A lot has happened over the past 24 hours. The PR machine is whirring into action and it is super clear that the club wants you to know that:
- KSE spend money
- Edu is a man with a plan
- Arteta is highly rated and his performance unlocked budget we didn’t have
We still don’t know the exact details of the cash injection/accounting trick, but it seems clear from the media that we had some help from our owners. KSE seem much keener to be seen as important to the process these days, a far cry from the years when Wenger was running the show. This is a good thing. KSE clubs are doing better these days. Well, the Nuggets are at least. Something must have clicked for them, because it now it looks like they realise investing in their teams can reap huge dividends.
The second reason I like the investment is that it seems to be tied to the impression the new staff has made. Mikel Arteta is a young manager, many thought that he was hired so the club could go cheap, but that FA Cup win and back door entry to the Europa League clearly gave him some cred points with the Kroenke family. The messaging has been clear, the Partey signing was a thumbs up to the progress. I really like that, it’s premature, but it seems the club already has an eye on City and Barca coming for their star at some point. If he has another good year, expect a renewed deal, and hopefully all the money from our CERTAIN TOP 4 FINISH, RIGHT?
It’s also worth noting that, although fans savage the Kroenke’s for not spending money, it doesn’t correlate with reality.
We’re the 10th highest net spenders in Europe 2010-19. Staggering, right? The money hasn’t been the problem, it’s who we’ve let spend it (a well-trodden narrative if you’ve been reading this site).
That shifts me onto phase two of the thank-you tour. Arsenal PR has been VERY keen to make sure people know Edu actually does things outside solitaire in the canteen. He has been front and centre over the last few weeks. He’s talking about his plan, he’s telling everyone he got the club excited about it, he’s very proud he delivered on it.
I am pleased with the way we worked because we are facing a very difficult situation with Covid and in the market, everyone is quite worried about the future, the planning, whether they have the money or not, the revenue, so it is quite challenging but the way we did it was amazing.
Edu and Arteta have hired players with more than just legs (As Edu actioned), they think they’ve hired winners. They wanted players to reshape the culture of the club. Willian will always look like a weird deal to me, but when you look at it through the lens of ‘winner’, you can’t argue. Partey, winner. Luiz, winner.
If you see Willian, he brings us experience and a very special physicality in terms of speed. If you see Gabriel, he gives us a lot of physicality and presence. Dani, quality. Thomas, physicality, quality and mentally he is very strong. But in the end if you see all these players we brought to the club, they are very good here (points to legs), but they are better here (points to head) which for me is very important because when you talk to the players, they have a lot of ambition, they are excited and they are hungry to win a title again. This, for me, is important to have in the players to not only be good here (points to legs), but good here (points to head). And they are.
What I do like about this Edu PR tour is that he could easily claim the glory, but he doesn’t.
It is not only Edu, it is not only Mikel Arteta, we have a lot of people around us in the club that it is important to mention as well, financial, legal, medical, recruitment, our loan manager, but we cannot forget of course the support, of which I received a lot of, from the board and the owners. Without them, we cannot do much and I feel really comfortable with the way we are working and communicating together, we are talking almost every day right now so that is brilliant. I tell them with that possibility to have that type of relationship, I feel much stronger. That is the way they give to me and to Mikel as well, so that is the way we are working right now.
Bar talking about himself in the third person, I do like leaders that pump their team. There’s a lovely pic of him celebrating them on Insta Stories. We’ve lacked that at Arsenal over the years. Empowering talent to make moves. I like that. It’s basic, but smart.
I also assume Edu wants to get ahead of me telling everyone there are questions marks over how good he is. He seems very, very happy with how things are going… I couldn’t be more pleased for him. He passed the first test this summer, i.e., no one is crying over Raul. We don’t need him and we’ve just proved that under the toughest footballing circumstances in our history.
This was a good window. The club made purposeful moves that can all be justified. We’ll have to forget about January. Focus on what we’ve seen in the last two months and it all makes sense. We’ve signed experienced winners, elite young talent, and we’ve taken a chance on 5-6 under 23s that might make it.
I am finding it VERY tough to be a blogger that has nothing to moan about.
