Say what? NO TRANSFER RUMOURS?
Completely disagreeable I’m afraid.
The big story from an Arsenal perspective is that Kieran Tierney is out of the team for Scotland. I really wish he hadn’t made the Euros, I do worry about him for next season. So important, yet so prone to 6 weeks out. That’s why Arsenal needs to really think about who they sign as his understudy. I remember we wasted literally years in the hope Abou Diaby would be able to manage a whole season in the first team, we never signed a good backup, and we paid for it. The back-up position for left back needs to be well thought out. If you sign someone young and Tierney stays fit, you’ve ruined their career. If you sign someone too old and Tierney gets injured, you might be in trouble. If you keep Kola, it’s trouble.
Overall, it’s going to be interesting to see how the pacing of the summer goes. How many years did we spend cursing the Euros for fucking up our transfer business? This season, we have the double whammy with the Copa America in the mixer as well. The problem for Arsenal is that the slower the business, the more painful it’ll be integrating 5+ new players to the complex ideas on offer under Arteta. I will not lie, I’m a little worried that our business doesn’t feel warm and it’s mid-June.
Part of the pacing could be solved by signing players who already understand these systems. Ben White would make sense because Potter’s approach is very similar to the one Arteta is implementing. Signing players goes beyond just an athletic profile / how tight their control is, you also need to find players that are tactically intelligent so they can absorb information fast. I was in Austin a few months ago talking to a drummer at one of their famous studios (Arlyn), he said to make it there, you need to be able to lay down a perfect beat from sheet music instantly, or you don’t get work again (turns out, I will not be working in music). You need similar mind sponges in football. The fixtures come at you so fast, if you’re not a fast learner, you are in trouble especially where the game is heading.
There continues to be a pattern emerging with the sort of attacking player we’re looking at. Nabil Fekir is the latest bang-bang creative midfielder being linked. I’m not sure if the story is true, but Charles Watts reckons he’s been on the list in the past. I kind of hope he’s not on the list, 27 years old, with an underlying injury that would most certainly come out of hibernation if he played for us. That said, I like how he plays. Arsenal has been a lethargic team for a long while. We need some of that Bielsa/murderball in the starting 11.
There are still quite a few nothing rumours in the air. Locatelli for £40m is one of them. The craziest thing that happened today was Granit Xhaka dying his hair bleach blonde. I quite like it. New hair who dis type of moment. Whatever floats your boat.
ONE SURPRISE YOU MIGHT like is this delightful podcast I recorded with the very impressive Mike McDonald. I basically listen to him talk about midfielders for an hour. Tune in, it is WORTH it.
Tomorrow, Johnny and I will have a crack at a Livestream. Will let you know how it works out. I had a go today and couldn’t do the technology part.
ENJOY THE PODCAST!
Emirates Two of your loquacious posts contain more words than all the posts I put up in a day. ‘ Personally I want to see Arsenal do well.’ ..and the rest of us want Arsenal do badly? Therein lies the basis behind your bullshit peacock behaviors on this site over the years. From rejecting Usmanov to wanting us to keep Alexis and jumping all over the European soccer league….you really want us to do well. By all means let’s say NO to Roma and let Xhaka walk away for free in two years. Why don’t you just stick to boasting… Read more »
If we say NO to Roma, then the club should commission our very own eminent Emirates Stroller to find a better deal for him.
In better his 500 word posts, a revelation will hit him in the bollocks and he’ll sell him for £25 million
I know why Arteta suddenly decides to keep Xhaka. KT is injured again!
It’s like this blog has no memory. No more than a few weeks ago, people were rightly saying how bad a move was signing Bertrand and Pedro and his minions were doing the usual accusing of people being doom mongers. ‘He’s only going to be a back up’ etc…
Whoever is ‘back up’ for Tierney is very likely to end up playing half the games. That why people were people were slating the Bertrand rumour. Not that hard to understand is it??
Yeah people talk about a back up LB but really it’s a job share.
