GUEST POST FROM THE MAIN MAN MIKE MCDONALD (FOLLOW)
I can’t remember a time in the last 20 years where there has been so much potential Premier League talent available in the Championship.
I think this has snuck up on us as coaches. Championship teams have suddenly made the conscious choice to ‘play football.’ In previous decades there has been a marked difference in the playing style as you looked at the lower leagues.
The result is two-fold. Potential becomes easier to spot as teams like Leeds/Brentford have players who not only understand modern football but they play it too. Secondly, you can slide them into a PL team with significantly less adaptation.
Arsenal not only need to look at some of these gems because finances may dictate but also because they are good enough. Some could even be elite.
You will enjoy these videos. Some will dazzle you. I haven’t priced these players as prices will depend on each club’s Covid impact.
CREATIVE PLAYERS:
Arsenal need a modern midfield, centre backs that can handle stress, and arguably need a creative player or two more than anything.
The Championship has more of this type of potential gem than any other type of player.
Said Benrahma (Brentford)
An inverted right-footed, left-winger. Can play both wings and as an attacking midfielder.
A difference maker with delicious feet who brings joy. If you see potential in Pepe, you will see the same here. Perhaps the player we hope Nelson could be.
Chelsea are allegedly very interested but have much competition in this area already. Arsenal could use him as a ‘wandering left-winger.’
What a talent!
Ebe Eze (QPR)
A powerful, direct, line breaking attacker. Has an equal eye for an assist as a goal. Reminds me of Martial with a similar toolbox of skills.
Can play as an 8 in a 4-3-3 or anywhere across the front 3 in a 4-2-3-1.
Ovie Ejaria (Liverpool on loan at Reading)
Very similar in playing style and looks to Eze, but taller and stronger.
Another fantastic natural footballer with a bag of creativity.
Much like Eze he can play as a line-breaking third midfielder or across the front three.
Would Liverpool sell or probably want to loan?
Matheus Pereira (West Brom)
After speaking to a handful of fans of Championship clubs, most felt that he is the best of the creative players. His loan from Sporting Lisbon is now obliged to be triggered for €9M.
Plays as a 10 or as a right-winger. Six goals and 12 assists to date. His primary qualities are his vision and high technical level. Has a wicked reverse pass.
If you watch this video, you will note a left-footed, elegant player who seems to glide around the field. Never known West Brom to have this type of player!
Michael Olise (Reading)
Reading have this 19 year-old French kid Michael Olise, if we didn’t already have Willock I’d be rooting for us to get this guy as his deal ends 2022.
He’s certainly one to watch.pic.twitter.com/vRzx9n4vk3— Gilles (@_Grimanditweets) July 5, 2020
Yet another gifted creative player. Olise is a left-footed, attacking midfielder with the proverbial wand of a left foot. At 18, he may be the cheapest of the ‘creative’ list and a worthwhile investment due to his high ceiling. Seems to use the sole of his foot to bamboozle. Love it!
MODERN CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS:
Even though we all see the improvement in Xhaka and Ceballos, we all see the need for modern, athletic central midfielders.
Max Bird (Derby)
Arsenal need modern, athletic, tall, powerful midfielders to at least be on par with the vast majority.
Max Bird may not be this in the PL yet, but he has the profile. His most impressive quality lies in his ability to see both opportunity and danger quickly.
Bird plays alongside Rooney in the centre of midfield. Rooney recently claimed that he “wouldn’t be surprised if he was in the England squad within a year.” Much like Olise, at 19 years old it might be a wise investment?
Kalvin Phillips (Leeds)
With Leeds likely to go up, it’s highly unlikely that a hometown boy would reject the opportunity to play at least one season for Leeds in the PL. I’ve included him however as I think he potentially has everything we need. An athletic centre or defensive midfielder who can deny and create. You will remember him as the hub of the one sided first half at the Emirates in January as Leeds totally dominated. It is hard to find a central midfielder who is a specialist in both areas, you normally have to find two.
Arsenal are pursuing Partey as he can do both, but so can Phillips. I’ll be very surprised if he’s not very close to England’s Euro 2021 squad as he’s a far better footballer than both Rice and Dier.
Kalvin Phillips will also be the player with the highest value in the Championship at around £35M.
