MADDERS GETTING THE HEAVY LINKS

by .

A few things on the agenda today.

Thomas Partey’s rep came out with a eulogy to his injury yesterday, then quickly backtracked and told Arsenal fans not to panic. Let’s hope there’s some good news. It sounds like he’s going to miss the Brentford game regardless, which is annoying, but it’s not a death strike on our season.

There’s news doing the rounds that Arsenal are about to give Xhaka a forever contract to stay at Arsenal. There’s no way of cutting it, the news is disappointing. The player wanted to leave a month ago, now we can’t get a buyer for him we want to offer him more money and a deal until he’s is 34 years old? He’s deal has two years left to go, shouldn’t we just be extending a year? He just had the tournament of his life and the best bid we could land was £10m. I struggle to see how a transfer bounce next season sees a bid higher? Generally, there’s been logic behind most of things we’ve done this year, hopefully that’s just bad information in the system, because that is an awfully long contract for someone of that age that wanted out last week.

Still, it does appear that the reason we said no was a simple one: We couldn’t afford a replacement with £10m and that would eat into the rest of our summer plans.

Which brings us on nicely to the news that Arsenal are in fact heading in for James Maddison. If you told me we’d keep Xhaka if it meant we could sign Maddison, I am going to take that deal. The rumour has been hanging in the air like a rich attuned cologne for months, now it seems like we’re pushing in with offerings of some of our Hale-Enders. The whole thing still feels a little nuts to me, especially when the offer is Ainsley the other way. But we’ll see. If the player wants out and we have cash, these things can happen fast.

There’s also some more yin to yang. Mo Elneny might be hanging around the squad like the guy who overstays their welcome at your party… but some of the journos are saying that Azeez is going to be kept around this summer. You know what I like about this? Everything. The player looked transformed the other day, he’s moved from a waif-like child to a powerhouse in a few months. That’s putting in the hard-work and being rewarded.

What does hack me off is that a whole section of people have to immediately made it about Saliba. Can’t we just take it as ‘well, it’s clearly not a kids thing that is going on here’ and be happy for another Hale-Ender?

It is interesting though, because a lot of the kids are looking like men right now. Eddie has looked our best striker in preseason. He looks fit, focused and he’s making a difference every time he arrives on the pitch. The shame is we’ll end up keeping Lacazette around over one of the young players. There might be some regret in the system at some point with Eddie, because with games, he’ll bang them in. Trouble is, the club seems to have put their chips on Balogun and he shares an agent with Eddie. Can’t tell both players they’ll get minutes this season. One will have to go.

It’ll also be interesting to see what happens with Joe Willock. He caused chaos the other day, had a great stint with Newcastle, but if we’re going for Maddison, where does he fit? Seems the Geordies might have found some money for him, and be willing to go to £23m.

I also wanted to revisit the Chelsea game one more time, because some of the coverage of that game was embarrassing. It’s preseaon. Nothing matters bar fitness and tactical coaching. No one has any idea how much hard-work went on in the week prior to that game. No one knows what the purpose of the run-out was. Some fans seem more intent on being the first to call the season over than to actually let things play out and see where we land. The game was messy, but I’ve seen 4 comps of 4 different players doing the rounds… so clearly, there’s some good stuff going on. Thomas Partey is going to be on fire this season, Sambi Lokonga looked comfortable against good opposition, ESR is going to be more on the front foot this season… and it’s clear we’re not going to be deep-blocking against West Ham this season. The football is going to kick up a gear with a higher line with players that can handle it.

Imagine how much better things will be when we have all our transfer business done and we welcome back the two Gabriel’s and Bukayo Saka.

Finally, did anyone notice Spurs going for one of those European bargain right-sided ball-playing centre backs for £50m? Anyone following Chelsea tracking Kounde from broke Spain with a £60m bid? A lot of people slagging Arsenal for paying the English tax on Ben White… I’d maybe suggest it’s a tax on ball-playing centre backs that are 23 or younger, because those two are certainly not coming here on the bargain prices everyone critiqued Arsenal for not leaning in on.