That player needs to be as good as kt.
ES, I have no problem with Xhaka staying and being an option in CM. I don’t think he’ll ever agree on staying if we sign a Bissouma/Anguissa/40m player. He wants to leave as it is. Which I respect. Expensive players should never be content on being reserves. If you are a Soares and you come on a free in the last years of your career, it makes sense to be a reserve. But Xhaka was a 40m player 5 years ago. He should always move to clubs where he will be first choice. I respect that. It’s just sad that… Read more »
Danny
If we’re going to sign a LB as good as Tierney then we might as well just sell Tierney. If the new player is as good but has better fitness he’ll be first choice.
The idea that we can have a bench full of players as good as the first choice starters is naive at best.
More than just the fees for Xhaka, the club needs him gone to free up that squad space There can;t be incomings so long as a 100k weekly misfit is around. In fairness to Xhaka, he’s taking a.hair cut too because his reported Roma wages are about half of what we pay him now. He’s desperate to leave for a job that pays a lot lower. He takes a hair cut and so should we. Just sell and move on. If Roma walk away to another transfer target, who else will come for Xhaka? The club may be asking for… Read more »
Marc “People talking about us spending over £100 million net – no chance”. It is certainly optimistic. However, this is is a really weird transfer window for so many reasons. With the added situation of the owners and the ESL, who knows really? Firstly you have the knock-on effect of the pandemic and the financial strain that has put onto so many clubs, which will impact the market and valuations. A good time to invest? Across Europe, less so perhaps the PL, there may be a reluctance to spend as they would previously with clubs trimming their squads and wage… Read more »
I would take whatever I get from Xhaka sale before he commits another gaffe at the Euros and we wont be able to sell him .
The good thing about our transfer Business is no knows what is happening so its always just a load of wild speculation. There is only one scenario where I can see the Ben white rumour being true and that is if we have a buyer and are planning to sell either Saliba or Holding. Ben white can play right back centre back and midfield but we already have Chambers who can do all that. Unless we have a bucket load of money that I don’t know about, and even if we did, 40/50 million on a centre half is Madness… Read more »
Dissenter
I think they’re are fairly substantial differences in income for overseas players in Italy (there certainly uses to be). Over here Xhaka will pretty much pay 50% on everything he earns – he could have a lower wage and actually take home as much.
Looks like we might get Lokonga for a similar fee to the amount we’ll eventually get for Xhaka. Can’t see too many people complaining if that happens!
AFC
There is a degree of logic to what you say – that doesn’t mean the Kroenke’s will take it on board.
From my point of view it’s win win – if I take a more cautious view of what we’re going to spend and I’m right then I’m not disappointed – some on here are going to be crushed. If I’m wrong happy fucking days we’ve signed a load of players – hopefully good ones.
If only AMN was fine with playing backup LB and RB. He is a useful player. Thing is, that 20m we could have cashed in keeps hurting. Wtf are we going to do with him? We had a perfect option to deal with a player who doesn’t want to be a reserve but is not good enough to be a starter and Arteta declined it…
Bob
How much do you think we’re going to get for Xhaka?
raptora
We’ll take less for AMN this summer than was on offer last, less for Xhaka than 18 months ago and will likely have to take a hit on Kolas.
We have to stop pissing money away like this.
I’ll try again!
Dissenter
I think they’re are fairly substantial differences in income tax for overseas players in Italy (there certainly uses to be). Over here Xhaka will pretty much pay 50% on everything he earns – he could have a lower wage and actually take home as much.
Marc
His take home at Roma will still be considerably lower than what he gets at Arsenal, the tax break mitigates it somewhat.
He’s taking a hair cut, which is one of the reasons I’ve always spoken up for Xhaka here.
He’s not the Mesut Ozil or Mustafi type that will drag the club over burning coals on the way out.
