average defenders this window.
RH I mean it’s January, fairly slim pickings out there. Loan deals don’t at all move the needle but they should improve us until the end of the season when we can have a proper go in the market. You have Barca bidding 100m for Richarlison and clubs competing for the likes of Llorente and Giroud. Only coup pulled off has been Bruno Fernandes and he’s unproven outside of Porrugal, same goes for Bergwijn outside of Holland who was a replacement for Eriksen. Summer windows have to be the priority. Agree somewhat though, would have been nice to have added… Read more »
I have lobbied for Fernandes on here for a while mind, I think he’ll be different class over here.
Dortmund 19/20 arrivals
Hummels (30): 27 mil
T.Hazard (26): 22 mil
Schultz (26): 22 mil
Alcacer (25): 19 mil
Brandt (23): 22 mil
Haaland (19): 18 mil
–
Arsenal 19/20 arrivals
Luiz (32): 8 mil
Cedric (28): 5 mil
Mari (26): 10 mil
Pepe (24): 72 mil
Tierney (22): 25 mil
Saliba (18): 27 mil
Martinelli (18): 6 mil
Eagle I understand what the market is like but we are running a risk here giving two unproven players a six months audition to earn four to five year deals. Form is temporary class is permanent.
What if we end up dishing out long contracts to average players with low ceilings off the back of six months playing out of their skins?
Anyways let’s wait and see, hopefully it improves us.
The reality is that Arsenal needed to bring in a CB in January with Chambers out for rest of season, Mustafi out for indeterminate time with ankle sprain and Mavropanos having been loaned out. The deal is at least a loan with option to buy costing us initially £4 million. That is hardly going to break the bank. If he turns out to be the new “messiah” then we will be buying a bargain. If he is a “strop” then at least the club will not have squandered silly money on him. Arsenal need once and for all to get… Read more »
“Eagle I understand what the market is like but we are running a risk here giving two unproven players a six months audition to earn four to five year deals“
The cheek of this after campaigning about how Suarez was a 6-month loan signing which was ‘smart’ for being non-committal.
RH
There’s that inherent risk with any loan. At least you have the option to turf them off if they’re useless (Denis Suarez).
If you buy a player you’re essentially stuck with him if he isn’t up to much.
Can’t think of too many signings we’ve ever made that were brilliant for half a year and then shocking after being penned down too.
It doesn’t take more than 6 months in most cases to see what a player is about.
Denis Suarez was Emery’s Kallstrom haha.
Soares is definitely going to be an Arsenal player: “….while Soares himself was taken off during Southampton’s last Premier League game with a knee ligament injury which is expected to keep him out for around three weeks.”
Welcome to arsenal Kim Soares Kallstrom..
Only at arsenal.. Signing broken players as back up to injury prone players..
Na wa
Yea I like that we have that option and I hope we don’t take it up with respect to Cedric.
For Mari I am waiting to see cos j really don’t know much about him. All in all I am not excited by these signings and I don’t think I owe any of the ankle biters above apologies for that. Charles will defend the resigning of Chamakh at this point and tell you why it makes sense.
RH the fact that we are not committing fully is making me love these deals. If the play out of their skins and prove themselves and we give them long term deals, then we have to find a way to extract and sustain those levels in the future. These deals are very smart for me.
Barcelona throwing 85 mil at Everton for Richarlison, we’ll do you a special deal for a quarter less lads come on over. According to a good source totally fake. Soares for me is a good signing. Decent player, highly rated a few years but never fulfilled his potential. Good pace and delivery. And finally a cover at the RB position. Also the structure of the deal is actually very clever. He’s got 6 months left on his contract and we are loaning him for 6 months covering his full wages and paying around 5 mil as loan fees. + we… Read more »
“Charles will defend the resigning of Chamakh at this point and tell you why it makes sense.“
I’d pipe down with some of your above inputs, your agenda is right in the window for all passers by.
