Well, here he is. Willian. The man, the myth, the explosive ball carrying winger from Brazil.
I think I can safely say that 99% of Arsenal fans are very excited about him. He’s not leaving Chelsea on a downward curve and he has arrived at Arsenal a wanted man. I think most of us are excited because you can clearly see what Mikel is going to do with him. He’ll be our creative outlet, one that we’ve lacked, and he’ll play centrally. It makes so much sense. The age thing is a bother, but really, as a #10, he could easily play there for 2-3 good years.
The murkier part of this deal is there appears to be some smoke and mirrors with regards to what we’re paying him. The actual cost of his weekly wages went from £150k a week and was slowly leaked down to £100k, which sounded great. Sami Mokbel gave us a fuller picture, suggesting that after loyalty bonuses, signing on fees, and whatever other sweeties they put in the deal… it looks more like £220k a week. Then there’s Kia. He’ll be getting his own chunk of the deal, no doubt.
This signing though, feels like one that we really did need. Yes, I’d have preferred Arsenal go out and find the next Julian Brandt, but it is what it is, and Willian has the exact sort of experience that could be very beneficial next season. We’re hoping mainly on the curve of age doesn’t apply to him, but for next season, he’ll be great.
This story dropped nicely over the other bombshell news. Arsenal (I hear Tim Lewis), are investigating the Nicolas Pepe deal from last summer. If you’ve been following Le Grove for any length of time, you’ll know that I’ve been talking about how we do business as a concern. I wrote this piece on Lille back in January. I think we can all agree that Pepe is an exciting prospect, but it was absolutely clear at the time we’d overpaid by quite a lot of money. He’s 24 years old and not the finished article, he might still come good in a big way, but I’m not sure many were out here saying we landed value for money.
From what I understand, Arsenal is investigating all costs at the club at the moment. Tim Lewis is here to ensure that the club is operating efficiently for the new now and he’s actively auditing everything from marketing budgets, sponsorships, to… player deals (worth remembering, Arsenal were auditing electricity costs last year before the pandemic). I have no doubt most clubs are doing the same. It’s just good stewardship from Stan and Josh.
ESPN is reporting that the club is going deep on the Nicolas Pepe fee 1) how we landed on the scouting decision 2) How we negotiated the deal.
As a reminder, the guy that runs Lille originally wanted to set up a super-agent agency to rival Mendes because he saw the most profitable part of football being in how the deals were cut (fees). FIFA killed that idea when they banned 3rd Party Ownership. He took over a club instead, opting for a French club because it was cheap, and the talent in the league is very good. From what I can gather, he’s using the club to harvest players to make profit. He has Luis Campos running his scouting, and let’s be frank, the guy is a god.
The interesting thing about Lille is they’ve borrowed a lot of money. They had owed Elliot Management a chunk of money (still do I think), the clear worry that if they don’t pay it back, Lopez would see a similar fate to that of Milan’s ex-ownership. The FT gives a brilliant overview of how they operate. It is also interesting that an ex-colleague of Raul’s happens to work at Lille. Marc Ingla. He was suspended from football for some mishaps that caught the eye in France.
So in short, you probably don’t need to have attended NYU Stern to piece together why the Pepe transfer fee is of interest to KSE.
It’s also ominous that the story has been leaked to the press. Those things don’t happen by accident. I suspect there are people at the club that hate how we’re run at the moment, this is just another crank up of pressure on the new approach to business. I’ve been told Arsenal initially refused to comment on the story, ESPN getting their sources from multiple places. Again, not a good look.
I don’t imagine that’s where the club will stop probing.
What did the scouting data say about Unai Emery who told media he landed the job after Caneles recommended him? Could he build defences? No. Could he speak English? No. Did he have a reputation in Europe for commanding respect of dressing rooms? No. Why did it take so long to fire him? How was he paid out? How did we land on Denis Suarez? What was the true cost of David Luiz and why was he the solution despite having 3 months head start on Koscielny leaving? How did we arrive at the conclusion of Cedric Soares in January?
Whatever way you look at those deals, you have to admit, they lack coherence. When you are running one of the biggest clubs in the world, deals should make sense, and the reasoning should be very clear. It doesn’t look like data-centric methodology was at the heart of the thinking. If the rationale behind these deals really is heavily weighted towards super-agent opinions… is that the way to a brighter Arsenal future? Who knows, but it’s clear we finished 8th for a reason that wasn’t Arsene Wenger.
