Daniel Ek, Spotify mastermind, is back with another bid for Arsenal FC. Is this interesting? Could be. I’m not deeply entrenched in the world of billionaire behaviour, but there are rumblings that KSE might not be as entrenched in the idea of holding onto Arsenal forever as they project.
Understand their vision of sport.
Locked finances. No promotion or relegation. A consistent flow of revenue every year. NO INVESTMENT.
They bought Arsenal, watched it appreciate at breakneck speed, but the vibe in the game at the moment is that maybe the growth years are grinding to a halt. Amazon didn’t want in on the Super League. Clubs are reeling from the pandemic, just look at the whining from the Juve hierachy. The Super League, for the moment, is dead.
To bring Arsenal back to the top is going to take a lot of money. More money than the pittance KSE will put forward for us this summer. That takes deep pockets and deep dedication. I’m not sure the KSE group has either of those when it comes to Arsenal.
So whilst I think £2bn seems low for Arsenal, don’t totally rule it out. Daniel Ek, you would imagine, must have had some sort of encouragement, otherwise, what is the fucking point? It’s not giving him a bump in stock price for Spotify, he doesn’t need a profile massage, and it costs money to put these sorts of deals together.
Remember, Stan Kroenke told St. Louis he’d never move the Rams until he did.
Onto transfer news… there’s not a lot going on. Arsenal seems to be making moves in silence. There aren’t many clues as to who is going and staying.
Granit Xhaka is causing the most panic for some odd reason. Arsenal fans just love to whine. 99% of fans have spent his entire career moaning about how we’ve nosedived to a non-Champions League club since he joined, now they’re panicking because the stats nerds are championing his progressive passing. Stockholm Syndrome well and truly out in force. He’s a solid player, but his limitations have been costly. The errors in his game never went. We can replace him. 25m euros is good money for someone who will be 29 in September.
It’s also interesting watching people cry about the Matteo G fee like it’s Arsenal’s fault. Joe Willock goes out on loan for 6 months and moves from a £10m player to a £25m one. Matteo G, total hot shit for a while, goes out on loan for an entire season, absolutely soils his reputation, and is now worth £8m. No big clubs are eyeing a 22-year-old bargain and none of the elite feeder clubs are willing to take a chance. If this is an Arteta problem, why haven’t any of the major coaches spied an error in the system?
Unai Emery, flush with Champions League cash has ignored him. Sven Mislintat, who certainly has £8m, has also ignored him. Why?
… because talented dickheads are not tolerated in 2021.
The big move, that just dropped, is Arsenal are being linked to Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella. Mike had him in yesterdays epic scouting report.
‘A tigerish CM who has elbowed his way into a very competitive Italian national team due to his all-round game and reliability. A technically excellent midfielder who will remind you of the much loved Cazorla as he switches the ball from right to left with such natural confidence. At Arsenal he could play as a playmaker or likely in a two but with his elite technical level he could play anywhere. Such fun to watch so take a look…’
It’s hard to judge his pace, because Italy is painfully slow, but my word is the boy talented. He’s aggressive, has an outrageous range of passing and he just won the Serie A title. Absolute class, he’ll drop a big performance this summer, it seems too clever to be a link worth taking seriously, but we’ll see.
Ainsley has been complaining in the press about the lack of contact from Arsenal.
‘I want a decision. I want some clarity. I would like some kind of indication of what is happening. Where they [Arsenal] see me. If it works out it works out, if it doesn’t then kiss Arsenal goodbye.’
Pretty sure Mikel Arteta is on his first family holiday in 2 years, so not really shocked Ainsley hasn’t had a phone call yet. But I suspect we’ll see him exited this summer if he keeps up the pressure on wanting to play as a centre midfielder. Hopefully we can land a good fee if that’s the case, we have to make the most of the homegrown premium this summer.
There’s also a link to Alexander Isak, who scored 17 goals for Sociedad this season. The Swedish striker is having a great year. He’s tall, boasts power, tight control, and excellent technique. Reminds me a bit of Adebayor with the range of goals he’s produced. I can see why he’d be interesting a club that doesn’t really have a powerhouse forward to lead the frontline unless you count Martinelli as a #9. I think a lot of big things would have to happen for us to shell out on a major forward. Flo Balogun didn’t sign a new deal to be Eddie’d this season, he’s expecting minutes and he’ll get them. I’m also not sure we’ll find a buyer for Auba or Lacazette. Those huge deals have minimal chance of being replicated in a bankrupt Europe this summer, so I suspect we’ll keep things the same there.
I think that’s all I have? See you in the comments. Listen to the podcast below.
