I have a BUSY day today so I’m going to keep this sweet and short. Did the order of that phrase jar you? Good. I’m messing with your damn mind because it makes me feel powerful.
First up, good news, Mikhi has left Arsenal. A mutual agreement for each party to go their separate ways ends a pretty bland tenure and probably one of the least satisfying transfers of the last 10 years.
Arsenal lose £180k a week off the wage bill. The player gets to sign a long-term deal with Roma he’d not have picked up had we slapped a transfer fee on him. There’s sometimes an early cancellation fee, in this case, I very much doubt it. This works for all parties. No one is out of pocket.
The GREAT news that dropped out of the blue is that Arsenal will be welcoming back Dani Ceballos for a year. The fan favourite had 3 loan offers on the table and he turned them all down because he LOVES The Arsenal. What a guy.
I was genuinely worried he was a wet lettuce when I heard he wanted to play for Betis. This is the best move for him. He’ll grow under Arteta and he’ll gain a bigger profile. There’s no option to buy, but let’s be real, who’d be foolish enough to tie themselves to a purchase a year out. Only worry is if he keeps up his great form, he’ll cost us more money, or potentially earn a move to a different club.
David Ornstein, a god among gods, reckons the Gabriel deal is done and dusted. He’ll be announced shortly. That’s bloody great news. I love how covid-agitated fans are raging at the PR department like this is some sort of football chinese-water-torture.
‘WHY WOULD THEY HOLD BACK THE NEWS THEY ARE SO CREUL!’
What does that mean for the midfield? Will we sign Auoar and Thomas Partey? I hope so. We need all the help we can get next season. Make those two signings and we’ll be a very exciting force next season. It’s a pipedream at the moment, but give it a week and see who we sell and for how much.
AMN is staying. I told you that yesterday. I just wanted a way in on this video.
Look at this guy 😭 pic.twitter.com/OhLkNYAc6v
— mikelaafc (@mikelaafc) August 31, 2020
That my friends is what we term: Sauce.
Mesut Ozil. The man, the myth, the Fortnite legend… has been offered a mega-money deal to play in Saudi Arabia for a season. Why not? My mate Tomasz went out there to sell generators, he’s caked in dough. He absolutely loves it. I just don’t understand why Mesut would waste a year feeling shit about football? You work in football a short term. Your legs, muscles, and ligaments don’t hold out forever. Why would you waste game time to make a point no one cares about?
Training with green energy entrepreneur Matty F is no match for proper football. I am at a loss as to why he doesn’t just move on, for the good of his mental health, and his brand.
Finally, there are BEASTLY rumours that Hector Bellerin is attracting the interest of Mr Pirlo at Juve. The suave Italian wants ‘chameleonic’ players. That is the most elite word ever to cross my laptop, coming to a creative review soon. I love Hector, I’m not sure how I feel about this, but if the price is right, why not?
Ok, that is all I have time for. I’ve had a sneak peak at the new lick of paint we’re putting on Le Grove and I am VERY happy that you are going to get a decent mobile experience moving forward. The comments are unlikely to change too much, as someone put it, the functionality of the site if like peak-AOL homepage, but does it need to be any slicker? I don’t think so. Any suggestions, drop them below.
Oh, and by the way, why haven’t you listened to our podcast? So rude. I’ll forgive you if you download and share with FIVE friends.
Thanks x
Find it on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play
Interesting
Boom
Boom Boom
Trofee
Boom Boom Boom
Damm!
Ceb is like a new signing
Guys – has anyone heard anything about fans being allowed back in to watch matches? Potentially 15 to 20k. Any word on the street?
Few suggestions.
1) Allow thumbs up on comments so users could ask you questions and the most ‘liked’ post you answer in a following blog post.
2) Be good to see a rough idea of blog length before committing. Is it a 2 min read or a 5 min.
All in all, great content on the regular. Really appreciate what you do 👍
I am not sure if the Saudi thing would be something that Ozil wants despite the financials.
If it was UAE or Quatar, it would be a lot more appealing.
Though they are currently loggerheads. No good solution.
