You know it’s a sad news day when publications start writing stories like, ‘Arsenal fans get excited about something someone said.’ If you’re a journo and that’s all you can muster, have a word with yourself.
So anyway, people in the comments section are talking about oral health today. Funny they should be chatting about that topic because I was introduced to a WATER PIK just last week. It is jet-powered flossing. I put it in my mouth and it was like letting off a sub-machine gun. Unreal how much pik-ing it did. I’d highly recommend it.
Damn, that only took us to 100 words?
Ok, Thomas Partey’s sisters best friend who owns one of those really cute cats with the bushy faces posted a relatable meme with a hidden message.
‘Live. Laugh. SIGN FOR ARSENAL U FUCKIN IDIOT’
You know you’re struggling to maintain a rumour when your circumstantial evidence is an inspirational quote.
Arsenal are really looking a little short in midfield heading into the new season. Our ‘like a new signings’ look like, well, our new signings. The opening day of the season might see Elneny, Ozil, and Guendouzi brought into the fold. Not exactly a thrilling prospect.
Stories out of France have the price of Aouar at £70m… and with Kai Havertz fetching £100m (nuts), why not?
The Thomas Partey story has been sputtering along all summer. They want the cash we don’t have, so there’s very little momentum that we know about there.
Then the link train seems to have shuddered to a halt.
I’m sure we’ll make some headway on deals, but I do wonder if some clubs are just thinking that waiting things out for a year might make more sense from a financial perspective? Aouar has 3 years left on his deal, he’ll be worth more next summer. Partey is at his peak, he might just sign a new deal if no one comes up with the £43m buyout.
We’ll see… but as it stands, the starting 11 we send out against Fulham will likely look very much like the starting 11 we put out last season.
Still, there could be some interesting movement there.
If we’re going to look to play a more progressive style of football, what does that look like? Deep blocks is where the issue is going to be this season. Does Arteta play Willian in a #10 role? Or does he keep him out wide where he did so much damage for Chelsea this season?
Does he bring Mesut Ozil back into the fold? The German ain’t what he used to be by some stretch, but if he’s playing by the rules, maybe there’s a role for him against teams that need to be unpicked? People don’t want to accept that there is still a player there. If Arteta can stop Xhaka from playing like the intention was mistakes, I’m pretty sure he can suss a way of making Ozil work in some games. As it stands, our creativity options are very lacking. We’ll have to try something, otherwise, we’ll struggle.
The other big questions I have is the defence. Defenders coming over from France tend to take a while to adjust to the power and pace of the league. How long is Arteta going to wait until he starts to bring Saliba and Gabriel into the fold? Saliba binned off a cup final to get prepped in London. He’s focused on the first team. I love that. He’s also a proper ball-playing defender. He’ll make us strong from setpieces as well. Is he starting next season? Or is it gradual?
This season is all geared to being competitive for the season after. We have a lot of the groundwork pieces in place. We’ve reshaped the keepers who will be top of their game this season. We have a defence built for the next 5 years. All they need is experience, familiarity with the system, and some elite moments together. The baton will be passed this year to Gabriel, Tierney, Saliba, Mari, Tierney, AMN, and Hector.
It feels pretty sexy to say that we’re happy with our defenders, right?
Midfield is anyone’s guess. It still need a dynamic 8 and a 6 with power and pace. There are some unknowns. ESR looks a very good prospect, can we make him ready to challenge for the first team by next year? Joe Willock sparks something in all the coaches he meets. He needs to progress his game this season and be more than a super-sub. Saka has been mooted as a #10, will he be a chameleonic player this year, or will we settle on a role for him? We really need the club to come to the party with some midfield names if we’re going to be ready for next season.
Our striking options are also up in the air. Is Eddie ready to fight for his place this season? He scored a hattrick for the U21s. We need him to match his work rate with goals this season. He needs to challenge. Then we have Gabriel coming back into contention in October. Could he play like a 9? Or will he stay out wide. He’s great with his head, he’s fierce in the press, and he has electric pace. Or, will Arsenal move on Lacazette and bring in Odsonne Edouard in? Still some work to be done to stop us being so dependent on Auba.
