ARSENAL LINKED WITH ANOTHER EXPENSIVE ENGLISH NAME. WHAT IS HAPPENING?

by .

Well, Arsenal transfer rumours took a rocket ship to the moon with stories emerging about a potential summer blockbuster of JAMES MADDISON TO THE GOONERS.

It’s a weird one, right?

It tells you a few things.

Firstly, there’s clearly a big pot of money on offer if we’re considering an English creator as part of the business this summer.

Secondly, if there’s a pattern emerging, it appears to be that we’re fixing the spine of the squad with Premier League ready players.

I’m at the point with Arsenal that I wonder about the viability of some of this ambition, even if we do have the money on offer. Arsenal is clearly massive, but Maddison just feels a little bit beyond where we are as a club right now?

Would it be a good signing? Clearly. The player scores, creates, and his injuries cost Leicester big time last season (we love signing players with injury records).

It just seems expensive. Like, all the bankruptcy in Europe and the extent of our scouting curiosity is James Maddison and Ben White? I don’t think you can argue the quality, you might argue if you could do more with that money. It feels like Arsenal are attempting the Liverpool Allisson/VVD before we’re in good enough shape to move there.

Again, I sound like a brat. OF COURSE I would take those two players. They instantly move Arsenal up a level. It just feels odd that 18 months ago Arsenal leadership was sending emails to turn off the computers at the mains, now we’re about to spend £100m on two players?

Some apology tour from Josh K.

Whatever we do will be a hybrid model. We’ve bid £15m for Sambi Lokonga. Ornstein confirming it. This is an Arsenal of old move. A transfer that would reflect the moment. A player that Arsene would have signed. He’ll be for the squad-depth like Saliba, but the exact sort of player you want to be able to call on when the inevitable injuries come. A season or twos worth of experience, correct technical and athletic profile, and a look-a-like for a more senior player. He would represent the sort of value we need to be sourcing.

The Arsenal fixture list dropped.

  • Brentford (a)
  • Chelsea (h)
  • Man City (a)
  • Norwich (h)
  • Burnley (a)
  • Spurs (h)

3 tough games and 3 games we should be taking maximum points from. City is the one I worry about most if I’m honest. We caved to them last season and showed too much respect. The others are all winnable.

The bigger point of interest is that most of our big games in the first half of the season are away games. Only Chelsea and Spurs are going to be home games. That works for the pattern our season will likely take > Lots of change = choppy start.

The key to the first three months is to not shit the bed like we did last season. If we can get off to a confident start and stay firmly in the pack, we’ll be better from January onwards, without doubt. If we soil ourselves like last year, it’s Nuno time in January.

The other big watch-out for Edu is those first 10 games need to be good. He can’t be pissing around with deadline day specials like he did last season. We need to have settled squad as close to the start of preseason as possible. We’re at June 16th and there’s next to nothing rock solid brewing in the market that we know of… chop, chop Edu.

Aston Villa, according to The Athletic, have been hounding Arsenal for Emile Smith Rowe. They dropped £25m in the old fax machine and we said no. Great that other clubs covet our young players, a bit of a worry that Villa is bullying us. This is a balls-out move from them, they are trying to tell the world they are on the up and want to be recognized as a top club, they are showing Grealish they want to compete, and they are giving their fans (and some of my pals) banter ammo. Breathtaking cheek, but the audacity has to be saluted.

Right, that’s me done. I recorded a second podcast yesterday with Johnny, we talked about Neves, Saliba, and Lokonga. It was a good listen. If you want a cracking read, check out Adam’s debut piece where he deep dives into some data to uncover some very interesting insights.

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Dan

Weird links now to such expensive players. Good players no doubt, but for that sort of money you want the finished article.

Graham

Who cares about the fixtures in the first half of the season – it’s only matches after Christmas that count.

TheBayingMob

Where we at?

TheBayingMob

4th?

Nelson

It is a waste of time to pay too much attention to transfer rumors.

