Listen, I’ve had my say on Arsenal this week. The bad news must surely all be out, so I’ll move on and land more positive vibes.
We’ve ditched our scouting department. From what I understand from multiple places, this is a really smart move and we shouldn’t fear it. Our hit rate has been miserable for years and we’ve wasted a lot of money.
If Edu says he wants to move to a Michael-Edwards-Liverpool-style of data intelligence, then let’s see if he does it. Nothing he’s done at Arsenal so far suggests that’s what he’s about, so the onus is on him to make the right promotions, bring in the best talent, and move beyond CHECK DIS GUY e-mails from Kia for his transfer inspiration.
With regards to the layoffs, it sounds like they went right at the areas of business that are, well, pretty redundant for the foreseeable. Sales, admin, and premium partnerships. I’d have had them on commission for selling our best players for ‘very good price’ to the highest bidder this summer, but it is what it is, Arsenal wants to be a cost-conscious business in a pandemic, so there we are.
What all the bad news won’t change is that the manager we have at the club is the real deal. The players finally have someone in charge that commands respect, the training ground is buzzing again, and there is a very clear and ambitious vision Arteta is trying to unlock.
So what next?
Well, summer is about to start. Let’s walk through the smoke and see if we can identify where the fires🔥 are at.
Auuuuuuba
Our BEST player is apparently nearing a 3 year £250k a week deal to stay at Arsenal. He’s happy, the elders are happy, the deal is close. This would be huge news and a testament to the coach that he’s managed to convince a man in his absolute prime that 8th place Arsenal is the destination for him. Auba has been committed, he’s developed his game, and his leadership has been all about setting an example for others. What a deal that’d be.
One of his stipulations is that he wants to see that Pam in accounts safe in her job… along with some big money spent on this squad. Some papers are saying the club is looking to drop £100m… if we can shift on talent.
QUESTION: How long does the club wait on the deal? What happens if he says no?
Ainsley
One of the players who has been put up for sale is Ainsley. The versatile midfielder turned right-back has been told if the big money comes in for him this summer, he’ll be moved on. The caveat is that Mikel doesn’t want to see him go. Bit of a weird caveat. One thing is for sure, we’re stocked down the right and no one is buying Soares out of his freshly minted 4-year deal. A £30m fee is being mooted, which seems quite high given the moment. I don’t fully understand the thinking here, I think the player has been excellent when called upon, he seems to pick up Arteta’s instructions quicker than most, and he’s executed plans to the T at the highest level. Maybe we’ve pumped his value? Maybe the player wants to be the name ALWAYS on the teamsheet? Seems an odd one, but if that’s what the management brain trust wants, then there we are.
Torreira
I read a tweet where someone said ‘I feel like Torreira has been talking about leaving since joining’, and I agree.
“Today I need to think about my future very well. I have a contract with the club and I have to respect it, obviously if I have to leave it will be for the best. We have to be calm and wait”
Look, this is what happens when you bring in the right profile of player and pay them market rate. LT had some promise… it didn’t work out, so we’ll sell him back to the country he came from at a similar price point. Torreira looked like he made sense, aggressive, good on the ball, with sharp technical skills. The problem has been that he just isn’t at the right level physically for the Premier League. If we can get a deal from Milan (YO IVAN) or Torino (his old coach now there), then everyone would be happy.
Hector
There are also a lot of rumours doing the rounds that the socially conscious right-back wants to lay down roots (geddit) in another league. He’s been with us for 9 or so years, I’m not sure he ever recovered physically or mentally from that injury so it might be time to try another catwalk. He is a good player, he’s young, and he’d fetch a pretty decent fee.
… I’d have to find another muse, but it’s fine, I’ll be ok.
