via @Arsenal Instagram
I am STILL buzzing on a Monday morning, and yes, I’ll be honest, I went in for round two on the game because that’s how good I felt. It’s a lot easier to watch those ties when you know the result.
A few things stood out the second time, the first being that Kieran Tierney really was fantastic. He slipped in as the left-sided centre back, presumably to give some pace next to Luiz, then he was moved out left when AMN moved inside, and occasionally he bombed forward as an LWB. Magnificent. What a great player we have there.
I also think Granit Xhaka has to be given his dues, he has been mostly excellent under Mikel Arteta. He had another really, really good game. He put his body on the line over and over again, he lead like a warrior, and he gave the team a calm player to look up to when City were coming at us.
I also didn’t give enough credit to Pépé for his showing. I’ve been very critical of him over the last 3 months. I know there’s a player there, but he doesn’t show it enough. He’s a very quiet player and sometimes, that comes across as meek on the pitch. I didn’t feel like that after the game on Saturday. He gave more to the defensive side of things, and going forward, he was quicker and bolder with his decisions, plus, he made decisive contributions for our two goals in a game that wasn’t going to give us much.
I know I might be early on this, but I also feel like that was a game the fans needed to see from Arteta. We’ve been watching him make steady improvements over the last 6 months, but generally, there’s always been something not quite right about our game. Injuries, mistakes, red cards, contract induced brainfarts… factored with the harsh reality that this team hasn’t been coached to an elite level in over a decade.
City felt like the game where we delivered an innovative performance against the odds. The gameplan was bold, it was very unArsenal, and it was executed to near perfection. Our last manager couldn’t get us passing out the back in 18months, our new coach has us using it as a tactic to play around a Man City press. That’s not to say we haven’t seen other really good performances. Chelsea at home, United at home, Sheffield United away and Wolves away spring to mind… but this had something important on it, and no one gave us a prayer. It just felt bigger, particularly after the absolute spanking we took against Liverpool in the week.
The Manchester United vs Chelsea semi-final wasn’t that interesting. Ole G, after receiving all the press plaudits for 3 wins on the bounce against shit teams, didn’t show up for a Wembley semi-final. United lacked drive, a decent plan, and a good goalkeeper. Frank Lampard cooly took the game and at an absolute canter. I fancied our chances against either side, but I think I prefer Chelsea. Lampard is a better manager than OGS, so it’ll be tough, but I think everything that was wrong under Unai Emery came out in the wash in Baku.
- Our players weren’t focused before the game. I was told they were complainining about travel arrangements and senior players in the side knew we’d lose just by how much of a farce it was pregame
- We played an extremely negative game. No one showed up for the final. It was an embarrassing performance. The worst final I’ve ever seen us play in.
- The plan was confusing, watching Iwobi trying to decipher what the fuck Emery was trying to say on the sidelined summed it all up. We gave Sarri his first ever trophy and we shouldn’t have
This final is the chance to right the wrongs of last season and prove that elite coaching can be a driving force in our return to the top. Ironically, it’ll give us the opportunity to get back into the same competition we were trying to escape so desperately last season, but after the mess of this year, it’d be more than welcome. We made £42m last season from the Europa League last season, that sort of cash takes us from a very bland summer to something mildly interesting.
Still a longshot… but the other upside of us making it to the final with Chelsea is that I believe it’ll open up Europa spaces to 7th place. Currently, we sit in 10th. The league chase is not in our hands at all, but there’s always an off chance we could make it. What is gratifying is that we’ll know where we stand before the game. It won’t make a difference to the performance either way, but it adds a little bit of spice to the young managers final.
Talking of summer, it’s going to be very interesting to see what we do.
It’s clear to me that Don Raul isn’t going to be able to do whatever he likes this time around. He’ll be answering to someone this summer and that’s a good thing. Also, have you noticed that he’s being briefed against? John Cross dropping precision bombs his way, The Athletic went very hard at his approach, and we saw similarly aggressive stories from The Guardian. Those are no accidents.
That said, it won’t stop him working with who he wants to and my fear is that we’ll have another crack at trying to drag ourselves into the Champions League with the ‘one more job for the boys’ type signings, versus just accepting the reality… football isn’t won with contacts, and if Arsenal wants to be like Liverpool, they are going to have be smarter about transfers.
