Feels like we’re a little bit in stasis on the Gabriel signing, but some of the big transfer hitters have come out and stated that yes, he is our man, and he’ll be joining the Edu and Arteta project for FIVE years. Love it.
This really is a statement signing. The player has all the attributes we’re looking for in a defender. According to FreshArsenal, Gabriel isn’t really a ball-playing defender like you’d expect from a Brazilian, but he is an absolute machine when it comes to aerial duels. In France this season, he’s averaged a whopping 5.1 a game, which compares nicely to VVD on 4.9. I also didn’t realise he’s 6ft3. Next to Saliba at 6ft4, that’s quite an intimidating pairing.
What I love about this player is he speaks to a problem. I think 46% of our goals were conceded from setpieces, freekicks or penalties last season. We conceded 15 goals from setpieces alone. We’re trying to plug that with someone that has made his name dominating the box. That’s a smart move.
It’s also smart that we’re looking to hire Andreas Georgeson as a setpiece coach from Brentford. I’ve pondered the theory that the Premier League is becoming more like American sport. We’ve seen the rapid shift from KING managers who dominate every department and decision (Wenger)… to a more corporatised structure where you have specialist departments that are built out by Technical Directors. The thinking is that you put more specialism and accountability into these departments, and you don’t have situations where top managers leave and take 50 people out the door with them. Shad Forsythe doesn’t leave with Wenger. Gary O’D doesn’t leave with Emery. They report in to the Technical Director, or Head of Football, which gives them freedom to do what’s best for the club.
We’re now moving even harder into specialisms. Liverpool has a throw-in specialist. I’m pretty sure Jose Mourinho has a Head of Shithousery. That’s very much how American sport works. Defensive and offensive coaching has been a thing in NFL for a long time, but it goes deeper, you have kicking specialists, long snapper specialists. Anything that can give you an edge where others aren’t looking is worth finding a specialist.
It’s quite incredible because unrefined football fans like you and I have been saying for YEARS that ‘Arsenal should get Keown back in the mixer teaching the kids George Graham defending’, and now, Brentford are doing exactly that with a fancy exMalmo coach and it’s hip and acceptable. I am overjoyed that we’re tackling the big issues head-on with actual action.
Additionally, what I love about having a coach like Arteta is he doesn’t know everything. His greenness to the game is to the benefit of the club. He doesn’t have set ways of doing things. I think that makes you far more open to new ideas and experimentation, which is exactly what we need at Arsenal. Bring elite thinkers through the ranks and into the club, empower them to innovate and push boundaries, hopefully, reap the rewards on the pitch. A winning culture isn’t just about the players, it’s about every single person at the club having the same desire to win at whatever their job is. Hopefully, that’s the sort of energy that’s building out at Colney.
It’s also worth mentioning that Arsenal just signed Salah… not that one you fool, the Dutch kid who just left Feyenoord. It looks like Per Mertesacker has been working closely with people behind the scenes to set an agenda for how he wants to operate. These free transfers could be sniffed at as rejects, or we could be more positive and ponder whether there’s a… data story brewing that attracted Arsenal?
The Champions League tonight tells you how silly it is to write off any kid these days. I watched Serge G come on against Schalke and lose the ball, costing us a goal nearly immediately in the Champions League. I thought he looked more interesting than Theo did at the same age, but he went on to flunk at WBA and Wenger didn’t fancy him (which is telling, because Wenger loved to blood a kid). The story I was told by someone that knows him was Arsenal didn’t offer him a deal until AFTER he smashed it at the Olympics. Also, the player was horrified at how flummoxed the coaches were when a small French team shifted tactics and we had no answer (preseason). He moved, now he’s a star, lesson learned. Talent sometimes needs a different coach or a more compelling environment to be unleashed. Fingers crossed Arsenal can be that environment moving forward.
Before we go, I just want to say that all that shit I’ve been saying about 29-year-olds doesn’t count if we sign Thiago from Bayern. That’d be some statement. He’s a sublime midfielder. What an elevation that would be.
The Champions League will be fun this evening. I have to support Bayern here, I love the German side and what their game stands for. However, I spent a lot of time arguing with people on this blog about the sauce of Thomas Tuchel, particularly those who thought Emery was a better coach. Here we are chaps, sauce wins out again, the Emeryista on the worst losing streak of the year. Hopefully, it’s a fun game regardless, Hansi Flick is coach of the people, I’d love to see him lift the trophy. Let’s hope all the big players show up and it’s a final for the ages!