From last post:
ES
To compete for top 4 and beyond we ideally need 3 new midfielders, if Xhaka is a starter again we handicap ourselves from the off and have to change formation just to accommodate him.
Say we have 100m to spend after outgoings on midfield, is it better to buy 3 30m players of lower quality that we’re stuck with or buying 2 50m players and getting Ceballos in for another year and reassess next year? We’ll have far less to do next summer too if all goes to plan this window.
Freddie-that’s great but i think we’re broke
“Nketiah had to drop into midfield, AMN had to join midfield and Tierny had to perform the role of wingback and left side CB.
All to cover for Xhakalsons weaknesses.”
You forgot to add Bellerin had to tuck in, Luis was forced to join the midfield, Elneny held his hand, Martinez had to come out for crosses, Holding had to jump higher and Auba had to score from the left.
…and it worked!
Bacary
We’ll still sell players regardless and raise money that way.
The same principle applies for lesser numbers, with Ceballos in we can focus our resources on 2 players instead of 3. Then we can reassess next year where we stand with youth players etc and see what we need then when most of the first XI has been sorted long term.
And so… Ozil is staying ?? Freaking amazing!! lol
“David Beckam never played on the left because he was lethal from the right.”
Beckham would have looked comical trying to play from the left. If he played in this era, only the English hype would have saved him. He was an elite one dimensional player. Saka would surely go on to prove to be a more gifted footballer.
Freddie Ljungberg I agree 100% with your suggestion, because we are realistically very weak in the midfield department particularly when you see the level of investment, which has been done elsewhere by Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea. Ceballos is realistically a good squad/bench player and would be a decent choice as a THIRD midfield option. However, he is not going to be a game winner either in defensive or offensive mode of game. Realistically I doubt that Arsenal will spend more than an additional £40-50 million this summer and I am not even sure that will be spent at… Read more »
“Arsenal to play two, possibly three, BCD games before the season opener at Fulham on Saturday week.
Willian, Laca, Pepe, Ozil all back at Colney yesterday as Arteta’s squad starts to come together again. Understand Gabriel was even allowed on site for the squad’s Covid testing.”
“However, he is not going to be a game winner either in defensive or offensive mode of game.” He’s a continuity player with bells on, or is at least becoming one as the realities of the big boys football begins to set in, so as long as he maintains the attitude and application of last season he will be a big asset. If he he drops his intensity for a second though he’s dead weight, and that’s the danger with him so relying on him for the whole season. We need still need at least two more options in there… Read more »
“Fiorentina is awaiting Arsenal’s response to its loan with obligation to buy offer for Lucas Torreira, the day ahead may be Friday as Arsenal seems to be softening their stance.”
They also reportedly increased their offer. With Kolasinac, Holding, Sokratis and Torreira all close to leaving, I hope we sort the outgoings ASAP then bring in Partey at least.
But Ozil is staying… and that’s all that matters!!
Chika
As I posted yesterday the arrival of Gabriel combined with recruitment of 2
midfield players will require us to offload or deregister 8 players from first
team squad.
Potentially Martinelli, Saka and Smith-Rowe don’t need to be registered. So
the minimum number of offloads with my scenario is 5 players.
Four of those offloads should be Sokratis, Holding, Kolasinac and Torreira.
The next three options for me would be Guendouzi [if you can find a buyer],
Elneny and of course Ozil.
Chika “Beckham would have looked comical trying to play from the left. If he played in this era, only the English hype would have saved him. He was an elite one dimensional player. Saka would surely go on to prove to be a more gifted footballer.” A “one dimensional player” who was possibly the best crosser of a ball the game has seen. A ” one dimensional play ” who could switch play with effortlessly ease from right to left .. A ” one dimensional player” who was a dead ball specialist, scoring numerous goals from free kicks. A ”… Read more »
ES
Saliba should count as homegrown since he was signed at 18, same as Martinelli so that’s one less spot to worry about.
Think we’ll see a couple of departures this week, Sok and Kola probably the first to go.
Ozil needs to decide it’s all about that desert life too and all’s good.