One thing is absolutely clear from this week. Arteta and his coaching staff are desperate to get into the Champions League as quickly as possible. Given the choice of a City like injection or taking it slow, he’s going to go for the fast route in. He wants to win the biggest prizes. That’s why I would not be surprised to see him entertain the offerings that’ll come his way.
He’ll take Coutinho if it’s offered because regardless of where he is now in his career, he’s better than what we have. Willian is a very good professional and gives us something we don’t have. I wouldn’t take either of them, because we’ve seen what signing players on the way out does to the squad.
We should be focusing on a 5-year plan. Ship out the players that are problematic to the culture. Find new homes for players that aren’t mentally up to the task. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can save a body part that has started to go green.
We don’t have a lot of money, we have a disgraceful wage bill, and Raul has been doing everything in his power to exacerbate both problems. Arsenal should not be giving anyone £250k a week unless it’s Auba. We should not be signing any players over the age of 30. We should be clearing our wage bill, upgrading our older players with younger ones, and implementing a plan to be competing for the league and Champions League in 5 years time.
Trying to become elite by investing premium money on players that have no sell on value will not kick us on and it’ll delay the inevitable reality: we have to move to a sustainable approach to player recruitment.
- Scour the world for value. Look where others aren’t. Or go where RB do. Salzburg have players from Mali, Hungary, Bosnia, Ghana, Japan, and Zambia.
- Pick up players with 1/2 years on their deals from smaller leagues that blood young players earlier
- Focus on young players with high ceilings
- Use data to drive your decisions, not super-agents
- Accept that to get back to the top, you have to be a selling club
- Build a conveyor belt with that in mind (Pulisic > Sancho)
Matteo G and Lucas Torreira are prime examples of this in action. Both look likely to move this summer, but we’ll get more than what we paid for, and at the very least, we’ll retain value. The current model of chasing the Champions League with battle-hardened pros has left us with what? Sokratis? Mikhi? Lichtsteiner? Soares? They’ll all be worth nothing, so what’s the point?
We also have to be smarter about players values. Nicolas Pépé might blow up, he might, but we spent such a horrendous amount of money on him, the chances of him having a resale value higher than what we paid is unlikely. He’s a £35m player, not £72m. You only spend that sort of money when you need a VVD or an Alisson. We spent world-class money on someone that still needs a lot of coaching. Again, not saying he can’t come good, just that it’s very hard to think that move was money well spent… but that’s the reality, we don’t have a Head of Football that has the future in mind. He’s rolling the dice with his closest pals, he doesn’t really give much of a shit about how this pans out for Arsenal.
We have all the tools to succeed at the club, the big question is whether there’s a smart plan in place to drive Arsenal forward. My big fear is that this summer will look much like the last one. Rushed deals through a small collection of agents that reek of short-termism.
Let’s hope I’m wrong.
FUCK JUST SEEN THE EVERTON SCORE LOVELY
Pedro
” I believe John Cross. ”
I have these magic beans – how much will you give me for them?
“FUCK JUST SEEN THE EVERTON SCORE LOVELY“
Listen to my elite updates and you’d be on the cutting edge.
I remember saying Ramsey will play second fiddle to Bentancur and some shitheads on here were piping up about how Ramsey will do this and that.
Lo and behold… Ramsey is thrown in when Juve are desperate a bit like how Kanu used to be towards the end of his time at Arsenal.
It will be so niiice to go to the FA cup final with 7th position secured
It will be European qualification no matter what.
Lose the final and we still get the EL spot that’s transferred to the league placement.
Radio Raheem
“I remember saying Ramsey will play second fiddle to Bentancur and some shitheads on here were piping up about how Ramsey will do this and that.”
Don’t you dare call Paulinho a shit head.
Need something special from Palace later.
I don’t see what impact Don Carlo has had on Everton unlike The Sauce. Everton are currently but from the times I’ve watched them erratic will be a kind description of their performances.
Dissenter, you think Wolves will crack?
We need to win both remaining games and hope Chelsea beat Wolves.
Leaves us level on points with them and we’re currently 3 worse on goal difference.
Chavs will 100% play out a draw to fuck us.
Marc, disbelief in the Chief Football Writer at The Mirror who knows everyone at Arsenal… total belief in the guy that brokered the Neymar deal, and the super-agent that downed QPR and brought transfer hits like Masch and Tevez to the UK.
