TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY: HOW THE SEASON SHAPES FROM HERE

by .

Well, the weekend was very interesting.

Spurs lost. Leicester lost. UNITED DROPPED POINTS LOLOLOL. Everton lost.

Project #Top4 Hope continues, even if unlikely.

What has been interesting is reading a whole number of Arsenal fans trying to reframe the last 5 weeks to keep up the pretense that actually, they were right.

Here’s some things we need to deal with.

The Squad

Arteta stumbling on ESR as a creative solution isn’t a problem. In the apocalypse, if you stored canned fruit, no one would say… ‘fuck that guy and his peaches, that was luck.’ Arteta and his backroom staff massively rated ESR, they kept him around when they could have loaned him, so ‘stumbling’ on him is a bit like calling the canned fruit guy a wanker for being well prepared.

Reacting Under Pressure

I’m also seeing a lot of ‘he caved under pressure’ with the kids. Well, sure, he changed tact. But when you cave, you generally don’t do something more risky. Going with youth was always the right thing to do, but let’s not pretend that was easy option. The easy option would have been to bring Mesut back into the mixer. To whine in the press about a lack of talent. To stick with experience. Going with the kids was balls out, especially against Chelsea. Dropping Willian and Luiz was a big move. It worked, thankfully.

Also, we live in this weird world where people think changing strategy is a sign of weakness. NO. Pivoting in the face of new information is the adult thing to do. ‘haha, you changed to get to the right solution’ in any real-world situation would not be something that you’d say… because people would call you a fucking moron.

He was close to the sack

Here’s the big one, ‘he only did it because he was nearing the sack.’ Actually, he wasn’t. Not at any point. Arsenal didn’t flinch. They told the world he was part of the longterm plan. They held their ground. This seemed to have worked.

Chelsea is called elite because they fire loads of managers. I think this is an incorrect assessment. Sacking people isn’t elite, it’s a luxury. Players at that club have a direct line into leadership. When things go south, they whine, they’re listened to, they normally get their way.

We are thankfully not Chelsea. Vinai and Edu stuck to their guns and it paid off. The players found out the hard way that they couldn’t down tools on Arteta. The club shipped out the problem players. They totally backed the manager. This might have been because they didn’t have a plan. It could have been that they worried for their own careers if this decision went down the shitter, but whatever it was, so far, it looks smart.

Aston Villa didn’t fire Dean Smith after a narrow miss last season, that decision looks smart right now.

Southampton didn’t fire Ralph Hassenhutl last season, that looks really smart right now.

Brighton didn’t fire Graham Potter, again, it hasn’t fully paid off, but it looks pretty smart now.

That said, if Arteta had been fired, it would have been fair. You couldn’t have argued it. However, it might have set a Chelsea like precedent with the players.

So, moving on. It’s transfer deadline day. The club is in far better shape than it was. There’s a vision forming and the football is getting better.

Today, I really hope Ben Knapper pulls his finger out and moves on the players we need to move on.

The back half of the season is about preparation for next season, which will look a little more like normality.

Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson made a fuss about not leaving last summer. That ‘we’ll be good’ experiment failed dismally. Time to get some game time into their legs and get them firing. There can be no excuses for them staying. They aren’t going to play and we have no cup games for them.

AMN, a player I really like, needs to find a loan. If his beef with the club is that he wants to play as a midfielder, we need to find him a club that’ll give him midfield minutes. I think I’d prefer to see him at West Brom than Leicester or Southampton. He should go and play for Sam Allardyce and be a star. Keep them up.  Sharpen the concentration. Learn the lessons Serge G did in the midlands. Come back to Arsenal next season a more mature player.

Callum Chambers also needs minutes. He has a 43 year deal with Arsenal, so it’s important he gets back to full fitness. The path is blocked at Arsenal. I think he could be really useful for us and apparently he’s a bit of a gem at the training ground. Get him to a club and develop him. He was doing great things before that horrendous injury.

