SUNDAY ROUND-UP

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No… don’t… don’t make me dive back into more Willy Saliba stories!

French media is back at it again with the hysterical behaviour. They appear to have dropped a false story, stating that Arsenal agreed to a 10m purchase clause in the Marseille loan deal. I mean, on any level, why would Arsenal agree to take a fee 64% lower than what they paid when the player has 3 years on his deal. I don’t know why anyone would put that into the ether. Then GFFN corrected the story stating that it should include the clause. Then TF1 have come out and corrected for everyone saying that no such clause will be included and it’s a ‘dry loan.’

Honestly, the French media has been absolutely atrocious on Saliba. They spent most of last season whining about his treatment and didn’t even know it was one of their own clubs that stiffed the player.

There’s an even more amusing story today that has Southampton and Newcastle still in the mixer trying to pry him away from the south of France. Let’s be honest, bumming around in a slow league for another season is less than ideal if he’s serious about development. He should stay in the Premier League, learn the language, and be a bit brave about next season.

One player who looks almost certain to go back to France is Matteo G, why? Because he doesn’t have any other choices. The deal looks like a loan to a perm deal. It’s pretty embarrassing for a player that was widely viewed as a superstar in the making. Again, people can whine that this is an Arsenal issue… but look at the facts, no major club looks at his behaviour as ‘passion for the shirt’, they see him as an immature child that can’t be trusted.

Moving him out of the club is a good thing. It’ll be interesting to see how he deals with Sampaoli, hardly the most balanced of characters, and has certainly put a player through a wall once or twice in his career.

It is quite interesting how much flack the club gets for every single decision. Someone was critiquing the way we handled the Auba thing last season, suggesting Dortmund would handle lateness in a different way. I did some digging in that and it seemed that Dortmund actually went way harder at a similar situation with Auba when he missed a team meeting.

CEO COMMENT: “Yesterday, after the team training, the team had a joint meal and afterwards an important team briefing that did not only concern today’s match but also more general aspects, like our common goals and a code of conduct — and he failed to appear.”

“We held very intense talks with him today and ultimately suspended him. Obviously, also monetary sanctions will ensue. Tomorrow, the coach will welcome him back in training.”

COACH COMMENT (STOGER): “It was an important meeting. If he does not want to be part of that, another player will be get his chance. He briefly said that he forgot it, but we all know that’s not the case.”

KEEPER COMMENT: “The rules apply to every player regardless of how many goals he scores or prevents. The rules have to be followed and I think he knows that. [His suspension] was a logical decision.”

I highlight this because it does seem that whatever the club does that the moment, fans go absolutely mental, even if it’s standard practice. Saliba going on loan shouldn’t be a trending topic. Matteo G being moved on because he’s an awful character shouldn’t meet with such a visceral reaction. But here we are.

You know what will quell some of the bad vibes? Some player movement into the club and a few choice exits.

Sign Ben White and hear what Edu and Arteta have to say about him and we’ll start feeling better. Get Tavares holding the new home shirt outside Highbury House and we’ll ease up in mood. Send Xhaka packing to Rome and we’ll know this summer is serious.

The Euros will be done on Sunday, most players are back at home now with their agents, I think this week will see an uptick in movement.

Martin Odegaard seems to have signaled that he is not coming back to Arsenal next season. That means we’re back in for an attacking midfielder. The Buendia stories were true, so hopefully that means we’re going to target a player with energy and speed in that role.

Mat Ryan is heading to Spain, so that would signal that we’re going to need to sign at least one goalkeeper, two if Bernd Leno can’t be convinced to sign a new deal.

Aston Villa is keeping up their amusing pursuit of Emile Smith Rowe, seemingly believing that £32.5m for one of our best prospects is acceptable… knowing full well we’re asking for that number from Newcastle for Joe Willock. Again, just remind yourself that they have next to nothing they can offer that we can’t. Minutes? We have him 1700 in half a season. Prestige? Sorry, Birmingham and Villa ain’t it. Money? How much more could they possibly offer a 20-year-old? The only angle this story works is that his agent is playing games to whip Arsenal into upping the terms of his deal.