Conor Gallagher (Swansea…. on loan from Chelsea)
A two way, two-footed creative central midfielder. An impressive eye for a pass in the final third as well as counter opportunities. A modern-day number 8, with boundless energy and goal threat.
Named Chelsea’s Academy player of the Year last season which is no mean feat amongst huge competition.
FULL BACKS/WING BACKS
We need a better option than Kolasinac and many including myself, think Bellerin is overrated.
Nathan Ferguson (WBA)
Ferguson is allegedly on his way to Palace. Smart move as he’ll play. Arsenal should take a look as he’s going to cost below £10M and has played both right and left back.
A fast, athletic, modern full back who at 19 has a very bright future.
Jayden Bogle (Derby)
Want your right back to be hugely confident on the ball? High technical ceiling? A huge attacking threat with the athleticism to recover?
You need to watch this video because people are starting to talk about Bogle.
Probably a better right wing back than right back.
Matty Cash (Forest)
A combative attacking right back who interestingly has the posture and profile of a defensive midfielder. Actually a converted winger who took advantage of Carl Jenkinson’s long term injury. Tough, quick and great in the tackle. Being tipped to get a call up to the Poland team through his grandparents heritage.
Kristian Pedersen (Birmingham)
Not the greatest video but you’ll get a little flavour of an emerging talent getting rave reviews at left back for Birmingham City. A tall powerful left back with a wicked left foot. Former winger, like Cash.
CENTRE BACKS:
The best CB in the Championship is Ben White but he is officially a Brighton player and I mentioned him in last weeks transfer blog.
Beyond Ben White there is one more worth your attention.
Pontus Jansson (Brentford)
A warrior. Arsenal fans pine for a Tony Adams type. Here he is. Not saying he is of this level but certainly a similar profile. Aggressive, strong, better on the ball than given credit for. This 29 year old Swedish international is worth a look.
STRIKER
Arsenal don’t need an unproven striker as they have Nketiah, Martinelli, John Jules and Balogun vying for this. What they will be interested in however, is the right profile of striker.
Arteta seems to like a willing presser. The ability to play with your back to goal, perhaps a false nine and I’m sure he’d love someone better in the air as in Saka and Tierney in particular we have good crossers but nobody great in the air.
So…
Ollie Watkins (Brentford)
To add to the list above, Watkins can create goals for himself off the dribble.
Tall, very fast and able to score in a variety of ways. Watkins will no doubt find himself in the PL with Brentford or somebody else, I’m sure.
VERDICT:
Firstly, I think it’s important that we don’t become snobby about this. The Championship truly has some gems. You’ll be aware that Jude Bellingham (Birmingham City) has just been signed by Dortmund. They play their youngsters like we do. A reminder that the most sought after creative player in the PL in Jack Grealish has played the majority of his minutes in the Championship.
I think Arsenal should take a close look at Bogle and Ferguson as wing-back options. Phillips would be a dream signing but it’s not happening yet.
We will need more than one creative force to finally connect the front and back. As Benrahma and Pereira will likely get promoted and be more expensive, I’d take a close look at Eze at QPR, who would no doubt need money and sell cheaper.
Follow me @Mike_Mmcdonald
ESR was the most highly rated of all our academy players a couple of years ago, if he didn’t have his injury problems he would have been in the squad a while ago.
Maybe it’s better that he’s got senior games away from the limelight and scrutiny of the Emirates though, might serve him in the long term. Deserves a shot as one of the 2 new Cams next season.
Upstate
We’d have to pay them £50 million to take Xhaka and then negotiate a price for their player!
Freddie
Agree on ESR – Arsenal fans are murder for building a young player up into something they haven’t reached yet and then are slagging them off 2 years later.
Marc
“We’d have to pay them £50 million to take Xhaka and then negotiate a price for their player!”
Touche
Marc,
Well then, obviously history would be different.
Watford have City at home on Tuesday and then us.
It has to be over for them – just has to.
Cardboard cutout of ESR is better than Willock… that shouldn’t be even a debate/discussion. Willock brings absolutely nothing to the table. Freddie liked him because he was his protege. I hope Arteta can see beyond preferential treatment.
sal
Not sure history would be that different – can’t see the assault team sitting down and watching the end of the match with him!
No just meant one of those seals would of come home in the red and white being called Henry.
