We’re now in the territory of ITKness where people are trying to land the wins with, ‘MEDICAL PASSED’ or ‘MARTIN SHARED A GUMMI BEAR WITH THE FRONT DESK.’ Whatever is going on, it seems very much like the deal is close and Edu will have a deal he can parade as ‘one in, one out.’
This is a fantastic piece of business, hopefully the player settles well, and we see him with us next season.
There’s more good news on the horizon, despite claims to the contrary, it now seems like Mustafi is asking for a contract termination like his three Bundesliga buddies Mikhi, Ozil, and Sokratis managed to land. Again, this would be superb news. He’s not exactly easy to deal with and it’ll be great to move on another player that has had an Arsenal career of absolute MEH.
The squad would still have some deadweight and no doubt we could still do with loaning out some of the younger players, but overall, you’d have to celebrate the window. If we could find a back-up left-back, that’d really make me feel good about how we tackle the backend of the season.
Southampton is going to be a massive, massive test for Arsenal. Can the players that were rested against a strong FA Cup side at the weekend show us the way forward with another impressive display? Let’s hope so. Dropping Willian, Elneny, Pepe, and Eddie will give us a more potent flavour going forward and a different energy. Hopefully we can start the ball moving at speed and really get at a side that weren’t exactly scary on Saturday.
Both games are part of a Top 4 doubleheader. We have to win both to be considered competitive. United on Sunday is going to be huge to their title fight and our PR story. 6 points would really give us a sexy feeling. It’d also truncate the Premier League further.
We’ve seen the first major casualty of the season. Frank Lampard was given the boot over at Chelsea. They hired in a young manager and held him to world-class manager standards. They can afford to do that because they have big finances (£110m on exiting managers). Arsenal wouldn’t have been able to foot the bill for Arteta and we certainly wouldn’t have had the replacement fund to lure someone as good as Thomas Tuchel. The league run just became a lot harder.
Right, tick-tock Arsenal.com, where’s our new signing?
1
2
3
Yaaay
Boom!
T4rphy
You have got to be kidding me… two days in a row I get beat to Tro4hy by a couple of seconds because of the stupid “you’re posting your comments too quickly” bollocks. Arghh… Alright, I’ll get it next time. As long as Pedro doesn’t start posting again at 4am my time.
Really excited to finally have a Norwegian at Arsenal!
Upstate
Shouldn’t you be doing code review or retros?
“Southampton is going to be a massive, massive test for Arsenal.”
How the mighty have fallen…
azed
“Upstate, Shouldn’t you be doing code review or retros?”
Not sure I follow you, azed… what’s this in reference to?
Upstate
I’m trying to get top 4, need to eliminate the competition. You are the only constant person in top 4 for now.
I’ve tried googling it to no avail. Can someone please explain what ITK (Ness) means please?
Kroenke.. In the Knowness…. People who claim to have insider info on innerworkings of Arsenal..
Mid
Sounds like a bowel disorder… in the Knowness.
If the rumour of Mustafi’s departure happens no doubt there will be some telling us how badly the Club treated him. Ah,well.
Truth to tell, Mustafi tried his best, so I wish him well wherever he may rest.
ITK = In The Know.
As an example Emirates Stroller has a habit of mentioning how he had a chat with Ken Friar, or recently when he claimed that a coach at the club told him our main target this summer is Auoar. Usually 99% of ITK’s are BS merchants so it’s often used as an insult.
Midwest and Andy, thanks.
Mustafi is the guy that 99% of the time is quite good but it’s that 1% that fucks you. A bit like putting a guy with epilepsy in charge of your stock of hand grenades. Sooner or later it’s BOOM!!!
Who do we thinks locked in the basement, Marko or Champagne Charlie?
Feel for Lampard. Arteta very very lucky he survived. Any other big club would’ve gotten rid.
Hope we can win tomorrow!
Have to think if supporters were in the ground the managerial merry go round would of spun with more frequence.
azed
“Upstate, I’m trying to get top 4, need to eliminate the competition. You are the only constant person in top 4 for now.”
LOL. Gotcha… I actually am a software person but didn’t think I ever mentioned it on this blog so was wondering how you came about a code review 🙂 .