“First up, good news, Mikhi has left Arsenal.”
What about Ozil ?? Just saying…
ES
True. We must trim the squad and I fully expect the club to be working on that, so no worried really.
Pierre
A ” one dimensional play ” who could switch play with effortlessly ease from right to left ..
lol indeed. Beckham was 40% talent, 60% hype; crosses and free kicks, what more?
I still maintain he’d struggle in this era. Mention just one player who is similar to him and he’s thriving in this era.
Beckham was a one eyed man in the land of the blind. If he was Spanish or Brazilian, he’d be lucky to earn 2 caps, no cap!
Chika
“I still maintain he’d struggle in this era. Mention just one player who is similar to him and he’s thriving in this era.”
Alexander Trent Arnold , without him Liverpool wouldnt have won the league.
Creates and assists for fun , that destroys your argument in a second as he is Liverpool’s most creative player.
His delivery from out wide is superb, and yes he is a full back but he plays as advanced as any winger did in days gone by.
We won’t go anywhere without a top notch creative player to replace Ozil.
We need someone to chip in with assists and goals because the midfield last year provided nothing .
Coutinho would be the answer find a way to get him.
HL. – a non point really. Pedro had something to report on Mikhi because its happened. There is no news on Ozil other than supposed Middle East interest so there is still no news.
What else can be provided to you by fans with no authority to sever Ozil’s contract?
Just saying……..
Started watching the spurs doco.
Useless . Voice over of Tom hardy don’t work. Plus they dashed through the sacking of porch.
No disrespect to Pierre but I always find it amusing that you call people Wenger obsessives yet you(and CG) are always keen on making it all about Wenger..I am eading the ‘Arteta big game tactics’ post as I have been a bit behind on Legrove posts lately and out of nowhere you decided to make it all about Wenger again.Just a polite observation
RSPC
Best manager they’ve had in how many decades and they sacked him?
Pierre,
“Whichever way you look at it, the team lose a creative force without Saka on the left to lay the ball on a plate for the strikers.”
Did you watch the community shield at all? From which flank did he deliver the killer pass?
Saka is not you usual static midfielder that required to be played in a particular position to blossom.
If the Italian teams are alledglly fighting for torr
Just stump (no height gag) up hot him
22-25 should seal.
Agreed Marc
Like many I was dreading them winning the big cup.
Something went on but most said put down to results.
But there was always going to be a hangover after going close.
But looks like spurs want a trophy and anyone will do.
Strange why poch ain’t ended up anywhere yet ?
RSPC
The Poooooooooooch got the Spud’s squad achieving way over it’s level of talent, a combination of naivety and hubris on his side and the lack of investment from the club meant once it went wrong it was going to fall to pieces.
Pierre
So Alexander Trent Arnold is the ONLY name you could offer as a player similar to Beckham. There are tons of amazing wingers out there yet you can only think of a RB? 😂
You’ve destroyed your own argument.
“My mate Tomasz went out there to sell generators, he’s caked in dough.”
Maybe “caked in blood money” would be more accurate.
You’d expect any normal player in Ozils predicament to “ jump” at the opp the Arabs are affording him.Would trouser even more dosh- tax free for a year,get some game time regularly & adoration & then could jump ship to Turkey in a year.instead of stinking the gaff out at Arsenal where he’s hanging around like a bad smell.The pull of London must be huge…..
I am the only one that’s underwhelmed by Ceballos coming back?
Am I *
If we dont sign any other midfielder then it is most definitely underwhelming
Samesong
That depends if he’s the only “addition” to the midfield this TW then yes very much so, if we bring in a couple of other CM’s then not at all he’s part of a planned midfield restructure that’ll transform this team.
Chika/aturu, the rest of the villagers should slap some sense into you.
Im telling you for free!
I don’t think people are realistic about our funds. At the end of last season, Ceballos Put in so many top performances it makes sense to bring him back while trying for Aouar and Partey. A team that has Xhaka as a main CM shouldn’t be underwhelmed by Ceballos while we are skint. He was crap at first but we saw the real ceballos at the end. He was at the very least a satisfactory midfielder.
