I think we’re heading into a week of action.
Some teams have had shockers and lost.
Some teams have had shockers and clearly showcased their weaknesses (hello, Arsenal).
Some teams just need to make some moves.
Arsenal hasn’t done much of a job moving on the problem players this summer, but I suspect things are going to come to a head as Arteta gets real with his intentions.
Lacazette isn’t getting a new deal, so it doesn’t matter how much quality the manager thinks he has, we need to move him on before we get into a Rambo like situation. This is Arteta.
“At the moment, we haven’t started any negotiations,”
“We have a lot of things still to do in this market and at the moment we are focusing on those things.”
“He’s a player I’m really happy with. I think we’ve shown him a lot of faith since I arrived here.”
“But we cannot start any speculation. We know that any player who is under two years of their contract is always going to be talked about.”
It’s clear from the above that he’s not a priority from a contract perspective. He’s a goal scorer, he might be expensive, but he can be a difference-maker, so let’s hope someone is feeling generous. Also, let’s hope Edouard is being benched for Arsenal, not Spurs.
We need to move on some of our centre backs this week. We are stocked heavily and there is just no way any of them are getting games. Sokratis and Cal Chambers seem the most likely to be moved on, with West Ham and Fulham looking likely destinations for the Englishman. Rumours are also quite strong that Lazio is interested in Mustafi.
The two players that have been notably absent with very little movement are Matteo G and Lucas Torreira. No one wants a piece of the Frenchman, something I suspect the player didn’t expect. He must be in panic mode because he was literally the move valued teenager of all time this January, now the best he can do is a phone call from Unai Emery.
Torreira is a different story, he’s attracted a lot of average interest from Italy… but Spanish media is moving on the idea that Simeone wants to pull the trigger and make a deal happen. He’s apparently spoken to the player and the obvious deal is he leaves with Partey coming the other way. It’s a face-saving swap for the Spaniards and it leaves both parties with decent players.
The clearest issue we have in our squad though is the lack of creativity in the final third. Willian put in a duff performance against West Ham, making it quite clear that we need a real specialist in the area of unlocking deep and medium blocks. I think we’ll make it happen for Aouar, but Aulas won’t make it easy for Arsenal… but, they dind’t make it easy for Alex Lacazette back in the day.
BIG GARY NEVILLE SAID SOMETHING WE ALL AGREE WITH:
“I think Mikel Arteta is punching above his weight,” said Neville on his podcast. “He is going above and beyond the players he has. The shape and the organisation, things we have criticised Arsenal for in the past, is good.
“They are not finishing in the top four like Arsene Wenger used to get criticised for but they look like a team which is more cohesive. It has continued from the end of last season and he is doing a great job.
“I just think Mikel Arteta would love that £150 million that Frank Lampard has got this summer.”
The Nuggets are doing well at the minute, let’s see if Stan and Josh feel like they can unlock some of their cash and make this summer a Christmas miracle.
Short post today, see you in the comments!
Come back home Emi. Come back.
Lol
Emery sold Iwobi and Mikel sold Martinez 😂😂😂😂
Oh better fucking believe that you’re going to hear about every goal he concedes this season.
My best mates a villa can I am not going to hear the end of it
Arsenal fans needs to be happy for Martinez, he absolutely deserves his move to be a number 1 at another Club. Look at the fan favorite Mesut Ozil behavior even though it’s obvious he’s not wanted. I wish Martinez all the best, he’s a real one
As do I well done EMI
Ffs has Leno ever saved a pen ?
Yes 15
Marko
Do you actually think Leno is better? Or just that given the scenario with contracts and how things stood and who was easier to sell, etc that it basically had to be Emi who we moved on?
We should have included a buy back ffs
I knew emi was special extra spicy sauce
I can unserstand people having their fav between Emi and Leno but Marko really goes out of his way to demean Emi.
Lol Marko willing Emi mistakes, let it go man or i’ll start calling you Dariano.
Its that level, well maybe not but you get the point.
