The Arsenal loans department is cranking through the gears as they race to move players out of the club so they can free some space for inbound players.
William Saliba has moved to France, picking Nice as his go-to. He’ll certainly land minutes due to their injuries, and hopefully he’ll play well so we can have him in the first-team squad next season, or sell him in the summer. I’ve never known an entire country to get so angry at a 19-year-old centre back not making it in the Premier League. The French media and their pundits have been nothing short of embarrassing when it comes to Big Will. L’Équipe claimed we were looking to sell him this month, untrue. Then, after we loaned him with no options to sell, they’re pushing that we’re maybe, possibly, loaning him the whole of next season. Why would Nice commit to that now? Why would Arsenal? Embarrassing carry-on.
What also has to be put down on the record is the abysmal handling of this. It was almost more boring than the Mesut stuff. Saliba might not be it, and that is fine, we’ve all fallen in love with Youtube super comp videos only to be disappointed. What is outrageous is that we didn’t make a decision on him until very, very late in the day, and it was so late we didn’t have a loan option for him. By price-tag alone, he is a generational talent. That is the message the world needs to know and believe. He should have been sent back to France or given a chance in the Championship so we could build him up to either start or sell. Instead, we soiled his name, and put a big BUYER BEWARE sticker on him. Very, very silly.
It’s also kind of baffling that Mikel Arteta has been sold as a top coach, but he chose not to coach William Saliba? Too rough for our Europa League squad, but Runarsson is our second choice keeper? Stronger technical leadership would not have allowed that to happen. Hopefully, the player takes his chance at Nice and we do get to see him next season.
I think the next big moves out the door will be for Mustafi and Sokratis. Those two need some game time in their legs to ensure the next deals they land are suitable. Liverpool lost last night, they could do with a center-back? There should be plenty of clubs interested in two very seasoned professionals that have both won trophies. That’d be another £180k a week off the wage bill.
There are also some rumblings that Eddie might find himself a loan move to somewhere like Leeds United. Not sure of the veracity, but it’s hard to see him landing minutes in this current moment. There are at least three players you’d rather see in that position, maybe 4 if you LOVE the Balogun hype.
I really hope that we find loans for the youngsters that aren’t finding minutes. What’s the point in keeping Willock if he doesn’t play in the Premier League? Same for Reiss and Cal Chambers. If they aren’t playing here, send them on loan, pump their value, then sell them in the summer.
The inbound rumblings mostly focus on Emi Buendia. The creative midfielder is way better than the Championship, but is, according to reports, happy in Norwich. Come on people, really? I’ve stayed with friends up there and I am simply not having that an Argentinian is buzzing about pints at The Fat Cat, elite as those pints might be.
If Arsenal comes a-knocking, he’d have to take the move. We’d just have to hope that he’s a Jack Grealish over a Saïd Benrahma. He created 83 chances in the league last season, those numbers can’t be ignored. ESR has made a huge impact at 19 years old, if you were a betting man, you’d say that Emi could at the very least offer what he has to the side.
We’ll see though…
Finally, LIVERPOOL lost to Southampton last night. The league is very, very tight this season. 5 wins on the bounce and you can make serious moves up the table. I think we have to accept that Hassenhutl’s side might be top 4 contenders this season. Our clash with them at the end of the month is going to be absolutely huge. We simply cannot afford to drop points against Newcastle or Palace.
Right, listen to the podcast, then, and ONLY then, can you go.
1
2
3
Trophy
Boom!
Son of a …
wtf.. I read the whole thing before seeing zero comments…
Buendia cannot say no to Arsenal when we come calling. At best Norwich would come back to the premier league and then what?.. Get relegated again?
The only possible issue will be if Arsenal are willing to go for him. Good piece Pedro, I hope Sokratis and Mustafi are able to get moves away. We need to get players who aren’t playing out of the club
10 points off first…in the analytical world of Pedro. :
But it is staggering that Ole’s squad could be table toppers should they win their game in hand, as embarrassing as their penalties awarded tally is.
Sorry Upstate. Better luck next time 😁
And good post Pedro. Happy New Year to you.