KSE should be looking at RB Leipzig in the Champions League semi-final after selling their best striker to Chelsea. They’ve been in existence for 11 years. They consistently sell top, top players, and consistently replace them at the same level. They are data-centric, they know what sort of players they should buy, and they never move from their philosophy. I’d imagine Stan might think that a more sustainable way to run a football club in a pandemic.
Then you have Arsenal… shelling out £220k a week on a 32-year-old, again. Maybe this one will work out, and I truly hope it does, but the optics are not good, regardless of how much you like the player. The same ingredients over and over again. Let’s hope Arteta has more of hand over how to make this one work for the squad. Let’s also hope this investigation leads to a more effective Arsenal.
Right, that’s me done, see you in the comments. x
CC, regardless of the work Sven did, at least you knew roughly how he made decisions.
He left because of how the place was being run and he tried to warn people on the way out.
‘ I used to live in Macau and I know people that went to Saudi parties there. Those guys can organise A fucking party.’
Moray, Sal who posts on here is a big-time fashion guy, he has never got me to one of his elite parties in NYC. Shameful really.
Marko
“I’ll scream “Fucking Kia!!!” from the top of hill in Ireland somewhere for sure”
Shouldn’t it be ” to be sure, to be sure”
“CC, regardless of the work Sven did, at least you knew roughly how he made decisions.”
Yeah in Arsenal’s case badly.
“He left because of how the place was being run and he tried to warn people on the way out.”
He left because he was going to be fired if he didn’t and turned up at what’s their name, giant club dominate their domestic league and Europe. What’s the name again oh yeah Stuttgart.
I mean David Villa and Silva among others had nice things to say about him but whatever. That sort of thing isn’t worth talking about is it. I mean ask Guendouzi and Ozil what they think about Arteta but it doesn’t explain the whole squad.
Guns, people at Arsenal read the blog.
I hope for your sake that’s not true. Had slavery and what not discussed recently that went about as well as expected. Every international break it turns into an the_donald reddit thread
“David Cartlidge ran a piece about Valenica players thinking he was a pushover. PSG players bullied him. Arsenal players didn’t care for him either.” Yea Valencia players thought he was a pushover yet finished third three consecutive times with him and fell apart once he left. Munier has already spilled the beans on the party culture at PSG, Arsenal players didn’t care for him, good for them. Some coaches just want to do their jobs and expect the players to do theirs too. You don’t need to be an authoritarian to be a coach, its football. He was a player… Read more »
Pedro
Campos may be a question mark. He got in bed with Lopez on his money making plan at Lille. Met him a couple of times, presented his Lotus Formula 1 plans at the time (he failed miserably) but looked a bit borderline to my taste…
he tried to warn people on the way out.
Was it something like they plan on signing Martinelli, Tierney and Saliba run for the hills….arrrgggghhhh
I agree wholeheartedly with Adrian Durhams comments on Talk Sports.
Due to the Ozil debacle, no frigging statue for Mr Wenger.
This one decision, which he oversaw and approved, has been the single worst decision ever made at Arsenal Football Club.
Throw the Sanchez debacle into the mix and you would have say that any planned statue for the Frenchman has to be scrapped.
Well said Mr Durham.
The only media pundit who’s been saying it as it is at Arsenal FC, for past decade or more.
to say
Graham
“I agree wholeheartedly with Adrian Durhams comments on Talk Sports.”
You’ve either turned into a Spud or need to be sectioned.
Adrian Durham’s a massive cunt. Is this even up for debate. Hates Arsenal
Nobody knows how much they get a week.
Guys here use a made up amount to support their own agenda.
He will help the younger players no end, and it also us that although we have a lot of promising young players they really are fairly average only Sake and Martinelli show real talent.
All wining teams are a mixture of ages , getting the balance right is Arteta’s job.
I await the abuse from the usual culprits.
We all know who they are.
Rumors that Napoli have the first refusal on Gabriel as part of the deal that took Oshimen to Naples. It would suck if we miss out. Matyivenko the other reasonably priced target as a rumor.
I wanted Gabriel because he was tall and We could have had two monster CBs. Matyivenko is around 182. But arteta seems to be keeping tabs on him since he came here.
Marc/ Marko
Have I hit a nerve?
Adrian Durham should be given an award.
Everything he said about Wenger and Arsenal was true.
Those of you who feel otherwise, are in total denial.
He doesn’t hate Arsenal. He just said it as it is, with no bullshit.
Graham
If you’re going to position yourself with Adrian “Pedro” Durham you should get used to the abuse.