Mikel has given everybody a chance (with the exception of Ozil and Gendozy who used up theirs ages ago). I think that’s a big part of Mikel’s methodology. First. because he is fair-minded by nature but more importantly he wants to carry the squad as a whole with him. I doubt whether any of the squad will shed a tear at the departure of Gendozy or Ozil, but it might be a different story with others. For some reason they all seem to love Xhaka, and Laca is everybody’s darling, and Bellerin is kinda cute. And if you have preached… Read more »
Hi Pedro, Laca has 2 years remaining in his contract. So, next summer he will not be in Rambo situation but Aubameyang situation at 30 years of age. I think we can expect him to have a good season (20 goals) and potentially sell him for decent money next summer. Even if we are able to find a club for him this summer, he needs to agree to go and we need to find a good enough replacement like eduoard. It is very complex and I am still putting my money on him staying this season. PS: Juventus are getting… Read more »
TR7 it’s only fair if people on an Arsenal blog are going to cheer a fucking penalty save from Emi at Villa that faults mistakes and goals conceded get mentioned in reference to an argument. Fair game especially considering that the argument sprang up because of Leno the other day and you know how he looked fragile or unconvincing. But yes apparently I’m demeaning him
Evening, Should have kept martinez, and let him fight it out with Leno. Just because Wenger never rated him or his loan deals never had a purchase clause didn’t make him a bad keeper. He never got a run in the side as most number two or three keepers don’t. When he got his opportunity, he looked the part. Defence was shitting a brick every time a cross came in on Saturday, compared that to the back end of last season. Anyway too late now he’s gone. How long does it take us to get a deal done. The bindippers… Read more »
Zfree
I don’t think there can be much argument that in a short period Emi was a starter for us he played better than Leno at any point of his Arsenal career.
The only question reasonable people might’ve had whether he could sustain it over a season or more.
LG,
“We should have included a buy back ffs
I knew emi was special extra spicy sauce”
Mikel didn’t think it was necessary he’s was too busy thinking about having a Partey after Aouar
Ish “””CG I would have prefered a younger quality player on the up and thought the Willian transfer a bit lazy thinking…””” You are too kind, describing it as lazy. It was bloody bone idol. Of all the players out there , clubs can purchase in this planet. Arsenal sign Willian, 12 months on from signing Luiz. what message does that send out to your rivals? willian and Luiz? cedric amd Mary? Someone has to walk for this fiasco. And I buying its the preening peacock,Edu And Lets headhunt whoever Lieicster City have in charge. Their fullback scored on his… Read more »
Martinez shits over leno in every area of good goal keeping
Lol Marko willing Emi mistakes
Did I say I was willing anything? I was merely pointing out that I will be pointing them out.
Just to reiterate again that willian’s signing still makes neither football business nor does it make any business sense
Martinez has saved AVs bacon with his penalty save, but their attack is frankly impotent for all their pressure. They are a very average bottom half of EPL team.
We knew we would be signing partey and Auroar, we knew we are on a lean purse, we knew we needed to sell out some players, why then did we waste money on Willian?
c’mon guys let’s support runarsson, if he turns to be shit than we can criticize him
Isn’t it great our mega rich multi billionaire owner cannot fund two players to get us over the line.
No ambition whatsoever he doesn’t give a shit.
I was disappointed we sold martinez but understand the logic though but it was criminal not putting in a buy back clause.
I like Leno but the game against west ham really was a stark reminded of his glaring weaknesses. Problem is premier league is a crossing centric league so not being physical and mot having sticky hands is a pretty bad weakness to have.
Perhaps if we get a new goal keeping coach they can teach him not to do the wild reckless flapping punch.
Marko
Villa are not a direct rival of Arsenal, not surprising that Arsenal fans who have a soft corner for Emi cheering his good performance. You on the other hand can’t stop us reminding how he was sent on loan 6 times in 10 years and barely got a look in at Arsenal. As they say you are as good as your last game and Emi is currently flying.
