via @t0wey (instagram)
Well, well, well… I didn’t see it coming, but it is the German’s that have plunged themselves back into football first. Angela Merkel has pushed her footballing will onto clubs and ensured that we’ll be seeing some games this month. This, despite Macron poking his nose in and lobbying for them to cancel like Ligue 1 did (shame bells).
This is very exciting. It’ll put pressure on English, Spanish and Italian clubs to follow suit. Is it the correct decision? Only time will tell, but at least the Premier League has an excuse now.
‘The German’s made us do it’
Rapha H’s piece in The Athletic focused on how they’re dividing up the fixtures. There are a number of proposals under consideration, but one of the more radical ideas is the rework the fixtures based on geography, playing the local games first, then as the impact is played out, the distance can widen.
I like that approach, mainly because if we did it in England, we’d avoid facing Pep G on our return game. It wouldn’t be easy, our first batch of games would be Watford, Spurs, and Brighton… but it’d be better than a fresh Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta and Ian Wright had a fun chat for Adidas.
Love this @m8arteta and @IanWright0 video. Part where Mikel explains his visceral reaction to players that need to be sold on Arsenal is gold.
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) May 5, 2020
Key takeaways. Ian Wright loves Arteta.
Additionally, it would appear that Arteta loves Kieran Tierney. There was quite the section dedicated to how impressed he was with the wee Scottish lads’ attitude and application. I think a lot of Arsenal fans are wondering what the future of the left looks like. We have so many sexy options. Martinelli, Tierney and Saka is a problem that any manager would like to have. That piece about Saka being a top 30 winger, versus a top 3 left back weighs heavy… the left side equivalent of Lampard/Gerrard. It’ll be very interesting to see how that’s solved.
It was also interesting to hear Arteta talk about being ready to get the season underway for the country. That sort of tone indicates to me that he’s keen to get the season underway and I would assume that the players are feeling the same way as well. Not all of them. Getting Ozil up for an away game is tough in the best of circumstances, can’t imagine he’ll be putting his hand up anytime soon for a corona derby.
There are some loose rumours about us trying to sign up Angelo Stiller. If you remember him, you are a better man than I… but here he is forcing Mesut into a tackle.
The Bundesliga website reckons he plays a little like peak Nuri Sahin.
A deep-lying play-maker just as willing to create as convert chances with a wand of a left foot? Stiller has more than a little in common with Nuri Sahin, the Borussia Dortmund legend who remains the Bundesliga’s youngest ever debutant aged 16 years, 11 months and one day and now struts his stuff for Werder Bremen.
If there is one difference, it’s that Stiller is just as able to burst forward and attack as he is to sit deep and dictate play. Sahin spent two seasons away from Dortmund at Real Madrid and Liverpool between 2011 and 2013. Injuries aside, he was also used in more advanced positions than he was comfortable with. Stiller gives his side options, being equally happy playing as a No.6 or No.8.
I like that we’re looking to bring in midfield talent and this sort of move reeks of Project Youth, Reboot Edition. I really hope that as we shift out expensive deadwood, the transfer strategy refocuses on elite kids that we can grow. The situation we’re in at the moment demands it.
On the coaching front, Santi Cazorla opened the door to a return to the backroom team.
“I don’t know what my legacy is. You have to ask the fans, but I want to thank everyone. I don’t know what I will do next, maybe a coach, maybe a sports director, but I would like to come back”
Makes sense from a feelings perspective, but I don’t know much about him as a potential coach. One to watch. Interesting to note that Pep is leaning into Alonso as a candidate to be his number two.
Cesc Fabregas also has it all to be a coach. Ruthless, intelligent and product of La Masia. It’ll be very interesting to see how many players from that elite batch of Spanish players take up the management tools. Or maybe he’ll move into biology if his latest book choice is anything to go by. He’s reading Robert Sapolsky, Behave. If you like that sort of read, can I highly recommend Some Assembly Required, Neil Shubin. It’s a certified mindblower that fills in some of the gaps Darwin missed out in his classic tome (it’s not a creationist book).
Back to the football.