Right, LIVE TWITCH STREAM AT 6PM UK TIME. Tune in… or don’t, just like, listen to the podcast later.

297 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bankz

Bankz is back again

Bankz

Been a long time I got this tr4phy

Bankz

Let’s do this

Bankz

Tr4py!!!!

Bankz

That was easy

grooveydaddy

Nice one Bankz

Sid

Artet8

Sid

Willock should offer us goals since the plan is to play boring football like Newcastle

Mark S

Top 10. Good morning.

Dat guy Pepe

Why can’t we just do business without looking at what others are doing? Chelsea is doing this, Liverpool that blah blah blah. The have their reasons as to why they’ve not sold /bought. One things for sure though…. most if not all top tier teams seems to have addressed their issues from last season. I don’t care how many players the competition move or bring in; I can’t excuse not buying a creative mid because Chelsea couldn’t get a striker. And enough with the trivialising of the pre season matches. If we’d won all of them we’d be thumping our… Read more »

Gentlebris

‘If Nketiah and Lacazette do leave, one player I want us to bring in is Paul Onuachu, a Genk player.’

I was hoping someone would say this…he’s not only good with his head, he shoots the ball precisely like Haaland. Banged in about 35 goals or so last season.

It’s £25m or so now, we shouldn’t leave the bet to Dortmund/Leipzig/Leicester again, who stake; win and then re-sell for £150m.

Sid,

‘Willock should offer us goals since the plan is to play boring football like Newcastle’

Mind my ribs pls!

Waldo

Only here for the comments…

Top 15 and safe from relegation

Roaaary

Personally I don’t care about our pre season results. We could go and thump Austrian 2nd division teams but that tells us nothing.

Really keen to see us address the RB, CM and CAM issues we have. Theyre fundamental and its already too late considering the first few fixtures we have

Positive pete

“ imagine how much better things will be when we have all our transfers done”Hmmmm.& I thought I was positive!Thats the worry.I think it is done.We don’t have the money 💰 available for any BIG transfers in without chucking in a player to sweeten ./ lower the price & nobody is interested.They all want cash.Cash is king.So I don’t believe for a second( ,unless we flog some more deadwood- and we’ve done sod all up to now)that the club is conning us to take the heat off till the window shuts.Little do they know………..

MidwestGun

Ugh.. The Xhaka news just keeps getting worse and worse. Giving him an extension feels like the Captain of the Titanic doubling down on hitting the iceberg. I mean, who knew that moving at high speed in the middle of the night through an iceberg field would be a bad idea? Literally everyone… and everyone knows that giving the Swiss iceberg, I mean Xhaka, an extension and a raise is a bad idea. Anyhow.. I would be very excited about Maddison coming, he is a legitimate bigtime player if he can stay healthy. Let’s hope it happens, very soon. Wouldn’t… Read more »

Gentlebris

Maddison + a striker would make all the difference for me if we could pull it off.

I have to agree that Xhaka indeed wasn’t a problem last term. In fact, he seems to have turned a mental corner after the ‘fuck off’ affair.

And the way he played against France, something tells me Roma will hugely regret low balling us.

So maddison and Abraham/Martinez/ Bamford, and it’s not the same Arsenal as last term.

Walking Wounded

The only logical sense behind the Xhaka thing is if there are minimum release clauses in the new contract. If Roma had offered £20m we would have sold and he would have been happy with that, the fact that he has taken the collapse of the transfer so well (credit to him), and he is happy with a new contract suggests there must be clauses that suit both sides.

raptora

Some of the posters that say Pepe has padded his stands in the last EPL games, bring up the post-Christmas table as an obvious sign of progress.