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hi
could it be?
maybe?
tro4hy
wow!!😂💪
Hello?
Pedro winning the day with that title.
Quick, someone alert snowman
Agreed Sal, Eksellent headline.
I would dearly love to see someone else in control. For too long KSE have just been too passive in accepting mediocrity and failure. I’ve tried implementing various management strategies in work before. Tried to introduce new processes to make things happen in a particular way, to reduce points of failure etc. Some of it worked well, some of it worked just ok, some didn’t really work at all. The biggest problem though was when one of my bosses was completely apathetic to doing anything other than getting through a week and had no real desire to make things better.… Read more »
I hate the silly season…but at least they’re a bit more interesting now, than under Wenger.
Danny ek, it’s hard to see a situation where if he became owner he wouldn’t do what he’s done at spots. At least it’s keeping the pressure on but I wanna see where this process goes first. xhaka and gwen are too symbolic of the clown juice that has flooded the Emirates. I can’t wait to see what this midfield will look like come the end of the window. so much speculation though I think it will be ruben ruben, sander and martin and I hope Niles is ready to be a rightback finally. Jeez, that dude, the levels of… Read more »
“Agreed Sal, Eksellent headline“
Not bad but I would’ve gone with “Ek eked out some extra £ to further annoy Stan”
If were in for Barella why the Ek not go all in and double down with Bronzovic as well.
Springs to mind the moment we bagged Cazorla, Ahern said on here we should get Isco as well Malaga need the cash. And 95% of Le Grove said whats an Isco?
Extra! Extra! Eccentric Ek Ekes out Extra Earnings Earning KSE Ire with Express Intent of Executive Eclipse (EXCLUSIVE)
Daniel Egg too simple perhaps?
Sal
Before he got too fond of the gormet Paella and Churros, Isco Disco was the sauciest footballer since Iniesta in his pomp.
Peaked around 2017 but what a maestro. 2013-2017 Isco with Santi and Ozil would have been fun to watch.
“Bring Big Bad Bastard Brozovic to give our Boys a Boost! Boorish Bore Xhaka not fit to Brandish his Boots!” says Big Sal
Did you mean ……Irksome Ek Ekes out….
*Big Sal Bonpensiero.*
Really Tom you’re going to make me start over? ffs
😂
WE — Few remember now but Isco was a real baller before he took on a Rich Harden style physique. Happened to Hazard too, come to think. Too much good food in Madrid.
Eagle
Absolutely correct, pure sauce in those days. Dripping, to think we’d just lost Cesc as well.
For the record I have it on good account that Isco is the culprit who funded the 2x Churros carts adjacent to players entrance at the Bernabau. The rest is history.
I’m dying, Sal may have to rebrand before sunset.
Dan
Was just comical having Jimmy Harden roll up to the start of the season looking like Rick Ross’s ‘Before’ transformation photo and fresh off hitting up every strip club in Portland and still dropping 40+ pts and 15+ assists on the Trail Blazers.
Dude is a different breed.
test
Sal
Marcelo, Isco and Hazard are all silent partners.
Big Benz allegedly had to be dragged out kicking and screaming by Zizou after getting the waft of freshly fried Churros all the way down from Ciudad Real Madrid and skipping training.
Surprised Arne Maier hasn’t gotten a mention with us yet. Linked with him under Sven very highly rated and I saw some of him in the recent euro under 21’s and hes built like an Olympic runner. Fucker ran over 9 miles in the semis
Fucking hell I’m back and it’s only been a couple of weeks! Pedro – Agree with your take that maybe the Kronke’s aren’t finding running Arsenal quite as simple as they thought it might be I’d only add that they allowed the club to spend big a couple of seasons ago and it didn’t get us back into the CL, they allowed the club to spend money it didn’t have last summer and it didn’t get us back into the CL – if ST renewals aren’t a strong as they expected they might just decide to walk away with a… Read more »
because talented dickheads are not tolerated in 2021.
There’s so many talented twats in football who get tolerated it’s not even funny.
Not a chance of Barella he’s too good for us and Isak would be an outstanding signing but will cost a fortune
Marko
Football’s full of dickheads that aren’t talented – in fact finding one with talent is quite unusual.
WE — lmao, what a guy. A tiny bit like husky Henry coming back to the Arse for one last ride and still netting with his trademark shot.
Dan
Ah yes, the season that Song morphed into prime Cesc with his through-balls, what a time to be alive.
Right now Sabitzer makes the most sense but are we even interested? Probably still waiting for him to get hit on that dartboard in Mikel and Edu’s office
“Marcelo, Isco and Hazard are all silent partners.”