Graham “ESR so much better than Willock.Actually thinks on his feet.” Different type of player .. belief is what will determine how far willock or Smith Rowe will go in the game. I don’t believe that at this present time either player plays with the true belief that they will make it to the top, though both have shown flashes of true quality. Smith Rowe has had the master of thinking on his feet to educate him on the game, and it shows in the way he plays the game. As for Smith Rowe not being an Arteta player ….I… Read more »
Would be hilarious if Watford went down. That’s pretty much Deeney’s level.
Godfather Re:Academy under Wenger. Agreed, “it’s not an Arsenal problem it’s a football one”. My gripe was that we produced many talented youngsters that lacked the core assets of a competitive sportsman. Mainly the hunger to compete. They, generally, had a high skill set, but their mentality was weak, just as the mentality was weak for many of our first team squad. It was our major problem from 2006 onwards. The roll up the sleeves attitude to dig in, when things were going against us, hardly ever showed itself. It was so frigging frustrating because, with a few tweaks here… Read more »
Upstate
I’m pissed off I won’t be there to give it to Deeney with both barrels.
Graham
I’m not sure it’s a lack of hunger – I’ve always thought it’s a lack of “nasty” too many players lack a fuck you attitude to the opposition.
Which is something that can be seen in the change in recruitment under Wenger.
Pierre
What’s your take on Willock?
Imo, he needs a kick up the backside.
Marc
I actually wanted them to come up when they had Almunia. Still remember one of the craziest finishes I’ve ever seen to a game they played in a season in which they almost made it but eventually failed and had to wait another year to get promoted. But with Deeney in their side, it’s really hard to rout for them. What a prick that guy is.
Upstate
Well as he’s 32 I don’t think we’ll be seeing him again unless we get them in a Cup next season.
Marc
A competitive sportsman should hate losing.
A competitive environment should promote winning.
Arsenal came to accept second best, third best, fourth best. Know one at the club, from the owner, to the manager and the players, showed the hurt and anger associated with losing.
Once you accept second best, you accept failure.
MarcJuly 17, 2020 19:21:24
SidMy nephew who was born in 2010 – fuck you!
Your brother needs to do a DNA check on Marc jnr
Sid
Now that’s actually quite funny!
Graham
Agree 100%
I often find myself wondering what the fuck I’m doing on here when I could be on Arseblog or Untold!
Does Untold still exist without Wenger?
Upstate ,
Take your pick from tonight, docoure, soucek, rice….all of them shit on xhaka
Great save from Foster.
If Watford stay up, could be another 12 London Derbies next season.
Spuds, Chelski, Palace, Brentford, West Ham, Watford.
Count Watford because of its proximity.
Hope Brentford get automatic.
@Graham62:
I totally hear you but it’s a societal issue.
The hard nosed ways of old school academies have long been jettisoned.
To get the high impact youth as well you really need to spoil and pamper and use a lot of positive reinforcement as the new generation is across the board, soft and very mentally weak
Graham,
Fulham in with a shout as well.
sal
Forgot about Fulham.
Leeds are back in the premier league. Loved them and how they play.
Red must be chuffed his pal Bielsa finally nailed promotion this time around
‘Mikel has created that from outside. They celebrate, they fight, they are creating something special and they are fighting for something special. It will be difficult.’
And to think I didn’t know that before Arteta came to Arsenal as coach, the guys used to mourn and cry when they scored.
Fight? Another illusion.
Godfather The point I was making is that Wenger recruited only one World Class Centre Back in the 21 years that he was at the club and that was Sol Campbell on a Bosman. There were two other Centre Backs in Toure and Koscielny who ranked as good international class CBs and played regularly in first team. However, Djourou and Upson were frankly no better than bench players whilst at the club. Wenger’s record in developing quality Centre Backs both in Academy and at First X1 Level was in my view exceedingly poor. You need only take a look at… Read more »
@Emirates
Like I said initially, my intent isn’t to be argumentative or engage in “gotcha” tactics. The point I’m making is that very few of the top clubs anywhere have a conveyor belt of top class CDs.
Also, I disagree on you about Upson. I know he didn’t want to wait for his turn at Arsenal but he was so much better than a bench player.
Cmon bench players don’t start for England at the World Cup
And speaking of center backs recruited, how about Gallas and Vermaelen before he fell off the charts?
Great post pedders, but what’s the point?
No one in charge of football in our club is English. They won’t look anywhere in England. The closest we got to was Scotland.