Though I do find it interesting that there are so many spreadsheet merchants upset about Partey. I don’t want to be ‘that’ guy, but honestly, if we’ve been tracking Partey since his Almeria days, and our new recruitment team thinks he’s good enough to put their reps on the line with their paymasters, you’d have to imagine they might be looking at better data than the folk on the internet.
He’s a class signing. I am STILL in shock we did it. Partey is going to be fucking immense for us.
The club omitted Ozil from the Europa League squad along with Sokratis and Saliba.
He is finished. There are stories doing the rounds that we’re trying to buy him out of his deal. The club is trying to get a deal, he’s not budging. What a humiliating way to exit the building, being a petulant child. So ungraceful. He’ll soon realise that his power is linked to his age, then I suspect he’ll regret his last 3 years.
There’s also a lot of consternation about William Saliba. I don’t have an in on this at all. However, I do know two things. 1) If he were ready, he’d be playing. 2) Arteta doesn’t have a vendetta against Raul signings.
I have some thoughts on this. Firstly, Ligue 1 has a lot of great players, but it lacks the same power and pace we have in the Premier League. That’s not a debate, I really don’t care how much Ligue 1 you watch. Young players flourish there because there’s a lower level of competition.
I think it’s clear that he’s not physically up to the standard. He’s literally a teenager. There are very few teenage centre backs playing regularly anywhere in the world. Factor in that he was injured a lot last year, which might be linked to his body not adapting well to his huge frame. Jack was overplayed in his teenage years and now he’s being let go from West Ham in his twenties. Being overplayed at a young age isn’t great for you.
People seem to have taken offence to him being loaned to the Championship (if it happens). Now, there are two reasons this might be the case. We could have messed up the registration back to France. Or, Per Mertesacker, Ben Knapper, and Edu might reckon the things he’s lacking as a player right now are better serviced in the league below the Premiership. The Championship is incredibly fast, it’s beastly from an aggression perspective, and… it’s in England. What better place to toughen up and learn the lingo?
It’s a bit of uneducated opinion to say Championship football is a shit standard. Eze, Watkins, and Leeds are looking pretty damn ok so far this season. Maddison, Joe Gomez, and Andy Robertson all started there. I don’t think Arsenal fans would sniff at Buendia or Benrahma if they joined. William Saliba could do a lot worse than Brentford this season.
Ok, I am now off. Have a great day. Big love x
My issue with Saliba is we made a big fuss getting him in the first place and a lot of clubs already are tracking him so we gotta be careful what we’re doing with the lad. I get the easing him into things part but I don’t get another loan personally. There’s enough games here to be had during the course of this pack very tight season and plenty opportunities to impress and given that Holding and Mustafi and likely Chambers will see game time I don’t understand why Saliba couldn’t be used or given the chance to impress over… Read more »
Marko
Arteta’s clearly deemed Saliba nowhere near ready yet for first team football, he was signed last summer before Arteta came in as manager.
I agree that a loan out to the Championship is hardly ideal for a 25m signing no matter how raw he is and would have preferred to see him at least loaned out to another PL club but Arteta must not have trusted him to play a role this season, only real explanation.
If he’s no better than Sokratis is now then he’s got a long way to go in scope of improvement.
Graham I see your point, I agree he has for me always been a forward and maybe Wenger making that decision a season or two earlier would have increased his output for us, but I firmly believe he was given opportunities to be “that guy” for Arsenal and didn’t fulfil that tremendous potential more so down to his own inability to develop his game more. I wish him well, he was always a good kid and became a good man, never in the headlines like a few of the English youngsters up in Manchester that have great technical ability for… Read more »
I read somewhere that Saliba only has one leg. apparently one of the trolls on leGrove spotted it.
So imagine how Arteta felt when he saw Saliba at training, rumours have it he was hopping mad.
Idiots like Mourinho, Bacary Sagna, Debouchy and a number of coaches all said he was a special talent but they failed to notice he had a part of his body missing. Just goes to show the so called experts haven’t git a clue what they are talking about.
At least we know why he has joined Hoppenheim on loan in the Bundesliga.
Since the start of 19/20 season, Partey has the best dribble success % in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
Thiago Alcantara 2nd.
World Class.
