I can’t wait to actually start writing about real football news, this purgatory nonsense has had me writing in something that feels more boring than preseason for 3 months.
I clicked a link with the headline
‘MANCHESTER CITY INJURY NEW LAID BARE’
Once I landed in the link, the story was 2 lines long and basically said they have no injuries. Marvellous.
Aaron Ramsey is, shock horror, being linked with a move away from Turin after one pretty bland season away.
Who’d have guessed it? The 29-year-old Welshman might find it tough to find a club willing to pay his fat wages, but his energy would certainly be welcome in our midfield right now. You can never say never, but I do think the Welshman had some rough treatment in his last season at Arsenal, so not sure how sexy the relations will be.
In additional shocking news, it turns out that Cedric Soares might not play a single minute for Arsenal. He arrived injured, with a poor rep, and he’s injured again with some face problem, and there might not be a deal ready for him.
Quite a farcical signing in the first place. Especially after we did the same thing last season with Denis Suarez, another player wholly unsuited to the Premier League or our dysfunctional midfield. £10m in fees and whatever on two players that were straight-up shite. Hilarious if Raul signs him just to make the point that it was, you know, a well researched and clever deal.
Can’t wait to see who we line up this summer. Kurzawa? Willian? Coutinho? Anyone from this list?
One deal I would welcome from a Super Agent is the swap of Kluivert for Mikhi. I don’t quite get it, but bringing in a player with a lot of potential with a lower age profile would make sense to me. Still, I don’t understand why they’d do that?
“I got a phonecall from the captain asking for permission to do that. I spoke with the club straight away and we were very clear we wanted to support it.”
Mikel Arteta discusses #AFC‘s reaction to #BlackLivesMatter before returning to his former club #MCFC. #SkyFootballShow pic.twitter.com/214DWldhJb
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 11, 2020
Some stuff from Mikel. The Arsenal captains suggested the BLM picture opp with the players and he was pleased with the messaging. Always a bit embarrassing to see the All Lives Matter crew out in force under the imagery. The same people usually have strong theories about the Mccann’s, they are big on Bill Gates and ‘that’ vaccine he’s pursuing, and they will definitely post ‘I’ve not problem with the gays, but’ at least once this month. Social media has a lot to answer for, but at least it helped me get funding for this site from George Soros.
Arteta also says it’s going to be weird to play a game against Pep G. I tell you what would be weird… us NOT getting beat by 3 goals that are scored in the opening 20. Anything else would be welcome.
Before we go, was having some thoughts about how next season starts.
Is there a preseason? Do we have a month off again? How do transfers happen?
If this season is done by August, when are they planning the restart? Covid-19 hasn’t gone anywhere, but is there political capital in another shutdown if things flair up after global protests and rule relaxation?
It’s going to be a very weird couple of years for football.
Let me know what YOU think in the comments.
P.S. Podcasts start up again on Monday. I CAN’T WAIT FOR FOOTBALL TO RETURN xxx
First
Second
Third
Tr4phy
Have a great weekend, Le Grovers!
Shout out to DM and Boomslang as well. #theogs
Hopefully the Kluivert links are bullshit. No need to spend that much (20m+ Mikhi) in a position where we’re well stocked and has a lot of potential.
Different story if Saka doesn’t sign though.
Midfield and possibly CB if we can snatch any of our main targets like Upa. The rest can wait if we sort our strikers out.
I don’t think the Upamecano rumors are true. If they are it will be because we are letting go of Luiz with Sokratis and Mustafi. Arteta already said he wants a Left footed CB to open up play. So Mari is staying. But Imagine this Saliba, Upamecano, Mari, Holding, Chambers. We wouldn’t need another CB for three or four years if they play to form. What I am really hoping for and Realistically see possible is A CAM and CM/DM. Xhaka is staying whether we like it or not. I am questioning Arteta’s judgment on him but I wouldn’t crucify… Read more »
On today news, You’re either a racist prick. Or you’re against it. Don’t want to hear nothing about left wing this or centre antifa Scumbags in London today.
Football needs to come back for so many people.