They will rather buy from the lower div of Spain, Italy and France before sniffing down there in the championship.
Sad but true.
The new directions at AFC under these strangers are clear as day if you care to look.
(1)Grab expired big name players and pay them their retirement benefits because super agents say so.
(2)By all means go after journeymen.
(3)If they will put chocolate in your mouth, pay £72m for one season wonder left leg.
And now I’m on Le Grove in the middle of the night because these new directions wouldn’t let me sleep!
Un I think the late 90s was something of a golden age in football
Look at how stacked the first 11 and benches were in international football and it was nuts
Check out the Dutch, English, German, French, Brazilian, Argentine teams etc and all were full of monsters. Jam fucking packed
I love the Dutch team from 98
Bergkamp, Kluivert, van hooijdonk, hasselbaink, overmars, seedorf, davids, cocu, both Democrats bours, stam, reiziger, van der sar etc. team was STACKED
In 98, Argentina had batistuta, crespo, Ortega and Lopez as options at front
Like wtf
England had shearer Owen sharing ham and Ferdinand up front
Pick any major footballing power and it was full of beasts
Democrats bours – de bours lol
People born before the 70s were tough
Bornin the 70s & 80s tough and sophistcated
In the 90s onwards, they are entitled and the whole LGBT thing doesnt help
Sid perhaps those amazing earlier generations didn’t make very good parents or build a very good society to let their kids grow up that way then, don’t you think?
Millennials grew up constantly being told they can achieve anything, do anything, everyone can go to university, and we live in an increasingly civilized society > a better question would be growing up like that why would you not have higher expectations in life?
Kalvin Philips & Partey for next season please. We could add Guendouzi in a swap deal to Athletico Madrid. This duo would give Arsenal a real steely feel in the middle of the park.
While most people but want centre backs, we won’t have our Arsenal back without fixing the midfield. Partey and Kalvin Philips would eclipse the Bruno effect at Manchester United.
And I figure we can’t get Grealish, so Kalvin Philips should be our next target by all means.
Dont even get me started on Millenials.
SMH
Millenials = damn search engines
SMH
Freddy Ljungberg/Marc
Smith-Rowe was as you suggest highly rated 2 seasons ago and considered the
most promising player in Academy.
What constitutes an Arsenal Supporter? I don’t consider some of those who post on Le Grove representative of genuine Supporters. They are if you read their posts “fair weather”.
Ozil hat trick tomorrow
Godfather
Did you ever see Gallas play for Arsenal? He was atrocious and the main reason that Toure left the club.
Vermaelen was also fairly mediocre very much in the mould of Wenger defenders i.e. recruited for his football ability rather than his defending.
Vermaelen was quality, just injury prone
The Kos and Vermaelen partnership never really took hold. Too many injuries
@Emirates: “ Did you ever see Gallas play for Arsenal? He was atrocious and the main reason that Toure left the club.Vermaelen was also fairly mediocre very much in the mould of Wenger defenders i.e. recruited for his football ability rather than his defending.” Yes I saw Gallas play and he wasn’t atrocious, cmon men. He was a winner who had a strop at Birmingham but relax with ya spin dude. And what does Toure’s exit have to do with Gallas’ play? And Vermaleen mediocre? Now you’re kidding, seriously! A man who was in the PFA team of the year… Read more »
If kos and vermaelen has longer together and Thomas wasn’t always injured it would’ve been a very very decent pairing
Speaking of Defenders
Koscielny Mertesacker pairing was good too for a year & half , If I remember correctly.
From defence to attack we have young players in abundance. Even Martinez at goalkeeper can be considered young in goalkeeping terms. So for the first time I think we should concentrate on obvious choices even if they’re considered old. We should only add youths if they’re exceptional and ready. My pick will be: Upamecano Partey Coutinho and Williams Spend our fortune on Partey and Upamecano. Get Coutinho on loan with an option to buy next year when Ozil would have finished fulfilling the most ridiculous contract on planet earth. Of course Williams on a free. If we can’t get Upamecano… Read more »
Kosc and Mert were good because of the midfield infront
China1July 18, 2020 04:40:44
Sid perhaps those amazing earlier generations didn’t make very good parents or build a very good society to let their kids grow up that way then, don’t you think
Totally agree
Vermaelen is a flemish Mustafinovs
André Schürrle retires at 29!
