TRANSFER ROUND-UP: ARSENAL BUYING A FAST START

by .

It feels like I’ve been cranking content all week and what do I have to show for it?

NOTHING.

No one sold.

No one purchased.

I am starting to lose my patience. Thinking of sending Edu a seriously firm Instagram DM about my feelings.

The Granit Xhaka story is dragging like an N’Zogbia transfer rumour of yester-window. The clubs are in the final stages of negotiations, it looks like it’s going to happen, just get it done. After watching the Italy game, I couldn’t be happier. Xhaka is solid, but you’re simply not going anywhere with a good technician with no pace in midfield. If you are going to have no pace, be Locatelli with the low-punch shots. What a talent.

The story we’re all purring over is Sambi Lokonga. We really have no idea why, other than it feels intelligent and like a Wenger singing of old. New Youtube channel Latte Firm dropped this infographic.

Do I know what it all means? No. Am I going to draw sharp conclusions that this guy is taking Arsenal back to the absolute pinnacle of European football? Absolutely.

There is business to be done this summer and I think there’s a fine balance between making sure we’re ready for next season, whilst raiding European clubs on their knees. Sambi looks like a shadow player for Thomas Partey. Both seem to boast similar features. We need squad players with levels and we need to own them. Our Madrid loan options last season gave us the worst of both worlds. Odegaard did well, we wanted him, but Madrid saw enough promise to keep him. Ceballos had an absolute shocker, stunk out our first team for the most part, so we wasted development minutes on someone else’s player.

I am diving two-footed into the Premier League talent we’re trying to sign. James Maddison, without doubt, would be an excellent signing for Arsenal. Ben White, without doubt, would be an excellent signing for what need from a defender. There’s a lot of scoffing from Arsenal fans that spent 10 years demanding we ‘spend some fucking money’, now we’re doing it on players that will settle into the first team and deliver from day one, people are complaining about fees?

Ben White is a ball-playing centre-back that has made his mistakes at other clubs, he will complement our defence and pick up the good bits of David Luiz, whilst adding what he didn’t have… pace, motivation, and focus. You do not survive a season with Bielsa if you don’t put the work in, boast high levels of fitness, and have finesses on the ball with the ability to move the ball forward. While the internet was purring over Bissouma, their fans were purring over Ben White, who was named their player of the season in the fan vote. That’s the difference between actually watching Brighton and watching comps of Brighton.

James Maddison is an unquestionable talent that we lack. He’s 18 months younger than Grealish, 5 years younger than KDB, and since his Premier League debut he’s one bested by KDB for chance creation. How am I reading Arsenal fans scoff at this name? Someone moaned that he dresses like he’s buying from Hypebeast, what sort of criticism is that? If anything, signing him feels unrealistic because he’s the sort of player that ends up going to Chelsea or United.

Moving on two players of that age and profile moves us up a level instantly. You can’t argue the impact that would have on our season. When you ask Arsenal to spend some money, this is where the pennies should be going. If we’re trying to replicate the City model, this is our attempt at KDB and Dias.

I don’t even want to start on the Calvert Lewin rumors, that’d just be far too sexy for all of us to handle right now.

There’s still smart money to be spent elsewhere. Josh Doig, the Hibernian left-back, is being heavily linked. He’s 19-years-old and 6ft2, but he’s attracting a lot of attention. The worry is if Tierney breaks down, which is likely, you’ve an untested quantity filling in, but also, the benefit is then you are building out someone with a resale value and you also have a succession plan for KT (hopefully we don’t need one). The lesson from last season is young players are hungry and tend to take their chance. I’d be excited to have a promising back-up system being built out.

There’s a good keeper out there, somewhere, that we’ll have to pick up. Aaron Ramsdale for £20m does not feel like smart money when you can pick up someone like Onana for a pittance. Arsenal has been shocking with keeper signings over the years, our best #1 was Emi Martinez and we bombed him off. I know it goes without saying, but if you want an example of why a Ben White type player needs to be signed, just look at how our playing out the back dipped when Martinez left. The best keepers in world football these days can play through the lines better than Mo Elneny, we need to find one if we want to be more effective and unpredictable in this new system.