Mikhi and Roma might be a permanent deal. The clubs have agreed that a 10m euro fee feels right. The Premier League has not been good to the Armenian. I’m shocked we’ve managed to land anything for him. That’s a chunk of change off the wage bill we could do with. Put the spare cash into Saka. Plenty more work to be done this summer, but at least some of the pieces are moving.
I was going to touch on the Premier League doctors asking 600 questions of the league, but it feels kind of pointless now. If Germany cracks football, the Premier League will have to. Watch this space.
Right, see you in the comments. x
1st!
2nd
3rd
Tro4phy
Smokin! Somebody stop me!
Mikhi moving for 10m gives us hope someone will take Mustafinovs for 1m and xhakalson 3.5m
You heard it here 1st!
If we are going for a 19 yr old bundesliga CM Szobslai would be the better option, and someone with Nuri Sahin attributes would better stay away from the EPL
Im telling you this for free!
Guv “”Rapha H’s piece in The Athletic focused on how they’re dividing up the fixtures. There are a number of proposals under consideration, but one of the more radical ideas is the rework the fixtures based on geography, playing the local games first, then as the impact is played out, the distance can widen.”””” Them Germans. Resourceful lot. Got to hand it to them. Reminds me of the great German golfer Bernhardt Langer when asked about how and why – he won so many tournaments all over the world ( and still does) answered : “””YOU FIND A WAY!””” More… Read more »
Sid
Sorry to stop the party!
Most players who leave us want to come back.
That’s a nice vibe.
Typical
The Germans rushing in…
When we see that before
Pedro As always thanks for keeping up the site – it’s some much needed relief at the moment. Some of the names we’re being linked to seem to show an interesting slant to what the aim is – it’s long term and it does make me feel confident that there is some sort of plan to what we want to achieve. The Bundesliga idea on sorting the fixtures certainly seems at face value to be a good one – it means you can isolate in a single hotel whilst playing out a handful of matches before moving on to the… Read more »
RSPC
Poland mostly!
First job for job for Santi if he returns is to teach Pepe how to use both feet.
And Pedro, thanks for keeping the blog not only going but interesting.
Loved watching the video with Arteta and Wrighty. If anybody is not convinced by Arteta’s intelligence and ability to communicate then they are a lost cause.
Every time I hear Arteta speak, I’m impressed.
Bob
I agree
I was partly sceptical on his appointment. However early signs have been impressive
One can only assume that he knows what he wants as a team for next season.
Any players giving him kip I expect would be batters out the ground.
As much as everyone is showing appreciation for laca
I think he will be gone, yes he does the bizz occasionally bu5 is far two inconsistent ipso facto.
Does concern me that xhara is going to stay.
Can someone share a link regarding the Saka piece. I remember the podcast but would lile to read the thread.
Thank you
RSPCA, agree about Xhaka. Would much prefer if he was sold but particularly given the present circumstances, Arteta and AFC have to be pragmatic. I’m prepared to accept that we can’t make all the changes to the squad we might like. Just hope that we see the back of at least 5/6 of the higher earning, limited players. If we do get rid of 6 players then if Xhaka is still with us, I’d give Arteta the benefit of the doubt.
Bob
We could have sold Xhaka in Jan for £22 odd million – my one major gripe with what Arteta’s done so far.
It was good money for a really poor player.
Not sure Arteta should be blamed for not making a decision on Xhaka two weeks after he’d arrived but I’d be ridiculously happy if we could sell him for £22m now!
Everyone was told at end of last season that Arsenal were in financial difficulty and that the club had a maximum transfer budget of £46 Million. Yet the club surprised us by spending around £130 Million. Some might argue that there were no real fireworks apart from perhaps Martinelli it should not be forgotten that apart from Luiz most of the players we recruited last summer came from secondary leagues and probably needed to adapt to physicality and pace of EPL. I don’t think that Arsenal will spend as much this summer, but I do think that we will recruit… Read more »
Marc
“We could have sold Xhaka in Jan for £22 odd million – my one major gripe with what Arteta’s done so far.”
With 3 years remaining and Xhaka at his peak, it was definitely worth keeping him then loosing money. Besides, we should be aiming for around 40 million pounds for him.
Overmars
“we should be aiming for around 40 million pounds for him.”
Wishful thinking
what we are hearing in the states is that a lot of the high salaried MLB players are going to sit out….what we will see are ‘scabs’ from triple AAA being elevated to field a team….