“Who do we thinks locked in the basement, Marko or Champagne Charlie?”
Sal asking the important questions.
Who do we thinks locked in the basement, Marko or Champagne Charlie?
I can’t see CC locked up… Marko on the other hand… seems like he would enjoy a good bender… where you can’t remember how you woke up in a Mexican prison with a tattoo of a flower on your neck. Or in somebodies basement hooked up to a car battery.
Not that I would have any knowledge of that.. Insider sources tell me that it isn’t good.
Sean “Feel for Lampard. Arteta very very lucky he survived. Any other big club would’ve gotten rid.” Arteta is a lucky boy indeed. I think the win against Chelsea saved his sorry arse. Which brings me to my next point… I don’t feel for Lampard at all. I don’t feel for any of them, really. They (coaches/managers) know very well what they are getting themselves into. And it’s not like they are getting peanuts. They all make millions of dollars, and get a very nice settlement each time they get canned. Can’t believe guys like Steve Bruce or Sam Allardyce… Read more »
Jamie
Genuine concern that Darin_o ‘s infiltrated.
Sal –
Dwayneford’s disguises are amateur level at best. So easily rumbled.
I’m not gonna lie, I miss the CC and Marko banter though. Some funny shit.
“Who do we thinks locked in the basement, Marko or Champagne Charlie?”
Don’t know but it’s not CC, if that helps.
I think we CAN afford to sack Arteta.
It would cost us about £12 million if his salary (until june 2023?) is 5M per year.
That said, if we win against United, he can stay until the season ends as far as I’m concerned.
Arteta can consider himself lucky but I think it’s fair to say that the next slump will be the end for him unless there’s significant success before then.
“Arteta can consider himself lucky but I think it’s fair to say that the next slump will be the end for him unless there’s significant success before then.”
I don’t see us getting top 6, never mind top 4. I also don’t see us winning Europa League and that’s pretty much the only thing that can save Arteta’s ass so I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets das boot at the end of the season.
BojanglesiJanuary 25, 2021 19:28:35
“Who do we thinks locked in the basement, Marko or Champagne Charlie?”Don’t know but it’s not CC, if that helps.
That explains that.. full reboot eh.
How you feeling about Ødegaard loan spell?
Ø Stealing that Ø
Thanks Sal.
Hertha Berlin’s manager Bruno Labbadia has been sacked. Probably won’t affect Guendouzi’s playing time.
Sal
Seems a no brainer to me. We had to get cover for ESR and Ødegaarde seems a quality player at little cost to us. Only concern is the kid’s injury history.
Ø
Yep… Sal is the ØG for the Ø… I have stolen it.. copyright royalty check is in the mail.
Just imagine if Roman had taken over our club in 2008.
Where would we be?
Wenger would have gone within a year.
Pep or Klopp would have been hired.
Our board would have been hung, drawn and quartered.
Maybe we would have won a PL or two and even the occasional European Trophy.
Wasn’t that the plan after leaving Highbury? Progress.
Of course, I forgot, we have values.
Graham
He didn’t.
“If the rumour of Mustafi’s departure happens no doubt there will be some telling us how badly the Club treated him. Ah,well.” Mustafi, in his totality, was and remains a marginal footballer. He has little awareness of his surroundings and truthfully benefits from playing with better defensive players and is not a a lead by example type of player. He never did truly recover from his slow and clumsy start, only showing flashes of competence when paired with a competent partner. What could have been? Don’t know because he never impressed long enough to be remembered as anything other than… Read more »
Norwegian Gooner – The only other player from your country that comes to mind is Pal Lydersen who I think signed for us in the early 90s. He never really got much of a go and it later transpired that he was signed for an inflated fee primarily as a means of ensuring GG got a kickback from the deal. I think he had the makings of a decent FB/CB/DM but George had a number of other rather good(!) defenders queuing up in front of him (TA, Bouldy, Keown, Linighan etc.). Anyway, I wanted to ask your opinion about how… Read more »
If Chelsea ownership really performed their due diligence on Lampard, his time with Derby County would have told you all you would ever care to know – Lampard cant get to the finish line.
Bojanglesi
My only concern regarding Ødegaard 1Ø is I already miss him.