CENTRAL DEFENDERS
Look, it’s obvious we need to shift on some of the centre backs, especially if we’re bringing in Gabriel. Sokratis is on a big salary, so he might have to be offered a way out of his deal in the same way Mikhi was. No one is going to him with £90k a week and a fee. Rob Holding would be perfect for a sale. He’s currently on his holidays with Jenks. I think he’d do well in the Premier League, he’d fit perfectly in a setup that didn’t require too much passing under pressure, like, maybe Burnley? We also have to exit Kola. He’s on a big contract because we bosman-d him a few years back, but he just hasn’t hit the mark, he’s not up to the mental rigours of the game, and his defending is really, really poor. There could at least be a fee there.
THE YOUNG GUNS
I think we’ll see some movement with the young players for sure this summer. I have no doubt that Matteo will find a new home, absolute LOLz from the back of the room that BIG UNAI is sniffing around for a loan deal, not sure that’s what the Frenchman had in mind. We really need to max out the fee for Matteo or get a major swap involved. Lyon beat Juve last night, they are back to the big time, we know they are interested, so maybe something can be done there with Aouar? We know that Balogun will be moved on for a fee of £8m, I’m having GnabryMalenJeffBennacerHOTsweats over that potential exit. Talking of Bennacer, he’s on his holidays with Reiss Nelson. Another player I expect to fetch a good fee this summer.
ALEX LACAZETTE
‘There ain’t room in this town for the two of us’ is what Auba apparently said when Edu told him the money for his new deal was coming from selling Lacazette. It’s apparent the French striker maybe doesn’t quite fit what we need in our forward line next season. He’s apparently drawn to Juventus. He’s a top goal scorer, he has a great attitude, and he’s a big name. We’ll either need to max out the fee there or make the swap count hard. We’ll also need to find a replacement, we can’t be heading into the next season relying on just Auba and Eddie.
SWOPPORTUNITIES
This summer is likely to be nuts. Stretched clubs trying to save money and face. Rich clubs trying to pick off the weaklings. There will be opportunities that pop up that could surprise. Mesut Ozil, our contractually obliged rock, might not fancy spending a year in Turkey doing nothing, hardly good for the profile. Someone might make a sexy offer for one of the players we thought unmovable (Granit/Mustafi/Leno). There are many things that could unexpectedly happen and I think we have to be open to them.
THE GOAL
We have to come out of the summer with a squad that is shaped to the vision of the manager. We need technically proficient players. That doesn’t simply mean being good on the ball, it means having the intelligence to absorb and execute complex ideas. We need to have a set of players up the physical challenges of the league. The right size, explosive pace, the ability to go 3 games a week without injury or loss of form. The major difference between ok players and the elite is the lack of mistakes. Pep always says that Garcia, who wants Barca, doesn’t make mistakes. Our Didier-Drogba-like-nightmare last year wasn’t a player, it was ‘UNFORCED ERROR.’ We need to change that up. We also need to bring in players that have the right mentality so when things inevitably go off the rails, we don’t have lower back pain issues for big away days.
We also need to start buying with long-term value in mind. Willian should be the exception, not the rule. If we’re a cost-conscious club, then we need to focus on players that have value if they don’t work out. We should look for opportunities in the market, like Gabriel and Saliba. That applies to the other end of the scale as well because we bought Pepe at 24 years old, but we spent so much on him, it’s very, very unlikely we’ll ever recoup that.
One last thing on the vision of Edu now focusing on data and analytics. We had a bit of a debate about it in the comments yesterday, some saying that it was logical that the Brazilian focused on restructuring the youth setup in his first year, over the scouting. I can’t for the life of me unpack those mental gymnastics. Firstly, you can do more than one thing at a time. Secondly, the youth setup, for all its failings, has produced Saka, Eddie, Willock, ESR, Balogun, Tyreece, and Smith.
The burning hot mess at Arsenal was surely our transfer approach? Why would you wait until year two to implement data and analytics? Because at best, if you are starting from scratch, it’s going to be at least another year before you see the fruits of a new centralised approach? Unless there is some tech partnership I’m unaware of? I mean, look, there is obviously a lot that I am unaware of, I’m just asking why you’d wait an entire year to decide all those people you’ve been working with are shite and that the approach was backwards. Surely the red flag was having to sign David Luiz to replace Laurent Koscielny when the club had a 3-month headstart? It seems like the corporate version of starting a job at Blockbuster Video and focusing your first year on a logo redesign versus addressing the Netflix issue.