We also need to build out the right side of our defence. Cal Chambers is a very decent player, his delivery is excellent and he’s tactically astute (everyone at Arsenal loves him as well). The worry is that he very much looks like a centre-back playing right back. I have no idea where we’ll go here, but we need to find a player with the correct athletic profile that can invert. I know, I know… Ainsley could do that role, it’s such a shame he’d rather bum around in center-midfield at Watford than make a career at a club that could take him to the top but there we are. Delusions of grandeur is a bit of a problem with some of the Hale-Enders on the fringes.

We’ve also not spoken much about the #9 position, that might be because our hands are tied. I’m not sure anyone is giving Lacazette £180k a week and Auba on £350k a week is immovable unless he decides like Willian he just doesn’t fancy the slog. To be honest, I don’t think we’ll have a year like the last one from Auba again. The pattern of players we’re bringing in all points towards freeing him up earlier with better chances.

I also think Flo Balogun is going to be a very special player, he’s the closest player we have to Aguerro in style and athletic profile. I’m not sure how Arteta is going to manage his career because there’s a real story to be told with regards to loans. Do Arsenal keep Balogun on the bench like we did Eddie? Or do we send him on a short loan at the start of the season so he can develop in a starting 11? People get absolutely hysterical about loans, but forget that players like Harry Kane went on four of them. Same could be said of William Saliba. There’s no European football next season, what is best for his development? Our bench for 4 months, or Newcastle’s first team for the same time period to adapt to the language and the pace on someone else’s dime? Who knows, but the fact people get so emotional about it is a very, very Arsenal fan thing.

Finally, let’s talk about that time we spent a load of money with Lille that looked VERY odd. Remember I told you to look at the sort of people we were dealing with? Remember the exBarca exec that was at Lille at the time? Remember that outrageous fee we paid Lille who were in deep, deep shit that summer unless they sold at a big price?

If I speak, I am in trouble.

Football is a dirty game. Genaro Gattuso lost his job at Fiorentina after two weeks because he brought his super-agent buddy to the table. It is stunning that now Spurs are negotiating with him, mainly because he’s a bang-average coach, but also because it shows their lack of ideas… if you are outsourcing your Sporting Director role to a super-agent, you are fucked.

Talking of the Spurs manager job, let’s use this moment to highlight what I told you in December… fear what comes next. Spurs, for all the banter, is a London club with an elite stadium and a squad people thought could contend the title last season. They’ve been rejected by Poch and Conte. They had to lower themselves to Fonseca, who is a good coach, but coming out from under a cloud. Now they are bumming around with passion merchants and their unsavory handlers.

I’m telling you this because it feels like there’s a pattern emerging. The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world and rockstar managers will only join if they have to tools to win. The idea that we’ll sack Arteta and get Conte or Nagelsmann is fanciful because our project lacks elite levers. Spurs are struggling because no one wants to come here and fight four Goliaths with David money.

It’s still really funny though… really funny.

On that note, remember to check out the two podcasts we produced this week. They are of fine quality. Johnny is no full-time on the team, he changed his bio to reflect the blood agreement we have. Give him a follow on the internet here.

ACAST | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Play

899 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Frost

“Partey-Maddison-ESR”

Partey is literally the only one that can tackle here & we saw how catastrophic that was last season.

Villarreal cutting through our midfield comes to mind. (City in the champions league final is a good example too)

Love Partey. He can do most things but we are not controlling games if we don’t get a destroyer.

raptora

CT,
couldn’t have said it better myself.

salparadisenyc

And all this time I thought it was Ramsbale and we we’re getting both.
Keep the fuck up Sal.

WengerEagle

Harsh pen that.

Croatia looking very pedestrian. No spark to them at all in the Czech half.

salparadisenyc

Croatia looking like France in South Africa.

Zacharse

Forever
You’d do better to save your breath here. Your point is well taken tho. If we lose the 2 players who have consistently moved the ball outta the back 3rd, we damn well better be replacing them with someone who has played in the PL for at least a season! 😂
Think yr right that whites attacking/poss stats would change drastically the second he joins a top 6ish side. Didnt some rookie defenders get promoted as well?

raptora

Croatia’s coach is making a mess out of it. Plays Rebic (winger) as a CF and the CF (Kramaric) behind him. Perisic is basically not playing, how about moving him to the other wing or something. The coach is failing, that’s why he’s making a double sub now.

