If you came here this morning expecting a pat on the head for sitting on your arse for three months, here it is.
Well done you.
Now let’s crash into the MONSTROSITY that is Arsenal FC.
Firstly, the FA released the agent fee data and certain sections of the fanbase seem to be very pleased the number is only £13m. This comment from Terraloon might help you work through your joy and temper it with a little bit of caution.
You can not determine from the list of payments made in that period how much the club have agreed to pay out in respect of transfers in.The schedule only records the money paid out directly to the club by intermediaries over a set period. It doesn’t tell us what those payments were in respect of or indeed when those transactions actually happened.
The second attachment does tell us what transactions happened but again we don’t know over what time period the agents will receive their fees
Agents get paid for all sorts of things such as arranging contract extensions , facilitating loans out , transfers out and yes transfers in.
Often clubs agree to bear the costs of an agent acting on behalf of a player but when they do those sums don’t appear on the list they are paid in effect via payroll and treated as a benefit in kind.
To prove the point look at two clubs. Liverpool and Chelsea . These two clubs in the period 1/2/19-31/1/20 . These two clubs paid out £30.38 million and £26.183 million respectively.
In effect two transfer windows. Liverpool paid out just £8.5 million in respect of a couple of minor transfers in and Chelsea who were unable to sign anyone In the summer 2019 window bar Kovacic whose loan they made permanent and in the January 20 window they didn’t sign anyone.
I think we can move on from that and leave the magical thinkers to their own conclusions.
What I do want to talk about is the bigger picture with Arsenal, because we’re missing it when we’re debating whether Soares has a nice attitude or David Luiz is an agent of death.
Arsenal don’t have a plan.
You can hunt for it, you can retrofit excuses, but the simple fact is there is no coherence in what we’re doing.
Why? Because we’re not honest about our standing in football at the moment.
David Luiz, Cedric Soares and maybe Pablo Mari offer no real long term value to Arsenal. It’s money down the drain unless they drive us to the Champions League. Even then, what was the point? They have no resale value, they are not helping us to win the thing, they have limited ceilings.
We are pissing money up the wall with no credible plan to move the club forward.
Ivan Gazidis threw a lot of money at making the Champions League by bringing in senior players just before Wenger left. It didn’t work. Raul threw massive money at senior players when Emery arrived and it didn’t work. Now we’re 12th in the league and we’re doing the same again. Even if it succeeds, we’re still throwing money down the drain. At best, we’re thinking a year in advance.
‘Maybe Willian can help us’ isn’t a strategy, it’s naive.
Why is this happening? Because we don’t know who we are and there’s no real strategy.
We shouldn’t be debating drossy that had their best years 5 years ago. Arsenal should be honest about their position in the world football and rip the plaster this summer. Move on the senior players that are letting us down. A clean sweep. That’s Auba, Lacazette, Mustafi, Kola, Luiz and the loan players.
If Torreira doesn’t like England, sell him. If Matteo is a head case with a grim attitude and Barcelona have £60m, sell him on.
Then decide on the plan. If it’s Borussia Dortmund 2.0, go for it. There is absolutely no reason, outside a coherent plan, that we can’t replicate what they do.
Build a player profile. 20-24 years old. Fit. Mobile. Fast. A good level of emotional intelligence.
Know where to pick them up from. Look at the Eastern European leagues. Fish from the same ponds where the elite youth end up going, like RB Salzburg. Act quick.
Return to the future. Contacts football is shit and it rarely delivers. Ban Kia from the training ground. Never let Canales in a brainstorm again. Set a process for how you get to the right list of players. Leave no one in any doubt as to why you signed a name.
Stop trying to do things the easy way. ‘Call Kia’ is how great clubs die. Relying on people with a conflict of interest to give you good advice on players is quite frankly, fucking embarrassing.
Our current strategy is shit. Load up with bums, and pray to the footballing gods that one season, it might work out. That is not a winning formula. It hasn’t worked for Manchester United with a real budget, and it won’t work for Arsenal who have spent all their cash and borrowed from future pots.
Arsenal has a great coach. There’s a reason all the leaks to the media have cited everyone bar him for the mess. He’s in a tough spot. He’s probably worried about his future right now, he’s likely struggling with the dynamics of having two bosses with very bad taste, and he’s probably wondering how he’s going to get a turn out of these players.
