WELL GOOD MORNING! If a sign of growing old is damaging yourself doing stupid things, I fear that age is coming at me fast. I damaged my finger breaking off a piece of late night chocolate. The guilt of being a gluttonous pig was enough already, now every time I look at my thumb I’m reminded of my food crimes with a bloodied nail. Life is unfair.
ONTO FOOTBALL.
Arsenal are tracking the Ajax keeper. Inject that rumour right into my_____
What?
Oh, he’s on a doping charge that probably won’t get lifted? Ok. Cool. Well, uhhmmmm… maybe not that joke.
He’s a good keeper from what I’ve seen and I would be happy to have him as a back-up if he wasn’t banned for 3 years. The Cameroon international fits the profile, good with his feet, 25 years old, 6ft3, one year left on his deal.
Mark Irwin, who is pretty good on transfer talk reckons Mat Ryan will be signed on a perm deal this summer but is viewed only as a backup keeper. The young players seem to love him behind the scenes and he’s certainly more than capable of playing that role for us. Apparently, our interest in David Raya has cooled because Brentford has been promoted. For me, interest in him should have been cooled because the guy recommending him has a terrible rep and he also put Runarsson on our wage bill this summer.
AFCON players seem to be the hot ticket at the moment, I’m a bit worried if we do all our business with players that will exit the club for 5 weeks, we might have a problem… you would hope that is being considered.
CARLO ANCELOTTI is rumoured to be on his way back to Real Madrid. Honestly, the management nostalgia going on in Europe this year is just TOO much for me to handle. It’s a very weird decision, but it would seem the comfort of a nice guy in the dugout is tempting for an owner that is a little all over the place. Everton now the feeder club for El Classico managers? And you want to tell me they have a better league? Bitch please…
There were some leaked documents on Spanish FT over the weekend showing the signatures of major clubs in the super league. Tim Lewis signed our document and the law firm on all the docs? Clifford Chance. Just goes to show you, when it comes to business, it doesn’t matter how hard you support a team, it’s all about the pound notes. He’s spent 6 minutes with Edu and he’s already ‘contacts lawyering.’
📍| Signature from AC Milan, Atletico, Arsenal and Chelsea. #ESL #rmalive pic.twitter.com/myA2KUQQWO
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) May 31, 2021
Also, the signature. So small? IS THAT AN INDICATION THAT AT THE TIME OF SIGNING HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING WAS WRONG? I have no idea, but my cousin is actually a handwriting analyst in Australia at an elite level. Going tap her to waste some time on what we can learn here.
The England squad is getting released later on today. There are rumours that Bukayo Saka is going to be included. I mean, honestly, why wouldn’t you take a player who can drop at least 3 positions to a high standard? Part of me was hoping he’d be left out so he could rest this summer, part of me wants him to avenge the memory of Theo Walcott going to the World Cup. Good luck to him, he deserves it.
We’ll finish this post out with some Kieran Tierney propaganda.
“I listen to everything the manager tells me, word for word.
“I love working with him, he’s helped me massively.
“If you can see the differences in my game in the last 18 months or so it’s because of Mikel Arteta and what his coaching staff have been telling me to do.
“I’ve been working on their advice every day. I’m really grateful for what the gaffer’s done for me.”
“I had a meeting with the Arsenal manager and he just told me, ‘Go and express yourself with Scotland, enjoy yourself, bring energy to the team, bring energy to the camp’.
“He’s always so supportive of me, and tremendously positive. The manager always brings the best out of me.
“With regards Scotland for the Euros he also said, ‘Give everything you have, that’s how you get the best out of yourself, and it will help the team the most’.”
You can call Arteta many things, but a bad coach ain’t one of them.
A short post today, we’ll be back with MORE news tomorrow because that is what we do on the Le-Grove.co.uk.
Holding and Marry are appropriate names for defenders
”Yes the usual suspects are pining for an individualistic player with a big name from a big club while our midfield remains a dump heap. It’s called trying to cut corners. And of course it’s from the Wenger handbook, the second period Wenger handbook anyway. We must forgive them though. They are steeped in Arsene.”
Ishola you don’t half come out with some strange cryptic bollocks on here from time to time, I haven’t seen anyone here advocating a move for Sterling this summer.