Then we need to move on Mustafi. Get him out. He’s played 43 minutes for us in the Premier League this season, give him no more. It’s so sad to see a 28-year-old see out his deal for the money. What a waster.

Players in

Unless it’s more loans, I really don’t see the point in spunking money on 30-year-olds. We have cover in most positions. Go with it. No more deals for players fading physically.

New deals

I really, really can’t stand listening to Arteta pump David Luiz the way he does. His one true weakness is a men in their thirties. He CANNOT possibly be considering a new deal for a player that was all over the place earlier in the season. You ‘hope’ it’s just fluff talk to get us to the end of the season, but we’ve seen him double down on his love once before, so who knows. That temptation should be killed.

Same with Lacazette as well. I love what the player has given us, but it’s time for the next plan. We need to be thinking about fresh blood. We have to ship him out.

Summer transfers

The hope is that we’ll make some cash this summer. Covid vaccines are rolling out, which is superb. That’ll mean fans will be back in the ground. That should awaken the markets. Matteo G will fetch a pretty penny, the Fail-Enders who don’t cut it will bring in good fee, and Torreira will have plenty of suiters. If we can rake in £70m, that’ll give us what we need for a world class centre midfielder and the loan fee for Odegaard for next season.

The remainder of this season is low pressure. Rack up points for a speculative run at top 4 (8 points to 4th now). Try and win the Europa League. See how the team handles the next blip that’ll arrive.

All eyes are on next season though… we need to see the project come together for a full 9 months. Fingers crossed, we’re shaping up nicely.

P.S. We dropped an ON THE WHISTLE with Johnny (check out his Youtube), Dom, and Matt. It is a GOOD conversation. Tune in.

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DM

Morning

DM

2

DM

3

DM

Tr4phy

Jamie

Hi Dm

Jamie

DM*

MLC

Morning

MLC

4th?

DM

Pedro

“‘stumbling’ on him is a bit like calling the canned fruit guy a wanker for being well prepared.”

This is a little disingenuous, and misrepresents the argument. A truer analogy would be calling the canned fruit guy a wanker for waiting until half his family had starved to death before bringing out his supplies…

DM

Morning Jamie

azed

Reiss Nelson is done at the club. He plays in the same position as current player of the season, our most expensive signing and the teacher’s pet plus he can’t stay fit to find a rhythm.

It’s time to move him for good.

Rich

Nelson has just turned 21

He definitely needs a loan, but we shouldn’t be writing him off.

The same could have been said of Smith-Rowe over the previous 12 months before the Chelsea game..

Regular injuries, can’t find any rhythm, can’t make the match day squad

Football can change very quickly, young players progress at different rates

It wouldn’t surprise me if Nelson turned out to be another Gnabry

grooveydaddy

ESR was out with a shoulder injury until late October. On his return from injury, he played in 3 under 23 games and 1 EFL trophy game. Then he featured in our last 3 Europa group stage games, 1 start + twice off the bench (late Nov-mid Dec) He was an unused sub in the Burnley game (2 weeks before Chelsea), and again in the Everton game (a week before Chelsea) before finally getting his start against Chelsea. If looks to me like Arteta brought him in at the right time, or thereabouts… Of course it could be argued that… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Earlier today there was discussion about the progression of home grown talent under Arteta. Leedsgunner suggested that it was Wenger and Emery who had promoted these players. As Pedro suggested giving players a chance is not the same as improving their performance. I pointed out that Arsenal have currently 6 players in the squad aged 19-21 and that once a player reaches the upper threshold you can make a decision whether they are likely to make the grade. It is clear to me that Saka, Smith-Rowe and Martinelli are good enough to start in games even against the best teams.… Read more »

La croqueta

The

Double Double

I will always think of anyone organised as a ‘canned fruit wanker” now

La croqueta

“They totally backed the manager” – pedro

Huge statement. Absolutely throwing all the eggs in the basket here. From this point. Whatever happens. it’s on the manager.
Because, you know.. Emery WASN’T backed.