Sounding like Coutinho might be too pricy based on the tabloids. Interesting as Willian is quite expensive… perhaps we just blew our wad with that signing… I mean he was free agent, but still his weekly wages are huge Ozil sounds like he is set for the bench again…. He does not understand, its his practice, work ethic, fitness, and no need for his skills set anymore ( for the most part) that makes him relegated to the bench…. I cant wait for this soap opera to be over. Instead of sitting at home, can the team give him other… Read more »
Yes Graham you hit a nerve. I don’t like someone that you do. How will I be able to enjoy my weekend now
Graham
He’s a second rate radio personality who knows that Arsenal have a large vocal fanbase who will react.
It’s the exact same as my earlier comment about the media calling us out for season after season on “X years without a trophy” the Spud’s have gone longer and during that time we’ve won 4 FA Cups but not a word about it.
Graham will side with anyone as long the person has a deep rooted hatred for Wenger.
Graham
I read something at the time that Wenger ‘strongly resented’ the Ozil contract. I am not convinced he sanctioned it. Was this Gazidis rolling the dice?
Wenger and Gazidis can probably be blamed for allowing his and Alexis’ contracts to run down the way they did however.
Also agree with most others. Durham is a Grade A moron who should be put in Room 101.
Graham will side with anyone as long the person has a deep rooted hatred for Wenger.
Even I have my limits
Marko
They say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but it’s still too good for Le Grove.
Pedro Right, but with respect you’re also dealing with a professional that was promised a superior role and then denied it down the line. I’d hardly pen Mislintat as character of unrivalled dignity, he had his feathers ruffled and left. On the subject of knowing the ins and outs of the operation: I think it’s too speculative currently as I’ve noted a few times. Major reservations over Raul and Edu, but the club wasn’t functioning well for over a decade. Change was afoot and they’re delivering it. To what end is yet to be seen, and while I see no… Read more »
£220k pw, good lord lol. For 3 years? That’s £35m you’ll never get back. I objectively like the guy too but all I can see is a burning pile of cash right now.
They say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit
It’s all I got don’t tell it away from me
Anyone heard rumors of raul getting chopped ?
I am also very happy with the Willian signing, on £100,000 per week (that’s 100k per week to clarify, not some Friday headline by a gutter press comic book) it’s a great deal for a player who still has a few years in him at a very high level.
Our central attacking midfield has been more or less vacant for a long while and he not only fits the bill there but can obviously play wide as he did for Chelsea if needed.
Charles why are you being so fucking reasonable these days. Stop it you cunt
“Anyone heard rumors of raul getting chopped ?”
Only in Pedro’s fantasies.
‘Charles why are you being so fucking reasonable these days. Stop it you cunt’
Marko has nobody to lock horns with. Bamford binned and Charlie reading from the same hymn sheet these days. In the end the poor guy argues with Pedro and gets binned 😛
Lol Marc 😁
Seen random posts on Twitter alluding to Tim Lewis and the pepe transfer, lets wait and see.
Somewhere in the distant future a team of scientists are reading the Le Grove comments section to try and understand the mindset of 21 st century people.
After Dan Ahern’s last comment at least they know how Trump got elected.
It’s the exact same as my earlier comment about the media calling us out for season after season on “X years without a trophy” the Spud’s have gone longer and during that time we’ve won 4 FA Cups but not a word about it.“ Marc I like to think a part of the reason is that we as a club are ten times the size of Spurs and are expected to do better! However if the media are convinced Spurs are this huge club then indeed why isn’t more made of the fact they haven’t won anything but the league… Read more »
Nah I’m good not getting into pointless arguments with strangers on the internet. It’s more about you see he gets it he’s open minded
“Nah I’m good not getting into pointless arguments with strangers on the internet. ”
No you’re not.
Chris
That’s the point – on one hand the Spud’s are “FUCKING AMAZING” but we don’t win enough.
Marko
You confuse hate and dislike.
I don’t hate Wenger, never have.
I lost respect for him, pure and simple.
It’s that simple.
No you’re not.
Hey fuck you
Don’t see the point of leaking the supposed investigation into Pepe’s signing.
They need to tighten up on information in there, most of what gets out these days is embarrassing
I guess that made sense in your head Marc but I’ll give you another try at it if you like.
Chris
I know there are a fair few folk out there who exonerate Wenger of any blame and believe he didn’t sanction the Ozil contract. It was forced on him.
I don’t.
