I don’t want to say it but I will. Kids, I think we’re rocking and rolling.
Joe Willock looks set to leave the club for £22m.
This is good business. I mean, finally, Edu, on holiday 9 of the summer, has managed to slip in a sale between kayaking and ziplining. What a baller.
I’m going to have to take some time away from the internet this week, because I could swear I’ve been reading about our inability to sell players all summer… now we’ve sold a player who has had a total of 14 solid games on loan, and people are whining.
Joe Willock has made 78 appearances for Arsenal, he scored 11 goals and made 4 assists. Most don’t realise this, because he was mostly incredibly anonymous. He moved to Newcastle, dropped 14 appearances and scored 8 goals. That’s outrageous output, it added £15m to his pricetag and now makes him one of the most successful exits from the Hale End Academy. But always remember… Reiss Nelson scored 7 goals from 12 shots, we thought we had the next Jadon, we didn’t sell… and we are where we are with him.
I think Tim Stillman made an excellent point, sometimes you have to take a chance on a sale. Deep down, we all know he’s likely not at the level, but if we wait a season to qualify those thoughts, guess what, everyone else will know and there won’t be a premium. It’s really hard to sell players everyone knows are rubbish (look at the dross we can’t move). Also, massive shout to all the fans that were calling Joe a bum when he was in our first team under Emery, now pivoting their narrative.
The good news? If we’re letting Willock go, that means we’re feeling frisky about the chances of bringing in someone to replace him as a #10 or a dynamic #8. 100%, bet your bottom dollar, there will be incomings and outgoings by the end of the window. Will you like them? Who cares, just give me bodies, that’s where I’m at.
There’s an ITK thread doing the rounds at the moment that states Arsenal are £10m short of what Leicester want for James Maddison. The price is £60m, we have £50m, negotiations are positive and ongoing. Who knows what’s going on here, but if this were a smokey fire, you’d see the yellow flames licking the Twitter feed.
The biggest move for me this summer, beyond a CAM, is a striker. We’re woefully short in that department and it’d verge on gross negligence for us to head into this season with a broken Auba, a teenager, and a striker that is painfully short of what we need physically (and in the last year of his deal). People keep reeling off that our chance creation is shocking, and whilst it’s not 2015 Ozil levels of ‘on a plate’, it’s not that bad.
- Hibs 19 chances
- Rangers 19 chances
- Watford (don’t have the number, but we scored 14 and ripped them apart)
- Millwall (don’t have the number but we cored 4 and ripped them apart)
- Chelsea 14 chances
- Spurs 11 chances
Look at the spaces we move the ball into, the system produces good crosses, great opportunities. Imagine replacing Pepe’s STOP/THINK FOR 5 SECOND/MOVE approach to wide play for Saka or Smith Rowe’s direct running. But more than that, think about how much better everything would be with a striker. Imagine Tierney crossing to someone that didn’t sit at the back post and hide? Imagine Lokonga or Xhaka knocking balls over the top to someone that could control high balls and bully centre backs? Imagine having someone truly aggressive in the box?
Maddison makes a big difference, no doubt, but I think we’re kidding ourselves if we think Auba and Lacazette are suddenly going to turn the taps on the way we’re playing.
Part of me is desperately hoping Gabriel can be a difference-maker, but again, our eyes are bigger than our bellies when we talk about young players. Martinelli didn’t start a single game in an Olympic team. This is a tournament Serge G, off no Arsenal games, dominated 4 years ago. Are we really going to expect him to come in and be our saviour as a #9?
As for the backup keeper. I still cannot fathom the flapping around we’re doing on Ramsdale at the prices being spoken about. Here’s what I would do, as a total amateur: I would get a list of keepers with a St Georges flag next to their name with one year left to go on their deal and I would go to the poorest of the clubs and wave a fee at them. Just get me someone that can catch a ball and kick.
Fraser Forster would be an excellent back-up keeper and I’m sure he’d jump at the move. Then you can keep your pennies dry and move for Onana on a free transfer in January, not fearful you are one slip away from a 19-year-old keeper taking over as your keeper.
