WELCOME to the NEW Le Grove design template. It’s quite embarrassing that I work in a creative job and I left it 8 years to address the weirdness of how it looked. So here we are. There are still some little bits being tidied up, but the overall objective was to give the site a minimalist feel whilst maintaining the character and bits that made it work.
- The site has been built with mobile in mind, a whopping 83% of you visit via mobile. I’ve made the images full bleed. The site doesn’t wobble when you scroll now. The text hugs the width of your device and I used a more legible font.
- The comments font will be made a little bigger. Again, it wasn’t broken, we’ve had 2.5m comments over 13 years, but I’ve made them hug the sides so there’s less scrolling
- I’ve updated the Rules of the blog for 2020. This is the blog of love, let’s keep it that way. I’ve also added a submission form. If you see something you dislike… ‘JOHN TERRY IS THE BEST HUMAN’… submit the link and I’ll remove it. I don’t read every comment and they nest after 150. If you let me know something bad is going down, I’ll fix it.
- I’ll have a new newsletter template read by Friday. Submit your e-mail address on the site to land a daily dose of Le Grove. Apologies for whatever is landing in your mailbox right now. That is me having a crack at coding.
That’s about it I think?
Now onto the good stuff. TRANSFERS!
Villa has offered close to £20m for Emi Martinez. A week out in the desert with no midfield food and suddenly, that fee looks like the tastiest fee we ever did see. I’m not sure the move is great for the keeper. Villa lacks the profile of Arsenal. It also shows him running away from a challenge. I still think he’s the better keeper, but if the choice is a good backup or a midfielder that can create and move, I’m going to want the midfielder.
David Ornstein did a transfer news drop and not much has moved. There’s a bit of panic in the air from fans worried that this is our lot for the summer. I honestly don’t think we should worry. The summer is slow because teams have had next to no time to prepare for the season. As the month powers on, expect more moves.
Though Matteo G has soiled his rep somewhat, I struggle to believe no one in Europe will take a chance on taming him. He’s on next to no money and his stats are appealing. Lacazette will find someone that needs his goals, I think Atleti looks good for him, but we’ll see. Kola will go, Sokratis will go, and I suspect Cal Chambers will find a new home. Someone critiqued me adding Reiss onto the list, look, I just repeat what I’ve heard. I like the player, but if there’s an £18m bid for him, don’t be shocked if we say yes.
I also think it’s interesting that we’re still linked with the same two midfielders. Aouar and Partey. Might go nowhere, but my take on us not being linked to a plan be is that we’re just trying to raise the cash for those two. We have the price, we know the players are interested, we just need to sell, sell, sell.
Villa looking to sign a Brentford strikers for £28m… think we can expect to make some money on our players.
Finally, Hector Bellerin has invested in a sustainable club. I love him. He puts his money where his mouth is and his mouth is usually on something that matters. Good on him. I hope the club is a success.
Right, short post today, I’ll see you in the NEW comments! x
1st
2nd
Trophy
And
There’s only one (minor) problem with the new design : when you type your message, the “ink” is not enough darky.
Boom
Darn it. Got third with a Trophy post.
HL
Agree with that. It’s not great visibility.
So close..yet so far.
Rather sell Leno. It’s cool watching us playing out from the back with Martinez, with Leno it’s an Emery nightmare.
Agreed
Hector should get good press for his actions .
I like the new look, been reading for about a year and it looks a lot slicker so good job. I would also rather sell Leno, Emi dominates the box and his distribution is far superior. Also think we would get more money for Leno.
I concur, it’s more grey on white in the comment text when you write,
A bit Squinterfell !
Great to hear that you’re beefing up the font a bit Pedro, was my only minor complaint.
Still readable for whippersnappers like me but gotta think about the crusties like Pierre and CG.
In fact nevermind, make the damn text smaller.
Agree with Danny. After the season end Leno should be the one we are looking to shift on IMO
Sell Martinez ?? WTF ??