Maybe not Sterling Weagle but for others with big names in attack.
Meanwhile our midfield is as crap as ever.
Wenger second period handbook.
Ray
“The way Chilwell marked Mahrez was so intimate that in some cultures they would be obliged to get married”
He closed him down early and he closed him down deep.
And this nullified Mahrez.
Who would believe that.
Ishola
Who? Grealish is the only big name I have seen anyone semi seriously ask for.
And he is a midfielder.
He’s an attacking midfielder Weagle.
And individualistic again.
He’s not going to help the useless Arsenal centre mid is he.
‘He’s not going to help the useless Arsenal centre mid is he.’
Thought that you were one of Partey’s biggest fans on here last summer, he useless now?
Everyone on here and their mother has Bissouma on their wish-list it seems, that escape your attention or something?
Weagle
Partey on his own in centre midfield is not going to impress on a weekly basis is he.
“Was anyone else struck by the intensity of Chelsea’s defence last Saturday?The way Chilwell marked Mahrez was so intimate that in some cultures they would be obliged to get marriedI’d like to see more of this intensity in our defenders“
Yep, but don’t mention it to loudly on here if you don’t want the Tierney hater label plastered all over yourself.
I’m sure Tuchel just told his players to go out there and express themselves
Ancelotti to RM confirmed on BBC
Next domino Arteta to Everton
WEagle: regards “Ishola you don’t half come out with some strange cryptic bollocks on here from time to time, I haven’t seen anyone here advocating a move for Sterling this summer.”
This from Pedro earlier today (on Sterling):
“26 is prime age. He’s world class. He’s a winner. That’d be a massive signing”
Looks like he’s pining for the signing to me…
Peeps
Bee positive we will have a sting in the team next season…
Just carry on clearing Sidney… Sorry art
Dear me Sterling/ Mahrez/ Odegaard. What are you guys on ? Why would they want to come us ? A lower level club for considerably less wages. I really don’t think some on here have realised just how far we have fallen. I admire Pedro’s optimism but it feels to me more a case of hope over reason. We have had some shocking transfer windows recently, lets hope we don’t spaff another fortune on the likes of Willian and Luiz.
I’d be happy of we simply addressed the midfield issue. Let’s not go all out Wenger and refuse to buy what we obviously need because we like to think that we’re cleverer than everyone else.
Bard
‘Dear me Sterling/ Mahrez/ Odegaard. What are you guys on ? Why would they want to come us ? ‘
I don’t think we should be interested in any of them either.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57244958
What are these clowns smoking? Take a particular look at Shearer’s comment about the panenka penalty,he’s a bit like Trump isn’t he,shouldn’t be allowed to speak unless someone has prepared it for him.
Anyways,can you boys spot the spectacular omission? 2nd only to Van Basten in my totally unbiased opinion!!! Feckin bbc,my arse! I’ll go find it for you now.
Zidane to Arsenal???
Please Lord!!
At least, we can comfortably go full-scale project youth with a man who is comfortable with it.
Odegaard is a brilliant player, I don’t understand the amount of fans who don’t rate him Sid has given me a man crush of Buendia by comparing him to Cazorla I’d like us to go for both, but would be happy with either, they both fit the profile of player we should be targeting Young, hungry, decent amount of experience, plenty to prove, and at stages of their career where you’d expect them to progress instead of regress We lack the overall quality of the real top teams, but it’s in the final third against teams below us where we… Read more »
Although, I see him going to Italy 🇮🇹.
The Italian league would be competitive again. Juventus are my fav, but other teams need to step up.
So we are looking at this Onana guy to replace Leno in case he leaves ? A year ago we had Martinez and Leno and now Leno might be leaving. Arsenal +Martinez this season and we are at least 5th. We also would have had a better chance winning the Europa league. Yeah Emi was the x factor that enabled Arteta to win the FA cup last year. Yet somehow someone decided selling him and keeping Average Joe Leno was the way to go. That decision screams “we don’t know what we are doing”, and its why its hard to… Read more »
What are England doing with all those RBs and with such a meh midfield
https://youtu.be/z3l5zUw8vGM
There you are now lads,the 2nd greatest goal ever scored at a euro championships. Gazza my arse!
Why sign a player who has been banned for doping? Selling Martinez was really bad when we should have made him captain.