With the monstrous savings I’ve just found you, I’d hire a branding agency, then go to work on a really nice deck that showcased all the things you’re getting with Hector Bellerin as your brand new right back. It is devastating that we have 4 players that can drop in as right-backs and none of them hit the level we need. The Spaniard doesn’t want to be here, I’d be shocked if he signed a new deal even if offered, we need to ship him out, we need to find a loan for Soares, and we need to get someone that can do a Tierney on that side.
My word, we have a lot to do by the end of the month, but that’s the job of Edu and we can’t be hearing excuses like, ‘oh, I was on the slip ‘n slide in a Mallorca waterpark and missed all the calls this summer.’
Ok, that’s your lot. Podcast tomorrow combined with a Twitch Stream. We’ll be going LIVE at a slightly later time because I am moving house this week.
See you in the comments. x
Terraloon
I said I didn’t think Holding was good enough. Pierre thinks he’s dominant in the air. Winning 56% of your aerial duels isn’t dominant. It’s below average for a centre back. White’s numbers are even worse. But he brings a lot more to the table in other areas.
Centre backs now have more responsibility on the ball than ever before. Some on here are stuck in the past. They think being strong in the air and in the tackle is all that’s important.
Holding is the epitome of average if we can get 20m for him sell we have chambers white Mari and Gabriel
Get 45m in for them and 15m for bellend get a RB and cam simple
The windfall that the kronkes have been said to give us has not materialised. I never thought it would to be frank
We are at massive crossroads now and MA is going to steer us into oncoming traffic by the looks of it
Club is honestly circling down the drain. Can’t state it enough that we’ve held onto xhaka and let the highly promising willock leave the club. It’s not difficult to sell elneny and xhaka for a combined 25 mil and get their inflated wages off the books and take things from there with a view to a more dynamic midfield with willock as an option. Didn’t take that option, we’ll obviously regret it because xhaka has been a regret ever since we signed him. Suddenly select people want to claim that he’s one of our best midfielders, in which world? We… Read more »
When it comes to arsenal, Wenger and gazidis killed the club (slow poisoning) Raul and Emery dug the grave and Edu and arteta are burying it, we as fans should now hope there is life after death and we get someone to resurrect the club .
Can we not interest Leicester in a Holding part exchange deal?
Majesticgooner…around about Easter time then…
Bob N16 – If you were Brendan Rogers would you take that deal?
If they did entertain it I can see them asking for £60M + Rob Holding on loan with no obligation to buy!
Bob N16
I would be surprised if Holding leaves this summer. Arteta will want 4 specialist centre backs on the club’s books and Mari was recruited specifically because he is left footed.
I thought that the plan was to have two players per position in the backline.
Arteta doesn’t have a fucking clue. I’m telling you for free!
“It’s not difficult to sell elneny and xhaka ” Apparently it is and the fact that the club really does not have adequate coverage in these areas to begin with, thats a serious problem and concern. Dont know about you AC, but i have a very uneasy feeling going into the start of this season. There are a lot of real gaps that should have been prioritized and quite obviously, they remain as gaps. The strategy may well be to recruit with youth, but unloading an aging fleet is proving to be next to impossible and that is going to… Read more »
No signings in yet?
3 days to go till kick off.
Still no back up/to challenge keeper.
Still no creative force to help/rotate ESR.
Absolutely fucking clueless.
Solutions right in front of us.
Onana and Aouor. Hello!!!
Entering another fucking season unprepared.
You couldnt make it up.
I don’t normally buy the replica shirts, but have made an exception with this new third shirt out today. I couldn’t help myself! Proper 1995 vibes!
Don’t forget lads, Conte’s still available……
I still cant get over how bad the home short is this season. I saw so many better leaked versions.
Did I imagine it or did I see a version with the old Arsenal canon and also the old school Adidas logo??
