An expensive ‘no’

by .

So it would appear that the unanimous pay cut we thought the players and execs had taken didn’t come to fruition. There were 3 players that decided they wanted to sit it out. I actually speculated in the first draft of my post yesterday who that would be but I decided to take it out because it was unfairly speculative and maybe a touch inflammatory (soft, I know).

Two hours later, John Cross ran with the story that it was in fact Mesut Ozil.

Does it matter?

Yes it does. Anyone who thinks it’s not important doesn’t understand human dynamics and what goes into creating a unified culture in an organization that is striving for high-performance. Imagine how you’d feel if the highest-paid person in your company passed on a pay cut everyone else agreed to? It’d be scandalous. Imagine managing a group of young footballers and having to normalise that sort of behavior? It’d be tough. It’d feel like an assault on your authority, even though it’s more of an indictment on the individual.

The German is our most expensive player. He’s one of the most influential players in the world. He turned his back on the club and his team mates. One of our 5 captains didn’t want to put club before personal profit.

‘He pays taxes’ > so do the other 21 players.

‘He does things for charity’ > as do most players.

It’s not cool. It sends a terrible message to the younger players and it’ll leave a bad taste in the mouths of fans who have likely had financial hardship forced upon them.

Fans are waiting for his side of the story. It’s clear what that will be. He’s in the last year of his deal, in his early thirties, and his star has faded badly. The whole world knows Arsenal has been trying to move him on for 2 years. He was poorly treated by Unai Emery. He has very little reason to be loyal to leadership at Arsenal. However, I did hope he might take the moral high-ground on this one. Foolish, I know.

There are 2 other players that also refused. Interesting that the leaker of this story didn’t expose them. Seems like the dark arts of Arsenal PR were at play here, no doubt praying this pressures Mikel to stop loving on him so badly, and maybe spark fan pressure for him to go. I suspect the other two are likely players who have deals that would normally be expiring right about now.

I also think it’s a bit disappointing to read so many fans side with the players in this situation. Weird to saddle-up with millionaire footballers as you watch players all around Europe and in America volunteer much bigger chunks of their pay-cheques. So-called fans waiting to see if this is a huge profit scam haven’t been paying attention to 1) how much we lost last season 2) what happens to companies that suddenly lose the ability to operate.

Still, we can’t focus on the players not willing to do their bit for the club or moan about dim fans. The exec team landed a voluntary sacrifice from the players, they themselves gave up 33%, and the management team also did their bit. We shouldn’t let anyone dampen the initial positivity here. 21 players did their bit, that’s a huge chunk of commitment from a squad of players in disarray only 5 months ago. Where do you think we’d be with Emery running the negotiation? He’d still be explaining it.

The bigger worry for Arsenal fans is whether Bukayo Saka signs a new deal. His £7k a week deal is looking pretty shoddy right now. I don’t mind losing big-name players this summer, it really doesn’t bother me who goes, but I’d be desperately upset to lose a teenager of his pedigree. That’s an essential signing.

The Arsenal Thomas Partey links seemed fanciful to begin with, now Spanish press are reporting that Atleti are going to double his salary to £130k a week to fend off our interest. I guess that’d be us out the mixer. Still, I like that we’re being linked with a player like him, he’s exactly the sort of athlete we need in our midfield. Anyone coming from the University of Don Simeone is going to fit with the system Arteta wants to play. Let’s hope Cagigao has something a little more creative up his sleeve.

Right, short post today, see you in the comments. x

 

 

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Ishola70

Not at all Pierre.

Read.

If a big club with financial clout really wanted Ozil at the time of his signing the new deal he wouldn’t be at Arsenal right now.

UTarse

Well surprise surprise, Ozil is a disgraceful cunt and it descends into a wenger apologists fanfare defending the indefensible.

The minority who do that don’t support Arsenal, they support wenger. You sad fuckers.

Tom

Every transfer window there’s dozens of clickbait stories of players being linked with various clubs except there were none in Ozil’s case apparently.
Even the biggest clickbait merchants didn’t think spreading Ozil rumors would’ve been believable enough to worth the effort.

Pierre

Ishola
“If a big club with financial clout really wanted Ozil at the time of his signing the new deal he wouldn’t be at Arsenal right now.”

Which brings me back to the original question.

Why did Gazidis offer Ozil such a lucrative contract if a big club was not showing any interest in him.

It doesn’t make sense for a businessman like Kronke to sign away 50/60 million on Ozil when he could have kept him for half that amount.

Pierre

Tom
“Even the biggest clickbait merchants didn’t think spreading Ozil rumors would’ve been believable enough to worth the effort.”

And yet we offered him 350 grand a week..