‘Far too many on here spend too much time looking for reasons to attack the club – it’s crazy.’
Its seriously crazy. Makes you question if they are fans in the first place.
Afc Forever
Personally I hadnt noticed that too. Been too focused on the extraordinary physicality and talent he possesses, that I failed to notice the lad is missing a leg. Blimey.
I fucking hate international breaks.
@AFC ForeverOctober 9, 2020 15:01:16
lol Had a goodlLaugh at that.
But seriously CT is spot on. Makes you wonder if these people are fans at all..
Really hope Tierney is back for Man City game and doesn’t have to self isolate. An exemption should be made. As he has had 3 negative results as well. Saliba isn’t ready in Artetas eyes and should be sent to the championship probably till the January window. As L Testicle said Brentford is pretty good idea with Benrahma or Raya coming next year. It’s a tough transition for a teenager to move away from home especially after his mum died over the summer. He is a talent in the making and should not be dismissed by the negative fuckwits that… Read more »
Me a boomer? Christ.
Some real dingbats out today.
Guns of Fuckney is right for once. Some degenerate Inferior human said this…
“Millennials will be the end of this planet. Sniffling little oik.”
Oh wait…
Pedro and others
Is it only me that saw the news about Saliba’s mom . Let the lad grieve for god sake. He wanted to stay close to his family after she passed . The St.Etienne offer came to late so he couldnt make it . Lay off Saliba he is gonna rule the PL , just not in the present.
I’m worried about Saliba. He’s just 19 years old, his mother died recently and he’s at a new club and a new league with the pressure of a big price tag hanging over his head. Sending him off to a Championship team might destabilize him even more. I’m sure the club are sensitive to all of this, but he’s going to need to be handled very carefully.
Saliba didnt even went away on holiday after the season ended , he stayed and worked on his fitness. Its unfortunate what happened to him , we need him mentally ready to be there , Whenever that happens. Arsenal personally for me should not loan him , let him stay here maybe after December or in Europa league games he can make an impact.
Divine, I don’t think that is the problem. It’s super simple, he’s not ready for the Premier League. Nothing to do with ability, it’s just his body… because he’s young.
Isn’t there a better solution to all of this. Like a two-weeks holiday or something like that. Take the guy through some therapies, etc? Must we send him to Championship when everybody and their dogs know he’s better than all we’ve got in Central defence bar Gabriel?
Thorough, he’s a professional footballer. Bad things happen. I am sure his mental state is not the issue here.
Pedro If you think his mentality isnt the one of the reasons he is not being given a baptism by fire then I dont know what to tell you. He is 19. He’s a kid and losing the person who loves you the most in the whole world is devastating. We tried to loan him back to his home and I’m pretty sure it was to move him closer to his family. This one is on Edu. Should have sorted this situation out before the deadline day. We know how ignorant our fanbase can be sometimes. If he starts, makes… Read more »
Winger destroyed Walcott? No way, Winger developed Ganesha’s,Van Persie….infact when Winger told van Persie that he was switching him to no.9 as our main striker even he can Persie didn’t like the idea but we know how that turned out. Henry was switched from the flanks to central. Walcott had nothing but speed don’t blame Winger for his luck of footballing brain.
When does the window close to the Championship?
Auto correct is really messing me up!
Sky and BT charging £15 pay-per-view the each game not being broadcast in October. Mental.
When does the window close to the Championship?
5pm October 16th I believe.
Jamie
That’s too much – my guess is their taking a view of you’ve only got to buy one match and you might as well subscribe to a full subscription.
Thanks Karsa – so we’ll have an idea on Saliba by this time next week.
Marc –
It should be a fiver tops. I pay something like 30 sheets a month for all the games.
Pedro.
Saka and Martinelli comes to mind, hacking it with the senior team since 17.and to think Saliba was touted to be the Physical Specimen we’ve all been waiting for? I still think it’s got to be more mental than physical.
*Nelson, not Martinelli
With regards to Saliba just a kid in a mans body, new country , new language, plus did he not lose his Mother recently, a lot to deal with.
Loan deal would be ideal, keep him close to the club, give him a season to settle in.
Little Mozart
I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with you.