Rich

Pedro I disagree about moving players on this summer The whole football world is flat on its back, we’re going to see huge deflation in fees and wages Arsenal have again failed to read the market We kept powder dry as transfer fees and wages were rapidly rising We invested at the topic the market Then…. Committed to Willian for 3 years Gave Aubameyang a mega 3 year deal, when we already had the option for an extra 12 months Paid Partey a reported 5 x his Atletico salary, when we know Atletico are completely skint During a global pandemic,… Read more »

Kroenkephobe

Pedro, I’m starting to understand the way you use this site to set a provocative drumbeat. The para about Maitland, inter alia, is complete bollocks and designed to nudge readers into firing off intemperate replies leading to more to and fro, name calling and anger thus boosting hits on the site. You’re a “journalist” for the 21st. century, that’s for sure. Thank christ you’re not Maitland’s agent. His best interests are not going to be realised at WBA and you know it. He’ll learn nothing from that corrupt fat oaf Allardyce. His game will deteriorate and he’d be utterly miserable… Read more »

Rich

Doesn’t sound promising on Tierney, Saka, Aubameyang for Wolves Lacazette might be ok, but they need to follow protocols…. We really need the squad to step up After dropping two points against United, we need 6/6 from Wolves + Villa ………..,,….Leno …….Holding Gabriel Bellerin…………Soares …..Ceballos Xhaka Willian Odegaard Pepe …….,,,,..Nketiah If we’re seriously considering letting Niles leave? We surely have to get a left back from somewhere? Unless we’ve got a youngster ready to breakthrough? At centre half we can only really let go of either Mustafi or Chambers, numerically we can’t afford to let both leave, without an incoming… Read more »

Kroenkephobe

Sorry, a bit scatological there. Think I need a tin of prunes and a few minutes in the khazi…

Ustyno

Pedro If Arteta had plans for ESR and that’s why he kept him from going on loan so what was he waiting for when he knew the team needed creativity and he had plans for him,we couldn’t even create anything for games yet he had plans for ESR,I’m struggling to understand that line of reasoning We know you have a man love for Arteta but please stop this line of narrative before you gradually slide into untold levels I admire Arteta because the job he took with his relative experience was very big but he is gradually getting the pieces… Read more »

englandsbest

Nice one, Pedro. Maybe it will put some iron in the spine of the wailers, maybe it will straighten them up. I doubt it, though, they enjoy being miserable. Not admitting you are wrong when you’re wrong is Trumpian. Understandable perhaps in populist politicians looking for votes. But we are all anonymous on here. So where’s the harm in saying, ‘Yes, I was wrong.”? On Luiz, I suspect that Arteta sees him as his man in the dressing-room, a kind of elder stateman. My hunch is that the excitement will come in the Europa . I may be wrong, but… Read more »

Bergkamp63

Emirates,

Can’t disagree with any of that at all,

Well said Sir !

Terraloon

Sorry Pedro but your two paragraphs below are perhaps the two most naive paragraphs I think I have read from you. “Chelsea asinine called elite because they fire loads of managers. I think this is an incorrect assessment. Sacking people isn’t elite, it’s a luxury. Players at that club have a direct line into leadership. When things go south, they whine, they’re listened to, they normally get their way. We are thankfully not Chelsea. Vinai and Edu stuck to their guns and it paid off. The players found out the hard way that they couldn’t down tools on Arteta. The… Read more »

Ben D

@Rich, You really don’t think Partey should be in the team for Wolves? Why, because of a sub-par performance against Man U?

Thank God you are not the one making player selection decisions for the club. Fickle as a fiddle?

