Auba ready to start a better Arsenal news cycle?

by .

Well good morning my DARLINGS.

Nothing nicer than starting a Monday with a nice coffee as you sit down to read the shrieks of misery from Manchester United fans on the internet. It’s pure joy, I am not going to lie.

I sat down yesterday to watch OGS, the guy that the press have been desperately trying to paint as ‘getting things right’ tank to Sevilla FC in the semi-final of The Europa League. It was a great watch, I have to say. OGS just doesn’t cut it for me. He’s bought the most expensive defender in the world, the most expensive fullback, and he landed Bruno in January. He’s also been gifted 22 penalties this season, the most in Europe… and he still couldn’t take out a Spanish club living off peanuts.

What makes it better is the press around OGS love him. The deepest the criticism goes is ‘GIVE HIM MORE MONEY.’ That suits me. The danger at United is if they put that cash in the hands of an elite coach and a proper Sporting Director. I am more than happy to see OGS at the wheel for another couple of years. If their level is celebrating the lowest ever points total to make the automatic places in the Champions League, then long may his tenure continue.

The Athletic gave some more colour to the Raul exit over the weekend. There’s a lot of ‘streamlining but look here, here, and here…’ and some of it is really not great reading. Particularly paying over the odds on asking prices for Torreira (who had a buyout clause), Leno, and Nicolas Pepe. You have to read the room when you take a job… I’m not sure the Kroenke’s were built for that sort of money management.

God bless Tim Lewis, the unsung hero that got to grips with the nonsense.

One of the more salacious pieces was the unveiling of Willian at Kia’s house. There are a thousand ways you could paint this as innocuous, but for me, what it tells you is Raul just didn’t understand the magnitude of the role he had at Arsenal.

Reasons that would have made any normal exec think twice about the unveiling location:

  1. There was a lot of bad press around Arsenal’s close relationship with certain agents
  2. We had done some very weird deals with Kia. The David Luiz fee was reported at an astronomical level a month ago and we also added Cedric Soares who looked good for glue before we weighed in. You can say that the fee in The Athletic was misrepresented, but I have not seen a retraction from the publication. I would always err on the side of believing Amy Lawrence sourcing on subjects as big as this.
  3. The agent himself had horrified people at Arsenal when he went on Talksport to discuss David Luiz. Not just that, he also alluded to the structural changes that were coming to Arsenal (55 redundancies). A deep breach of trust that an outsider was privy to such information, even worse that he shared it on national radio. Cannot have been good for people at the club fearing for their jobs.
  4. Last week, Kia went on blast again, this time to say he doesn’t influence Arsenal, whilst slating Sven Mislintat and his record
  5. Edu then rolls out his first signing of the summer, it’s Willian, a Kia player, and the unveiling is at Kia’s home.

For the agent, that’s a power move. For the exec team, it’s incredibly bad optics. Top leaders are always considering how things will look to the wider world. Doing an official signing at a super-agents house under massive scrutiny really is beyond the pale. It was also a really unnecessary decision. Do it at Colney. Do it at Raul’s pad. Or Edu’s. Or at The Emirates. Not like they don’t all have massive houses, right? For me, things like that look like a middle finger to the fans, it’s an ‘I’m in charge, fuck you’ message.

Well, a few days later and here we are. No Raul. So no real need to keep going over this subject. He can go and work for Lille in France and Arsenal can crack on with a brighter future.

Talking of Lille. Their CEO, Geraldo Lopez, reckons Gabriel is interested in joining Arsenal. That’d be a great way to start the week. We are in desperate need of a shape up in central defence. I’d be pretty happy going into the new season with Luiz, Mustafi, Cal Chambers, Saliba, and Gabriel. There’d be a changing of the guard at some point, but it’d be good to have two centre backs at the latter stage of their careers, supporting the development of two extremely talented young players we hope could be an elite partnership.

There’s HUGE rumblings that the main man, AUBA, is about to sign a new deal. What I love about this noise is the player and his family both seem equally excited about signing on. There is so much buzz around Arsenal at the moment and I’m thrilled we could land the best sharpshooter on the planet for his best years. There’s a little bit of noise that Raul led the negotiations on his own, which would be odd because I thought Huss did that, but I’m sure it’s not a problem. Getting him tied down to the club would be a MASSIVE shift in the news cycle as well.