Hoping we can shift some of British Project version 2.0. If Nelson can’t get minutes over Pepe and Willian, he should be shifted. ?Can’t see a higher ceiling for Willock and Nketiah too. I’d promote Balogun to be alongside Saka and ESR and dump the rest to the championship.
Le Sauce
I don’t think it’s whether Buendia wants to come to us or not, more whether Norwich would be willing to sell their star player when they have a promotion in sight. PL promotion is worth a LOT of money, so even £40m or so for him wouldn’t necessarily be worth their while if they can get promoted with him and then potentially sell him in the summer.
If they were willing to sell, though, then sure, he shouldn’t have a problem coming to us (depending on whether there are other teams in for him too, of course).
Eddie loaned to Leeds again? We called him back because he couldn’t get a game there last time.
Also seeing that we’re looking to sell him for £15-20 mill to Wolves, maybe.
I’d say cash in. I like Eddie, but I’m not wholly convinced of his upside potential.
^ What DM said
There is absolutely no excuse for the Saliba debacle. The player is indeed as advertised. Just incompetence and bad management of the highest level and a massive indictment against the present regime. Fofana was the junior partner in their partnership at St Etienne. Played with Mari at U23 and was the more assured player. Mari has not been a disaster in his games at the PL level. Can play on both sides of center at CB. Yes, part of it was the inability of the club to manage the import/non import list but just no excuse for the continuous dropping… Read more »
Not sure that Bundeia is worth 40 mill…Might very wrong, but just cannot get excited about this rumour.
For me, he might be more of a mid table player. If you are aiming for the top of the table, then get players for that level…Would he be targeted by any of the teams up there?
“It’s also kind of baffling that Mikel Arteta has been sold as a top coach, but he chose not to coach William Saliba? Too rough for our Europa League squad, but Runarsson is our second choice keeper? Stronger technical leadership would not have allowed that to happen.” Technical director shouldn’t be telling the coach who to pick in his team. If Arteta doesn’t think he’s ready from everything that he sees in training then surely you have to accept that judgement, even if we disagree. Wenger probably would have thrown him straight in but you can’t tell the manager who… Read more »
Dude this shit is pissing me off. People are now saying that if Arteta had played Saliba and Saliba had failed we would have got on the coaches backs for playing him before he’s ready. Twitter post with a lot of likes “If Saliba was pushed for first team & struggled, coaches would be slaughtered all the same”. How are we going to slaugther the coaches for playing someone that is 100% healthy and has been preparing to play for us for months??? Play him in Europa vs the 3rd tier teams and give him a place to showcase his… Read more »
What concerns me about the Saliba situation is that it gives me vibes of the Zidane and Ceballos relationship, ie no place for you whilst I’m here kinda thing. It’s just been handled so badly from start to finish that, it smacks of more behind the scenes. I read today that if the initial loan goes well that it could be extended to 18 months!!! I can see it now. Arteta says the team is settled,so in order to continue his development Saliba will stay for the next season. Then he’s sold for a profit after that. To see another… Read more »
“Instead, we soiled his name, and put a big BUYER BEWARE sticker on him. Very, very silly.”
Replace “we” with “Arteta”, Pedro, next time around. It’s totally on him.
Tweet from Matt Spiro (French football corres.) on Saliba
“Well done to Nice for signing a top young defender in William Saliba. To suggest he ‘isn’t ready for Premier League’ is disingenuous at best – and if you look at some of the guys who have been deemed ‘ready’ by Arsenal, it’s laughable”
“The French media and their pundits have been nothing short of embarrassing when it comes to Big Will. ” Is that what suffices as embarrassing in your thoughts, Pedro? What’s embarrassing is Arsenal paying a ridiculous fortune for a kid and then inexplicably not providing said kid with proper opportunity to actually play and develop. Give your head a shake, this one has the foul stench of both Arteta and Edu all over it. What’s embarrassing is you continually coming up with excuses for Arteta’s sheer ineptitude and incompetence. Call a spade a spade and stick with it, please and… Read more »
The Fat Cat is a great boozer Pedro, they even produce their own ales and pies! My sources tell me Norwich would accept a bid of nothing less than 20 million+ for Buendia so the obvious concern here is whether we have the funds to sign him? He’s a quality player with a superb touch while he also oozes footballing intelligence and most importantly he has a good attitude, unlike Aouar who we wasted our time pursuing in the last window. I’d love to see Buendia play for Arsenal but unfortunately we may have to wait until the summer to… Read more »
40+ Covid infections in the EPL and climbing. You can count on a League shutdown soon, and if they are not considering it, then it’s obvious they don’t give two shits for player safety.