They don’t bother thinking that if Pepe doesn’t score in the last EPL games, we’d not be 3rd since Christmas but 6th since Christmas and that wouldn’t fit their bill.

Same guy that gave them the post-Christmas table is the same guy that CC compared his contribution to that of Willian.

Beyond a laughable take.

Leedsgunner

Apparently Leicester seriously considering a player plus cash swap . Figures range between £40m plus Reiss Nelson or £20m plus Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock. In short no one really knows.

Personally I would see if they would be open to taking Nelson, Nketiah and AMN in return for Maddison.

Rodgers is a great man manager and I could see him making something out of the three players and selling them on.

Dat guy Pepe

I can bet top dollar that apart from White, we’ll field the same sqaud that played last season. I just don’t see that Maddison deal happening. And why the hell isn’t he attractive to other teams?

I look at our forward line and I sigh, Laca, Auba, Saka, Pepe, Martinelli, Eddie, Balogun, Willian. How the hell do we keep these players happy? Willian is, how about the rest?

Marko

Oh I see

shaun

how is there any sense in offering xhaka a lifetime contract on higher wages and then people expect you to buy in to this Arteta bollocks .This is a man who wanted out for Italy ,this is a man Thierry henry turned off the arsenal game for when he new Xhaka was captain. This is very bad news .keeping Xhaka is a big issue for me I would prefer Sami in there right now with all his inexperience I would still go with him

Champagne Charlie

Raptora

Who had most assists for Arsenal in the league last season?

Willian, aged 32. Pepe had 1. Club record signing and he drops 1 assist in the league aged 25.

They’re both a huge part of why our attack was 10th best last season. That’s where the comparison begins and ends, because let’s not pretend for a second their profile is remotely similar.

DUIFG

Unless Maddison comes through we are left with Arsenal blowing their budget on a right CBS’s, after already ah I v a 30 m be cb ready.

Lol we will go in again with xacka, it’s a complete pisstake. Ben white will have to be vvd beckenbaur to justify another year of an elneny xacka mid

TR7

Raps

I have never brought up post Christmas table thing because that’s BS but it is true Pepe never performs against good teams and his game is disjointed.

Dat guy Pepe

Why should I be mad if we land him? Because I doubt he won’t join us? Seriously? If he comes we’ll and good, if he doesn’t, too bad. Rest assured I won’t come here and say I told you so; that’s childish. Apparently Maddison wants out and no team seems to be sniffing around him….. I’m just curious. That’s all

Champagne Charlie

Spurs agree fee for Romero 50 mil Euro’s + 5 in add ons

Bargain. Lad got Dissenter to the edge of his seat so he tells me, can someone else wowed by him give us the run down?

TR7

“Apparently Maddison wants out and no team seems to be sniffing around him….. I’m just curious. That’s all”

City stacked with quality midfielders, targetting an even better player in Grealish.

Chelsea have Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic and Pulisic, fully stacked.

United have Pogba and Bruno, no space for Maddison.

Spurs probably can’t afford him.

Pool are currently looking at Saul because he is cheaper.

Dat guy Pepe

Thanks for explaining TR7.

Rich

Maddison is a top player who ticks a lot of boxes, and will improve us significantly if we keep him fit, but anyone who isn’t: 1. Concerned about his hip injury 2. Concerned about his professionalism + lifestyle 3. Concerned that a transfer that’ll cost us around £120 million over 5 years, is a massive gamble for these two reasons 4. That Leicester will absolutely invest that money very smartly, and are probably letting him go for a reason Are just getting caught up in the emotion of it all I’d rather Arsenal stayed away from £200k+ p/w wages, maybe… Read more »

Crabregas

I find more and more these days there doesn’t often appear to be tussles for players, or bidding wars between clubs like there used to be.

White came to us, nobody else strongly interested
Varane to United
Konate to liverpool
Sancho to United
Upa to Bayern
The Maddison / Odegaard rumours with no other clubs mentioned
Willock to Newcastle etc etc

Probably a mix between the financial packages some teams can/cannot offer and a greater quality of player availability across the world.