Marc

Pedro Yeah I can’t see this happening – he’s a good player and would maintain some resale value if needed but you’d be looking at north of £60 or £70 million and that’s being conservative. With regards to Sambi Lokonga I know nothing about the player but when we’re broke why would be be dropping £15 million on a squad player? We’re looking at a first team squad season that will likely consist of only 40 or 41 matches – I’m not including League Cup matches I’d expect those to consist of the back up / youth players still. I’m… Read more »

Gonsterous

top 10??? how nice…

Marc

Nelson

Got to agree – If 1% or 1% was even close to the truth it’d be a surprise.

Frost

£40M bid for white rejected

When I tell you this club is stupid, this is what I mean.

Our transfer plan is just like our football under Arteta, no pattern or sense to it.

The one position in this team that we’re abit adequate in (3rd best defence last season) is the one we’re swinging big bucks on? Makes sense.

Bigper

For the money being quoted white and maddison would be terrible signings, barely an improvement on luiz and odegaard.
If the moneys there go all out for grealish and use saliba

Marc

Pedro

I wouldn’t knock the signing I’m just a lot more cynical than you are on what funds we have. I haven’t seen anything that tallies with the idea we’re going to have a net spend on £70 – £100 million.

It’s not just last seasons losses which were beyond anyone’s control it’s the loss of £40 – £60 million of revenue for the coming season.

Madhu

We should say to villa, ESR = Grealish + 25 M, anyways these are crazy days, just ask villa to ship Grealish and 25 M and we can give ESR and throw in Eddie as a side.

Marc

WE WILL NEVER EVER SIGN JACK GREALISH.

NOT IN A FUCKING MILLION YEARS.

TheBayingMob

Trophy. Get in.

TheBayingMob

Well after we sold our best keeper to them for a fucking song, why wouldn’t they come back to see if we would sell our best youth player in 20 years and potentially our best player overall for peanuts as well!? We are obviously fucking clueless, I think it’s a decent move from them.

TheBayingMob

But I would definitely come back with an offer for Grealish. I don’t know why we don’t do this more. You’re going to banter us for our best players, we can do the same. With that going on if Chelsea or City are thinking of signing Grealish then it should stoke them into action and put Villa in an uncomfortable spot.

Champagne Charlie

I think laying down a spine of PL quality is a smart way to operate given our ambitions for next season. It’s PL or bust, and I don’t think there’s time for significant players to cut their teeth for 6 month. Partey was a great addition for quality, but he took timeeee to settle. The premium can be offset with swaps, outgoings, and the release of significant wages if we’re cut throat enough. We comfortably have ten players we could sell, it’s just a matter of there being no precedent at all for us selling well, or in bulk. So… Read more »

Mr Serge

Villa offering 25m for esr is a joke

Chrispy

Just got excited with an update on my phone…’Arsenal agree deal with Lyon for …..’……….turns out its for some striker the womens team. FML.

Cheney10

Smith-Rowe has two years left on his contract… with the ‘English premium’, 25m is quite insulting… I wish we could hit that button on Championship Manager that basically tells them we are really annoyed 😂😂 Ridiculous, in fact outrageously poor offer!

Frost

“Frost, there is a clear pattern. We need a RCB that can do what Luiz does” We NEED? What exactly does Luiz do? Pass the ball well? Long balls over the top? Pretty sure we already have a young lad from France who does this pretty well, & yes he did it better than both Luiz & Ben White last season. His pass accuracy, successful long passes ALL beat Whites, in 20 games too compared to Whites 36. There is no pattern to this transfer. Go on tho, tell me how green Saliba is, certainly proved it in all the… Read more »

Nelson

The reason why we need to replace Luiz’s long ball is because we don’t have a CM like Bissouma who can receive a short pass and carry the ball up field. You can keep the possession much better with short passes. On the other hand, Luiz can coordinate the defense. But I don’t think Ben White can do that.

andy1886

“He’ll be for the squad-depth like Saliba”

What, you mean we wont see him for three years?

Marc

andy

Sell him without ever making an appearance for us more like.

NWM

Pedro

“ Frost, there is a clear pattern. We need a RCB that can do what Luiz does. That you can’t see that pattern is a you problem.”