Coining lyric from a fantastic album “Geezers need excitement, if their lives don’t provide them they stay inside violence – common sense, simple common sense”
Couldn’t be more apt.
Looking forward to seeing what team Arteta puts out, the energy teams will show. Hopefully can gain something from this season, late flourish to 4th and an FA CUP win.
Upamecano
Saliba
Partey
IN!!
Xhaka
Ozil
El Neny
Mikhi
Lacazette
Sokratis
Chambers
OUT!!
I think we could be a champions league outfit AGAIN!!
I must say I like Laliga’s virtual fans and fake crowd noise. It makes for a pleasant viewing than Bundesliga’s no atmosphere viewing. I hope the premier league is using it like Laliga.
We need a cam and mids that can score….
Even if we get grealish and docoure would really help….prem tested
“Hilarious if Raul signs him up to make a point”
If arteta accepts such a shit player, what does that say about arteta?
Guns of SF “We need a cam and mids that can score….” No we don’t, we need midfielders who can control the game , who are creative and technical, midfielders who can read the game and are positionally pefect, who can protect our defence, who can take the ball on the half turn and pass between the lines, midfielders who can anticipate danger who can close down the opposition’s passing through the channels. After we have all of that , a couple of goals would be a bonus. The midfield is there to protect the defence and support the attack,… Read more »
“Hilarious if Raul signs him up to make a point”
I heard that Arteta told Sanllehi he’d quit if we didn’t sign Soares.
Thanks Pedro. We all share your frustration. But your blog is nonetheless a highlight of everyone’s day.
I think it’s Laca for Partey and/or Auba for Jovic as the most likely options.
Mav will be sold along with Mikhi, Elneny. I think the noise around Bellerin is an agent just trying to improve a contract.
But i would take a bag of salt and vinegar crisps for Ozil and a toppled bloody statue for Xhaka!
Marc Honestly I want us to sign soares permanently. We don’t have money to Overhaul our midfield, Replace our strikers if they are leaving, Sign Mari or another CB and replace backup fullbacks. If it were up to me I would’ve also sold Kolasinac and replaced him but I will settle for A CAM, CM/DM and CB (Mari or another) considering our finances and COVID 19. Soares isn’t a poor player and is good enough to be a backup for us. He will be a better player than Kolasinac is for us and some think he is great. And I… Read more »
We could do with Ramsey’s energy’
Yeh he runs around like a headless chicken, never keeps his position, wanders back and then gets on the physios bench. All that for 400 k per week.
Not worth £4 per week.
Pierre
I know I’m an American but seriously the patronizing is too much
I now wtf mids do!
No one is saying we don’t need what you describe but Arteta already is having our mids shield the defense much more but at the expense of creating and scoring. That is a fact.
We need more than what we have… you boy ozil cannot create much anymore and no one else really can… we are goal dependent on auba.
See the big picture …. a real midfield is what we need not this shit show
‘Callum Hudson-Odoi confirms Met Police will take no further action on allegation of rape made against him after a model he met online said she was attacked at Chelsea star’s Battersea apartment’
Sid
This is for you…free of charge of course
Guns so right our mid is poor and provide no goals.
We have little and large running around and then Xhaka to add to the comedy show.
Guns,
Not that Pierre doesn’t understand football, he does. His only problem, however, is he thinks he’s the only one who understands football. Plus he talks a lot of shit and remains ultimately delusional about Ozil.
DissenterJune 13, 2020 17:53:43
Sid
This is for you…free of charge of course
Why didnt they charge her with making false allegations? Out of court settlement?
These things always catch up with you ask Cosby Weinstein, Epstein and his friend the prince.
Theres a certain ‘look’ pervs have
Im telling you for free
OMG OSPINA LMAO!
Eriksen swings in a corner and OSPINA …ahh never mind lol
I’m rooting for Inter so I could watch a good final game vs Juve.
The God father
That was a joke of a goal. He wasn’t the best goalkeeper for us. I would have liked some fake crowd noise and virtual fans like Laliga. It would make for better viewing.
Ospina with a world class save after his corner fuckup. And Mertens scores as I am writing by an ospina initiated counter attack.
