There are a few ways Arsenal could take their transfer strategy this summer. They could go for a soft landing summer, where they pick-up players from the Premier League, or they could go for a harder landing, where they raid Europe for bargains.
Both of these offerings comes with pro and cons.
Soft Landing
The Premier League approach is basically a twist on what we’ve been doing for the last 5 years. The thinking would be centred on the exciting reality that we’re finally going to bin off some big senior names that don’t cut it over here. However you cut it, those players do an ok job and they’ll be difficult to replace for a number of reasons. The biggest thing they understand is how to operate in the league. They speak English, they have the stomach for the food, and they know how to manage their bodies.
Thomas Partey, one of the best in the business at his role, and one of the fittest came to the Premier League and spent more weeks out than at any time in his career. Why? Likely some bad luck, but also, we have the fastest and busiest elite league in the world. It took time for him to adapt. That cost Arsenal.
The thinking with a soft landing summer will be geared around having a fast start next season. This is a sort of short-termism that makes sense if you look at it from our football leadership’s perspective. Arteta gets pelters whatever he does, if he loses the opening three games because players haven’t adapted, he’s going to have Youtube channels calling for his head. Signing talent like Yves Bissouma or Reuben Neves reduces the chance of a hard landing. They know the league, they’re young, they’ll be additive from day one.
There are negatives with this approach. We’re not going to be picking off the best Premier League players. We’re not in the running for Jack Grealish. The players we’ll fancy will come with a fat price-tag and no guarantee of elite-level success. We’ll also not be top of the queue for talent outside the top 6 clubs.
It’s also clear we’ve been doing this sort of thing but in Europe for the last 4 years. Mustafi, Auba, Xhaka, Kola… it hasn’t worked. If you can’t take the cream from the Premier League, is it worth it?
Hard Landing
This approach is one that is dominating the links in the press at the moment. European football is in deep, deep shit at the minute. The pandemic wrecked the fragile finances of clubs that were badly run. These troubled clubs are successful on the pitch, look at Lille, they won the league and they’ve already lost their manager and they have clubs lining up to pick at the carcass.
This approach to transfers would be more focused on taking the very best young talents from around Europe at cut-prices while we can. If the transfer market was the housing market, this approach is going to distress buyer auctions with a bag of money and seeing if there’s a bargain to be had.
This is kind of what Arsene Wenger built his legacy on. Identifying value in markets that are weak, taking punts on low-risk, high-reward talent, whilst reducing the risk with elite coaching.
Onana, the 25-year-old keeper from Cameroon fits the bill here. He has 1 year left to go on his deal, he’s played in the Champions League, he’s an international, he’s cut-price because of the doping issue. There’s baggage there… a little bit like there was Nwankwo Kanu, but if it pays off, it’s a genius piece of business.
Same with the right-back situation. Do you spend £30m on Max Arons, who is a very good player, or do you take a chance on 24-year-old Zeki Çelik who just won Ligue 1 with Lille? One will likely be a lot cheaper. Both have about the same chance of succeeding.
We all know the objectives this summer.
- Reduce errors in the system
- Improve our work in the final third
There’s a financial issue at stake as well.
- Create a functioning transfer ecosystem
Why are we failing financially when it feels like we don’t spend money? Because we are absolutely terrible at selling players.
If KSE are putting that Barclays loan towards players this summer, it cannot be used simply to ‘get us higher in the table’… that money has to come with strings. My strings I’d be asking Edu for?
GIVE ME PLAYERS I CAN SELL
If you sign Jack Grealish, you land yourself a player who really does move you up a level, but you don’t solve a business problem. That’s why he’ll end up at a club like City or United who don’t worry about business problems.
Arsenal needs to be sharper than that. If we’re signing creators, we really need to think about the potential value as well as what they can offer the team in the ‘now.’ It’s a fine balance to strike, but where are you getting more value from? Ruben Neves for £35m or Albert Sambi Lokonga for £12m? I can’t answer the scouting question, but the potential of Lokonga is that he could be a £40m player, and that for me is where the smart money is. Arsenal have not operated with much intelligence over the past 10 year, but maybe, just maybe, the clubs sees the way Liverpool operates and takes a touch of inspiration.