Another subplot of this transfer window that I’m following with interest is the Arteta/Edu blend. Both absolutely need to have a gold standard window. Arteta needs to move the football on next season, Edu needs to show people that he’s more than a pretty face. I’d imagine it’s also big for Mikel, not many managers are given power over transfers. I’m not sure it’s the best way moving forward, I’m a big believer in brain trust like structures, not sure going back to the old way is great longterm, but it’ll be fascinating to see if he has the Midas touch like Wenger did when it comes to player appraisal.

I have to be honest, the jury really is out for me there. So far, we’ve seen him fawn over Luiz, Mari, Soares, and suggest he’d have taken Xhaka to City. Maybe we can write those off as teething/political comments… because those names are not exactly moistening loins of any sort.

… but we’ll see. This is a clean slate for everyone. I love starting from an unknown position. The world truly is our lobster.

Right, see you in the comments you feral internet beasts.

Update: We signed Huddersfield Tim Akinola. The tenacious midfielder was so impressive, we brought him in without a trial. This is a low risk / high reward type of deal that I’m more than happy to see happen. Good luck, Tim!

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Captain Tierney

One thing I would say is dont expect much from the new academy signings.
This is more of a squad building/filling for academy than high potential signings for the first team.
With Nelson , Saka , Esr , Joe , Medley , Tjj , Nketiah , Smith all promoted or loaned out there is a big void in the U23 squad and the signings of Lewis , Tim and the new Spurs CB will help fill that void and remain competitive in the U23s.

Left testicle

New Spurs CB? Who’s that Captain?

Terraloon

ES Cadbury’s ( Mondelez) used to have a central partnership with the PL. That deal has come to an end What Cadbury’s have no embarked on is a partnership with what they perceive to be the top 6 clubs in the PL. I haven’t been following this closely but I know that City , Utd and Chelsea announced their partnerships some days ago. I wonder if this will start a trend and others who have central advertising contracts target the top 6 . In truth that’s where the value is . Ok the money from these central partnerships historically generate… Read more »

Captain Tierney

LT

Someone named Jonathan Dinzeyi. The only other thing I know about him is he is an England Under 18 International
Anyway these are low risk high reward signings which I hope to see more of under Edu and Per.
Even if we can find 1 starting quality player out of 10 and sell at least 3-4 at for respectable fees. Its a massive win-win.
This is how Chelsea generate a lot of funds.

Emiratesstroller

Terraloon

Cadburys is owned by Kraft. So it is part of a very large food manufacturer.
Chocolate is a very big business so I would imagine that the sponsorship does
have some value unlike many others, which are probably fairly notional.

CG

Captain

“”””Someone named Jonathan Dinzeyi.””””””

Well if he is contention for the first team and this Gabriel arrives, and Arteta ( rightly ) wants to keep Holding.

Arsenal will now have x 10 center backs on the books,

By my calculations ,Liverpool have 3 or maybe 4.

I guess this is ‘Squad balancing’ Edu style.

Del Boy might have gone , but Rodney is still here.

Terraloon

ES

Cadbury, formerly Cadbury’s and Cadbury Schweppes, is a British multinational confectionery company wholly owned by Mondelez International (originally Kraft Foods) since 2010

There are couple of the commercial partners that are National but the majority of the biggies are Mulitl National.

Left testicle

Noice!

Emiratesstroller

CG

Sokratis and Mustafi will leave this summer as they are both in final year of contract.

Mavropanos is out on loan and I suspect that at least one more player either
Chambers or Holding will probably be loaned.

That means that the club will have on books Saliba, Luiz, Mari,Chambers or
Holding and Gabriel if he arrives.

Five in squad is acceptable.

Ustyno

Emirate and Terralon convo is always funny, trying to beat each other with inside information,I’m imagining you guys know each other personally

Anytime one post the other must look for something to pick out of the post

Funny people 😂

Left testicle

Going in to the season with Saliba, Luiz, Mari,Chambers and Holding as the CB options is scary!

Captain Tierney

CG

Kidding ? mate.
You expect a player released by Spurs academy to contend for Arsenal first team.

And I think at the end of the window we’ll only have 5 first team CBs on our books. Maybe . Considering Mari , Chambers , Mustafi are injured and it will be very difficult to move on injured players in the market .

Anyways why arent you still hung on the 55 redundancies topic? You were moaning about that in your every post before it was revealed your Darling Tim was the one behind it. 😉

Captain Tierney

Un

In all honesty Nico is a RB and Hoever also has played RB for Liverpool. Lovren recently left
That makes it about 3 experienced first teamers and two young but high potential players.
Which is a good mix but imo the best would be 1 absolutely top quality CB a la VVD, 2 very good ones like Joe Gomez , 1 experienced rotation option a la Lovren and 1 young high potential player like Van der berg.