“You keep using the same experience argument and when I give you example that clearly prove that it is not a valid argument, you then switch to but circumstances are different.What will be the number at which you would say that experience does not matter? 12 is nearly a third is a season. If I remember correctly Emery decided after less than that Cech was not up to task“ You’re so fucking myopic when it suits it’s unbelievable. Imagine comparing Mbappe and Messi, then Petr Cech to Martinez. Explain to me how prodigious teenagers getting games is the same as… Read more »
Marko
Nothing wrong with people still liking Emi, it doesn’t mean we want him back.
The lad spent 10 years at Arsenal, give him some respect FFS.
Willian was and still is a good footballer. The difference is that he had Kante/Jorginho (Kovacic) behind him at Chelsea, and at Arsenal he’s got Xhaka/Elneny (Ceballos).
I’m just extremely happy, extremely proud, it is a big day for me and my family. I can’t wait to get started!” he told Arsenal.com. “It is one of the biggest clubs in the world – they’ve won the Premier League 13 times, the FA Cup 14 times, it is a huge club and obviously playing in the Premier League as well, it is a win-win situation. “I know it is going to be a lot of hard work, but I am ready to do everything I can to get the most amount of minutes as possible.” Alex Runarsson. Guess… Read more »
Ishola70
”What back-up plan?Only those of top, top quality, the highest quality could get in the present Arsenal midfield.There will be no scratching around for seconds.”
I understand the requirements for top quality in arsenal’s midfield. My question is if ATM and Lyon refuse to part ways with their players, the club should have an alternative quality midfielders that they should buy? Simply a plan B….
Upstate, you are making a terrible case for Willian. He’s not worth being purchased instead of Aurora and partey, how’s he even our priority?
Someone tell me this Alex Runarsson kid isn’t a contact signing.
“why then did we waste money on Willian?”
You will have to ask Edu and I’m sure he will respond back to you, once he removes his head from Kea’s ass.
UG
“”””Willian was and still is a good footballer. The difference is that he had Kante/Jorginho (Kovacic) behind him at Chelsea, and at Arsenal he’s got Xhaka/Elneny (Ceballos).”””””
So why buy him then and reward him with a THREE year contract?
if you know that, why dont The Dopes know that?
Holding didn’t have his best game on Saturday but I don’t think him or Gabriel were helped by Kolasinac still thinking he was playing as a wing back and bellerin getting so far forward as well.
Gabriel and holding were pulled over to cover the gap left by Kolasinac and ended up playing as two centre backs instead of a three.
Bellerin was getting forward as well which left us vulnerable on both the flanks.
Didn’t help that xhaka reverted back to his sloppy best and offered no protection either.
Runarsson definitely needs the bulking services of the new guy for sure.
Abramovich playing all the sides. Incredible:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54229269
The “ problem” Arsenal have with the potential ooh aah & Partey deals is this .They (AM& LYON ) both want large amounts of cash which we don’t have at present.If we cave into one club for their excessive price the other will see this & demand the same.At present & it’s frustrating for us is the game of cat & mouse in the negotiations with both clubs who are fully aware of this.Unless tactics soften it will come down to a game of bluff once again on the final day I regret.The added problem which would alleviate this is… Read more »
Vickingz,
Willian has had two games, one an absolute blinder the other which fell in line with most of the side was pretty forgettable. May want to let it breath a bit, cause from where i’m sitting it looks the kind of opportunistic addition we’ve been sorely missing. As for being purchased he transferred in free on a bossman.
Still flummoxed how we have VAR but can’t use it to get the right decision when a ball goes into touch.
A goal kick is very different to a corner. Weird oversight.
“Someone tell me this Alex Runarsson kid isn’t a contact signing.”
Apparently it was him and/or Raya. Okayed by Inaki Cana. Let’s just pray Leno can play majority of the season because neither him nor Macey look ready at all as back up goalies.
This emi debate is insane. The most logical thing to do was to keep him and let him start the season as No 1. See if he can last the whole season with the form he showed. In a perfect world we should have reviewed our position next summer without selling either. I will admit those 12 games were better than Leno. But that doesn’t mean he should be No 1. If we were losing one keeper this summer,This was the right decision. How would you know if this wasn’t a purple patch? You need a guarantee as a top… Read more »
Vikingz
“you are making a terrible case for Willian. He’s not worth being purchased instead of Aurora and partey, how’s he even our priority?”
