My life is coronavirus roulette at the moment, I am on a plane again keeping a VERY close eye on anyone sniffling. I’m also not happy about the ‘too good to share your air’ crew with their statement face masks. I have substantial doubts that a $1 mask you bought for $50 on eBay is saving you from this.
So what do we have for you today?
KIKE MARIN DROPPED A BIG HINT THAT ARSENAL HAVE SEALED DEALS FOR TWO PLAYERS.
He responded to an AFTV tweet and said we’ve made moves already, and they are good players. For reference, his taste levels are that Cedric and Mari are not Arsenal level. So hopefully that means the names we have lined up are absolutely a-grade prime meat.
Now, I’m not one for idle speculation, but one would imagine we’ve either sealed deals for players with buyout clauses, or players that have limited months left on their contracts. Upemacano seems like it could be a thing, then I wonder if maybe we’ve signed Timo Werner. The Timo thing is just because I think he’s a good striker and I hear he has a reasonably low buyout. Total speculation on my part, but his game would suit Mikel.
One thing is for sure, the club has to move fast so we don’t get caught in the Euro 2020, ‘the player can’t talk until after they see if their value spikes to unreasonable levels of hypeflation.’
To live in a more grounded world, the positives that we can take from this is that Arteta is more than aware of what he needs to do this summer, and he’s in lockstep with Edu. I hope Arsenal is as aggressive at moving players in as they are at moving them out. I wonder whether part of the deal he had with certain players centered around the quid pro quo of: ‘You stay with me for 5 months, I’ll get you playing better and help you find a better club this summer.’
I struggle to see Auba staying on another year. Not so much because I worry about his age, more because I see him as one of the few genuine bartering chips we have this summer. We could land £50-60m for him, or we could use him as a bartering chip for someone like Coutinho.
Lacazette will still have appeal, regardless of his form. The guy has a solid track record of scoring and I wouldn’t be shocked to see a club from Spain or France come knocking for his services again. Fee is debatable, but if we can get £40m for Iwobi, at a minimum we should be recouping our outlay. I mean Spurs dropped nearly £60m on Ndombele and he still doesn’t have the right level of fitness and we’re in February. There is more than enough money flowing in the world of football to get what we need out of this summer. Then it’s about how we spend it, keep the wage bill sensible, and pray to the footballing gods Arteta can gel them in time for next season.
We should be competing for top 4 next season. Chelsea aren’t that much better than us and I don’t think Lampard is elite. City are in a bit of a mess with the very real potential of losing Pepe. United are looking at replacing Ole with Southgate, need I say more? Spurs will go the way all Jose teams do, but faster. So that creates an opening for us to scrape 4th.
All dependent on how effective our summer is… we have 14 players with question marks over their heads. Quite astonishing how we keep landing ourselves here. At least we have clear leadership in the dugout now.
Right, short post today, see you in the comments. x
4th
4th and long
Here we go
Fore
Damn it!
“if we can get £40m for Iwobi”
Admittedly Pedro, there arent that many teams as blatantly dumb as Everton when it comes to throwing money around with serious thought. Then again, there is that “Pepe” albatross around Raul’s fattening neck…
“. Chelsea aren’t that much better than us and I don’t think Lampard is elite”
Damn straight on both counts, Pedro!
You heard it here 1st!
Clichy penalty vs Birmingham in 2008. The year we could have realistically became champions. It all ended on that day. Saddest thing is that it wasn’t even a penalty. But Clichy running away of the ball when the ball is literally in his possession… Man, it hurt like shiet. We had to do better in Eduardo’s sake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BWjJjrwKjw
If we dont buy atleast 2 classy midfielders expect another season like this one.
Im telling you this for free!
““if we can get £40m for Iwobi””
Iwobi carries the English tag (I know he plays for Nigeria) which can add anywhere between a third and go all the way to doubling a players fee.
Raptora
That is a match I wish I never watched. It was complete shambles after that. 10 points ahead with 10 games to go and we blew it.
Auba is potentially on simalar money as Ozil
10+ million basic per year
50,000 win bonus in matches he starts and wins
15+ million loyalty bonus if he completes his contract
If he stays big drop off in resale value
Pedro I really think you need to set you’re sights on a lower calibre of player than someone like Timo Werner, we could be really lucky and pull out a summer of rough diamonds. This summer there’s a very high chance we won’t be a particularly attractive destination, definitely no CL football possibly no European football at all, our starting budget is going to be really limited and a lot of the players we won’t to move on are not going to get the fee’s that many on here seem to think. Also unless our form starts to make a… Read more »
Buckagh
You do realise that Auba’s down to a year left on his contract so if he stays and doesn’t resign his resale value will be £0?