But so would any coach. Carlo and Jose are hardly flying. OGS didn’t exactly cover himself in glory last season. A select few of the Chelsea fanbase have been calling Frank a fraud all season. Implementing change after picking up a midseason fire is difficult.
Our senior players have been problematic. The contract issues have spilt out into the training ground. The pay cut wasn’t great. He’s had a red card. A bunch of injuries. His season has been derailed by a club that was hoping to deal with these issues this summer, rather than during the season.
But don’t think that has the coach down and out. He has all the ingredients to attain greatness and I am sure given time, a good summer, and the culling of the dross, he’ll find a way to make it work. People giving up after such a short period of time will realise in time that the only magic bullet now is the reshaping of the squad in the vision of the coach.
There will be more bumps. We will lose again. This season isn’t ending in glory.
However, keep the faith. The coach will prove the doubters wrong is Raul and Edu can pull it together this summer. If that doesn’t happen, we’re fucked whoever sits in the hot seat.
Tonight, we play Southampton in a bid to escape 11th position. What a moment. It’s time for a reaction from the squad. A moment for the manager to show that he can rally a nightmare situation and make some magic happen. Maybe… we’ll see a performance.
Also, Sheffield United and Palace are opening up a some space for us to chase… maybe. Sad times that I’m excited by that.
Let’s see what happens!
See you in the comments x
Boom
Mmmm
2
trophy?
Trofee
Ave it🤙
The plan is. There isn’t a plan!
Manchester United are looking better than they have done previously for quite a while.
Still a long way to go for them but they look healthier now.
That’s what one really good signing can do for you = Fernandes.
Arsenal await a similar signing that can have this affect.
Contracts, agents, pandemic, lack of vision. If Arteta doesn’t get his fullbacks past the halfway line again tonight I have no sympathy for him.
I don’t believe Edu or Raul have the smarts to work out what we need. Clearly this is the case so I’m not even sure why you (Peter) is asking the question…even rhetorically.
They had a chance to start again after Arsene and then Emery but no, back to the drawing board that was Arsene’s old drawing board!
Arteta is onto a loser. Not his fault. He’ll leave Arsenal and go on to be a great. We probably WILL end up with Dyche and only CG will be happy about that.
Arteta is not imposing himself at the club.
He’s lost and reverting to fire fighting.
The midfield is our biggest problem as it adds pressure on the defenders when teams just piss past our pathetic midfielders.
Torreira is missing his mummy so send him home.
Cellobos is dancing around in circles most the time trying to disappear up his arse and Ozil is dreaming of being president of Turkey.
The club needs to wake up but can’t see it happening with Stan and co
“Raul and Edu can pull it together this summer. If that doesn’t happen, we’re fucked whoever sits in the hot seat.” Wait, what happened to our top 4 squad? Glad it’s dawning on you Pedro that we’re lacking quality in important positions and we won’t progress without addressing that. Surprised it took so long to realise, but hey, better late than never. I’m guessing “the plan” is to get 3 defensive covers in for low money, then ship out 3 CBs raising money to add to the midfield pot. Maybe add Kola to the outs too if we can get… Read more »
With the patching up of Defence with cheap options and continuous links to Partey I believe and hope that the club is going to go all out for Partey this summer. If we could address only 1 position this summer that would impact and improve the side it would be Midfield. If we look at the profile of player we lack the most right now. Id say it is the profile of players like Partey. And get this Partey is NOT a defensive or a box to box or a creative midfielder He is a very good all round midfielder… Read more »
Sadly Freddie, everything you just said relies on the ability to actually do what you say – there is nothing in the DNA of both Raul and Edu that would or should give anyone confidence that it will or can happen.
Ernest
Apart from Luiz, which I can kind of understand since we lost Kos late, had spent most of our budget and we wanted PL experience. Raul, during his only window in charge brought in Tierney, Saliba, Pepe and Martinelli.
I would kill for another window like that. When did we have a better one? That’s 4 long term starters there, all with vast potential, some of them even world class potential. Pretty decent imo. I see Pedro’s propaganda is working.
Wasi, there is little coherence in what you are writing as your criticism of Pedro. You point to Liverpool as a point in your favour – you do recognize they are but 2 points away from winning the title? And Chelsea, barring a total collapse, will be playing in CL next year? And Arsenal under the steady hands of Raul are where? 12th and sinking faster than a lead weight in water.
Trying to find what your point actually is?
Tierney. Injured a lot.
Saliba. Hasn’t kicked a ball yet.
Pepe. £72m stinker.