Areola ?? lol NO WAY!!
The keeper situation is dicey. I’m about 60% more invested in Leno than Martinez simply for 2 reasons; 1. Prior to injury, he was a shoe in for player of the season. He made so many world class saves that they became routine. 2. Martinez’s sample size is quite small. While he has decently held fort, remember Leno was saving our bacon under a really garbage manager. Is it too late to adapt command of his box and distribution? I think not. A lot of that is mitigated in positional awareness and having a back 3/4 who are good with… Read more »
Good day. Short post . It’s typical arsenal to do business slowly obviously because they don’t want blow the house… ( Except on Pepe of course). I’m worried difficult
away games are near the corner before we strengthen our poor mid.
Did anyone see Manure third away Kit. Wats your take
Great work, Pedro. Fingers crossed for exits and those two midfielders. I will be a happy camper. I’m not sure Martinez has done enough to be judged the better goalkeeper. Form is temporary. Remember Unai Emery went on a 21 game unbeaten run (or was it 12?. Forgive me, I’m ageing)
@zimbo,
That kit has to be the most garbage kit ever designed. Don’t know what Adidas were thinking. Stare at it long enough and you might self hypnotize. Or maybe that’s the plan for the opposition..
Areola? Isn’t that the dark bit around the nipple?
And I’m with Pedro on the Reiss sale.. feels like he has reached a plateau. Not sure there is more to his game.
Maybe hold him on for a year to increase his stock by playing him in fringe league games and cup games..
The modern way is to play out from the back whether we like it or not. Leno looks like a headless chicken at this whereas Martinez has it under control. I agree Leno made some great saves last season (just don’t mention the Chelsea game….) but so did Martinez.
Jim White and Simon Jordan’s special guest on TalkSport this morning was Mr Sleazeball himself, Kia Joorabchian.
Simon Jordan, who I have time for, sees all agents as being parasites. I agree with him.
Of course, Kia tried his best to squirm his way out of it but, once again, showed what an utter asshole he is and the lengths he will go to justify his vile existence.
Pretends to know what he’s talking about..
Sickening that these individuals make such vast sums without any accountability.
Man Utd third cost is up there with the most unsightly i’ve ever seen
Hardly shocking no takers for Guen.
Martinez was seen trash talking Liverpool penalty takers in the FA cup final ,I’m surprised Arteta didn’t demote him to the third string or sold him for peanuts.
Great layout.
Out of the half a million type faces we got this ok one.
I was alway’s more of the “ ROONEY “Type font lover.?😂.
I will learn to love the new one.
Well done for all your hard work.
Pedro
Mateo G didn’t spoil his rep…Arsenal mismanaged the little drama in the summer
Guendouzi didn’t make any public comments back then, the leaks came from Arsenal and were silly at the time. It should have been managed quietly within the club.
We effed up the Guendouzi situation, he should have continued to train with the main squad even if he didn’t get game time.
Imagine painting a young player as such a nuisance and then wondering why no bids have come in for him. Players have, and will do far worse than Guen did.
If we are really looking to sell Martinez(which I am strongly against), we shouldn’t even look to start negotiating for Martinez below 30mil. Its not like Villa are cash strapped. Throwing circa 30mil for a Championship striker, whereas lowballing for a keeper who genuinely seems to have top class ability and potential. They should know its not Wenger they are negotiating with anymore. Hope Edu doesn’t sell players for lower than their fair value. Napoli asked Sokratis for free, so now we reportedly want 8 mil for him. If Edu can get anything over 4.5 mil, it would be a… Read more »
Agree that Martinez should be sold, if we can get 20m, so we can strengthen the centre of the park..time will tell
Let’s be honest guen has been made out to be the next stalin.
He us a passionate lad with a bit of fight in him he gave a large to that Brighton player so fucking what.
Are we such soft melts these days. We used to a much tougher team funny how that coincided with being more successful.