Nelson

Didn’t Arteta’s priority during last TW was Houssem Aouar. It was Edu who decided to spend the money on Partey. We then signed Willian hoping that he can play the ACM role. We also tried Willock and Laca multiple times in the ACM role. I agree with what DM said.

Rich

Ben D

Don’t jump to conclusions

I’m concerned about a player who’s struggled with injuries, being asked to start 3 games in 8 days

Saturday was the first time he’d completed 90mins in months

We’re going to have to manage our squad

Graham62

“We are thankfully not Chelski”

Correct Pedro, we are not and hopefully, never will be.

What we are though, is a club that is lost up its own ass with values and beliefs that are more backward and counterproductive than any other club in world football. Until we move away from this way of thinking, we will continue to underperform.

You can look good and smell good but that doesn’t necessarily make you smart.

Arsenal haven’t been smart for far too long.

Samesong

On Maitland, I’d simply offer the opinion that he and the club would be fucking bonkers to rake a loan at WBA instead of Soton or Leicester for example.

Kroenke sorry if I’m too simplistic in my answer. He will play every game at West Brom. Sam will probably.play him in CM. Southampton and Leicester I am not sure.

Why strengthen Southampton when they are 2 points below us?

kjelli

I am sure Chambers will become vital if kept at the club, he can even fill in elnrny and Xhaka slot
if necessary.. at later stages of the season, when workload becomes overwhelming !! Start giving him game time and see how it pans out.

Captain Tierney

My ideal deadline day would be

– Loan out Joe, Reiss to teams where they’ll be starting week in week out. Doesn’t matter which country or league it is, as long as its decent.

– Loan out Amn only if we can find a decent LB cover. We cant be having Saka play at LB whatsoever. Also Amn shouldnt be going to Southampton or Leicester as they are our direct rivals this season and he probably wont be a starter.

Frost

“he can even fill in elnrny and Xhaka slot if necessary”

Ceballos?

Chambers is not getting game time if he stays here. We’re well stocked. Hell even Gabriel is struggling for game time now.

AFC Forever

Samesong That’s a fair point.. My own opinion is that AMN has had long enough to forge his way into the team over the years and he hasn’t done that. He thinks he is a CM but successive managers don’t agree. We can’t hoard players who aren’t good enough or be sentimental about them. Him going on loan doesn’t hurt us or him. As a home grown player he has added value to potential suitors & if he does well either his value escalates or a better player comes back to us. Win/win. I like the lad but perhaps his… Read more »

Shaun

Can someone explain how we have added both Ryan and Odegaard to our squad (both foreign players) yet we have only freed up one squad position with Kolasinac leaving. Sok, Ozil, saliba not in orig squad an Matt Mackey English.

Crabregas

I think AMN should go on loan to any team in the bottom 6, this means he should get a fair bit of game time but no be close enough to impact our position in the league. I would say the same for Nelson and Willock, although based on their performances for arsenal it may have to be in the championship or abroad. Hopefully the Nelson rumours with Villarreal are true and Unai can give him some minutes. I don’t either should/will be in our squad next season if they don’t go on loan, get minutes and perform relatively well.… Read more »

andy1886

“Chelsea is called elite because they fire loads of managers. I think this is an incorrect assessment. Sacking people isn’t elite, it’s a luxury. We are thankfully not Chelsea.” Chelsea titles in the last 5/6 years of firing managers = 2. Seems to work for them. Oh but oil money, blah, blah, blah… Pedro’s comment from yesterday’s post: “We are the 3rd highest net spenders in the league. Our wage bill sits at about 240m a year. Wes till found 40m cash for Thomas Partey without Champions League. We signed Auba to a massive deal during a pandemic.” (FYI the… Read more »

Crabregas

@shaun

I think I saw some people mention that we will have to drop someone from the squad list to allow for Ryan and Odegaard, possibly looking like Mustafi

Vintage Gun

Been hearing that AMN has been reiterating his “I’m a CM or Winger Guv” again over the last month or so and the Crystal Palace horror show at RB wouldn’t have done anything to help him think differently.