Marc
It’s being reported that Xhaka’s Roma salary is about £40k weekly, even with the tax break there’s no way he earns as much in Italy.
https://dailycannon.com/2021/06/granit-xhaka-takes-pay-cut-to-leave-arsenal-and-join-roma/
“Italy, however, have a special tax break for top athletes under what they call the ‘brain return’. The irony of this applying to Granit Xhaka not being lost on me.”
LOOOL
Marc, yep pragmatism is always the safest choice! There is no point being unrealistic, as you say that just guarantees disappointment but for some of us hope springs eternal. Logically, grasping the opportunity to invest is the only thing that makes any sense. Let’s hope we all get the pick-me-up we deserve.
£16m?
raptora I don’t disagree. Xhaka I am sure wants to leave Arsenal and Roma know this which is why they are offering peanuts. However, there has to be a point in time when Arsenal are not a soft touch at the negotiating table. As I posted earlier a realistic price for Xhaka is probably £17-20 million. I am sure that Roma or other clubs can afford this figure. Despite all the negative comments about Xhaka which are continuously posted on Le Grove there will be someone who is willing to pay that sort of money for him on the Continent.… Read more »
Italian law provides special tax breaks for professional athletes. 50% of their wages are ‘ignored’ for taxation purposes. For example, if you earn £1m only £500,000 is classed as taxable income. As I am not a professional athlete, I couldn’t really care I enjoy a beer and a curry too much.
Emirates
£15-£20m for a player nearing his 29th birthday with no resale value, is good business. We also get to offload his wages remember.
Xhaka and Mrs Xhaka value Rome and Italian beaches more than London and the sky pissing on them every other day.
I posted two days ago that Athletic Madrid are quoting £30 million for Trippier who is 30 years
old.
Does anyone believe seriously that he is worth more than Xhaka?
Apparently Harry Kane has been to visit Christian Eriksen in hospital. ” He’s just managing to string some words together now, so we’re happy with his progress” said Eriksen.
ES
Trippier moves forward – Xhaka moves sideways – slowly.
I only remember AMN playing LB once last season, not sure who it was against but he had a bloody shocker. Think he kept passing the ball to the opposition.
Emiratestroller
You are really overvaluing Xhaka who is nothing but a fit bloke who can pass well and commit nonsensical errors. Its like pining for Mustafi but in midfield.
This year the defence was third-best in PL WITH Leno. How much better would they have done if Arteta had managed to keep Martinez? So all the discussion on here about new outfield defenders seems weird to me. If Saliba is as good as expected, The Club has a choice of CBs the equal of any in PL. A throwback to the days of GG. The key factor in Arteta’s style is control of midfield. Partey was a giant step towards that. Xhaka is simply unsuited to the sheer pace of PL. He’d probably do well at Roma. AMN might… Read more »
As for Kevin Trippier he can play left back and right back better than Xhaka , is good from set pieces , can do crosses and long balls accurately , closes down an opponent quickly and defensively great. So yes he is worth that much.
Just watched youtube videos about Lokonga, Azeez and Guendouzi. Guendouzi appears to be way better than Lokonga. I don’t see the point of paying in excess of 10 Million euros for Lokonga when we can just trust Azeez to perform that role or Arteta and Guendouzi resolve their differences and move on. Why can’t any one at arsenal talk to Gwendouzi about discipline kid is only 22 and talented.
Almunia that is class 😂😂😂
ES. Yes.
“Apparently Harry Kane has been to visit Christian Eriksen in hospital. ” He’s just managing to string some words together now, so we’re happy with his progress” said Eriksen.”
Got to be comedy comment of the year there.
June 15, 2021 12:09:38 “Personally I want to see Arsenal do well.’..and the rest of us want Arsenal do badly?” “Therein lies the basis behind your bullshit peacock behaviors on this site over the years. From rejecting Usmanov to wanting us to keep Alexis and jumping all over the European soccer league….you really want us to do well.” “Why don’t you just stick to boasting about having Ken Friar’s phone number. You don’t have a clue how the market works, I suspect you were the one just counting the money manually.” ———— Ouch. 🙂 What a zinger of a post… Read more »
“Apparently Harry Kane has been to visit Christian Eriksen in hospital. ” He’s just managing to string some words together now, so we’re happy with his progress” said Eriksen.”