Lots of work to be done, but still plenty to look forward to this season!
Wow, I made it to 900 words.
Tell me YOUR thoughts in the comments section. Podcast out a little later. x
TR7 You think leaking tidbits that fuel speculative football journalism is going to be avoidable in a company with that many bodies/witnesses? Even still, just what is Arteta or Edu supposed to do in the face of “Guendouzi an arrogant prick’ headlines? They address them and they then get a barrage of questions about why then he’s not been involved. I’m afraid shit happens, and the best way to avoid press clippings about you is to keep your nose clean, and maybe not be one of two high profile players to rub so hard against the grain you’re being sat… Read more »
Bat
“””He knows how very important it is for him and Us to not spend another season playing Thursday””””
He has one job to do.
Get Arsenal playing in the CL.
How he does it, who he picks, even how he plays is frankly irrelvant..
(sad state of affairs? maybe
truth ? undoubtedly.)
if he finshes top 4 next season – he will keep his job.
if he dont- he wont.
CG
The old one didn’t take over the club in eighth place but fifth, if I remember correctly.
Marc,
I get where you’re coming from but I don’t think that will ever happen in the current woke climate. We will have a womens league whatever the cost.
I was in my local park this afternoon with my daughter. There happened to be two womens games on. The standard was the equivalent of boys under 11s.
I have no problem with women playing football but to be paid the same is ridiculous.
Left
Look my view is if women’s football generates more money than the men’s then they should be paid more.
It’s all just bullshit – my favourite was when the women’s tennis players were demanding parity at Wimbledon, McEnroe suggested we just get rid of the two separate titles and have the men and women playing each other – they very quickly changed their minds.
F1 will be the next one – each team will have to have 1 male and 1 female driver.
It’ll last about a race and a half.
Tom
“”””CG The old one didn’t take over the club in eighth place but fifth, if I remember correctly.”””
you are as usual correct.
anyone doubting the fate that awaits any manager who fails to achieve top 4- just look at Poch.
Champions League final one moment
– the dole Q the next.
Top 4 or bust.
Like it should be.
Like it was for our Wenger.
CG
You might find Pedro will be lowering the bar on what’s expected of the manager all of a sudden.
“”””CGYou might find Pedro will be lowering the bar on what’s expected of the manager all of a sudden.””””
That bar is becoming lower than a snakes belly.
He needs to up his game Walt.
Top 4 or Bust. As it should be.
Top 4 is the target I think always but you can always judge whether or not it’s a realistic target. Right now I’d be confident of top 6 with an outside chance of top 4 assuming others fuck up along the way. Aouar and Partey come in with a possible RB replacing Bellerin and I’d fancy us big time
Marc, LT,
considering the English FA pays about £2000 per appearance to each English player , male or female, it hardly the end of the world.
Men’s team donate the money to charities anyway, such is the significance of that sum to every English PL player.
The real money come from FIFA and UEFA and that’s where the main discrepancy lies.
Xhaka running the show for Switzerland against Germany. Having an excellent game so far. Leno has been pretty good in goal as well
Joker just slammed a ball in anger and hit ball girl in the throat!
Disqualified.
Djokovic is out of the US Open! He swatted a ball behind him (hard) out of frustration and accidentally hit one of the line umps in the throat and injured her. He had to forfeit his match against Carreno Busta.
2020 is a strange year,it really is.
I think Tim Henman defaulted for a similar reason at Wimbledon years back.
Rules are rules.
Djoker just gave up a freebie Grand Slam essentially, could be decisive that in that all time table.
Will be hard for him to pass 20 now.
For the love of God people, half the fucking squad was away on international and we had to put out 11 bodies so ozil was 1 of those bodies, can’t belive there are over 200 comments on this! Pedro! You sir know how to drive comments! ———- CC There should always be a route to the first team, and path to redeem oneself. In previous era’s I’m sure matters would’ve been resolved differently, but times change and there’s a great deal more inclusivity demanded which comes with unparalleled need for tolerance of differing views etc, even criticisms. ————– Though i… Read more »
I wasn’t aware of this rule even though I have been watching tennis for ages. Very very harsh rule this. You have on one hand the likes of Serena abusing and threatening the chair umpire without any punitive action and on the other hand this rule where you have to pay for an unintentional mistake.