Whatever happened to the World cup winner
Sid – fair enough then lol. As long as you accept children grow up as a product of the parenting and societal norms provided by the generations before them then feel free to criticize us millennials. My generation does have entitlement issues amongst several other aspects but I also think my generation has grown up with a different set of challenges than those before them. For example high rates of depression amongst young people can in no doubt be linked with the availability of social media, total awareness or ‘wokeness’ (lol) of global social, political and environmental issues and growing… Read more »
Living in China really influenced my outlook on British life. Here most people work themselves silly and have very little down time. There’s a mountain of pressure on kids’ academic performance. It’s not a good setup but things like youth hooliganism are basically not a thing, because kids don’t have time to be arsing around causing trouble. Parents don’t have time to feel depressed because they’re too busy doing things and dealing with stuff to stop and take stock. China goes too far one way and the UK too far the other. I’m trying to give my son the best… Read more »
China1
July 18, 2020 06:20:47
Living in China really influenced my outlook on British life.Here most people work themselves silly and have very little down time
The consequences of this will show in the next generation.
Un Nai.
Sar is a freebie.
And BTW even with Sarr covering the left side we still need Upa. Sokratis is most likely gone, Luiz will expire in the summer, Mustafi will revert to the mistake-prone Mustafi eventually and Arteta does not fancy Holding.
That right side of Central defence needs fixing even with Saliba coming in.
Sid the consequences have already shown themselves, since this was just as true of the last generation The upsides are people are very hard working and don’t spend much time arsing around or causing trouble. Depression appears to be rare and people are highly motivated to support their family and friends, and ensure the next generation has a better life than they have. Very nuclear families The major downside is a constant and general fatigue, a lack of creativity and original thinking and a lack of knowledge or care about issues outside of ones own family//friendship circle. Minimal Environmental Concerns… Read more »
Marc “I’m not sure it’s a lack of hunger – I’ve always thought it’s a lack of “nasty” too many players lack a fuck you attitude to the opposition.” What you are failing to take into consideration is that Arsenal have been treated differently for over ten years by the officials. A case in point is Xhaka, when he first arrived at the club he tried to play with what you say “a fuck you attitude to the opposition “, and what happened, 2 (dubious) red cards in his first few weeks, which for any other club in the country… Read more »
Gallas may have played okay at Chelsea, but he was most certainly not a success at Arsenal. He was well past his best when he arrived here.
Vermaelen was yet another injury prone CB and frankly not the sort of defender to play alongside Koscielny. Mertesacker could have been a better option, because he knew how to defend and was organisationally sound, but lacked mobility, which is why he was probably never recruited by Bayern Munich despite his international pedigree.
Arsenal are not going to buy wholesale world class players in this transfer window, but despite all the negatives about our finances I am still hopeful that the club will buy at lEast one significant player . The two most obvious choices would be Upamecano and Partey. Both are top quality players. Upamecano is a highly mobile and intelligent CB despite his relatively young age and Partey is most definitely the midfield general we need. Personally I do not believe that our finances are quite so bad as being suggested. This negativity was also suggested last summer and indeed Pedro… Read more »
ES Does it never occur to you ( probably not), that Wenger might have purchased better defenders if he had a bigger budget? I am sure ,he would have loved to bought the likes of Rio Ferdinand for £30 million and John Terry for £50 million etc. But unfortunately Stan is a tad thrifty, especially during transfer windows. And as we all know Stans phone remains on Silent during these summer months. (I am presume that’s why he is called Silent Stan?) Arteta and Co have given up calling him on his phone , they are now just begging him… Read more »
2 Guardian pieces worth a read.
“Spectators could return to sporting events in England on 1 October”
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/17/spectators-could-return-to-sporting-events-in-england-on-1-october
‘Mikel Arteta says Arsenal matching Manchester City impossible after Manager says player problems not his vision caused struggles
Arteta comfortable with adapting style in short term to win”
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/17/mikel-arteta-says-arsenal-matching-manchester-city-impossible-after-break
This is good to hear. Arteta was asked whether Arsenal’s transition to his preferred style had been slower than expected and the bristling in his reply was unmistakable. “No,” he said. “You are asking me if I wanted to play, after a two-month break, like City right now? Look back on the issues we had with a lot of players, with all the injuries, with suspensions, with players out. It is impossible. I need to adapt, I need to win games and I need to find ways to do that. My task, my long-term situation, in how we want to… Read more »
I actually wouldn’t mind seeing kolasinac at wing back tonight.