Regarding Mustafi, rumour rolling around that Klopp nearly took up Sokratis as cover but has opted for Mustafi on longer contract. Make of that what you will.
“Wenger would have gone within a year.
Pep or Klopp would have been hired.”
Under Roman that second part would have read – Pep or Klopp hired and fired within two years.
Cmon Wycombe do it for the world.
Upstate
You once mentioned you were a software engineer…
“According to The Athletic, Emery spoke to Ozil in private and challenged Ozil to produce the level he did against the Foxes on a more consistent basis.
He also warned him not to get too carried away by the fact he’d played well in one game, which reportedly didn’t go down too well with Ozil.”
Emery being Emery. Özil being Özil.
Sal
Yeah, I get that. There is talk of RM being open to discussing Ødegaard’s future with us come the end of season. Nothing in writing though. Gentlemen’s agreements mean jack shit in football.
If Odegaard performs well, Real will take him back. If he doesn’t, we won’t take him.
I don’t see any long term benefit to this deal unless he’s spectacular and helps us to win Europa…
‘If Odegaard performs well, Real will take him back. If he doesn’t, we won’t take him.’
Not necessarily true.
One is competing for Leagues and Champions League titles, the other is competing to finish in a European spot in the league. Massive gulf in expectations and standards so a player that is valuable to us likely wouldn’t even make Real Madrid’s XI.
Not a single current Arsenal player would get a game for Real Madrid. Doesn’t mean that the likes of Saka, Aubameyang, ESR, Tierney and Partey aren’t important players for Arsenal, does it?
I told myself I would never mention the Ö word again in here once he officially leaves the club and the day he leaves I drop a quote about him. I’m sure if Pierre reads my previous post it may well start another Özilfest in here. My apologies in advance.
This is wishful thinking but summer sales: Pepe – £25-30M. Still only 25 yrs old Torriera – £25-30M. Still only 24 yrs old AMN – £15-20M. 23 yrs old. Manager refuses to play him so why not sell? Would like to see if we can pump his value to maybe £30M but it ain’t happening under MA. Guendouzi – £25-30M. 21 yrs old. highly doubt MA ever brings him back into fold. Eddie Nketiah- £15-20M. 21 yrs old. Could be knocking on £100M raised here. Paves the way for the next batch of academy players (Miguel Azeez, Balagun). Lot of… Read more »
Kroebkephobe Yeah, Lydersen is the only Norwegian that’s played for Arsenal. Martin Ødegaard is a completely different kettle of fish. He made his debut for Stromsgodset at 15 years of age and instantly dominated the league. Before that he dominated in the second division (third tier) at 14(!). His main skill (much like Mesut) is his vision, but he also possesses good ball-carrying skills, good dribbling and he has developed his dead-ball and shooting skills massively while on loan in Holland and at Sociedad. Positionally I think he’s very good due to his footballing brain, and he has played different… Read more »
Nice one. Thanks.
NG
Nice to have a resident Norwegian on here that can give us more scope on Odegaard.
Is Hauge not really highly rated too? Looked pretty sensational in glimpses for Milan already.
We still seem interested in the young Palace left back Tyrick Williams. Only has six months left on his contract. Apparently he wants to go to a top 6 side. Maybe he’d be happy here as Tierney’s understudy.
Zfree
Add Calum Chambers to that list, another 20 million
Someone needs to let Mikel know it’s okay to let players leave
WengerEagle Hauge came out of nowhere, unlike Odegaard who everyone knew about from an early age. He has taken everyone by surprise along with some of his former team mates from Bodø Glimt. Not long ago he was an unused sub for Aalesund (second tier), so his journey sure is a remarkable one. His performance in the Europa League against Milan instantly earned him a move there. Lots of good players coming out of Norway at the moment, and many of them are gettable for reasonable fees compared to other nationalities (apart from Ødegaard and Haaland). What’s your take on… Read more »
There’s no way Tuchel improves Chelsea
He’s a fickle and petty character who’s going to piss off everyone at that club in 6 months.
Wenger eagle
“What’s your take on Sander Berge?”
Remember 🙂
Sandy Berge is one of the most under-rated players in the league. He is like Robertson at Hull city, no one saw him because Hull city were so poor.
Would i prefer to watch Lampard football or Arteta football…..