Damn OSPINA redeems himself with clutch save after clutch, ever since the howler … and starts a quick restart to Insigne who sets up an equalizer.
Conte will lose his mind.
Big ups to OSPINA from bouncing back from that shocker
Napoli will have pulled off an “Italian Job” if they leave this half tied.
Wow … inter have gotta be kicking themselves
Lukaku still has the first touch of a Rhino!
Yikes!
He reminds me of Walcott … as in a guy who has under some of the best coaches and alongside some great players yet lacks consistent technical ball skills.
Ramsey is the new Bale’ alright boyo
What a miss by Alexis … Victor Moses still a beast after all these years.
At 1-1, Inter are on their way out
David Freakin Ospina again.
OMG!
How didn’t that go in?
What a bounce back performance?
And what a save on Eriksen from point blank range … wow
Ospina Channeling his inner Oliver Kahn is an amusing sight.
Graham,
From last post –
I split my time between London and Edinburgh.
I’ve never seen defense like this since Mourinho’s nine man Inter team held off BARCA in the champions league.
Never thought I could enjoy watching a defensive masterpiece
90 seconds left can they hold on
Game Over!!
King David Take a bow and an apology!
You are the man!!!
Suggestions that uncampo is done deal…
Don’t hang out the bunting yet tho.
We may play with a sweeper next season
Upamecano seems to be a done deal
Marko and Marc will be ecstatic if it’s true.
Dissenter
I’ll be pleased but I’ve never been one of those pushing for him – I always thought it was unlikely to be honest.
Tremendous news if true. Not sure how it’s possible though; Raul spent this summer’s money last summer, right? Maybe he’s spending next summer’s money this summer.
Jamie
He’s a slippery cunt…
Good on him
Leno
Mari
Tutu uncampo saliva teiernay
Party
Pepe Wilcox saka
Eddie
Looks good to me
Dissenter
Any reliable source? I haven’t seen it from reliable journalists and I don’t think the rumors are true.
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/dayot-upamecano-arsenal-transfer-gazidis-16391326
Habesha
The news is everywhere, could be a rumor but it has to be one that has legs.
Diss
Breaking on to many levels…
It’s gospel
Bit it means something has to give…
Ramsey was unsuited to our midfield before and would be unsuited now
He always needed a monster DM partner to cover his roaming and we still don’t have that
Plus he’s injury prone and very expensive
I’d still play him ahead of ozil as a 10 in a heartbeat if he was here but he’s not and isn’t worth bringing back
Ramsey to Spuds on loan!!!!! You couldn’t make it up! And I bet he would score against us, even if it was the only goal he ever scored for them!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8418331/Tottenham-Hotspur-seal-sensational-loan-deal-former-Arsenal-star-Aaron-Ramsey.html
Spids can’t afford Ramsey
Even if Juventus offer to pay 50%of his wages, Spuds will still be too broke to pay the rest.
That’s just clickbait from the DM
Actually tbf if it was a loan and the wages were bearable, Ramsey wouldn’t be the worst bit of business we could do for a year provided we are getting in a great DM/B2B to play behind him Partey-torreira and Ramsey as a midfield 3 would actually be pretty legit and would give players like willock, guen and ESR a chance to slowly build their way towards the starting 11 next season without as much pressure I’ve never been a Ramsey fan and he’s not a real n10, but like I said, on a one year loan at a manageable… Read more »
Dissenter
So what about the claims of Upamecano to Arsenal? All reports are linked to an article in Tuttosport (an Italian sports rag with a circulation halved since 2004!). Is this just ‘click bait’ as well?
But it’s really hard to look past Ramsey’s high wages, injury record and the absolute abomination of imbalance that was him in the same midfield as xhaka and ozil. That midfield was the most disgracefully imbalanced midfield I’ve ever seen at arsenal. Hooorrible balance
China
Agreed. I believe it would be another nail in the Arsenal coffin were we to sign Ramsey on loan. It would be a retrograde step. For all his highlights most would remember his abandonment of defensive duties to race forward at any given opportunity, his time on the injury list, his wage demands and his poor form for many seasons. The Spuds can have him!!!!