Explains it really, Bale on his kale chips and green juice still couldn’t keep up with team Churros.
Lol Sal. In all seriousness don’t think that it is any great coincidence that so many of Real’s stars like Bale, Marcelo and Isco fell off so hard. Must take a really dedicated pro bordering on obsessional like Ronaldo to still be hungry and treat each season as if it is your first when you are sitting on 4 Champions League titles and multiple leagues. Isco and Marcelo strike me as party types as well that at the best of times need arms around the shoulder and extrinsic motivation. Think with Bale that it was a combination of that, getting… Read more »
Lol. Bale never learned Spanish and it ended up saving his career as he could never order churros, porras, palmeras, nada!!
I need you all to put some respek on Marcelo’s name though, he was still elite going into his early 30s. Pretty high-calibre compared to the fatties who dropped off in their late 20s.
WE
You know what they need to keep them motivated – a manager with real sauce.
Absolutely no point in longing for good signings. Arsenal will almost certainly disappoint us.
Top 4 ?
Regards
Snowman
“I need you all to put some respek on Marcelo’s name though”
👆🏼
Agreed Dan. Marcelo was elite until he was 30 which for a partyboi Brazilian baller who age in dog years is impressive.
Marc
Zizou’s sauce reserve dried out the moment he lost the last follicle on his noggin’.
You can’t blame Roberto Martinez for trying to delay the inevitable for as long as he did.
“Agreed Dan. Marcelo was elite until he was 30 which for a partyboi Brazilian baller who age in dog years is impressive.”
Just how fucking old is Willian then?
ZZ will still drip sauce well after they throw the dirt over him.
Now Barella would get me a bit moist.
However why would he come to arsenal?
He won’t Danny. Literally a half dozen names on that scouting list yesterday that if they went on the open market bigger and better clubs would snap them up over us Barrella included
Dani Alves was waaaayy better , top top top player in words of Monsieur Wenger .
Odds on Barella leaving Inter not great, odds on Barella joining Arsenal probably slightly better than miniscule.
But fuck i’ll take that link all day, exact profile hoping we bring in.
sal
Why would a player with a top profile, playing at a club with CL football etc and competing join Arsenal right now?
I really don’t know why people pushing these links.
Pedro
Whatever happens , the bid is well timed. It will force the Kroenkes to do something.
The old silent routine won’t work this time, especially when you’ve got an actual arsenal fan backed by much loved former players putting a realistic bid in.
Josh has said on several occasions that arsenal should be ‘excited’. I’m assuming he’s not referring to one of his own training ground pep talks, so it’s time to show us exactly what he means.
alexanderhenry
One of the guy’s I go with has not renewed for next season – I haven’t spoke to him so don’t know the exact reasons but I know “extreme apathy” will be a part of it.
He’s been a ST holder since the early eighties.
If we are going to bin Xhaka, the replacement must be a clear upgrade, because what was the point of binnig Le coq when we did.
Neves is not an OBVIOUS upgrade.
Marc Maybe your friend not renewing is a bit like a litmus test. People like him are the club’s bread and butter. I think Kroenke and co. have to react to this bid. Either sell up or commit more to arsenal. Fans aren’t just going to shrug their shoulders if KSE do what they usually do- namely, do and say nothing. Of course I’d be over the moon if they sell up but I do have mixed feelings about Ek. Having said that, right now, the club is in the doldrums,. This is primarily down to years of negligence and… Read more »
PedRo “””””Pretty sure Mikel Arteta is on his first family holiday in 2 years, so not really shocked Ainsley hasn’t had a phone””””” Well he can’ t be in that much need of a holiday he only manages from Christmas to May. Anyway can’ t Edu use the phone to tell AMN whats going on? At least these 2 dopes should comminicate with the players (especially the younger ones ) to tell them if they are or aren’t needed and they can look elsewhere etc. Professional courtesy and all that. 10/10 for the headline. (Lets hope a deal is possible… Read more »
Marc, Clubs are hurting after past year and half, this market has potential of being quite unusual in terms of norms from many accounts. Add in the x factor of the Kroenkes quite possibly feeling need to make statement (hard to take that one serious I know). Regarding Barella apparently Inter must sell to overcome financial crisis, not touching on whatever wage he’s on and willingness to upgrade. Won the title and their gift was chairman asking players to forgo 2x months salary with sales imminent. Conte walked, Hakimi and Lautaro look first to exit, hard to say what follows… Read more »
“Well he can’ t be in that much need of a holiday he only manages from Christmas to May.”
CG absolutely fucking nailing it and Pedro to the wall!
sal
Mate you’re confused – Arteta’s only been in charge of Arsenal for the last 18 months not all clubs.