Regardless, it’s done. Let’s see who Edu brings in or promotes and what sort remit they are given. I am more than game to see us try and behave like Liverpool and I’m glad that people at Arsenal think this move is a good one IF Edu is capable of hiring the right people.
Right, on that note, fuck off, see you in the virtual bar. xx
First?
Second?
I’ll let someone swoop in.
Tr4phy?
5th again!
That’s what I get for doing DIY projects around my house instead of refreshing LeGrove incessantly! 😜 Have a good weekend LeGrovers!
Excellent post Don Pedro.
I’m glad you left out all the bits that stir up controversy.
What’s done is done, let’s move on wit the times and give Raul/Edu to work their magic.
Top ten?
I’d happily sell Bellerin, providing we signed Max Aarons as a replacement.
I’d happily sell Leno for £35-40mill, get a cheaper replacement, and put the change into an attacking midfielder.
Also wouldn’t be against shifting Lacazette, I like him, but £35mill would be good business.
Would be gutted if we sold Niles, and I think we’d be kicking ourselves in 24 months if we sold Nelson.
Much better piece Pedro
It does get a little bit “hardwork” listening to you moan and bitch all the time – even if I appreciate that you do have the best interests of the club at heart.
Looks like the revolution won!
I was thinking the other day about how I’d be sad to see AMN or Laca leave, and then I remembered that we finished 8th…and if it wasn’t for last weekend’s FA Cup win we wouldn’t have European football to look forward to next season (all be it the Europa League). We need to move this squad forward, and that means “some favorites” are going to have to be moved. One other thing, the Anelka Netflix documentary is amazing. I started following football seriously the year he went to Real Madrid. I had heard about his time at Arsenal, however… Read more »
Marc
The club appears to have made a strategic shift away from the last with how we do our transfers. Whatever they are doing isn’t reducing their capacity for bold transfers.
Whatever one thinks if Edu/Raul, scared or small isn’t part of it.
Hi pete. It’s Bennacer not Bentancur lol
Dissenter
“Whatever one thinks if Edu/Raul, scared or small isn’t part of it.”
Never said anything to suggest that. Last summer was the best TW in ages and if we get the players we’re being linked to – Gabriel, Coutinho, Willian, Partey and bring Ceballos back in the circumstances this one will be even better.
Obviously we need to shift on some players but I’m cautiously optimistic.
Cheers for the info Mark S. I had no idea there was a documentary on Anelka. Should make for an interesting watch.
I still recall how he left the club, a lot of fans were not pleased with his transfer seeking behaviour. At the charity shield that year I remember seeing a banner saying “Lazio? Madrid? Where is he going? Who gives a F**K”
Re Poch and Juventus from the last post He’d either have to recruit 6/7 new players or massively adjust his high tempo style of football, can’t have Matuidi and Bernadeschi and co go at the ridiculously high tempo he likes lol he’d break Douglas Costa and co into shreds and will not have anyone else fit over a long period of time. Allegri was such a disaster hire from the scratch, was never going to work and they should have backed Allegri better than they did before he left. They also need to totally revamp that midfield, it’s such a… Read more »
Chris
The Anelka money bought us Henry and paid for the upgrade to the training ground. For Arsenal it worked out very well – I think Anelka effectively threw his career away – he could have gone down as one of the all time greats.
I posted earlier, is there any doubt about Gabriel Magalhaes? Sounds are that it isn’t cut and dried and Utd are still in the race.
Anyone know if this is just noise? Northern noise – mostly.
We’ve ditched our scouting department. From what I understand from multiple places, this is a really smart move and we shouldn’t fear it.
Dr Jekyll.
so the onus is on him to make the right promotions, bring in the best talent, and move beyond CHECK DIS GUY e-mails from Kia for his transfer inspiration.