For those of you who partake, for some bizarre and asinine reasoning, in buying replica kits … this one should, if you had any sense, stop you in your tracks. It’s fucking awful.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/bolt-blue-our-striking-new-third-kit
ES – Chambers could be the 4th CB if we signed a RB
Conte prob gonna get a call around Christmas time
Ernest I’m terrified of this season, we’ve stagnated. Just hoping that Lokonga is better than anyone could expect him to be, and that Ben White turns into a brick wall that can command his headless defensive partners. Also hoping that either Auba or Laca find their shooting form. Lots of hope and nothing concrete. It’s mad because I don’t even think Lokonga is a potential world class player, but he looks like one when compared to Xhaka and Elneny such is the way we’ve been starved of quality. So all I can do is hope that the “it’s just preseason”… Read more »
Arsenal talking to Tammy Abraham
Good news
We need that inelegant functional striker that can score goals
We are going to haver big problems replacing Laca next season ifd we let him leave on a free
\Why not sell him for 15 mill and and use that to cover 40% of the fee for Tammy
Swiss ramble doing Swiss ramble things again:
https://mobile.twitter.com/swissramble/status/1424617057035882499
We have to get rid of one of Auba and Laca
One of them has to go, something has to give
One is stagnating and the other is all huff & puff but only gets you 13-15 goals/season
Mob
That kit is looking like hot property to own imo.
Imagine we were playing prime wengerball in that kit?
It would be license for adidas to print money far as I’m concerned.
Might look gaudy to the older folks but the youngins will be all over that one.
I might buy one myself when December rolls around.
So we still owe 154m in unpaid transfer fees?
Presumably a lot of that for Pepe and Saliba.
Mee Arsenal came 8th twice in a row so if Holding is worthy of starting at a 10th placed team he’s surely worthy of a squad place in an 8th placed team?
Rio Ferdinand:
”””'”I don’t know how Arsenal have let Joe Willock go. The guy scores goals from midfield. I really like him. I don’t understand that. Newcastle have done unbelievably well to get him. He scores goals, he expects to score, he’s a good mover, makes good runs””””””’
too right.
CG
Willock is an ideal player to be introduced at Wenger time (67 minutes). His speed and skill is a trump card to have as even the fittest players tire both mentally and physically.
Arsenals answer to David Fairclough.
What an unbelievable starting 11 PSG have now. Neymar, Messi,.Mbappe and Di Maria in attack is filthy.
Poch got to win the champions league now.
TR7
Heavily tipped to sign Theo Hernandez too at LB which as of now looks their only possible weakness.
I know that heavy favourites tend to flatter to deceive in football but it’s really hard to imagine them not winning the Champions League this season.
Norg
Absolutely
Willock actually scores more than Ginger.
The Dopes should know most goals are scored in the last 20 minutes these days.
Willock , 21, 6ft 1 and prodigious in front of goal would be a useful weapon for any manager- except this one off course.
How they remain within ffp is a mystery but as they are not an English club I suspect it will be ignored
Camavinga getting linked to PSG too from what I read.
Just playing Fifa at that point.
CG if Wilock is so amazing how come only Newcastle are in for him? 25 million and English would surely generate more interest.
Muppet
Why is no one in for xhaka, elneny and torreira?
Anonymous well I’d say it’s because they aren’t good enough but a lot of people are pushing Wilock, hence the reason for asking why there is such little interest from any other club.
Torreira, shit, forgot about him.
Where is he?
How is PSG able to pay for all these signings
City are on the verge of signing two 100 million+ players in one window
The all FFP-Swiss Ramble thing is a joke
The Messi PSG move is a bit depressing, was hoping to see him at less obvious club. Have a hard time finding interest or getting remotely behind this move.
WE
PSG’s midfield is not stellar but yes definitely not a weak point. Still they have too much talent in attacking areas and have a giant of a GK in Donnarumma. Even City and Bayern distant 2nd and 3rd in terms of talent. Barca incredibly average now and Real too on the wane.
“Why is no one in for xhaka, elneny and torreira?”
We’ll be lucky to get 25 million for all three of those players, tbh
Lots of respect to Willock
Mauro Icardi about to be a reserve ST lol. Guy is legit capable of scoring 30+ a season leading the line.
And I doubt that Di Maria starts. Just a joke having a potential bench of Icardi, Di Maria, Gueye, Danilo, Kimpembe, Bernat, Donnarumma.