Terraloon

Ustyno I was lucky that I was able to retire aged 52, I am 64 on Friday. One of the funniest memories I have was at a board meeting where one of my fellow directors and myself were discussing a certain manager who he wanted to promote and I didn’t. ( After I retired he was promoted but was dismissed within a year) Anyways as the discussion went on the other chap said to me “ The trouble with you is that you always want the last word. “ My only response was “ No I don’t” As for ES… Read more »

Jamie

Un is on point counting CBs. Either the same rules apply, or no rules apply.

Captain Tierney

Un

The thing is CG’s opinions are never to be taken seriously.
He never speaks without a British/Wenger/Anti- Edu, Raul , Kia bias.

He will turn signing a young CB on a free as a bad thing for the club because it was Edu who is doing it.

Mr Serge

Un lovren left at the end of the season
Having 5 cb is enough plus we are getting Gabriel so

Gabriel
Holding
Saliba
Luiz
Mari
Chambers when fit if they don’t sell him to Fulham
Sok and misti see ya

Champagne Charlie

Cap

Speaking of….

The Malang Sarr char has died a death hasn’t it?my sauces tell me it’s a John Stones loan we fancy on top of Gabriel should we pump some floaters out.

Ustyno

Terralon

What you just said about yourself is exactly who you are at least here,no name calling,just counter argument even though some times it is needless but it’s okay

Happy for you that you retired early,good to know too

Habesha Gooner

Sokratis to Napoli? I thought he would have suitors in Germany or Italy. We need it happen though.

Emiratesstroller

Terraloon

This is a blog about football and not as you quite correctly point out about
name calling or personality.

I am older than you and also retired and living comfortably. I have always enjoyed my football albeit that I played rugby.

I have several other interests.

My main concerns at the moment is career uncertainty for my children who
are respectively in their late 30s and early 40s. Both have never been out of
work, but in the current pandemic that could happen.

CG

Captain T

“”You expect a player released by Spurs academy to contend for Arsenal first team.””””

Yes otherwise,
Why are we buying him then?

Captain Tierney

CC Yup. Was looking forward to Sarr. His position is Left Centre back in a back 3. The worry about him tho is that he is not good in the air and therefore if you play him in a back 4 you need to have tall and strong midfielders , good in the air to make up for his aerial weakness. Gabriel rn is a better player imo with a higher ceiling. As for Stones its a no from me. He is like a less athletic Mustafi with slightly better concentration. Next season our CB should be Saliba Gabriel Luiz/Mustafi… Read more »

Captain Tierney

CG

To fill up the academy. He is free agent and maybe the club believes he can be sold for a profit.
🤷

Champagne Charlie

Cap

Agree with all that, but while I’d prefer other players to Stones I think he’d be an interesting loan if all other dominoes fall (Luiz to Rennes included). Gives me Jonny Evans vibes, where he’s fallen out of favour at the very top but would have a rebirth a level below.

Terraloon

ES We went to Swanage a year or two ago. Other than the fact that Jonathan Ross is said to have a holiday home there it’s not a bad place to visit. In Swanage High Street there is a shop selling bits and pieces most of it alien to us Dorset people. Anyways my dear wife ought me a plaque which reads: “ Warning retired person on the premises. Knows everything and has plenty of time to tell everybody “ Ouch but probably true! Luckily both my two and their partners are thankfully working and one a painter and decorator… Read more »

Valentin

TallestTiz, I was not criticising the deal, because I don’t know the player and I have no idea how much we are paying him nor what will be his purpose. Some were surprised that we snapped what they called a Huddersfield reject. I just put the info out there giving a different explanation of the deal. Like I explicitly wrote before I don’t know the player. For all I know he could be the next Vieira or the next Stepanov. It could a good or a bad deal, only future will tell. However what it does not look like is… Read more »

HighburyLegend

“Mara Özil. This is the name given to his daughter by an Arsenal fan from America. In March, Jack Robinson challenged Mesut Özil on Twitter: “”My wife will give birth in July, she says if I get a response from you I can name our child Özil, please don’t let me down”.”
To which the Gunner had responded favorably, asking to see the birth certificate. Baby Mara Özil Robinson was born August 16 in Missouri, and her father kept his promise by posting the snap.”