Ishola70

Sid

“Cant believe a few days ago ozil was among 2 other described as “having their fortunes turned”|

I suppose Xhaka was among the three mentioned.

It’s called hope. Fans hope they have “turned a corner”

Plenty of others though see through players like Ozil and Xhaka.

Ultimately they lack the real character.

Ozil doesn’t hide his lack of strong character. It’s absence is there for all to see. Xhaka on the other hand can kid on he has a strong character but as said there are enough that see he ultimately lacks in this regard along with Ozil.

andy1886

Spot on Tom, I recall that the word at the time was that the club couldn’t countenance losing its two ‘star’ players in one hit and had to suck up Ozil’s demands or look like a bunch of mugs which would have caused massive problems with both supporters, and perhaps more importantly commercial partners.

By no possible account could that contract be justified by his performances as he had been poor for a long time prior to that deal.

Tom

And yet we offered him 350 grand a week..

The price of not being labeled a ………..sinking ship?
You know the whole rats and sinking ship analogy don’t you.

andy1886

Oh, and Pierre Ozil could afford to walk away from a lesser deal because he would have been away on a free with a massive signing on fee the following summer and still take a lower weekly wage at a new club.

Ishola70

Pierre

Because Arsenal wanted to show the world they could keep a “star player” for once even if in reality that “star player” wasn’t wanted by the big hitters.

And we all know he isn’t a “star player” any more and hasn’t been for several seasons.

It’s called PR.

Pierre

Andy
“By no possible account could that contract be justified by his performances as he had been poor for a long time prior to that deal”

Actually you are wrong , as shown by this article here …https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/5351679/arsenal-mesut-ozil-best-creator-west-ham-dimitri-payet/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwjF17qw8fnoAhVRXRUIHV_kDG8QFjABegQIDRAH&usg=AOvVaw3x9Bf-RGXr1yio3LloQvb6&ampcf=1

Pierre

Ishola
“Because Arsenal wanted to show the world they could keep a “star player” for once even if in reality that “star player” wasn’t wanted by the big hitters.”

So you are saying that Arsenal football club were willing to pay an extra 30 million pound in wages to Ozil to show the world they could keep a star player …https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D4pQcn2L65J0&ved=2ahUKEwi68Pix8vnoAhVTaRUIHdQ_DmMQwqsBMAJ6BAgEEA4&usg=AOvVaw3-rEQeqZR9_vTOlfjODprn

Marc

andy

At the time of Gazidis giving Ozil his new contract he was also negotiating the new shirt deal with Adidas, we’d just lost Sanchez and Gazidis panicked fearing losing interest.

I’m not even sure how well Ozil’s agent played it, it could have been another Ridsdale / Seth Johnson moment.

Ishola70

Pierre The big clubs with the financial clout were right in their decision in not being interested in signing Ozil at that time weren’t they. And that you think a big club would have been interested in signing such a peripheral player sums up your blindness regarding him as a player doesn’t it. Pride was the downfall for Arsenal in the Ozil new contract deal as is the case on many occasions. (As others have said not wanting to look like they were losing name players in short time) Misplaced pride. And a grave error ensued with the deal offered… Read more »

NEEG

As well as what most of you have said there was also internal politics involved.

Arsenal needed to keep face and the face of Arsenal at the time was ?????

Sanchez had already stated the lack of ambition at the club and no way would he stay. The manager and CEO were not working together. One ruled the roost and the other wanted that position. Ozil’s agent probably had the easiest contract negotiation ever. The club agreed to all demands.

Uwot?

Wel well,well no surprise that shirker ozil is reusing to take a cut.Then again why would he? Only a year left to milk the fat cow that is Arsenal for all it’s worth.A club & fanbase he couldn’t give a f** k about.Chamcesvare might do us all a favour & f** k off to Turkey this summer.Heres hoping.The rumour that the other two( of the three stooges) are Hacker & musthaveafuckup should be of little surprise either bearing in mind their chequered history with the club.A great opportunity if you ask me to Bin all three ASAP for whatever it… Read more »

CG

Pierre “”””For Arsenal ( Gazidis and Raul) to offer Ozil such a lucrative contract if there was no outside interest in him was either the height of stupidity or there was interest in him from other clubs .””””” I would say it was more ego and grandstanding from Raul’s part. (or should I say Don Raul.) He wanted to show he was a deal-maker in front of Gazidas regardless of the consequences. We have seen since then- Raul loves these big showy deals. It always impresses the masses. Eg. Pepe for £72 000 000 Tierney for £30 000 000 Luiz… Read more »

Valentin

Dissenter, There is a difference between hiring a mid level executive and hiring a high level executive. Gardening leave does not exist for mid level executive, they do their notice period, in some case negotiate a smaller notice period, but that’s it. Technically during gardening leave, the new manager is not supposed to be in contact, but that’s rarely the case. Once there was a 2 months gap between my previous boss leaving and my new boss arrival. I had to deputise during that period and there was no way I was going to make a decision that would get… Read more »

Andy1886

Pierre, using the Sun to support your case really is scraping the bottom of the barrel. They zero credibility as I’m afraid do your attempts to justify Ozil’s bloated contract.