Clubs like Arsenal move back to the big time by taking lots of low-risk / high-reward signings. The benefits are obvious. But when you sign sharply like this, at worse, you break even when you come to sell. At best, you create a star that funds the next batch of uncut gems.
So how will the summer shape up? I have no idea. I suspect there might be a blend of both approaches, but the good news is the players we’re being linked with so far seem very, very smart.
Let’s see if Arsenal can finally deliver. It’s about time.
Saka, get in there son. Pleased for the lad, great finish (even tho it was empty net, it was a tough angle to take first time)
Thanks Mr Serge for the Dalek insult, made me laugh out loud which then led to me explaining the stream to my 19 year old son, who also laughed.
Conte will never win the title at spurs he will turn them down anyway
We need to get Saka on a 5yr deal ASAP, next summer he’ll be down to the last 24 months of his contract, and we’ll all be sweating as the sharks start circling
You are welcome Bob now i also laughed
Rich saka and ESR both have 24 months left i am sure they will get new offers soon it would be mad not to
Mr Serge
Players come and go, but I’d be devastated to lose Saka, and then have to watch him lineup for City
We haven’t just got to tie him down, we’ve got to try and match his ambitions
He’s so good, for a teenager to carry us like he has at times this season, is exceptional
He’s in with a good chance of starting and starring for England in the Euro’s
DCL looking ordinary against Austria … FYI
Southgate has the makings of being as big an idiot as the sad individual that (mis) manages our club. Why play people who haven’t made the squad in a friendly designed to test how squad members will mesh together in a major tournament in a few day’s time. Baffling
Penalty missing, pizza eating, Palace reject.
“We haven’t just got to tie him down, we’ve got to try and match his ambitions”
and that of any other fan on this blog, but that would require that the owners have also ambitions, how do you expect that from the Kroenkes?
Here is a model for owners to show ambition the owner of Villareal!
Another very simple question to answer and meditate on do the former Arsenal legends support the present set up and are thrilled about the direction the club is going? The answer to that will tell you all you need to know.
I said that Conte has won the league in every team he’s coached. 4 different teams at least 1 League title with every team. Is it true or not?
When did I say that he is going to win the league with them? Copy and paste pls. I’ll wait.
raptoraJune 2, 2021 18:40:28
“Wherever he goes Conte upsets the owner…”… after he wins them the title.*Fixed that for you.
You are suggesting he will do so if he goes spurs which i doubt he will
He may go psg when they get that loser poch back
“When did I say that he is going to win the league with them? Copy and paste pls. I’ll wait”
You insinuated it – which is exactly what i posted
Conte might not win the league, but you know he is going to have them above arteta’s Arsenal and most likely a top 4 spot, regardless of the players at his disposal.
Conte is a very emotional manager who won’t last long at Spuds, I expect that any prospective employer has to be aware of that.
Sticking to the same patterns, he did well at Inter and Chelsea before he flamed out.
Vienna….. Can you hear me…. Wolfgang Mozart, Kurt Waldheim, Franz Klammer, Josef Fritzl, Adolf Hitler your boys took one hell of a beating. Well, not really. International football is pure shite but it was pleasing to see Saka score.
Agreed Conte is highly strung not just emotional he was like that as a player for juve as well
We have been reduced to celebrating perceived failures by others instead of our achievements.
Dissenter
Chelsea have won just 2 league titles in the past 10 years, Conte winning one of those in his two attempts.
They had 10 different managers in that timeframe.
He is just after delivering Inter Milan their first title in over 10 years on his second time of asking.
They have had 13 different managers in that timeframe.
Something tells me that Spurs fans/Levy won’t give a shite if he bails on them after 2 years if he delivers them a major trophy.
If Kane is sold for 150m and Conte is given free rein to reinvest the money, don’t be surprised to see them tap up Lukaku as a replacement.
Word on the street seems to be that Inter are listening to offere for both Hakimi and Lukaku.
It doesn’t get better for a Kane replacement with Lukaku being the same age/experience, PL tried and tested and having an excellent relationship with Conte.