Wenger, or is it “Winger”, was culpable for many tactical/player failings over the years. The positives you talk of were more than outweighed by the negatives.
Walcott could and should have given us so much more. Wenger was 80% to blame for that.
It’s funny how some fans only remember the positives.
Thorough, centre back is the most physical position in the team. Count the number of first-team 19-year-old centre backs in the Premier League. You won’t find many because they don’t exist.
CT, I appreciated losing a loved one is awful… but it must also be awful to read people think you can’t handle it. He’s an adult, we all deal with trauma, I am sure this is not the problem for an ambitious player like Saliba.
Thorough, also worth noting that just being big doesn’t mean you are ready. He was injured a lot last season, there are obviously reasons for that. If you break him again this season, you ruin his career.
Pedro
While I agree he may not be physically ready , I was not sure people were taking into account of what has happened to him personally . He is an investment which needs to be protected. Still better to keep him rather than sending him out on loan . We have Enough games as it is .
Marc
A week from today.
If he’s no better than Sokratis is now then he’s got a long way to go in scope of improvement. _________ I don’t think that’s it at all Eagle.. Take a look at our upcoming schedule? Are we gonna throw Saliba in to sink or swim after a tough year personally for him against the likes of Man U, Leicester, City, Villa, Leeds etc… so if he isn’t going to play for months and get regular time what is he going to learn sitting on the bench? Young players need game reps and at a competitive level. That’s why I… Read more »
If it’s mental or psychological issue with saliba the best therapy is to play him and keep him busy not cast him away and pumb him with Prozac..
He could play in league cups/ europa/ 10 mins cameo here or there..
God ..Arteta even plays the emotional and nervous wreck kola in PL games
I just hope it has nothing to do with the Guendouzi affair!
Pedro
If Saliba does go somewhere like Brentford then chances are he could play more games
So how does that fit the theory esp as the Championship is a school of hard knocks
“I can’t believe It’s funny how some fans only remember the positives.”
Graham you are literally doing the exact same thing with Walcott. He was never as good as you are making him out to be.
Although I will love him forever for that 2-0 hand gesture as he was being carted off against Spurs.
Re: Saliba Speculate all you like it is irrelevant. The club know the player, his body, his mental state and whether he is ready or not. Come on guys, engage your brains before trying to nit pick at every opportunity it’s really not necessary. By the way, I lost my Mum in July to cancer. It was sudden, just a few weeks and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Things you wouldn’t expect can upset you and it’s really hard sometimes. Talk is cheap. My dads having bereavement counselling because he is struggling to get on with his… Read more »
So terrible… yeah, he’s the only one who has lost a parent.
__________________
How many 19 year old football players who have signed a big contract ready to start a career at a tougher league for a new club in a different country have just lost their parent? I’ll wait for your list of players?
There’s no need to tiptoe around it, if Saliba is being considered for a loan it’s because the club/Arteta do not see him as good enough to be a genuine help this season. That’s not Arteta’s fault, nor is it really Saliba’s unless you want to blame a 19 year old for not developing as quickly as the fans would like. There was a lot of expectation thrown his way from the jump, and it may have been premature. But the hope is that he grows into the player we all envisioned. Obviously we’re not there yet though. You have… Read more »
HighburyLegend
“So terrible… yeah, he’s the only one who has lost a parent”
You despicable individual. No surprise you can’t respect other people you vile cretin, you don’t even have the decency to respect yourself.
There’s no need to tiptoe around it, if Saliba is being considered for a loan it’s because the club/Arteta do not see him as good enough to be a genuine help this season _________ Exactly.. and that’s what Arteta said in his press conference. “For many reasons, that wasn’t the transition year that he needed because he had a lot of injuries, some personal injuries and also with COVID and the French league getting cancelled, he didn’t have that year. “He needs that year of transition and we are trying to make the right decisions for him to give him… Read more »
Some of you here don’t really know what transition year means in football, transition year Is more than playing just six matches in europa league, the type of transition Jack Wilshere had at Bolton
Clearly, there are people who think we should throw him in the deep end and let him sink or swim because he is the next Varane or whatever.. I don’t think that’s a wise move given all that’s happened. And definitely risky with a big investment.