Signing 2 players on initial 6-month deals, in positions we are short, is the definition of ‘making sense’.
Sorry that doesn’t compute with you, but we’re talking about a guy that saw no fault in Emery signing a winger when we needed a defender. Nvm the fact he played 90 mins total in his time with us, Kallstrom played more minutes ffs.
We should have joined the raid on Salzburg for Hwaang tbh.
Really lively and versatile forward not too dissimilar to his old pal Minamino.
My agenda is seeing good to great footballers play for Arsenal. 10 million pounds has been committed to loan deals of players that don’t excite but according to you will do a job for six months. After six months then what? You always speak about a process and to ignore results where do this two fit into the process long term. Shut up about agendas, no one is criticizing Arteta, this isn’t about him. Nor was Suarez the signing Emery wanted in January last year, he wasn’t given the chance to bring in prayers and said hey look I only… Read more »
Big defensive clear out this summer, 4 could go
Of course the only signings Arteta can make are average Joes playing in average leagues or injured players thinking about pension plans.
No serious player would put his career on the line for a novice coach steering a sinking ship.
This ‘no money’ thing is merely a lie to cover up the horrible truth that Arsenal are now a second rate club.
Don’t get this cedric signing mind, unless arteta hates amn kol and tierney
It was widely reported that Arsenal chief doctor Gary Discroll was to join Liverpool but it looks like the move didnt happen.
The Arteta dream maybe.
I can’t believe people are writing off pablo mari when we are getting him on a loan. If It was permanent I wouldn’t like it too because we haven’t yet seen how he is going to do in the premier league. It’s not about signing 60 mil players. If he is as good for us as he was for flamengo ( according to their fans) We are the big winners here. Same for Cedric. We could cut our losses if they are poor so why write them off already.
Rambo,
You are embarrassingly desperate for Arteta to be a bad coach, you’ll say anything.
Take the L, it’ll save you making yourself look even sillier than you do now
Rambo
Thanks for the motivational pep talk.
Bad day at the office?
Pedro
I concur.
Every new manager should get the full support of its fanbase.
“10 million pounds has been committed to loan deals of players that don’t excite but according to you will do a job for six months. After six months then what?“ I’ve said little about what they’ll do precisely, I’ve said I’m all for us scouting far and wide for players with traits we’re missing (Mari), even if I’ve little knowledge of his ability. With Cedric I’ve called him decent backup, which is exactly what I see him as. After 6 months we potentially secure a CB and fullback for 15 mil combined, is that bad business suddenly? “You always speak… Read more »
CG with more of that elite analysis he was lauded by Pedro for this time last year.
It was the deluded ramblings of a demented crackpot then and it’s the same now, wonder how long it’s tolerated under the new regime though…
Oops, already deleted, is he binned already?
That didn’t take long for my prediction to come true, lol.
Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli, Guendouzi , Torreira and hopefully Pepe.
Even the football has improved under Arteta.
Surely these are positive signs.
Well so much for my theory that Marí was a stooge for Matviyenko. Pleased I’m wrong all the same as it looks to be an astute signing
At last we have a manager who recognised defence must be solid. I keep hearing the cry for midfielders on here – maybe a throwback to the Wenger days when you knew where the problems were but instead Wenger would sign a midfielder
I do think a top quality DM destroyer should be the next target but as I say the defence needs to be plugged first
Pedro “Raul has overseen a pretty average 2 years, he shipped out his data man and went balls deep on some very odd signings.” Strange POV considering our transfer window after Sven left was much better than the ones when he was here, and less contacts based than his 3 ex dortmund signings. Which are the odd signings? Suarez? 3rd choice winger option on loan when we had no cash. Luiz? Last minute, cheap stop gap after Kos left, is probably our best CB right now. Pepe, Tierney, Saliba and Martinelli will all be long term starters for us. Oh,… Read more »
The fundamental difference between the Suarez loan and the Mari loan is this time we have brought a player in to a position where we are weak and needs strengthening, whereas suarez was competing against Mhkitaryan, Ramsey, Ozil, Iwobi plus Willock , Nelson and ESR , so was highly unlikely to succeed.