(Dont get me into trouble Walt!)
Good news about Ek. Something is brewing……
alexander
I’d love to know what the wider uptake of ST’s is – it’s not just apathy there will be those who have taken a financial hit due to COVID and can’t afford to renew although the club have offered the chance to take a “season off” although how they tally that with getting new people to take up a ticket when they could lose it in a year I don’t know.
Neves will not get anyone’s panties moist but you cannot say he is not an obvious upgrade to Xhaka.
When putting things to the eye test and purely looking at stats, Neves stats were just about equal to Xhaka’s in a team who average under 50% possession a game and were primarily a counter attacking team.
In a team with some pace up front his long balls will be deadly, he rarely makes a mistake and in a team who actually attempts (emphasis on ATTEMPTS) to possess the ball, one would expect Neves numbers to increase and surpass Xhaka’s.
https://www.arsenalinsider.com/features/arsenal-star-granit-xhaka-vs-wolves-ruben-neves-stats-comparison/, ArsenalInsider seems to agree with my thoughts, so naturally, in Le-Grove fashion, I will post this here and ignore all other commenters from this point forward until someone calls me a name. ;p
Neves will not get anyone’s panties moist but you cannot say he is not an obvious upgrade to Xhaka.
This. And he’s only 24. Lots of growing to do yet.
” I will post this here and ignore all other commenters from this point forward until someone calls me a name. ;p”
You are a wanker!
Well you did ask?
Oh Marc you’r confused constantly twisting everything into A R T E T A. He’ll live or die by Christmas, supporters in the ground will ultimately see to that.
The more interesting part is whose on the roster to actually play for whatever follows, if Arteta survives finding his path he’ll be one or two non-negotiables wiser.
If we can pull off some decent transfer business or get Kroenke out, I will definitely be doing some wanking, Marc.
I appreciate you looking out for my sexual health and well being. Cheers mate!
“Neves would really be a solid replacement for Xhaka. Both players are fairly similar with respect to their brilliance on the ball, quality in their long shots and ability to control the game from a deeper area.” Are the people that write this stuff mentally unbalanced? Xhaka is not brilliant on the ball he can make a decent pass if given a shit load of time but he’s hardly going to get on anyone’s (who’s not a retard anyway) list of top passers, his long shots do me a favour in his 5 seasons he’s scored (reverse order) 1,1,4,1,2 goals… Read more »
sal
I think Arteta will be under serious pressure by late October which will be doubled if we have a new owner.
The results are shit and so is the football shit. Most fans I know are taking a similar approach to you giving him till Christmas – I say why wait for what we all know is going to happen.
Not sure if this was mentioned earlier but all six ‘Super League’ clubs fined 22.5 million between them, any future attempts to join a super league would mean a £30 million fine and points deductions.
The general disenchantment with the Super League may have lost the club some ST holders also.
The first part of the post is fascinating Pedro. Why would the Kroenkes hold on to a diminishing asset ? The only way to stop the rot is to throw massive amounts of money at it. Thus isn’t their gig. They must realise they are in for serious shite once the stadium opens. If I were them I’d sell.
Here’s the conundrum: if big-time football has massive finance problems why pay two billion for a club like Arsenal? When it comes to money on the table, is Ek serious?
I say ‘a club like Arsenal’ because it appears to have massive debts plus the need for major investment.
Okay, wot-the-Ek says he is a besotted fan, but hey, he’s a business man too. So what’s his angle? Everything he’s said and done so far is like a well-oiled PR exercise. We fans are notable for our naivete. Time to wise-up, gentlemen.
Bard
“They must realise they are in for serious shite once the stadium opens. ”
If they’re not there it won’t affect them – having 50,000 calling you a wanker if you can’t hear them doesn’t really do much however if fans don’t renew or don’t turn up it’ll hurt them.
ST revenue will already be massive down without people binning them off.
eb
The argument will be as always “I can do a much better job, turn it around and generate fresh income sources” whether that is true or not is another conversation altogether.
Right now Uefa are cock-a-hoop. A bit like the EU bureaucrats were pre-Boris. But the threat remains: how will the major leagues survive without the major clubs. And right now the major Clubs (barring those with benevolent owners) are struggling to survive.
Pan-Europe leagues are a kind of last resort, a golden egg waiting to be opened. Not the botched Americanised ‘owner-first’ version, but ones with a proper competitive agenda.
I thought there was a big waiting list for season tickets?