There’s a lot of movement about to happen, hopefully, the mood will lift when we can see what the future state of the squad is going to look like.

Should be a fun few weeks.

See you in the comments.

P.S. GOOD LUCK PATRICK VIEIRA. He just took his first Premier League job with Palace and I am very happy about that. It’ll be interesting to see what he brings to the table there. What will the style be? Will their fans sing old Arsenal Vieira songs to him? Will we love him if he beats us 2-0 at home? Many questions to be answerred.

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Habesha Gooner

United Signing Varane, Camavinga and Sancho in one summer would be very depressing. We are far away from them and now they are going further ahead. Meanwhile we are trying to spend 50 mil on a good but not elite yet CB. City and Man United are already ahead. Chelsea won’t need to spend much. Liverpool have klopp and VVD returning. Our chances of making top 4 next season look dead already. The only way we could have done it was if it was right recruitment at midfield and punching above our weight. There will be excuses made for Arteta… Read more »

andy1886

Okay, people don’t like the term ‘Arteta Fanboy’, fair enough. The question is, do you think Arsenal will improve in a timely fashion under Arteta? ‘Improve’ means perform approximately relative to our financial standing (i.e. minimum 5th in the PL)? If the answer is ‘yes’ then fine, make that argument. If the answer is ‘no’ then why would you support an individual who is preventing AFC from reaching their potential? In that case it’s not unreasonable to suggest that you are supporting an individual rather than the best interests of the club. And setting the bar at 5th is if… Read more »

Marc

andy

Actually the question is would they be less offended if “Arteta fanboy” was changed to “Arteta fan”?

raptora

Habesha,
We were outdone by the likes of Wolves (2019/20), West Ham (2020/21), Leicester both seasons, Spuds both seasons. This is before we even think about the likes of City, Manure, Chavs and Pool.

What can we even hope for if this manager makes Aubameyang go from top scorer in 18/19, to 2nd top scorer in 19/20, to 20th top scorer in 20/21 behind the likes of Bamford, DCL, Watkins, Gundogan, Wood, Wilson, Ings, Zaha, Pereira, part-time Bale, on level with top players like Benteke and El Ghazi.

Sly

Signing camavinga would be a risk worth taking
We don’t have any word of CM signings outside locatelli which is unrealistic/clickbait
I suspect artedu will probably go for Nunes as a xhaka replacement who won’t move the needle much and we’ll still be left with the problem of minimal creativity from midfield

Matt B

Marc: That quote has merit, but not in relation to Arteta and Arsenal.

He’s not going anywhere this summer, not until after the first 6-10 games when he might or might not be fired depending on the TW and results

Like some of the other fans on here who don’t agree with you, I’m willing to wait and see what happens during these next few months before I make any kind of judgement

It maybe that some of the people you call out as fanboys may actually come to the conclusion you have. Or, he may turn it around…

Mb

Anyone who thought we could win Champions League in 3 years time was deluded. Sanchez and Ramsay had left, Ozil declined, Koscielney forced a move and an injured Bellerin. It wasn’t as if we had 8 out of 11 places with great players and we needed 3 more signings to fix everything! A rebuild was needed, for every place. RB, LB, CB, Midfield to replace the quality Ozil and Ramsay provided. But what we did? Got 2 chelsea rejects who are out of playing XI in two years time, we finishing at 8th. Arteta in his first transfer window fucked… Read more »

Marc

Habesha

I think Liverpool will be back with a point to prove. Last season seems to be a case of having good luck with injuries turned to loads of bad luck, burnout after 2 massively intense seasons and then just the hangover of finally winning that league title after 30 years.

Chelsea under Tuchel will be a force, City will be City, ManU not sure about they look to be lining up some very good players but I don’t rate OGS, on the other hand when you;re guaranteed 35 penalties a season it does make things easier.