Back to Mr Hyde in the next paragraph.
Batistuta
Sari is the reason why I wrongly predicted that Juve wouldn’t win Serie A.
It sill gives me headaches just remembering that he win his first trophy at our expense in Baku.
Totally agree about Juvé, the squad is set up for a slow league and is likely to fall apart with heavy pressing. Far too much reliance on very talented but old players. There is no way they cannot expect their players to succeed in a heavy pressing game; there would be corpses dotted all around the Allianz Stadium.
Also I don’t get the Bentancur reference? Maybe you’re thinking of Valverde who we had on trial and didn’t sign under Wenger.
Dissenter
Sarri was such a horrible horrible hire but knew they’d have just enough to go over the line in Serie A really. It’s in Europe they were bound to get found out.
They scored what 8 champions league goals and Ronaldo scored 7.
Ramsey was a waste if money and they should have upgraded on Higuain too and never brought back Buffon out of sentiment.
Marc
I agree absolutely, we ended up bringing in a player of at least equal talent with a more stable temperament. And as you say, the training ground was finished in time for the 99 season and was the finest in the country at that stage.
I am eager to watch the documentary and get more from Anelka’s side of what happened when he left. His career is a fascinating illustration of a richly talented nomadic player whose variety of clubs in terms of prestige and location is vast.
That the poch love in still exists on le grove to this day is honestly nauseating. Lad is good don’t get me wrong but it’s weird how he’s viewd on an Arsenal blog honestly. Needs off that pedestal. Him moving to Juve sounds like the perfect chance for him to win a trophy finally. He won’t get an easier way to do it.
Anyway fuck Juve did anyone get to see that Caqueret fella at Lyon last night. 20 years of age he looks destined for the very top
How long will Ramsey stay fit for in a high tempo team under the Poooooooooch?
Marko
Well that’s it isn’t it. If the Poooooooooooch can’t win at Juve it was all hype, if he kicks on and goes on to be successful from here on it’s still funny because it shows the Spuddies are bottlers no matter who’s in charge.
Chris-The documentary definitely portrays him as more of a victim/misunderstood individual. Vieira, Thierry, Petit, Pires, Gallas, and Wenger all feature in it. They all touch on his brilliance, yet also they touch on his misguidance/poor decision making. Anelka owns up to most of his mistakes. The other thing you remember is that France had a crazy amount of talent in the late 90s/early 2000s. It also made me remember that Diaby went to the 2010 World Cup!
Lille has a friendly today and Gabriel never played, his short number was also worn by an academy player. These are the crumbs Arsenal fans live for
CC, let’s hope that the crumbs aren’t from a cake taken by Utd.
It’s Ismael Bennacer and not bentancur
Charlie it looks like it’s on. 18 million plus add ons I read would be an excellent bit of business. Honestly though has to be said now is the time to buy. Next summer is likely to see prices get back to normal. Perfect time to snap up an Aouar
Dave
Arsenal are going full Brazil, I’m confident.
“ We’ve ditched our scouting department. From what I understand from multiple places, this is a really smart move and we shouldn’t fear it. Our hit rate has been miserable for years and we’ve wasted a lot of money.”
It may have been our very own Arteta who has first hand compared the two set-ups of City and Arsenal and told the Execs the Scouts are bloody awful.
CC
That’s good because we’re going to blame you if it doesn’t come off!
Easy double M – Pedro’s struggling enough as it is.
Next thing you’ll be saying Mislintat is a massive fraud who took all the credit for others hard work.
Heard that Charlie
Fingers crossed there’s fire with that smoke
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1320395/Manchester-United-transfer-news-Gabriel-Magalhaes-Arsenal-Lille
Have a feeling it’s these kinds of stories that have Lille telling their own journos to keep it quiet regarding the Gabriel transfer. I’d honestly be very confident that we will sign him. The Brazilian/Lille links are too strong.
