The Aftermath

by .

Let it out

Arsenal rocked the football universe yesterday when they acted decisively on their Head of Football.

The framing around the story has been absolutely predictable. If you work in big business, you’ll recognize the familiar feel to the ‘my work is done’ narrative put forward by Raul here and Vinai in this ‘interview.’

… and you know what, who cares how it’s framed, the reality is Arsenal have moved on an exec that operated in a way that wasn’t conducive to the sort of efficiency you need to have when running a club like Arsenal in a moment like the one we’re going through.

Here’s how I imagine it went down.

Arsenal hired in Tim Lewis to look at costs in and out of the club.

He identified areas of waste within the player dealings process that reflected badly on the exec in question.

There are two options in this moment. The club either goes to war with the exec in a drawn-out gardening leave type investigation. Or they agree to part ways on amicable terms if certain stipulations are met as part of the exit package.

For Raul, the best thing for him was going to be to escape the club with his head held high. A ‘job well done’ and ‘I love the club and respect everyone’ works for his next role. For Arsenal, moving on from the situation cleanly, likely without having to offer a massive pay-out or going through a big media circus, is absolutely perfect. Big business, in any industry, will go out of their way to avoid bad PR. I suspect the club is gagging to have an ‘AUBA SIGNS DA TING’ or a ‘Gabriel joins the revolution’ headline to shift the news cycle.

Covid-19 as cover is perfect for both parties. If it makes you happy as a fan to think that’s why we no longer have our top football exec in position, then stick with that story. If you are of a more curious nature, just read some of the previous posts I’ve penned that might lead you towards the reasoning as to why Arsenal put the highest-paid non-first team football person at the club on the cut list.

Everyone wins in this situation. The club can plot a more modern approach forward. The fans can be safe in the knowledge that the deals being done are in the best interests of the football. The execs in America know there’s a sharper focus on making sure their dollars are spent well.

The cold hard reality is that we’re still skint. There’s not a lot of money swilling around the coffers. That’ll mean this summer has to be very creative.

Someone asked yesterday what Edu would have to do for the fans to see this summer as a success.

Sell well

We’re starting from a pretty low cash position this summer. That means we’ll likely have to sell to buy anyone of substance. Selling in a market where Barcelona are delaying firing their coach because of the £3m contract he’s on tells you how big the challenge of cash will be this summer. There’s not a lot swilling around. There are players that will attract the attention of cash-rich clubs, we need to be strategic there and make sure we max out those opps.

Barter hard

You’ll see a lot of player exchanges and you might see more players given free transfers to move. Arsenal needs to be smart here. If we’re going to swap Lacazette, we need to make sure what we get in return justifies the move. If we’re considering swapping Matteo, it has to be for a talent like Aouar. I don’t want to see Ashley Cole for Gallas like deals going down.

Reshape the profile

Part of the challenge we’ve had over the past few windows is a lack of coherrance on our player profile. We need to get back to Arsene Wenger basics when he was good. High levels of technical ability, rugged fitness, and outrageous athleticism. The midfield is where we need the most attention, and clearly, central defence.

Communicate a plan

Edu has very much been behind the scenes at Arsenal, it’s unclear exactly what his role is at the club, and he’s been shy about talking to the press. I like that we have a visionary coach and I’m a fan of his bromance with Edu… however, we can’t go back to an Arsene Wenger situation where it’s all on the one with the special sauce. I’d love to know what the vision is for the club. Where are we going? What does ‘data and analytics’ mean? Who are we promoting to bring this to life? Who needs to be hired? How long is the plan?

I read somewhere that player recruitment isn’t Edu’s strength, not sure how true that is, but if it is, how are we solving that? A manager doesn’t have time to run that side of the club as well. We need him focused on making the team great. How are we structuring that side of things?

Arsenal fans are rabid. We need information. If we know where we’re going, we’re less likely to fill the gaps ourselves. The club, particularly Vinai, has a history of being open with the fans. It’d be great to get back to that after a fairly opaque period in our history.

Moving forward

We’re constantly in transition at Arsenal, but right now, I feel like we’ve found our ground zero. I worried for a long time that we’d have to waste a few more transfer windows before the powers that be realised we were on a path to nowhere. Now they’ve acted, I think we can expect to see aggressive progress.