Martinelli. Alleged blow fiend.
Yeah, Raul is proving himself to be a real slick operator.
Let’s see what happens in the close season and next. Then we can either laud the club or burn it down.
Tierney – barely played, injured pretty much all season. Martinelli- now injured long term. Saliba – played 0 minutes. Pepe – hot and cold and still struggling to find a consistent place on the squad.
Sounds like great business to me Freddie, I’d kill for that summer too – on paper only.
Ernest
If you’re listening to anything GOH says I can’t help you mate.
Saliba and Martinelli was never bought as short term solutions, they both have world class potential though.
Martinelli only does coke in GoH twisted mind btw.
Tierney has been unlucky with injuries sure but that doesn’t mean he always will.
Pepe has done well for a first season in a turbulent team. Next will be better.
Ernest
Name the last time we had a better window?
Ernest
“Wasi, there is little coherence in what you are writing as your criticism of Pedro. You point to Liverpool as a point in your favour – you do recognize they are but 2 points away from winning the title? And Chelsea, barring a total collapse, will be playing in CL next year? And Arsenal under the steady hands of Raul are where? 12th and sinking faster than a lead weight in water.Trying to find what your point actually is?”
Its about the agent fees Pedro claimed was paid out despite Kia and now FA’s statement.
Try to keep up.
You really going to persist with this joke, Freddie? What part of the overall return on investment of those four players screams out as a success? It doesn’t!
FL
Perhaps Ernest has made his own mind up. Look, we all want Arsenal to do well. Yes!
But, Raul is a chancer and so far, jury is out.
Also, Martinelli has been mentioned as a fiend.
A better window?
I’d say the one where we got that fat Brazilian, Santos. Or maybe the one with the Japanese lad.
Great windows. Makes Everest look like a back alley outfit.
Thomas Eisfeld. The next Götze.
Backpass, who gives a shit about the fees paid out when the return on those fees are captured back by (a) Winning the EPL Title and a CL spot, which gets you more money than the fees paid out, – in Liverpools case, and (b) The CL money is greater than the fees you paid out – in Chelsea’s case
Im keeping up, just seeing the bigger picture which appears to have escaped you. Who gives a shit about the fees paid when the monies generated by being very good return your investment many times over!
Oh,by the way Timo werner’s agent will be paid £12 million.
Ernes Ok, so you think they were just bought for 1 season then. We bought one of the most talented CBs in the world for 26m to loan him back and then he disappears from existence? Martinelli is obviusly finished too at the ripe old age of 19. Off with his head, he’s injured for a couple of months anyway, what’s the point. Ridiculous thinking, the clean up job of the squad was always going to be at least a 3 year project even if we get everything right. Would be nice to have a magic wand and get rid… Read more »
I have stated before and will do so again, Arteta will leave when he realizes that he’s being played for a dupe by those who represent upper management. Arteta loves the club, a club that he played for at one time. When it truly dawns on him that that club is not this club and a better opportunity comes calling, who could begrudge him? Point of note, as Pedro has and is pointing out, this incarnation of Arsenal has no coherent plan at the moment. If thats not obvious by what all of us are witnessing, then maybe the meds… Read more »
Ernest “Backpass, who gives a shit about the fees paid out when the return on those fees are captured back by (a) Winning the EPL Title and a CL spot, which gets you more money than the fees paid out, – in Liverpools case, and (b) The CL money is greater than the fees you paid out – in Chelsea’s case” The people who are talking about it give a shit, including Pedro btw who quoted Terraloon in today’s post. Nobody is talking about the best squad, who is winning the league or others, simply agent fees as evident by… Read more »
Nailed it !
“Would be nice to have a magic wand and get rid of Mikhi, Ozil and the rest on high wages holding us back and get nice transfer fees “
If only Freddie – would go an awful long way to righting the ship.
Pedro This is the first post published recently where I am 100% in agreement regarding the lack of plan. Arsenal are a club in transition with a good coach who needs to be given time to develop his team. I don’t have an issue with our recruitment and promotion of young players, which are in most cases low cost, relatively low wage and low risk players. However, Arsenal’s transfer policy when buying mature high cost and wage players has been very poor for a long time. The club has in my view a very poor track record. The problem started… Read more »
Again Backpass, the fees are recouped through performance of the team. They bank on it! Im keeping up, just seeing a bigger picture than the one-dimensional view you are using. Fees have always been part of the game, its part of the cost of doing business.