What he does possess is pace and power, and that could be a vital weapon for Arsenal to counter city.
Kolasinac can be a very good outlet as we cannot afford to be camped on the edge of our own box.
One clear thing with diet Pep is that he is very good at word spin, no wonder our Supreme leader here loves him.
2nd clear thing is he is more of Simeone, Mourinho tactically less of Pep or Klopp, he was incharge of the dark arts at man c, the yin in Peps yang
China1
I would really pipe down on the China love in considering the corona gift that your country had given to the World. Not to mention the continuous petty border disputes.
It’s better to put in some bad games after you win the league than before.
What I don’t understand is how can a team with nothing to play for dominate a team with everything to play for. It makes no sense.
Jonker
““His mentality was the thing that made us decide to give him a chance as a scholar, but he had to go a long way and I always told him, ‘believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, no-one will believe in you at Arsenal’.
Similar to what I was saying about Willock and Smith Rowe yesterday, a young player has to have belief in themselves to make it to the top.
CG wenger always said he could buy top quality signings and spend if he found the right player
And in his final years he even did thus
So either he was lying to the fans when we had no money to be some kind of irritating martyr for the owner or he was simply unable to spot/u willing to spend on such players
No to Coutinho for me. It sounds more and more that Arsenal is being used as a money printing machine by super agents like Kia Joorabchian.
If we have the money to spend on Coutinho we have the money to spend on a top young defender. Even on loan, he will cost £7m-£8m. It’s short term thinking that’s takes our club nowhere.
We should be following the BvB model not Barcelona if money is tight as they say it is.
Nice reading comprehension coq. Kindly point me to where I was saying how great China is
Un na naii I have no idea what the budget will be, but I will be surprised if it is less than £60 million. We have already spent £13-14 million on Mari. So perhaps another £40-50 million. What can also be discussed is the rumour about Coutinho coming in on loan. Coutinho has of course better experience in England than Ceballos had this season and he is also probably more “effective” in goal scoring and assists department. The combination of Partey and Coutinho would be perhaps the midfield combination we need. I think that it might also send out a… Read more »
If Tom Moore can raise £33 Million from public to fund NUS I see no reason why
Turkish Government and Fernebarce cannot raise £18 million to fund their beloved son’s wages so that he can play in Turkey.
I’m a big fan of Ozil, he deserves a tenth chance to.prove his doubters wrong.
Haha ET
We live in hope
Bring the prodigal son ‘home’
….
Please…!
While proper scouting is undeniably important in our rebuild, I’d think the top priority as is it must be for Arteta to draw up (and make up his mind) a list of players who aren’t likely to be help achieving his ‘objective’ and delivering the ‘mission’, whatever those may mean.
Be ruthless, do what’s in your control, Arteta. Try selling to fund. Don’t try don’t get.
China 1
I was being facetious, but I did recall somewhere that it was being suggested to
fund raise for Ozil to play in Turkey. So perhaps there could be some possibility
of it happening.
What I know is that we need to get him off books sooner rather than later with
clear messaging.
Actually the lack of fuck you attitude is a direct consequence of Joncker stricter discipline demand. Under Liam Brady, the arsenal academy started to have a few to many kids with attitude problem. Initially it started with lack of deference to coaches and staff. It then escaladed into a culture of lawlessness. A few of our players got into scraps with the law. Joncker changed the mentality in kicking out the bad apple early and only keeping well mannered kids. But because we kept recruiting into London urban area, the make up of the academy players stay the same: mostly… Read more »
“Instead of blowing £24m on Luiz we could have had Bellingham. Big opportunity lost there
He will he worth 3 times that in 2 years“
Can’t agree more. That’s criminal. Lining pockets of mates
Reportedly, the Dominik S ‘kid’ costs €24m, not even £24m!! Ffs. It’s not too late. Milan hasn’t announced anything and a little more € and £ speak louder these days. Or, no deal because Dominik isn’t represented by our royally appointed super agents??
This guy is much better than what we got in MF.
Has the sexy football been coached out of these African footballers or have they just gone native.
Valentin
This is what I heard also about the Academy, which was not fit for purpose for
some time.