Nope, this is not the 1st of April.

Terraloon

Un

Dorset is both an beautiful and very interesting county.

I don’t get to Bridport that often but when we do love to walk fro West Bay out toward Seatown.

Of all the places that are odd in the county like Portland where the locals actually have a poster that reads Keep Portland Weird”

There’s some strange names such as Shitterton & Piddlehinton . My favourite is Iwerene Minster famous for one thing it’s the setting of the infamous episode of only fools and horses where the chandelier crashed to the floor.

Jamie

Jack “Pierre” Robinson.

Freddie Ljungberg
R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Key word set to sign …
Nothing fact

Freddie Ljungberg

R.S.P.C

“Arsenal set to sign £22m star Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille as Mikel Arteta’s men agree a deal to snatch Brazilian defender away from Manchester United and Napoli

Arsenal have won the race to sign highly-rated Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille after beating off interest from Manchester United and Napoli”

They seem pretty sure, not sure what else they have to do to make it a factual statement.

I’m not saying it’s true but seeing as the daily mail is now taken as the absolute truth here in all matters Arsenal, well, it has to be.

CG

Captain “””””CG To fill up the academy. He is free agent and maybe the club believes he can be sold for a profit.”””” Why dont Spurs think they can sell him on a for a profit? Mr. Outsmarting the Market might have been unceremoniously sacked but his smart – arse mind set still permeates. (They have far superior executives than us by the way ) I am a firm believer in the old adage. Quality not Quantity. We hear about streamling the organisation and then 24 hours later recruiting players Huddersfield Town and Spurs dont want. Let’s hope, I am… Read more »

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Terraloon and the stroller
Two perfect gentleman who disagree in a orderly fashion.

That’s what it should be.

Es as for the uncertainty in jobs, lord knows what the future holds. All industries being his , software technology and post productions being farmed out to India in abundance last couple of years will only ramp up.
Banks shutting all around as it’s all on phones pads etc.
Only safe jobs are building works and possibly civil service jobs but with Cummings looming over changing .
Is there anything as s safe job anymore.

Dissenter

We may have just signed Gabriel.
It seems Charlie’s intense media campaign of convincing every one of his family to like Arsenal on Twitter has worked.
We didn’t have Brazilian players and now we can’t stop having some very good Brazilian players.

Captain Tierney

‘Let’s hope, I am wrong’

Well you are wrong 95% of times so dont worry about it.

Dissenter

When do the first team players return for the abbreviated pre-season training?

This summer window is bizarre. I read that Liverpool are already back in training. Shouldn’t the players be given enough time to recharge?

Dissenter

CG has been proven right about Arsenal more than most people here, especially on the big stuff.
I recall when he wrote. Torriera was no good because his legs were too small – meaning the lad’s physical attributes are incongruent with English football.
His writing style may be annoying but he’s no dunce.

CG

Thank you Dissenter.

HighburyLegend

“I’d be pretty happy going into the new season with Luiz, Mustafi…”

WTF ?? lol

TheLegendaryDB10

I feel that now that Raul has left the building, we have a much better chance of pulling ourselves back in the right direction.

This situation should now allow Mikel and Edu the chance to forge a proper plan for the team and execute it.

And I am far more confident in Vinai, who has worked at the club for 12 years, in backing them as he will want to do his best for the club.

We are heading towards some exciting times!!!

TR7

Sky Sports reports that Mari/Luiz/Saliba/Holding are likely to be the 4 main CBs at Arsenal while Chambers could stay due to his versatility. Mustafi and Sokratis are more likely to be offloaded.

If this is true then it’s a good news indeed. I want us to keep both Chambers and Holding and offload Sokratis and Mustafi.

Jamie

CG December 26, 2019

Arteta Out

Trust Dissenter to think CG gets a lot right.

Leedsgunner

Mustafi and Sokratis out? Good. Hopefully we’ll receive more than a paltry sum for the

If we received decent amounts for Chambers and Holding (say £20m each) I would not cry too many tears…

HighburyLegend

“Mustafi and Sokratis out? Good. ”

Pedro disagree.

Bojangles

Bojangles

Why are you saying Arteta is keeping holding?

I read that Arteta has changed his mind about him. Apparently Leeds were sniffing around but Arteta said no.

Valentin

Just caught on SkyNews the interview with the education minister, the journalist was brutal.
🤯🤣
Your ignorance is not a defense. In fact it seems to be the problem here.