What, start less than half the games? Sarcasm aside, Saliba does do what Luiz did. He completed more long passes per game than Luiz in fewer attempts. His combination of progressive passing and dribbling was the best in Ligue 1.

MD-Gunner

The mighty Villa trying to sign ESR in anticipation of cashing in on Declan and then train ESR to become a star in the EPL. That is a managerial genius.and Arsenal stares in the blank void.

andy1886

Marc, I was going to come back on the ‘what Luiz did for us’ bit and suggest that we really don’t need to replace the red cards and penalties but we have to ration our digs and live to fight another day.

AFC Forever

Saliba again. Jesus. I hope he’s as good as all the hype we are getting.

Not knocking the lad but 12 league games for St Etienne last season, cut short by a broken foot and not playing him is being paraded around as the biggest disaster since the Titanic sank. It’s the most bizarre bollocks imaginable.

China1

Pedro please be more specific about what Luiz does?

Can play out from the back. Is right footed. Sometimes is amazing, semi frequently costs you the game with errors and red cards?

Which part of that is beyond saliba? Luiz was laughed out of Chelsea and we’re acting like we have to replace nesta…

Nelson

Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards is keen on a move for Brighton and Hove Albion playmaker Pascal Gross to replace Wijnaldum . They have given up on Bissouma .

China1

AFC not as bizarre as starting away half of our summer funds on a position when we are already good.

How can people find it so hard to see that 40m+ is a comical price for arsenal to pay for a CB right now?

Frost

“I was going to come back on the ‘what Luiz did for us’ bit and suggest that we really don’t need to replace the red cards and penalties”

Pedro thinks we do. With Luiz & Xhaka leaving who are we gonna blame when the players concede 5 against Brentford.

Can’t blame the manager.. He’s off limit & has sauce.

Marc

andy

Pedro won’t like it but we’re rapidly approaching a place where Arteta has either bought / overseen the purchase of, offered new contracts or picked a player over another for a hefty part of the squad.

If we spend the sort of money Pedro is insinuating (net spend doesn’t count for managers it’s gross – net spend only counts on a clubs finances / ambition etc) there won’t be any excuses left.

Avi

35M for ESR? Lmao…Anyone have an idea what stuff they smoking over at Villa park?

MD-Gunner

First six fixtures top 7 points for me don’t see a win over City and Chelsea because the sauce stinks.

MD-Gunner

At Villa they have an owner willing to splurge money and more competent execs and managerial staff.

Marc

China

Personally I don’t see what the problem is going into a season where we’re going to play 4 at the back with CB options of Holding, Saliba, Mari and Gabriel. I expect us to keep Chambers and wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a regular for RB but he can cover CB if required.

After all we’re likely looking at a season of 40 or 41 matches.

No one’s expecting Arsenal to win the PL next season.

curse

To me, so far it looks like.

Onana – 8m
Adams – 25m
White – 40m
Neves – 35m
Sambi – 17m
Camavinga – 35m
Solomon – 25m

-185m barring a back up left back and goalkeeper. So around 200m?

Leno – 20m
Holding – 20m
Mavro – 5m
Hector – 15m
Amn – 15m
xhaka – 15m
Joe – 15m
Nelson – 10m
Eddie – 15m

+130m, spent 70m.

Added to.

Tierney
Gabriel
Saliba
Mari
Chambers
Partey
Smith Rowe
Saka
Pepe
Laca
Auba

I’d be happy with that, young and loads of potential.

AFC Forever

Charlie “It’s PL or bust, and I don’t think there’s time for significant players to cut their teeth for 6 month. Partey was a great addition for quality, but he took timeeee to settle” Is timeee, toneees brother…!! Sorry, couldn’t resist mate. Seriously, you have nailed it. The Premier League is a brutal league and we have seen so many top-quality players come here and struggle with the intensity and pace. Some players take it in their stride but others take time to adapt and our fans don’t have the patience for that; a few difficult games and they will… Read more »

Avi

Because we’ve gone in so big straight away for White it makes me think we may walk away

Shouldn’t be starting the bidding at 40M ffs..WTF

China1

If Ben white was playing for the French equivalent of Brighton right now he’d be talked about as a 25m player. Literally half of the reported fee is premium. How silly can arsenal be to so readily wish to set fire to cash on premiums knowing how little return we always get on them?