“If Arteta lands Aouar and Partey, top 4 all the way”. Fully agree. “With the squad we have now, I still think we’ll be in the mix if we start well.” I have doubts. Big doubts. Our current midfield players despite doing a commendable job at the back end of the season are clearly adequate at very best. We HAVE to somehow find a way to strengthen that area. As it seems we’re trying to do to be fair. As you mentioned it seems Aouar and Party were the last two pieces of a glorious looking jigsaw but it seems… Read more »
” and on the other hand this rule where you have to pay for an unintentional mistake.”
Great story.
Except this was the second time in this match he hit the ball in anger, along with him doing it the previous tournament.
“I wasn’t aware of this rule even though I have been watching tennis for ages. ”
Watching for ages except for Wimbledon, where the same thing happened to hometown Henman? Where that was a real accident because the ballboy ran in front of his strike?
TR7
It is harsh , but probably the right one.
A $2.75m lost in one moment of madness.
Waiting for Marc and Rocky to blame Joker’s DQ on the women who rejected them as teens.
Vintage
We get those 2 players and top 4’s on and the foundations for challenging for the title assuming they both work out.
1 of them and we’ll be in the mix for top 4, no signings in CM and we’ll be screwed.
What I don’t get is the stories are Partey’s buy out clause is £43 million – not a huge amount in football terms and between the sales of Laca, Bellerin or AMN, even Guendozi at the more realistic £20 ish million and Torreira why can’t we bridge the deal?
alex
As usual what the fuck are you talking about?
Xhaka with a masterclass vs Germany including an outrageous pass that would have a few here getting their socks out if it was someone not named Xhaka.
Love to see it 🧂
‘Except this was the second time in this match he hit the ball in anger,’
Yes but still the point remains Djokovic did not hit that umpire intentionally. That he hit the ball in anger twice is not relevant. He would have been disqualified even if he managed to hit the umpire in the first instance.
I find it hilarious. He got pissed and clocked someone in the throat with the ball. What a ding dong
“still the point remains Djokovic did not hit that umpire intentionally.”
The only point that can be made is that he’s been showing a pattern of careless and potentially dangerous behavior that eventually led to a deserved DQ.
Intention is irrelevant when repeatedly being careless.
“As usual what the fuck are you talking about?”
I don’t have the time to explain how you’re being insulted.
“Xhaka with a masterclass vs Germany including an outrageous pass that would have a few here getting their socks out if it was someone not named Xhaka.”
Fantastic news hopefully someone will come in with a bid several times his value – something we won’t be able to turn down. £2.35 should do it.
alex
You were born a cunt, seem to spend your life trying to be as cuntish as you possible can and will die a cunt.
It’s not my fault though but it is fun watching you try and look clever. Your levels of cunt and intelligence are inversely proportional.
Pedro
Ozil isn’t playing by any rules
He went public and excoriated the clubs management, something Guendouzi never did.
When Emery did an about-face regarding Ozil, he was deemed a weak sauce manager … when Arteta reversed himself, your reasoning is different.
Dissenter
Whilst I get your point I’m not convinced Ozil’s appearance was anything other than a glorified training session.
Really not worth getting worked up about yet.
Marc
You don’t think Arteta is re-integrating Ozil back into his plans for this season?
Dissenter
I don’t think some minutes in a pre season behind closed doors friendly is enough evidence to get wound up about.
It is good for Pedro though – there’s fuck all going on and he’s generated how many comments today?
If Partey has a £43m release clause, I don’t see why we can’t get a swap for Lacazette. Like for like, but with the benefit of creative accounting we can call it a profit – Laca will have a book value of around £10m with one season left. Would be similar for Atletico. I’d like to sign Eduard as a backup to Auba, would be inclined to do low up front and higher in extras as Celtic are famed for the biscuit tin mentality. If he’s good enough to trigger the extras, would we care? He’s only 22, he’s taller… Read more »
@Marc
I think buying clubs know we need to sell to buy (as with most other teams around Europe) so are low balling us or asking for a “try before they buy”. Basically tyre kicking.