A vaccine is available, why is it being administered so slowly?
I love watching Theo Walcott 2.0 at Southampton. He looks like a biker gang pledge candidate – rough and ready, big muscles, taped up hand from bar brawling, scruffy hair and even more tattoos. A 180 from the nice middle class kid at Arsenal. Finding his feet at age 30, good for him.
Ernest, crying about a 19 year old not starting games. Making up stories. Doubling down and making up new ones. That sort of thing.
Glad Pedro has seen some sense on saliba on how badly this thing has been handled rather that saying people were wet. This isn’t an edu fuck up its artetas, I think he got hard for holding late on and didn’t like the look of saliba hence no time to do loan plus other stuff going on. It makes no fricking sense to recall a guy before a cup final by edu to then fuck him later in the window unless arteta said nah this ain’t my guy late on. Edu also does not pick the Europe squad that is… Read more »
I’ll give you 28 million reasons why the whole affair stinks to high hell, Pedro.
Call it what it is, botched business. It can still be saved but it has the similar stench of Willian all over it.
A vaccine is available, why is it being administered so slowly?
>>>>>>>>>
Really?
Pedro
Glad you’ve found your balance with your Arteta-love in.
The gentle critique of Arteta’s handling of Saliba was good to read.
JP
“If Arteta doesn’t think he’s ready from everything that he sees in training then surely you have to accept that judgement,”
I am sure that Arteta sees Alex Rúnarsson in training and we have to accept that he is ready.
Arteta also used Kola multiple times as one of the three CB’s in the 3 4 3 formation. And we have to accept that Kola is a better CB than Saliba. All I remembered is that we lost the NLD because Kola assisted Son for a goal.
Pedro
You keep talking about Saliba as a ’19 yr old’ yet neglect to mention we paid nigh on £30m for said ’19 yr old!
The way this has been managed is Scandalous! It’s all on Arteta.
We are the laughing stock in some circles because of this Saliba debacle. Everyone know the lad was done by.
Hopefully it passes and we stop making these silly blunders. There’s no reason why Arteta should be trying to extend Mustafi’s contract while denying an incoming 29 million transfer fee youngster a chance to prove himself.
Pedro
I would say Saliba was viewed by many more people as a Generational talent/prospect ,( By what they had seen themselves) than people (You ) who said Arteta is a Generational coach.
I’m so over the Saliba drama, no question club fucked it with not loaning him no question theres been a massive over reaction from many, no question some think he’s the second coming of Maldini based on little data.
The problem with the idea of Saliba as a mainstay of the team for 10-12 years is that he’s on a 5 year contract. By the end of this season, he’s only got 3 years left. His fee will have been amortized over the length of the contract, so by the end of this season, £10.8m of his value will have been amortized. That means any offer over ~£16m would be considered a profit. And if – as most would probably want – he does great on loan and is in the squad next year, we’ll get a *single* season… Read more »
Raptora summed up the Saliba situation perfectly. It is just one in a whole series of monumental blunders committed by a manager so clearly out of his depth. And how many more times must we hear; if only we win the next three games…….?
Only Arteta can get jilted by Mustafi…I mean who offers Mustafi an extension?
I don’t care what anyone says, oh it’s just YouTube highlights we’re going off. I’ve seen enough to know he has more about him and a higher ceiling than the majority of our defenders , (Prior to Gabriel arriving) So for him to not get to play any games even against the mighty Dundalk is fuckin Scandalous!! Well we’ll all be able to see just how ‘Bad’ he really is when he’s playing for Nice. We’ll see if he’s so shit that Arteta was right to persist with Mustafi and Kola. But if it’s apparent that he isn’t worse ,… Read more »
Greg on Theo…Very funny….Team of son in laws….🤣.