Ishola70

sly

“and we’ll still be left with the problem of minimal creativity from midfield”

Well actually having a real presence in midfield will be a start.

You get the opportunity to be more creative from midfield once you have more of a foothold in that area.

Arsenal haven’t even shown the basic requirement of having a foothold in midfield on a consistent basis to be able to be creative from it.

Marc

Matt B

Just answer me a simple question – when is it a reasonable time ie how many PL matches played to make a judgement on what Arteta is doing / has done?

SAGG

I can bet that this season will be worse that the last one until Arteta gets fired.

I insist all the signs are there for everybody to see them, problem is some people look to the other side like nothing wrong is happening

Emiratesstroller

Ishola 70 I am not concerned remotely about winning a battle with Roma, but there needs to be a material change in Arsenal selling players for peanuts. Frankly I think that Arsenal will continue the process of offloading unwanted players this summer. However, the only departures which are relevant are those players who are actually leaving last season’s squad. Sofar Ryan, Luiz, Ceballos and Odegaard have left. The general view is that Xhaka and Bellerin will also leave and maybe one or two others like Lacazette, Nelson Nketiah and Willian will also be offloaded. So potentially there will be at… Read more »

Ishola70

Marc

It has got to the situation now that Arteta could have us in 8th position by Christmas but there will still be fans backing him because he is still in the two domestic cup competitions at that time.

It has gotten to those pathetic levels.

WengerEagle

Sancho and Varane alone would be a huge summer for United.

Two world class additions in problem positions, Camavinga would be the icing on the cake and give them great depth in the middle with the potential to take over from Pogba in the future.

Dissenter

Who said the Glazers are the worse owners than the Kroenkes

Mb

I will never understand how a genuine world class prospect like Guendouzi starting almost every match at 19 years of age suddenly go missing and been sold for 8m?

Who can confirm me it won’t happen with Lokonga and Tavares?

Dissenter

Wenger Eagle
Unjted have been making sensible signings for a while
They’ve also been buying some very talented youngsters.

Sly

Can’t argue with that ishola
I just dream of having a pairing akin to what the Arsenal is accustomed too
In the ilk of a cazorla/ cesc next to a partey if we really want to get back to being a creative force in the premiership
The decisions made in this TW will either move us forward or cement our place as a lower mid table team for years to come

Matt B

Marc: For me it depends on how well we do in the transfer window and the first 6 games — Brentford (a); Chelsea (h); Man City (a); Norwich (h); Brunley (a); Spuds (h)

We should know by end-of-September if Arteta has got what it takes — he”ll have had longer than most, but he’s a rookie and we were in a mess

Habesha Gooner

Marc Yeah that’s the way I see it too. 4 teams are already better than us or are signing great players to get ahead. Leicester won’t be pushovers either. I only see spurs getting weaker. The only way we would compete with these teams was by addressing every problem position with good signings. That meant RB, CM (two possibly), CAM, RB and GK. But we see CB as a real problem which is mind boggling. It is taking out a large chunk of our funds. The beauty of the CB transfer is Arteta can’t cry about having having no funds… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

Raptora
Well we will see next season. There will be no more excuses for Arteta. That makes me feel better.

Marc

Matt B

That really is a bit wishy washy – OK let’s try it this way from those first 6 matches what points tally do you think we’ll get?

I reckon it’ll be 9 or 11.

Ishola70

Nothing will be decided over the first six games in the EPL in regards Arteta other than how badly he will fare. He gets off to a bad start then it’s an uphill battle from the start. The doubt about Arteta is whether he can cut it over a whole season of EPL football. It can help him of course having a good start but it will be far from conclusive in regards the whole season. Arteta, Arsenal and midtable clubs can put in runs at certain times over a whole season whether that be at the start, middle or… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

Oh I left out Backup LB which we are signing and the one CM too. Only a Starter RB, Starter CM, Starter CAM and a Reserve Goalie left. Thinking of that we at least need 100 mil for these. And we are spending 50 mil on a CB just because Arteta doesn’t like Saliba, just wow. Why give holding a new 4 year deal if he couldn’t handle a season with a promising prospect behind him.