——
This made me chuckle too.
Top bins, Almunia!
Roma knows our story and is milking us for pennies.
IT shows how bad our rep is in Europe.
our players leave for free, or on the penny.
Gone are the days of having Barca etc come raid us for our talent.
Its been a decline ever since….
Without KSE investing, we will not be able to get what we need to make top 4 or 6….
SF
We don’t need money we’ve got sauce.
No matter what colour he dyes his hair. Anything between £15M-£20M is a bonus
Just saw that Ornstein said 5 hours ago that Odegaard is expected to stay at RM so we’ll have to look elsewhere. I doubt it. I think they will sell Odegaard if we/someone bids £50m or more for him.
As much as I would like our AM to not be Odegaard, because I don’t think he’s what we need at all, I’m not really sure Edu/Arteta can secure us a better AM than him.
William Carvalho is the biggest international football legend there is surely, continually picked for one of the better/best sides and his club career has peaked at Real Betis.
Massive hype merchant.
Nice one Almunia There are claims that Harry Kane and Gareth Bale were having a zoom chat the other day, just before the England game. It went something like this: “Hey, Gareth sad to hear about Prince Philip, he was a nice man. Did you do the minutes silence for him?” asked Harry. “Yes, of course, did you?” “Yeh, I tried to but it turned into a bloody nightmare.” said a very serious looking Kane. “How on earth can a minute’s silence be a nightmare?” “Well, my watch stopped halfway through it, so I was left standing there for nearly… Read more »
I thought Pedro shuts down the site because there are too many negative opinions.
This talk of 3rd best defense is misleading. We have the 3rd best defense because we defend in number, not because we defend well. In the first half of the season, we parked the bus. So any loss was generally by the odd goal. No spanking. However that was to the detriment of our attack. Our attack has been stunted because Arteta would rather lose 1-0 and be proud than running the risk of a heavy defeat. Even our goal scored for number are flattered by a few games that we won comfortably. The problem is that in the EPL… Read more »
Charlie
It feels like he’s been around since the early 90s lol. Does a job for Portugal though and is miles better than Danilo too
Personally, I’m not so much concerned about money being the issue this summer .. I’m more concerned about the number of transactions we need to complete.
We need to move out 6-10 players and bring in at least 4 or 5 .. that’s 10 -15 transactions and we are struggling to complete one with Xhaka.
Factor in also Euro’s and Copa and our DOF taking the first week off. Preseason starts July 13.. which I assume Arteta will be at.. Just don’t see it happening. As of now… have we done anything?
PhD2020 Stop being the ” intellectual clever dick” that you are. There may be a lot of faults with Arsenal past and present, but one thing they are not is allowing “villains and crooks” to take a seat on the Board of Directors or take control of the club. Arsenal have avoided that situation on two separate occasions in last 30+ years with both Roger Levitt and Usmanov. On both occasions the Board had enough common sense to avoid the possibility of these two “gentleman” taking control of the club. Both were convicted criminals. In the case of Usmanov I… Read more »
Especially concerned knowing historically our fall back position is to do nothing. or a last minute panic buy when fan pressure ramps up the last few days.
Midwest
Feels like a trolley dash overpaying kinda summer for us, circa 2012 after United thumped us. No plan or early moves and plenty of excuses as to why nothing gets done or gets done very late
Bats yep.. hopefully I’m just being paranoid.. But the confidence level is not very high..right now.
Shame that LeGrove favourite Szobi is injured for Hungary. Would have been good seeing him against a strong Portugal team.
Big time atmosphere with 60k Hungarians belting out the anthem.
Mid/Bati
I disagree with Pedro’s shopping trolley analogy when it comes to transfers, it’s important to see a ‘plan’ develop with your business imo. Eyeing up sexy CB’s when you have 47 on the books and no CM’s makes fans nervous.