Aussie
The Upemecano rumors are probably clickbait too but we all are willing it to be true.
Please no Rambo nooooo
His race was run a while back.
Juve got fleeced
Oh well
‘His race was run a while back’
Racist!
Ramsay was a terrible player who has just got worse. No dice. What is it with looking back fondly of players who were never really above average? It drives me crazy. He was a pedestrian type of player who had one stellar season, the rest were at best 7/10. It’s like when we speak about Wiltshere as some amazing talent. He had one GOOD HALF in his whole career. Grow up. Back in the 90’s deals like Soares and Suarez would have been called ‘bungs’, now they are just shit deals. What’s changed? Also, I know the world has been… Read more »
Ramsey’s lack of discipline for a central midfielder was there for all to see ( except paulinho) . Wenger should take half of the blame for allowing him to play this way. In fairness to Emery, Ramsey was actually starting to play with more discipline in the 2nd half of the season before the usual unfortunate injury finished his season , and our league form crumbled from then onwards, whether that was due to the absence of Ramsey, we will never know. From what I’ve seen of Ramsey in Italy, he has played pretty decent bans has curbed his tendency… Read more »
The only way we should even think about getting Ramsey back is if it’s a straight loan swap for Ozil, no fees exchanged.
At least Ramsey isn’t completely useless 100% of the time.
That’s not likely to happen though so no thanks to that.
The majority le grovers use their employers internet
Arsenal has a reputation of supplying damaged goods’ Alexis, ramsey thats why we have a policy of goods once sold are not returnable
You heard it here 1st!
Lots of sacked motherfuckers on here.
Part of me would be intrigued to see how Ramsey would perform in a disciplined set up under Arteta, but I don’t think it is something we should look to do considering his wages and injury record.
I wouldn’t like to see him play for Spurs though and this may be naive of me but I don’t think he would go there on account of his history with us.
Upamecano rumours seem to be his agent stirring up interest in his client. In the past few seasons only really Arsenal have been heavily interested in the player. There have been some links to Barca too but not a lot . And this TW, Barca need a striker and they dont have money to buy a CB too. He probably wont go to Milan.And they probably dont have the money too.Also would be a step down from Leipzig. PSG and Madrid could be realistic options for him but there arent any links. Maybe thats why the agent is drumming up… Read more »
Chris Dont think Rambo fits in the current Arteta setup He doesn’t have the passing range to perform the Xhaka role , he doesn’t have the press release ability and discipline to perform the Ceballos/ Torreira role. And under Emery it was made abundantly clear ( if people didn’t know before) that he is NOT a 10. To properly accomodate Ramsey and bring his best goal grabbing self out we’ll need to change the system to a 4-3-3 similar to Pep’s with tweaks for Ramsey to get in goalscorer positions. I thought it might happen under Sarri , but due… Read more »
Wasi
100% click bait
If you read the article linked it is obvious it’s just an old article republished..
Linking Spurs, who we know are brassic, and then suggesting Guendozi talked to him last week when on duty with the French under 21s sort of gives it away.
People are only going to keep beating themselves up if they keep believing that much is going to be spent in the next window.
The clue is that still Arsenal are the only club that convinced their ( majority of ) players to take a contracted pay cut
Tanguay Kuoassa wont sign with PSG according to multiple reports.
These are the players we need to go all out for. Upa is very unrealistic for us right not but a potentially
Elite CB for free. Id be all in.
Thankfully according to some , we are in the race for him.
Terra
Those guys at Football. london really make sum fun stuff up.
I mean if you are with the France under 23s and pose in photos with other players , ofc you are talking to them. 🤦
Nicolas Pepe is WhoScored highest-rated Arsenal player via @Onefootball. Read it here:
https://1.ftb.al/XGX2BQCXi7
But aint he a flop signed by Sanllehi to line his and his friends’s pockets?
Take a deep breath and repeat after me:
Arsenal are not going to spend big this TW
OM!
None of the wastrels are going to be sold
OM!
Stan will not spend any of his wealth on Arsenal
OM!