They will surely have to sell a few now? Draxler and Sarabia most likely.
Muppet
We’re pushing willock because he is better than what we are keeping.
Even Newcastle and Roma agree with that assessment.
That’s all we’re saying in the wake of xhaka being given a contract extension to protect his value instead of taking the 15mil that Roma were willing to part with.
Poch got to win the champions league now
He won’t
No one on the door before Brentford & we lose.Got a feelin all hell will break loose.Squeeky bum time for Atrteta & Edu. or is A & E,? Better known as Accident & Emergency 🚨
Sal
Yeah although Citeh would have been an even more boring move imo as the PL title race would have been over before a ball was even kicked.
As much as the romantic in us wanted Messi to join a very good but not great team, was never likely at his age and with his salary demands was it?
He is also chasing down that 5th CL title to equal Ronaldo and Maldini.
Eagle
Don’t know about that think City would of been more interesting based on league and relation to Pep, reality is maybe 2x options for him and timing of Grealish deal killed one.
At that level kind of hope for the unexpected like AC Milan or well…. Arsenal to really test the mettle.
CC
That Swiss Ramble makes for a very depressing read, Arsenal have largest payables debt in league yet in need of rebuild.
Kind of feel like this rides just beginning.
Sal
Yeah I guess it’s similar to Pep only joining teams (treble winning Bayern, oil backed City) that have a stacked deck. As amazing a manager and trailblazer as he has been for football and the modern game, we still don’t really know if he can be as successful if he manages a club that don’t have every possible advantage and are inferior to other clubs.
He doesn’t have to and I’m sure in his mind his legacy is cemented and he has nothing more to prove so I don’t expect him to barring an eventual decline like Mourinho.
If we are riddled in transfer debt, again it begs the question as to why Ben White was our sole marquee signing this summer when the midfield is absolute pants and our forward line is as uninspired as we have ever seen it.
Hello any new signings yet?
Messi doesn’t have to prove anything. So why go to a good but not great club where probability of winning the CL is lower and so are the wages. He has a terrific record against EPL teams in CL, so nobody can say he didn’t test himself in “the most difficult league in the world”.
Anonymous, well I suppose the acid test will be how he does for a whole season. Personally don’t think he did enough for us and was often on bench for Newcastle (I think) purple patch with goals but like anything it’s always a bit of a gamble.
The most transfer debt in the league and no interest to move smarter in the market.
Instead it’s 50mil Partey, 50mil Ben White, and next up a rumoured 60mil Maddison.
Not interested in aouar for 20/30.
Not interested in gravenberch who will double or triple his buying price in a few years time and could play s huge role both on the pitch and in rectifying our finances when we’re given an offer that’s too good to refuse for him.
We are a giant preparing to sleep, albeit desperately fighting it with failed strategies.
Agree TR7 on Messi.
He has scored more goals against the English ‘big 6’ than most PL veteran strikers ever managed despite never having set foot in the league.
We mess this T W up and it’s curtains for edueta the fans will be on their back straight away and our first ,5 games are hard
We’ll see Muppet.
I trust the academy products right now, generally when one good one comes through it means there are others in his same age group who will have serviceable potential having played with the starboy.
Wenger said we were on the cusp of having a golden gen when he was leaving didn’t he? At this point I don’t believe he was mistaken at all for that assessment.
Squandering it though.
Sal
Yea it’s grim. Should act as a bit of a tonic for those bemoaning the Willock sale though, just really dim not to realise the reality at the club and what 25 mil represents for a player we produced, that isn’t close to a guaranteed starter.
We should be seeing similar sales on a near annual basis, but we haven’t for a cool decade.
That Swiss Ramble makes for a very depressing read, Arsenal have largest payables debt in league yet in need of rebuild.