Luiz was a shit signing regardless of agent fees.
If Arsenal signed a player like Timo Werner fans wouldn’t care what the agent pocketed in the deal. Would just be happy to have that kind of player in the team.
‘But, Raul is a chancer and so far, jury is out.’ This comment. TOP. The jury is still out but he is already a cancer. Pedro’s brainwashing is definitely working. Ernest ‘Wasi, there is little coherence in what you are writing as your criticism of Pedro. You point to Liverpool as a point in your favour – you do recognize they are but 2 points away from winning the title? And Chelsea, barring a total collapse, will be playing in CL next year? ‘ Maybe you haven’t read our previous interactions. Its about Pedro claiming that we have paid mega… Read more »
Josh K needs to set the agenda, clear vision and a coherent strategy as to how to achieve it. This is The Arsenal we are talking about, a club with class and history. It grieves me to see how we have been caught and left behind by CFC & MCFC, club’s flying high on a big dose of ruthless ambition and financial doping. I remember MUFC being relegated in the early 1970’s within a very short time of riding high in Europe. If decisive action from the owners isn’t taken soon the parasites infesting our club could consign us to… Read more »
Ishola ‘ If Arsenal signed a player like Timo Werner fans wouldn’t care what the agent pocketed in the deal. Would just be happy to have that kind of player in the team.’ Well we did. We signed Pepe and according to some Journos paid extra fees to third party ( Mendes) tho not as much as the reported 12 mil that is being paid for Werner and some on here have been constantly slating and criticizing the player and the fees. These are the same people who moaned and cried when Arsene would miss out on a certain players… Read more »
I understand the optics at the moment and the squad is a mess but I dont think we should really assess the damage until after the window is complete. This season is a write off, it was at the point Arteta inherited the squad. Im not calling him our saviour but to ask him to get a CL run was fantasy. Fans like dream and they have been dashed again but in todays internet age we review players, managers and boards after every single game. I agree the board does seem disjointed and the recent contracts are underwhelming but no… Read more »
Camnsf ‘I strongly believe Raul should be given another summer window before passing judgement. Last Summer was our best window in a very long time with Saliba, Tierney, Martinelli and Pepe. They may not all work out but they were signings based on youth and talent. Pepe might not be setting the world on fire but the vast majority of fans wanted him over Zaha for many reasons. I think one more proper window and lets see what the squad looks like.’ We definitely had one of our best windows last summer . But many here only focus on the… Read more »
Sure is a shit show. As we’re all agreed that this is such a terrible squad you have to ask the question how Emery managed to get them to fifth, a point off third last season? Maybe he was a genius? Taking the piss a bit I know but be honest for once, who did we lose in the summer that turns that fifth place team into a team that languishes in tenth or eleventh? And what about the £140m we spent, are they all terrible too? Let’s not delude ourselves, either they are crap and UE overachieved or they… Read more »
The article that Pedro quoted in his tweet line from The Independent would indicate that more than enough players are the problem.
Apparently Arteta is pissed off with enough of them already.
So maybe the lambasting of Emery was overdone.
Freddie Ljungberg also didn’t hide his displeasure at some of the players during his short caretaker stint.
There is a pattern developing here.
Edu is supposed to set up the strategy and a plan for the club. It seems that he is hiding behind Raul. He should explain his vision to the fans if he ever has one.
Arsenal fans are impatient. But we should still give Arteta some times to show us what he can do. Raul has already drained our budget. The players have already given up 12.5% of their salary. Arteta may have to do with whoever is available now.
“Arsenal fans are impatient.”
Arsenal fans are spoiled, Nelson. Which of course lends itself to impatience as you correctly point out.
Team was on the slide at the end of Wenger’s tenure. On a downward spiral.
New manager comes in and gets some sort of tune out of them for a period but team revert back to downward spiral after new manager bounce has faded.
New manager now in Arteta now takes over a team that has been in downward trajectory for several years bar that new manager bounce period. Tough for him.
Seems plausible to me.
Said before years ago…
The club is dead from the top down…
Like a faded rich celebrity still thinking he can shop at Fortum an mason every week by getting a black cab to wait out side whilst they shop…
Dreams dead.
Only option is to sell all that is worthless and can nick a few quid for..