Ishola70

Arteta’s refusal to sell Xhaka in the winter looks a poorer decision by the minute doesn’t it. If Arteta thought that by backing Xhaka he could get some change out of him and see Xhaka returning in kind the support he has shown to him well it has backfired hasn’t it. Arteta called on everyone of those players to show unity in taking the pay cut along with himself taking the cut. Well Xhaka has just put up two fingers to Arteta along with Ozil and Mustafi. We did warn folks on here that the decision not to get rid… Read more »

NEEG

CG

and black is white

WengerEagle

Ozil is an absolute disgrace to the shirt.

Genuinely will throw a celebration the day he finally fucks off from the club ala Wenger.

That contract is the second most unforgivable offence that the club has made short of extending Wenger’s for those latter years when it was clear he’d lost his marbles.

Pierre

Andy
“Pierre, using the Sun to support your case really is scraping the bottom of the barrel. They zero credibility as I’m afraid do your attempts to justify Ozil’s bloated contract.”

I’ve never tried to justify the contract , I have always thought that it was the most incompetent piece of business one could wish to see.

Take your pick of whichever you like as evidence that Ozil was one of the most creative players in europe at that time.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.dreamteamfc.com/c/news-gossip/372787/mesut-ozil-is-the-third-most-creative-player-in-europe-this-season/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwi40ZKl_fnoAhUmUBUIHZzlCVcQFjACegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw12IMVbHTwgOAtO-SAxEQB9&ampcf=1

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://turkish-football.com/arsenals-mesut-ozil-ranked-europes-third-most-creative-player-behind-ex-west-ham-star/&ved=2ahUKEwjPpprP_fnoAhUITRUIHWcCDLY4ChAWMAB6BAgHEAE&usg=AOvVaw2X89K_k7iyUns3UktGEK4R

Hitman

Had enough of the greed of the football industry for number of years now. We have left that EU & clutches of ECJ. Public has had enough so Govt needs to act with its own employment laws. Salary Cap , age salary caps, easier to terminate contracts /reduce salary when not playing or performing, less compensation for sacked manager- whatever. We cant carry on with this gravy train. I dont care if it makes Prem ” less attractive’. Half the players in Prem are overrated and defo overpaid. Scandalous waste of money. They can f right o and go play… Read more »

Santan

“Pepe for £72 000 000
Tierney for £30 000 000
Luiz for £7 000 000”

Ozil for £40 000 000
Mustafi for £35 000 000
Xhaka for £35 000 000

Stop playing the same game CG, it’s getting boring.

Pierre

Ishola
“And that you think a big club would have been interested in signing such a peripheral player sums up your blindness regarding him as a player doesn’t it.”

Of course, as you know I never said that ……I said, why would we offer Ozil a 350 grand a week contract if there was no interest in him from elsewhere.

It doesn’t make sense , and if it doesn’t make sense then it’s not right .

Incompetence from Gazidis and Raul of the highest level .

azed

“Why did Gazidis offer Ozil such a lucrative contract if a big club was not showing any interest in him.”

It would have been bad for the image of the club to loose both Sanchez and Ozil in the same year and not get anything tangible in return.

Santan
Luteo Guenreira

An Ozil debate on LeGrove. Makes me nostalgic for the normal times.

andy1886

Pierre, ignoring the PR argument I see as it doesn’t suit your narrative. Ozil had the club over a barrel and shafted us, something he has continued to do during recent pay cut negotiations. Nice to see our great creative genius is being surpassed at his supposed ‘strength’ by an eighteen year old playing out of position as a left back.

Santan

According to Premierleague.com

Minutes
Ozil: 1,448
Saka: 1,174

Ozil: 1 big chance created | 836 passes | 88.28% pass completion | 176 passes forward | 217 backward | 2 Through balls | 72 crosses | 22 dispossessed
Saka: 5 big chances created | 506 passes | 81.62 Pass completion | 183 passes forward | 135 backward | 5 Through balls | 47 crosses | 13 dispossessed

G

“” You really need to get your head round Wenger and his pampering and the
cost he lumbered the club with.””
Yeah forget the trophies I’m sure that’s how he will be remembered..
Think 99% of Genuine Arsenal supporters would read his book

TheLegendaryDB10

Well I got my knickers in a twist two days ago over nothing.