Right, see you in the comments. x
Tr4phy
Tr4phy
Oops
Trophy
Trophy
Dead heat!
£10 to live stream one match? Are you having a laugh???In China I can live stream every match (legitimately) on my smart TV for £1.50 a game£10 for the privilege of a fucking tv stream of one match is an absolutely hideous deal. Unreal milking of the fans if so
Pedro
Big sign of Arteta laying down a plan for the next season and beyond that he’s properly selling to talent.
Gabriel had numerous suitors, Willian was convinced, Saka signed on, Martinelli extended, Luiz slashed his contract, Partey is keen as mustard. All very positive.
We get Aouar on board and that’s such a statement from us this summer, as much as it is an endorsement in Arteta and what we’re looking to do. The buzz is back, loving it.
Thanks for the heads up on the new post Pedro and thanks for the great content most days. I always look forward to reading your thoughts and then laughing or crying at the comments 🤣
All very well having 2 6ft plus centre backs but a couple 6 ft full backs does it for me as well. Cedric is a midget, Bellerin is weak in the air, Tierney is just about decent in the air, kolasinac no thanks. Xhaka is the only central mid who helps out at set pieces.. You can forget about the rest of the team, Aubameyang, Pepe , Saka , Ceballos Torreira are not going to be any help from set pieces. So it is not surprising we concede so many set pieces, Martinez has to play in goal as he… Read more »
PSG will take it not because of the manager, because of Mbappe.
With more than half a billion squad, even OGS would win the CL
1st
Assuming we’re going to sign two midfielders, do you think Arteta see’s Thiago as the more defensive or attacking of the two? While he could probably play as a number 10 he’s much better in a deeper role and is a lot better defensively than people give him credit for. And whatever role you see him in if he were to sign, would you prefer the other midfielder to be a younger player considering we’ve already signed Willian?
Pierre I agree with you!
Good to see no mention of Ozil in your post.
Thiago, Coutinho, Willian , Gabriel,
Bring em all in!
That would be sick lineup…. I rate Thiago.
Bayern just waiting for the win today to jack up his asking price….
Who are these big hitters? Perhaps the player has agreed to terms with Arsenal but apparently, Lille have not yet agreed to the deal. Last week they (Lille) said that the Gabriel situation it would be resolved by the end of the week. The week has come to an end. The price has gone from $ 22M to $ 30M and a couple of more offers may come in. Lets hope Arsenal get this over the line but until Lille confirms the deal is taking place nothing has been achieved.
Pierre nicely observed. Our best header in attack is nketiah and people don’t even want him in our team ffs
Sid
“PSG will take it not because of the manager, because of Mbappe.
With more than half a billion squad, even OGS would win the CL”
Money can win domestics titles with ease, but not the Champions League, otherwise we would’ve seen PSG and Man City reach more CL finals.
Unless Tuchel wins today, he stays in the ‘sauce-free’ bin as far as I’m concerned.
Guns of SF lol give him a chance he will slide Ozil in somehow 😁
Pierre don’t remember
Dixon
Cole
Winterburn
Lauren being 6ft talk though
It’s the CB that have to be dominant in the air
Wow! You went from complaining if arsenal (Edu in particular) has it in them/him to work based on data approach to suddenly postulating our new signings are from data. Hope you are informed well by some of your mates in the club
Inckude Sagna
If Andreas Georgeson does arrive then
Pepe if he is in Arteta’s plans(William)
should be the only free kick taker in the
right areas of the pitch.
No one in the side can take a dead ball delivery like
him and I’m sure AG will see this.
If only Pepe could improve he’s 90 minute game
signs seem to be he has improved.
But other than he’s dead ball game I’m not convinced.
Literally stopped reading when I got to”This really is a statement signing” on Gabriel
Haven’t heard of him until we became linked but we’re supposed to believe we’ve won the transfer window? Massive lol
Someone like Upamecano is what you call a statement signing not a complete gamble who could yet blow anyway
And Glichy
Haven’t heard of him until we became linked but we’re supposed to believe we’ve won the transfer window? Massive lol
How many clubs were after him?
Vic wants everyone to know the lad might not work, just in case anyone was unaware of that fact.