You salesman.
CC, hoping that Frank is thinking like Pep… who wanted good momentum going into the Madrid game.
Also, he might wonder if fucking us in the league puts more intensity into our game in the final.
Players are playing for bonuses and lost wages
Pedro
I would say 110k isn’t really low, inconsistent and injury prone doesn’t really help fee wise either.
Nice back track from the 50m claim though.
If Liverpool or anyone else had a concrete bid for him in 2018 we messed up not getting a fee for him, although it wouldn’t have been close to 50m and we couldn’t have made him leave either if he didn’t want to. I have my doubts there was any real interest though, maybe we’ll find out some day.
Pedro
Very true, maybe it’ll work the opposite and he’ll try and help us “relax” before the final to catch us cold.
That or Woy will have a blinder tonight and it’ll be in our hands regardless, cmon Zaha you legend.
Pedro
Magic beans – buy one get one free.
The only (top-is) team Ramsey thrives is Arsenal. His passing is ponderous and he’s control of the ball is poor. Without those hard to get a starting place in a top side. Henderson has improved those elements in his game the last few years.
Juve would have done good business if they sell Ramsey for 50m. I don’t think he has cost them more than 20m in wages.
Don You’re showing your Irish roots there with that compliment, still won’t let you shag me. Oz was never worth that much either, just as Iwobi wasn’t worth his fee, maybe there’s something in the water in Liverpool? I thought Ramsey was over rated overall for his time at the club, had 1 great season 6 years ago and then just half decent ones riddled with injuries, inconsistency sprinkled with the odd brilliant game. I would have been delighted if he was sold at any time really in the last 3-4 years, the ideal time to do it wasn’t with… Read more »
Lovely stuff, Everton.
Still need Palace to beat Wolves tonight by a couple of goals and for us to win our next game.
Then it’s down to the wire.
Radio
Who the fuck is buying Ramsey for £50 million in the current climate?
PSG or City? Can’t see it. ManU would usually be a good bet for throwing silly money at something but I don’t think they’ve got the money to chuck that much at an injury prone player.
All that is way before someone has to get near to his £400,000 a week wages. How many clubs are paying players £250k a week wages? Not many and why would Ramsey throw away an amount of money that will set his great great grand kids up for life?
Freddie, clearly, 110k was low, because he earns 3.5x that.
Un
Those guy are streets ahead of Ramsey for ball control and passing. In my view of course. Wijnaldum has got to a different last two years, might be the best all-round midfielder after De Bruyne.
Ramsey’s strength is arriving in the box at the right time and a decent finish. Flaws in everything else.
If he moves to manu he’ll be a a squad player after a few months.
Freddie
I think you’ve pulled!
Imagine moving from Juve to Man United…. shoot me.
Un
I was talking about Radio saying Juve selling for £50 million now would be good business.
As you say it’s a different world right now.
Who the fuck cares about Ramsey anymore, its been proven…….he was gash and the real hero has always been Granit Xhaka.
Kiss my ring, you peasants were wrong.
Cc
You’ve turned into Xhaka’s Pierre. We just can’t see what he brings to the game eh?
Don
Glad you got there in the end. Was too good an opening to let slide.
Un
How long was the contract he signed?
Ramsey wouldn’t have survived at Liverpool, he’s broken. Couldn’t stay injury free with a free role at Arsenal, couldn’t stay healthy in Italy, no way he would have coped with the demans of Klopp. Unless he was a bench player of course like the Ox.
Marc
Rubbish comparison, I’m not in the least bit devoted to a player, I’ve simply always been vocal in the face of overwhelming hysterical criticism.
Man like Granit deserves his praise, he’s the embodiment of what an elite mentality will do for you under Arteta. No excuses for the likes of Guendouzi and Ozil.
Cc
I was taking the piss – chill out.
Marc
Sense the tone you melt, any more chilled and I’d be snoring.
Don
In the 3 years he’s been at Liverpool he’s been out with injury for 366 days, would say he’s still plagued.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/verletzungen/spieler/143424
I haven’t watched loadssss of Wolves, but to me they’ve gotten very lopsided in their approach.
Adama seems to be the only game plan more and more.
Been a quiet time from Jimenez, Jota, Neto (who I like a lot). Seems that way at least idk.
How did we manage top 4 with players like Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcot and Chamberlain.
