Wooooaaaahhhh… did I wake up FRESH from the news. I could run a marathon. I could climb a mountain. My head is so clear now Mustafi is gone I think I’m going to apply for a job at SpaceX on the rocket science team.
The German World Cup winner held us back in life, now he’s gone. Good riddance. No sentimentality here. He was a terrible, terrible signing and I am here, with you, thanking the footballing gods for lifting him from the club.
I always thought he was just a nightmare center-back, but when the rumblings came my way that he was difficult behind the scenes, it was time to exit.
Thoughts and prayers for Schalke… Christian Gross as their new manager, Kolasinac as their captain, Mustafi as their defensive rock… could you imagine a worse film poster?
So, how did we finish the window? About £600k a week better off. That’s how you do ruthless business in a pandemic.
The absolute key is to NOT put that money into a bunch of bums Kia knows this summer.
This is a semi-fresh start, obviously slightly tainted by the fact we forked out a lot of money on certain players this summer that will not provide long-term value. Those decisions were made, we now have to lie with them on a bed of nails.
We’ve cleared out underperformers on the pitch, we rid the dressing room of players that were less than helpful, and we’ve freed up cash flow so we can move for the players we want this summer.
We also did a pretty decent job of looking after the future.
Joe Willock has gone to Newcastle to help Steve Bruce out with his team’s appalling final ball. I think he’s had a bit of an identity crisis, everyone knows there’s a player there, no one knows what that player is. He couldn’t be going to a club more desperate for a spark, so let’s see what he has.
AMN, as I suspected, took a loan move to West Brom. He had 5 offers apparently. What is pointed is the fact he binned off bigger clubs. His loan move isn’t about his lack of talent, it’s about scratching a very specific itch… he wants to show Edu and Arteta he can be a midfielder at the highest level. The player is coming back to us next season, if he wasn’t, I suspect he might have tried to impress at Southampton or Leicester. What better way to show you are top tier than keeping West Brom in the Premier League? Last player to go to West Brom from Arsenal was Serge G… let’s feed AMN the same water and keep em’ crossed.
We’ve gone over the William Saliba stuff. He’s in the right place. @GrimandiTweetss, a guy who actually watches him, had this to say on where he’s at development wise (referencing his error this weekend that cost Nice the game).
As I’ve been watching him at Nice, it’s apparent his one glaring deficiency is his lack of ability to defend the high cross
His shape is often wrong, that’s why it skimmed off his head and they score
It’s not just a matter of getting games, it’s a matter of releasing the skill of defending crosses. For such a big chap, he doesn’t impose himself defending crosses in open play or at set-pieces
Half a season in France isn’t as ideal as half a season in Championship would have been, but you know what, it’s a helluva lot better than sitting on the bench.
There were some other moves. Matt Smith moved to Charlton for the remainder of the season, Swindon fans were absolutely feeeewming over this, which is great news.
I was a bit disappointed that Reiss Nelson managed to avoid a loan move again, a move to Valencia collapsed. It kind of looks like he’s blown a year on his own terms. He should have taken a loan in the Premier League. Now he’s cratered his value and no one really knows what he’s capable of. Not the sharpest advice he’s taking.
This summer is going to very interesting. Arsenal are going to be making big plans again. They’ll likely be looking to add another creative player, but the most important position they’ll address is central midfield. I think everyone is very aware of the limitations we have in midfield right now and they’ll be looking at top class options to play next to Thomas Partey. It’ll all depend on what we can do in terms of sales. Lucas Torreira and Matteo G will be high on the exit list. I suspect we’ll also be looking to whip up interest in players coming to the end of their deals, or, players that just need to find new clubs because they aren’t quite right for the future.
If we can bring in £80m, expect us to drop another Thomas Partey like move on the market and plug some gaps that are clear. Could be interesting. I just hope Edu isn’t ready with his mega contracts for older players… he needs to move on names that aren’t part of the 5-year plan and continue to trim that wage bill.
The Swiss Ramble ran the numbers that basically showed we’ve dropped £236m of wastage on talent over the last 10 years.