Ozil is also on a basic of £18,200,000 a year.
Pierre – Dream on son I bet you have a poster of cod eyes above your bed
“. Chelsea aren’t that much better than us and I don’t think Lampard is elite”
Some of the people on here where arguing that Lampard was the second coming!
Samesong
I don’t have a particularly high opinion of Lampard but the truth is we don’t really know because he’s an incredibly inexperienced manager.
I agree with your line of discussion though – the term knee jerk springs to mind.
Wonder what kike thinks of adam lallana
Zach
Hopefully clickbait!
Davey
Try posting something that’s relevant otherwise some may put you in the same category as Ernest Reed , who’s main contribution to Le Grove is to make pathetic snide remarks…
Looking like Mr Abidal isn’t long for this world where his role with Barca FC is concerned.
Once Messi goes rogue on you, its curtains and now Jordi Alba has gone in studs up as well.
Xavi will be managing that club by June.
Arsenal will be in the CL, we are winning the EL
You heard it here 1st!
One of them is probably Jesse Lingard, he’s just switched to a super agent as well…….the scenes on here if we sign that spaz!!
I doubt if Barcelona will do away with Abidal. Messi does not wield such player power.
He is trying to get a new and lucrative contract. Just pure politics.
Marc Lets hope so, he’s a broken player. Hojberg’s contract is up in 2021, one yr left come summer Dries mertens contract up in summer, Milik contract up in 2021 Although max aarons contract is up in 2024, his agent is darren dein… prob not a big deal You got Rabiot in turin who may want to leave. Inter may have to shift some bodies after splurging last year, they have a few mids worth lookin at, vecino, brozovic Sandro Tonali, dm at brescia is up in 2022 Theres the turkish kid playing in holland we e been linked to… Read more »
Pedro
You should get a guest post in on who kike might be talking about. Hack his shit bro
We sold Iwobi for £28m, not £40m.
Well Major think were about to find out.
Regarding Timo Werner would be an epic coup with state this clubs in. That and fact he’s heavily linked to Liverpool and Barca. Like the spirit Pedro!
Stating the obvious here but clearly this summer up front all hinges on who PEA goes to, for how much with repercussions that has throughout market. Personally i’d keep him if at all possible and extend.
That said have to say visions of a Martinelli and Werner attack are pretty obscene with huge potential window above to fill.
Im telling you this summer we will lose a chunk of this team. There is no way we can afford to keep the pieces we have
No Pierre, its to call you out for constantly harping on about Wenger and your other melt driven rants. Its massively depressing and beyond annoying – its ridiculously unhealthy the way you conduct yourself. You play people with your whoa is me attitude. I come on here to read and enjoy healthy debates, but nothing about you emits any of that. You are as predictable as you are depressing. Knock it off already, if you are what being a senior citizen is about, I’d rather skip it and head off into the next life – its miserably depressing and so… Read more »
woah is me…
i like that lol
Xavi aint going to barca for a while. you know that entire board is holding their breath about messi, everyone knows a serious rebuild is in order when that guy leaves or retires. the writings on the wall for the entire world to see, sure abidal fucked up running his mouth but i think you have to make a bigger mistake to get fires from his position
Marc that is flag I was waving I’m in favour of him leaving
I’m not so sure he would agree unless one of big European clubs came knocking
Mustafi is worth a lot of $$$ by that picture!
sell his ass now!
Ernest Reed “, I’d rather skip it and head off into the next life – its miserably depressing and so are you” Have you ever thought that it may be you who is miserably depressing . You are calling someone miserably depressing who only has positive words for Wenger, ozil , Arteta and the young players coming through . My only gripe was with Emery and I sussed him out from day one . Maybe that’s what aggravates you. I put my money where my mouth is ..Arteta is exactly what we need at this particular time , and us… Read more »
the only stat missing is:
ERRORS
Errors leading to red cards, goals, penalties, red cards for teammates that cover for your mistakes etc….
this kid on qpr Eberechi Eze is outta contract 2021
still, for anyone talking an exorbitant amount of shit about mustafi, it is quite a sucker punch to see those stats. only inflated by emery’s pathetic tenure where watford had HOW MANY SHOTS ON GOAL
“One of them is probably Jesse Lingard”
Fuck me – well that’s one of them identified.
come on, arteta aint looking at lallana or lingard. thats bs agent shit
Zach Mustafi is a stats beast. He constantly ranks high up in sky sports player points system too. He is a very very good potentially elite defender for 85 mins every game . The rest 5 min are the reason why Mustafi is Mustafi. If Arteta can turn his game around like Xhaka theres a really solid defender in there. It would be MASSIVE if we can get Barca to do a swap deal involving Coutinho and Auba and some extra cash. Maybe even a loan with option around 80-90 mil. If I was Edu I would go into the… Read more »
My guess is Gabriel from Lille and either Said Benrahma or that turkish 19 year old Cam from Feyenoord.