I have my reservations about Edu, but I think it’d be unfair to expect him to take us to promised-land in one window. This is arguably the hardest transfer window in history. What I’m looking for is a progression of the thinking and some decisive action that excites. If we can get to that and the football next season is a little more expansive, I’ll be very happy. Arsenal should be seriously threatening the top 4 next season, we have the young players, we have the coach, and should we make a few really smart moves this summer, hopefully, the squad.

This really is the time to ‘be excited’ about the future. We have all the component parts needed to kick on. Let’s see what the new direction of the club can bring.

If you want to listen to an elite podcast on the happenings this weekend, tune in below.

SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS

365 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Words on a Blog

Potato Head: “we deserved to win the game….devastated.”

So so sad.

MidwestGun

You love to see it
________
I truly did… There are just some teams I get a boatload of enjoyment watching them lose. And they are at the top of the list. Even though we had a shit season , we still won the FA Cup and they won fuck all.. so small victories.

Receding Hairline

Guns United finished third, they aren’t playing in the EL next season unless they are knocked out in the group stages

Guns of SF

I just realized that RH! lol
But they will get knocked out, so we will see them in EL hell and beat their ugly arse

Guns of SF

Loving how all these big teams are falling ……
It like a football apocalypse

GunnerDNA

Next season is a big one for Fat Frank, OGS and Arteta, wonder who will get sacked first 🤦🏽‍♂️😂

Pedro

Duncan Castles nails it.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær. 20 months in charge. World-record fee for defender. Record fee for full back. Bruno Fernandes.

‘Zero trophies. Zero finals. Scraped into Champions League on penalties with Man Utd’s 2nd lowest PL points total.

‘Massive achievement.’’

Peckobill

GunnerDna
Whichever doesn’t get champions league football and yes that includes Arteta

Pedro

GunnerDNA, which of those managers already has a trophy?

Champagne Charlie

OGS is fucking toilet, long may he captain that ship. Get him an extension

Tom

Louis van Gaal had it right when asked what he though of OGS’ tactics
“What OGS’ tactics? He’s using Mourinho’s tactics with a bit of more freedom to Pogba and down the wings”

G8

Real Madrid out
Barcelona out
Juventus out
Man city out
Manure out
Football Gods have spoken lol!

Words on a Blog

Guys, guys, guys

Never forget that Ole is ManU’s Norwegian Jesus.

I have that information from legendary football expert Bamford 10

Mr Serge

Man u and Chelsea are both overated top 4 for us next year easy
You heard it here first

The Godfather

Can’t stop smb @ all these “EPL isn’t that good narrators”.
Do they even realize who were the four teams in both European finals before the pandemic?
EPL teams are burnt out.
End of

Nelson

Our friend Unai Emery tables €30m bid for Matteo Guendouzi. Should we offer him Xhaka also?

Nelson

To sweeten the deal, we could offer him buy one and get the second one half price.

Radio Raheem

I expect Shakhtar to win tomorrow.

WengerEagle

I see Shakhtar upsetting Inter too, they really are pretty ordinary to be honest outside of Lukaku and a solid backline/Handanovic.

Shakhtar have some really dangerous Brazilian forwards in Moraes, Marlos and Taison. Definitely have goals in them.

Ishola70

WE

“they really are pretty ordinary to be honest outside of Lukaku and a solid backline/Handanovic.”

How do you rate Lautaro Martinez?

alex cutter

“HAHAHA manure… shit head team”

I know, right?!?1

Manure sucks!!1 They’re a bunch of jerks!11

alex cutter

“Granada would have given Sevilla a much better game”

Granada would have had more than 20 shots?

Did you watch it?

Valentin

A lot of people were laughing at CC when he suggested that Arsenal should have bought Lewis Dunk instead of David Luiz. They may not be laughing when they learn that Chelsea are rumoured to have bid £40 millions for Lewis Dunk.

WengerEagle

Ishola

Not a massive fan, definitely a good prospect though and he’s had a pretty good season next to Lukaku although he badly tapered off since the turn of the year.

He has one of the worst pass completion rates for any player in all of Europe at 63% so unless he drastically cleans up his passing and link up play, he won’t play for a top European side.