The immutable fact is that Arteta does NOT have a transfer money pot.. It may appear that he has one with money spent on recent extensions and signings, but in the end it will work out that the cash and reduced wage-bill has come by offloading players. A host of players will leave. Obvious ones like Mustafi and Gendozy but also others ike Laca and Bellerin, and perhaps Xhaka. Hopefully, Ozil’s departure is a foregone conclusion. Ceballos has not settled the midfield problem. However it’s unlikely there will be a an expensive signing. More likely is an uncut gem unearthed… Read more »
Calling Beckham a one dimensional player wow , whats next , Ronaldinho was a futsal player & Zidane was a MMA fighter.
Does AMN remind anyone of Lauren the way he takes his pens?
Would do well to model his whole game on him a she transformed from a midfielder to a very good full back
“Obvious ones like Mustafi”
Pedro will be so sad.
Watts came out with a report saying Ozil is back at Colney along with Laca, Willian and co.
Apparently we also have a BCD friendly today.
We’ll know shortly where Arteta stands with his – ‘Everyone has a clean state ‘ comment.
Also check out this little graph here
https://mobile.twitter.com/oh_that_crab/status/1300525318290038784
Beckham IS a one dimensional player
Or WAS
FFS please, don’t mention Beckham in the same sentence with Ronaldinho and Zidane.
!
PaulinhoAugust 31, 2020 14:21:10
Not surprised Guendouzi’s availability has been met with collective tumbleweed from Europe’s elite.Why would there be a stampede for someone who can’t defend, rarely plays progressive passes, doesn’t assist, doesn’t score?
You checked guendos ball progression stats?
Guendouzi’s ball progression numbers are one of the best the in league.
Tee
“Did you watch the community shield at all? From which flank did he deliver the killer pass?”
Floating a ball out to the left wing can hardly be regarded as a “killer pass”….not in my world anyway , it was a nice floated crossfield ball though.
An elite word like ‘chameleonic‘ would suggest elite level fees!
A meagre £40m and Bellerin and Ramsey could be reunited. How sweet.
“Nketiah had to drop into midfield, AMN had to join midfield and Tierny had to perform the role of wingback and left side CB. All to cover for Xhakalsons weaknesses.”You forgot to add Bellerin had to tuck in, Luis was forced to join the midfield, Elneny held his hand, Martinez had to come out for crosses, Holding had to jump higher and Auba had to score from the left. …and it worked!“ Oh my. Xhara entourage of body guards on the pitch!! Seriously we need much more than a Dani boy to make top 4. Don’t care if Xhara stays… Read more »
Xhaka haters in the mud, where they belong.
Chameleon reminds me of Emery.
Lets hope Pirlo doesn’t go down that route.
Chika
The David Beckham I watched was world class in his position, and yes you have to be 1-dimensional in order to achieve any form of relevance. The best players in history -Messi, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zidane et al-were known for one position on the field.
David Beckham was indeed one-dimensional, albeit pretty good at that one. From the little I’ve seen of Saka, he’s head and shoulders over Beckham in talent and footballing ability. No surprise, that long ball lovers aka English fans would be gushing over Becks.
What position would Beckham play for Pep/Klopp? 🤔
Don’t forget, Celallos has already fully integrated into Arteta’s system.
I saw leeds getting linked to DePaul on Saturday and today they have already agreed personal terms.Within a week Chelsea were done with sarr.Same with city for ake and Torres.How comes we can’t just complete deals quickly we always have to drag throughout the whole summer.Just look at Willian and how we can’t even announce a contract extension ffs
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2020/09/01/arsenal-transfer-news-gabriel-announcement-hint/
Gabriel incoming!
Apropos changes to the site, any chance of a ‘Bamford filter being used? It would be welcomed if it could filter out posts purporting to come ftom Bamford’s “friend”, “mum”, “cousin”, “next door neighbour”, his “employer”, parole officer, psychiatrist or the Harvard professor / porn star that he is dating 🤣🤣🤣
Someone mentioned a match today – does anyone know who it’s against and is it on TV or Youtube like the MK Dons match?