No one said “instead”. We need one or both of those to bring the best out of Willian. On his own (with Xhaka and Elneny that is), he’s going to struggle. Just like Ozil was when Sanchez left, and Cazorla got injured.
Villa struggling to create anything of note here. Must be the keepers fault
whole team*
Champagne charlie
“Still flummoxed how we have VAR but can’t use it to get the right decision when a ball goes into touch.A goal kick is very different to a corner. Weird oversight”
It is only a matter of time before it will be tested in the field.
“Upstate, you are making a terrible case for Willian. He’s not worth being purchased instead of Aurora and partey, how’s he even our priority?”
I thought he came in on bosman or I’m I missing something?
Willian’s deal has nothing to do with auoar or partey.
We just happen to have a useless owner
Major
Seems to me like such an obvious one to have at its birth but hey. Seems like we always strive to confuse vs simplify.
@Sal, I’m not just reacting to willian’s signing today, I’m just pissed at the mismanagement of resources going on at afc. We don’t have much, we can’t afford to waste our meagre resources, yet that’s exactly what we are doing. Willian for me is past it, that guy can’t dribble me and I’m way older than him and also not an active football player, his signing and that of this Runarsson looks like signings straight from the book
What a shambles!
Clearly sold the more safer pair of hands in Emi
Leno wouldn’t get near that pk Martinez just saved for Villa
@Tee, bossman or not, isn’t he being paid? Don’t we already have players like him on our payroll? We are almost begging every available team to take kola off us, same thing about willian as from next season
Last seasons 17th placed side beating 9th, power rankings about to go wild
Yes i’m sensing a major adjustment to the power 20 😭
The new keeper we just signed looks very tiny and frail
Looks like a guy that’ll let in bucket loads of goals
How we’ve gone from a potential decent number 2 in Leno to this chap boggles the mind
Arteta is a brilliant coach but shit manager,got to get Big Weng on speed dial to help in his management asap
Despite being up 1-0, Villa have been awful. They’ll need a managerial change by January.
Very good penalty save by Martinez. Happy for the guy.
Atléti in talks to sign Marc Roca. Surely, this means Tommy Partey on his way
Victorious
He seems.small and scrawny. Haven’t watched him play, but the stats are not comforting. Let’s hope Leno stays healthy. Macey and the new fella in goal for an extended will hurt us.
Edu should not be allowing Arteta/GK Coach to let this happen. Negligence
Bernd Leno is now the player we.can least afford to lose.
With the high praise Martinez has been getting on here the last few days anything short of 3 penalty saves, a hattrick and reversing climate it’ll be disappointing.
Champagne charlie.
I couldn’t agree more
Not a bad start, 3 points, clean sheet and pen save. At the interval my sources tell me Emi was on with Greenpeace working deal to free that humpback whale from the Crocodile river which has now been completed.
Tomorrow is a new day.
Sal
“At the interval my sources tell me Emi was on with Greenpeace working deal to free that humpback whale from the Crocodile river which has now been completed.”
He’s my hero for sure.
Three cheers for Emi.
Hip hip hooray………
Can’t disagree with you there Dream
Leno has joined the small group of inexpendibles at the club, together with Auba and Tierney
These three are so important to whatever the aim we have for this season that if any should go injured for any length of time and I assure you we’re royally fcked.
Also a worry as you said Edu giving Arteta too much leeway concerning squad building,club should have kept him on as ‘head coach’
Making too many puzzling decisions
Martinez to win the Prem.
“got to get Big Weng on speed dial to help in his management asap”
Yeah because Wenger had such a great record in the transfer market over his last 10 years.
You just gotta live the knee-jerk reactions of some on LeGrove, you’d think the sky was falling!
Head = Give it a Good Shake!!
Love not live – lousy auto fill
Ernest
How you doing mate?
love or live with – I think that’s a personal choice.
Doing well Marc, you?
Like moths to a flame there Marc
Who would have thought you’ll beat the likes of Freddie and Graham in clinching the prize of the poster with the most dislike for the best manager in arsenal history.