We can’t afford Sterling’s ass not to talk of the full package.
Also, why on earth would he wanna come to us when there’ll be quite a number of UCL teams looking at him.
Rich, speaking as one of those who just doesn’t ‘get’ Odegaard what is it that makes you think that he’s a brilliant player? What am I missing? What are his key attributes?
No to sterling from the kronkes … That’s the player not the money.
Mee Have you actually read the UEFA decision banning Onana? They have accepted that the player did not take intentionally take a banned substance, which is not a performance enhancing drug. The punishment for taking this drug if intentionally used is a 4 years ban. He was banned for 12 months, because their case was that the player has to take responsibility for any drug that he consumes even if taken by accident. The player accepted the findings but Ajax, the player supported by the Professional Footballers Association have appealed the decision, because they felt that the punishment was too… Read more »
Andy Rodgers showed the blueprint on how to beat us in the 1-0 loss earlier in the season, the more we had the ball, the less dangerous we were, and the more dangerous our opponent became, teams were then happy to cede possession to us Villa, Wolves, Spurs, Burnley, Southampton, Everton, all then pulled the same trick When teams park the bus, Odegaard gives us control in the final third, he presses from the front, and Odegaard + Smith-Rowe gives us 2 players that can pump 90%+ pass completion stats, while throwing in plenty of penetration, which particularly at home… Read more »
I completely agree Rich. When Tets has managed to get the lineup right, Ode has shown his creative talents. He has slid in some beautiful passes and works his ass off pressing opposing defenders. He and ESR/Saka/Pepe/Martinelli or Auba working up front together could be really dangerous but Arteta needs to take the handbrake off and follow more of a Leedes model where the boys can break quickly and put teams on the back foot. No more tic tak possession bullshit football.
Interesting, Sterling….
Would get in the way of Saka/ Martinelli
Unless Mike uses the above in different ways which would be something we could expect with his constant tinkering.
For the money, I would pass, and find some real talent at a cheaper price.
then again, its Arsenal so the chances are high we get him for mucho $ and wages.
I would rather send Ode back and take Sterling if it came down to it.
for the money City would be asking, RM would ask similar for Ode… 40 plus Im guessing.
Sterling a little older but way more experienced, better dribbler and finisher. No brainer if it came down to a choice of the 2
Two completely different players in my opinion Guns. Ode more of a playmaker/creator. We don’t really need more wingers do we? If we were looking to pay Sterling money I’d rather get Abraham from Chelsea to give us some proven scoring in the middle who can head the ball and hold it up
Sterling is not a priority. We need a CM, a RB and an ACM.
Anguissa/ Bissouma
Buendia
Aarons
STERLING???
Nelson
Sterling is not a priority. We need a CM, a RB and an ACM.
This is why we will get him…..
I feel that our ‘pressing’ leaves a lot to be desired — it is an improvement on Alexis pressing all by himself, but still ineffective it basically has consisted of Odegaard running to within 5 yards of an opponent with the ball and then stamping his feet a couple of times then when the ball is passed, someone else will run up to the new ball carrier and do the stampy-thing it lacks individual engagement and collective intensity and there is very little attempt to cut off potential passing targets our pressing is weak, reactive and ineffective the only positive… Read more »
Pedro
Too bad you cannot make polls on here… would be interesting to see some of the results- with LG being worldwide with a lot of followers, maybe the Arsenal PR would share some of our infinite knowledge?
Pedro, you are a powerful influencer- this might help!
Thanks Rich, what I saw (and you probably aren’t going to like this) was a more mobile version of Xhaka playing further forwards. Good at recycling the ball, can ping the odd great pass or through ball, but ultimately doesn’t offer much threat and is very one footed and one paced. Has one PL goal, two ssists and created one big chance in 14 games. Now that isn’t too bad but it doesn’t scream ‘great’ either. The idea that lots of possession is ‘control’ only works if it’s productive possession, if it results in at least attempts on the opposition… Read more »
Pedro, I’ve always respected your opinion and genuinely appreciate the work you put into this blog and the podcast. But you’re losing it. Are you really saying that we should watch the club’s PR department parade a couple of players telling nice things about MA and treat that as some sort of truth? Should we have when they did the same for Wenger and Emery? I’m still holding out hope that this is some diabolical trolling to keep the engagement up over the summer. Because if it is, you’re a freaking genius. Borat and Donald Trump could have a love… Read more »
We need electric players in this team in CM, CAM and RB quick, young, high ceilings, and looking to attack… in that mold. Andy- good points. I cannot see anything that Ode will bring us given his style already. We need line breakers, low box killers and players who attack the box, get into it and make things happen. Dynamos. Ode is not that. Good at link up- which is really a waste if you think we need a good link up player. We need that and a lot more…. The ferocity of Anguissa ( tall and powerful dribbler), plus… Read more »
Andy
Odegaard created most chances per 90 for the season for us. If you’re looking to score goals you need to create chances, which he does.