Each time a discussion on potential players/managers comes up, out come certain fans to term you as a “moaner” when it’s just basically a discussion on the different scenarios that could happen. Weird really
Don’t see them getting 150m though cause he is 28.
120m more like.
Bati
Has become Untold-lite on here this past year.
We Lukaku will not go to spurs Chelsea are all over him
Wenger Eagle “Something tells me that Spurs fans/Levy won’t give a shite if he bails on them after 2 years if he delivers them a major trophy.” That was precisely the point I was making I just wanted to beat around the bushes and let the reader draw that conclusion because there are posters around here who get offended when such points are made. Mr Levi has made the calculated gamble that the bromance will end in tears but he will deliver something before they fall out Conte delivers…it wont change in North London. People can stick their head in… Read more »
Mr Serge
Yeah could see him just as easily join Chelsea, he did support them as a kid too which is a bonus on top of them being much better than Spurs.
I wouldn’t rule out Conte convincing him though if he is given money to build around him.
Chavs may also try to get Haaland instead.
Is it possible that Kane decides to stay one season for Conte?
Lets not all assume that he’s off regardless.
Hallaand will go to Madrid they will find the .money for him. Hakimi is also touted to go to the Chavs which i am surprised about with the emergence of James
You have to respect the big balls it takes to sack a club legend or fire a renown manager to replace with another renown managed
Whether you hate the clubs in question, the principle of relentlessly pursuing success or striving for excellence shouldn’t be poopooed.
It may not end well but at least the effort was made.
Diss it’s now or never for Kane with both Manchester clubs after him and the length of his contract gives him peak value 3years left
Mr Serge
“Hallaand will go to Madrid they will find the .money for him. Hakimi is also touted to go to the Chavs which i am surprised about with the emergence of James”
I think Hakimi is heading to PSG
Diss hope so we don’t need him at the Chavs as well
We should be concluding our biz early so we can get the guys training together and have a good pre season
Dissenter Well Levy doesn’t exactly have a choice, does he? Spurs have won fuck all in his 20 years as Chairman there. One League Cup win to show for all his efforts. Absolutely pathetic return considering they have invested a lot of money over the years for a tinpot club. Big fees for N’Dombele, Sissoko, Reguilon, Lamela, Davinson Sanchez, Lo Celso, Bergwijn, Soldado, Lucas Moura, Sessegnon, Aurier, Janssen which is some accumulation of shite ain’t it? Only Lucas Moura has delivered for them to any great extent out of that bunch. Even back in the day before transfer fees blew… Read more »
Dissenter
The future isn’t set, no matter how much you give credence to your own narrative
The gap between Arsenal + Spurs the last 3 seasons has been 1 point, 3 points, 1 point
We can’t undo previous mistakes, but we can learn from them, undo them, and then go about improving our squad
If we make good decision this summer, we’ll decrease the margins in front of us
If we make bad decisions, we’ll increase the margins in front of us
I’m not confident….. But let’s see how things play out first before we appoint Spurs as PL champions
Mr Serge I suspect Edu will go for the type of players that Pedro mentioned Young up-coming and with high ceilings that can be resold; Noussair Mazraoui and Lokonga Bissouma is to expensive at 40 million – he is not established at the level we want to be playing at so why does he cost thrice what the captain of Andelech [Lokonga] will go for? Edu has to be assertive and be able to tell Arteta NO because I suspect Arteta will want to tarry and wait for the Madrid process to play out to get Ode when Buendia can… Read more »
I wouldn’t worry about Conte or anyone else at Spurs, as was once said, there is their history
Diss i really hope you are wrong and we do not wait for Ode this season is shit or bust for MA he must know this
Rich “The future isn’t set, no matter how much you give credence to your own narrative” You have to be deluded to think the manager who won loads for Juve, did well in the CL and has the strength of purpose will walk away from his jon will just got to the other north London club…and become a failure. If the stories being reported about Conte are true then you need to be rightfully concerned. He is said to be going to XXXX only after the club agreed to appoint a backroom of his choosing, including the DoF , a… Read more »
For some reason I don’t see Haaland as a superstar for one of the Spanish clubs. Their superstars tend to be mostly from either Latin America or Southern Europe if you look throughout their recent history. Real Madrid in particular don’t forget operate just as much as a global brand as they do a football club. Mbappe is much more likely to be Real’s superstar signing imo. From Haaland’s infatuation with the PL from his old man and following Leeds as a kid to being a fluent English speaker to his general personality, think that he is much more likely… Read more »
Mr Serge
“Diss i really hope you are wrong and we do not wait for Ode this season is shit or bust for MA he must know this”
Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior; Arteta waited too long for Auoar last summer until Edu broke the deadlock and got Partey at the 11th hour. I hope they have learned from it but I think the manager truly wants Ode. and may fall into the dame trap.