Final word on Saliba et al…
Sack Josh
Sack Vinay
Sack Edu
Sack Arteta
DM
My point of view is if we make an offer and he does a Sanchez then they would regret not selling him. Almost like what happened to Zaha when we bid for him
“The way this has been managed is Scandalous! It’s all on Arteta.”
Nothing new here then.
I doubt whether Saliba is coming back.
He will be 20 years old with three years left on his contract by the time the summer transfer window ends.
If the next 6 months on loan rebuilds some of his reputation, we are better off selling him to put an end to the whole saga.
Everybody should chill on Saliba. He is now gone on loan, good luck to him, we have many positives to talk about. Partey coming back into the team will be massive. Our young academy players coming of age…..The test for Edu is this January window. Let’s see if he can produce something that will strengthen the team for the second part of the season. Brandt seems an attainable option, although I would be more inclined to go hard for Buendia, but can’t see Norwich agreeing a January sale. Jordan from Sevilla. Can we dream of Partey, Jordan and Buendia in… Read more »
Nelson,
Don’t disagree that Rúnarsson looks well below the required level but Arteta also sees Macey, Hein, Okonkwo etc…in training and if he’s picking Rúnarsson then its because he thinks he’s better than those.
I don’t agree with the treatment of Saliba and its been a wasted few months when he could have been out on loan but people in the media aren’t on the training ground everyday. If Saliba was the new Van Dijk and ready to play I have no doubt he would be in the team.
Honestly, Mike becoming manager has really messed us up.
How does he get that title so fast?
Someone must have been drunk or stoned or both… Vinai smoking some really good stuff or coked up!
Mike is a terrible manager. Terrible player and as a result has no clue about talent.
Indeed, he is going to plan B, as his ass was on the line to be fired.
I still do not think he is the right person for the club.
I do hope Saliba plays like Maldini to spite Mike in the face
Redbro
That would be incredible.
Can we dream of Partey, Jordan and Buendia in our midfield?
Biggles
3 years is a long time in football. If he plays well at Nice and “is ready” to be in the first team squad next season then we can offer him a new deal.
Don’t see the issue there.
Biggles has it right, 3 yrs left on deal, he will come back hating the club, probbaky won’t start when he coems back, so 2 yrs left, can you monetise that and sell? The contract issue is big, if I had an option I could chill but of he turns out well he could easily run down his contract to zero he’s only 19, you think he won’t, malang sarr did at niece for chelse to pick up for free.
@Dissenter “If the next 6 months on loan rebuilds some of his reputation, we are better off selling him to put an end to the whole saga.” Errm, where’s the logic in that? Lose do much potential cos someone can’t admit they got it wrong? That’s just doubling down on the mistake. He has the potential to possibly become a fantastic defender and mainstay of our team. But Nah just cut him loose for some cash. How much would it cost to truly replace that talent? Selling cos we fucked up is not the best way to deal with your… Read more »
It’s also kind of baffling that Mikel Arteta has been sold as a top coach, ”
Pedro
Do you have any idea of those people who sold Mikel as a top coach?
My “sauces” tell me that a guy who lives in New York and drinks oat milk was a big part of the selling.
Apparently he also runs a blog used to push the Mikel is a great coach propaganda.
JP why the hell would be commit to a new deal after we fucked him with no gtees of starting next season, he needs tk wbe written off already, 28 m spunked in a min playing cb and can’t be flipped for profit, it’s unbelievable scenes
*non
lol pedro you literally cannot be serious
you said arteta has been sold as a top coach but isn’t willing to take on Saliba – but you yourself have literally been the n1 ‘arteta is a generational coach’ proponent since barely 6 months of him leaving the team
I honestly doubt anyone on the planet has waxed lyrical about arteta’s elite coaching skills more than you. you should accept that his coaching isn’t actually half as good as has been made out to be by you and there’s plenty of evidence to back that up.