There’s little benefit to having loads of similar players unless they’re well rounded and elite, which they certainly aren’t at Arsenal. In reality it’s not a question of either/or, we should be bringing in both.
Ray “our pressing is weak, reactive and ineffective” I said from day one that pressing starts from the front and the offensive 4 need energy and intensity, and more importantly the desire to want to press. So who have we signed offensively or given renewed contracts in the last couple of seasons. Willian Pepe Aubamayang Say no more.. You can add Lacazette to that list as being ineffective at pressing.. The answer is to either forget about pressing with intensity or play the players who have the hunger and desire to do it I’m talking about Martinelli, Eddie , Balogun,… Read more »
CC – TBH I couldn’t find chances created per 90 as a stat, the PL only quote ‘Big Chances Created’ and top of the pile (with Saka and Tierney) was Willian which goes to show how stats should always be taken with a pinch of salt. If we do get both then great, I’m not sure that we will though, depends how well we sell and how desperate the Kroenkies are to get fans back on side (the fickle ones anyway). As I said I’d prefer Buendia first, but the two of them, plus Bissouma (or similar), plus a RB… Read more »
No to Odegaard physically weak, slow and one footed.
Any news on buendia ? Here Villa are having positive talks
I’m concerned we will miss Buendia while waiting for RM
and in all likelihood miss both
Pierre…agree need to mesh players and strategy — we seem mostly to have the wrong players for the strategy desired by the coach, or use them wrongly
Odegaard likely to be an Arsenal player next season.
Ancelotti doesn’t rate him, and is much more likely to bring James, Sigursdsson 😄 and Iwobi 😜
…to Real Mad
Need buendia as well
There’s talk that out number one midfield signing will be Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht, instead of Bissouma. He has one year left on his contract and can go for as low as 10 million.
He’s the captain of Anderlecht and had had his first call up for Belgium already.
Pierre, Good points on pressing although I disagree on Laca. He’s pretty decent even if he doesn’t have the legs of a 20 year old. It’s also the reason why I’d rather emulate Liverpool than City, if we have to emulate someone. If you can do 70% of what they are doing (press more selectively) you get Chelsea. If you do 70% of what City are doing you get latter-day-Wenger Arsenal. Lots of ball, no end product. But even 70% of Liverpool takes a lot of coordination, which means a lot of coaching. And we know The Sauce doesn’t like… Read more »
Sell Xhaka and buy Lokonga, come out with some money to buy a new lambo for Auba.
Arsenal’s visionary manager just produced another self-inflicted dilemma needing now a new number 1 goal keeper. If he would know how to build a team he would have kept the No 1 goalkeeper instead of selling him. Even if the doping scandal is overturned the visionary manager now faces the same dilemma he wasn’t willing to grow balls for.
How long will excuses be made for this impostor of a manager?
About 3 months into the season if the fans are at the stadium
‘You can call arteta many things but a bad coach ain’t one of them’
Most players in the squad are the same or regressing since emery days and only a handful appear to have improved, players who were young and expected to do better already.
He’s a bad coach.
China is wrong
Mee look at some of his footage from his loan spell at Real Sociedad. You may change your mind. You have to remember that he hasn’t had the time to gel yet, especially the way Tets likes to overthink his lineups
Another idiot on this blog… 🙄
Crimson,
Is that you Pedro?
Dissenter we need 3 midfielders depending on willock and Xhaka.
Yes let’s blow half our budget on sterling when we already have saka and Pepe who each got 17 g/a last season and both are improving and we have martinelli coming through as well.
Then let’s scratch our heads when we start next season STILL with a gaping hole in CM or RB because we ran out of money to buy there.