Frost

“I think nowadays there’s a lot of insistence on having a midfielder who can break the play and shield the defense” You should ask why. Kante bossed City because he was breaking up play & releasing people left right center. Motm performance. If Kante doesn’t start, Chelsea don’t win that game. “I much prefer proper central midfielders who can track back and have some defensive awareness rather than an out and out tackler.” Not sure there are alot of high quality ones out there who excel at both defense & attack. We’re lucky to have Partey who can tackle &… Read more »

WengerEagle

Persisic always steps up for Croatia, what a hit on his ‘weak’ foot lol.

Marc

Nice finish

raptora

There we go. Coach changed some things and Perisic is at it.

salparadisenyc

What a goal from Persiic.

Marc

Frost

That is a question that needs to be answered. Are we looking to play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in the majority of matches?

raptora

I would argue that getting someone like Dumfries is top priority. If we get both flanks working, we don’t even need an AM that bad, proven by Pool and City playing without KDB (who is more of a CM) for a long time. Dumfries: “The Premier League and the Bundesliga, they suit my game. I can see the headlines again, but I think I can say this and I think everyone can see that I am ready to move on. I have played for four years at the highest level in the Netherlands and have played more than a hundred… Read more »

WengerEagle

Dumfries has looked brilliant hasn’t he? Was he your man Rap?

What’s he like for PSV? Because I remember Blind and Janmaat looking quality at the WC in 2014 and neither were able to replicate it in the PL.

Although Dumfries shits on both as an athlete.

Rich

AFC Forever

Interesting stats, particularly with Luiz

I’ve seen a few theories that we’re looking at Ben White as a right back/defensive midfielder hybrid

Rather than a right sided centre back

Some of your post, certainly ties in with that theory

Rich

Marc

2-3-4-1

Or a no striker 2-3-5

MidwestGun

Sup y’all ? BIG BIG night of footie.. upcoming Engerland v Bravehearts. and then Messi v Suarez later.

Getting my hype on… starting out with rum drinks. I think……need something to take the edge off its hotter then Satan’s mixtape. outside.

Tom

“Okay, so you want us to show ambition but you don’t want us to spend money. You think Arsenal is a joke of a club and that some lad called Saliba with his 26 games at Nice is our saviour” AFC, you must be the thickest poster on here of that’s what you’ve taken from the Saliba back and forth over the last six months or so. “Saliba the savior” said literally no one on here, like …….ever. But of course no one really thinks you’re thick , you’re just full of shit. But go ahead, tell us again how… Read more »

WengerEagle

Ben White as a CDM now? Jaysus, reeks of Vermaelen at CDM that.

Mr Serge

Bore off China with your negative bullshit
You usually post at night and have the site to yourself but you can’t come on here pissing and moaning and not get called out when I am about

MidwestGun

Hahaha Geez I remember all the Vermaelen at dm debates. Old Skool Le Grove those.

WengerEagle

Mr Serge you’ve been very aggressively pro-Tets and the club lately, what gives?

Remember you being a bit more measured before.

WengerEagle

It made so much sense Middy because he was fast, strong, could tackle and had a hammer of a left peg.

Forget every other possible attribute that a decent CDM needs.

raptora

WE, First time I ever watched him was several days ago in their first game of the Euro. Needed 10 mins to post here how we should have been all over him before the Euro started. Tall, fast, powerful, great crosses, super threat. Not sure how good his defensive game is as he’s been playing as a wing back for his NT team, but he adds so much to this Netherlands team. Sadly, now his price is off the charts. He’s doubled his price easily. You know what I dream for? Dumfries as a wing back in Conte’s favorite formation.… Read more »

MidwestGun

Yep.. Eagle… Unfortunately about the time .. I would be like.. OK maybe we should play him at DM.. he would get injured for about 2 months and the debate would die off.

Marc

Rich

If Arteta tries that he’ll be sacked by the end of September.

Let’s go for it.

WengerEagle

Miss those days in a way.

#Balosdeep

raptora

China’s last post was an hour ago but Serge decides it’s time to deal with him. LOL?!