Marc

It does seem odd that there’s no talk about Bellerin attracting interest – you’d think his agent would be lining a club up for him.

Batistuta

No credible links to any CAM or CM of note unless we’re counting Lokonga as one.

Said at the start it looked like we’d have one of those summers, one usually gets a feeling with these things from the off and this one has 2012 summer transfer window stamped all over it

Dissenter

Imagine if Roma called our bluff and walked away from negotiations to sign someone else
Then we are stuck with an unhappy player and also miss the chance to rebuild our midfield.

It’s seeking an unnecessary fight to win a Pyrrhic victory at best.

Why not walk away from being squeezed out of more money for Ben White because £50 million is deemed not enough.
That’s a better cost saving measure than picking a fight over Xhaka’s exit.

Sly

Don’t see any signs of a CAM on the horizon
Maddison and grealish are pipe dreams
Could leave room for ESR to develop but he needs support particularly considering his injury record
Begs the question why didn’t Arsenal go for buendia
Were they really putting all their eggs in the odegard basket

raptora

We desperately need that dribbler in the midfield. People talk about keeping Xhaka but Partey can do everything that Xhaka does better. Even Locatelli and Neves would be what Rodri is for City. We should give Partey that more defensive role. Then bring someone that can dribble with the ball, occupy 2 players to stop him then pass the ball so the space he created is used by his teammates. KdB, Goretzka, Pogba ​of some sort. Partey will not be able to do that. Camavinga is up there along with van de Beek, Franck Kessie, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Gravenberch, Renato Sanches,… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

Marc
Inter are though to be interested in Bellerin on loan with an option to buy. Which unsurprisingly we aren’t interested in. Villareal, Real betis and Atletico Madrid are also credited with an interest. I am not sure he will be anyone’s first choice target due to his form the past year. But some one will panic but him at the end. At least that is what I am hoping for.

Marc

Sly

We spent what seemed all of last summer in for Auour when he wasn’t interested – would it be a surprise to see us do a repeat?

Dissenter

It’s a bit strange that we are working against market forces.
The very season that continental Europe is in a depression, we decide to pursue over-priced English talent.
Why not do what Wenger did to Malaga for Santi Cazorla?

Look for the clubs in distress and apply the squeeze

Ishola70

Dissenter
“Imagine if Roma called our bluff and walked away from negotiations to sign someone else”

Of course they will have other midfield targets other than Xhaka at their price range they are willing to pay.

Sly

The Arsenal response to a villa bid for ESR should be “ throw in jack freakish and we’ll consider it”
That should shut them the f up
Big club mentality

Habesha Gooner

Fekir is available for 20 mil. He would be a good pickup and allow ESR to develop. There are still good CAMs available. But CB is the first priority to Arteta.

DivineSherlock

Marc

We dont even have a european campaign , anything less than 12pts at the starting 6 games is doing worse

Marc

Habesha

But again we run the risk of spending on a new RB and ending up with another body mopping around the training ground picking up £5 odd million a season with out kicking a ball.

That or a loan deal where we end up paying some of his wages,

Emiratesstroller

My guess is that three incoming transfers will be completed by the middle of next week. These will be White, Tavarez and Lokonga.

Arsenal will need then to replace GK [2nd string], RB if Bellerin leaves, DMF if Xhaka leaves
and AMF.

I think that Runarsson will be replaced by Okonkwo as 3rd string goalkeeper and Balogun will replace Nketiah.

Batistuta

I mean even the deals with players not in the euros like Lokonga we’re spending more than a month on, slow paced, lacking any sort of plan from the outside. Odeegard looks like he’s staying put Madison looks financially beyond us Buendia has gone to Villa Beyond those, haven’t seen any links to fixing that position or the one that’s gonna be left with Xhaka leaving. We need a CAM and maybe 2 CMs unless we’re rolling with El Neny and Torreira and Willock as options to partner Partey wit Lokonga. There’s quite a lot to do and this is… Read more »

Dissenter

The Maddison rumors are no different from Sergio Ramos to Arsenal.