Congrats
Leftside
“””Martinez to win the Prem.”””””
He wont win it this year, granted,
But he might win it at his next club.
He maybe not be the best, but I have not seen a more steady and reliable goalkeeper than this one for a long while.
Questions have to be asked and eyebrows raised when so many shoddy decsions are made continually at the club.
No club in the prem , will have invested £15 million more wisely than Villa with Martinez this summer.
Shrewd Villa.
We have bloated our squad with players like Elneny, Torreira, Sokratis, Cedric, Kolasinac, Mari, and this latest scrawny chap Rúnarsson…
It’s not a high standard IMO and I’m not sure I agree you build a top4 squad with signings like that. Our transfer strategy has been all over the place in recent years.
Look at these rumors
Guen for Kante?
Someone smoking some good shit in London for sure…..
PS< I would do that in a hearbeat
Sal
Haha Super Emi
“The new keeper we just signed looks very tiny and frail Looks like a guy that’ll let in bucket loads of goals“
Only fair to give him a decade with us before making any judgement.
At least under Emery we played raw exciting football and not the drab affair dished up recently.
Granted Chavs are dumb fckers but even they would allow a swap of Kante for Gwen
Not even sure we have the balls to propose such a move😂
Must be another manic Monday, the lunatics have escaped the asylum!
Red fuck off with your Emery talk
He was so bad we couldn’t allow him finish the season before giving him the sack
Your hero was on a mission to relegate the club.
Traore and his baby oil lubed arms
Only fair to give him a decade with us before making any judgement’
Marti got some reputation by going on a few loans, which must mean some club saw some potentials there and staying as number 2 of one of one of the biggest clubs in the world for 10years,must have something which he showed at the end, too loyal to a fault some would say
This chap.. Is a monstrous drop down of quality to Martinez
Traore looks like a rugby player
Ernest
Yeah I’m OK – will be a lot happier once the transfer window is done and dusted.
If true have to love balls on Edu: Kante for Douzi.
Why do some defenders feel the need to go for a sliding tackle inside the penalty box?
City on fire
Victorious
Such anger suggests you’re as frustrated as i am at the borefest on view.
Aubameyang has just signed a new contract and he didn’t come close to scoring against West Ham.
Foden looking feisty, Reykavik feisty..
Wow Foden finds net “plants the ball into the empty net”
Could not of said it better myself.
Sal
“Reykavik feisty.”
Took AH -0.5 on them at 3-0 up.
Sitting pretty.
Always take AH on away team that goes 3 goals up in the first half that start the match with a plus handicap to win the match.
Red
I know you’re trolling with your Emery BS, but since I’ve got so much time to misbehave I’ll indulge you, hahah
Arteta won a trophy in 6months with a team in total dysfunction that many sincerely feared for our fate of becoming absolutely left behind, we were being outplayed by the absolute dredges of the league
We’re not playing exciting football right now but we’re getting results, under your idol we were playing absolute shit football and still getting beat by relegation fodders
Massive difference
Traore looks like a rugby player
———–
Or WWE and not far off world’s strongest man
Good teams have adaptability and a good all round game unlike Arsenal who are digging in against better teams and plodding against inferior teams
Only fair to give him a decade with us before making any judgement.
Got em
Arsenal are pretty much guaranteed almost £20m as terms of the agreement, plus future add-ons, as Raul Sanllehi first set out, from the sale of Emiliano Martinez to Aston Villa. [@AdamCrafton_, @TheAthleticUK] #afc
Don Raul bowing out on a high note lol
City and Dippers absolutely still level and levels ahead of anyone in the league
I forsee a massive gap of points between 2nd and the rest of the league
If we get some talented midfielders we have a huge chance of top4 regardless of What Bindford’s power ranking will want you to believe
Top4 here we come lads
“I forsee a massive gap of points between 2nd and the rest of the league”
Can’t argue with that all of the clubs who should challenge have issues:
ManU – shower
Spud’s – Mourinho
Chelsea – Fat Frank very up and down
Arsenal – no midfield
So close, thinking of Ishola!