Guns of SF

Yes Cutter Yes!!!!

CHEN

Arsenal shouldn’t be selling Lacazette. It’s hard to get a good striker with good chemistry on and off the pitch with the teammates. Lots of good players comes with ego, laca seem to have little to none. Gels with auba , pepe and the rest.. selling him for 30 mill or equivalent trade is no-no for me. Even if we sell him, we need to find a replacement cos only Eddie is recognized player in his position(auba playing predominantly on left), which will cost arsenal more than 50 mill to get lacazette level player, who might be unproven in epl… Read more »

Valentin

If Maguire was not English, people would seriously question why ManUtd paid so much for such a limited player.

In a low bloc defense, heading away everything rather than passing he and Lindelöf look brilliant. But whenever they face a team with smarter attackers who know how to move in the penalty box, they look like second rate defenders.
Maybe it is the way that OGS set them up.

raptora

Pretty happy Manure are out of EL.

Tell me anything. I don’t give a fuck – Trophy > top 4. Who remembers the multiple years we were in top 4 with ANYTHING? I don’t! I remember the FA cups so well. It’s a trophy. It stays in the history forever as the top statistic of the football game. Top 4 finishes don’t. End of.

In England, behind Pool who got the Prem, I consider us the 2nd happiest team. We got the FAC.

Bojangles

A bit long but it may make things clearer to those making assumptions. Then again it may just get in the way of agendas. “Arteta got his way with David Luiz’s new contract and the signing of Willian. The board backed Arteta above Sanllehi. It fees like the board want to put Arteta front and centre of Arsenal Football Club. That Lord Harris of Peckham, Ken Friar and Tim Lewis see him as a long term manager. Once the decision is made that Arteta is the most important man at the club, you then need other employees to work alongside… Read more »

Dariano

I am a friend of Bamford’s and he’s asked me to post a couple of comments from him since Pete won’t allow him to post here anymore. His first comment is below. __ TR7 & Wenger Eagle You lost your wager to me, and if you are men of your word, you must now take six months off from Le Grove. And before you say that United only finished above Arsenal because of Fernandes, note that they were already four points above Arsenal when Fernandes arrived and that I made that wager with you when United were in 15th place.… Read more »

Dariano

Bamford’s second comment is this. _ Unsurprisingly, everything you dipshits said about my opinions here the other day was false. This is one of several reasons I don’t missing posting here. Champagne Charlie “And poor old Bamford actually debated that Neymar wasn’t world class.” I never said anything of the sort. I said he had yet to prove that he could be the decisive player in the biggest games on the biggest stage. (And I was right.) Check the record. TR7 “Top 33 players in the world, must fit into 3 starting 11s of his choosing.” Never said this. I… Read more »

James Gunner

Agree with Nelson. True enough they got another one last nite.
The defeat has exposed an old failing: a clinical striker like RVP and Abu.
I hope Abu signs asap . In football you never know what will happen next.
With the defeat,Mu will be desperate to get back to winning way and silverware.
I cant stomach the thought of Abu *going there.
Hopefully its just a passing thought

Overmars

In the last 3 years we’ve had Gazidis, Mislintat, Dick Law, Chips Keswick and now Raul Sanllehi come and go at the top. I hope Edu, Vinai, Arteta and Huss Fahmy long term make a good team going forward. At the end of the day, we can talk about the Kroenke’s, board members, managers, transfer fees, wages, contracts, redundancies etc.. but for me, it all comes down as to how we perform on the football pitch. I know both go hand in hand, but I really don’t care what happens behind the scenes anymore, as long as we win matches… Read more »

salparadisenyc

Radio Rahem called Sevilla a month ago, Rocking the airwaves, rocking the Casbah… Rocking.

MidwestGun

This is one of several reasons I don’t missing posting here. ________ Clearly. hence the ventriloquist act. Now I have seen it all. Not gonna lie that whole sequence was sad. Bam. If you really want to delve into what you said about Benteke I can go there.. but since you don’t miss posting here. I’ll pass. I more then most have given you the benefit of the doubt Bam., but 3rd party answers to comments from days ago? really.. pffft yeah I can see you don’t miss it. And no my comment was not false. So check your dipshittery…… Read more »

MidwestGun

Rock the Casbah still a great road trip party tune.