Un‘Show me where I did’Here ‘I never said they were better but I think both bring an energy that Coutinho of 2020 would not.’Its as if Coutinho has had a big drop off. He had 1 bad year at Barca which really wasnt that bad.As for energy levels , I wont be worrying about that for a player who was starting week in week out for Klopp.Coutinho is no makeweight.If he comes here or goes to Chelsea or Spuds or any team in the world not named Madrid , Psg , Juve or Bayern he is going to be the… Read more »
Un ‘Show me where I did’ Here ‘I never said they were better but I think both bring an energy that Coutinho of 2020 would not.’ Its as if Coutinho has had a big drop off. He had 1 bad year at Barca which really wasnt that bad. As for energy levels , I wont be worrying about that for a player who was starting week in week out for Klopp. Coutinho is no makeweight.If he comes here or goes to Chelsea or Spuds or any team in the world not named Madrid , Psg , Juve or Bayern he… Read more »
Pedro
Good post.
It seems like the corporate version of starting a job at Blockbuster Video and focusing your first year on a logo redesign versus addressing the Netflix issue.
Some of your analogies are brutal but spot on, keep sipping the Peroni Pedro
Un
You really are a miserable bugger at the moment.
There’s actually some ridiculous Brazilian talent out there right now and coming through.
Un
I would point out that Bergkamp had had a terrible season in Italy when we bought him.
Wasi
Looks like the revolution was triumphant but remember Kim Dumb Pedro has only been beaten back he hasn’t been vanquished.
Remember the price of football truth is eternal vigilance.
Good call Marko. Hope you’re right.
Charlie Watts is less hopeful, but i think he’s using the same primary sources.
If Andrea Pirlo ends up getting the Juve job over Poch I swear…
Great stuff Pedro. Must admit, I have wondered about some of our scouting for a while. Yes, some good even great players have been bought in by them, but seems a while back. Wish them the best, and the rest of the 55, but I am sure at least some of them will be ok, especially a scout with Dealings with Hector B, Cazorla and Cesc on their cv
Guess we just got to see what they do with Edu
Shame about AMN if he does go though
Mental it looks like it’ll be Pirlo.
sal
I assume you mean the Juve job?
If so is it because he’s too good for them or because outside of the PL he’s seen as always the bridesmaid.
Don’t mind a Brazilian flavour but full on Brazil? No thanks, I’d like the club to hold on to our traditions at least in part. Remember Santos, Denilson, Baptista, Wellington?
Agnelli going full Arteta, remember NO big club hires and inexperienced manager.
To be fair Pirlo is the original “sauce” so it makes sense.
Un
Hang on I know you’re trying to give up smoking but drinking as well?
If it’s the misses kick her out she’s trying to kill you. You won’t live longer, it’ll just feel like it.
No thanks, I’d like the club to hold on to our traditions at least in part.
Arsenal values am I right. One of these days someone will have to explain to me what exactly those values are.
Could be many reasons why Edu started with the youth scouting setup first. Most logical is that Per had done most of the groundwork there and Edu just had to implement it. Senior set up has been far more chaotic in the last 2 years.
Gazidis, Sven, Emery all leaving and probably no real vision in place before he landed so had to start from scratch with evaluations.
Could also be a case of not being able/unwilling to terminate contracts in the middle of the season.
Not everything is a conspiracy or a sign of incompetence.
UN
“””Literally worst Brazil side for generations””””
Well said.
Truth off course Hurts
Willian and Coutinho….
Give me a break….
X2 Brazilian ageing mercenaries
(Just what we dont need.)
ESR,AMN and Nelson are as talented, MORE Hungry, homegrown, British and ready to step up.
The talent is in the UK
Dunk, Rice, Zaha, Bellingham,Cresswell, Grealish etc.
(And across the English Channel in France)
Only a club , that has seriously lost it way- would go down this Brazilian route.
Fascinating to read that Klopp will attempt to build a team full of Livepudlians.
That’s a vision.
We have got Edu……..hahaha.
“No thanks, I’d like the club to hold on to our traditions at least in part.”