Daniel Altos

Is it just me that is wondering how much the athletic report about arsenal? Everytime I go on Twitter and see an athletic article it’s always Arsenal,don’t they have another club to write about?And it always amazes me how much people take them as the gospel truth ffs

Daniel Altos

Arsenal are set to sign 20-year-old Jonathan Dinzeyi who was released by Tottenham last month.

We are now picking up released players all over the place

Radio Raheem

This summer window is bizarre. I read that Liverpool are already back in training. Shouldn’t the players be given enough time to recharge?

————-

They had 3 months off.

Champagne Charlie

“We may have just signed Gabriel.
It seems Charlie’s intense media campaign of convincing every one of his family to like Arsenal on Twitter has worked.“

*Making sense has left the chat*

I don’t speak Brazilian……

Captain Tierney

CG the man who is always right Believes Arsene doesn’t have one bit share in Arsenal’s decline. Wants Arsene Wenger back at the helm. If not as a manger then as upper management. Wants Dyche or Pearson to be Arsenal Head coaches. Berates most of the foreign player Arsenal are linked to or sign. Thinks Ings is a better player than Auba. Believes Declan Rice is better than Partey . Says Amn is our best midfielder who can start for most of the top teams when 4 managers in a row haven’t trusted him in the Midfield role ( including… Read more »

Alexanderhenry

Pedro

I like the sound of this Tim Lewis guy.
He’s a proper enforcer which is makes up for the lamentable negligence of the Kroenkes– at least to some extent.

He’s also a ‘lifelong arsenal fan’ allegedly.

It’s also interesting he’s slimmed down the much vaunted modern management structure designed by gazidis.
From the outset I thought – too many cooks.
He’s cleared the way for arteta to take a bigger role than just team coach and I’m hoping Lewis and arteta can form a partnership similar to Dein and Wenger.

Interesting times

Mr Serge

CC Brazilians don’t speak Brazilian they speak Portuguese lol

CG

AH

“””:I like the sound of this Tim Lewis guy.”””””

I do too.( Uber competent in my recent dealings with him)
Is it not a truly amazing thing..

You appoint proven professionals with integrity and a proven track record what one can achieve.

Shame we still have third-raters Hussey, Edu and Vinny still stinking the place out.

More Tim Lewis &
More Arsene Wengers at The Arsenal any day of the week for me.

Emiratesstroller

Terraloon Dorset is a wonderful place to live. I am fortunate that I live in one of the nicest districts in London within 2 minutes walking distance of Hampstead Heath. Obviously skilled craftsmen like builders, decorators, plumbers and electricians if they are good at what they are doing will have a good livelihood so long as they are working, but if they are self employed dependent on good health. My son works for a major USA IT Firm and is specialist so I am not too worried about his career. My daughter works for a FTSE 100 company in a… Read more »

CG

ES

“”” I am fortunate that I live in one of the nicest
districts in London within 2 minutes walking distance of Hampstead Heath.”””””

You might bump into Raul walking his dog on the heath.
He will have a lot of time on his hands now.

If you see him tell him for me.

“”” there is indeed a different type of knock!”””

HighburyLegend

“Apparently Leeds were sniffing around but Arteta said no.”

Did Lego Hair goes in rehab ?

Sid

Cross breeding the Dorset sheep with persian blackhead sheep produces sheep with the tastiest mutton.

You heard it here 1st!

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Picking up players from spurs n vice versa is not new.
They picked up youth captain Rohan ricketts .
Played a few first team games for them.

Early days but who knows what’s going to happen round the corner.

R.S.P.C.Arsenal

Does anybody else think that if gabs signs then we will continue to play 3-5-2

Saliba. Luiz. Gabs

Hold Luiz. Mari

So gabs n Mari left footed
Holding mustafi papa chambers all right footed so two will go .

9 players covering a back 5
Bel n Cedric right back

Kt n Saks left back .

Valentin

I find it both encouraging and disappointing that Arsenal is now following the Brentford academy path to the first team model. Here is Brentford’s plan as I remember it from an interview with the Brentford CEO written either in the evening standard or Metro from a couple of years ago. Because of the change in the academy restrictions that highly benefited category A academy, Brentford decided to disband their lower age group academy and focus on the age group from 17-23. Their plan was to pick up academy A players who have failed to go into their club first team.… Read more »

Dissenter

Valentin
That was an incisive post.