DUIFG
He will have 3 years left, he’s not going to sit and chill and waste his career nor if he’s playing every week would he be happy to be on the same wage he was on when we was 18.
We are not privy to the conversations he’s had with Edu and Mikel. I’m sure all he cares about is playing.
If he’s starting, or getting regular games, in the team next season at a big club in London and, fingers crossed, challenging at the top end of the EPL why would he want to leave?
Do most people still think arteta should be sacked? I think there’s a case to be made that his promotion might end the type of deals we gave to runarsson, cedric, luiz extension… I hope to see some smart moves in the window and that if hes the real deal he’ll show that his promotion has effectively ended the backroom incompetence- or at least is phasing it out Saliba out the door to play first team is a good thing. Im not surprised that while we struggle to build a new identity from new and peripheral players at the back… Read more »
I’ve seen so many fuck ups over the last 10yrs at Arsenal, and whilst a lot of it was down to Wenger having absolute control and no longer being fit to wield it. non.football men on the board and owners.
Now to add Arteta’s many (simple) mistakes is getting too much. He needs to have his wings clipped and a TD or Manager of football above him, overseeing and overruling some of his decisions. Before irreparable damage is done to the club.
JP, sensible and measured post on Saliba. Totally agree with you.
Cal Chambers used to play defensive mid.
He should have been given a run of games in that position. He could complement ESR pretty well or be a back up to Mo.
Crazy that we let Gwen go and now Saliba. I have seen him play and he would have been great in our backline.
Why don’t we do the deal for the Norwich player now give them Willock and Nelson as part of the deal they keep him until promoted then he’s ours..?
We have nothing to play for at this point and nothing to lose either, play as we are the rest of the season..
Jp lots of speculation on how mahy games would he play, does he like the club. For me though he won’t start next year given all we ahwv seen from arteta. So if he breaks into the team end of season your ‘generational’ cb has 2 years on his contract, does not make me feel comfortable, nasri, rvp, sancez, ozil, rambo at points some were all gernsrional and left once they got down to that number. None of this fills me with confidence we have bought well, I was ecstatic thinking Gabriel and saliba at some pint this year, currently… Read more »
Mark
I fear a lot water has gone under the bridge already
Things said that can’t be unsaid – remember this was a lad who was in bereavement [reportedly] and in a foreign land feeling like he wasn’t being treated properly ]. Then you factor in the young manager thing,
If both parties can rise above the past then maybe there’s a future.
Hitman49……we have a lot to play for. This season is very unpredictable so anything can happen, FA Cup and Europa League. No reason why we can’t go all out for all of these competitions…..but we need fresh blood this window.
@Jp
“why would he want to leave?”
Cos he’s been treated so badly by Arteta that he doesn’t want to play under him. And if he does perform really well, he will have plenty of suitors who would appreciate him.
Why go back to somewhere who said You ain’t ready, and gave him no chance to prove otherwise.
If I was him I’d say Fuck you, I’m going to Real or Barca or anywhere else than back to that Cnut .
Arteta.
Who’d blame him.
Pedro,
I know it’s not really the done thing but I do think your post today, whilst stupendously excellent and on-the-money, could do with a light edit.
Please could you change: “It’s also kind of baffling when Arteta has been sold as a top coach.”
to: “I also kind of feel confused and schizophrenic when I sold Arteta as a top coach.”
It’s saliba again? He is gone on loan for good. See no reason for the continuous moaning and whinging all over. Arteta this Arteta that is getting boring.
We need to find clubs for mustafi, socratis, willock, eddie, and nelson before the window closes. This is the only way to get in some fresh legs to help out the remaining of the season.
A buendia or Brandt will do than just relying on Rowe all through the remainder of the season with the hope that he doesn’t get injured.
@Dissenter
That’s on Arteta to be the bigger man and put it right. That’s what ( a proper manager would do) I’d hope he’d do.
Tee, great post. Saliba nonsense must end now, what’s done is done, learn the lesson and move on. Plenty of other issues to solve….
yes words!
pedro you can’t refer to arteta being sold as a great coach when you are literally the guy who has done that selling more than anyone
Saliba nonsense must end now, what’s done is done, learn the lesson and move on.