Serge We had petit/Gilberto and Vieira( who manned the near post area) late 90’s/ early 20’s and then later on Giroud manned the near post area. The present side has no one to protect the near post and to me , that’s a worry as a good delivery will cause problems, hence last season’s problems. We have no good headers , who will attack the ball, other than the 2 centre backs. It’s not just about being tall , it’s about being brave and putting their head in where it hurts whilst defending. Arteta probably played with 3 centre backs… Read more »
Pierre I like Eddie’s profile . he’s a very good counter press forward and he scores goals too. Like our Gabriel Jesus if you like. I expect him to get plenty game time and cement his place in the team
I understand the skeptism with Gabriel but who’s to say saliba or any other signing we make will cut it?
CC
Knowing the fan base, id say the lad is been propped up for abuse proper if he doesn’t hit the ground running judging by the amount of over hyping I read on here daily
I’m preaching folk temper expectations and do not bomb him at the go when he doesn’t deliver.
If I were a betting man, I.would put my money on PSG winning the CL. Both Barca and Lyon had at least 4 clear cut chances to score against Bayern which they could not convert. Bayern’s defense is not the strongest in the world and If Mbappe, Neymar and Di Maria are on their games tonight they can cause Bayern damage.
We were supposed to be bringing in undoubted world class defenders like Upamecano to compliment the average to decent options already at the club
How we’ve somehow landed on another unknown is what doesn’t sit right with me
People say that Gabriel dives in a lot on YouTube videos. But what do you expect?
Videos show dramatic stuff. For defenders that’s diving in and making a tackle.
10 minutes of staying on your feet and shepherding forwards out wide does not an entertaining video make.
So Gabriel is done
Totally underwhelming this Gabriel signing
Got to raise the mood with someone like Partey/Coutinho soon to really start up talks about top4 next season
Patrick Vierra -Nice FC looking well on BT Sport.
Give my right hand to have a player like him back in the side.?
Perhaps for the first time in last 10 years do we have arguably the best two teams in Europe competing in CL final.
Hot Brazilian 22 year prospect with the exact profile we need when we’re skint is not underwhelming.
Pedro, I’m unclear if Partey and Aouar are both key targets or alternatives, as some papers are hinting. I think they are complementary targets and can’t understand the ‘alternatives’ narrative unless this is based on financial considerations. Must be honest, i would rather have Partey and Aouar rather than 1+ Thiago. I think we need to go with younger players, even though Aouar needs to develop more consistency and becoming more of a goal threat. This transfer window is shaping up very nicely. Oh and before I forget, Gabriel is a great signing. Is he a risk? Yes of course… Read more »
It’s laughable mocking any new signings.
Think maybe holding to Leeds
Shame I like the lad.chambers to Fulham
Papa to Napoli .maybe mustafi out the door n all.
Then just xhara to go and we can be in full re birth mode.
Gabriel’s got Mustafi-esque stats and has made 0 mistakes that let to an opposition shot and conceded 0 penalties this season. That is a Friggin good combo.
To put into perspective , Mustafi has better defensive stats than VVD. Only if he didn’t have his brain dead moments each game.
Great to see we are targeting a Set-piece specialist. We are very very weak in that area. Saliba and Gabriel will definitely help.
TR 7
Personally I would like to see psg win.
But you can never bet against the krauts in this situation..
Ze have ways u know.
I’m loving the way art is addressing the problems at the club.
He ain’t one to be fucked with .
What a joke that some posters on here staring that they’ve never heard of Gabriel as if somehow that could be important
Get your heads out of your arses people and stop pretending that playing Football Manager makes you an expert on footballing matters
Instead spend the time looking at his stats And videos and just get excited that he solves a major problem and stop being so negative ffs
Stating
Un
“Mustafi is very strong in the air. Really attacks the ball well.”
Excellent in the air , as is holding, but you can only play 2 ( possibly 3) centre backs in the team.
However, I was talking about our lack of strength in that department throughout the team and would be little or no help defensively at set pieces.
When there is a lot of competition for a player then you know teams actually have done their homework. Gabriel will turn out to be very decent at the very least. The fact that Napoli think they can replace koulibaly with him is a statement. His stats tell a player who is composed, Good in the air and who can play the ball at his feet. All these are traits we were looking for. No one is going to make me less excited about him.