This is where silent Stan should cough up the the dough to fund at least one of Party or Aouar. He could even “claim back” the £45-£50m through player sales over the next year if he must.
It’s 100% “his club” now after all.
Vintage
Pretty much my point about a bridging loan – I don’t expect Kroenke to subsidise the club but greasing the cash flow wheels shouldn’t be an issue.
Marc, comments are good for the community. They cost me severe money, so actually bad for me.
I don’t get why Sol Campbell is saying that “Arteta must resolve issues with Ozil for the good of Arsenal”.
Ozil was a problem under Wenger, became even more of a concern under Emery, continued causing headaches. even for Freddie and remains a thorn in the side for MA.
Poppycock Sol!
Ozil doesn’t deserve special treatment.
Djokovic wanted to be disqualified.
Believe me folks, he is an oddity.
By the way it was a line judge, not the umpire.
Alex
Don’t know how disqualified, women, being reject as teen and me coalesce in the same sentence.
I can only assume, you inferred that because I’m against the snowflake culture of the recent years, somehow translates to me being disrespectful to women.
Honestly now that I write it, it still doesn’t make any sense. I’m hoping it made some in the infinite vacuum of your head.
Controversial I know but based on discussions earlier this evening, there is no way on earth that women should be paid the same as men in either football or tennis.
It’s an absolute no brainer.
Shoot me.
Graham Controversial I know but based on discussions earlier this evening, there is no way on earth that women should be paid the same as men in either football or tennis. ——– My view is a tad different though it essentially boikd down to the same thing as things stand today. Wages should be governed by economics, if women football gathers more following than men’s and in turn lead to higher viewers and sponsorship, pay women more. Its as simple as that. Today one would struggle to fill a 10000 strong stadium in women’s football, hence the low wages. Gender… Read more »
*boils
Arteta has been tasked with rebuilding (Emery’s was get CL) so the metrics are not the same. So this sort of comment is not valid imo.
“CG.It’s got to be top4 this season for Arteta, no excuses really.”
Top 4 is what we all want but Arteta’s tenure will not be determined by it. He has been given 3 years to get the job done, unless the team absolutely tank this coming season or perhaps he inexplicitly loses the respect of the dressing room, he will at see out his contract.
Arteta has been tasked with rebuilding (Emery’s was get CL)
Suuurrreee
“Marc, comments are good for the community. They cost me severe money, so actually bad for me.”
How do comments cost you money?
Anyway you love it – you can bullshit everyone else on here but I don’t believe a word of it.
Marc, I don’t have a fixed server cost. The more comments. The more money I spend.
Not that I don’t enjoy a busy comments section, it’s the whole reason I started the blog. But… you guys and gals owe me cash money.
Arteta has been tasked with rebuilding (Emery’s was get CL)
Suuurrreee
You disagree..no.
*Np
Xhaka blinder for Switzerland, you hate to see it.
https://twitter.com/BnsComps/status/1302735547820056577?s=20
“Not that I don’t enjoy a busy comments section, it’s the whole reason I started the blog. But… you guys and gals owe me cash money.“
Pedro, what’s your PayPal address?
‘Controversial I know but based on discussions earlier this evening, there is no way on earth that women should be paid the same as men in either football or tennis.’
It’s not at all controversial, Tennis is an anomaly and it’s laughable that Serena is paid more than 99pc of the male tour.
In football women are paid peanuts compared to the men, as it should be. It’s not even about talent and ability, it’s how many eyes they bring and asses they put in seats.
Mesut Ozil has nothing to offer Arsenal football club except to cause dissension and confusion within the locker room and within the fan ranks.
The man is a bloody cancer … Just force the bloody loser out
Pedro
That pass at 1.56 was top drawer, man plays like Xabi Kroos for FC Toblerone.
Pulls strings against Germany but not good enough to help us crack top 4 in England….🥴
Pedro
Xhaka is worse than I thought if he really did ‘play a blinder against Switzerland’ ?!