Highburybellend proving once again how shit he is with sarcasm. Literally just here to comment on other posters, boring bastard
It’s pretty clear.
We loaned Saliba back for a season of development.
Circumstances – Injury/Covid – meant that he didn’t have that season of development..
He can have it now, hopefully.
englandsbestOctober 9, 2020 12:54:30
Wenger failed to bring out the best in Jack or Theo. It’s a simple as that. If they had a fault, it was their over-eagerness to please him.
——
Total bollocks.
I think you should be in the stocks and pelted with tomatoes and sprayed with cow urine.
HL
“To lose parents happens to everyone, one day.”
“Maybe it’s not the case for you ?We have to deal with it, and no matter at what age it happens.
Moron.”
Listen you vile cunt. I lost my Mum in June and you’re calling me a fucking moron for being upset about it.
You are a such a cunt I can’t find the words to tell you what I would do if I met you face to face you disgusting human being. Your poor parents having a brain dead, disgusting, inhumane tosser like you as a sughuman.
It’s a bit of uneducated opinion to say Championship football is a shit standard.
———-
Well said
*Subhuman
Pedro
Sorry, you are not an adult at 19.
If you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing at 19?
“He’s a class signing. I am STILL in shock we did it. Partey is going to be fucking immense for us.” Ye but you also quite publicly shot your wad over Pepe joining, only to talk about how we overpaid for average recently. I think at the time you headlined it the ‘biggest signing of the decade’ and ‘This is basically us signing Eden Hazard of 2019.’ Reputations certainly go on the line for signings, but you could sign Messi and he might not work out for you, there are a lot of different factors. He has all the attributes… Read more »
HL
Yeh right. The only thing that ever comes out of your mouth is BS. Fuck off.
CC
“Highburybellend proving once again how shit he is with sarcasm. Literally just here to comment on other posters, boring bastard”
I let the troll get to me; still raw for me I guess. Apologies.
Northbanker, not sure what you are getting at, that Championship football is meek?
Can’t get on board with anyone talking down the Championship for a 19 year old to cut his teeth in England.
Mental view to take frankly, I think Nelson, Willock, Nketiah would all be better players for a season in the championship at a club pushing for promotion. The pressure is immense, the matches are incredibly competitive, the football is quick and at times brutal. If you stand out there as a kid it sets a good foundation for you to make a transition into the prem.
My my, it’s got kinda personal on here today!!
I think we could have done worse than look down the divisions for some better defenders over the years. You can’t understate the speed and physicality of the Championship, there’s some gash there definitely, but there is Ligue 1 and La Liga also …
At 19 Graham was packing to begin his march toward Jerusalem as a foot soldier for the First Crusade. Pierre was a medic in the same unit, until he fell in love with a young boy with large eyes as they were passing through Turkey and went AWOL.
“At 19 Graham was packing to begin his march toward Jerusalem … ”
Have I walked into the fucking twilight zone here!?
You really can’t let go of anything personal around here. Bamford getting roasted for 2 straight years for being the shittiest Harvard alumni ever taught me that lesson. As far as I’m concerned Don’s asshole is still bleeding.
Keep it close to the vest, I am warning you the rest of us are vicious.
AFC
He’s a melt, you being emotive isn’t an issue – nor is that ever. Sorry about your mother, it may be inevitable for us all but it diminishes the impact not on iota so your reaction to such a comment is absolutely fair.
Plenty of good players in the top flight now that cut their teeth in the Championship. Jack Grealish or Pablo Hernandez come to mind.
Consider Artetas options: Gabriel Holding Luiz Chanmbers Mari Mustafi Now we know Saliba had a nasty injury and when you add the Pandemic curtailing the French league he hasn’t really had that many games to recover and be tested.. We either trust the professionals to make the right decision or we don’t. As Arteta works with the players daily, knows the fitness status of those due to return he is in a far better position than us to decide whether or not Saliba is ready for us. He has clearly decided not. Pedro makes a good point. The PL is… Read more »
CC
I appreciate that. Thanks mate.
CC, exactly, what is of more value… 6 starts with us, or 30 at Brentford with state of the art coaching?
Think he’d come back in much better shape. He’ll also have better English.