Wenger Eagle
“I don’t see Dortmund letting him leave this summer unless a crazy offer came in which is unlikely as he apparently has a 75m release clause that is activated next summer. They are already going to be losing Sancho, losing both would bury them for next season.”
That’s precisely why he will go this summer.
They can easily get over 100 million this summer so why wait till next summer to get 75 million?
Dissenter
Because keeping Haaland would be the difference between them falling out of the CL spots or not and that would be worth a hell of a lot more to Dortmund than an extra 25m would.
Mazraoui is a top shout for a RB, would be a really smart pick up and alternative to spunking 40m on Aarons.
Probably could be gotten for half the price and actually has CL experience to boot.
Weagle
Not sure CL experience is really the sell for guys elevating us mate lol PL experience far more apt.
Charlie
Aarons has had one mediocre PL season, hardly a wealth of experience is it?
At least Mazraoui has played at the top level of club football i.e Champions League knockouts.
Weagle
Aarons wasn’t the sole target I was referring to. I’m simply saying CL experience is kind of here nor there for any signings this summer.
If a player has 3 years CL football or 3 years Prem football I know which one I’m leaning towards all being equal.
Charlie
Sure, not disputing that but how many top RB’s are there in the PL not at a top club right now?
Aarons hasn’t done close to enough to justify a massive outlay on him as of now, he didn’t even have a great Championship season unlike Buendia.
We can afford to raid the continent for a RB for sure we got rid of a lot of non HG players in Jan
Weagle
I’ve said my bit on RB’s for the club already, think we’d be daft to spend money there this window with the issues in CM and attack.
Charlie
Mazraoui in for 20-25m and Bellerin out for 15m would be great business imo, significant upgrade and Mazraoui has plenty of scope for improvement/resale value being 23.
RB isn’t a massive priority compared to other positions but it is a position that we need to upgrade too. Chambers, Cedric and Bellerin are all average to poor.
Charlie
Yea if we don’t fix that CM position then most likely whatever else we do elsewhere would be in vain. That’s literally our Achilles heel.
I think RB is one of the 4 positions we should cover whatever the circumstances including 2 cm and an am as well hell we need a striker as well
Calvert lewin would be a good shout although not prolific he will Bering our attack mixed players into the game and allow them to score more
Weagle
I don’t disagree, I’m just not bothered by Cedric and Chambers being the options at RB for a league season of it means we can nail some genuinely good reinforcements through the middle of the side.
Ideally we land a CM, AM, and CF/LW (depending on outgoings) this summer before we touch anything else.
Obviously not blind to the GK situation, CB situation, or indeed RB longer term. Just would personally add the former first, deals like Onana aside of course. Chump change and should be done no questions assuming he’s the right quality.
CC
I’m with you…fix the mid-field first with two quality buys and the fullback positions can be addressed as a bonus
I think we should balance a bit of proven PL quality like Buendia with some continental bargains personally
If we buy only PL we’re probably only getting 3 quality players but if we balance that with European bargains you can probably stretch that to at least 4
Just watched the highlights of Saka’s performance last night
What a fucking player. Every time someone pulls out an opinion based entirely on stats without it also passing the eye test you should remind them of Saka.
As far as I know his numbers are good but not amazing. But you watch the kid play and he’s just fabulous. No amount of numbers on a table will tell you the full story.