Doing my best impression of sid, I would say that if will be pointless to hire a defensive set piece coach and not have our tallest, strongest header of the football positioned at the near post area, as that is where the danger is.
And I’m telling you that for free.
https://thetopflight.com/2020/08/23/arsenal-gabriel-magalhaes-manchester-united-dodged-bullet/
I like bitter articles like this hahaha
Un
Aubamayang is half decent in air in the opposition box if a goal is in offer but defensively, he won’t put his neck on the line.
I agree with the fantasy of recruiting creative players with vision and superior technique.
Un Yes Mustafi was massive post lockdown. ‘I can’t see him being sold’ You can’t ? I mean he was pretty solid for us and if Arteta thinks he can help him improve his concentration and wants to keep him at the club I’ll back him. But the concern is we have a lot kf defenders. Saliba and Gabriel are here for the long term. Luiz will be here next season and we just bought Mari. + we also have Holding , Chambers and Papa. If it were up to me – I’ll sell Holding and Papa. Keep Luiz around… Read more »
A team with Mbappe shits on man c, barca and goes toe to toe with Bayern and liverpool.
Im telling you for free!
Un
Sorry I mistook for sold for solid. 🤦
Profile for the modern CB: 6 ft 1 + Young Athletic Strong in the air Skill to play out of the back Saliba – check Gabriel – check Mari- maybe Mustafi – maybe, except for height Luiz – 5 yrs ago, but now no Holding – pre ACL, but now no (shame, I liked him) Chambers – maybe pre ACL, but now no Sokratis – hard no Kolasinac – hard no (he’s actually FB but hard no there too) Saliba and Gabriel, pair #1 Mari and Mustafi, pair #2 Everyone else goes at some point soon, keep Luiz as 5th… Read more »
Mbappe has won the world cup single handedly
Im telling you for free!
Henry and Ronaldo (R9) could ball when they lost their pace
He has time tbf tho
Only 1 win in 6 CL finals in french football history, so I will gladly support PSG tonight.
Allez Paris !
#farmer’sleague
“Mbappe has won the world cup single handedly”
Its not like France had a mad team with on form griezmann, on form pogba etc.
Thiago rumors hard to entertain, it would be so pure dude just keeps it all ticking along effortlessly. Could partner Xhaka and i’d imagine the Swiss would look like Xabi fucking Alonso.
Un Luiz is here for his exceptional off the pitch qualities. Next year we should start with Luiz (given we dont have many options) and then ease him out giving more and more minutes to Saliba and Gabriel as they settle in the Prem. I would love for Holding to be given a chance too but unfortunately I don’t think he will get it ahead of Saliba , Gabriel, Mustafi and he most definitely didn’t show enough pre and post lockdown to deserve it. In an ideal situation I would have liked to loan Holding out to a mid table… Read more »
France had the best squad depth of any side in the 2018 so I wouldn’t put the win down to Mbappe alone (Griezmann contributed more goals than Mbappe during the tournament anyway).
If Mbappe is deployed on the right, it will be great watching his battle against Davies.
Sid
“””Mbappe has won the world cup single handedly”””””
Correct.
Mbpape is already the greatest footballer of all time.
He will eat Bayern alive singlehandedly in a few hours time too.
Also if Mbappe wasn’t fit for the tournament, there was still Dembele and Lemar on the bench and both Coman & Martial were omitted from the squad entirely who could have produced a similar impact (Mbappe is still the first choice but who is to say the others could not have had a success World Cup too?)
thats why AW wanted him.
Navas starts, Verratti on the bench for Paris.
Coman takes Perisic’s starting spot for Bayern.
UN
“CG 😂 Ridiculous””””
Better than Pele, this one.
come back to me after the match , when he has bagged some goals.
Pedro
Defensive and offensive coaching is different in the NFL because the defense and offense are two separate teams.
This French team never wins a World Cup if “England” …..are producing the quality teams they should be
Is it joke friday already?
It’s a bit silly to use YouTube videos to scout players because it only shows the positive highlights of the player.
The club has professional scouts to assess the strengths and weaknesses of players. They also use data so I’m comfortable with the signing of Gabriel.
He’s going to need good coaching to succeed but t=he won’t h e difficulties settling in because we have a good community of his country men already.
Thiago has only ONE year left in his contact so why would anyone pay £23 million f or him this COVID-19 summer window?
I suspect Liverpool are going to take a pass on him too.