Pedro What I meant is maybe the club dont want him to get depressed a la Mustafi because Arsenal fans are rabid. They’ll tear anyone down if they feel like. + He must already be in a vulnerable state mentally if the reports of his mother dying are true. Dont want a 19 yo going in a downward mental spiral. Keeping him out of the spotlight and allowing him to get his head right may not be the worst of ideas. I dont doubt his commitment or determination a bit. To me he looks like a full package. Someone who… Read more »
Pedro
“CC, exactly, what is of more value… 6 starts with us, or 30 at Brentford with state of the art coaching?Think he’d come back in much better shape. He’ll also have better English”
This.
To be honest, I don’t even know why anyone is making an issue out of it.
CT “I don’t doubt his commitment or determination a bit. To me he looks like a full package. Someone who will lead our backline for years to come” He is very highly rated in France. It is completely logical to treat him how the club have. What is the point in him sitting on the bench, getting the odd game when he can be learning in the Championship and getting his fitness back. His English will improve too and he’ll find out just how fast and physical the English game is. He will come back a much better player than… Read more »
The perceived issue is that people hate Holding and Luiz as players.. and think the future is Gabriel and Saliba and have been looking forward to that partnership. Ans they think Arteta won’t let it happen because of his love for Luiz and Holding I guess.
But I really don’t think that is the reasons why if you look at it logically.
AFC, I think the pandemic has made people weird.
Getting irate that one of the best young coaches in the world sending a defender out on loan to get better is peak WTF.
Most haven’t watched him play a full 90 either.
Midwest
You may be right.
Funny isn’t it, Saliba comes into the team shows he is a bit rusty and not fully recovered from the broken foot and the same mob will be on his back. Some people can’t see the bigger picture and often they don’t want to.
“To be honest, I don’t even know why anyone is making an issue out of it.” Ultimately people need something to blame when things don’t go the exactly the way they planned or wished. Not many people take the time to ponder whether their original assessment of the situation may have been incorrect. I thought Saliba would play for us and be impactful much sooner than it looks like will actually happen. I came to that conclusion not because I watched him train or saw a lot of his matches, it was just what I assumed and wanted to be… Read more »
Luteo, I’m just glad that Raul has gone. No doubt the player will come good, but dropping that sort of fee on someone that far of being ready was not good.
Pedro
“AFC, I think the pandemic has made people weird.”
That did make me smile.
It is really bizarre that people work themselves up into a state about literally nothing. Some people hate the sunny side of the street.
Good piece on Dennis on the BBC web page.
He worked very hard on his game off the pitch. If only some of the youngsters would do the same
Wish he was with us in some capacity.
Luteo
There are mitigating factors.
Saliba broke his foot and then the french league closed down early due to the pandemic. I suspect the club also expected to offload CB’s but again that wasn’t possible.
These things are never as clearcut as they appear. You have to trust Arteta and his team.
Pedro
“Luteo, I’m just glad that Raul has gone. No doubt the player will come good, but dropping that sort of fee on someone that far of being ready was not good.”
If we hadn’t have got him and he’d gone to the Spud’s you’d be slagging Sanllehi off for not going after young prospects and only buying from people paying him backhanders.
Marc, as Luteo just pointed out… we’d all be bantering the Spuds if it happened to them.
Marc I think the problem is we are all debating hypotheticals. Saliba is very highly regarded and was deemed to be a future star. We probably took the opportunity whereas others didn’t. His broken foot was a nasty injury and a set back, not helped by the early curtailment of the League season in France. Buying any player is a risk it’s a bit devil you do, devil you don’t. Ultimately, I want my club to take a punt on young players, many have turned out to be fantastic buys in the past. We can’t turn back the clock so… Read more »
AFC I understand the mitigating factors, but I also think if Saliba really was good enough right now there would be no way a good manager would loan out someone of that talent while keeping Holding or Sokratis. If he was good enough he’d be playing, that’s really it. I realize we were trying to get rid of players like Sok but just because you couldn’t get rid of them doesn’t mean you have to play him ahead of someone “better”. If injuries are a concern, I’d prefer he is watched over by our own medical staff without risk of… Read more »
Pedro
Not really – the player has huge potential and there’s always so much to banter the Spud’s about – stupid to pick one that might bite you in the arse at a future date.