If that is the case then he’ll have to move on in his pursuit of happiness

WengerEagle

No chance at all that Nelson turns out to be another Gnabry. We could all see the talent that Gnabry had in that little spell he had in the team in 2013/14. He man-handled a good Spurs team in the FA Cup and put in a MOTM performance. Nelson whenever he has gotten the chance outside of EL pub teams has looked ponderous, lightweight, remarkably slow and clumsy for a supposedly speedy winger and overall just not up to this level at all. We should take what we can get for him in the summer. Same goes for Eddie. Willock… Read more »

Sid

Diet Pep is waiting on Tierneys injury to decide if AMN stays or not
Canned fruit might come in handy
You heard it here 1st!

WengerEagle

AMN is a good squad player to have because of his versatility.

Can’t see him being happy to stay any longer but keeping him around wouldn’t be a bad thing. A 20m offer and you would be tempted to take the money having said that.

Rich

Nelson was voted the best player in the under 23s league at the age of 17/18 He’s shown in his early spell at Hoffenheim that he can produce real moments of quality He’s just turned 21, there’s plenty of time for him to mature Saying “No chance at all” Is frankly ridiculous Many coaches considered Nelson to be a similar level of talent to Sancho He’s just starting out in his career, he’s not even picked up 50 appearances Circumstances might mean he goes elsewhere to pick up experience first, but nobody knows how he’ll mature and develop over the… Read more »

WengerEagle

Rich Fabio Paim was heralded as a bigger talent than Ricardo Quaresma in the Sporting Lisbon academy as a 16 year old. And Quaresma was heralded as a bigger talent than Cristiano Ronaldo. Another case in point, Ravel Morrison. Shat on Paul Pogba in terms of talent supposedly. Spending his best years riding the bench of Championship/Mexican teams. Putting Sancho even in the same sentence as Nelson is insulting. Nobody cares who was rated higher 3-4 years ago. Remember Fran Merida was rated as highly as Cesc as a teenager? Or Gedion Zelalem as a 16 year old? Nelson also… Read more »

Kroenkephobe

Samesong I think there’s a chance that he MAY get more time at WBA, but there are variables such as existing injuries within receiving clubs. And quality v quantity of time is a factor. Gnabry had a terrible time there albeit under an equally awful but different manager. It probably wasn’t THE reason he left AFC but I think it helped Serge to realise that he needed a move away from Wengo. I’d rather Ralph or Rogers were pouring their football knowledge into Maitland’s head than fat Sam. Maitland’s not short on technique nor physical prowess. What he needs is… Read more »

Vintage Gun

Nelson seem to have a lack of self belief and confidence to me. The kid has talent but that has to be transmitted on match days through performances.

I’d personally loan him out and make a final decision when he’s 22. Unless we receive an offer north of £20m

Samir

Apparently Mustafi off to Schalke to replace Kabak (going to Liverpool).

Joe Willock to Newcastle (hopefully).

This may end up being a great window.
Lets get van Aanholt in now. Bissouma in the summer along with a top top player. (Grealish please)

andy1886

Thought the same thing myself VG, lacks self-confidence. Had he been given the same number of chances Willian has had I think we would see a different player.

Crabregas

I imagine Nelson to be awesome in 5-a side but on the big pitch he just kind of gets lost a bit. Doesn’t appear to have a picture in his head before getting the ball. Especially compared to Saka and ESR

WengerEagle

ESR didn’t get a long extended run in the team to find his feet and look at the immediate impact he had. It’s one thing to have talent like Nelson does and another thing entirely to marry that talent with composure, intelligence, maturity and bullet-proof self-belief and desire that Saka, Martinelli and ESR have in spades. Nelson for now doesn’t make an impact in the PL so he doesn’t play. Can he develop those other essential characteristics at 21+ and go on to be a top level player? I don’t see it myself. And if he does eventually make it,… Read more »

Bergkamp63

Can’t see AMN going to Leicester without obligation to buy, that leaves Southampton & Newcastle, WBA out apparently according to Ornstein.