Arsenal will make do with the current players for another year
OM!
There, I bet that feels better!
Wasi Pepe is ready to take the premier league by a storm. As I said previously, his dribbling ability is 2nd to none and Arteta needs to play him on the right side of a 4-3-3 to get the best out of him. He needs to be in the opposition final 3rd to inflict maximum damage. As much as I like the 4-2-3-1 system it doesn’t suit our 2 wide players , Aubameyang and Pepe as they are of no use having to expend energy tracking back 30/40 yards throughout the fame game. The 4-3-3 allows the 3 front players… Read more »
Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry and flamini
Returns to arsenal were signs of Wengers desperation, confusion, deterioration
its too early for our new manager to go down that path.
With Xhakalson and Ozil in the team 433 is not an option
Wasi
It’s worth looking at how the points awarded break down between home and away.
He’s 83 on a way form.
Sid
“With Xhakalson and Ozil in the team 433 is not an option”
I’m not in disagreement with that , it’s better to play a system that suits the players instead of shoehorning players into a system that is unsuitable for them.
Pierre I agree about the Pepe bit but its not true that the current system is not good for our 2 wide players. Its actually designed for Auba to thrive but it in turn limits Pepe’s abilities. At Lille he would constantly take up places in the gap between the midfield and defense lines and thats where he did a lot of damage. In our current system Arteta uses him to stretch the game so that Auba can get in goalscoring positions as Saka/LB takes stretches the pitch on the other side. I also think Saka is not suited to… Read more »
Terra
Thats good isnt it.
We finally have a player who can make the difference in Away games.
To be noted that the Wenger’s decline coincided with us becoming a very lightweight teams on our away days.
Look and learn , I’m talking to the bright one’s on Le Grove who dismiss Pepe’s skills, goals and assists in the French league.
If Pepe receives the protection from the referees his skills deserve , then he will destroy any defence , and I mean any defence.
His dribbling skills are so good that only slow motion replays give you a true reflection of how he left a player for dead …
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D_DbbCUMc0Tg&ved=2ahUKEwj32uiW74DqAhWPilwKHbgAChsQwqsBMAF6BAgFEAg&usg=AOvVaw1YbUIIZwH3H8Vbf_3OdjRf&cshid=1592122807246
Wasi Will respectfully disagree , Aubameyang to his credit, spends too much time tracking back in a 4-2-3-1 as does Pepe. Aubamayang has adapted well but a 32 year old should not be tracking up and down the line…he is a goalscoring machine as is Pepe in the right system and the should play where they will inflict maximum damage. We will see on Saka if he is allowed the chance in a central role . I see no reason why he can’t play an advanced midfield role in the Debruyne style. He is more than capable of sliding those… Read more »
Pierre Sure our attackers are doing a lot of defensive work. And unfortunately they will have to do it unless we get our Midfield and Defense sorted. We currently dont have the legs in midfield and the intelligence in defense to let our attackers slack off a little bit in their defensive duties. Saka has yes learnt the defensive discipline , is technically superb but its clear his mindset and playing style is a winger’s when on the ball. Debruyne dictates the tempo of the game , he can speed up and slow down the game , break opposition lines… Read more »
And if he doesn’t* get a chance we will automatically have our answer.
If it were up to me I would ditch the N10 role. If we have to good dependable N 8s then we can free up our forwards. 4 3 3 is the best modern football formation right now. Liverpool, Mancity, Barcelona, PSG, Real Madrid all have had success using it. Pepe and Auba/Saka/ Martinelli will also have a lot more freedom to inflict damage. It will also allow Tierney and Bellerin more room to attack. Our Midfield isn’t creating a lot as it is, So why not switch everything to wing play. Saka has had phenomenal success from creating width.
two good dependable
Pierre You are correct that our forwards should be focussing on their primary job which is to attack and score goals. Arsenal’s performance level this season has been underwhelming reflected by scoring only 40 goals so far in EPL. However, the reason for this has been the complete inadequacy of both our defence and midfield all season I have highlighted on many occasions that our midfield has been poor in providing assists and also scoring goals. Compare our performance even with last season and it is obvious that the quality in this department is substandard. Ozil is no longer the… Read more »
” Ramsay was a terrible player who has just got worse. No dice. What is it with looking back fondly of players who were never really above average? It drives me crazy. He was a pedestrian type of player who had one stellar season, the rest were at best 7/10. It’s like when we speak about Wiltshere as some amazing talent. He had one GOOD HALF “” LOL.. So he was a terrible player who was 7/10 And Wilshere had one good half.. Anyone who didn’t rate Wilshere doesn’t really know too much about football.. He was quality and was… Read more »
Stroller
Our midfield has under preformed, that’s for sure.