I thought I had ten dollar lunch yesterday but turns out after calculating the cost of transportation to and from the deli, the tax, the hand sanitizer and wipes I used prior to eating, the amount of electricity I spent while on the treadmill to burn off those calories, the cost of water used to flush the toilet after shitting the meal out, the toilet paper to wipe myself, and again the water used to wash my hands afterward….it came out to like $22 dollars instead.
My fucking life. Better not to eat I suppose.
Ben Chilwell to Chelsea might be on. Tierney’s off to Leicester City as we speak
Graham
I read that in more than one place (Wenger resenting the deal) and at the same time as the Ozil deal he supposedly he had little hand in the Aubameyang and Mavropanos deals. Make of that what you will.
As I say, I do blame him mostly for the contracts of Ozil and Sanchez running down, even claiming it to be an ideal situation which was preposterous.
Joke Friday
What did 2 tell 3 when he saw 6 acting like an idiot?
Don’t mind him, he’s just a product of our times.
Luteo, more like a $10 lunch, but it costs $10 just to enter the deli and another $2 if you enjoy the food.
Oh and it may be expired.
Still interested?
P.S. Sorry you decided to starve instead of just going to another deli. Seems a bit daft but I respect your choice.
CC, you’ll see it all unfold in due course.
I’ve been right on Raul for a very long time, people keep pretending it’s all normal and part of football and every week it gets a little worse.
That story, in an American publication, is the start of things to come.
Also, I find it hilarious that anyone would call Dan a Trump supporter.
Ahern
What Marc said last comment makes a lot of sense after hearing more of what you have to offer.
I want to see how Barca plays today. Come to think of it, Aube would slot perfectly in Barca’s attack. They have Messi from the right, Suarez from the middle. They have tried Coutinho,and Dembele and sometimes Griezmann from the left. Auba would score more goals than those three.
Sorry you couldn’t think through a simple metaphor but there’s no need to take it out on me!
Welcome to The Arsenal Willian!!! Some of us are excited you are here.
Arsenal fans are just a special breed. If Willian signed for a rival club like Tottenham on a free with similar weekly wage, same people slamming the deal today would be slamming Arsenal for missing out on a ‘proven premier league player and Brazilian international ‘.
Many who have not managed even a small company of 50 people feel they can question every decision the club make.
Barcelona scared of Bayern throw in another midfielder
Also, interesting point, Arsenal didn’t want to share that story through normal channels… the story has been leaked to ESPN by multiple sources.
Pedro
You mean they didn’t want to share the story full stop don’t you?
They didn’t officially leak it, ESPN got their story from multiple sources outside the normal channels.
Someone told me or I read somewhere that clubs in Europe next season won’t play in the League Cup.
Can anyone confirm or deny?
I was also told there was no league cup
Thomas Partey will join Arsenal this summer after agreeing a four-year contract. Arsenal will pay his release clause. The player will not play for Atletico Madrid again. [@TheAFCBeII] #afc
Pedro
Whilst I appreciate that on occasions clubs will “leak” information to me that’s people just playing games.
If it’s a real leak to me it means the club didn’t want the info out there.
Dan Ahern
“£220k pw, good lord lol. For 3 years? That’s £35m you’ll never get back. I objectively like the guy too but all I can see is a burning pile of cash right now.”
Who would you get instead?
Kimmich at right back? Bayern aren’t showing any respect to Barcelona with a thiago, Goretzka and Muller midfield. All of them work hard but not even close to being defensively sound.
Pedro
Not sure they’d get away with canceling the competition – it’d destroy any (and it doesn’t have a lot) of credibility it has.
Having matches played whilst EL and CL matches are on (which is what I was told) would enable them to fit the matches into a compressed season and sell it as a chance for a club who’s not usually in Europe to grab a EL spot.
This transfer window will be all about swaps, loans and lower prices.
Nobody so far is busting a gut to buy our overpaid average joes so probably we will still see some of them next season.
The club will not go forward until they go.
Marc, professional clubs leak information all the time, it’s part of the playbook.
Arsenal didn’t comment on the ESPN story despite being asked to, ESPN ran it because they had credible leakers, now Arsenal are engaging… because it’s true, they are probing costs.
Partey to Arsenal 4 year deal according to AfcBell on Twitter..he’s reliable and connected to Ornstein
Umtiti Corona positive
Pedro
You’ve missed my point – there’s leak’s and there’s leaks. This is one where the club would’ve preferred to keep the info private.
I was just curious which one it was.
Buzzy
Sorry mate if it’s not in the Daily Mirror or the Daily Mail (2 paragons of journalistic virtue) then it’s just not true.