Also kick off time if anyone knows?
Just read that Mkhitaryan and his agent will have to pay a compensation amount to Arsenal of around £1m to cancel the final year of his contract with the club.
Saliba should count as homegrown since he was signed at 18, same as Martinelli so that’s one less spot to worry about.
They both won’t count as HG until they’re 21 it’s 3 years training and registered with a club before the age of 21. It’s a good policy for hot young prospects going forward. Any chance of Gabriel Veron that red hot prospect we’ve been linked with the last couple months? I know he turns 18 like September 3rd. Fingers crossed
I think it’s against QPR at 3 pm UK time. Dont know if it will be streamed or not.
Marko
But they won’t have to be registered right, like the other under 21s? Or do we register them as non homegrown now and then switch after they turn 21? Doesn’t seem right.
I just read that Mathieu Flamini has a higher net worth than Roman Abramovich wtf.Flamini should just buy us.
But yeah very happy with Ceballos coming back I saw a stat graph from sky about him and literally since the restart he was first in everything passing, dribbling, interceptions, distance covered everything. I personally like the signing because we get all our signings in and I see Ceballos phasing out old granit and he becomes less of a starter. Can see Ceballos and Partey working very well together
Thanks Wasi
Fabrizio gave the “here we go” to the Ceballos deal. It’s a done deal now. Willian, Gabriel and Ceballos isn’t bad so far. Get one of Partey or Aouar and this will be a great window. Get both it is spectacular.
Marko
Ceballos stats are all the more impressive when you consider he did all of that whilst carrying Xhaka on his back. Imagine how good he’d be with a midfield partner rather than an anchor.
Freddie no they get registered as under 21’s of which you can have as many but they point is they don’t get seen as HG until the 3 years.
https://www.goal.com/en-gb/amp/news/atletico-madrid-star-partey-keen-to-join-artetas-arsenal/6b5cbudrf5bb1x9vcu1siic92?__twitter_impression=true
Ceballos won’t be phasing Xhaka out of anything, their profiles are completely different and contrary to the boring narrative about Xhaka at this stage, he’ll continue to be a valuable part of our midfield.
What Ceballos offers is an actual viable option that Torreira was continually heralded as, which will only help us.
Marko
Ok, so they still don’t count towards the non homegrown quota, that was my main point to ES who worried we had too many.
Think we should take advantage of having Willian in the squad, it allows us to sign a Veron or Szoboszlai in that Cam position and loan them out or integrate them slowly into the team.
Wouldn’t say no to a Aouar obviously but don’t know how likely that is with all the other business needs doing.
CC
If we sign Partey and Ceballos that’s the starting pairing right there. Ceballos is better in every aspect of the game, defensively as well as offensively. It’s not even close,ad Ceballos can actually play in a congested midfield without getting overwhelmed.
Chicka
Serious question.
Are you old enough to appreciate and remember what Beckham brought to the table?
Freddie
Yes, because you’ve been so on the money with Xhaka for how long now? Watch that not come true once again and we’ll see the next iteration of your argument develop.
Beckham was an outstanding football player, it should just be left as that. One dimensional or not, he was a fabulous player in terms of crossing, dead balls, passing, commitment and work rate. I had a lot of admiration for him despite him playing for United. He came across and took a corner at Highbury when I was sat near the flag once and he obviously got the abuse from the fans. As a 15/16 year old honing my own game as a midfielder however o was completely in awe of him. I don’t understand why people feel the need… Read more »
Ceballos won’t be phasing Xhaka out of anything, their profiles are completely different and contrary to the boring narrative about Xhaka at this stage, he’ll continue to be a valuable part of our midfield. I predict he will if Partey is signed and Ceballos maintains his form. Partey gets signed he’s a starter that’s for certain and if Ceballos performs like he did post lockdown he’ll be a starter too as all evidence points to him performing better than Xhaka. The only way I see Xhaka still being influential is if we go with a midfield 3 and we aren’t… Read more »
CC
Check the stats and your eyes,Ceballos was far better than Xhaka end of last season, both on and off the ball.