I see Dave goes to the same websites as Marc for his words of disparagement against those who disagree with him.
I read that ESPN has signed deal with Korean baseball to start showing live sports again immediately. I am going to try and track down a stream tonight, needs must, I am desperate for live sport. And in a few weeks can also watch German football, which is better than nothing we got now. Scientist need to figure out how this virus is transmitted, some doctors think it extremely unlikely athletes can transfer it to one another while outside and minimal contact, while other scientists want us to stay in lockdown until vacine created, which could be a year from… Read more »
It seems Stan will need to tighten the belt in the coming months, his personal wealth only increasing by $323 million since the beginning of the year. Now we know why the players were asked to take a 12% cut in the pay.
IF that report is true about Kroenke then its says it all doesn’t it
A businessman and nothing else.
Dangote, come in sir. Make a bid for this businessman.
I wonder if Bundesliga opening up has anything to do with the excellent response to Covid by Germany?
Realistically, its easier to open up again then the containment is much better than other places.
“I wonder if Bundesliga opening up has anything to do with the excellent response to Covid by Germany?”
Do you really need to wonder?
“Realistically, its easier to open up again then the containment is much better than other places.”
That’s some good insight!
We should’ve just taken the money and run regarding xhaka
At least Arteta makes him look less bad, but it will be pretty much a miracle worked if Arteta manages to sell him for more than was already offered, especially in this new climate of cutbacks
I’ll be shocked if he isn’t still the first name on the team sheet next season for some reason, though we can live in hope
Xhaka at his peak is still a very average player. Some of the figures being stated on here are clearly ludicrous in the current market. Latest word is that there is a problem with Mhiki’s salary in any transfer to Roma.
It will be interesting to see how the players react to on field situations like tackling, scuffles, running past each other, picking the ball up for throw ins, even helping each other get up off the ground.
Will the psychological aspects of the past two months affect the way the game is played.
In my opinion, it will.
It remains to be seen.
Worryingly, the death rates have increased again over the past few days in Germany.
Pedro
Forgot to mention.
Thanks for keeping things going during these difficult times. To be honest I don’t know how you do it.
🍺🍺👏👏👍👍
Looks like Stan has done alright out of the COVID-19 crisis!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8294587/Arsenal-owner-Stan-Kroenke-sees-wealth-rise-323million-amid-coronavirus-crisis.html
Swings and roundabouts regarding transfers.
What we lose on selling we will gain on buying.
We are all in the same boat .
Pierre We know the principle in housing that in a recession you sell property badly and buy well. So the principle when it comes to football transfers should be precisely the same. No-one expects Arsenal to make wholesale changes to our squad this summer, but we should focus on bringing in at least two quality players and also offload deadwood. The most obvious candidates for departure should be: Elneny Mkhitaryan Sokratis 1 additional CB Maitland-Niles Torreira Lacazette I would use Lacazette as a part exchange for Partey if at all possible and then aim to buy Upamecano if rumours prove… Read more »
Personally
I would avoid upcamepno
Once a player has injury issues it’s hard to just stop.
I think we will confirm Mari and sign a left sided mid fielder.
Art has said he wants a balance so if we do sign another ca it will be one of the lesser known ones linked
“Key takeaways. Ian Wright loves Arteta.”
That’s his job.
His business card reads “Professional Arsenal Boot-Licker for Hire.”
Alex
You’ve crossed the line there lad…
Not acceptable .
If you were at one time the greatest goal scorer for a club then chances are you would love the club..
ES, your ‘most obvious’ list should also include Xhaka, Ozil and Kolasinac (if Soares signs)
1 additional CB could/should be Mustafi as well as another CB Holding/ Mavropanos ; that’s assuming we get Upamecano and Mari is signed.
Lots of work to be done.
Alex, not sure Wrighty was licking Emery’s boots.
I would hardly expect him to not love Arteta though, I’ve got the beginnings of a man crush if a I’m honest!