This season has gone only joy could be fa cup …
But that card has been played many times in recent years…
Daniel Altos,Nobody blamed the fitness guy for Holding. Everybody blamed Marcus Rashford for an unnecessary shove.Personally I would like referees come down much harder on snide fouls. Fouls that serve no purpose except hurting the opponent. The excuse “he did not mean it” is meaningless, because of course he did not mean to seriously injured him, but that is the unintended consequence of reckless and feckless play. I am sure that a lot of drink drivers did not mean to kill their victim, yet they did.In rugby, competing for a ball when both players are in the air is permissible,… Read more »
Ernest
“Pepe – hot and cold and still struggling to find a consistent place on the squad.”
Pires PL stats first season in a much better / more balanced settle Arsenal team:
33 appearances
4 goals
7 assists
Pepe PL stats this season – we all know what’s gone on:
25 appearances
5 goals
6 assists
Was Pires a failure? Why are so many fans determined to write off last summers signings no matter what?
I like your vision of Dortmund 2.0. Nothing would make me happier. But surely you can see that with the current structure – absentee owner, board irrelevant and sidelined, a clique of highly paid execs who are occupying a former North London football club – it has no chance of happening. Your faith in Arteta is touching, based on no evidence so far, but it is hard to see him being able to implement any plans, even if he happens to have one, which we don’t know. He is like a junior employee, maybe promising, but beholden to his employers… Read more »
I seem to remember Emery being blamed for Holdings injury for overplaying him!
Maybe I’m transferring that from the fitness guys who should’ve stopped him from playing.
Arteta out. Emery back in.
Pepe is Pepe, Marc. I compare him to no one other than himself. Will he find his way at Arsenal, only he knows at this point.
A question to those questioning the signings from last summer.
How do they compare to the signings from the summer before where Mislintat was in charge of recruitment?
Ernest You’ve completely missed my point. There are always and will always be fans to write players off instantly if they don’t set the world on fire from their first appearance. I prefer to give them a season to settle and then judge but write now Pepe is doing better than OK having played under 2 full time managers and in a team that has some serious issues. I can look at the player and performances without having to find a way to criticise Sanllehi. As has been said by a few on here (to the point it’s a bit… Read more »
I think any questions regarding signings of the past is irrelevant until we see this team climb the table and start winning on a regular basis.
Until then it’s just hearsay in what is termed good transfer windows.
We understand that the rebuild is longer term and one good window won’t fix all but the team has actually regressed after this good transfer window in terms of results and league placing which you wouldn’t expect if it was so good.
“How do they compare to the signings from the summer before where Mislintat was in charge of recruitment?”
Depends on what a given windows objectives were, Marc.
Was the window used to enhance the squad with depth? Was it used to fill a required need? Was it used as part of an overhaul? Or was it used for selfish purposes to fill personal needs?
You can only truly judge the success of a transfer window based on whether it fulfilled the clubs true needs, not wants or desires.
I read this post regarding our plan and I remembered my first job a couple of years ago when I graduated University,I was lucky that my dad hooked me up to one of his pals who had an events planning and entertainment company and he gave me a decent job..The guy was a self made millionaire and often he said “sometimes the best plan is not sticking to a plan and doing things as they come”…He paid no attention to advice I was employed to give him and hired mates with no qualifications for the job.All the time he was… Read more »
Today will be boring and laboured, the manager is in panic mode.
“Pepe is doing better than OK having played under 2 full time managers and in a team that has some serious issues.”
Just Ok Marc, or 72m ok? That number defines expectations. When is ok not ok, when you spend 72m to get just ok.
Im not missing any point, the point is obvious, have you gotten value for expenditure?
Of course if that transfer window was so good there is only one individual to blame for Arsenal’s current position. Step forward Mr Unai Emery. Or it could be the case that any good transfer window is still jeopardised by those players that have been in place before that are seen as not good enough. They offset any good transfer windows. I think it has been said before that until Arsenal get rid of a few select players that have been seen as letting the team down for too long now then this team will not truly be able to… Read more »
There’s definitely problems with the execs at the Club but the problems when the players cross the white line are the reasons the other are highlighted to cover the fact that Mikle is clueless. Arteta needs to show some level of competency in what he’s paid to, he obviously thinks he’s paid to do podcast. At the moment Arsenal is playing the worse football in the league and that takes some doing. When you have a manger who doesn’t know his best starting 11 and have no idea how to make changes to his team if plan A is ineffective… Read more »
Marc,
No the injury was about Ramsey, which you categorically said was not due to overplaying him. Then Emery fessed that up. That made you look ridiculous by still defending a point on behalf of Emery whilst he had already conceded it.