Great great talent
I cannot remember their name or handles but a poster on here summed it up. Mike built his team around Xhaka. A slow as molasses player who never ventures too far forward, to avoid getting burned on a counter as he is slow as mud. Isnt this the crux of the issues we have as a team? A slow, CM, who does not attack, does very little defending, is a libability on both sides of the coin. Getting rid of him should be step 1. If not, Mike will try to square peg it again, to make it work. Its… Read more »
we sign these 2 alone, Buendia and Anguissa and we move the ball much better- and become more offensive… and have more options… these 2 are dibblers!
Guns ‘ I agree with everyone’
Wtf this is le grove we’re not all supposed to agree with each other. There’s gotta be a bit of hate and contrarianism or this place will fall apart
…
Fuck you!!!
NorthbankerJune 2, 2021 20:06:26
SidFrom Wikipedia ( but you
Can find numerous other
Examples
Thanks for this bro, i highly appreciate this bro.
Its called gas lighting China. Start the war!
Haha
I don’t think we’ve ever disagreed on anything… breakfast club rarely does
what time is it where you are?
9:10pm here in cali as of this post
12:15pm
Technically breakfast club is supposed to be us fuckers in similar time zones in Asia like Tony, Moray etc you’re you’re an honourary member!!
Who was it the other day who was advising me to try Lagavulin whisky?
I had lagavulin 8 and arran 10 last Saturday and they were both gorgeous for very different reasons
haha just chilling with the laptop in bed, nighly routine while the TV is being hogged by others. …
Cell phone hurts my old eyes.
For sure, at night there is what I call the “night crew”
Wengereagle Mazraoui is not moving for 20 to 25 mil. He is being qouted at 15 mil. To be honest I would not mind him at all. All the RBs we are targeting are young and need time. If it was that then spending 30 mil is disarming yourself of funds for other positions. Aaron’s Lamptey and Emerson royal ( who Barca signed) were the realistic targets. We were ever getting Hakimi. All aren’t the finished article. And they would all cost at least 25 mil. So Mazraoui or Celik at 15 mil is a decent shout as any of… Read more »
I find my work gives me a headache from concentrating too much for the whole day, so need to take periodic 15 min breaks to stop myself going crazy and usually hop on here or check the news
Habesha yeah saka is a nailed on superstar
just read click bait that Norwich want a figure that starts with the number 3 for Aarons and Buendia
So the speculation is that both can be had for 60M
I say do it… both are young, tested, and major upside.
If KSE wants to throw us a bone, get these 2. We can pick up Anguissa with player sales, etc or even Bissouma.
There is an interesting dichotomy between what fans want and what the Kroenke’s want. We all want new players and success on the field but my view is that their priority is how to address the the enviable protests and abuse that will come their way once the stadium reopens. we have previous in this regard. We bought Ozil the week after we were beaten at home by Villa a while back. It was a buy to shut the fans up. This season will be the same. They will not want a toxic stadium with banners wanting the owners out.… Read more »
Wenger used to love a good trolley dash after getting exposed for a shitty summer
That’s why we got arteta in the first place
China1
I am a fan of Lagavulin. Delicious.
Good Morning All First I would like to see Arsenal finalise contract negotiations with Smith-Rowe as soon as possible. That should be a priority. Second the situation with Xhaka needs to be sorted out quickly. If he wants to leave and Roma want him that is fine by me so long as they are paying a realistic price. Pedro makes the case that Arsenal have become a “soft touch” when selling players and I agree 100% with that statement. If he leaves then we need to find a replacement, because we don’t have squad players to replace him in the… Read more »
Emiratestroller
Why not convince AMN to stay , he can deputise as LB when required . He will be a good squad player , not wanting to start every game and also add to homegrown player quota. Add Willock , Partey and another CM and we have good solid Midfield. with ESR and Ødegaard both expected at CAM . Also frees Saka to play upfront . But we at Arsenal want to sell 4 Midfield players in Torreria , Guendouzi , Xhaka and Elneny without first looking for replacement.
Mazroui is good but african….we cant fill our team with african players and then when they jet off to afcon our season gpes to shite
Forgot to mention Senor Ceballos , who has gone as well. Only at Arsenal.