Emirates if we bought partey and upe in the summer I will be fucking celebrating even if we sell several players including laca even auba on the way I don’t want to lose auba but if he isn’t committed and we can’t afford to him our his wage demands then I suggest we just be ruthless. As much as Martinelli and Nketiah are not ready made replacements the situation is what it is and if we got partey instead of xhaka and saliba and upe at CB I would totally be ok with the net outcome I doubt it’s going… Read more »
Did anyone here watch Wrighty’s Interview with Laca and Auba? That as pure gold.
Bob N16 Rome is not built in a day. Ozil is not remotely saleable. My instinct tells me that Ozil has already done a deal in Turkey to move once his contract ends next season. No Turkish club is willing or able to pay a transfer fee. Kolasinac will be in my list providing that Saka stays. Soares is a Right Back. Mustafi would be in my list, but I am not sure that Arteta takes the same view. There was some evidence that he was being elevated in selection process in recent months and his performance was improved. The… Read more »
China 1 Realistically there are only two clubs in Europe who I think Aubameyang wants to move to and they are Real Madrid and Barcelona. I am doubtful that either club are willing to meet Arsenal’s valuation or wages currently being demanded for 31 year old. Aubameyang is realistically a short term solution for any club who wants to buy him. Manchester United who are looking for a striker are unlikely to buy him based on their experience with Sanchez who is costing them £400 K pw. Arsenal will be also reluctant to sell him to any club in England.… Read more »
But Emirates if we don’t sell auba I doubt we’re buying upe
One serious player like partey would be big for us this summer, but partey and upe without losi auba I’m skeptical
Memo to ES and Co. there will be no outgoings nor ingoings! the last thing any club needs now are MORE players on their books.( Especially our overpaid dross) Clubs need LESS players. In the seasons ahead the transfer of players will be akin to Japanese negative interest rates. The’buying’ club will receive some cash from the selling club. e.g we pay Celtic £ 3 million for them to have him back so we don’t have his obscene wages to pay, whilst he is constantly sitting in the infirmary. Folk have to wise up and stop this daydreaming. Just be… Read more »
I think people thinking we’re going to sign a new CB are going to be disappointed. We’ve got Saliba coming in and I think the Mari deal will be made permanent – that could give us Saliba, Mari, Holding and Luiz as first choice and enable us to offload Sok and Mustafi. Chambers is injured so will remain with the club and I really don’t know what we’ll do with Mav. If we can get Auba to sign an extension on the same or similar to his current salary I’d do it – replacing an almost guaranteed 20 plus PL… Read more »
“ingoings”
ER. “Everyone was told at end of last season that Arsenal were in financial difficulty and that the club had a maximum transfer budget of £46 Million.” The Press, it seems, picked that estimate from the narrative published by AST at the time of the 2018/19 accounts where, a guesstimate was published in terms of what the finances would look like going into the 2019/20 season. The ironic thing was the AST didn’t actually say about a budget it talked about surplus cash. Here’s what they actually said Cash balances There is a general misconception that Arsenal are debt free… Read more »
China 1 The latest statement by Leipzig Football Director is that if Upamecano who is in final year of contract does not sign new one he will be sold and the indication is that the price could be reduced from £50 Million to £35 Million. I think that there are clear signals coming out from all round Europe that transfer fees and wages will drop. Despite all the doom and gloom about Arsenal’s financial situation and prospects I think that we are better placed than most this summer, because there is still some liquidity in our balance sheet. What is… Read more »
Marc
You have to wonder why people keep bitching about us getting Upemecano when we don’t have suitable midfielders.we have Saliba, Chambers, Mari, Luiz, Pap Sok and Mustafi on contract.
We do not need Mari, more so when we have bigger concerns to address in other key positions.
Terraloon I don’t disagree with analysis. If you read earlier posts I suggested that Arsenal might cover most of transfer fees of both Upamecano and Partey with sales. Let’s be brutal the key as Pierre suggested earlier today is to sell our dross for whatever price they fetch and then buy the two players I listed. I am pretty sure that you can generate at least £50-60 million from sale of Mkhitaryan, Elneny,Sokratis, Torreira, Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Kolasinac and Mavropanos. Since we are not going to qualify for Champions League or possibly Europa Cup next season I would focus as Leicester… Read more »
Well explained as always Terraloon Arsene Wengers masterly management and husbandry for two decades totally butchered by Raul and Co. To think we paid £ 30 million for Saliba 12 months ago ( could not play him this season – which was sheer incompetence from Raul when you are paying this amount of money for a teenager) who is now probably worth a 1/5 of that fee. How Josh has not demanded an audit for every transaction taken place whilst he has been at the club is a staggering indictment of the KSE’s lackadaisical regime. the club in many ways… Read more »
Terraloon
You’re lurching around again.