Gentlebris

How did we even get behind in the money game?

We were too big for the Arab Princes and the Russian moneybags to chase, but look where that has landed us…an American helped in through the backdoor has led us out of Europe entirely after flirting with Europa for a few years.

We may be here snarling at each other till 8th becomes our yearly ambition.

MidwestGun

hahaha Yep the good old days don’t look so bad when you consider some of the stuff we ae debating these days. I never in a million years thought I would be praying for Elneny to get subbed in a match, for example.. Yet it happened several times last season.

Desperate times call for desperate measures was my Balotelli reasoning basically we ended up with Sanogoal.. so….. I still don’t regret my Balosdeep campaigning..

Frost

“That is a question that needs to be answered. Are we looking to play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 in the majority of matches?”

Think Arteta loves the 4-3-3, but considering next season is a make or break for him I highly doubt he’ll switch from the 4-2-3-1 that saved him this season. Hence my insistence of getting a destroyer in there.

Considering how he loves to build from the back I think the ability to pass ala Xhaka will be high on his list, fingers crossed the lad can defend too.

Gentlebris

We have a summer tournament among us football fans in my neighborhood. I have been appointed to coach Arsenal and the first game is 4 on Sunday.

I hope I deliver this trophy.

MidwestGun

Gentlebris………. I would go with a false 9 …. and play my defensive midfielder at left back. If I was you.

😀

Sid

Fcuck Perisic, made bet dissapear just like that

WengerEagle

Gentlebris

Just get them to name it the FA Cup and you’ll do us proud I’m sure.

Remember your hairspray and to wax your eyebrows like Tets too.

Sid

@Gentlebris, you will the tr4phy, good ebening!

WengerEagle

Middy

Haha no shame in being a spokesperson for the Balosdeep campaign, he was a popular man on here that summer.

We were dealing with Sanogo up top ffs. I’d sooner have stuck 50 year old Wrighty up there.

Positive pete

Is Saliba not an amazing ball playing defender too? Anyway word on the street is that we’re back to sniffing around Aouar? For a bargain basement £20 million? Have serious doubts that their wheeler dealer president who’s as sharp as a pencil will entertain anything near that amount.Whether they’re skint or not.If this transfer interest in genuine it will be interesting to see if Arsenal have improved in their negotiations.The final fee will tell us a lot.

salparadisenyc

Balosdeep… Thought somebody called.

Gentlebris

‘Gentlebris………. I would go with a false 9 …. and play my defensive midfielder at left back. If I was you.’ MidwestGun, I wouldn’t add that to the problem I already have with the team. We played a pre tournament game against Chelsea two days ago and were leading by one goal, entirely dominating the game, when my number 10 walked off the pitch in annoyance for allegedly being insulted by a Chelsea player, and he was my best player! We lost control of the match and lost. How do I stop more of that when the tournament begins on… Read more »

Nelson

Tierney starts

England starting 11
Pickford, James, Stones, Mings, Shaw, Phillips, Rice, Foden, Mount, Sterling, Kane

Sub Ramsdale, Johnstone, Maguire, Trippier, Coady, Chilwell, Bellingham, Henderson, Grealish, Rashford, Sancho, Calvert-Lewin.

Mr Serge

We I am not pro tets at all I would love to get Conte in but I don’t think we could pull a top manager at the moment
Hopefully this regine pulls it’s finger out of it’s arse and finally does something right
This board would be as bad as spurs are hiring a new man
It’s scary

GoonGoonerGone

Doesn’t matter if we sign Ronaldo and Messi.
The great Arteta will coach both of them from the sidelines the entire match.

Mr Serge

I was at my wit’s end last season but we are not changing these guys so I say back the arses until they fuck up and I will be at the ground hounding them out with all the others

Tom

England could suit up two starting Xl and not raise many eyebrows, that’s how much talent they have available.
Every one of their 20 field players starts for Poland , Slovakia and another half a dozen other countries in these Euroes.

Gentlebris

WengerEagle/Sid,

Thanks so much for your good wishes, it means a lot at this crucial time, and I hope we win this trophy for The Arsenal.

But I must confess my DM is around 40 and my goalie is around 45.