Would be glad to pay you. I’ll just be needing your bank account details.
Pulls strings against Germany but not good enough to help us crack top 4 in England…
It’s odd alright. Might be because it’s a one off compared to 38 games
“Marc, I don’t have a fixed server cost. The more comments. The more money I spend.Not that I don’t enjoy a busy comments section, it’s the whole reason I started the blog. But… you guys and gals owe me cash money.”
I want a refund!
people have been asking for a Patreon link
come on mate!
Easy solution disable the comments section…
Knew that would get the odd kipper 🎣
Left, check your lying eyes.
Kay, I might do that one day! Site redesign was not cheap!
Granit Kroos dropping three through balls with his right that bypassed 3 players each time… he’s bringing that energy to next season, can feel it in my loins.
Pedro
Just make an Onlyfans already
‘Come to the LG OnlyFans site to hear the filthiest transfer rumours in town’
Would be a hit for sure
Let Arteta manage, been here since December and what a time its been.
Everything’s in play at this moment, how is that not obvious.
If he wants to roll with Ozil, Farage, the great spirit of the unknown let him as its now on him and he’ll have to explain after. Not to mention Arteta’s earned a bit of rope.
Or perhaps Arteta’s just giving our highest paid player a run out preseason, not like he gave Ozil the contract, its an inherited situation that has proved unsolvable to anyone else at this point.
Watch parteys YouTube video and then watch chakas video before he joined us. Both look the same. We need to stop pursuing partey and get in a cheaper alternative (soumare).
Regarding ozil, what’s going to change if we bring him back into the squad? Nothing.
So leave him out and tell him to put out the cones. Sell his best friend kola so he’s more lonely inside the club.
Pedro I’ve seen payment systems for web contributors set up as drinks, such as coffee US$5 – a beer US$10 – premium spirit US$20 and cocktails & Champagne US$40. The reader has the chance to buy the provider whatever drink they feel is appropriate for the advice/information given. Perhaps you could do this for your posts and podcasts using Paypal and credit cards. Seems very apt to buy you a drink as football is a drink driven sport. Equally, Gooner taverns could have a Pedro monetary ‘tips’ pot to pass onto you. I’d have no problem buying you drinks, and… Read more »
Pedro
Sell ‘Get out of the bin” cards at say US$50/100 a pop and offer bulk purchases for the likes of Don, Bamford, Marko and CG et al at discounts.
Those binned who cheat cheat by using multiple monikers could be charged a drink to post per post.
If we can’t sign anyone else I’d put saka left wing and Willian at 10
That will give you nailed on assists from out wide and dangerous through play from AM. Would be a step up from last season imo but I don’t think Mikel wants to use Saka as LWF yet, though I’m not sure if there’s a major reason for it or he will be open to it this season
I really like that Gabriel is a unit. The last physically imposing defender we had was senderos but he obviously didn’t work out Per was tall but not imposing imo because he was lanky as fook. But Gabriel looks like a young sol Campbell physically. Really big frame, absolute unit. If he plays well on top, his physical presence will help us for sure In the old days we’d line up in the tunnel full of 6’+ players who took no shit and you could see opposition teams were nervous before a ball was kicked. Then cane project Barca lite… Read more »
My big worry is nketiah as center forward
Auba still on the right. Arteta for some reason prefers Eddie over laca. Not just that. Auba is still played as a winger
We need a true right winger.
Auba in the left and true left winger
China01
“The last physically imposing defender we had was senderos but he obviously didn’t work out”
Ask Drogba if he thought Senderos was physically imposing.
Drogba gave Senderos PTSD. Even today, I am sure the nightmares continue.
I would like Tony to lend me his gym ropes for my Kinbaku later on.
Overmars this the he didn’t work out line
He was a unit tho. About 6’4 and solid as you like
Guns yeah we will start to look like a better attacking team when we have a left winger better than auba (like Willian) and a CF better than Eddie and Laca (auba)
Djorou was someone who could have been good. Another wimpy defender in my book. Senderos too. My all time fave is squillaci
Wow he was a defensive god
No but really I’m excited about saliba and Gabe….. finally a strong pairing and young!