Whether Mari is good enough remains to be seen.
We should have offered Pepe a loan with option to buy.
The “King Raul takes the summer from a 3/10 to an 8/10” piece from early August didn’t age well.
http://www.arsenal-world.co.uk/news/tmnw/unai_emery_hopes_to_make_some_defensive_signings_in_upcoming_january_transfer_wi_921765/index.shtml
He wanted defensive signings. If he had the Mari and Cedric options he would have taken them. Let’s not make out he said he doesn’t want defenders but only Suarez. That’s old news anyway. Let’s see how these ones work out. Getting them in is half the battle
Pierre We all know your feelings about the Suarez deal, no need to rewrite history though: “whereas suarez was competing against Mhkitaryan, Ramsey, Ozil, Iwobi plus Willock , Nelson and ESR ,” Ramsey and Ozil can’t really play on the wing, Iwobi played on the left wing, Willock hardly played last season and Nelson and ESR were both out on loan. The only one he was competing with on that right wing was Mikhi, sadly due to injury and not adapting he couldn’t even do that. Hope Mari hits the ground running, would be great if he smashes it and… Read more »
RH
Emery was weak.
Arteta is strong .
If Arteta is not keen on a player, they wont come.
Mari will be a success I’m sure as Arteta would have had a good look at him whilst at city
RH
Suarez is not a winger / wide player..you only have to watch him play to come to that conclusion.
He was competing for the CAM / no.10 role and he had to compete with players who were better than him.
G
Doubt they ever met. He was out on loan the whole time and didn’t even meet with Pep.
He probably had access to reports and internal stats on him but that’s it.
Receding No mention of wanting a defender there at all, won’t even bother rehashing who went that window either because Valentin covered it chapter and verse at the time. We signed a former Emery player out wide when we needed defensive support. Bottom line. Now we need defenders, we’re bringing a couple in, and you’re on the front line for how it’s not like Dortmund in terms of strat and how 6-month deals are a risk when previously they were no risk. You’re abiding by all the commandments of the Emeryista code, he’d be proud if he had a clue… Read more »
Mari needs to adapt very quickly to the pace… hopefully he will not find himself isolated ala Luiz on occasion
I think he might work out… good height and passing capabilities.
That was to fred
Pierre
We tried to bring in Carasco or Perisic on loan, we were looking at someone to play wide right after Welbeck broke down.
We just had to settle on our 3rd choice because we had 0 cash.
It was also mentioned in interviews at the time that Suarez can play on the wings.
That’s not even debatable.
That you think he was brought to compete with Ozil at least explains your irrational hatred for the deal.
Why sign an injured player in January? It’s like some sort of ritual with this football club…Absolutely don’t see the need for the Soares signing…
AMN
Bellerin for RB
Tierney
Kolasinac
Saka for LB
Can’t tell me we can’t make do till the summer with that lot… Very strange signing in my opinion
Graham, it’s not even supporting a theory now… Arteta can do all the things we’d hoped.
Players are working for him, he’s making individuals better, he has a clear vision and philosophy, and the fans are into him.
https://premierleaguenewsnow.com/cedric-soares-scout-report/
https://www.whoscored.com/Players/69945/Show/Cédric-Soares
More on Cedric. Always thought he was decent. He is good defensively. What the stats show confirm what I have seen from him from time to time. He sometimes rushes crosses and misplaces passes but he is only a back up. And a Good backup I think.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/01/29/arsenal-sign-cedric-soares-loan-second-defensive-addition-january/
According to the telegraph the Soares loan fee is less than 1m. Makes a lot more sense than the 5m previously reported.
Not too shabby for some experienced backup for 2 positions that isn’t 34 and arriving from a slower league.