Why spend a fortune on luxury players when we can’t even field a good starting 11? I’d love to know why anyone would think that’s ok
Nah Sausage. I’m fluffy
Crimson please list all the players who are demonstrably better under arteta Let me tell you who is not Auba <- off a cliff Laca <- the same as under emery Eddie <- no clear improvement then cunted off Gabriel <- cunted off then became error prone Martinelli <- cunted off Bellerin <- awful season Partey <- bad season Leno <- more error prone Luiz <- still error prone Holding <- was very good under emery Mari <- no idea Guen <- cunted off Saliba <- cunted off AMN <- was doing better but then cunted off??? Nelson <- who… Read more »
Cina correction Arteta is a BAD coach and a USELESS manager.
@Crimson
Just to make the statement “China is wrong” without support is a useless as tits on a bull.
Sterling is a poor idea.
Pace players these days tend to fade earlier due to the amount of games they play and the number of injuries they pick up.
No doubt Guardiola is positioning this with Arteta as a favor for a friend.
We need to go big in our mid and find a CD leader at the back.
Arteta improved mustafi…only
Sly,
We had the chance to sell him. Ended up paying him to leave. Some improvement.
What do bison eat?
China
Saka, ESR and Tierney haven’t really improved — they have improved the team as they were so much better than the senior players they replaced — but individually they didn’t improve and won’t improve unless they are better-coached and played in a system that leverages their strengths
I also don’t think Pepe really improved, he is beginning to play like the player we hoped we had bought
So not disagreeing, just saying it’s probably even worse than you suggested
as if my opinion counted
I thought Sterling was the weakest link in the City side that showed that possession is pointless without potency in attack
so if this Summer is a quest for Sterling I will…
you know, I can’t even be bothered to invent a threat — the situation is so depressing
oooh, oooh, I know: I will troll Le Grove reminding people that Sterling told the world how Arteta had improved him when he was Pep’s lieutenant
Arteta a good coach? The guy who persisted with sticking pep to the sideline and getting bellerin to cross the ball when every one could see pepe was more dangerous cutting in to his left.
The same coach who forced ESR wide to make room for odegaard to play in the middle only to neutralise both of them?
Only laca has been slightly better and the only reason for that is he wants a new contract.
will we hear a soundbite from Sterling now on Arteta being so great and improving him? Might be incoming lol
But seriously, it seems like Edu needs to be fired. If the only players we get are contacts, favors and washed up vets, loans then this is utter shit.
Ray I was being generous!
And yeah mustafi didn’t improve. He always was good for most of the match then dropped a clanger. He managed 3 games in a row without a clanger then dropped a couple against spurs last season. He was utterly embarrassing in that game near the end of the season
And this is the same mustafi he was deemed not good enough for a recently relegated German team.
Guns you’ve just beaten Pedro to it!!! You can be sure he had the sterling quotes saved in his clipboard ready to paste into the next blog 😁
Onana for less than 6 mil is an epic bargain. If Edu can get this over the line fast, we may have a good summer on our hands
didnt Sterling injure Mustafi
I’m kinda curious
If what he did at city was enough to land him the arsenal job… and if city have become a better team this year (they have)… then should we be replacing him with their current #2?
Are there any other assistant coaches we need to start looking at? Who works for Klopp? Or for Conte?
Seems odd that we only are interested in Mikel. It’s almost like it’s just a hipster fad thing to imagine Arteta is special!
Wow so people don’t even want Sterling now?
World class winger in his prime.
The number of better left wingers in the world can be counted on one hand
I would love a Grealish but if City are interested in him, then O don’t think we stand a chance unless he is a die hard Arsenal fan
‘Sterling a bad idea’
Ffs lads…
Sterling is a bad idea unless we’re selling Pepe
It’s been said a million times, we don’t have infinite resources to be spending a fortune on upgrading positions where we’re already good.
You will get sterling and be rocking into the season with El Neny at Cm or Bellerin at RB and will be complaining. It’s clearly smarter to address the dross first.
Buying sterling would be like buying an upgrade on Tierney at LB. we are not city and can’t afford such luxury
Even if we actually have a bit of money to spend, arteta supposedly wants Ode who is also prohibitively expensive. Well end up paying close to 100m for Ode and Sterling when we already have two good wingers and a good AM. It would be a shit use of resources it really would
China 1
I would not disagree that a specialist winger should not be Arsenal’s top priority in this transfer window.