I used to love it when teams would go head to head and fight over players

Champagne Charlie

Rich

Teams need maverick personalities that deliver the goods, I suggest you take in a Maddison post-match interview if you want a clearer idea of his professionalism/ambition.

His injury status is being hugely overblown imo, as is his lifestyle.

Northbanker

The reality is that if no one has any big money to spend then you’re not going to get too many clubs wanting to pay 60 – 70m for Maddison. We probably can only do it if a swap deal is involved and that will have to be for a Hale Ender. All our crap players are seen as crap by everyone else.

Dat guy Pepe

Who’s plan B if Maddison fails to come? We seem to be putting all our eggs on that basket.

Valentin

Rich,

I have exactly the same concern than you about any expensive deal for Maddison.

I think that the COVID breach party shows a level of immaturity and unprofessionalism that worries me. If tabloid are to be believed, once caught by Rodgers, they did not stopped partying, they decided to move the party to somebody else‘s house.

I can’t imagine how that behaviour would go done with Arteta. Unless he is treated like Royalty Willian 2nd who can do no wrong, It’s breaching the non negotiables multiple times on the same night.

Northbanker

There is a risk that Willock, Nketiah and Nelson could all yet become top players with decent coaching and coaxing. So I hope we don’t let go of all 3. Has to be one of them though to get JM over the line.

AMN I’m ok with as he is an older generation and I can’t see that ceiling going any higher. We should cash in there and if that got the net cash payable down to say 25m then we keep our powder dry for another player – hopefully a Leno replacement

Sid

Zaha had double the assists as Pepe in the EPL, a whopping 2

Aaron

AFC, what a wonder club, sell Martinez, keep Leno, sell Willock??, keep xhaka, sell Eddie?? and never play Martin, keep Laca and Auba, sell Bel, Kola, Chambers, Hold, Tor, and Soares??? Naaaaah, why would we do that? Sell players who are young and up and coming, and keep the the older terminal players on huge salaries forever… Arteta wants to play out the back, so we sell Martinez, needs goal scorers and Willock has been banging them in…. Not saying this is cut and dry, just our transfer business and contracts is completely inverted….. Hard pass on Maddy, going to… Read more »

Valentin

Swapping Willock+Nkethia+Cash against Maddison is a terrible idea. Right now when Vardy get injured, Leicester has to change style of play because they have nobody who can in the style than him. Not even mentioning the drop in quality between Vardy and Perez or Ineacho. Nkethia straight away allows them to play that counter attacking style even when Vardy is injured. Willock will give them an extra dimension in midfield with his late run and knack for scoring from midfield. Even if he is a definitive starter, he could be very useful for the last 20 minutes of games. It… Read more »

TR7

Would rather have a maverick who can play (Maddison) than a nice guy who doesn’t move the needle (Odegard).

Rich

CC https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9460235/Leicester-footballers-including-Maddison-Barnes-hid-dark-manager-caught-party.html I can deal with players with personality issues, but a lack of professionalism like this, is beyond idiotic and reckless Leicester missed out on CL by 2 points, we’re in the heat of a pandemic, and Maddison is at a house party, not just putting himself at risk, but also putting his teammates at risk, should he catch COVID and pass it on He could have put half the Leicester team out of action at a key point in the season, he was rightly dropped, and Leicester dropped 3 points, that ultimately cost them Every point is vital,… Read more »

Matt

Pedro

‘ also wanted to revisit the Chelsea game one more time, because some of the coverage of that game was embarrassing. It’s preseaon. Nothing matters bar fitness and tactical coaching. No one has any idea how much hard-work went on in the week prior to that game’

How can you honestly say nothing matters? So us conceding yet another goal in the same circumstances as many times last season by dicking around trying to be clever with the ball in our own area doesn’t matter? That doesn’t point to poor coaching or inadequate personnel – or both??