China1

Chen if arsenal sell laca there’s no way auba stays wide left

It would be auba up top, Eddie and martinelli as backups

China1

Senderos is a really cool and clever guy He would’ve also become a top CB if he had been mentally tougher. Drogba ended his career. I think if he’d been luckier with injuries and had been a first choice player alongside an elite player like Campbell until his mid-late 20s he would’ve been able to kick on and cement his status. But he kept getting injuries disrupting his flow. He’d come back rusty, struggle a few games then look really good – then break down again. But drogba savaged him on one of his bad days and got so far… Read more »

Captain Tierney

I dont think we need to worry much about ManU as long as Ole is there.
The thought of someone like Poch/Nagelsmann with that team and 100+mil to spend each summer is frightening.

Captain Tierney

And Ronald Koeman at Barca? What is wrong with that board. If this goes on for 2 or 3 more years, Real Madrid will become Spain’s Bayern.

Real were poaching Nagelsmann before he went to Leipzig and Barca is looking for Koeman . Bartomeu is ruining the club. The academy is not what it was. Top talents from the academy leaving at 16,17. No succession plan for Messi , Suarez, Pique . Selling young talents for Old “now” players.
Continuing with their bland managerial appointment.

We might just get to see a new AC Milan.

salparadisenyc

Bamford speaking to himself in 3rd person with alter ego Dariano has to take the cake for the twisted in Le Grove history.

Car crash post.

Leedsgunner

FA Cup won.

Raul gone.

Man City and Man Utd dumped out of Europe.

As far as Arsenal is concerned, August has been marvellous… long may it continue.

I have long advocated that a successful transfer window involves both good recruitment and good exits from the club.

I hope Raul’s departure will now hasten the goodbyes of Elneny, Sokratis, Mustafi, Özil and Kolasinac for a start…

Leedsgunner

“Bamford speaking to himself in 3rd person with alter ego Dariano has to take the cake for the twisted in Le Grove history…”

Yep.

Weird.

Receding Hairline

That was just weird

You need help bamford

Dissenter

Is the Bamford moniker permanently retired ?
Why not just post as Bamford, defend yourself forcefully with no fear Alf a bun and then disappear again.

Strange one using a different moniker, , if you ask me. It just adds to the legend I guess.

Dissenter

** Why not just post as Bamford, defend yourself forcefully with no fear of being binned. and then disappear again.

DivineSherlock

I really want us next season to win Europa League man . I hope Arteta plans the shit out of this transfer window. Next season really feels like an important one , thats where we start to turn Emirates into what was promised.

Mr Serge

Because he is Bamford lol

James wood

Oh Bam I have just nearly choked on my Frosties.

I gave you advice years ago “Keep to Your Collegiate soccer,”you was alway’s out of your depth.

TheLegendaryDB10

Well, I never. That is some news I am very happy with.

It genuinely become g

Wengerafc

I’m currently re reading The George Graham story. Clearly the agents fees plus the ‘kickbacks’ are still very much a thing of today and we haven’t progressed in 30 years. I’m glad Sanelli got the heave ho and I suspect Edu will be next. Which clears the path from proper smart people to help Arteta bring this club back to the top

Leftside

Bamford you just don’t help yourself, guy.

Captain Tierney

CG

I dont think you’ll be very pleased to know that your sweetheart Tim Lewis was the one to propose 55 redundancies which you’ve been moaning about and blaming Raul for .
Raul actually was opposed to it 😂.

Captain Tierney

Wrighty’s latest YT upload is a must must watch.
Vinai is rated very highly by Wrighty and in all honesty he knows tons about the ins and outs at the club than us fans.
He also has high praise for Arteta.

Captain Tierney

If we cant afford ( which I think we can) Partey this window then I think we should look at Locatelli of Sassoulo. He’s young (22) , good physique , good technique and has got great numbers . From the little reading and scouting I have done I can say – He is a good tackler but needs to learn to not go down as often as he does. -Good passer -Good vision -Strong -High ceiling I think he’s got potential to be a very good player. Maybe not world class but he’s got a high ceiling. Got all the… Read more »

Captain Tierney

I forgot to mention he can also dribble well

Markymark

Un remarked earlier that Werner would not improve Chelsea much.
The issue is UTD and Chelsea are caught in a just one more player cycle.
Already some class of 92’ bell-end was saying Jordan Sancho wouldn’t have missed and got them through
It’s tactics, tactics. Big gaps between defence and midfield and you’re sunk however good your defence is.