All crocks, but somehow we were still in the top 4.
we had 2 great games, lets hope we can carry on from here.
Un
Ah the Klopp effect. Well, that is hard to argue against. If anyone can transform Ramsey it’ll be Klopp…but Ssshhhhaquiri 😬🤐
I think they should start a rule that ex-player pundits should not comment on their former clubs on live TV.
They are never objective when it comes to their former clubs – they either go off emotionally or are too biased.
Talk of the dragon Ramsey with a rare start for Juve haha.
MGooner
July 20, 2020 19:42:16
“How did we manage top 4 with players like Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcot and Chamberlain.”
Rhetorical question maybe but I’ll answer by reminding you that Uruguay were once World Cup winners. On two occasions in fact.
It may not be the answer you’re looking for, but I’m pretty sure it’s not completely off the mark. 😀
Wolves making it almost impossible to catch them.
Wolves play Chelsea next, this finishes in a draw we likely get a look in.
Palace have been in very dismal form and are lucky to have amassed enough points before the covid-intermission.
They should have sold Zaha to fund a rebuild, now they are stuck with an unhappy player with reduced value. If they take this horrible form to next season, they will go down.
Wolves is just 6 points ahead and we have a game in hand, if we win against Villa we’re 3 behind and they play Chelsea in their last game while we have Watford. Still very much doable, doubt we’re catching Spurs but I’ll take 7th at this point, need that EL money.
Still binned
If Wolves hang on and win it’ll mean that if Arteta truly wants the Europa League he’ll need the players to really be up for it against Abramovich’s rent boys.
Just hope Wolves doesn’t score more goals, as is it’s just 3 goals to make up on them. We win our next 2 and they lose against Chelsea and we’re both on 59 points.
Fast Freddie Wolves still have 45 to play here, paint ur hair red and do the dance we need dropped points.
What a pass from Moutinho for Wolves’ goal.
By the way, it’s hard to believe that Neves is only 23. He plays like a veteran. Sometimes I can’t tell whether it’s him or Moutinho on the ball.
I wouldn’t mind seeing him or Neto in an Arsenal shirt. Neto instead, if we’re keeping Ceballos.
My big fear is that this summer will look much like the last one. Rushed deals through a small collection of agents that reek of short-termism. Melodramatic as it comes. Short-termism? Pepe just turned 25, Tierney just 23, Martinelli 19 and Saliba just 19…none of which is short term. Short term is signing up Mari and Cedric while giving a new deal to Luiz and contemplating one for Mustafi. Anyway my hopes for the summer more of the same if Kia nabs us some Brazilian kid on the rise or Coutinho I’m all for it. If Mino Raoila helps us… Read more »
Rodney
Whose wolves best player and why?
Coutinho would slot in fairly easily in our 4231 set up as CAM
That position is becoming really important.
If Arteta wants to keep the Xhaka/Dani partnership going, then its imperative we get a CAM to add scoring and creativity down the middle…
I have low expectations of Palace breaking down Wolves here.
Ok, I have no expectations of Palace doing us favors. Nice goal Wolves.
The Traore plan might not be perfect but it is alright.
RR, he’s relentless. £120m they want for him
2-0 Thats that…
Guns agree.
I’m not a big Coutinho fan but he’s good for 10 goals a season, which is more than were getting from this MF.
Rid Ozils wage and redirect.
Ain’t that the truth of it Donald. Ah no but seriously this club shouldn’t be afraid for one second to deal with those dastardly dirty super agents. There’s just too much to benefit from
Only a matter of time until Wolves make champions league, can’t wait to see how they perform in it.
RR, I wonder if they’ve blown their biggest chance this season. All the big clubs in a mess this year, even City, and they are still Europa.
Doubt they’ll be this effective next season (especially if they sell)
Imagine demanding £80m for Zaha though.
Pedro
The way he’s playing at the mo he’s worth it. That chap barca played 120m for is little more than a squad player.
Pedro
I see what you mean but just going off what I see of them I think they’re improving year on year. This is the best Traore ever, their midfield players are relatively young but for Moutinho and now Podence has come from ‘nowhere’. I’ve got high hopes for them, they seem to know what they’re doing there.
Crystal Palace have lost every match post-covid break I think . Thing is they haven’t been that bad. This is the worst I’ve seen them play in that time. Weird.