Rich

WengerEagle 18yr olds generally have limitations There’s nothing to say Nelson will progress But the idea that the biggest teenage talent in the country just a few years ago Has no chance Is respectfully absurd Look at the progress of Maddison, Grealish, Gnabry Pepe, a player many had written off, but there are now signs that he’s finding his feet, and getting the basics right Saka is the exception, not the rule Young players generally have a physical spurt in their development between the ages of 22-24 He might need a move elsewhere and to play regular football to get… Read more »

The Godfather

Anyone who wants Callumity Chambers in an Arsenal jersey is clearly a Totteringham fan. Are you serious?
He is another loser who would rather ride the bench than progress his career.
Move on son while you still have some value

WengerEagle

Bally

You miss the part where I praised Saka and ESR? Or just being deliberately thick like Pierre chooses to be.

Bergkamp63

Newcastle in for Willock

Marc

You take a month off the comments section and nothing changes! ” Vinai and Edu stuck to their guns and it paid off.” Er we’re 10th with 4 teams above us having 1 or 2 games in hand. To say not sacking Arteta (something the club was never unfortunately going to do) has paid off is beyond premature. If things paying off are us finishing 7th or 8th and missing any European football then I’d like to know why we bothered sacking either Wenger or Emery. Let’s see where we end up at the end of the season. As for… Read more »

AFC Forever

We can’t be too sentimental about young players – as much as we want to see our team full of them. The fact is they are naive and still learning. There is a risk, not just mistakes or poor decision making but stripping their confidence. That’s why they need to have good role models around them, people who have won things. People they listen to and Arteta is smart he has done that and listening to Luiz in his interview you can see what he brings to the changing room. There is no doubt Saka and ESR have progressed under… Read more »

Socrates

Nelson will never make it, doesn’t have the required sauce.

The Godfather

That would be some kinda “African Wall” I’m front of the
Defensive back field if we sign Bissouma to partner T.Partey.
Damn.
Cmon Edu, beg, borrow, sell whoever to get this done.
That partnership will dominate the league for the next three years at least and free up our creative stars to really shine

The Godfather

Watched NELSON @Hoffenheim and unlike someone who attempted another false smear campaign, he was benched by the coach for indiscipline (lateness) and was injured for a bit.
Other than that, he performed very well as a sub from in his moments on the field.

The Godfather

He is now a shadow of the promising force he should’ve have been. Very sad.
He needs to leave Arsenal.
He is also better playing as a Number 10 than out wide

WengerEagle

Rich Only point I was making is that it’s pretty irrelvant being a prodigy at Unders or academy level if you struggle at senior level. You could see something in Gnabry and Vela that was a bit different even in their limited minutes before AW basically gave up on them. I would argue that Grealish is far more the exception to the rule than Saka is. It is so much rarer for a player that lools decent at Championship level to step up to the Premier League and raise his game at age 24 only to take it up a… Read more »

Bergkamp63

Khedeira having medical at Hertha,

Does that mean they are shit canning Dozy ?

WengerEagle

Welcome back Marc.

The Bard

All the kids have ability but they also need luck and a strong mentality. Some have it some don’t. It appears easier for them to perform currently because the stadiums are empty. Away at Old Trafford is a different gig. Good to see weather moving more deadwood.

Northbanker

Good post Pedro – this idea that Arteta ‘stumbled’ across the kids in desperation must be taken apart.

The only ‘kids’ that he wasn’t using already were Martinelli (who has still only been used sparingly) and Smith Rowe. Saka was already playing fairly regularly although RW was a newish position for him. Both Gabi and ESR were injured prior to this and so couldn’t be used earlier.