I recall that you and Emirates stroller famously stated that Arsenal just has a cash flow problem.
It turns out that we are the most at risk club financially, if clubs are made to extend playing behind closed doors into next season. This is a real possibility that until a vaccine shows up, fans may not be let back into stadiums.
Dissenter
I agree 100% on midfield lacking what we need, I disagree on Mari though – I think Arteta sees him as a required player – it’s some of the existing CB’s we have who are surplus to requirements.
Not sure how when we’re asking players to take a pay cut we can go out and spend money in the transfer market. And who in that market is going to pay money for the likes of Mustafi? I honestly think that we’ll maybe do the odd swap deal, sign free transfers or but a couple of youngsters for very modest amounts. For sure we need to shift some defenders if we can. Because of their wages any fee is likely to be minimal. And if we really can move Mhiki on just getting his wages off the books will… Read more »
I don’t have an opinion on Mari because at the end of the day he hasn’t kicked a ball competitively for us and I didn’t watch him in Brazil
He’s cheap which is good but I’ve nothing else to say about him. Not sure that anyone needs to have a strong opinion on a guy they’ve basically never seen play lol
China
But Arteta does know him because he was on the books at City – this is why I think he wasn’t a stop gap signing.
andy
I’m not sure the wage reduction will stick once football returns. If the season is played out Sky and BT will cough up the TV money and if whilst matches are played behind closed doors all matches are screened they should be able to make up some of the lost match day income – some are putting figures out there that would mean clubs would earn even more.
At the moment there’s just so many questions without many answers. I’m resisting going Rumsfeld!
China
You don’t need to have an opinion about Mari.
The owners that be. Arteta and the scouts like him enough … it’s obvious we are keeping him.
Honestly
I‘love sell Auba [to avoid losing him for free] to use to proceeds to fund a move for Partey
It’s becoming obvious that the Partey stories have some life in them.
I’ll rather be Auba-less and Partey-rich.
Dissenter
What if we can keep Auba and have a Partey because we use Laca in a swap deal?
Andy ‘ Not sure how when we’re asking players to take a pay cut we can go out and spend money in the transfer market’ Not so sure about that In American sports the top players routinely offer wage decreases to allow thier organization more wriggle room to bring in other top athletes to help their teams win championships. They do it to free up a cap space since they have caps on wages etc. If the payers want Arsenal to be competitive, then there’s nothing wrong with the club still spending on top transfers so long as they respect… Read more »
Marc
Auba wants out, I’m sure deep down you know that. He’s leaving this summer unless we ant to lose him for free…and he won’t be that eager on the last year of his contract.
I do get your point about Laca. I doubt that will happen because Atletico have too many strikers already. They still have to,-any £48.5 million to make Morata’s transfer permanent this summer. That’s why I think the Laca for Partey deal is dead in the water.
Marc that trade is a best case scenario but I’d be very surprised. It’s a very illogical trade for atletico and they wouldn’t be getting anything close to value out of the trade, even if they did like laca previously
Laca plus 10-15m or something maybe, but a straight swap would be very odd for them to approve imo
I suspect that the ill fated Morata deal is why Atletico have to sell Partey.
But if we are keeping mari he’s cheap as chips and most of us trust that Arteta has mostly good judgment overall. So if Arteta likes him and he’s that cheap I’m not sure why anyone would be strongly against it
If he was 20+m or something sure, but he will cost pocket change and as long as he’s good enough to be our 4th choice CB he’d actually be very decent value for the price tag.
What’s not to like?
Sell both Auba and Laca and bring in Soumare and Edouard for the same or slightly less money. Sets us up nicely for the future up front with a 22 year old and 19 year old Martinelli being eased in. Might take a hit in the short term though but I’ll take that. Give Ozil a nice pair of cement boots and sell off Xhaka/Torreira and Sok +Mustafi to get a new CAM, plenty out there that would improve us. Fekir/Szobozlai and Thiago Almada that’s been recently linked (Can play In the middle too) the latter 2 are available for… Read more »
Is anyone really interested in Elneny?