Arteta could well win more trophies with a moderate group of players simply because he’s tactically more flexible

Useroz

“In the last 3 years we’ve had Gazidis, Mislintat, Dick Law, Chips Keswick and now Raul Sanllehi come and go at the top. “

Let’s get to the point. I’d rephrase…

In the last 3 years we’ve had all sorts of shit come and go at the top.

Captain Tierney

And a cheap but high quality attacking Midfield signing could be Pellegrini at Roma.
30mil release clause which can be paid in 2 instalments can really turn out to be a bargain.

Useroz

On selling players. Unless absolutely fitting our desired player profile and need, must insist on straight sale for a fee rather than player swap. Player plus $ fine if works for us. We got the short end for too long. And defo no loans please. Especially to Turkey. Those sucker clubs are more skint than us or never meant to buy the players anyway. Well, reported interest in Nelson (I think, or AMN) on loan! Meantime, AFC should seriously push for renegotiation of some of those inequitable contracts. If there’s any sorts of irregularities (doesn’t need to be illegal) we’d… Read more »

Double

Tierney someone also posted a link yesterday to current players under 24’s with the closest statistical resemblance to Vieira and Locatelli came out on top if you needed anymore reason to like him.

Victorious

Lmao,Binford back with a banger, that should be the most hilarious shit I have read here in a while,hahahaa

Still laughing my ass out reading that. Lol

Let him back in Pedro! Guy is plenty crazy and this place is like an asylum most times anyway.lol

Useroz

Captain T. If Dominik S. hasn’t signed up yet, he’s quoted under £30m I thought. He or those similar should be what we’d target. Young, strong, pacy, good skills etc. and not costing 72m!

It won’t hurt as much even if they didn’t work out exactly as expected.

Victorious

Gabriel choosing between Arsenal and Napoli?Wtf

Would absolutely be a fool if he picked Italy

I mean fat Gattuso over Arteta? Lol

Victorious

Pep Fraudiola is getting desperate,might think the only chance left for him to ever clinch the CL again is Messi

Not happening

Captain Tierney

Double

It was me who posted that link. After that I did some more google and YT scouting before coming to the above conclusion.

Useroz

Dominik is definitely a good shout But Pellegrini will be an automatic starter if he signs , is young and also has potential to be top quality.
I dont care if we choose Dominik over Pellegrini.
Pellegrini is short term fix with potential to be even better.
Dominik might not be that good short term but has potential to be a genuine world class player.

Pierre

The Seville winner last night was all about the ball into the box
Beckhamesque I would say…

Habesha Gooner

Joe hart to spurs hahaha. I don’t know how Arsenal has two very good keepers while everyone is struggling in that department? we had the likes of Almunia.

HighburyLegend

“Arsenal should be seriously threatening the top 4 next season”

YES, finally, the top 4 trophy – which is a real trophy, yes Sir – is back!!

Sid

Messi will not help Pep win CL, Iniesta help both Pep and Messi CL feat they are yet to repeat without him

Sid

*helped

Jamie

I am mortified for Bamford. Unbelievable.

Graham62

Peps problem is that he overthinks things when it comes to the CL.

He stifles whatever chance MC have of winning it.

Tactically the other night, he was chicken.

Leaving both the Silva’s on the bench, along with Foden, was a travesty.

Graham62

Bamford 10

Weird stuff.

Graham62

If I was David Silva, Bernardo Silva or Foden, I would be seriously pissed off.

Champagne Charlie

The secondhand embarrassment…

Imagine having previously defended or stated that he was a solid guy. Functioning loony.

China1

Full marks to Bamford for effort!

I’d say bring him back but the endless fighting can’t be good for the guy so maybe he’s more at peace in the sin bin…

China1

Yo arsenal

Where’s my 2 CMs and Auba contract at?

Tick tock

DivineSherlock

I dont think the problem was with tactics for Guardiola , City were profligate . Sterling and Jesus both missed chances that otherwise would have guaranteed semis. Plus Ederson doing an impression of Fabianski didnt help.