So the only consistent difference between Dec and now is ESR and as above it wasn’t possible before.

Otherwise it is the same team.

It really is a nonsense analysis.

WengerEagle

Now Guendouzi is a player that I will be very happy to be proven wrong on.

Watched him put in a MOTM performance capped off with a goal vs a top drawer Borussia Monchengladbach side last month. He has been pretty solid on loan at Hertha in spite of how terrible a side they are.

Would love if he could talk Cunha into coming to Arsenal.

Cheney10

I think the England call up has impacted on ANM approach, which is understandable I guess. If he thinks he is a CM then go to WB and prove it to everyone, get selected for England as a CM and then come back to Arsenal an established star. I really can’t see it happening that way and believe his best position is RB but he doesn’t see it that way, which will impact on his career long-term.

Rich

Marc just completed no Le Grove comments section January

Congratulations Marc, must be gutted he’s now fallen off the wagon

Bergkamp63

Mustafi to Schalke

AFC Forever

They are saying Mustafi deal sends Kabak to Liverpool.

Bergkamp63

AFC,

Looks that way

Rich

WengerEagle I think we’re seeing a similar path with Maddison to the one we’re seeing with Grealish, but 12 months apart Maddison looks to me like his game is on an upward trajectory He started off at Coventry in League 1 Had a loan at Aberdeen A season in the Championship with Norwich Now into his third season in the PL with Leicester, he’s looking like the real deal at 24 Grealish had a loan at Notts County 2 bit part seasons with Villa in the PL 3 seasons in the Championship Into his second season back in the PL,… Read more »

Northbanker

Cheney – partially agree. He might be better at CM than he is at RB but the problem for him is that there are far better players in CM than he is. If he had settled on making a RB spot his chosen destiny then he could have been a first team regular by now as there are far fewer talented RBs around. But his mentality to play this was wrong as he saw it beneath him. Big mistake.

Guns of Brixton

As exclusively revealed last week, Shkodran Mustafi is set to terminate his contract with Arsenal, before joining Schalke on a permanent transfer

Guns of Brixton

Schalke taking 2 deadwoods in one window

You love to see it

Nelson

Marc

Welcome back. Le Grove just feels more complete with your presence.

Pierre

Saka and Smith Rowe are the only 2 young guns that can be said have made a real impact in the premier league. The rest have shown their quality in the cup competitions but have struggled with the limited game time in the premier league… Some are too quick to judge young players coming through . coming on as a substitute for 10/15 minutes or less is very difficult for any player to make a real impact . This season premier league ( as per whoscored) Nketiah Started 3 Goals 1 Assists 1 Martinelli Started 3 Goals 0 Assists 0… Read more »

WengerEagle

Rich

Maddison is the exact age that Grealish was at the start of last season in September 2019. Just turned 24.

Difference is that Maddison is halfway through his 3rd convincing season at PL level compared to Grealish who up until that point was only Championship proven.

I can’t think of another player comparable to Grealish in trajectory.

We’ll see on Nelson, whatever happens with him I think that we can both agree at least that he needs to be playing at his age and developing.

Needs a loan.

Bergkamp63

Southampton out of AMN race

Vintage Gun

“Schalke taking 2 deadwoods in one window”

They must be having a bonfire or something

Bergkamp63

AMN only wants midfield loan position.

Bergkamp63

VG,

I like that !

Terraloon

Welcome back Marc

Great post.

The Elephant in the room for me is without question the £100+ million that will have to be paid back to HM Government.

There won’t be any clever debt re financing nor will there be a surplus cash on deposit nor will there be any of the players who currently out on loan sold for mega money. To suggest otherwise is fanciful

Buzzy

So AmN will be playing in the midfield for west brom…happy for him..will soon become irrelevant though..should have chosen full back for Southampton

tunnygriffboy

Worried about Wolves. They not going thru great time atm. However they difficult to breakdown and no game in the league is easy. I remember Podence and Neto ripping us a new one at the Emirates.