We wouldn’t be able to afford him If Leicester were to ever sell him

Ishola70

Raptora

“We should give Partey that more defensive role”

I think he has to operate bang central with a midfielder tasked just behind him as well as in front.

Let’s just say he hasn’t entirely impressed offensively high up nor defensively on the ege of his own penalty area.

Karsa

Deals can be in place from our perspective. Often the selling team won’t put pen to paper until a replacement is signed.

Marc

Sherlock

I’m trying to take a fair look at what we could do. My breakdown is:

Brentford (a) 3 points
Chelsea (h) 1
Man City (a) 0
Norwich (h) 3
Brunley (a) 1
Spuds (h) 1 or 3 points – so deciding on the difference between the 9 or 11 points

Emiratesstroller

Batitusta

Lokonga is probably a replacement for Ceballos.

I would hope that Arsenal are still looking for replacements for both Xhaka and Odegaard.

Dissenter

Arthur Okwonkwo’s contract expired on June 30th 2021

Another one that escaped from Arteta’s goal keeping coach.

Ishola70

All that will be decided over the first six games of the upcoming EPL season is how badly Arteta will fare.

He has a shocker in those first six games then it is early curtains for him.

raptora

11 pts every 6 games would set us up for roughly 70 points total. I’ll take 70 pts total coming from 56 pts in 19/20 and 61 pts in 20/21. Emery reached 70 pts in his first campaign so I don’t think it’s unrealistic to expect the same from Arteta after a total of 30 months in charge by the end of next season, having a big say on who we sell and who we buy. 70 pts does not guarantee UCL football every season, but very often it does and it will show a decent enough growth from the… Read more »

DivineSherlock

Marc
Apart from Chelsea and City all looks winnable to me , bear in mind we even defeated Chelsea under Tuchel .

Marc

raptora

I think 70 points won’t be enough for 4th next season – going to be some really primed teams.

We should also bear in mind that those 6 matches contain 2 promoted teams, Burnley who’ll be bottom 8 and the Spud’s who might just have a meltdown season because of selling Kane.

raptora

If Manure get Camavinga, it will free van de Beek who could be just what we need. I’d be pushing for him ahead of a lot of CMs.

Naby Keita is another one that could be considered. That it didn’t work with Klopp doesn’t mean he’s not good enough. Thiago didn’t work either.

Marc

Sherlock

That we should win them doesn’t mean we will – I think Chelsea could well be a different proposition next season and we were lucky to beat them in the match under Tuchel.

From what you’re saying 13 points should be the minimum we’re looking for.

Dissenter

From what I’ve seen of Lokonga, he’s Guendouzi from another mama
He’s the replacement of what Guen was in Emery’s first season.

Leftside

United won’t sell Donny to us unless its an eye watering sum, and the same with Leicester. We are a potential CL threat to those clubs if we get our acts together.

You wonder, we’ve heard these names for weeks – why it takes so long to get deals over the line at this club.

DivineSherlock

Marc

Honestly If we cant beat Brentford Burnley and Norwich , then what is even the point of Arteta . As for Spurs they might even lose Harry Kane , and Arteta is better than Nuno right . Thats 12 right there

Sly

Diss looks like lokonga’s a better dribbler and ball progresser. He also puts in a defensive shift
For the life of me I can’t understand why Guen has an LG world class potential rating

Habesha Gooner

I have a weird feeling Kane will stay put because Levy will be a Cunt. City have already offered a 100 mil. If it is 120 mil+ , they will go and sign Haaland.

raptora

Sly,
Because he was. Transfermarkt had him at £45m. He was in the Golden boy awards. And played a shit ton of games for us in a 5th place EPL, final of EL season.