It’s obvious but hat Raul is not the money to trust with a football club like Arsenal. He need to pack his bags and go back to where he came from.
Arsenal didn’t want to talk about the leak of the investigation.
Ummmm… When did we start including performance bonuses that we or may not have to pay and signing on bonuses that we can pay because he is on a free transfer? 110k pw sounds right to me. So welcome Willian.. A really good signing that apparently Arteta is thrilled with.. so I’m thrilled. But like everyone else, I want to see our midfield addressed and we need CB help due to injury and just basic lack of skill. . So for me a good start but I’m going to need to see the finished transfer window product before I unleash… Read more »
professional clubs leak information all the time, it’s part of the playbook.
I thought leaks were embarrassing at least they were under Emery.
If Raul is a bad actor, what’s his play? To enrich his pal Kia for [at best] 4 years with Arsenal cash before KSE catches on and sacks him?
Genuine question.
Jamie, who know what his intention is. Arsenal just need to work out if their money is being spent well and for the right reasons.
Midwest, we started doing it when the signing on fees and loyalty bonuses more than double the base salary.
Meanwhile, several changes have been implemented for the Carabao Cup competition next season. The first four rounds will be held during the month of September, with the two-legged semi-finals being replaced by a single tie. The first round of the competition – which will officially mark the start of the EFL season – is scheduled to take place on September 5, but due to the international window may be played on alternative dates. The following three rounds will then be played on consecutive midweeks starting September 15/16. Premier League sides will enter the competition in the second or third round… Read more »
Ferdinand looks like somebody has smacked his mouth with a shovel.
Reminds me of a cartoon character can’t think who.
The clubs need to exercise their power to lobby FIFA to oust the cockroaches aka the agents from the game. Until they stop this horrendous practice of allowing clubs to pay agents the game will remain infested.
Love the idea of the “loyalty bonus” in elite football.
In other industries, the only thing you get for being “loyal” is a proper rogering.
Plug
Words, it doesn’t really make sense.
‘here is some more money for sticking with your contract’
What does make me smile is that the only way anyone on here gets any info re Willians pay comes from what they read in the press
Quite happy when one rag says £100k a week because that might just be value for money so yep we will believe that story.
Then along comes another story that suggests it could be £200+k then it’s more it’s false, it’s a lie etc etc
Ferdinand
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.beano.com/posts/20-questions-with-plug&ved=2ahUKEwj6wNnWr5vrAhUVUxUIHb-lDqkQFjAQegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw3NFltMJnhQn2zsd74MdXDG
Pedro,
Outside of the specific concerns regarding Arsenal, Raul and Superagents, I really do wonder whether the current modus operandi in football, with agents and various other intermediaries siphoning off wads of cash, is sustainable post-Covid, when clubs’ finances are gonna be stretched due to lack of match day revenues.
Raul may or may not be dodgy.
But can he really operate in the same way he (and many, many others) have always done in the next couple of years when there’s no money to be siphoned off?
For once, there is a Canadian in the world football stage.
Clearly a lot of legacy figures at the club despise the way The Spiv does business. Widely reported a few months ago that old timers Sir Chips Keswick and Lord Harris of Peckham tried to have O’Leary appointed as a football consultant to watch Sanllehi’s shifty hands, almost certainly as they suspected he was dishonest, but didn’t succeed. What needs to be established: is this just the Arsenal deep state trying to prevent Raul’s modernising cultural revolution at the club, or is it as many suspect, and he’s a grifter lining his own pockets through complex multi-intermediary deals where there… Read more »
The Canadian will be defending against his idol Messi.
gets any info re Willians pay comes from what they read in the press
____________-
How else would you get it? You got Willian’s number? Like everything you have to check who the source is sighted as. The Daily Mail is not a good source ever for anything.. Only source worse would be the National Enquirer or the Tea Lady on twitter.
Maybe CG was right all along about the spivs.
It won’t be the first time.
In, Saka will be one year older.
ESR should make (intermittent) waves.
Willian will provide nous and to move up the pitch quickly and intelligently.
We just need a solid and intelligent CM/CDM, hopefully younger than 40.
Barca defense sucke. No DM
Barca have a lot of short arses.
That didn’t take very long.
1 – 1
Good goal from Bayern in the wrong net.
Alaba strikes that really good
Trick is not to believe the papers. Just get your news from the blogsphere
You mean those places where a bunch of faceless randos comment on shit they read about in the papers?
Hargreaves is a traitor. He preferred to play for the three lions.