AFC
Agree – we don’t know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes. It could be anything from Arteta protecting a special talent to Arteta not being willing to risk a young player in a season where he’ll be fired if he doesn’t get top 4.
Agree – we don’t know exactly what’s going on behind the scenes. It could be anything from Arteta protecting a special talent to Arteta not being willing to risk a young player in a season where he’ll be fired if he doesn’t get top 4.
This.
We really don’t know most of the facts surrounding this. Speculation by some that it’s somehow linked to the Guendouzi situation is mind boggling.
It’s Un, right?
Marc Yes agree. Sometime we need to accept that we are just fans. Which means we aren’t privy to the information required to conduct a well informed opinion. Everything is pure speculation. What we do know is that Saliba is very highly regarded in France, I produced evidence earlier today. We also know he broke his foot. Additionally, we know that he needed games to recover from his injury which he was unable to get dye to the pandemic. We know he lost a parent. We also know Arsenal have good cover with Pablo Mari, Chambers & Mustafi due back… Read more »
I’m just saying, all those “he was injured, he’s grieving, he’s only 19, silly to write him off he’ll eventually come good, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes” points only sound like softer ways of saying “he’s not good enough right now” to me. I’m definitely not writing him off. Patience is fine and welcome. But there’s no need to pretend like the current state of events, if he really does go out on loan, was all part of the calculation. Cash strapped club spending £27m for a player that plays a position that needed immediate reinforcement and… Read more »
Luteo
Fair enough. Perhaps he’s not good enough right now. Maybe he was bought with the future in mind or maybe he was in Artetas plans but the broken foot affected their decision.
The point is we don’t know. We can debate it until we are blue in the face but it won’t change anything. As I have said, I have to trust the club know best.
There’s no need to tiptoe around it, if Saliba is being considered for a loan it’s because the club/Arteta do not see him as good enough to be a genuine help this season. That’s not Arteta’s fault, nor is it really Saliba’s I mean that’s a fair enough thing to say until you realize that Mustafi will get mins this season and Holding is a current starter. Way I see it keeping him around and giving him game time over certain people who are either a) not good enough or b) gone from the club at the end of the… Read more »
Luteo GuenreiraOctober 9, 2020 18:35:56
At 19 Graham was packing to begin his march toward Jerusalem as a foot soldier for the First Crusade. Pierre was a medic in the same unit, until he fell in love with a young boy with large eyes as they were passing through Turkey and went AWOL.
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And Banford got down on bended knee and sank his teeth into Emery’s long project..(without the gum shield)
Marc, 30m for a player that will take two years to come good is not smart when you have ‘squad poverty’
Pedro @17.30.
Very true. If that’s the best for him, so be it.
By the way, I think Pablo Mari is quality. He was class for Flamengo & looked good for us until his injury. For the first time in years we have some decent C B’s at the club.
No Jamie, it isn’t
points only sound like softer ways of saying “he’s not good enough right now” to me.
One could also counter point that with the amount of game time the likes of Nketiah gets and we’ve even seen Mikel start Kolasinac and Holding at CB at times. Does that mean that they’re good or that Mikel sees them as good enough right now? One is a no and the other a scary thought. It’s about preferences right now
AFC
You really think the best thing to do is send him out on loan to the Championship if there is legitimate concern his foot won’t hold up? From what I can surmise he’s going out in search of MORE playing time isn’t it, and not rehab?
His foot injury was from months ago, he returned to Ligue 1 at St. Etienne already and he’s played for our u-23s as well a couple weeks ago. If his foot wasn’t healing properly they shouldn’t have played him at all. Don’t see the foot being a driving issue with him right now.
Marko, it means Arteta sees them as fitter, more experienced, and more robust for what he needs right now.
Pedro
Well I’m glad you can predict the future and knew all along that Salina was going to take 2 years to come good – Fact is we don’t know the exact reasons behind this or what influence COVID has had on any of this.
If Saliba is the world’s first £100 million plus defender in a few seasons you’ll be singing from the rooftops how Arteta brought him through and developed him.
Luteo
I have as much clue as you.