Anyway time to switch to the Juve match.
Pedro
Love how you always slate wolves because it goes against your raul super agents narrative.
You can only view football through your agenda.
Wolves are a terrifically run club this is the e
Third season in the PL last season they got the europa and if they do it again that’s succesd and that’s consistency.
Hardly blown it when the teams ahead of them all have better deeper squads and haven’t had sustained run of bad forms.
AMN is worth £200m no doubt 😁
London, I know this is really difficult for you to understand, but I write a blog to put forward my agenda… that’s the point. This isn’t the BBC. People read because of the agenda.
You had an agenda last week that said Arteta dropping Matteo meant he was favouring pussies with no fight. How is that one working out?
If no one had an agenda on here, it’d be quite boring.
Jeez – how many more of you are going to bore us with Pedro’s so called agenda
The guy has an opinion and it becomes an agenda
He’s a blogger ffs so he needs to express opinions and they need to be interesting enough to read
that’s why this site works despite the negativity of so many
So show a bit of respect
Why spend 120m on Griezman when you could try for Dybala? He may not have Messi’s and Ronaldo’s numbers (who does?), nonetheless, I don’t think there’s a more suited forward to play for them outside of Neymar.
Thank you Northbanker.
If we win our next game, exceptionally well run Wolves will be 3 points clear of Arsenal in our worst season since time began.
Fair play, they’ve come from nowhere, but they’ve got the backing of the biggest super agent on the planet and they’ve not made hay with all the big clubs in transition.
I’d be fascinated to here your take on AMN’s rise to prominence
Yeah rise and yeah prominence. He was just one in a team of excellent performers the other day. Still hoping to see the back of him this summer. Don’t be fooled by the last couple games this squad still needs major work. He’s not fit to lace Tierney’s right boot.
Marko
You’re so unforgiving of AMN
Maybe something has clicked in his head. He’s looked more hungry and fired up recently – has a take no prisoner approach
Give him a chance.
It seems that the stadium lockdown really helps Arteta’s in game management. I find that he is the most vocal coach on the sideline. He keeps berating his players where to go. Ceballos has also credited Arteta for converting him to become a deep lying CM by keep advising him what to do.
London gunner
July 20, 2020 20:28:47
“Rodney Whose wolves best player and why?”
“Best player” you’d agree can be subjective. Perhaps Moutinho overall in terms of his vision, shooting and passing ability. But at 33, he’s getting on and against quicker players, he tends to struggle with the pace of the game.
Traore, arguably Wolves’ most improved player, is exciting but he still needs to iron out certain aspects of his game. Jimenez is so, so. Has his days.
Having said that, I really do like Coady and Doherty, both of whom are crucial to how Wolves play.
Dissenter it was one game
I predict the Guendouzi will buy Arteta a wrist watch and they will make up.
Ozil is the one I’m looking at. This is how you get rid of the sponge let it be known that if he wants to stay he’ll not see any action whatsoever. As for Guendouzi I’d hate to see a midfield rebuild to take place and he and Torreira are gone and Xhaka survives but if Mikel isn’t keen he isn’t keen. A swap for Coutinho or a swap for Bruno Guimaraes would be ideal for me
When the news breaks that Ozil is leaving this summer i think i will have a heart attack.
I get a funny feeling this might be in the works…. just a hunch.
Dude has been frozen out since we re-opening and I am sure his team reads all things Ozil.
If we need to part fund his salary I am for it. We cannot have him around for more distractions. He needs to take his brand and hit the road.
Ozil has repeatedly said he’s going to finish his contract, his agent has pretty much said the same.
Spare yourself unnecessary heart burn and just forget that he exists. He will be truly gone in one year.
https://twitter.com/ArsenalView_/status/1285015305786449922?s=20
Ozil Schmozil
Lets see what happens when Coutinho comes in or another class CAM. Maybe then the motivation to leave will be accelerated. Right now, the fat rat has no competition in the team
Arteta said in an interview, that he would have the last day in any transfer, so it doesn’t matter what Raul wants, if the player he brings in doesn’t float Ma’s boat he can refuse. If however there are players coming in, they (by arteta own admission) would have his stamp of approval.
Hilarious twitter link!
Marc, if you are rude and question my integrity, you go in the bin.
Pedro, what a day huh! By the way did you check out the Tierney video that was posted? You know where, He, the guy himself says we bid for him?