Marc

Sherlock

If I put down what we – the Arsenal – under a real manager should be getting I’d get called negative etc.

Marc

Habesha

That won’t do the Spud’s any good either – an unhappy player who’s prone to ankle injuries and Captain no less could cause issues.

raptora

Not going to lie, the most depressing thing, other than having to watch Mr Sauce start yet another season in charge of my favorite club, is the info that we are after Ramsdale for over £30m. I’ll fkin lose it if it happens, I swear to God.

Ishola70

sly

“looks like lokonga’s a better dribbler and ball progresser. He also puts in a defensive shift”

Well if Xhaka stays with his Roma deal in collapse we will see just how good this boy is won’t we.

He will be tasked with a lot of midfield duties if Xhaka continues at Arsenal as is the case of any midfielder playing alongside Xhaka.

Just like how Guendouzi was tasked with many duties being a green kid coming out of a lower league.

Batistuta

Emirates

I’ll be sorely disappointed if we don’t somehow fix that midfield. That’s one area we’re massively massively in dire need of fixing

Mb

“”For the life of me I can’t understand why Guen has an LG world class potential rating””

Because he was. He played 33 matches in 2018-19, and another 24 in 2019-20.

You don’t play that much game if you are shit. For a club as big as Arsenal.

Marc

Sly

It’s because he was being quoted as one of the top “X” young players in the world under Emery with a price tag of £60 – £70 million.

Now both of those were hype but that doesn’t mean he’s only worth the fee that’s reportedly been agreed on the loan deal either.

Dissenter

Sly
Lokonga may very well end up as elite but an amalgam of Ndidi and Tielesmann but because he’s coming from Belgium, only time will tell.

He does look like he still very rough around the edges. He needs a manager that will give him some freedom not one that will bellow minute instructions from the sidelines.

Dissenter

* Lokonga may very well end up as elite amalgam of Ndidi and Tielesmann

Marc

I don’t believe the Ramsdale price for a moment.

Mb

Diss

Freedom and Arteta don’t really go hand in hand. He will be told how fast he should run from th sidelines.

raptora

Marc,
You don’t believe the price or that we want him?
Cause even at 20m I’d still think we should be bringing someone better.

Mb

“”I don’t believe the Ramsdale price for a moment.””

I don’t want to believe we are even trying to bring him. ::|

Leftside

The Ramsdale talks horrify me, he didn’t even have a good season unless I’ve gone mad. Always looked unsure and generally poor.

Habesha Gooner

Off to read the new post. Let’s see what the sauce has in for us according to pedro.

Marc

raptora

Price – I don’t believe

Interest – Hope we’re not!

Sly

Rap tbh it’s all hype with Guen
Shit ton of games is probably one of the main criteria for golden boy awards

Marc I agree
We should be getting more

Almuniasaynomore

Andy Your comment at 14:14 is on the money. Keep it simple,look at the overall picture and call it. Are we moving in the right direction with Arteta or not? Simple enough. Argument/ football/ life in general can be nuanced and complicated,granted. But it is also about decisions,many of which are ultimately black or white. Break up or not. Get married or not, have kids or not. For all the complexity of these decisions there are normally only 2 choices at the end of them. Remembering that can often help when you find yourself swamped by the various factors you… Read more »

Dissenter

Arteta worked with Vincent Kompany so he would have some info about Lokonga.
I’m really excited about the prospect of signing a huge talent at normal market cost. He’s the type of players we should be bringing in.

raptora

Almunia post that under the new post. Thank you.

Valentin

It looks Emery had some people on his staff who were competent. Juan Carlos Carcedo left when Emery got sacked. He now manage Ibiza and got them promoted to the second tier of Spanish football. He was the set pieces specialist that made Arsenal move up to 6th in the set pieces goal scored. In 2020, We replaced him by a friend of Arteta who quickly had us slide to 17th in the Premier League for set pieces goal scored (with 6 goals) in the 2020/2021 season. Andreas Georgson is now leaving Arsenal after one year and is replaced by… Read more »

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