Ernest
He’s doing more than enough to be given next season before people start writing off a player.
You don’t seem to be willing to accept that.
“When you have a manger who doesn’t know his best starting 11 ”
Maybe thats because the club doesn’t have a “best” starting 11, Gunner?
Ernest Reed
You’re a study of irony
One moment you’re stating that Arsenal fans are impatient and spoiled,
Next you’re lambasting Pepe for not coming good fast enough.
He came to us within a preseason and ha splayed under three managers who don’t seem to know what they want from him based on the disjointed performances.
It does seem that you’re the epitome of that impatient and spoiled gooner after all.
Ernest
That’s a stupid statement. A “best starting 11” doesn’t have to be very good just better than the other options. Arteta’s selections do not inspire many with any confidence, the less said about his subs the better.
Valentin
You certainly blamed Holding’s injury on Emery’s physios. No need to dent that now.
Im willing to give Pepe all the time in the world to be a regular 1st team player, provided of course Pepe wants that too. You are making player mediocrity a fashionable thing.
**Came to us without a preseason
Ernest Since we didn’t buy Pepe for just 1 season where he’s adapting it’s a bit early to judge if he is value for money or not. Same with the other buys from last summer, especially Saliba and Martinelli. Same with Guendouzi from the summer before. Ishola It was a good window talent wise, it didn’t improve us much immediately for obvious reasons though, (injuries, youth, loan) but it’s a good base to build on. Also, yes, the shitness of our senior players negates minor improvements. Sprinkle ice cream on a bowl of shit and see how that tastes. Same… Read more »
I guess then Marc, that Arteta has yet to find HIS starting 11. When you have indifferent players, crappy players, and some I wanna be here players, it makes finding a starting 11 somewhat difficult.
You should stop Marc, you spend far too much time writing things for the sake of writing things, you always have.
Valentin
“No the injury was about Ramsey, which you categorically said was not due to overplaying him. ”
Firstly please link to where I “categorically” stated anything about Ramsey and injuries other than Ramsey spends a third of every season injured and Ryan Shawcross’s tackle was borderline criminal.
Secondly how can you complain about us not keeping a player who is constantly getting injured, who needs to be rested so often on what would’ve been a ridiculously high contract?
Ernest
Sorry could you advise me of how often I’m allowed to comment from now on?
Marc,No the injury was about Ramsey, which you categorically said was not due to overplaying him. Then Emery fessed that up. That made you look ridiculous by still defending a point on behalf of Emery whilst he had already conceded it.
No it was about holding,or maybe azed needs to do his thing. Infact the common theme here was that the training sessions were intense hence our players dropping like flies.What is so different now?Covid?I don’t see players from the other 19 teams dropping like flies,ffs just look at how Mari got inured.Or maybe we just have weak players?
Last summer window was the best one in a long time, probably the last decade.
We even managed to move out Iwobi for good money.
Freddie, we are going nowhere as Arsenal supporters, so time is a luxury we do have. Im willing to give some players the same time i. Giving Arteta to find what works for them and the betterment of the club. Some players i will never give that courtesy and you know those that i speak of. Pepe may come good and then again he may not, thats on him – earn your play.
It’s so weird. Lately reading pedros posts. It reads like he’s having a debate with himself!
It’s as if his more recent WOB side is arguing with his old skool AKB side.
Daniel
Even Xhaka who rarely gets injured has managed to get hurt. It could just be bad luck but we do seem to get more than our fair share on the injury front.
Comment as you wish Marc, but don’t expect me or some others to remain willing recipients.
” Some players i will never give that courtesy and you know those that i speak of. ”
Why don’t all players deserve the same opportunity?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8456945/Arsenal-SUPER-AGENT-eyebrow-raising-deals-Emirates-overseen-Kia-Joorabchian.html
“Move on the senior players that are letting us down. A clean sweep. That’s Auba, Lacazette, Mustafi, Kola, Luiz and the loan players.“
In theory sure, but let’s be practical here. Arsenal don’t know how to sell their players. We know how to hold on to them until they cost the equivalent of fuck all and then let them leave for free.
Marc
Is Pires also a record signing at that time?
Why Pepe is benched by 3 managers multiple times? A normal fan should question this.
Ernest
You seem to think your opinion is valued a hell of a lot higher than it is. I’m happy to debate with 99% on here if you want to play the prick – water off a ducks back to me.