Unbelievable but not surprising. The greediness of Ozil has been fully exposed. I can’t wait for him to be out of the door, regardless of how a misunderstood genius he is.

Very dissappointing and a complete shambles that this whole deal has fallen apart thanks to Mesut Ozil.

Terraloon

Now the suggestions are that it’s possibly more than 3 that have refused to agree to reduction.
In the article that suggests to this problem it also says this:

“ While a verbal agreement has been reached with the vast majority of players, making the wage reductions legally binding will involve a process that will almost inevitably involve agents and lawyers, a scenario which could yet throw a spanner in the works.“

Dissenter

Terraloon
““ While a verbal agreement has been reached with the vast majority of players, making the wage reductions legally binding will involve a process that will almost inevitably involve agents and lawyers, a scenario which could yet throw a spanner in the works.“”

You’ve come with this patronizing style. Thanks for letting us know that lawyers and agents are involved.
Did you really think the club was just talking to mere players? You make it sound so complicated. How do you think Juventus and Barca were able to get wage reductions from the likes of Ronaldo and Messi, respectively?

Pierre

Sounds about right.

“Ozil wants assurances over how the money will be used and believes it was a mistake not to consult with lawyers over the request. The German is willing to take a pay cut and ESPN say he’s ready to give more than his team-mates, who gave up 12.5% of their salary.”

Dissenter

Anyone who thinks the club was just talking to the players without the inclusion of their ageins [as well as layers] is clowning around.
Anything money related does through the agents who have retainers with attorneys.
Pierre,
Do you really believe that Ozil is the only one who did his due diligence by consulting with an attorney?

Jamie

“ESPN says”.. must be kosher then. Tabloids never print bullshit to get clicks from muppets, I promise.

Terraloon

Dissenter. Stop being a total prat. The bit you quote aren’t my words they are copied from a National Daily. Personally I would have been staggered if legal representatives hadn’t been involved but the article infers that contracts etc haven’t been agreed just a deal in principle. That said I thought the press release from the club was a bit strange but hey. As for it being complicated I think it’s far more complex than you clearly think for one every player will have to have a new contract agreed and implemented there would be around loyalty bonuses and of… Read more »

Dissenter

Terraloon
I expect someone as sophisticated minded and nuanced as you to realize that no player will commit to anything without their agents being involved.
I’m a medical professional, not an elite sports player… even I would never sign any contract nor commit to any deal without my employment attorney involved.
There’s no way Arsenal will try to clinch a deal without attorneys doing their bullshite i.e talking to each other and billing for it.
You made is seem like Arsenal just corralled this players into some room and arm-twisted them to get a deal. It doesn’t work that way.

Terraloon

Dissenter.. Football is a dirty business . The point here is that the players were put under intense pressure and whilst I would agree that normally players would not agree to anything without agents, lawyers etc in attendance. It’s pretty clear that players at PL clubs have been singled out by the media and who knows perhaps in their haste or maybe desperation to get agreement the press release by Arsenal certainly has upped the ante and pressure on the likes of Ozil who seems to be far from convinced The fact that the Arsenal statement clearly suggested that all… Read more »

Nelson

There were bad blood between Ozil and the board for quite sometime during the Emery days. Everybody can see that the board tried every possible tricks to push Ozil out but was unsuccessful. I am not surprised with Ozil’s action.

Dissenter

Teraloon No body outed Ozil. His agent gave a public interview last month stating that a wage deferral is the only option his client will accept. The agent pretty much spilled the beans. You’re obviously struggling with how contracts work, if you understood you wouldn’t imply that Arsenal or any club can arm-twist a player without the direct involvement of the agent who in turn has access to the player’s union and very good attorneys. The player’s attorneys will have to approve the conditions of the wage reduction deal. It’s not some deal written on theback of a bubble gum… Read more »

Valentin

Dissenter, Of course Arsenal tried to bypass the agents. It metaphorically put them in a public shame room to try to force them to agree to a deal. I don’t have a problem with that! How would Arteta convince the players to part away from their salary if it was not by calling them personally and trying to influence them without their agents. Where Arsenal messed things up was in the execution of the plan. If Arsenal had been competent, they would have publicly announce a proper scheme to keep staff in full employment and stated that the Kroenke were… Read more »

Dissenter

Valentin Arsenal approached the players through Arteta….>the players notify thier agend[whi have access to good attorneys——-> players representatives [agents] talk with Arsenal executives That’s how deals are done. There’s no agreement until the agents give the go ahead. Arsenal didn’t mess up a damn thing. There’s a reason why no other club has done it; it’s difficult and messy. That they got this far is a tribute to Raul and the back room people. Hate on them as much as you like. They could have just folded and accepted a deferral but they chose to do the harder task. -Public… Read more »

Luteo Guenreira

A medical professional eh? LG could always use a surgeon that specializes in removing feet from mouths.