If Mustafi’s starts are so good then why when it was clear that we’d be happy to move him on did we have no one interested in him last summer?
Maguire may not be worth the £80 million ManU paid for him but we’re faced with accepting around £12 million even after Arteta’s rubbed sauce all over him.
” If Arteta can turn his game around like Xhaka”
Xhaka hasn’t made a calamitous fuck up for a couple of games and all of a sudden he’s a really good player.
Some people never learn.
One day ADC will be in the CL again.
One day
And if we are lucky we will go to the second phase.
Yeah, we will one day.
Marc
Those stats are from this season
“then I beleive we should be looking to loan out at least two of Guen,”
Send a player who’s supposedly worth £60 million out on loan.
For crying out fucking loud it honestly beggars belief.
Marc
Who said he is a really good player.
But he has gone from a complete outcast to a key player in the new system. Also he is still sometimes misplaces passes in our own half but our better defensive structures helps to clear the danger more effectively than before.
I would definitely love an upgrade. Soumare/ Grealish maybe.
My bad, stats are from last year
Facts are facts Pierre. Emery was not up to the task, plain and simple. Ozil is no longer up to the task that brought him here, plain and simple. Wenger was not up to the task nor standard that he himself set, for 10 long years, plain and simple. The difference between your view and my view, i recognize and accept the facts as they present themselves. You? You only have positive words for both Wenger and Ozil. One of the two of us lives in the present and sticks to the facts, and it ain’t you as your own… Read more »
Wasi
Xhaka is fucking useless for the PL – the very fact you use the line below says it all.
“Also he is still sometimes misplaces passes in our own half but our better defensive structures helps to clear the danger more effectively than before.”
So we’re still compensating for Xhaka fucking up?
Marc
Only one article sometime last year has linked Guendouzi to Psg and I dont even know if it was for 60m.
No way anyone is paying 60m for Guen and I dont think we are going to sell either.
+ A good loan will not only help him improve his game but also increase his value.
Its way better than warming the bench and playing pointless Cup games. If he can maybe book a starting spot for himself then surely he should stay but if not then a loan might be a good option.
Marc
You remove Xhaka from the current system and our possession value goes down considerably.
Xhaka right now for us is one of the first names on the team sheet. And tbf he has played fairly well under Arteta. And until we get an upgrade he will definitely be starting every game for us.
And for the record, Arteta should be given a very fair amount of time to work things out. You don’t inherit a clusterfuck from Wenger and shitshow from Emery and turn it into a finely tuned orchestra overnight. Arsenal are an absolute mess right now and at the very least, Arteta has the players attention and thats the right start and direction. Give him time, its a bloody mess right now.
Wasi
Check out Pedro’s 2nd mot valuable youngster comment from the last post – I think he had him down as £70 million.
I don’t think he’s worth anywhere near that – the point of my comment is one minute on here Guendozi is worth a fortune the next he should be on loan.
It’s bonkers.
“Xhaka right now for us is one of the first names on the team sheet. ”
And that is why we’re where we are.
Marc
I too agree Guendouzi is one of our most valuable assets. But he isnt worth 60 or 70mil RIGHT NOW.
He’s definitely got the potential to develop into a world class player but for that he needs to play. And if he doesn’t get game time with us Im sure there will be many good teams in Europe who would love to have him on loan as a key starter. Not top tier teams but second or third tier teams .
Maybe someone like Sociedad or Schalke.
Why the hell would you want to send Guendouzi out on loan?
Crazy.
Every one has opinions on who we should sell. But Under no circumstances should we sell our youth players. Guendouzi, Martinelli, Saka, Willock, Nelson and even Eddie shouldn’t be sold. At the very least some of them could be loaned out to see whether they could develop into something. We can’t afford to miss out on really good players if they turn out to be one. Niles is in a different situation. Next season should be his last chance. We don’t want another Joel Campbell situation where we refuse to sell when a player stock is high while knowing he… Read more »
Wasi
I never said he was worth that amount – I’m pointing out the extremes on here and just how detached from reality it gets on here.
” If Arteta can turn his game around like Xhaka”
“You remove Xhaka from the current system and our possession value goes down considerably.”
Is everything okay buddy?