Because some are lazy and selfish SOB’s Marc. How many opportunities would you want to give to someone like Ozil?
Superb post Pedro, I really enjoyed it
Just FYI, I watch Spanish football Raul caused so many issues at Barca, people expected him to go to a second division club but bizarrely he ended up at Arsenal.
My only disagreement with you is on Arteta, why do you think he’s a good coach? His team selections are no less than terrible and his in game management is non existent and he’s copying no one other than Unai Emery, who already failed.
We need new people at director level and also sadly a better coach
Arteta wants Luiz next season, that’s why he got his extension….
He wants Xhaka to stay too……
What “try’n to be ckever’ lineup is he going to start with 2nite then?
If he dont get a reaction to Brighton with a very good performance that should mean we win then it’ll be more evidence he ain’t up to this…..
Nelson
That’s a fair question but I would point you to the below:
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolas-pepe/leistungsdaten/spieler/343052
He’s not being benched for a successive run of games and he’s appeared in the vast majority of matches. Maybe it’s tactical?
I am confused. Cedric’s agent is Kia (as he is to luiz n Mari) Saints were willing to let CS go for free on 30th June. So why did we offer him a 4 yr contract paying a fee to Saints in the process when we could’ve gotten him for nothing in a weeks time?
Ernest
“How many opportunities would you want to give to someone like Ozil?”
The question is how many more? He’s had his opportunities and been here for coming up 7 years.
Personally I think that it’s unfair to use someone who’s been with the club for almost 7 years as a yardstick as to why a player who’s Arsenal career is closer to 7 months is “hot and cold and still struggling to find a consistent place on the squad.”
“You seem to think your opinion is valued a hell of a lot higher than it is. ”
If someone finds some value in my opinion then that is a nice thing to see. If they do not then so be it, Marc. I respect everyone’s opinion on here, whether i agree with it or not, it is everyone’s right to have an opinion. Where i draw a line is when someone becomes excessive and pointless.
“hot and cold and still struggling to find a consistent place on the squad.”
I believe this to be a valid and true assessment of Pepe this season.
Ernest
I don’t think you like the point I’ve made and you’ve contradicted yourself as pointed out by Dissenter.
Marc,
The difference between players getting impact injuries and getting hamstring and other muscular injuries should be obvious.
Sprained ankles and knees is different, because sometimes they are due to a tired player over compensating. Lunging and twisting his knee after losing the ball due to a miscontrol.
Hence such injuries are more common at the end of preseason when players are put through intense conditioning or toward the end of the season when players are tired.
And Marc, three managers cannot be wrong on Pepe. Clearly his performances this season have not warranted 1st team regular play. My assessment stands as the facts do not lie.
Ernest
“I believe this to be a valid and true assessment of Pepe this season.”
Outside of maybe Leno and Auba (it’s all open to debate) that can be said of every player at Arsenal this season. It’s the guy’s first season, personally I like to take the view of “he’s shown some ability and what he can be capable of” let’s hope he pushes on next season.
Big lol reading all those pandemic excuses for out very poor football like 19 other teams in the league didn’t have a break too and all resumed training at the same time we did. Been fun reading the total 360 on here regarding expectations too by the way. Suddenly no one is interested in “style of play” anymore because they have to defend whatever it is they feel they have to. If after 10 games we can’t see something of a plan for what a new manager is trying to do with his new team, then maybe serious questions need… Read more »
“I don’t think you like the point I’ve made and you’ve contradicted yourself as pointed out by Dissenter.”
Cause Dissenter agrees with your point, Marc? My point remains my point, you judge a window on NEEDS, not wants. What was it that we needed last summer, more than anything else? Pepe? FFS!
There is no point to what you said because there is no point to it.
‘ And Marc, three managers cannot be wrong on Pepe’
Emery of 2019-202 season was clueless- he lost his way completely and deserved his sack.
Freddie shouldn’t have lasted more than two games as head coach
Arteta is still learning his trade, makes rookie mistakes ll the time.
More like three blind managers couldn’t find their way back home.
Ernest
“And Marc, three managers cannot be wrong on Pepe. Clearly his performances this season have not warranted 1st team regular play. ”
He’s made 25 PL appearances out of a possible 30, for a guy settling into a new league I don’t think that’s to bad. As I’ve already said the matches he’s been left out of also are spread out so it’s not as if he’s been benched / dropped for a block of the season.