Godspeed during these trying times. Don’t get polio, heard that’s been going around lately.

Moray

The cynic in new is telling me that Ozil is looking to move into Turkish politics once he retires from Football (cue jokes about him already having retired). Hence he would prefer to funnel his charitable donations into channels that are more “visible” and media-friendly (orphanages and such like). Taking a haircut to benefit the non playing staff of the club he has largely disappointed over the last few years would therefore not be in his interest. Let’s see how it plays out over time. If it’s Xhaka and Mustafa too then Arteta has made terrible errors of judgement on… Read more »

Pierre

Jamie carragher having a dig at Ozil. Piers Morgan having a dig at Ozil. Le Grove (amongst others) having a dig at Ozil. Fools……it’s always better to wait until the facts come out before mouthing off like Carragher and Morgan. Ozil is smarter than the lot of you , so be prepared to eat humble pie when the truth comes out. Let’s see if will take a pay cut but only on his terms , and let’s see if he will sacrifice more than any other employee at the club. I look forward to seeing how this unfolds as it… Read more »

Terraloon

Dissenter. First off huge apologies for not acknowledging your profession and please accept my best wishes and thanks to you alongside all your work colleagues. Far from struggling with how contracts work sorry that’s not how it is. The statement In the PL , just like most leagues the players contracts are standardised. Of course they are tailored to fit the individual player but the clubs and the players use Premier League form 16. Of course certain other bits and pieces are contained in separate agreements often though through gentleman’s agreements or part of the original transfer agreement such as… Read more »

Spanishdave

Morning Some good articles in the Telegraph today. One reporter said if we had 24/7 rolling news during the last war we would all be still sitting in bunkers. People then got bombed got killed but still dusted themselves down and got on with life. The incessant scaremongering by the media is very damaging and the economy is not going to recover fast enough to secure jobs. Football clubs seem to employ a lot of staff and with local business feeding off them they will probably not return. It will take longer to recover from this the longer the government… Read more »

þorkell einarsson

Özil is a peculiar brand of a person, if this is true, he both gives and takes
probably the same amount. I was hoping he would steer away from making
this kind of headlines after the birth of his child !!? Arsenal would do well in future if they avoid signing such defective personalities .

Sid

Whether the other 2 are Auba and Laca or Xhakalson and mustafinovs it just shows lack of ze mental strength/balls in the whole team, would you imagine someone defying viera? Someone going against Messi?
Meanwhile at Arsenal we have Bellerin, WTF Bellerin?
Then theres the saucy one, his inexperience at management is coming out.

Im telling you this for free!

Terraloon

Sid

It would appear that one of the players who have said no is a player out on loan

It’s worth reminding that all players out on loan are paid through the parents clubs payroll.

CG

Sid “”””Meanwhile at Arsenal we have Bellerin, WTF Bellerin?”””” Great observation. And I think its Bellerin is doing the continued leaking to the press. Someone is clearly trying to do damage to Ozils reputation. (It happened too frequently under Wengers last season too.) MA better get to grips with who is doing this other wise he will find he will have an almighty problem with team morale going forward. I feel he has becomea very corrosive character our Hector. Probably best a new start for him is required. Not sure that there will be too many serious clubs that will… Read more »

Bob N16

I have to say cancelling the season and going by UEFA coefficients sounds like by far the best solution to me. CL here we come!

Bob N16

CG and Sid mutual masturbation over the slagging of an Arsenal player, who would have guessed!

Freddie Ljungberg

“Someone is clearly trying to do damage to Ozils reputation.”

Clearly. His first name is Mesut and he’s been doing it for years.

“He joins Holding, Mav ,Chambers , Laca
Xhaks and indeed Ozil who have regressed alarmingly since AW left.”

Ozil was already a shadow of his former self in Wengers last season.
None of the others have shown much to regress from. Average players the lot of them except Laca who is decent but has never been top class for us.

Delusional as always. Take your medicine fool.

CG

Morning Bob

You know I am not a fan of Hector .
He has lost his way.
He has certainly lost his pace.

Crikey Tom Moore is quicker on the overlap these days than Hector.

Remember that goal against Bayern Munich in the CL -his 94th minute amazing lungbusting overlap to make it Arsenal 2 Bayern Munich 0.
( OZIL and Giroud scored)

He was just focused on his soccer those days.

But then maybe we had a proper manager then to guide and nurture him?