Gabriel, will be a great signing. As many have said he fits the profile we need to look for and have been looking for at CB. With Gabriel, Saliba and Mari we will now have legitimate aerial threats and defensive impact from multiple positions in the first 11. Also with Willian we have additional top quality setpiece taking and as Pedro has said we have a new set piece coach inbound. The blueprint is there for us all to see, really appealing stuff from Arteta at the moment. I still feel Bayern will win tonight, but Mbappe is a man… Read more »
Sup Ladies? Really don’t care who wins the CL.. Just hoping for a good match that lives up to the hype. I would wager on 3-2 Bayern. When the chips are down Muller usually doesn’t let his team lose. Fantastic leader.
Un ‘The vile scum who were goading maguire should be in the dock‘
Totally agree – too many of these twats in our society
See we have own Talkshite on tonight with Sid and CG spouting banal bollocks on Mbappe, who has now been elevated to the greatest footballer ever- purely to get responses as no serious sane person could be making them.
“Thiago has only ONE year left in his contact so why would anyone pay £23 million f or him this COVID-19 summer window…”
Do we really have to answer this?
Haha Sal… I wouldn’t answer 90% of the stuff posted above.. Litany of crazy talk going on.
Who you got today? The star power of PSG is hard to pass up…some sexy players. But Ze Germans are so solid. and deep.
I am liking us hiring specialists, just as long as we don’t do a Glenn Hoddle and bring in an Eileen Drewery!
the first teenager to net multiple goals in the World Cup knock out stages since Pele in
He became the youngest player to ever score for Monaco, breaking a record formerly held by the retired French star Thierry Henry.
Telling you for free!
Mid
As much as i’d like to see Neymargate out to its full fruition, i’m pulling for Bayern.
Can’t get fully behind the Qatari’s.
But it’s kind of a win / win either way, hoping for maximum carnage.
“It’s a bit silly to use YouTube videos to scout players because it only shows the positive highlights of the player.
The club has professional scouts to assess the strengths and weaknesses of players. They also use data so I’m comfortable with the signing of Gabriel.“
Well as long as you’re comfortable that the club has went beyond YouTube scouting I’m behind it too.
“ Pedro
Defensive and offensive coaching is different in the NFL because the defense and offense are two separate teams.”
Pretty sure Pedro and pretty much everyone knows this.
Rooting for PSG is like rooting for city or Chelsea and their ill gotten funds that allow them to splash the biggest cash on the best players since FFP is the biggest limp dick joke ever. Can never root for psg I hope Bayern smash them.
Not rooting for anyone tonight, just want to see the game live up to its billing, and quite confident we will see some goals. Could be the highest scoring final of recent times I think.
At least we don’t have to hide behind the sofa this year worrying that the sorry lot from the swamp might do the unthinkable.
Ill gotten wealth like your own club wouldn’t benefit from having the resources to be able to afford the best players in the world
Sal_
Yep… shouldn’t be a tight defensive struggle anyhow. Let’s see some goals.
I really like Mbappe, Dimaria and Veratti from PSG. I can’t stand neymar eventhough I think he is a special player. He could have been more than he is now if he wasn’t such a twat. But I can’t root for PSG. Bayern are the definition of a smartly well run club. Yes they have the pick of German talent but still they use proper scouting and develop players. They are patient too. Lewandowski and Goretzka came for free. Gnabry and Komen for peanuts. They unearthed a gem like alphonso Davies. They do Invest but football isn’t just about spending.… Read more »
* koman
Brits abroad are embarrassing
Bayern presses high.
A nazi v oil final is just what 2020 should be offering
That Bayern highline is a disaster waiting to happen. It only needs one good pass to Mbappe to run away from everyone.
Habesha
Mia San Mia, Bayern won’t compromise for anyone.
Bayern players are technically superb.
Ill gotten wealth like your own club wouldn’t benefit from having the resources to be able to afford the best players in the world
Our club has the resources for every player on earth. However he doesn’t use slave labor to build his resources or steal world cups.
Gnabry hasn’t touch the ball yet.
Big save from neuer. A little luck involved though.
Neuer is still good.
Neuer hadn’t a clue on that one.. bit lucky. Cagey match so far… but once they settle in should be some fireworks I hope.
I know Thiago is flavour of the month on here but I’m not convinced he’s mobile enough.