Left It all depends on the make up of the waiting list. My nephew is on the waiting list but only because I made him a JG when he was 2 days old- he’s 11 now but that doesn’t mean he’ll be taking up a ST any time soon. How many might have joined 5 plus years ago but now find their circumstances different – now married got kids etc? Then there’s the other issue – we’re wank right now the idea of forking out £1000 – £3000 might have seemed a great idea a few years ago but now… Read more »
In the middle tier club level there are ST available but they start at £2100 to £3000 once they get all the renewals in there will be availablity
The waiting lists are usually for the cheaper season tickets you could wait years for them
marc
If that’s his belief, then he is an even bigger optimist tan I am
Marc
“ I think Arteta will be under serious pressure by late October which will be doubled if we have a new owner.”
If ek takes over I think arteta will be sacked pretty much straight away , Henry , vieira and bergkamp seem to have his ear and I’m not saying any of them should or will get the job but you can tell all of them have voiced disapproval of the way we play and would at least advise to look elsewhere
Give Arteta till Christmas? I’ll give him 10 minutes when I’m in the stadium in August.
Henley
I’m going to be on his case 10 minutes before kickoff!
bill
So how long before Pedro turns on a bid by Ek?
Vieira, Henry, Bergkamp are like the beautiful models draped over cars at the Motor Show. Eye-catchers, that’s all.
eb
Agree – If he does buy out the club his first action has to be the appointment of a top level DOF and then let him appoint a new coach.
Vieira is pretty much the same than Arteta. The football will be dreadful. Nice before him were famed for exciting football. He joined and straight away non only the performance are not as good, but the football is drab. Since he is gone, his successor made the team watchable football and the results were much better. The big caveat is that his successor was able to make big changes in personnel. The catalyst was the arrival of Saliba and Jean-Clair Todibo as CB on Loan from respectively Arsenal and Barcelona. It pains me to state that Vieira is unlikely to… Read more »
Ineoild not want Henry or Vieira anywhere near us as managers we need a winner not another rookie in charge if the caviat for getting Kronkes out is having one of those 2 in charge no thanks
I would not is the first words i meant above
I started to question Arteta’s ability to manage when he repeatedly emphasised that his starting line up will be picked solely on who performs best on the training ground. That doesn’t work for me , though of course you don’t want players strolling around with their hands in their pockets taking the piss. Personally, I would prefer our most creative players to save their creativity for match days …WHEN IT MATTERS.. I would prefer players like Tierney , Partey etc to conserve some energy for match days….WHEN IT MATTERS. I don’t want to continually read about our players suffering injuries… Read more »
Pierre
As always with Arteta there’s a bit of sense in what he say’s but it’s just put across piss poorly. The idea that the players who are performing well will be rewarded and selections will be made on that not reputations is good.
Biggest problem with Arteta is not only does he put across his ideas so badly but he doesn’t even follow his own rules.
More Xhaka tripe.from same article from someone who clearly does not watch him play every game.
His passing, predictably, was his standout trait. Xhaka averaged 70.6 passes per game with a stunning accuracy of 90.2%
Yes because probably 60 of those 70 passes are sideways or backwards to Partey or Gabriel. Totally nothing player who like many I will be glad to see gone.
Yes to EK but not if a heavily leveraged buyout with bank funding as we will be MU but without the income.
Serge
Always easier to change a manager than an owner.
Foxy
Can someone explain to me how Xhaka’s described as having a “good” long shot on him? He averages just over a single league goal a season.
Marc I think when he first joined he banged one in from distance, that had us all fooled.
Pierre, I like my creative players to do it on match days as well, so I’m happy we moved on Mesut Ozil who has managed 8 assists in 3 seasons.
Our midfield’s inability to score has been our undoing for the last few seasons to be honest i.e. not just Xhaka.
Marc, weird that none of the players seem confused by his ideas. Ceballos said he was going to be one of the best coaches in the world and even Mustafi called him phenomenal. Not to mention Smith Rowe who raved about him and is about the sign a new deal. Saka who committed to us. Martinelli, who gave us his next 5 years. Flo Balogun who took a chance despite no games.
The picture you paint doesn’t marry to any of the news that comes out of the club, because the picture you paint is untrue.
Imagine thinking there’s been a good enough maverick talent at Arsenal to half arse training and dominate matches.
Weirdly enough Tierney, Saka, ESR, and Partey all deliver in training and in games. Someone should have a word and tell them to mail it in daily so they’re sharp for Saturday kickoff.
I have no doubt that Arteta has the young players entranced by his Pep school of coaching wisdom, but can he manage a team to consistently perform and win games. So far it appears maybe not.
Pedro
Have you ever worked for a great company but under a terrible manager who’s going to be sacked in a few months?
In those circumstances do you make the right noises or do you come out and call him a cunt?