Jamie

“Remember that goal against Bayern Munich in the CL -his 94th minute amazing lungbusting overlap to make it Arsenal 2 Bayern Munich 0.

( OZIL and Giroud scored)

He was just focused on his soccer those days.

But then maybe we had a proper manager then to guide and nurture him?”

What was the score on the return leg a couple weeks later, moron?

Wenger, the ‘proper manager’ presided over another humiliation:

Bayern 5 Arsenal 1.

Keep it up.

CG

Jamie I know you and Freddie can’t do nuanced. And you both seem very embittered with our Wenger. Did he not give you any fleeting moments of enjoyment in the last decade? But I was alluding to the fact. That Hector was a far superior player ( like the others I mentioned) when Wenger was in charge than he is now. We know Wenger often had his ‘ Bayern troubles ‘-but he wont be the first manger to have done so. Eg. Spurs let in 7 this season at home Chelsea 3 at home….to them And they both have progressive… Read more »

UTarse

Freddie mate, I wouldn’t waste your time…. terry wogan used to say “never argue with an idiot because someone looking on won’t know which one the idiot is”

Pierre

Jamie
“What was the score on the return leg a couple weeks later, moron?
Wenger, the ‘proper manager’ presided over another humiliation:
Bayern 5 Arsenal 1.
Keep it up. ”

To say it was a return leg is actually wrong as they were group games and not 2 legged affairs.

Does that make you the moron , possibly.

Of course, Arsenal qualified from their group which is what they set out to do, mainly due to the excellent 2-0 victory over a top quality Bayern side.

Jamie

“We know Wenger often had his ‘ Bayern troubles ‘-but he wont be the first manger to have done so.”

List one manager in world football (other than Wenger) to have lost 15-3 on aggregate over 3 consecutive games vs Bayern.

Just one. Tick tock truth hurts.

Freddie Ljungberg

UTarse Think it’s pretty obvious in this case so I’m not too worried about the optics… I know it’s pointless and he has his head crammed so far up Wengers ass he’s immune to reality but sometimes his bullshit just can’t stand unopposed. Same with Pierre, totally delusional, former Arsenal fan that has devolved into hero worshipping of has beens that are or has been detrimental to the team. It was bad enough to defend Ozil when he was just stinking the pitch up for years and stealing a living, holding the club back and celebrate how smart he is… Read more »

Jamie

Pierre –

I’m the moron who, at half your [alleged] age, corrects your grammar. Now you know where you should and should not apply an apostrophe. You’re welcome.

Sit this one out.

Aussie Gooner

Just finish the season now!

Liverpool win nothing but more admiration from the press.
Arsenal qualify for the CL on ‘coefficients’
Spuds play EL.

What better outcome in these difficult times.

Bob N16

Pierre, ‘return leg’ is surely the reciprocal fixture between two teams who are playing home and away. If you insist on only using it when it is a two legged tie then you are missing the nuance of the term and you are just come across as pedantic.

It does fit in with your dogmatic point of view though, so maybe it reaffirms your Legrove image!

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

If we did qualify like that it would be arsenal ish to go to win the damn thing.

andy1886

“Of course, Arsenal qualified from their group which is what they set out to do, mainly due to the excellent 2-0 victory over a top quality Bayern side.” True enough, on head to head record after our genius manager masterminded an away loss to the mighty Dinamo Zagreb, a home loss to Olympiacos (who we pipped to qualification) and the aforementioned Bayern thrashing. All to no avail of course as we crashed out as was traditional in the round of 16 to Barca (5-1, loss home and away). Of course Barca weren’t a their best as they lost in the… Read more »

James wood

Ozil.
If you belittle your boss in a high profile job.
You Should be sacked.?
If you down tools and not perform to anything like
the level that is expected in your workplace
YouShould be sacked.
If you feign injury and attend a function in Germany
You should be fined.
If you are a disruption to the squad
and a bad influence .
You should have a warning.
Ozil has been guilty of all of these.
Why is it players are hardly ever bought to book
for breach of contract.?

HillWood

It is being reported that Ozil is willing to take a bigger pay cut than the the 12.5%
He just wants it done properly and not done on the back of a fag packet
If that’s the case it sounds fair enough to me

Sid

I have nothing against Bellerin as a player, he might have been playing with an injury hence his dip in form but Bellerin as a leader? Thats mediocrity,
how do you motivate others if on the field you cant provide anything to change a game?

The only place Bellerin should be a leader is in a hippie colony

Im telling you this for free!

James wood

Hill -wood 10.29
“ Not on the back of a fag packet “?
Come on.
They have been in negotiations for two weeks.
Probably waiting for the Kroenke monies that never arrived.?
Sad state of affairs when other clubs have gone the right way about it.