Man Yooooo, on the other hand, parade a lot of young athletic brats. And unless these brats walk off the pitch once they are insulted, it may be difficult to win against them.

WengerEagle

Lol wtf, ref just blew the full-time whistle with 35 seconds left and Croatia on the attack.

MidwestGun

How do I stop more of that when the tournament begins on Sunday?
——
Not sure GentleBris sounds like you got a Diva situation where your best player is the craziest.. bit like Neymar. I’m sure you will work it out.

MidwestGun

Yep that whistle was weird.. Maybe the ref had a bet on a draw at full time.

Batistuta

Lol Bris

Isn’t he walking out breaking some sort of non negotiable and if it isn’t maybe you need to introduce that

MidwestGun

No Grealish in the England starters.. that will annoy a few peeps.

WengerEagle

Fair enough Mr Serge, don’t be so quick to bat down on people not holding their breath on here with the current regime is all I will say.

WengerEagle

Southgate has fallen in love with the handbrake on approach, it did get him a result against Croatia so it is no surprise.

Bit surprised to see both the full-backs changed having said that.

Comfortable win for England, 2 or 3 nil.

Gentlebris

‘Not sure GentleBris sounds like you got a Diva situation where your best player is the craziest.. bit like Neymar. I’m sure you will work it out.’

MidwestGun,

Yeah…I’m thinking of threatening the brat with his boss.

I mean isn’t that my job as coach?

Mr Serge

Weagle I get that it’s been a long week I need to sort my tolerance levels out lol

Marc

WE

I really hope Southgate ends up at the Spud’s – he really is a dire manager.

Can you imagine a peak Wenger with some of the attacking talent England has?

Mr Serge

Gentlebris make sure you talk a hairdryer and some teacups for half time if any of your players dont give 100 percent

Gentlebris

‘Isn’t he walking out breaking some sort of non negotiable and if it isn’t maybe you need to introduce that’

Bati,

I will deal with the situation in an even more ‘non negotiable’ way!

Tom

I love the argument “ his eyes were only on the ball” some make when dismissing a swinging elbow from players jumping for a heather.
Ever notice how it’s usually the elbow from the side expected of a challenge that’s raised higher and swung, and not the other one.
Purely a coincidence I’m sure.

Sid

“”””” But I must confess my DM is around 40 and my goalie is around 45.”””””

Did you trigger your DMs buy out clause on the final day of tranfer business? Its de ja vu, he will pull up with a hamstring injury during the game then you will shove him back into the field.

WengerEagle

Jaffa Cakes used to be our go to HT fuel.

Steroid-lite impact on 2nd halves in Irish youth football them bad boys have I’m telling ya.

Gentlebris

Thanks Mr Serge😀😀😀😀😀

MidwestGun

I am surprised Southgate didn’t pick his fav… Trippier. Other then that.. I just hope England win and Tierney doesn’t get injured for the Scots.

WengerEagle

Mr Serge

No panic, you English?

If so, a good old fashioned Scot beatdown is just the tonic for that tension.

Gentlebris

‘Did you trigger your DMs buy out clause on the final day of tranfer business? Its de ja vu, he will pull up with a hamstring injury during the game then you will shove him back into the field.’

Sid…you don’t get it, already the guy runs as if he has a permanent hamstring injury!

Sid

“””””Mr SergeJune 18, 2021 19:01:52
Weagle I get that it’s been a long week I need to sort my tolerance levels out lol””””””

Not the 1st time, it will improve if you get laid

Im telling you for free!

WengerEagle

Marc

I would hope that you’re pulling a sleeper agent-esque effort and trolling through online Spud communities to plant the Southgate seed.

Conte-Fonseca-Gattuso-Garth is the sequence of events that we all need.

MidwestGun

I’ve played in a few .. old man pick up games since I got down here.. The go to half time drink is Tecate .. needless to say the second half is usually a bit more sloppy.

WengerEagle

Sid potentially the world’s most altruistic man imparting all of these golden nuggets on here, for FREE!

Champagne Charlie

Southgate might be a swell guy, but he is such a wet wipe. If England had a manager with flair they’d actually be a consideration.

You can’t suddenly turn on the football when it’s crunch time, England are going to dullard their way through to someone who handles them, then Southgate will sub in Grealish, Sancho, Rashford and sacrifice the double pivot.