Was lampard brave or stupid to want to play open expansive football
He did spend money, he probably brought too many players in too soon, very difficult to intergrate so many players when a club doesn’t give you time.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind watching a bit of Lampard’s football at Arsenal although we have shown a few glimpses with the arrival of Smith Rowe ..
Dissenter
In my opinion Berge would be a relatively cheap but massive upgrade on both Xhaka(waster) and Elneny(not at the level).
Physically he’s a beast, he’s good on the ball and surprisingly fast. He could also work well in a double pivot or as any of the three in a three-man midfield.
NG There’s also George Lewis in our youth ranks at the moment. I haven’t seen masses of Berge but I think he made at positive difference at SU last season. Looks like a big physical presence and a tidy technical player but maybe a bit slow on the turn and not the most adventurous passer, but it might be a different story in a more attacking team. It’ll be interesting to see what he’ll do if – as seems very likely – the blades are relegated.
Enjoying having some Norwegian expertise in here today!
Nice info Norwegian G, excited by this one.
Keep on rocking it with Le Grove great insight.
Lamps was doomed from the start. The expectations were pretty high after spending a boat load of money. He did alright for a bit especially after benching Kepa for new keeper but then got a bit cocky and started overcomplicating things. He also lost arguably two of his most creative players in Pulisic and Zyech to injuries, and was left with Havertz and Werner who have yet to adapt to this league. Either way, he was still doing better than our bum, and if anything, I’d give him more time just because he was a LEGEND of his club in… Read more »
Kroenkephope
Completely forgot about Lewis as he’s never been mentioned in Norway before Arsenal suddenly showed interest. Hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think he’ll ever make it at top level. Can’t remember who it was that said that buying players like Lewis is part of a non-risk but potentially high reward youth strategy at Arsenal. A bit of “moneyball”?
Apart from that he’s struggled to get game time in Norway’s third tier and that he possesses electric pace, I really don’t know much about him.
I was going to add my two cents to this whole “Norwegian” discussion and say that Michael Laudrup was some footballer back in the day only to think twice and a second later realize that he was Danish. 🙂
Pedro
Salparadisenyc
Nice to feel like somewhat of an expert for a couple of hours!
Upstate Gooner
There’s a huge difference between us and the Danes 😉
NG
LOL… I know. I’m actually not so bad at geography (Soviet schools were much better in that respect than here in US as I see what/how my kids are studying). For some reason though I thought Laudrup was from Norway… and then I’m like, no he’s Swedish. And then it dawned on me that he’s a Dane, just like Eriksen.
NorwegianGooner
Can’t say I have seen too much of him for Sheffield, Has a good physical profile and seems relatively mobile for his height. Can play a bit but hasn’t stood out to me yet.
Off topic but by chance have just been watching Lilyhammer for the first time recently, you a fan?
Didn’t we use to have a Norwegian defender came through our academy that moved to Germany???? Played few LC for us?
Upstate Gooner
Common mistake, mate – were essentially the same, and we actually understand each other’s languages due to Norway being under Danish rule way back.
Traditionally they’ve produced the better football players, and their national team has been more successful than ours. That’s finally about to change with the amount of talent coming out of Norway.
Håvard Nordtveit Googled his name lol.
Upstate G,
No Danes please.
Arsenal is exclusively reserved for Norwegians and Swedes.
(Glad the Eriksen talk was only talk)
WengerEagle
I reckon he’s got the potential to be a force in the Premier League for a better team than Sheffield United, but I agree, he is a bit slow on the turn. Most of the time he makes up for that by being massive and shielding the ball really well.
Watched it a few years back, and I enjoyed it!
Norwegian gooner
I remember recommending Sandy Berge to Wenger eagle
Like you said, he’s better than anyone in our midfielder bar Partey.
Stupendously athletic and fast. He’s like 6′ 4′- a beast of a man who heads the ball like John Carew.
Time Up
Håvard Nordtveit. Did he ever make his debut for the first team, though? Can’t remember.
Dissenter
Definitely a gettable player for us as SU are going down hard. Willock + a few pounds would be a good deal?
Ornstein Lampard article full of sauce, Ralf Rangnick was offered interim job last week for four months but turned it down, Naglessman deal didn’t happen and they landed on Tuchel.