I will always judge come the end, but you can’t tell me our business couldn’t get structured in such a way to provide some hope/confidence. Even dropping a Ruben Neves before Xhaka leaves the building would say ‘we know what we’re doing’.
And there’s very little of that currency going around for them on transfers.
I don’t like that teams have the home advantage.
If the Villains and Crooks had been applied years ago, most of today’s owner would have been rejected.
Ken Bates, The Glaziers, Abramovitch, ENIC and many others would never have passed the owner fitness test.
Many clubs have crook on their board, that’s not the issue. The real question is whether they want to buy a club to enrich themselves or to to rehabilitate themselves in the eye of the public.
What a side Portugal have. So much talent. Dias & the ageing Peppe holding it together at the back.
The threat of Fernandes, Jota, Silva and Ronaldo in the final third and even the bench is strong with Moutinho, Neves and Sanches. Can’t see Hungary getting anything but it’s a funny old game.
Diogo Jota is playing selfishly . Portugal got the talent, Hungary the brawn, playing physical. William has become less bulky ,but now is faster
*Pepe
That Portugal kit is certainly ‘different’. Nike pushing the boat out there.
I will always judge come the end,
______
CC.. I’m honestly trying to do that. But given our past it’s hard.. And I don’ think that the brass at Arsenal are making it any better as you pointed out the fan’s goodwill currency is near zero right now.
If they manage to repeat their Euro 2016 success, for a small country like Portugal, would be an absolutely massive achievement. Their fans are witnessing their golden generation.
To add to my comment – And with the talent coming out of that country, it feels like they will be a force for many years.
The old generation have it. Luíz, Pepe , can give accurate and very long through balls
Mid
There’s no currency there at all. This window is a tell all about the competency of Edu/Arteta in a transfer window. Not only that but it’s a vitally important window for the club with contract situations and missing European football.
I’m very surprised we’re not balls deep in a signing already that at least offers a kind of pacification to a nervy fan base.
With all the outbound midfielders it would be nice to nail a new face down to drum up some hope of a refresh.
Valentin The pragmatism earlier in the season was a necessity, not through choice Partey + Smith-Rowe were injured Our other options were Xhaka, Elneny, Ceballos, who all want the game played in front of them, and play in deeper areas, then we had Willock I like Willock, and suggested at the time to give him a run to see how he developed He has interesting qualities, and qualities the other 3 don’t, but he’s still quite raw, as the vast majority of 21yr olds are Against Leicester at the end of October, we played well in the first half, Luiz… Read more »
Heard an interesting theory on Ben White, we’re not looking to sign him as a right sided centre back
We’re looking to sign him as a right back, defensive midfield hybrid
B. Silva always gives 110%. Jota and Ronaldo have no chemistry between them.
Reuben Dias gets the ball. But the noise from the home crowd
Hungary got intercessions in their favour ,not that Portugal been sloppy.
Jota selfish play and Portugal Lost 2 chances. Jota should go
Jota has the mentality of a striker. Always thinking about shooting.
Oh lord Ronaldo!
Jota and Ronaldo have no chemistry, but by covering Ronaldo, teams open space for Jota. And Jota is always moving, you never know where he is. And if you cover Jota, Ronaldo pops up uncovered. Portugal needs both of them or they will become a far easier team to defend versus. I’ve talked about my aspirations towards Bernardo. In the recent years though, he hasn’t really develop into a star player. He’s been good for Man City, don’t get me wrong. But he’s been overshadowed by quite a few City players. I wouldn’t say no to seeing him in red… Read more »
Shame szoboszlai is out , was hoping to see him playing , quite the talent was disappointed we did not go for him
Bruno has been very quiet.
Obviously, Jota and Ronaldo don’t talk to each other on the pitch. The miss from Ronaldo is because he didn’t expect Jota to let the ball go past him.
PORTUGAL’s system doesn’t suit Fernandes. They attack mainly through the wings.
NEW POST FOR THE NERDS