Firstly, pedro
everton did not buy iwobi for 40m. It is 26m plus add-ons.
secondly, add-ons are only paid if a certain creteria are met thus even iwobi add-ons a not yet paid because he has not yet satisfy the criteria for the add on.
so we are only recieving 26m from everton pending when those criteria are satisfied i.e help them qualify for champions league or win fa cup. As for now. We getting nothing on add ons of 6m.
Consider we buy 2 new CM in the summer window. Any two of Soumare, Partey, Grealish, Coutinho, etc. We already have Xhaka and Torreira who are ahead of Guendouzi in the pecking order. And if we buy 2 good CM that will drop Guendouzi from our 3rd CM to 5th CM. He will hardly get any game time. If we play a 4-3-3 then its a completely different topic and what I said was we should be loaning out 2 of Guen, Willock, ESR and Amn. Amn is the lowest in the pecking order so that leaves Willock, Guen and… Read more »
Wasi
” I never said he was worth that amount – I’m pointing out the extremes on here and just how detached from reality it gets on here.”
IKR
Sid
” If Arteta can turn his game around like Xhaka”“You remove Xhaka from the current system and our possession value goes down considerably.”Is everything okay buddy?
Hate Xhaka IDC. But at least be decent enough to admit that he has been playing well lately.
And any sane man who regularly watched will tell you that Xhaka is a key component in our current system.
Im telling you this for free!
28m i mean
This Summer will tell us whether Raul’s contact signing is the way to go. If he screws up, his job will be on the line.
watches*
Wasi Your point is so full of stupid holes it’s staggering. Are you serious? Why would we buy 2 CM’s and keep Xhaka? Why would we keep Xhaka at all is another question. Do you think Torreira is going to stay as back up? He’s already agitated for a move when Emery wasn’t playing him. If Xhaka steps onto the pitch for our first home game next season Arteta will wipe out in an instant any goodwill he has. We will also find ourselves completing for 6th – 10th rather than chasing top 4 as Pedro has promised previous to… Read more »
so somebody has actually turn Xhaka game around eh
so his longer slow anymore so even him can even beat a press now.
wow just super wow
kristoman
Xhaka will make a major fuck up that costs us an important game – all those who have been making excuses for him will then either deny they ever did or make excuses.
Have you actually watched Upamecano over a period of say 5-10 games fully? Or is it the occasional clip on Youtube/Sky/NBC Sport, etc? The guy is good but he is NO answer to our problems. I’ve watched him for at least a season now and I’ll say a few things- 1. He’s not 6’1, he is probably closer to 5’11 a la Koscielny than anything. He’s fast and marks his man well but his tackling doesn’t impress me (if he does have to make a last gasp). In a side lacking height, I don’t think we need another short CB.… Read more »
What a bunch of assholes. I LOVE IT
Credible journo has arteta as already finalized two deals superior to mari and soares and you allnjust wanna talk shit about squad players.
If we buy 2 midfielders, which we absolutely have to, it will be to replace Xhaka and Ozil in the starting XI. With those 2 being moved on.
We then have a starting trio of
Torreira – new CM (Soumare/Sangare)
New Cam( Szobozslai/Orkun/Ziyech etc)
With Guen, Willock and ESR as backups. No need to loan out anyone, they will get plenty of playing time.
Going to be a very young midfield next season I think but needs must when squad building has been ignored for so long.
Zach
We don’t know who the players are or if it’s even true so at the moment it’s just click bait.
Our team lacks goal. Pepe has a good long shot. I suggest we try a 4 3 3 formation:
Bellerin_____Mustafi_____Luiz__________Saka
_______________Torr_________Xhaka
_____________________Guen
_____________________Pepe
___________Auba_______________Martinelli
In this formation, Pepe’s job is to carry the ball forward and to score. We still keep the Saka/Martinelli connection.
“This Summer will tell us whether Raul’s contact signing is the way to go. If he screws up, his job will be on the line.”
Agreed Nelson, thus far the jury remains out on his signings as an overall. The returns on investment have been, shall we say, less than impressive let alone expected.
If we’ve wrapped up the signings for Upamecano and Werner, with potentially no European football?
Then I’ll be banned for life, for copying what that Newcastle fan did, with the old helicopter willy celebration.