Pierre

Andy. “Am I correct in recalling that Wenger is the only manager to have lost in the final of both the CL, CWC and UEFA Cup?” To lose in a European final , you first have to qualify from the respective league or win a cup comp , you then have to qualify from the respective groups of the said European competition, you then have to get through the knockout stages of the competition and then finally, after going through this process you would require a number of things to go your way in the final to win the competition.… Read more »

Terraloon

Bob If, and it’s a big if, the Co- Efficient is used to project who would qualify for next seasons CL/EL it’s unlikely to include the 2019/20 uncompleted season. Simple reason is that clubs like Wolves and ,although highly unlikely, Chelsea could still leapfrog others who at this point are higher up the standings My guess is that they would have to include the 2014/5 as it’s the last of the completed season in the 5 year cycle . That actually changes things because the top4 clubs in order are City 106 Arsenal101 Liverpool 91 Chelsea87 Utd and Spurs (joint)78… Read more »

HillWood

James Wood
Neither of us are in a position to know the details
Hence why I said “if that’s the case”

James wood

Hill wood 11.07
Well we do know that Ozil and two others
Refused to accept the 12.5%.
If that’s the case.🥴

CG

Woody “””Sad state of affairs when other clubs have gone the right way about it.”””” Well what do you expect from our Dopes? They gave us Emery after Wenger, remember. And that worked out well! The whole wage 12.5 % wage cut has been typical modern day Arsenal fiasco. a.k.a -A complete and utter PR cock up! All to save a lousy £460 000 a week!!! We will end up paying more in attorney fees to sort out the contract amendments and not forgetting the constant negative publicity the club is suffering from it. According to Forbes. Stan is worth… Read more »

Dissenter

James Wood
‘ Sad state of affairs when other clubs have gone the right way about it’

What are you referring to
No other premier league club has announced wage reductions amongst their players. Many clubs can’t even broach the subject because the PFA has won the PR war.

Marc

“It is being reported that Ozil is willing to take a bigger pay cut than the the 12.5% He just wants it done properly and not done on the back of a fag packet If that’s the case it sounds fair enough to me” Sounds more like “oh it’s been leaked and I’m getting bad press – I didn’t think that would happen er need to make it look like I’m the good guy after all”. Ozil is the highest paid player at the club and one of the most experienced – if he is so concerned why isn’t he… Read more »

Dissenter

CG
‘ All to save a lousy £460 000 a week!!!’

You’re really struggling with this.
£460k weekly is a lot of money. It works out to £1.84 million monthly and £23.9 million yearly.
You mean £23.9 million isn’t enough money for you?

Dissenter

Marc
‘ Ozil is the highest paid player at the club and one of the most experienced – if he is so concerned why isn’t he taking a leadership role like Messi has at Barca?’

They want us to believe that Ozil’s contract is more complicated that Messi’s or Ronaldo’s?

Terraloon

Dissenter

Morning

Arsenal are the only club that have announced wage reductions ( it doesn’t mean that they haven’t happened elsewhere it’s just that they haven’t been announced.)
Chelsea for instance are reported to have agreed a £10 million reduction in overall squad wages to come into effect between end of April and start of next season. No ifs and buts , no reduction in bonus or even requirement to pay back. Very easy to implement and minor changes to existing contracts .
Two other clubs have agreed deferral WHU and Saints with Watford supposedly close to agreement

Dissenter

If this pandemic happened in 2012 when Ozil was still in Madrid
Assuming the marquee player like Ronaldo or the captain Sergio Roberto took pay cuts.
Would Ozil demur to go along?
He’s been overly indulged at Arsenal. He’s always thought he’s too good for us and we are just lucky to have him round.

CG

Dis

“”””””You mean £23.9 million isn’t enough money for you?”””

Off course its a lot of money to normal folk but not to KSE .

KSE , a remind you turned who turned down £2 billion from Usmanov.
That’s an illustration of their wealth.

Who can afford to turn down £ 2 billion?

Now fans are getting worked up over Ozil’s £42, 500 not going into the club!

Stan is 70 years of age- Corona is the air- does he know he cant take the money with him

Spend it don’t hoard it Stan!

Marc

Dissenter

I’ve never understood how people can be so weak minded, insecure, impressionable or just plain mad to get caught up in cults and the like.

That’s precisely what we’re dealing with in CG and Pierre. Pierre is usually a rational sensible poster until Wenger or Ozil come up, he even seemed to have a bit of a break from it but has fallen back into old habits. CG is just plain bonkers and a racist cunt.