Apparently Frank and Marina Granovskaia DID not get on.
We must win the game at Southampton after throwing away the FA cup, any other result and the fans would go crazy.
I think it would be 0/0 just like the place game, we would be looking for a goal and we would run out of ideas. The good thing, we won’t see Elneny, Eddie, Willian and Pepe.
I have never seen Odegaard’s game. What strikes me is his goal production almost matches his assist number. If he could score from outside the box, that’s something Arsenal has been missing.
I expect Arteta will rotate him with ESR for the #10 spot.
“åvard Nordtveit. Did he ever make his debut for the first team, though? Can’t remember.“
No, he didn’t, I thought he played for us in the LC, but I found out he was unused sub. Loved watching him in our great under 21 side.
NorwegianGooner
Berge did cost Sheffield a pretty penny, about 22 million along with a sell-on clause.
He won’t be a cheap acquisition for us.
He’s looks like a specimen auditioning for the new robo cop movie. He still has lots of rrom to improve but his ceiling is high.
I think he’s going to end up at Liverpool to replace Wijnaldum, Klopp is reported to be an admirer.
Time Up
That was a fun side to watch! He went on to have a decent career and has often featured for the national team.
Sal
‘Apparently Frank and Marina Granovskaia DID not get on.”
You have to get on with Marina.
Anyone that can get Madrid to pay about 160 million euros for Eden Hazard should not be messed with. She reportedly got about 100-110 million is is in cash upfront.
Absolute beast of a negotiator.
Some serious talent in Sweden too with Kulusevski and Isak.
Scandinavian countries have always been a hotbed for producing talent in Europe, some of the very best ever in Laudrup, Larsson, Ibrahimovic and now Haaland.
Hazard has only 12 months left on his contract and still Marina picked Real Madrid’s pocket.
Dissenter
I think he would be gettable for around 20 million. Relegation, serious injury and the Corona-market taken into consideration? That’s the profile of players I’d like us to pursue going forward.
Whether there’s a buy-out clause in his contract or not I do not know.
Don’t understand the whole left back thing.
We let Kolasinac go and while he was ordinary, I doubt he’d be much worse than whoever it is we now bring in on a short term basis due to a ‘lack of cover’.
Very strange.
NorwegianGooner It’s very good, funnier than I thought it would be. Well worth a watch to anyone that needs a new show. I loved Sopranos so that’s what drew me to it, literally is Silvio Dante a fish out of water over in the back arse end of Norway making ends meet, yes please. May as well be an official spin-off. And sorry no can do mate, I am fully aboard the Anguissa hype train for Partey’s new CM partner. Me and Sal both, it’s a movement we’re building on here if you’d like to take part? Placards and all… Read more »
John Carew was my nightmare Norwegian after the 2001 CL quarter final. Norway owes us…lol.
It’s weird because between Cedric, AMN and Saka we literally have 3 players that can fill in for Tierney in a pinch.
I’d rather we waited till the summer to get a better deal for a LB as well as selling AMN I hope. Still cannot believe that we turned down 20m for him in the summer only for us not to even use him.
Carew loved a goal against us, before Drogba and Rooney made it fashionable.
Bastard knocked us out of Europe twice.
Flo Rida looking motherfucker.
WengerEagle
Silvio Dante! He’s just one of those people that makes me laugh without even trying.
I really like Anguissa. Not as brutal as Berge, but great physical presence nonetheless! He’s been exceptional a couple of games this season and probably a bit more of an adventurous player. Could easily see him and Partey dominate any midfield.
Indeed I wanna see this come 21-21
_________PEA/Gab_________
Oyarzabal_____________Saka
________ESR/Ø1Ø__________
___Anguissa____Partey____
Left footed flanks crushing.
The left back thing was sleight-of-hand from Arteta. We don’t need one, there are loads of players who can fill in.
He got the two he wanted, a GK and a midfielder.
Andy1886
Carew was a beast, and of course he just had to score against us. Traditionally the worst kind of striker for us to face.
He could have had much more success, but admitted himself that he loved life way too much to put in the work. Raw natural talent and a rare physical specimen.
NG
Where you based in Norway?