He wasn’t pulling up trees in the Turkish lig?
He and Welbeck are some of the stupidest transfers we’ve made in recent years.
China
“”””What’s not to like?”””””
His footballing CV?
His palpable lack of pace?
His lack of aggression?
Him playing in Brazil even though he is Spanish. (Only rejects make that journey)
His lack of top flight experience?
And the fact that we have a plethora of center backs and we are short elsewhere and funds are non -existent?
But he does have a lovely left foot. ( basically he has all Xhaka attributes but in a different position)
We did not need him pre- Corona – we certainly don’t need him peak or post Corona!
Freddie
We have to be careful with the youth thing though.
We are fading very fast into oblivion, gone from no CL to now no European football. You have people telling Partey he’s going to screw up his career by moving to Arsenal. That’s how low we’ve fallen.
Just buying up ‘youthful’ talent is to going to help us in the short term. We need tested pros like Partey to drive us back to relevance VERY QUICKLY, some way Fernandes is carrying United on his back.
Whatever we have to do, we have to do it very quickly.
“” Arsenal will be also reluctant to sell him to any club in England.””
Er I don’t think so they will accept the best offer then its up to Suba
China
Sorry mate I didn’t mean a straight swap I did mean player plus cash when talking about Laca – Partey.
I suspect the transfer is market all but dead – except to a select few. Many of the valuations posters are suggesting are simply pre-Virus levels, minus a few percentage points. Football is not isolated from economic reality and we are entering the biggest global recession in 300 years. Transfers will only operate when there is a willing buyer or seller. ES was correct in an earlier post to reference the housing market. Try selling your house today ! The vast majority of clubs simkplyk do not have spare money. My view is most deals will be swaps, with players… Read more »
Dissenter I have no doubt that Auba was looking for one last big deal and very likely a move to either Madrid / Barca. The question now is will they be looking to add players on big wages especially one that’s 31. ManU could be an option and would pay good wages but we might find Corona has worked in our favour on this one with us being able to offer something solid and London over Manchester. It could of course push him towards the idea that the way to get the “big” offer is to leave on a free.… Read more »
At the end of the day laca is in his peak but has been on a pretty dismal run of form all season. His attitude has also been negative with a lot of throwing his arms and stropping every 5 mins after every consecutive bad touch or pass. His wages are high. He isn’t likely to get any better. He never was really elite. I don’t think he’s turned into a bad player over night – he has some very good aspects to his game and his ability to make a yard of space in the box when crowded out… Read more »
People who push the “go with the youth” strategy need to remember what happened when Wenger tried it. It almost worked but the missing piece were a couple of solid experienced heads to help guide the younger players.
We’ve got some very exciting young players coming through at the moment, let’s get the balance right this time.
Oh Marc just saw your comment
Yeah player plus cash might be an actual thing
I do suspect partey isn’t interested tho despite the comments from his dad. He’s at a better team than us already and very much established. He could hang on a bit longer and likely go to a better PL team in a year or two.
If he really does want to come to us I’ll be over the moon but honestly a bit surprised
Dissenter
I have to correct you I said that Arsenal unlike most other clubs in EPL DO
NOT have a Cash Flow/Liquidity Problem.
This is in direct contrast with Liverpool who have spent annually almost everything that they earn and were for a long time ranked almost bottom of the League Table in cash reserves.
China
There are strong rumours that Laca has had some issues in his personal life – a change might be seen as a good move to kick start his career again.
China
Well we need someone to sell the club, life in London and the project under Arteta to him.
Piss easy!
Marc you might be right on that front
I might be totally wrong on this but wasn’t he caught cheating on his wife/gf and his form went off a cliff after?
Tbh he was never really elite tho. He was a giroud level player. Very talented and one of the really good players in his position but not a player you can expect to drag you through every game when you aren’t playing well akin to an rvp, auba etc
Haha but is London better than Madrid, CL football, competing for actual big trophies etc?
Might be a harder sell than you think!