Martin keown vs nistelrooy
https://youtu.be/VIV7IoZiidc
Le Grove is looking good, content still top notch. I have been getting Twitter updates but no WordPress email noise.
The modern way to play out from the back ?
How many games did Leno get under arteta to decide he can’t play the modern way ? Martneza 28 yr old with 13 games played in epl under a manger with a game plan and Leno the German international is no good the 2nd best player from last season is no good ?
Y’all need to think deeper .
Diss, having two fights with the coach in Dubai, being rude to staff and not apologising for being a whopper is soiling your rep.
1st ever comment on your blog. Silent reader for few yesrs now. Congrats on the new outlook.
Pedro
All players have spark ups with coaches once or twice its human nature in an intensive competitive environment.
There is an agenda against guen so we only hear of his discressions. He was the most passionagete about the club player last season who gave his all every game unlike other young players who have hidden at times.
I don’t buy that he some bad egg.
London, he’s not a nice character, it’s not one-offs, it’s just who he is… there’s no agenda. If he was normal, he’d stay.
Guen’s attitude isn’t even the problem, he’s shown time and time again that he’s not ready for this level when given an opportunity by largely being our worst midfielder.
I’d be open minded to the idea of loaning him out but if we were to get a half decent offer in then a sale would be a no-brainer.
Looks like Guendouzi will join the first team sessions when he returns from International duty.
Matty G is no mimi Vieira. Why so much angst over such an average player. I couldnt care if he were sold, loaned or demoted to the juniors. He made zero difference to our fortunes last season. Why all the fuss. But its the Arsenal way to big up bang average kids and make myths out of them.
People love to complain about free shit don’t they. Great job on the site update, hope it leads to another decade of prosperity.
News is slow on transfers, season starts in 4 days though wow. Wonder how we’ll line up for Fulham.
Exactly Global, happened with Afobe, Akpom, Iwobi in recent years.
Selling Iwobi to Everton for over thirty million is still the greatest transfer heist in the history of the club imo. Championship level player at best.
WE, tend to agree there… looked good for a fleeting period, then when he was given structure, he was problematic.
Thanks Luteo / Mizo!
He is a damn site better than willock who is a poor man’s ramsey
Great design, good job 🙂
I thought EMI was very impressive after Leno was injured but there must be a reason why he’s constantly been playing second fiddle for nigh on a decade. Managers and goalkeeping coaches working with him day to day will be far better judges then us. He may well if flattered to deceive and if so I think I would take the £20 mill and invest it in to the midfield.
London Gunner
I really don’t see it with Willock. I don’t see what he brings to the side.
The trouble with Guendouzi from a playing perspective is that he’s a seat-of-the-pants sort of player. He excels when he is not given detailed tactical instructions and just gets “stuck in”.
Fundamentally incompatible with Arteta’s Arsenal.
Needs to go a club where he is given licence to roam….somewhere like Emery’s Villarreal?
Plus he’d be indulged there, and his character foibles will be overlooked.
John jules joins Doncaster rovers. Hope he can kick on there, stay injury free and grab 15-20 goals for the season at least.
LG
Willock is another one that can be added to the list. Actually quite thankful that we have re-loaned Ceballos when you look at how terrible our CM options are.
Difference is that Guendouzi might get us an actual fee whereas Willock will end up in the Championship.
‘he’s a seat-of-the-pants sort of player. He excels when he is not given detailed tactical instructions and just gets “stuck in”.’
This is the nicest way I’ve heard so far of calling someone a headless chicken.
Danny
Fully agree
So if emi gets stuck stuck he puts his boots thru it
Leno to europe style keeper
Very curious who starts in goal for us this Saturday. If it’s Emi you have to think he’s not being sold. You wouldn’t bench Leno if you know he’s going to be the number one in a few weeks. That said, with his recent form there’s no need to bench Emi so if Leno starts I think that means there are real talks of Emi being sold in the coming weeks.