Frost

He was the most important defender for both St E & Nice, playing less games too cuz of injuries & Arteta’s incompetence, there’s a pattern there.

Surely no one is saying he’s the next Maldini, but getting a White who isn’t better than him for £40M is abit silly tbh. Now if you were to find a better defender…….

Gonsterous

Should be promoting Azeez instead of spunking 17m for lokonga

Should be using saliba instead of spunking 40m for white

Should be selling eddie instead of extending

We are a fking mess.

China1

Avi I’m fairly sure the opening bid was a letter that said

‘Please please please take my money. Here’s 40m but if you need more just say because I’ll pay whatever it takes for maldini- I mean white’

Avi

Why’s everyone so bloody expensive these days, guy plays one season in the prem and they want 50m! I’m fatigued, Christ!

Batistuta

Again all hopeful thinking saying we have money to spend this summer when all the evidence suggests that has never been the case which is why the first move being for a defender and in a position where we have good enough players is just enough proof there isn’t any kind of plans to the transfers. We’re not scoring enough, our midfield options are Partey, El Neny, Willock, Torreira, literally no life in there. Up front we have just Auba who in good form gets you 20 goals and that’s just it. Why then is our first move to go… Read more »

curse

I forgot Martinelli.

Marc

So Pogba moved a Heineken bottle at a press conference after Ronaldo’s adventures with Coke bottles the other day.

Do these guy’s not know who’s paying the fucking bills?

China1

Batistuta people are leaving in a dream land where they think Stan or the bank are going to give us free money, we can spend 180m this summer on over priced luxury signings and if they don’t work out and get us CL football don’t worry about it because Stan will do it again next year

Not an ounce of critical thinking going on in this blond optimism

PhD2020

raptoraJune 16, 2021 16:45:32 You’d be shocked to learn that the AFCON 2019 was played on 21 June – 19 July, and so was the plan for AFCON 2020. It means that it’s very much possible to be held in June-July and the CAF (Confederation of African Football) have been trying to move it to that time of the year, when the weather allows it in the country hosting the tournament. ——— Yep,as you were.The AFCON Tournament established in 1957,almost 65 years ago.And since, they shifted it during 2019,implies they can shift future tournaments,in order to cater for the European… Read more »

Avi

Meanwhile there are mid table clubs bidding £25m for ESR, one of our biggest talents.

Does English player tax not apply when you’re bidding for Arsenal players?

China1

I think the arteta supporters have literally just decided to play ‘imagine that we are Chelsea’ for a summer and see how it goes.

No amount of hoping and praying is going to stop them waking up disappointed when the dream ends and we are in fact, arsenal

Valentin

Azeez has still not sign an extension and his contract expire at the end of the month. So he could be out of the club soon.

Azeez is a terrific player, but is not ready yet to play week in week out in the premier league. Also Arteta has decided to switch to a 4-2-3-1 system and Azeez is not yet physical strong and defensively aware enough to play in central midfield as part of a pair. A 4-3-3 formation would suit him much better. A season loan would be better.

Dissenter

Everyone can smell the blood in the water because we have a bunch of amateurs running the club

I’m tempted to believe that Villa’s bid for ESR was just fishing, his agent must have whispered something to them.

Something isn’t right with the scatter brain transfer approach we are pursuing. No wonder ESR won’t commit so quickly to extending.

China1

Avi if ESR was at Villa right now we’d open the bidding at 40m

raptora

Don’t Take Me Home

Dissenter

Valentin
You’re right, these young players aren’t desperate to commit
You have to wonder why

curse

And Balogun lol

Valentin

Raptora,

Have you realised that Africa as a continent lay across both hemisphere?

raptora

Valentin,
Still trying to figure it out but thanks.