I worry with injuries that we not going to be able to rotate as we need to be at it and play with same intensity we have been.

It will be a tough game

WengerEagle

”Lucas Torreira is likely to see out his season long loan at Atletico Madrid despite limited game time.

Arsenal have been worried about his “happiness” and it is thought Arsenal fear his value may depreciate when they come to try and sell him in the summer.”

Taken from Sky.

Made me laugh, just a hilarious way to phrase it. Worried about the ‘players’ happiness’- in other words our ability to sell him which it then goes on explictly to state in the latter part, lol.

Rich

Gareth Bale came from nowhere really, to then sign for Real Madrid for a world record fee Vardy came from non league, to win the golden boot Ian Wright didn’t sign for Arsenal until he was almost 28, didn’t sign professional terms until he was almost 22 Players develop, and then drop off at different ages I just hate it when young players are written off, they’re not supposed to be the finished articles at the start of their careers And we’re beginning to see a trend with players coming from different leagues, for every Bruno Fernandes who hits the… Read more »

China1

I’d have liked a few million for mustafi, however this window we set a precedent by basically be willing to offer to let any of our fringe players and dross leave for free Normally I’d really dislike to see us offload even unwanted dross for nothing but I make a special exception for the late year wenger dross Mustafi ozil kola and co have absolutely stunk the place out for ages. Xhaka is literally the last one from the axis of shite. Some moderate performances recently will no doubt buy him another chance in the eyes of fans with short… Read more »

Socrates

For some clarity,
ESR sat on the bench and was an unused sub for two games prior to the Chelsea game whilst Willian was stinking out the place and was only picked because Willian was ill (Chelsea game.)

He would probably be still waiting for game time if Willian wasn’t ill as Arteta had shown no intention playing him. Thankfully he did get game time, but it was anything other than an Arteta masterstroke like some like to think.

Marc

Rich, Nelson & Terraloon – Cheers.

Terraloon – I’d forgotten all about the £100 million loan! Pedro getting all wet between the legs over a big money CM signing this coming summer is going to be seriously disappointed.

PieAFC

Nelson is like Jermaine Pennant. Will have somewhat of a career based in how he was rated as a youngster. Bit of a journey man of somewhat. If it comes good for him fair play, but I agree with Wenger Eagle here, when you look at the youngsters in the ilk of Saka, ESR and Martinelli, that’s the basis of a foundation you are judged upon. Martinelli has come back from a big injury, but still looks a player. Nelson doesn’t show enough injuries haven’t helped, yes, but the given a chance, very lacklustre. He needs a loan now and… Read more »

Samesong

How you doing Marc?

Nice to see you back mate.

Marc

Missed off WE – sorry mate!

Marc

Samesong

I’m good mate – you keeping things together?

Samesong

I’m good mate – you keeping things together?

Yes mate.

Pierre

Kris
It’s both..limited game time and the higher level .

I didn’t think i would have to spell it out as it is so obvious..

Crabregas

I think the issue with people who want to get rid of Xhaka (me included) is we will lose Ceballos in the summer and it is clear Elneny isn’t up to scratch.

We could have a midfield with just Partey and Xhaka, another being purchased and maybe Azeez being brought into the first team. Even that makes us look light in there. (Assuming LT and MG are moved on)

With that in mind, I can see Xhaka getting an extension

Bergkamp63

For further clarity,

The person who was responsible for putting ESR on bench in the first place should take all the credit, whoever that was.

They must have seen enough of him in training to think he had something !

Radio Raheem

There are things to like about Arteta but sometimes he is an absolute plank

Socrates, you’re right about you say.

On the other hand, Arteta has, against recent precedence, arrested our run of poor results, whether by accident or design.

But then he’ll do something stupid like playing Willian and Auba even when their forms doesn’t justify their inclusion. Willian even more so.

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