However, Sterling’s main position is on left and Pepe is on the right. The main issue would be how we are going to accommodate Saka in the team as well?
Arsenal need to sort out our central midfield particularly if Xhaka leaves the club. That should be our main priority at the moment.
I don’t think we can afford sterling and his wages, not to mention, I don’t think he will come to Arsenal.
As china said, CM and AM are our priority along with RB and GK if leno leaves. Then we need a back up LB and maybe another CM if xhaka leaves.
We can’t go into the new season with 6 wingers and 3 CMs. That would be insane.
We can’t go into the new season with 6 wingers and 3 CMs. That would be insane.
We are stock piling CB’s so why not wingers. Its the Arteta way
Gun of SF
Surprisingly we are no longer stockpiling CBs. Assuming Saliba is retained we will be down to four. I don’t think Mavropanos will be playing at Arsenal next season.
The transfer window opens officially this week. It will be interesting to see what moves are
being made early.
Mari Holding Gabriel Chambers Mavro Saliba and we are looking at a Right footed CB still apparently.
Something has to give. Sell Mavro, and one of Holding or Chambers…
Chambers is a CB- not a RB.
Holding slow as molasses.
Both are not first teamers ideally. Back ups but still, too many CBs
Wingers – Nelson, Willian, Martinelli, Pepe, Saka, and even ESR? Auba?
Something has to give here too.
Now add Sterling?
I know Nelson is likely off, and hoping for Willian too.
If that happens, Sterling , Pepe, Saka and Martinelli are fine
Guns I would be ok with chambers being backup RB and Soares being backup LB
That way we’d only need to buy a First choice RB as far as defender go
China that is too logical mate
In all honesty, if we can land Sterling for 30-35 then im ok with that… Proven, and still has a few years to give us.. we need some vets on the team – to keep a balance and 26 is not too old still.
If we can ressurect him, ( its not that bad) he can help us. Look at Zaha, at older and more $$. Sterling in comparison is not so bad. Maybe they give us an Arteta discount? like a VIP membership or something… 30-35 is good I think
If that Ajax keeper doesn’t win his appeal and we sign him, when can he play?
Guns SF Chambers has been playing this season as a RB. We were of course overloaded with CBs at start of season, but have managed to offload now Mustafi, Sokratis and Luiz. I don’t think that Arsenal will be recruiting an additional first team CB unless Arteta reaches conclusion that Saliba is not making the grade. The real issue for me is what exactly are the priorities of Edu and Arteta? We are losing Odegaard, Ceballos and possibly Xhaka from the squad who were playing in midfield. So restocking the central midfield has to be a priority even if Willock… Read more »
Onana will play in Feb at the latest.
ES
Only after a long return from injury. I would prefer him as CB to be honest. He is a good lad but not starting material. Why is Soares being ignored by Mike? He was a pick of Mikes.
China 1
Onana can play in April 2022 if ban is not reversed.
If it is reversed then he will stay at Ajax until end of season when his contract expires.
I think that Arsenal are looking at Onana as a long term replacement for Leno. I would be surprised if he leaves this summer.
ES
I agree our midfield needs a huge shake up
Xhaka, Ceballos El Neny are not cutting it. Ceballos is not ours. Willock- I would sell, his value is really high, would be stupid to bring him back and have him on the bench, or his value dip with performances not in line with Newcastle.
Sell for $$ while its hot. We would be fools not too.
We can add Anguissa, Buendia, and a CAM that is blood and thunder type…
To be accurate Onana ban expires in February, but you have to factor in also Africa Cup so he
is unlikely to be playing in Europe before April.
I think we’ll move on Xhaka as well. Replace him with Bissouma. Elneny will stay to be our 4th choice. 3rd choice CM is interesting. We have been linked with Sambi from Anderlecht and he looks quality in his YT comps and also has good underlying numbers. Would be a great Ceballos replacement. I like Willock but I just can’t see him fitting into the current squad unless he has an unreal development curve and becomes undroppable next to Partey in the preseason games. Loaning him out next season seems to me the best move. If we do end up… Read more »