Inevitably go out swinging vs actually refining a level of sexy football.

Tom

“No Grealish in the England starters.. that will annoy a few peeps.“
MidwestGun
How many countries doesn’t Grealish start for?
Probably England.

Vintage Gun

#Balosdeep

Guilty as charged your honour. I was uncharacteristically part of the gang that was #Balosdeep in that shit.

I plead temporary insanity. I was in a dark, desperate place.

raptora

Sid is indeed the blog’s wise man. You are valued Sid.

MidwestGun

Tom-
He would be a national hero in USA ..hahaha all I know.
But yeah I don’t know too many teams that he wouldn’t..

MidwestGun

Vintage_ yep…. we all have our moments. Mine was Balotelli At least I wasn’t salivating over Benteke… like somebody I won’t mention.

Elmo

“Jaffa Cakes used to be our go to HT fuel.”

Remember that PL game where Rio Ferdinand was low on energy and ran over to the touchline and was given one of those mini-packs of Jaffa Cakes, and then ran back into defence eating them from the pack.

salparadisenyc

Im still Balosdeep.

Have to say Southgate would likely check in for nap time right around the time Chiringuito starts getting the buzz in Ibiza.

Sly

Two mediocre teams about to lock horns 💪🏽 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

MidwestGun

I figured Marc would be up at the Pub watching the match .. looking to beat down anyone wearing a kilt.

WengerEagle

#KiltBash

MidwestGun

Hahahaha #Kiltbash sounds like an amazing outdoor concert actually.

TR7

How can a manager leave out the best player of the team from his starting 11 ? I don’t.care who sits out but Grealish must start.

salparadisenyc

Tierney time, Tennents flowing at corner pub, kilts out… nothing beats the big tournaments.
Enjoy the carnage.

AFC Forever

Midwest

As usual you’re on the money. The reason England fans support Grealish”s inclusion is because he brings excitement to a pretty four England side. Apparently he’s been missing trading si he clearly isn’t fully fit. Scottish fans are raving about Billy Gilmours inclusion, he seems to be their Grealish hope.

AFC Forever

*training.

TheLegendaryDB10

Southgate has decided to go conservative again tonight. I would have like to have seen Rashford and Grealish play.

And have Sancho come on as an impact sub.

I think we will win. I am curious to see if we carry over their pressing and good team play like we did against Croatia.

It would be good to see Kane score, like a striker should as well.

AFC Forever

Charlie

“Southgate might be a swell guy, but he is such a wet wipe”

I think that is an understatement mate. Too conservative for his own good as Legendary says. Safety first with the handbrake on

Elmo

With the state of the weather, I think Scotland will fancy doing a Big Sam Monday night job on England.

Frost

Hopefully England win this just so Tierney gets some much needed rest. He really shouldn’t be playing footy during this break.

MidwestGun

Proper Scotland v England ….weather. really. Would expect no less.

andy1886

This is going to be more of a scrap than a football match.

Mark

The issue around Saliba is not that he’s supposed to be our saviour, he’s a type of defender that AFC had been calling for for years. We were all exited with his purchase beating spurs & other clubs to his signature. Massive potential. Why would Saliba need another loan as opposed to taking holding or chambers place?? How were Leics able to integrate Fofana? Without continuous loans.? Is Saliba that much worse than Fofana.? The only person who didn’t rate Saliba was Arteta, and based on his judgement of Mustafi , Kola, Leno etc he’s got shit judgement. Arteta made… Read more »

AFC Forever

Andy

Yep, for a lot of the Scots this is their world cup final. We could do with an early goal.

MidwestGun

Post rocker.

Dissenter

Didn’t Like just win the league bin France
The owner has to be doing something right, if he owns 100% of the club why can’t he move money around?
Did he forget to pay the players and staff ? NO
Has he defaulted on creditors? NO

Much ado about nothing

TheLegendaryDB10

What a miss from Mount. Didn’t look focused. Not good enough.

Dissenter

***Didn’t Lille just win the league in France

Alexanderhenry

Nice to watch a competitive international with an actual arsenal player in it.

Spanishdave

England’s midfield is poor so far