Arsenal have finally moved on Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi via free transfers, which raises the question of how good the club’s recruitment has been. Looking at this over a longer period, we can see that since 2010 they have lost (in cash terms) a cool £236m #AFC pic.twitter.com/17augNMb2W
— Swiss Ramble (@SwissRamble) February 2, 2021
Our new strategy needs to start refocusing on how we have a consistent flow of transfer cash coming through the door. 26 should be the max-out age of players we sign. Really, 22-23 is the sweet spot. You can mold the players in your vision, you know they’ll only be thinking about football, and they’ll be at wage pricepoint that means you can easily sell them.
The hope is Edu and Arteta have learned the harshest of lessons this season. This window indicates that maybe that’s the truth. Youth is the way forward, there are no shortcuts to the top, if we start acknowledging that now, we’ll move forward as a club… if we don’t, we’re just burning more cash on an idea that has failed for 5 years.
Edu has done a very good job this window, but we do need to be careful that we don’t celebrate table stakes like we’re rocking the world of football innovation. De-bloating the squad, signing young talent on loan, and moving out young players to gain more experience is sharp… but we can’t forget what went before. The truth will arrive in the summer. Contracts, new signings, how we sell… BUT… this is a great start to the first non-Raul window. So praise and credit are due.
Right, Wolves tonight. We need 3 points. Auba, Saka, Mari, and Ceballos are all in contention. We might see Odegaard as well. It’s a huge game, Nuno really hasn’t managed to get his side into gear this season, but… we are always a gift to struggling managers, so who knows what will happen.
Play like we did against United and we’ll be in with a good chance of coming away with the points.
Referee needs to be subbed. He’s fucking us over
Should of added that the ref is a total cunt. Pepe who is working fucking hard gets slung off the ball in mid air and he gives fuck all
You always have to know in the back of your mind that with David Luiz the probability of a cluster fuck moment is never a matter of IF but rather WHEN.
To that end, why the surprise? Playing David Luiz will always introduce greater risk than pretty much any other player.
Watch xhaka get sent off next.
Absolutely we need to level it up 10 v 10 need auba and saka and esr to run at them and invite a challenge….. Trouble is I cannot recall us ever doing that……
Pepe was our most dangerous player tonight.
Oh my God ref is a fucking cunt. Nothing is going for us since that red card.
AFC
If BT had any balls they’d sack the moron who said it. The idea of no attempt to play the ball is not someone accidentally kicking the defender it’s the defender taking out the attacker Keane on Haaland style.
The game against wolves at the Emirates when they won was hard enough to swallow, but we wer
BT is a second rate broadcast with second rate analysis Marc and AFC I’m not surprised that was said.
“Luiz is a cunt and shouldn’t be on the pitch if Gabriel is fit”
I rest my case.
Arteta should have brought martinelli in instead of Auba. He’s completely killed that flank
I don’t think Auba does much in a game like this.
We need 9 outfield players, not 8 players and a finisher
Sorry to angry to finish that message off. Aarghhhh
Auba isn’t for this game.
We got rid of Ozil, Kola, Mustafi, Sokratis, but David Luiz came quickly to haunt us
I hate football
Bringing useless Auba to play left winger when we need a goal just made us play with 8 men
I’d actually respect Arteta more if he called the ref a cunt in the post match interview.
Take the fine and tell the FA to fuck off.
Wolves could do these passes till the cows come home
Something needs to be done to disrupt
Ernest. Sorry I’m not having it.
Luiz was sprinting back and Neves foot touched his knee, there was fuck all else he could do
We are being completely done over by the refs though… farcical now.
Auba gives it away on the edge of our box
🤦🏻♂️
I’d rather Luiz on right now than him
We just cannot get the ball…… So depressing after what was easily our best 1st half of the season…..
We’ve been robbed in this game haven’t we!!
That should be a 2nd yellow !
Wolves were in a relegation battle and haven’t won in 9 games!
How can we hand them the 3points and bring them back to life like this
I’m. Fckin livid. Jesus
This sort of cross won’t work.
Put Martinelli instead of ESR. That is what should be done. Long balls to run on to.
When we’re shit, fair enough. But we deserved this game, been far better than those cheating cunts
If you bring Auba play him up front not fucking left wing while he’s not technically sound.
Pulling Pepe for auba was a mistake
Lost left outlet now
Contact. Be sensible in our long balls
IMarc
“d actually respect Arteta more if he called the ref a cunt in the post match interview.”