Really nice an crisp site now, nice on.
What’s Auba waiting for?
Better mids is my guess
How many games did Leno get under arteta to decide he can’t play the modern way ?
————————–
How many did he get under Emery – 60?
Don’t agree WE I always thought that he had more good than bad games but more average than good games like so many others. I think he’s not getting significant interest because it’s still kinda slow in the market and a lot of people are chancing their arm for loans and piss poor fees while we’re looking for a fee straight up to help with other targets. He’s still marketable imo despite him being this great prick he’s portrayed around here. Meanwhile all is forgiven with Mesut it seems. But with regards to it being slow on the transfer front… Read more »
Not only is Martinez the better keeper, we all know he is, I would also say that the other players feel far more comfortable with him between the sticks.
As a fan, he makes me feel more at ease.
Le Grove is looking fresh. Well done on that, Pedro.
Here’s what I want to see against Fulham:
Auba____Laca____Pepe/Saka
_________willian
_____xhaka_____Dani C
KT___Saliba___Luiz___Bell/AMN
Pedro
Can you consider up the font size by 1 pt. or have text size up/ down icons to help fit different smartphone screen sizes?
The font can be blacker to help reading. Very squashed feel at the moment.
Especially light in the comment writing edit box. Font v light.
Thanks again.
Yes please make the font larger
Totally agree with Graham, he gives our defenders more confidence.
Forgot a keeper even with all the chat. I want to see Emi start our first league game. Think Luteo is spot on above. Emi completely deserves the start. The only reason he wouldn’t start at the weekend is if the club is serious about selling him.
A huge mistake selling Emi.
we will regret this
“we will regret this”
Among so many other things… lol
I will be gutted if Martinez leaves.
Even if we assume for a minute that Leno is the no 1 keeper ,what will we gain out of selling Martinez for 20M and then buying an inferior back up for 10-12M odd. I don’t think an extra 5-8M or so will determine whether we sign Party/Auoar or not. Let us have both Leno and Martinez for 1 season and then determine who is better. If a club is willing to cough up serious money for either Leno or Martinez that is 35M and above then it makes sense to sell.
Just when you thought things were on the up, we go and sell one of our better assets.
Don’t make sense Mikel.
Peter you have alluded to in the past that. You have examples of given?
Could you disclose any now ?
“I really don’t see it with Willock. I don’t see what he brings to the side.”
Me neither. Mid table to Championship player really.
Graham
Who we sold
“Even if we assume for a minute that Leno is the no 1 keeper ,what will we gain out of selling Martinez for 20M and then buying an inferior back up for 10-12M odd. I don’t think an extra 5-8M or so will determine whether we sign Party/Auoar or not. Let us have both Leno and Martinez for 1 season and then determine who is better. If a club is willing to cough up serious money for either Leno or Martinez that is 35M and above then it makes sense to sell.” Good point. Question is, who do you start… Read more »
RSPC
No one yet.
Just contemplating how I’d feel if we let Martinez go.
Useroz, we’ll get the font upped for sure!
Juninho confirms Lyon held discussions with Arsenal about Aouar, that Arteta loves him, that they had talks about Guendouzi but how he’s not what they’re looking for in terms of profile and how they haven’t heard of us ever since.
Nothing new here, but at least it comes directly from the horse’s mouth.
Can’t see us not bidding again honestly. Hope it will be cash only.
When was it we last had a keeper that made us feel this good.
Have to go back a few years.
Certainly not Cech.
Lehmann maybe.
My concern will emi
Do it in packed stadiums?
Karim, a bit disappointing. Still, at least we know it’s a cash deal or nothing.
The scrolling is a thing of beauty. Well done Pedro!
Now sort out the content. Specifically the midfield & deadwood situations. Thanks.
Agreed Graham
For the first time in years feel confident
It’s no coincidence that the defence has played better with him in goal
Pedro
What’s your take ? Are we gonna go for both him and Partey ?