Guendouzi is never going to be world class, I’m telling you this for free, he doesn’t have the pace or technique. Xhaka is a solid player when he is used tactically astutely with cover, the issue with him was he was playing in a system where it seemed he was always the 2 mins too late because there was no cover for him. To improve we should go all out to buy Buendia in the summer, there is no way grealish comes to Arsenal, although I’d love to see him here I think we will be priced out….but if we… Read more »
For some reason that I no longer remember I get an email when you post. That was likely started when you were a good blog and totally Wengerout. Nowadays you’re Artetain even though, he’s a clown copying Emery tactics and playing Ozil (zero assists or goals specific in 2 years) and Lacazette (I’ll run all match but I’m slow and an invalid everyone can push me over) every single game. Arteta is a massive clown (fraud, wanker whatever you wan’t to call him) and one of the most fashionable blogs in Arsenal land is praising him. ARTETA PLAYS SHIT SLOW… Read more »
Marc
It aint clickbait if it isnt attached to an article that will yield views and this ad rev. This was a tweet response, meant to be buried from the general public. If he writes an article in the mirror/mail then i’d agree, but at the moment tjats not the case
Zach
No but it just means next time he writes an article you’ll read it.
Why it’s called bait.
nice recovery
Ernest reed
“Facts are facts Pierre. Emery was not up to the task, plain and simple. Ozil is no longer up to the task that brought him here, plain and simple. Wenger was not up to the task nor standard that he himself set, for 10 long years, plain and simple.”
The only one that is plain and simple is you ..
“Xhaka will make a major fuck up that costs us an important game – all those who have been making excuses for him will then either deny they ever did or make excuses.“
Can you name me a player that definitely won’t make a major fuckup?
Auba missed two sitters the last game, Leno dropped a beauty vs Chelsea, Laca missed a sitter and turned over possession that we almost conceded from. Should we sell all of them? Or just Xhaka when he makes a mistake you’re begging for?
Not advocating for xhaka but the way some posters show their disdain towards him you would think xhaka is the only player that makes mistakes in football matches. CC I concur, a lot of our players, xhaka included have made mistakes costing us the necessary 3pts. If not for auba and laca, we would have won our last match and because of this I think it’s high time we start scolding our attackers just like we do our midfielders and defenders. If you observe it well, you will find out we have drawn or loss many matches due more to… Read more »
Did pedro ever enlighten us plebs on why Arteta keeps picking a striker who hasnt scored in 700+ minutes? Or what was the masterplan in playing Ozil in a physical away game? Or when would he drop a saucy plan B?
Or maybe these questions need sweeping under the carpet for the time being. Shame since these would not even requite a war chest to implement.
On xhaka, i would like him replaced as much as the next guy but you cannot seriously say that his game has not improved in the last 2 months or so. Credit where credit is due the lad has played a good hand since coming back.
This is an estimate from Arsenal Truth on player sale:
Maitland-Niles and Kolasinac could probably command a combined valuation of £33m.
Ozil won’t command a fee. Being generous, Sokratis could earn the club £4m, Mustafi – £15m, Mavropanos – £3m, Elneny (playing regularly at Besiktas) – £8m and Mkhitaryan – £8.5m (although this bid was supposedly turned down by Arsenal last month).
It would make such a huge difference is Mari and Soares work out. With saliba coming in, we would be sorted in defense with mari/saliba followed by sok/Luiz/holding and chambers, we would even be able to sell of mavropanos and mustafi for 25ish combined. Both our full back positions will be covered for 3-4 years as well. The Cedric deal could be very clever, you get backup on loan for a total of 2 million then sign for free if he looks a decent backup. a pl proven backup for both rb and lb on a free ain’t too shabby… Read more »
Nelson,
If you think about it, it ain’t too bad. Thats 35ish from players we don’t play or who are not at the club (mustafi, mav, elneny and Mikki). That should get a decent mf.
This alone puts us in a better spot that where we are right now.
Wow Pierre, and you came up with that all by yourself? I’d rather be plain and simple than to be a pathetic old goat like you. You ain’t fooling anyone with your never ending ridiculous Wenger agenda. Put on your Wenger Jammies and go to bed already, your foul odour precedes your nonsense.
Thats a bleak return, Nelson. Likely factual given the current state of affairs. Perhaps thats why they are playing regular today, to try and recoup something from pretty much nothing?
RockyRoe, Xhaka put in a serious performance against Chelsea. He’s capable, but geez he comes up with brain cramps when you least need it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlQSCx2nsxo
Needs no words:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q25Y960Z1_0
Marc Your hatred for Xhaka completely clouds over your common sense it seems. Arteta has built a system that relies on the qualities of Xhaka and Xhaka has responded by playing well. And you think Xhaka will be immediately dumped off as soon as we someone else in that position? Thats wishful thinking at best. And offloading Ozil is not going to be easy considering the massive contract he is sitting on. He is gonna want similar wages if he leaves and nobody’s gonna give it to him. So even he is probably going to stay for another year. And… Read more »