There’s about zero benefits in keeping AMN. Its lose-lose situation for both, the club and the player.
He will not start in Midfield, he is stagnating, and he is not a good enough cover at LB.
The club can buy a backup LB for less than 40% of transfer fees recouped from AMN ( assuming we sell him for 15-20 mil). + They also offload an unhappy player and get in a proper LB cover instead of a makeshift one.
Yeah agreed sell amn ESR needs a contract asap as does saka
Conte is favouring a move to the scum hopefully they get poch instead and then Conte can go psg
Don’t want Conte as crazy as he is anywhere near the scum
Altos
Agreed. I think that is why we are looking st Berge over Bissouma even though Bissouma is clearly the better player rn..
If we sign Bissouma, we’ll lose TP, Bissouma and Elneny for around 2 months when the Afcon rolls around ( scheduled next Jan) . Thats 3 of 4 Midfield pivot options. Arteta might have to get on the field himself and I’m sure nobody wants that.
These Sterling rumours need to stop 🤢🤮
I’m not a big fan of international football, but Tierney and Saka both played so well yesterday. KT in particular MOTM at LCB.
Lagavulin 18 or Laphroaig 18 are without question my two favourite single malts. A dram or two of either every night helps keep things serene. The peat smoke from both is top level, and not for the faint-hearted though.
Divine Sherlock
Arsenal have offered AMN every opportunity to play full-back, but the player does not want to play in that position.
He is not good enough to play for us in midfield where he wants to play. The club needs to
recruit better quality in that department.
AMN has made it also clear that he wants to leave.
CT
Is Egypt in Africa?
CT
AMN is an excellent cover for both LB and RB.
His only issue is that he wants to play in the mid. In such a situation, we can only let him go as we are not going to play him in the position that he wants.
CT – ignore my remark.
Jamie I like my peaty whiskies to be intense. It’s why I found Lagavulin 8 quite preferable to Talisker 10. Talisker tastes very refined and it’s very nice but for peaty whisky I believe he should carry a punch which Talisker 10 doesn’t for me
Captain Tierney
So we sell a player who can play at LB and in CM and buy second choice LB and make him stagnate ? AMN has done well when called upon and not every player needs to be a starter . Look at Chambers , Coquelin comes to mind , Even Holding . If he shows willingness to do the job we should keep him .
China,
If you love peaty, smoky whiskies, Skye isn’t the region for you. Islay malts are flavourtown for me. Nothing else comes close.
Bruichladdich is also good. Bowmore not quite as intense – my wife loves it.
Emiratestroller
Its only that AMN doesnt figure in Arteta’s plans is why we are selling him . If Arteta shows faith in him , we can get a good squad player out of him .
Amn is a good player at RB and LWB but he is not a good cover.
And the way Arteta wants our LB to play, he is a very poor option.
The reason I say player and not cover is because he wants to start every game ( which is great), but when he is utilised as a cover or a backup his concentration and application has been found wanting.
So he is a good player and could have become our first choice RB, but his attitude to always start means he can’t be a cover.
Divine Sherlock
The debate about AMN has been ongoing for too long. Also AMN has had in past “concentration” issues when playing in defence.
I am all for retention of home grown players. We have three others on books in Saka, Smith-rowe and Willock.
There are others in pipeline who can join first team squad in next one or two years, but sadly none appear to be defenders. The nearest is Ballard a CB who played well for Blackpool, but
is not realistically Arsenal First Team level.
CT / Emiratestroller
I am not saying he should start , I know he has issues but if he is willing to work for his place then why not do that. Man played in a FA Cup final and semis is what I am saying.
LCB is maybe a good potential long term option for Tierney if we follow Chavs and use a back three. We won the FA cup with him there and it may place less strain on his body than LWB or LB.
AMN is history at Arsenal so lets move on.
Everyone ignoring the fact AMN wants to play CM?
We won’t keep him as a back up full back because he isn’t a full back.
Personally I’d love it if he agreed to fulfill a Phil Neville type role at arsenal but he’s not down with that unfortunately.
Luis Campos apparently in talks with Arsenal
An experienced DOF with a proven track record, is the best signing we could make