I’d go and do him. That ref needs a proper also. I’d do the same to his mate VAR & smash all the computers. Then I’d pay Mike Riley a visit, he’s the one behind all this
Auba hasn’t offered anything this far.
‘You always have to know in the back of your mind that with David Luiz the probability of a cluster fuck moment is never a matter of IF but rather WHEN’
Bullshit !!
Bruno Fernandes’ tackle on Xhaka – Not even a yellow
Luiz doesn’t even foul the Wolves player – a red and a penalty
Penalty !!!!!! Wtf
Losing to this average side with an identity crisis, thinks its straight out of Lisbon. I’m sick to my stomach.
Cedric is going nuts now.
Come on we can still get a draw here.
If we get 1 soon they’ll get nervous!
A draw and a loss is almost the same thing considering our league position and other teams multiple games in hand.
Its win or bust till the seasons end
Artetaball is back. Long crosses towards the D to no player in particular, just for statistics
Chance to go above Spurs and Chelsea and of course we’re bottling it plus they’ve games in hand. So much for a top 6 finish.
We will have at least 1 big change to equalise
Let’s hope we take it
I DO NOT care how good Luiz is in the dressing room, how good he is with young players, etc. He IS NOT good enough for this team. Bench. No more starts please. We just can’t afford another Mustafi.
We will need to win the Europa league at this rate
“Ernest. Sorry I’m not having it.”
Sorry, but its Luiz and you always have to know that this sort of thing follows him. He puts himself in questionable situations far too often. Not going to argue the call as it was an accident, but again Luiz has little positional awareness when push comes to shove, he should be more aware as an experienced player – back away in the box.
This is like being forced to watch your car being driven into a tree right after you got a new paint job. . Completely unnecessary, painful and expensive.
And it makes you hopping mad. Still time to get something. out of this.. but damn I’m frustrated.
Leno oooooooo
Leno off now
I would rather have Saliba making these kind of mistankes and learning, than Luis the Cunt.
Leno off, you can’t make this shit up.
We are being completely done over by the refs though… farcical now.”
Yes Leeds.
Leno is indeed a world class keeper
Just lol ( again )
Can’t make it up
Oh my god
Lol
Fuck.. me.. Unbelievable.. Train wreck.
WTF Leno
Wow 😮
Thigh to hand?
Wow, we’re fucked!
Here’s runarsssssssssson
This is unbelievable.
That was dumb from Leno absolutely ridiculous
Leno off on a red. Touched ball out of the D
Now Runarson ?
Yiekes
Leno RED
Runnerboy. OMG
Whys Leno walked during VAR CHECK
FFS Leno.
Why did Leno walk away so quickly
Made the job easy
Without Leno, our league is over.
No fuckin way
Hahaha Runaaar !!!!
Now we should just forget about top 6, we should be aiming top 10. The luck is out of our hands but with other clubs
Guess who’s coming in goal
We are fucked….by many
At this rate Arteta should add himself on the bench too
This is about to get very ugly…
When it’s not your night it’s really not your night. Just wow. But you feel the foundations of this were set with the Luiz red.
Leno…. What a fucking idiot. Why did he need to go so far out??? Yes the wolves player was on but just hold the line!!!
This could potentially send us on a bad run again!
What a clusterfuck! I hate Wolves
World Class stupidity !!!
When we fuck up, we do it in style!
Well this is the cruelest game I have seen us lose in a while. He lost his head there.
When we capitulate, we fucking capitulate.
Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse…
HERE’S RUNARSSON.
We are fucked with Runnar in goal
So now Leno can’t play a few matches.. ugh..
The decision arteta took last year is about to bite us hard
Partey sacrificed instead of Favourite Xhakha
Meltdown of epic proportions.
???
Have we not got another GK in the window? What the fuck Arteta?
And suspended for the next game and the Runshit is the keeper for the Vila game lol.
Runarsdon in goal,my God !!!
Now it’s just to contain the shellacking
Project lose respectfully
Now we need character
Let’s take the L and go back to London.
PL season over with Leno banned.
That wasnt a clear chance. It is NOT A RED CARD.
Xhaka stays on. Partey off? WTF
A.d Runarsson is on…
What a crap night. ..