I fucking hope so. If we do zero other business all summer I will be happy if we have partey in the first team and xhaka our of it
Atletico have one too many strikers. They are not coming for Lacazette
They got Morata from Chelsea last season and still have to pay £48.5 million to make it final.
Lacazette to AM ain’t happening.
My priorities are:
– quality CM in (partey ideal but open minded about who)
– xhaka out of starting 11 if not sold
– don’t sell Martinelli or Saka
– don’t sell torreira unless we’re also selling xhaka
Anything else like shipping out ozil, buying a CB or whatever is a bonus for me because I really think we’re not doing much this summer
Dissenter. Arsenal do have cash flow issues and I have always suspected more than others simply because so much of its gross income ( some 24%) depends on gate receipts. The problems get worse in terms of match day income because a chunk will probably have to be repaid by Arsenal in respect of home PL games that won’t be played this season up it doesn’t end there because another chunk will have to be paid back in respect of the missed cup games. Add to that the likelihood that games will be played behind closed doors for at least… Read more »
“In American sports the top players routinely offer wage decreases to allow their organization more wriggle room to bring in other top athletes to help their teams win championships.”
How do you think you would sell that idea to Ozil?
Can’t see it happening, look how slow most other PL players have been to take even a deferral let alone a pay cut!
Emirates You’re wrong on Liverpool and also wrong on Arsenal’s cash situation. Liverpool have players that they can easily move out to resolve any ‘cash flow’ issues, we don’t have that many options on that front. Unlike us they chose to use footballing assets as fallback for the rainy day. Arsenal depend on gate taking/match day revenue more than any other club in England. We are the most at risk for playing behind closed doors. The analysis is that is the league is forced to start next season behind closed doors, Arsenal will be forced to depend a 50 million… Read more »
Yeah ozil is going to laugh in the face of anyone suggesting a pay cut
Mans needs dat 350k!!!
Teraloon
It’s more serious than just ‘cash flow problems’
Cash flow suggest a temporary phase of disruption. I’m telling you that it’s more dire than that depending on how this coved-19 situation pans out.
You say they can move on players to resolve cash flow problems but are psg, barca or Madrid going to pay 100m for salah and co in this market?
Even if they are willing to blow a chunk on one player, there are plenty of players not at Liverpool who could be picked instead – like if Madrid spend big on one player it would realistically be Pogba as first choice
This isn’t a sellers market for big price players
Had to laugh.Not only do Roma want miki for peanuts but want us to pay wages too.You couldn’t make it up.A total piss take.😂along with Besiktas who want Elneny On LOAN again.These c** ts clearly have no intention of paying for anything.actually want a loan EVERY season.lol!No wonder we can’t offload any deadwood.we could & should be able to get Partey & Upamencano for “ reasonable fees”.The opportunity is there.Stan the tight b’stard could solve it in a second.By all accounts has just made an extra £350 million since Xmas.& got AFC to take a 12.5% wage reduction.Another piss taker….
Dissenter
Cash Flow and Liquidity relates to spending power based on bank balances.
No-one argues that Liverpool has better players who can realise higher transfer fees in normal circumstances, but that is not necessarily the case today. For the record according to Swiss Ramble Liverpool’s payroll is significantly higher than that of Arsenal.
I repeat also that two or three years ago Liverpool had one of the smallest bank balances in EPL.
Dissenter
“Arsenal depend on gate taking/match day revenue more than any other club in England. We are the most at risk for playing behind closed doors.”
Why aren’t the Spud’s in the same boat as us? Possibly one with even more holes?
Uwot
You do realise that just because Kroenke has become $350 million wealthier since the start of the year that doesn’t mean he has that cash in the bank?
From recollection Liverpool’s wage bill [inclusive I assume of Bonuses] totalled
approximately £330 million in last financial year.
Arsenal’s wages in last financial year was approximately £220 million. I suspect it will be less this year.
Terraloon The club will owe ST holders 6 matches – 2 cup credits and 4 PL matches and the cup credits were due before the Corona situation happened. My guess is that the club will offer incentives to ST holders to not take the cash but to take a discount on future ST’s, now that might have to be over and above the actual amount owed – say 7 or 8 tickets but that will not hurt current cash flow but future revenue. It won’t be easy but there is a way out of this. If matches are played behind… Read more »