Guns of SF

No to Ode.

Drop the 50 on Dani Olmo
Take the risk, he will be amazing.
if RM want 50 for a non needle mover in Ode, spend the same on Olmo

Or go for Aouar and have change for a RB

Guns of SF

Rich

its his personality man. He likes the flair, the fun, the living in the moment stuff. Its what makes him do what he does.
This is why he is a maverick on the field. Not afraid to take on players, make chances, shoot the ball.

essentially all the things Mike does not want his mids to do, but NEED to do.

I am sorry but Mike is the one who needs to adjust here. This fella is more stubborn than a mule

Dat guy Pepe

Dani Olmo….. Now we’re talking. Young, hungry, pace, trickery and can bag assists

Champagne Charlie

Rich

That’s a sign of ignorance imo, had it been any time other than a pandemic then there’d have been no fuss at all with some 20 people gathering for a party at someone’s house. Brenda was looking after the optics of Leicester as he should, it was idiotic from Maddison.

Matt

I don’t think Maddison’s personality is a problem in the same mould as a Nasri or the like that we have had to deal with in the past. In fact, I would say Aubamayang’s personality is a bigger problem – turning up late for training, turning up late for NLD, speeding off in a strip straight after and generally putting in zero effort in many where he would rather sulk around the pitch!

MidwestGun

Dani Olmo’s buyout clause is 75mill.. not 50 and he has vocally said if he moves he wants to go to Spain. You might as well wish for Mbappe.

Rich

CC

The clue is in the phrase “professional” footballer

Professional isn’t going out partying until all hours, not when the science behind the negative effects of a lack of sleep, and negative effects of alcohol on the body, are so conclusive

We pay these players big money, expecting them to look after themselves, and keep themselves in optimum conditions to perform at the highest possible level, really isn’t unreasonable

I’d go as far to say that it’s the minimum I’d expect from any Arsenal player

Muppetman

Xhaka is too slow for the Prem now, can’t wait to see him at 34. Idiotic move from Arsenal, blocks the way for a youngster.

Matt

Pedro

But there is a common denominator in our fuck ups from the back and that is Leno. Ben White isn’t going to stop Leno making stupid decisions and giving people the ball when they are about to be closed down instead of launching it long.

Rich

Matt I’d agree on Aubameyang, we should have stripped him of the captaincy He’s the highest paid player at the club, he’s our captain who should be setting the right example to the younger players We don’t pay him £300k p/w, so he shows up late for a meeting for one of our biggest games of the season, then revs his sports car outside the stadium, instead of warming down with the other subs Why anyone would want to add another unprofessional player on extortionate wages is beyond me I’m absolutely done with giant contracts and players who think a… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Rich

You’re inferring details now, were you at the party to witness the heavy drinking and drugs?

I’m glad you think professional sportsman lead a life of zero alcohol and vices, sleeping in oxygen chambers 3 days a week etc but I’m afraid that fantasy is a mile from reality.

DUIFG

Can somebody please provide a logic to the xacka contract?

The only possible thing I can see is arteta sees him as a lynchpin of the mid, that is scary, the guy has a decent floor but a low ceiling. He can’t defend space, he can’t receive in tight spaces , he can’t dribble.

Within 18m this will look like another Willian

Champagne Charlie

Rich

Just for the record mate, Grealish is on the verge of a 100 mil move to the best side in the country and he’s literally legless every summer. Pure love island lad is Jacky boy, but he puts in the work come the 9-5.