Doesn’t matter too much that he hasn’t been displaced so far, if we sign someone like Partey on top of Ceballos he’s out and the team will benefit from it.
Xhaka being a mainstay in our worst midfield in recent history isn’t really an endorsement of his quality, just means we’ve been crap at recruiting up until recently.
Great news about Ceballos. Hopefully he can continue his progress since the lockdown return.
Let’s be honest with ourselves here the only way Xhaka’s survived so long at Arsenal was not least because it was a declining club and going through bad management at the time but because our midfield options for a good few years there were average at best shit at most. This club signs Partey, Aouar and Ceballos and he suddenly becomes our 4th best CM not first
Freddie signing Gabriel Veron and loaning him back to Palmeiras could be the way to go
Arsenal’s PR must have been clearly on holiday over the last 2 weeks.
Yesterday it was announced at 4p,m what was already common knowledge
that Mkhitaryan had signed for Roma on free transfer.
Today it is being suggested that there will be another announcement at 4pm
most probably the signing of Gabriel and no doubt we will get daily announcements one at a time on each day this week including hopefully the
signing of a new contract by Aubameyang.
In other words the PR department plan to keep the club in the news to earn their wages.
Freddie
Bit rich to tell me to check my eyes when you’ve seen nothing but a dumpster truck footballer for two years yet Arteta saw a valuable CM inside 45 seconds of arriving. I’m not going to bother this to any great depth, your simplistic foretelling will be another failed prediction about him.
Xhaka and Ceballos pivoted well end of season and all that allowed for was praise for Ceballos, telling in itself. There’ll be no replacing, the value they bring isn’t equal or the same.
CC
Well he’s been a dumpster truck footballer for 4 years, that Arteta managed to hide his weaknesses by removing him from the middle and taking the ball away from him didn’t change that.
Ceballos did great end of season despite of Xhaka, not because of him.
So you think the starting pair will be Xhaka and Partey then, and Ceballos on the bench? Think you’ll be disappointed then.
Xhaka and Ceballos pivoted well end of season and all that allowed for was praise for Ceballos, telling in itself
What do you mean by this? Are you saying some of the praise received by Dani should have gone to Xhaka or that Xhaka is so disliked that people just to refuse to acknowledge when he did good? I seem to remember him getting plaudits for improving under Mikel on the whole (not that hard to do given his previous) but since the restart he was completely outshone by Ceballos
Freddie Nothing to do with disappointment, I think any Xhaka conversations with you will inevitably go one way so it renders the whole thing pointless. You’re so entrenched in a view of a player you dislike that you’re bending the world to suit it. Crack on, you’ll continue to be as inaccurate as ever on the subject. Marko Yea that’s some hot air and you know it. Xhaka got whispers of praise through clenched teeth and it was drowned out by anything else that could be point of focus whether that’s Ceballos playing well, Saka emerging, Auba doing Auba things,… Read more »
CC I have that view for a reason though, he’s been largely crap for 4 years. I usually don’t celebrate that. This is getting into Pierre and Ozil territory now, he doesn’t even have the passing anymore to show any usefulness to the team so what is left? He looked better because we played in a low block with 7 defensive players end of season. Largely because him and our CBs lacks the physical attributes to play effectively in a 433. Unless you think that ultra defensive set up is the future of Arteta ball then Xhaka shouldn’t be anywhere… Read more »
and it was drowned out by anything else that could be point of focus whether that’s Ceballos playing well, Saka emerging, Auba doing Auba things, you name. He’s been comically disrespected since he’s been here and it’s telling with the type of content written about him time and again. Yeah but you see that’s because you’re a super fan charles. I personally don’t see anything wrong with an emerging talent in Saka breaking into the team and getting 12 assists over the season and getting duly praised. I also don’t see anything wrong with our best player and captain maintaining… Read more »
‘Keeping Xhaka will be the end of Arteta’
… was the narrative in December.
Two trophies later.