Mb

Someone needs to tell Arteta this is not City and we don’t have oil money. We don’t wanna see a midfielder sacrificed for Ben White when you have options already there.

If you are doing through email, keeping the subject line ‘Diet Pep’ would help.

Batistuta

Pool were guns blazing in attack and midfield already before they went and spunk on VVD and Allison. Just finished 3rd best defence in our worst season where we barely scored enough goals and our midfield is not fit enough to good enough to earn you promotion from the championship. What the heavens are we doing targeting even more freaking defenders or one that isn’t a RB or back up to Tierney.

Gonna just focus on the Euros man, Arsenal stress you

Avi

Avi if ESR was at Villa right now we’d open the bidding at 40m’

I mean literally, some real amateurs running this club. Ffs

Dissenter

If you were a young talented youth player, where would you want to be
Villa or Arsenal?

Carney Chukwuemeka had two cameo appearances in the league last season and he’s only 17 years old
Azeez et al, how many did they get?

We need a manager that truly wants to improve on talented players, regardless of age.
Had we succeeded in signing Bellingham before Edu arrived, Arteta wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole. Rich would be saying send him away on loan and Pedro will be finding excuses to justify the omission.

PhD2020

MarcJune 16, 2021 16:57:01
So Pogba moved a Heineken bottle at a press conference after Ronaldo’s adventures with Coke bottles the other day.Do these guy’s not know who’s paying the fucking bills?
————-

It’s the new woke-keep up..

And anyway,I like it..Why promote fizzy drinks to young kids,that’s unhealthy.

It’s sending a message,stop poisoning our future.

I mean would you encourage your kids or young relatives to consume fizzy drinks on a copious level?

Champagne Charlie

“You’re right, these young players aren’t desperate to commit
You have to wonder why“

Who isn’t?

Saka, Martinelli, Balogun have all signed long term deals, ESR is expected to do the same.

Who tf isn’t desperate? Nketiah? I’m heartbroken.

Rich

Pedro Agree about the fixture list, we have to stay in the mix while bedding in new players, then when when others around us are playing Sat-Wed-Sat, we need to capitalise with freshness and a more stable 11 Our run in is decent, hopefully we can put ourselves into the mix, because I’d fancy a strong finish if we can make some astute moves You can see why we’re looking at paying the PL premium, I think KSE either have to invest this summer, or pack up and leave, unless they plan on selling, I think we’ll drop £200+ million,… Read more »

Avi

And why exactly is Fckin Villa bidding for one of our best youngsters? Is he up for sale or something? Selling Martinez to those fckers must have given them the guts for all these! WTF

China1

What odds on arsenal plowing 100m into buying sterling and Ben white then scrambling to sell off our dead wood for whoever the fuck will take them at half price on deadline day then panicking and blowing 40m on neves?

Lord spare me from these nightmares

Batistuta

China

I don’t know man, certain folks just seem to think in our first season out of Europe we’re going to go and drop 150 or 200 million on players, jeez has anyone met our owners?

salparadisenyc

The Bale regression is incomparable.

raptora

Ramsey should have scored from that chance 5 mins ago.

China1

I said it before and I’ll say it again. I’d be totally cool with the next time we are tempted to shart 50m on a 30m player, I’d rather see the club buy a 30m under the radar equivalent and donate the 20m to a charity. I’d actually be mad happy about that and it would likely make fuck all difference to us on the pitch considering we’re u likely to extract anywhere near 50m value out of any 50m players

Mb

I expect Mikel to come to a press conference pretty soon demanding owners to buy players.

KSE can suggest to use Saliba, but guess what? We have ignorant owners and Edu 😉

Mb

I should rather just stay away from Arsenal news till Aug. It feels the same every transfer window ffs.

Champagne Charlie

Stuttgart in advanced talks for Mavropanos, Arsenal asking for 7 mil. Would be a good first sale.

Get half a dozen deals of that ilk sorted and speculation about serious incomings becomes palatable vs pie in the sky.