The whole Bayern side swim in beer the year round and do just fine. Keep the Ronaldo standard for the real freaks of nature, the guys at the top aren’t very different from those at your local Sunday league. Just loads better.

curse

Things appear to be warming up at last and it at least looks like some movement will be happening as opposed to having the same squad, more or less, as last season. Xhaka is a decent, robust squad player, who has the respect of the coach and players. Of all the continuity that might be needed during this change, I don’t mind that one, I’d rather we move elneny on. JM8? I’d prefer Martin for various reasons but I’m not gonna pretend Madders doesn’t significantly move the needle for us. I’d like to see 40m plus Nelson. The Smith or… Read more »

Rich

CC When have I mentioned drugs? Maybe they weren’t drinking, but staying up until the early hours, turning your phone off, going onto another party Just a few days before a game, in the middle of a pandemic, is absolutely reckless That 3 points cost Leicester big Expecting players to keep themselves in the best possible physical + mental condition, should be the minimum requirements These are highly paid professionals, there’s massive money on the line, we don’t just pay them to train and play the games We pay them to eat right, rest right, sleep right, train right If… Read more »

DUIFG

People will be laughing at the low ball Roma bid , we have gone from a positive 10 m for xacka to a negative, what like best part of 25 30 m in additional wages over 4 years for a guy that can’t be sold. That’s a hell of a statement of intent

Matt

Rich

I get what you’re saying, but there has to be a balance. For example, I am sue Elneny is absolutely a model professional who doesn’t touch alcohol and is tucked up in ned by 9pm every night, but he is also the epitome of average on the pitch.

Like I said, the Aubamayang attitude of not appearing to care while on the pitch bothers me more than someone who has the odd blow out in his personal life.

Tom

“You’re inferring details now, were you at the party to witness the heavy drinking and drugs?“

I certainly hope there were drugs and drinking involved, as that would be the only explanation how a professional footballer ignores his managers orders to quit the party and go home.

You do this sober and there’s no mitigation of said act whatsofuckingever!!!!!

Rich

Xhaka has signed a 4yr extension today 😂

Prayers go out to Marc + Ishola

CG

DuiFg

“””Can somebody please provide a logic to the xacka contract?””””

There isn’t any.

None.

( he has 24 months to run as it stands)

12 months on from the infamous William 3 yearer- Arteta now wants to keep Granit until he is in his mid 30’s.

Xhaka will probably then move into the AFC coaching dept.

Champagne Charlie

Rich

I don’t disagree with the premise, but you’re being extremely naive to think players are fast asleep by 8pm and eating steamed veg and smoothies 7 days a week.

You think this Arsenal side is full of consummate professionals as you describe? Think again, they’re human. You’re muddying the facts that matter, and that’s Maddison being a level better than anything we have in attack.

NWM

Pedro How is Smith-Rowe ’going to be on the front foot this season when he’s sitting on the bench because Arsenal have spent £70m on Maddison? When a coach pays £70m for a player, he’s going to be that coach’s starter,. So where does Smith-Rowe play, on the wing? Saka already has one of those positions locked down and on the other wing Arsenal have Pepe, Martinelli, Aubameyang, and possibly Balogun vying for minutes. I don’t like the Maddison deal for this reason. Having averaged 7 league goals and 5 league assists in his three seasons at Leicester, I don’t… Read more »

Batistuta

Gentlebris

Saw your comment earlier about Paul Onuachu at Genk.

Mentioned him at the end of the season, great in the air, veey strong and has a bit of pace about him, 24/25 i think and was MVP in the league last season.

If we’re getring a plan B type striker id be all over that as he won’t exactly cost a premium

raptora

Fab Romano: “Granit Xhaka new contract with Arsenal will be until June 2025 with an increased salary, confirmed and completed.”

Can’t decide if to laugh or cry. Pedro will tell us how everything has changed for the better. But this is a proof it hasn’t.

Xhaka, the worst Arsenal player in the Premier League era with over 100 games for the club. Easily. The jokers with yet another mind-boggling decision. There goes any hope for this season.

andy1886

Rich, we know you want Ode and Maddison kills that dream, but if we do sign him I hope you get behind the player as we all have to do regardless of preferences (except Xhaka who is of course an abomination).