Weren’t people saying that when we were bringing in players from the continent?
Anyone know a good assassin in South Africa btw?
Asking for a friend
Poch getting ignored for Pirlo..lol
He is still the Messiah for some here though. Now that’s Juventus along with Bayern that have said no thanks. I was led to believe on here they will be fist fights for his signature. Maybe it’s time he too wakes up to reality and picks a modest project.
First order of business for Pirlo.
Gucci gets the tailoring contract, i’m so in.
“I can’t drink without smoking.
This must be what I was always like when I was a teenager.
I’ve turned into Marko
Albeit with some brains and a better accent”
Well the accent is down to personal taste – the brains if it makes you feel better!
Freddie
No but I’m happy to help with the finance – nudge nudge wink wink
“Literally worst Brazil side for generations“
1) we’re not signing the Brazil squad
2) the Brazil squad competes for the Prem
3) Gabriel is 22, he’s not even had his generation…much like Martinelli who is OK last time I checked?
Just make your boring point about not liking Willian and Coutinho. Leave the fluff at the door.
Most logical is that Per had done most of the groundwork there and Edu just had to implement it.
I would say the most logical would be that it was easier to begin and probably the easier to address beginning/mid season and also the culling of say scouts is probably a lot easier to do at the end of a season when there’s no football and no scouting going on. That’s just me though I think it’s easier to sack a scout when he’s doing nothing than when he’s getting a dossier done up on someone
Marc
I’ll put it on kickstarter, full funding in 30 seconds I reckon.
I mean my friend will.
Marko
Yeah, I did have that as the second scenario.
Forgot scenario number 3 where it was on orders from Kia to match his schedule for world domination. I’m sure Pedro will cover that in more detail soon though.
Freddie
For all the stuff people get sin binned on here for I’ve never known someone get away with wanting the team to lose, slagging off the fans, the manager (2 of them now), nearly all the players, wanting a another team to get promoted so he can support them instead, wanting Arsenal to get relegated.
And that’s off the top of my head. It is most odd.
Worst Brazilian side…still ranks higher than England.
Yep. Yep.
Mark
Although Per was brought in to reshape the youth set up after many reports that it was a mess so I’m guessing it was a mix of both. Don’t think Edu would have had all the info necessary to make sweeping changes 3 months into the job without some groundwork being laid.
I read that Edu released a lot of scouts but keeps the scouts in Brazil. You can see his priority in the short term.
I think that judging just from data and video are not safe. You need a scout to watch the player’s game. Those video highlight doesn’t show a player’s weakness
Marc
Must be the elite analysis that holds Pedro back.
smh.
Freddie, if someone had done the groundwork, then you wouldn’t spend a year working on it.
Sal, that’s a sexy dugout they have over there… unreal that Juve hired a young inexperienced coach, I thought big teams didn’t do that?
Lololoolol
Pedro
Thanks. That was exactly my point. That’s probably why he started on the youth set up where Per was brought in to shape things up.
And it’s Pirlo at Juve! Wowzers!
Word of the day “Wowzers”
Meanwhile , I’ all for moving on a good lot. AMN, Nelson, Holding, Kola, Mustafi (hard owing to injury), Papa, Bellerin and probably one of the keepers will have to leave (gulp!).
Let’s get the full Brazilian wax job innit and get that league.
Un
England were shocking in the 2018 World Cup – look at who they played.
I read that Edu released a lot of scouts but keeps the scouts in Brazil. You can see his priority in the short term.
South American scouts not just Brazil. But honestly good there’s absolutely incredible talent coming out of that region and for years we were picking up the likes of Wellington Silva, Joel Campbell and Samuel Galindo while the likes of Ajax, Shakthar, Benfica and Atletico were picking up the brightest and selling them for mammoth fees. We were left behind and hopefully that’s being addressed
“Arsenal values am I right”
Nope, I just don’t want the club to turn into some kind of ‘Brazilian soccer’ version of the Harlem Globe Trotters.