PhD2020

DissenterJune 16, 2021 17:02:48
I’m tempted to believe that Villa’s bid for ESR was just fishing, his agent must have whispered something to them.Something isn’t right with the scatter brain transfer approach we are pursuing. No wonder ESR won’t commit so quickly to extending.

——–
Maybe the agent,was using Villa as fodder to get Arsenal to increase ESR’s wages?But at the same, generate interest from other clubs for ESR?

Who knows..But come the end of the transfer window deadline,we will know Arsenal’s ambitions for this coming season.

Marc

PHD

I don’t have a problem with the moral stand – but if you’re going to take one take one all the way and refuse to play in a tournament sponsored by these company’s, refuse to play in competitions that are sponsored by the company’s.

They take the moral high ground when it’s not money that goes into their pockets.

GoonGoonerGone

Intent is not reality. Intent is to get fans excited, to dream, to believe, often intent is a veneer to disguise shortcomings.
Mediocre absent owners, mediocre manager/coach, mediocre DOF, no scouting system, mediocre football, mediocre game plan, mediocre team.
Expect mediocre signings.

raptora

Ramsey again… WTF

Marc

CC

Half dozen deals at £7 odd million a go is £42 million – even if the average moved to £10 million it’d be £60 million – the pie in the sky brigade have us spending £150 million plus this summer.

If we bring in £60 million is sales I reckon we’ll spend £90 – £100 million max.

salparadisenyc

Rambo fucking elll put it in the net.

raptora

Bale’s passes have been extraordinary.

Leftside

Low bids FC

PhD2020

China1June 16, 2021 17:10:20
What odds on arsenal plowing 100m into buying sterling

——-
LMFAO

Sterling coming to Arsenal,under Arteta,playing hostage taking football….?

Those click bait sites are a bundle of laughs.Comedy gold.

Jamie
salparadisenyc

Just as I was slating Bale he puts in a string of very good passes.
😂

andy1886

£7m for Mavro sounds about right, certainly not the £10m-£15m that some were suggesting.

Marc

Jamie

They reckon it knocked Coca Cola’s share price by $4 billion. It recovered some of it but that’s just mental.

Champagne Charlie

Marc

Meant more in the sense of getting shot of players we’re able to offload.

Mavropanos would be a start, but Torreira, Guendouzi, Bellerin, Xhaka, Eddie, Willock, Kolasinac, Willian. All should leave sharpish to give any oxygen to ideas about significant incomings.

Marc

CC

See what you mean.

Why stop at 6 though!

curse

Chrispy

I thought it was interesting tbf, a lot of change happening with the women’s team. Similar to the men’s, times are changing fast and they need to get this transition right.

It looks like Nikita Parris is coming in for Miedema. With the coach, DVD, Mace and a few others leaving and players like Iwabuchi coming in, it’s sad and exciting times.

Marc

I’m getting a massive urge for some Meze.

Batistuta

Gonna place a curse on Ramsey if he doesn’t put one of these in

raptora

I want Ramsey to join Arsenal.

PhD2020

MarcJune 16, 2021 17:20:56 PHD I don’t have a problem with the moral stand – but if you’re going to take one take one all the way and refuse to play in a tournament sponsored by these company’s, refuse to play in competitions that are sponsored by the company’s ——– I get your point. But would you honestly as a footballer sacrifice the chance of winning a World Cup or a Euro Championship Cup, over taking a moral stand over a fizzy drink? It’s about highlighting the message to the masses.Making an impact statement that resonates to a massive global… Read more »

Ernest Reed

A few people on here getting bent out of shape on what has NOT happened, why? Rumours are all that are making the news and zero confirmations. In fact, the only item confirmed thus far is that Luiz is not coming back. As each passing day goes by and nothing confirmed, that is more of a worry as that means nothing changes. So you have to hope that those making the decisions are able to execute on their plans. Some time remains to start shaping this club, but you cant help but feel that when time begins to grow very… Read more »

Marc

PHD

I wouldn’t need to listen to the average man in the street – like anything an occasional coke for a kid is no problem letting them drink 3 litres of the stuff a day is bad.

As per the clip put up by Jamie earlier shows Ronaldo was more than happy to take the money before.

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