8 months in and art got a crucial career making decision.
I would go for emi
My concern will emi
Do it in packed stadiums?
This.
He hasn’t shown he can perform to a high level if front of an audience.
Shad
Why not promote the 18 yo kid…
Karsa
That’s my concern
Totally different hearing the crowd moan.
Just saw Aouars highlights against us last year in Emirates cup. This guy literally ripped us apart with his through balls! Both the goals were down to his passes.
Karim, I believe so… I think Auoar is more of a priority.
We have to sell though.
“Martinez was seen trash talking Liverpool penalty takers in the FA cup final ,I’m surprised Arteta didn’t demote him to the third string or sold him for peanuts.“ Ruthless Arteta has decided to sell Martinez as a punishment! A big mistake selling Martinez. Not many goalies cut it in the PL. Many one season wonders cost tens of millions. Martinez is half way there at least so Villa can keep their 20m. Other top PL clubs have pretty good goalies or I bet they’d be interested. Leno wasn’t a player of the year c’mon. I still recall how nervy he… Read more »
Pedro
“Diss, having two fights with the coach in Dubai, being rude to staff and not apologising for being a whopper is soiling your rep.”
When you say “2 fights with the coach” are we talking fronting up / players having to pull the pair apart or are we talking about words exchanged.
My opinion is that Arteta is done with in comers and will be looking to flog off at least another 2 players, cash, not loan. Bringing Matty G from the cold could be a high reward gamble, he has all the elements to be a world class b2b CM. Can he play with Xhaka is the big question
Thanks Pedro.
Blacker fonts too please.
Leno vs Martinez is a difficult one.
After lock down Martinez looks the better keeper or at least the better fit but Arteta sees them everyday in training etc.
What I don’t get is if it’s about £20 million – fucking sell AMN.
“Why not promote the 18 yo kid…”
@RSPC, which 18 yo?
“Can he play with Xhaka is the big question”
I really think that’s an unfair expectation on Guendozi – Vieira would look shit playing next to Xhaka.
In fact the only players who look good next to Xhaka are the opposition. Can’t believe it’s escaped everyone’s attention on here that Xhaka won player of the season at 7 PL Clubs for last season.
And no Arsenal was not one of them.
When was it we last had a keeper that made us feel this good.Have to go back a few years.Certainly not Cech.Lehmann maybe.”
Can’t agree more, gragam62! Same thing I said in the last post.
Sell and buy the Brentford guy?? Because??? Arteta’s new assistant came from Brentford???
Net net we may pick up 5 to 10m plus an much inferior goalie.
“My opinion is that Arteta is done with in comers and will be looking to flog off at least another 2 players, cash, not loan. Bringing Matty G from the cold could be a high reward gamble, he has all the elements to be a world class b2b CM. Can he play with Xhaka is the big question” @Steveyg87, I don’t think Guendouzi’s ceiling is that high. He doesn’t have the legs or recovery pace or intelligence to play as a proper B2B. I can off the top of my head count the number of times he had to dish… Read more »
shad
” I can off the top of my head count the number of times he had to dish out a silly foul because he was a fraction late in reading the play or pace..”
Sorry which player are we talking about again?
Someon needs to tell Arteta this is football, not cricket..we need the mean and bad boys, not obedient pansies. The arrogance that Emi and Guendouzi showed is exactly the bite Arsenal have missed for so long. Denilson and Eboue are the perfect examples of how you lose in football (and in life) if you’re too nice and smiling types.
‘Even if we assume for a minute that Leno is the no 1 keeper ,what will we gain out of selling Martinez for 20M and then buying an inferior back up for 10-12M odd. I don’t think an extra 5-8M or so will determine whether we sign Party/Auoar or not. Let us have both Leno and Martinez for 1 season and then determine who is better. ‘
Agreed, said as much yesterday. Not to mention Martinez is only on 25k a week.