So sven scouted him, after we bid for him under wenger huh? Elite logic there!!
Tierney’s fast becoming my favorite Arsenal player of the last few years. Lad has it all to be an Arsenal legend
Short termism is extending Luiz contract and signing Soares
RockyRoe,
Contrarily to your opinion, I would think that would reinforce Pedro argument.
You do know that Sven joined Arsenal at the end of 2017 and that by that time Wenger was out of the recruitment loop. Gazidis and Sven were in charge of recruitment with Raul trying to muscle in on that area a few month later.
Most clubs buy players they have scouted a few years before. Whatever reason (financial, player is not yet ready, internal disagreement), a purchase can occur well after the initial scouting and in some initial offer took place.
Valentin
You love pretending like we didn’t have scouts before Sven sauntered in
The Tierney case-example punctures whatever grand balloon you and Pedro are floating about Sven.
Tierney was scouted before we ever thought about bringing Sven in.
The same wag our scouts got to dozens of other high value targets that Wenger didn’t act on.
Just to throw a name into the mix..
John Stones. If he’s available for 25 to 30 million, would that be a good deal? Or do we stick with Holding/Chambers?
Having Stones, Saliba, Luiz, Marri and Holding as our 4 centre halves look good to me.
Mustafi has been excellent since lockdown though, it wouldn’t surprise me if he lands a new deal.
* 5 centre halves I meant.
Dissenter, You are like a petulant child trying to jump on every comments that I made without even bother to actually read and understand what it. Reread what I wrote. I just pointed to RockyRoe that the argument that Arsenal bid in 2018 for Kierney is not proof that Wenger knew of him at all. I don’t think that Sven scouted Tierney. He has never shown any particular interest in Scotland. However the fact that Sven was already at Arsenal as head of recruitment when we bid for Tierney make it valid to think that he was aware of Tierney… Read more »
Dissenter, not sure anyone is suggesting we didn’t have scouts… but Sven ran recruitment from 2017, would have run his data through the system, extensively scouted him, and put him forward along with other for last summer.
Unless you think Raul was like, fuck it man, who was Wenger looking at 5 years ago that I can sign this summer?
Anyway, it really is a pointless argument. Raul is a bagman, Sven is a scout. One picks players, one lets agents do it.
John Stones is another type of the defenders Arsenal should not go near. Good footballer, but terrible defenders. We already have David Luiz to fulfil that role.
John Stones does not make brain fart mistakes but often he does not smell danger until too late.
Also his distribution is decent, but not extraordinary.
Valentin, I really liked JS, but at 26, you are who you are in sport
Pedro,
Paradoxically, I think that John Stones would have benefited to have a much stricter defensive manager during his formative years.
Like you said, at 26 he is not a prospect any more. He is a decent defender but prone to lapse in judgement. Unless he really works with a defensive coach, he is never going to be a world class defender.
Yeah, we need to be looking at 22-23 year olds.
Arteta is racing to get back to the top, I worry he’ll pack the squad with nearly players like Wenger did when we were chasing.
Just find young players with high ceilings and coach them to the next level.
Valentin
You’re fund of attributing every good signing to Sven, even though we had dossiers of scouting reports before Sven came to the club.
It’s not your post to Rocky Roe I picked up upon. it’s the body work of dozens of comments you have made and keep making to credit good signings to Sven and poor ones to Raul.
I just read that Pep said he has respect for Arsenal on the pitch but he’s disgusted with our off-the-field conduct. He may have a point because we were Borderline dishonorable with the botched Sanchez transfer to city in 2017. We gave them authorization to send a plane and a medical team to Chile on the dying hours of the transfer window, only for Wenger to suddenly make his exit contingent on a replacement. Then we made a club record bid for Lemar with 36 hours to go in the transfer window. How do you complete a record transfer in… Read more »
I know we all bang on about Upamecano, but it really isn’t impossible to get him.
I read recent that as of June this year he has no 50 million release clause.
He has under a year left on his contract. Would a 30 to 35 million pound bid be enough? It’s not much considering we paid that for Mustafi.
A young back four of Bellerin Upamaecano Saliba and Tierney could be around for the next 7 or 8 years.
It’s a long shot, but we also thought that signing Tierney and Saliba last summer wouldn’t happen. You never know.