Are lessons being learnt,. That’s the question!
Mark
How is he going to get to Barca or Madrid? If he comes back in the summer and says he wants to leave and doesn’t want to play for us then we have a young centre back with 3 years left on his deal. We would be able to get a decent fee.
I agree its been a fuck up but I still think its salvageable.
Every Tom, Dick and Harry can see “that Runarsson looks well below the required level”. What really concerns me here is that as a football coach, you should have a natural feel and understanding for all the positions in your team. Runarsson is, to put it mildly, utter shite. Whoever spotted him must have been down the Dog and Duck all night consuming large amounts of the local brew. There’s no other explanation. It’s like when you were kids, you all knew the importance of having a decent GK and you all had a solid understanding of what makes a… Read more »
by the wayside
“I do hope Saliba plays like Maldini to spite Mike in the face”
This comment says more about you than saliba/ Arteta.
If saliba plays like maldini, has you have said, then it’s a plus to arsenal. It’s either he comes back to play or get sold for profit.
Discussing Arteta’s failures may seem boring, but just don’t be surprised if we haven’t kicked on like we could have as a club in a year or two time. I do care how Arteta got to the current team selection, cos it indicates issues that he is a Bad judge of talent,has favourites and most importantly has very poor man management skills, not learning from mistakes and persisting until he had little choice. You may be happy to ignore all these warning signs but I can’t. I’m not saying sack him, but I definitely feel some checks and balances need… Read more »
“You may be happy to ignore all these warning signs but I can’t.
I’m not saying sack him, but I definitely feel some checks and balances need to be put in place.
Which won’t happen if people ignore them cos we won 3 games in a row, off of the back of our worst start in almost 50 years.”
Maybe pedro will convey your message to Josh.
Reading the incomings absolutely depend on the outgoings. So, the earlier we are able to shed some loads, the better and quicker it is for us to get in the CAM targeted.
Don’t want any deadline day frenzy.
Guys,
I totally understand the logic as to thinking if Saliba performs well we’d have a good player who’ll be a starter for sure. However as I said the vibe I get from Arteta is once I’ve frozen you out, you ain’t never coming back…
And that’s not good.
Look at the impact VVD had on Pool, the impact Martinez is having with Villa, Fernandez at Utd etc. It’s only one player, but it can massively impact the team.
Selling Saliba (if it happens) will be a big mistake to the detriment of the club.
This I truly believe.
Pedro, I know you’d heard some word about Arsenal’s interest in Brandt and as of yet he’s the only name that Ornstein has mentioned, so do you think him and Buendia are at the top of our list for this month? Chris Wheatley said yesterday that Arsenal think they can get him from Dortmund for as little as €25 million which seems like a very good price. For me Brandt’s versatility gives him the edge despite Buendia’s premier league experience. For Dortmund he’s played as a 10, as an 8, on the left or right and even as a false… Read more »
Not sure how true this is apparently Saliba in line to play Tomorrow for Nice. May get a chance to see how bad he is sooner than expected.
LOL
No more from me about him.
Y’all diet Pep fanboys man up!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1346282865005375490
Sid
Looks like Willy Saliba doing the spanking there.
If we are to get incomings it will totally be in high time. Its just the Arsenal way.
The original argument was no 19 year old comes into the PL and plays straight away let alone for a top four contender. I remember it well because that was my line based on factual data and given to stick up for Arteta when he was getting pelted. Then we saw supposedly less talented Saliba’s former partner Fofana inserted out of necessity into Leicester’s back line and flourish, and all of a sudden the new line has become maybe every scout had it wrong and Fofana was the better one. Yea, maybe. Maybe the whole country had their future CB’s… Read more »
Enquiries were made about Buendia in the summer – the Norwich asking price was £22M. AFC did not make contact again. It is doubtful Norwich will sell him now as Buendia is an essential ingredient for the push for promotion and whats more he is teaching Ed how to do the Argentine Tango.
The Fat Cat is an excellent pub.