Pierre

Personally i can’t wait until the end of the window and we still have Willock and Nketiah at the club… It’s the most important few weeks of these young players lives , they need to be patient as their time is very close now. I would advise them to stay at Arsenal (they don’t have to leave) and bide their time in case it all goes tits up and a new manager comes in who recognises their qualities. . Awarding Xhaka a new contract and selling willock or Nketiah or both will be another Arteta decision to set us back… Read more »

Bigper

We were told the all knowing messiah arteta got rid of guendouzi cus he was trouble so why would he buy an even bigger cunt in Maddison.

Dissenter

I’m with Charlie here regarding the Madison partying

These players are as human as the rest of us

So what is a 24 year old hung out with his peers?

It’s not like Maddison has wrecked a gazillion cars like Grealish, besides Brendan played him several times after that incident. It’ s a storm in a teacup.

MidwestGun

Well you might as well write down Xhaka in permanent marker then in the starting lineup.. Dude never gets hurt……Bless him… and Arteta is All in now..
Have to say it didn’t work out for the last 2 managers very well.

Now it comes down to … will Arteta start Lokonga over Elneny or we are looking at a Xhaka/Elneny double pivot of gloom. to start the season.

Hope they are working on Partey with the latest wonder recovery meds.. Horse Placenta or whatever it takes. .

curse

NWM, it’ll be horses for courses.

Bigper

Maddison Seems like a good signing to many because we have fallen so far. He would be an upgrade but not enough to make a difference

CG

Pierre

“””Awarding Xhaka a new contract and selling willock or Nketiah or both will be another Arteta decision to set us back years.””””

A & E did extend Rob Holdings contract last season despite it having 24 months to run.

They have zero experience and it shows time and time again.

The next manager should be spending these transfer funds, not these 2 imbecilles

Bloody Maddsion, he cant play.
Gendozy mk 2.

T

I keep wondering why arteta is so hesitant on relying on willock. sure he is not a technically secure player but he has something that precious few midfielders in the world have got. he arrives on places at right times and knows where the net is.

for me that is an ability that can make you a world class player if you combine it with superb athletisism… which he will probably acquire over time too.

azeez looks promising too. would be interesting to see a bit more of him too.

Crabregas

NVM

Maddison came out only recently saying he was a number 8 rather than a 10. He only played as a 10 once last season against West Ham and all the other times played as an 8 or off the left so I envisage ESR won’t be sitting on the bench.

If it does go through it will be good to have a decent set piece taker as we haven’t had one for a long time

Dissenter

It would have made more sense to allow Xhaka to run down his contract and leave on a free in two years, if Arteta was intent on keeping him.

Why are we giving him a raise when he was so desperate to leave that he was effectively taking a pay cut to go to Roma?

Marko

I don’t think I’ve heard too much bad press about Maddison and he’s just had a kid so I don’t see it being a problem

Marko

Brand new 4 year contract for the most error prone player in the premier league since he arrived. Brilliant you just couldn’t make it up. We finish 8th and reward granit Xhaka… makes sense

Dissenter

The club didn’t give Wenger this level of support, surely,

Rich

Dissenter

It’s a storm in a teacup, that potentially cost his team a place in this seasons CL

There’s a time to let your hair down, and there’s a time to get your head down

Demanding that highly paid senior professionals get that balance right, isn’t at all unreasonable

Sleep, rest, and recovery are vital aspects to get right for professional athletes, and you’re not talking small margins

https://www.fatiguescience.com/blog/5-ways-sleep-impacts-peak-athletic-performance/

Kaz

Marko

Good luck to you, I’m tuning out this season.