Sorry Sid the ropes are too thick for that type of bondage.
Another freebie for you
Auba must be used as our CF this year with Eddie being back up. Willian or Saka Should be at 11 with the other possibly being our 10. Auba will drift over probably to the left but that could provide a dynamic effect, in much the same way that Henry would so with his link up with Pires on the left.
Eddie will be available for a more conventional role and there will be times when that is useful or as a sub to change the dynamics.
Guns of SF
Yep, Senderos was always getting bullied by Drogba.
Rabbit in the headlights scenario.
Just a pity Wenger didn’t see all this.
Yet another monumental mistake by Le Professor.
For all of wengers faults he had the longstuff, he never resorted to the sissy football with 10 men behind the ball we are paying for at the moment,
Need a defender? buy Arshavin. Exciting stuff
Need DM? Use Coq and move Caz to the middle. Innovative.
Diet pep, has a dozen CBs, signs a CB and a safe Chelsea has been. So bland
Need a CM? Why not sign Buendia and innovate in the middle.
Sid
It doesn’t take much footballing intelligence to see where we cocked up time and time again.
If Wenger had had an inkling of defensive tactics and what was needed to compliment all our technical players, we’d be installing a gold statue at the Emirates.
Wenger came in and signed flair attacking players,
diet Pep is obssesed with anti football, we were made to believe we would get exciting football, does Willian offer that?
Pedders
Legrove 2.0 was quite an upgrade back in the day.
Really excited to see what 3.0 s going to offer 😎
“diet Pep is obssesed with anti football, we were made to believe we would get exciting football, does Willian offer that?”
Hmmmm flair attacking football and struggle to gain CL football or when we do get to play CL football not get past the last 16.
Give me George Graham football any day if it means winning Euro and PL trophies.
Next one I charge you, Sid.
3 EPL ,7 FA is stuff Graham could only dream of and now we have a George Graham knock off,
diet Pep has spent so much time with Moyes he has forgotten his Spanish flair, he is a hipster Tony Pulis.
As long as LeGrove 3.0 isn’t being developed by the same guys who developed the governments Track & Trace app!
Sid Your concept of football and what Arteta is trying to do is strange to say the least. I, like the vast majority of supporters, got utterly pissed off with Wengers methods from 2008 onwards. Tell you what, watch the Liverpool 4 Arsenal 4 game at Anfield in 2009 on YouTube and tell me what you see. You know, from a tactical perspective. Times this by roughly 200 and you’ll get where I’m coming from on this. In a short period, Arteta has got us looking like a team and getting us to do things that were way beyond Wenger’s… Read more »
Sid
Were you born after 1986?
Pretty dense if you think GG couldn’t have done a better job with the same players and resources at his disposal.
Maybe not the flair but would have got us to perform when it really mattered.
By the way, I’m talking about the period post 2006.
Sid, you can take off the first two PL titles which AW would not have won without GG’s defensive base. I’ll let you have the invincibles although it was still the influence of those inherited players that made it possible. Just to level the playing field we’ll look at trophies per year as Wenger was in post more than twice as long: GG – 6 trophies (2 x League, 1 x FAC, I x CWC, 2 x LC) in 9 years = 0.67 trophies per year. AW – 10 trophies (3 x League, 7 x FAC) in 22 years =… Read more »
Taking off Wengers 2 PL because of Grahams base is the equivalent of taking Artetas F.A because of Emerys achievements in cup competitions.
And if you think Wengers 4-4 at Anfield was bad(which it was), wait till you experience Artetas Arsenal vs brighton/aston villa 50 times.
andy1886
You put it far better than me.
Put GG, in his prime, at the helm between 2006-2018, with the same group of players and the same resources and infrastructure and we’d have achieved far greater success.
Guaranteed.
Sid
One slight difference.
Wenger had been in charge for 13 years when Arsenal played at Anfield in 2009. He still couldn’t act on our weaknesses after all that time,
Just imagine how I felt after 22 years.