Mark
Please continue to be critical. This is the only way our club can progress. There are a few posters who act like Lemmings, believing that the coach is always right. Imagine that if the fans not keep pushing to play ESR, Arteta would still playing his old favorites.
“I don’t agree with the treatment of Saliba and its been a wasted few months when he could have been out on loan but people in the media aren’t on the training ground everyday. If Saliba was the new Van Dijk and ready to play I have no doubt he would be in the team” ————- JP, not sure this is such a great example considering the 24 year old VVD was looked at by Arsenal and passed over at £13m despite being recommended heavily by our man in Scotland. Southampton jumped in and a couple seasons later made themself… Read more »
Buendia…not happening! No way Norwich sell in the middle of a realistic promotion fight when they are not strapped for cash after selling Ben Godfrey and Jamal Lewis.
Thoughts on Atalanta’s Alejandro Gomez on loan for the 2nd half of the season? He’s had a falling out with the Coach and currently frozen out of the squad. I am concerned about his diminutive size adjusting to EPL physicality but sure love his football brain. Low risk loan in my view as an experienced alternative to ESR
Buendia might want a move. I mean come on… he is 24- no spring chicken anymore. The chance to play for a top club in EPL- not relegation fodder? And get a pay raise? Forget this nonsense about Norwich- its the player who might want a move as well. Its likely he gets sold in the summer anyhow, but Norwich might even make more money selling him in Jan, versus the summer. Chances are they stay up, for promotion with half a season left. If we give them Eddie or Nelson, Willock, that should be enough for them. Buen has… Read more »
Tom
My point was more that I don’t think there is a great conspiracy to why Saliba isn’t playing.
Not getting Van Dijk was a big miss but he was something of a late developer. He was passed over by the big clubs in Holland before Celtic and then every big club in Europe missed him when he went to Southampton.
The next Nice game will have a record number of British people watching a French game.
“Buendia…not happening! ”
Nobody has a clue what going to happen in this window.
I hate Green BayJanuary 5, 2021 18:09:40
Marquee Moon, sick avi.
JP
I think I got your point.
A conspiracy would require a malicious intention……..where more obvious scenario is one of simple lack of good judgment.
Not sure why other big clubs missed out on VVD but also I’m not aware he was being personally recommended to them as he was to Arsenal.
Arsenal ignored every one of his attributes like world class speed, aerial prowess, great technique and passing ability, but instead concentrated on his “lackadaisical” style of play.
We got Mustafi instead.
Say what you will about Mustafi, lackadaisical he is not.
Guns
“about Norwich- its the player who might want a move as well. Its likely he gets sold in the summer anyhow, but Norwich might even make more money selling him in Jan, versus the summer.”
Exactly, plus the loan players help ease the loss ( theoretically. 😁) Plus they put the cash towards a couple of replacements or one good one in the summer.
Unless Norwich are seriously cash strapped why would they want to sell a star player in a middle of the title race?
Losing Buendia now would mean having to find a replacement for 30% of all teams assists and 24% goals he’s provided for them.
Makes no sense when his price will only go up once they are in the PL again.
Losing Buendia now would mean having to find a replacement for 30% of all teams assists and 24% goals he’s provided for them.
How many goals and assists would Nelson and Willock get them?
The Holy Grail for Championship football clubs is the EPL. Currently Norwich are in a strong position for an immediate return.
Buendia is their ‘golden ticket’. What is promotion worth to Norwich? Would they achieve promotion if they sold their star player half way through the season? They could sell to AFC but after the season has finished. His value would depend on whether they are promoted or not.
All this talk about Saliba is pretty ridiculous. As far as I’m aware, the only poster here that has sources at all levels of the hierarchy at Arsenal is Valentin, so unless you got your news from him, you know as much about what is happening at our club as I do. The rest is rumours and assumptions
whether we can get buendia or not I wouldn’t go for brandt.
He has been at dortmund only for six months and they want to sell him for only 20 million (he cost 22.5m) in January seems like they are desperate to get rid of him… that’s a pretty worrying sign
apparently he has no pace and isn’t a very robust player…
got to be better options out there