NWM

CrabregasAugust 3, 2021 17:46:11 “NVM Maddison came out only recently saying he was a number 8 rather than a 10. He only played as a 10 once last season against West Ham and all the other times played as an 8 or off the left so I envisage ESR won’t be sitting on the bench. If it does go through it will be good to have a decent set piece taker as we haven’t had one for a long time” So if he’s a number 8, why is Arsenal giving Xhaka a new contract. If he comes in as the… Read more »

Tom

Dissenter, your entire Maddison take is a flawed one. First off, Charlie loves him some Maddison because he was in no small part responsible for Leicester missing out on top four down the stretch, and Rodgers proving yet again that he’s a serial bottler has been Charlie’s personal Legrove mission ( just teasing …with love lol). Second, of course Rodgers played Maddison after that one game benching penalty, which btw was a penalty for Leicester FC more so than the player, if you really think about………….it would’ve been stupid not to, as there were four players involved and Leicester were… Read more »

CG

Dissenter

“” The club didn’t give Wenger this level of support, surely,”””

Wenger made the modern day Arsenal and these imbecilles are totally destroying it.

Maddison.

Too slow, too full of himself and too bloody expensive.

Words on a blog

Rich,

You should be aware that the received wisdom around here is that Leicester failing to qualify for the Champions League had nothing to do with Maddison and his fellow partygoers.

Leicester failed to qualify because Fofana was too young and inexperienced and cost them goals and points (even when he wasn’t playing.)

Kaz

Xhaka gets more support from the Kroenke’s than Wenger did….

Leftside

Apparently its a small wage increase, but it doesn’t make much sense to me

Raulishuss

CG lol. You trash talked ode when it was looking like we’d get him and bigged up mads but now it seems we’re getting mads you’re onto him in a flash.. Miserable cunt

Dissenter

Rich
“It’s a storm in a teacup, that potentially cost his team a place in this seasons CL”

Now you’re over reaching

Leicester ran out of steam because of injuries to key players; Jonny Evans, Barnes and Vardy.
Not because some young millionaire players decided to party for one night.

JOEL

It looks like Xhaka has been offered sn extended contract which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever given his age and current salary. Keep him by all.means ….but keeping him for the next four to five years when no other side is looking to pay decent money for him…. following on from his best ever International Tournament illustrates how clueless Edu really is…and the degree to which Arteta favours certain players above others. As we all know he’s never going to be able to take Arsenal forward to the next level…With the best will in the World Xhaka just doesn’t have… Read more »

Dissenter

Tom I guess if you had Ronaldinho, you would have benched him because he went partying all night.

The best managers know how to ride tempestuous players.
Kanu was like that, he never shone in training but come game day he was on. Ronaldinho and Deco were like that for Barcelona too.

Tom

“You should be aware that the received wisdom around here is that Leicester failing to qualify for the Champions League had nothing to do with Maddison and his fellow partygoers.Leicester failed to qualify because Fofana was too young and inexperienced and cost them goals and points (even when he wasn’t playing.)“

WoB , just reposting this to see if Pedro’s sensitivity to Fofana related snark is heightened to unusual levels with posters named Tom 😉

Marko

I mean that’s basically just sealing the inevitable for me. Literally the only way he was going to survive was if he got rid of certain players from the team and replaced them and right now we look like starting with Xhaka and Elneny in midfield and Auba left to Lacazette again this season.

Kaz

Diss

Hazard too for Chelsea.

Jim

Agree that Rodgers will get some good out of any Hale Enders that end up at the midlands but a) who would Leicester really want? They got Soumare which means Willock/AMN would be surplus. Unlikely Nketiah ousts any of their forwards. Apparently they’re opting for a 4-4-2 meaning Nelson has no place and hence why Maddison can leave. And b) why can’t Mikel make stars of them if he is the elite coach we believe him to be. For example, can he not coach AMN to take over from Xhaka? Let the Swiss run down his contract and give Ainsley… Read more »

Globalgunner

Mad, mad club, run by idiots and managed by a rookie. I wouldn’t give them a twisted penny of my money. Clowns to the left. jokers to the right and we fans are stuck in the middle of the morass

1 2 3