Putting Saka in a midfield 3 could give us the creativity we are missing , Tierney has very good delivery from left back and Pepe is potentially a creative force .
It all depends if Arteta is prepared to take a few more risks than before the lockdown.
Good morning Pedro and good morning Grovers. Very impressed with your conspiracy knowledge Pedro, especially the Bill Gates vaccine, ID2020 for anyone interested, in what will be a vaccine + digital Identification, track and trace system that contains lipid nanoparticles RNA that can reprogram your DNA and you can be updated remotely/wirelessly like a computer with the latest antivirus update without any further injection. It also leaves an invisible ink Luciferase bio luminescent quantum dot tattoo that can also be scanned remotely to see how up to date you are with your vaccines. Who wouldn’t want this and what could… Read more »
I love these tabloid footballing rumors.
99.9%of them are cooked up in the ‘journalists’ toilet while he’s taking a leak but at least they create a diversion form the madness engulfing the world right now.
There’s talk that we want £20 million for AMN to use for extending Auba’s contract.
How daft is that but at least it makes one guffaw.
G Let’s look at two players: Wilshere and Diaby. Both injury prone but the difference is, Diaby was class. Period. He’s the true tragedy as he seemed like a genuine guy who was broken. Wilshere came across as a cunt and didn’t have half the talent Diaby had. Don’t base what Xavi said about Wilshere on anything. Players are put on the spot after a game and say all kinds of shit. If Wilshere was so amazing, why didn’t anyone else fancy him? Perhaps they could have solved his injury problems but the fact remains, he’s at West Ham and… Read more »
Pierre
I think everyone knows that pepe can be one of the best players next season. Be it a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3. We just need the correct personnel for the places to really compete.
Pepe has awesome potential even if he’s not exploded yet. Arteta needs to help him to play more aggressively. We know he can sit up his man then put him on his backside with his superior technique but he just takes a bit too long doing it I want to see him doing exactly what he’s doing now but 20% quicker to maintain the advantage and not allow opposition defenses to fall back and organize in behind the man he’s rinsing It always seems like he has a lot of work to do because by the time he screws his… Read more »
If we got £20m for AMN…I will personally pull down all the slave trader statues across the globe.
He’s a pub player.
Next time you see Pepe, he’ll be 16 stone and a woman. £72m for a fat tranny.
We may as well get the orbit sized Mikki back for nothing.
Pierre
Sure, Pepe might be the most exciting dribbler but what about his calves though?
Was that ten or twelve nutmegs in that clip lol.
It never gets old watching defenders wondering what the hell just happened while the ball goes through their legs.
Guns you can’t say wilshere didn’t have the talent of diaby. Both were beast talents in the youth Wilshere wasn’t only a beast in that Barca game, he was amazing throughout all his teenage years before he permanently became jack wheelchair But you’re right that he had a far worse attitude than diaby. Wilshere always came across as your typical cocky English ‘jack the lad’ when he would’ve benefited greatly from being as focused and switched on as someone like cesc. He also wasn’t very bright as he never tried to evolve his game to compensate for his glass ankles,… Read more »
Un
The players you mentioned bar Bergkamp were routinely tapped up every season, during the season and after it. Are you kidding me?
I don’t care about semantics, Wilshere wasn’t very good.
As for Paul Scholes. He’s ginger and has therefore zero influence on anything except ginger things.
China
You won’t convince me that Wilshere, bar a couple of minutes, was anything other than crap. I saw him as a 17 year old and thought “hello” but…meh.