Dissenter

Terraloon Top of the morning to you too You ought to know that if there was a wage reduction deal agreed at any club. It would have to be announced. No ands, ifs and buts – they have to inform the public, same way the clubs put out a financial statement every year. Arsenal blazed the trail here and it’s obvious it’s messy because all they can use if moral suasion. All it will take is a few players to hold back. I wonder why a player on loan who has no sense of belongment will even agree to anything.… Read more »

Marc

CG

I know it’s difficult for you but Arsenal as a business (and a football club) is a separate entity to Kroenke or his other businesses – he just happens to own Arsenal.

Just to show how fucked up you tiny little mind is you keep referring to Kroenke turning down £2 billion from Usmanov a little while ago whilst at the same time saying the club is now tacitly up for sale even quoting a Wenger led consortium to tie in with the release of his autobiography.

If Usmanov was that interested why isn’t he buying the club now?

Marc

Any PL club that has done a deal to reduce player wages would announce it – it’s good PR for them especially if other clubs are publically known to have done it – to be seen as a club that hasn’t would draw unwanted attention.

Dissenter

CG So you think because Kroenke is a billionaire. He should just fill every budgetary shortfall for every enterprise he owns? On the contrary, he won’t get involved until the local leadership of the club show they have the cojones to make the necessary changes. Kroenke’s role is not to create a false sense of security. Let me give you an historical example; The war weary, reluctant American President [FDR] was fully sold on Churchill’s determination to do whatever it took to win the war after he authorized the utter destruction of the French naval fleet at Mers-el-Kébir After that… Read more »

CG

Dis

“”””So you think because Kroenke is a billionaire. He should just fill every budgetary shortfall for every enterprise he owns?”””””

Yes.

Unless he wants his enterprises to go bust!
Its called – welcome to the real world Stan!

Maybe if he was not so greedy in the first place, he would have taken the £2 billion Usmanov offered.
But he wanted more and more ….no point you lot blaming Ozil now!

(I am not hearing Usmanovs Everton having these problems we are facing)

But he will find, with no Wenger at Arsenal, the club ain’t worth that anymore.

Jamie

“I am not hearing Usmanovs Everton having these problems we are facing”

That’s because you’re willfully ignorant of the facts.

Everton posted a £107m loss in the year ending 2019. That’s before any talk of abandoning this season.

https://evertonfc-static-files.s3.amazonaws.com/evertonfc/document/2020/01/14/61e926a5-926c-4b09-af3a-465e89452f53/CLUB-0650-2019-Report-and-Accounts_FINAL-low-res.pdf

Pierre

Marc ” Pierre is usually a rational sensible poster until Wenger or Ozil come up, ” Are you implying that a fan is irrational if he prefers to see the positives in Ozil and Wenger, who have both won many trophies for the club he supports whilst providing superb entertainment , but is rational if he continually criticises and disrespect them to the point of obsessiveness.. The obsessives have a lot to answer for in my opinion, they have, to use your phrase, made Arsenal football club a laughing stock with their entitled behaviour, and look where it has got… Read more »

Jamie

Pierre and CG completely infatuated with an old man and his £130m pet project Ozil like a couple of lonely creeps. Everyone knows it was the fans who lost to Bayern 15-3 over 3 consecutive matches, not their dear old lover. The obsession is real, folks. If either Pierre or CG had any balls, they’d challenge Pedro’s repeated insistence on the necessity of binning Wenger. But because they’re both sycophantic cowards, they’ll never address him directly for fear of being publicly admonished. Really brave. Sacking Wenger got us Arteta, an up-and-coming head coach with new ideas. Admit you’d take Wenger… Read more »

James wood

Dissenter 11.24.
Southampton
West Ham
Watford .
Have agreed the 12.5%
Well that.s what I read.?

CG

Jamie

“”””Admit you’d take Wenger back and get rid of Arteta in an instant.””””

No…. but
I would just like them to be working in tandem.

Arteta and enthusiasm + Wenger and experience= Winning Formula.

Think we could sack Round, Raul,Kia and Edu off too. ( which would save the £460 000 a week everyone is getting their knickers in a twist )

keep it simple, its only soccer.

Jamie

“No…. but
I would just like them to be working in tandem.”

Right, you’d demote Arteta to make room for Wenger at the top. Does Wenger get to keep his £10m golden parachute for dropping us into 6th in your fantasy? Of course he does.

Tom

CG is like that small kid from a broken family asking his mom why his daddy can’t come back to live with them, while the stepdad goes to live with daddy’s new wife.
It’s kinda cute but mostly sad.

NEEG

CG

Wenger had the opportunity to have Arteta as his assistant. Pep had obviously seen Arteta’s potential and so did Poch at Spurs. It was only after Spurs made an approach that the dithering Wenger tried to keep him in some capacity at AFC but not for the first time he was too late.