The other problem which you highlight of recruiting predominantly inner London kids from sink estates is of course in part forced on a club like Arsenal because of the FA rules on recruitment.
Un na naii
Recruitment for Academies has to be based on mileage from club. You are not
supposed to recruit kids travelling long distances.
Actually, Ozil was playing decent and doing a good job for the team before lockdown and the team was on a very good run, being the only unbeaten team in Europe domestically this year is proof of that. Pepe has also suffered since the omission of Ozil , so we have 2 for the price of one who are not contributing to the side. Saka , as I have said repeatedly during and after lockdown , is the conundrum and Arteta is no closer to solving it. Maybe tonight Arteta will play a left side of Tierney (CB) , Saka(LWB)… Read more »
Just to emphasise the fact that Arsenal was a lot stricter under Joncker, after his departure two of Arsenal academy coaches were accused of bullying and let go. At the time it was a shock because they were quite successful, winning the Premiership 2 title. They were also instilling a will to win into those players which does not seem as present after. Also having lost Ampadu (who coached most of the current crop in the first team both at U16 and U18), and replacing with maybe not as good coaches I suspect that we may see a drop in… Read more »
It may be paradoxical, but Lacazette plays better without Aubameyang. He does not have to play the link-up man so much and can therefore make first post runs.
So I would drop one of them. Drop Pepe and add somebody in midfield because playing 2 CM against ManCity is just asking to be dominated and ultimately spanked. 5 across in midfield is a must.
So 3-5-1-1 or 4-3-2-1
lol you guys just reiterating what I wrote a few pages back
it is what it is for our academy
at least it’ll help the kids to steer away from the righteous path
“””””Instead of blowing £24m on Luiz we could have had Bellingham. Big opportunity lost there
He will he worth 3 times that in 2 years“”””
Sensational. So true.
And a signing gone under the radar.
You dont see savvy Dortmund give 4 year contracts to Cedric and Marys or extend David Luiz contract or chase Williams—-
they after the Bellinghams , Halands and Sanchos instead.
I have seen 45 seconds of this lad on you tube.
100 English caps , by the time he is 30.
100% Guaranteed.
“Arteta was asked whether Arsenal’s transition to his preferred style had been slower than expected and the bristling in his reply was unmistakable. “No,” he said. “You are asking me if I wanted to play, after a two-month break, like City right now? Look back on the issues we had with a lot of players, with all the injuries, with suspensions, with players out. It is impossible. I need to adapt, I need to win games and I need to find ways to do that. My task, my long-term situation, in how we want to play is very clear.” Actually… Read more »
CG still lamenting about Mislintat it seems
just let it go man the ship has sailed for us on that one
the future is rolodex
just judge Arteta next season shall we?
clean slate and all
top 4 guaranteed lads
JAC
“”””CG still lamenting about Mislintat it seems””””
I was not a huge fan of Dortmund Eye.
But he was genuine and wanted the best for the club.( exactly like our Wenger)
Now we are just left with the likes of Raul , Edu and Josh.
And they just want to line their pockets.
Arsenal is secondary.
Valentin
3 in midfield is fine, but if we have no outlet then we will be camped in our own half .
If the 3 in midfield are technicians who can retain possession and play their way out through the midfield area then great, sadly we do not have great midfield technicians so our outlet will be out wide.
If we play without genuine pace in the side then I will expect us to struggle to make any impression on City’s defence.
Arteta’ we need to win games’
Why did he put Kola in the back three???
Why does he put Saka on the right wing?
Why play Bellerin?
I too was excited on what kind of players we would bring but that’s all gone now
we still have good scouts though like Cagigao to compensate for the loss of ‘Dortmund Eye’
at least we got the transfer done rather than dithering of yesteryears
let’s see how the suit manage this transfer window shall we?
sorry I’m feeling quite bullish at the moment
Just read a 2020 financial report on football teams. Our Commercial Revenue: €125.8m (£110.9m) is below other top teams in UK.
SPUDS Commercial Revenue: €151.9m (£133.9m)
Chelsea Commercial Revenue: €210.4m (£185.4m)
Pools Commercial Revenue: €210.9m (£185.9m)
MC Commercial Revenue: €261.0m (£230.0m)
Manure Commercial Revenue: €317.2m (£279.6m)
Looks like Vinni is not doing his job well.