Ernest Reed

Gets himself binned on two blogs and now resorts to getting pals to convey his pathetic musings. Seriously, get help Bamford or JM Bapple or whatever else you want to call yourself. Beyond the dead indeed.

Nelson

Napoli can’t sign Lille’s Gabriel until Koulibaly is sold. We have a better chance.

Emiratesstroller

It was inevitable post the Wenger era that there would be material changes to the management and staffing structures at the club. What is happening is frankly no different to what goes on at most other football clubs only the turmoil at Arsenal is perhaps more dramatic, because the club has been over many decades a more stable entity than most. Messrs Raul, Mislintat and Emery were all outsiders. None of these three were in my opinion the right choices. Also the club made appointments which not only muddied the water but lacked a proper chain of command. There are… Read more »

raptora

Barca should have bought the best Spanish/Portuguese players around instead of spending a truckload of money for players from other leagues. Players from these 2 countries, in addition to the Latin part of the Americas, are the ones that can play the type of football Barca became famous for. How are Laporte (basically a Spaniard), Bernardo Silva, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pau Torres, Bruno Fernandes not in Barcelona’s team? Missed opportunities to have top players like Thiago Silva to replace Puyol, and David Silva to replace Iniesta. Both in the team and they would have won 5 throphies more. Imagine wasting money… Read more »

Dark Hei

Lol, oh Bamford, the lengths you would go.

DivineSherlock

Raptora

There are two schools of thought, the one with the galactico approach won the presidential election for Barcelona. He hasnt even resigned yet after that mauling , slowly ruined Barcelona to the point where even Messi doesnt want to stay. Tragic to say the least.

Frost

“Dariano

I am a friend of Bamford’s and he’s asked me to post a couple of comments from him since Pete won’t allow him to post here anymore.”

We really do have some crazies on here.

Leftside

Dariano is an interesting name to boot too

Ashwin Gunner

Whats with the whole comment sections circling around Bamford today….

Radio Raheem

I’m listening to these so called ‘experts’ analyse manure’s defeat and all I hear they need to spend more, Solskjaer has had a good season, they need Sancho… It’s no wonder English clubs keep ballsing things up in Europe. If Sevilla had that manure squad they’d win Laliga and batter manure yesterday. In fact if any of the top 4 in the Premier league were in any of the other top leagues they’d dominate Europe. But as they’re in the Premier league they’d always underachieve in these competitions. The problem is how football is run and thought about in England.… Read more »

Masterstroke

So many new names here and no trolling. Looks like Pedro has had a bit of a clear out. Good to see.

Ashwin Gunner

22 penalties in all competitions.. FFS

Somebody should investigate this nonsense. This is worst than Fergie era.

Northbanker

RR
“But as they’re in the Premier league they’d always underachieve in these competitions. “

Let’s not over-react – yes all of our teams went out at QF stage at best this year but only last year both European finals were contested by English clubs i.e. 4 clubs made it to the finals and of course both trophies won by an English club

So let’s keep things in perspective eh rather than using last match analysis as seems to happen so often on here

Pierre

Divine sherlock “I dont think the problem was with tactics for Guardiola , City were profligate . Sterling and Jesus both missed chances that otherwise would have guaranteed semis. Plus Ederson doing an impression of Fabianski didnt help.” Of course you are correct, the United game last night was very similar to how the city game panned out the previous night. The fact is , if you waste golden chances , as city and united did , then you may get caught with a sucker punch . In saying that , you can also see the nervousness in city’s game… Read more »

Radio Raheem

Northbanker

Not an overreacting

Look at the list of finalists over time.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_Cup_and_UEFA_Champions_League_finals

In the last 20 years that the Premier league has been far and away the richest do you think the return in terms of dominating Europe has been commensurate?

James wood

Mike Dariano.
West Valley College.
Saratoga CA.
Men’s Varsity Football
Bamfords Level.

Radio Raheem

Not an *overreaction more keeping things in perspective

See below for europa league finalists

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UEFA_Cup_and_Europa_League_finals

Wengerafc

I’m new to this comments game. Who is this Bamford creature they do speak of?

Wengerafc

Like Voldemort ?

James wood

Auba signs.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