We used to be able to identify with at least some of the playing squad, less so in modern times but for me it’s a shame if the AMN’s and Reiss Nelson’s are replaced by a bunch of middling players that have no affiliation or feeling for the club.
“It’s boring to not like 2 old Brazilians who were mainstays of the worst Brazilian side in our lifetime?”
Yes. Can be the worst Brazil side ever if you like, still competes for the Premier League title.
Coutinho and Willian don’t add quality to our squad? Hahaha
He says worst Brazilian side he’s met with facts that they’re ranked 3rd in the world and he responds with yeah big deal. You know you’re fighting a losing battle with that kind of debate.
Well good to hear there’s confidence here about Gabriel Magalhaes. Thanks for the boost, CC, China and Marko.
Years of drab and painful tranfer windows tend to squeeze any confidence out.
‘Looks like the revolution was triumphant but remember Kim Dumb Pedro has only been beaten back he hasn’t been vanquished.’
There is still a small island to be conquered my friend. Pedro has lost Eduland but he still thinks he cam hold fort Raul.
😂
Freddie
Why does your friend need an assasin in South Africa ?
Nope, I just don’t want the club to turn into some kind of ‘Brazilian soccer’ version of the Harlem Globe Trotters.
You mean successful? Playing attractive football? Yeah me neither
but for me it’s a shame if the AMN’s and Reiss Nelson’s are replaced by a bunch of middling players that have no affiliation or feeling for the club.
You do realize that AMN wants to go right. But yeah shame. Some of our best players have had no prior affiliation with the club and you can’t develop a feeling if you’re not here but sure.
Dave
It is an odd feeling to have optimism that might not be in vain.
Wasi
I’m trying to figure out who Pedro’s hates the most out of us.
To seal the deal I might promote him from Kim Dumb Pedro to Kim Trump Pedro.
On the other hand maybe a step to far!
Liverpool have 3 Brazilian starters.
For those who are worrying Brazilians will destroy our club.
PedRo
“”””unreal that Juve hired a young inexperienced coach, I thought big teams didn’t do that?””””
(Good observation )
What an absolute disgrace Tubby never gave Arteta the gig in the first place.
Arteta has done a truly excellent job clearing up the Clowns mess.
Just hope Raul/Edu dont lead Arteta into another horror show with these horrendous mercenary signings they have lined up.
Marc
Its definitely you.
Fearless leader of our revolution.
Marko, the penny dropped with Wenger about the value of the South American Market with the “hunger” of players from the region- a year or so before he left.
Better kate than ever.
Plus Brazil won the Copa America in 2019 which was the first time since 2007 for them but yeah worst Brazilian team apparently.
No Pirlo no party
Un
You’re talking shit based on a game back in 2014, don’t dare claim anything I say nonsense with that in mind.
Like I say, boring. Usual St. Georges flag mentality at play here talking broad stroke bollocks relating to nationalism.
England have been ranked 2nd in the world and bombed out at the finals
Ranking means dick if you aren’t winning comps
Wait I thought England were supposed to be good now with great talent coming through. But according to you it means dick if you ain’t winning competitions and as we know England haven’t won fuck all since the 60’s. Worst England side ever?
Also England’s highest rank has been 3rd and it was in 2012.
Andy
“””””We used to be able to identify with at least some of the playing squad, less so in modern times but for me it’s a shame if the AMN’s and Reiss Nelson’s are replaced by a bunch of middling players that have no affiliation or feeling for the club.”””
Well said.
Just look at Martinez.
Arguably the best goalkeeper in world soccer…..
Never heard of him , 3 months ago.
(Our Wenger did always talk about late bloomers.)
Dittio AMN (possibly Nelson)
“Just look at Martinez.
Arguably the best goalkeeper in world soccer…..”
Clearly COVID is affecting the supply of anti psychotic drugs to mental institutions in South Africa.
Forget the previous 10 years Martinez has managed to become the best goalkeeper in the world inside the last two months. That’s an amazing feat. Should be able to get a world record fee this summer for him so