That’s what makes Arsenal a step up from Leicester, the reason why Partey, Willian, White chose us. Same reason why maddison wants Arsenal. Santa clauss of a club
The Ferdinand comment is making its rounds so here it is third time as a charm: “Rio scolds ‘no man’s land’ Arsenal for agreeing £22m fee to let Joe Willock join Newcastle and insists Gunners ‘are not a threat to ANYBODY’. Arsenal’s decision to let Joe Willock leave the club permanently has baffled me it’s ‘sad to see’ the once-great club in such a mess.” Some up what many here are feeling and here is an explanation why Arsenal is so bad in scoring goals. Arteta is for producing a goal scoring front line what Mustafi is for producing a… Read more »
Some/Sums
I’ve always said I’d rather see a youth team player rather than wasting game time with a player who is over the hill. At least there is the possibility of a higher level rather than watching someone who has peaked and is still shite
Instead of selling Holding rather sell Mari and Cedric. All Arteta players not thought through before being purchased
Mari is slower than Holding and not good enough
Willock sale is great for everyone.
1st of all, his style does not suit Artetaball
2nd – we have no offers for other players we would rather sell
I just hope Reiss and Eddie follow soon, together with AMN ideally (should have sold him last year)
Hoping Edu etc are not entertaining Romas bids too seriously after xhaka
WE/ Sal The Swiss Rambler details in that snippet sums due in respect of transfers in but missing from that statistic how much was owed to Arsenal in respect of transfers out. The accounts showed that at the end of the 2019 accounting period Arsenal owed £76.7 m in respect of transfers but we’re owed £23.5m so nett£53.2 million. Fast forward to end of the 2020 year and the numbers were £153.6 million owed by Arsenal and £46.5m owed to Arsenal so a nett £107.1 million owed you then look at the cash reserves which amounted in total £109.9 million… Read more »
Apparently Marseille president Pablo Longoria has said that Arsenal have told him that it will cost them 30m euros to make the deal permanent (Basically our money back).
“However, at his presentation last week, Longoria left the door open to buying Saliba outright and confirmed talks were planned with Arsenal to discuss the situation during the season.”
The fact that we are willing to discuss Salibas permanent exit DURING the season shows what most of us knew. He’s never going to play for us.
Regarding Messi, less for me about proving and more about finding new challenge and stepping into it. He’s done it all for club and now winning with Argentina, personally didn’t want to see the GOAT joining a dream team funded by Petrol. His beyond generational ability would of been better served taking on more interesting challenge in different market. Prefer the Tom Brady approach with Tampa Bay going unexpected with a lesser franchise and still finding the glory. Elite mentality down the line and may go down as his biggest achievement, something only the true greats can pull off. Something… Read more »
If you look at amount owed to other clubs as per last audited number and the transfers done in last TW, the no Swiss Ramble is coming up with in regard to payable is in the expected range. Just makes the White deal look more and more idiotic. Notwithstanding that a clique of posters were gullible enough to believe that Kroenke was going to help us a lot in this TW and order of our transfer didn’t matter.
Why are reports saying we have agreed personal terms with chelsea for TA? This is nuts. Isn’t he going to ROMA? Or is this Arsenal trying to make things tough and get payback on Mourinho?
Messi’s played a blinder as far as his career management goes. He’s spent 90% of his time in a technical league on a team surrounded by mostly top tier players where his involvement was mostly limited to attacking forays, and only twice a season was he in any danger of a agricultural tackle from a defender when Barca played RM in a Classico. Put him on a top PL team even 5 years ago and those challenges would’ve been a weekly thing ( Hazard anyone?). Facing PL teams in the CL with continental refs in charge is not even remotely… Read more »
And now he’s going to play two years in the farmers league before he retires proper in the MLS, which is two levels below farmers, I’m guessing.
Reports emerging that O9
Everyone wetting their knickers about willock
He was poor for us,he’s found his level at Newcastle
He’s not a top 4 level player,and I understand we aren’t a top 4 team at the minute,we need players of top 4 level to get us there,and he ain’t it
Reports emerging that Odegard has communicated to Real that he wants to leave.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wants to re-sign Martin Ødegaard from Real Madrid for another loan season even if the club sign one of James Maddison or Bernardo Silva. #afc [@marca]
“The fact that we are willing to discuss Salibas permanent exit DURING the season shows what most of us knew. He’s never going to play for us.“
Which begs the question what did Saliba do in this one game Arteta saw him play to convince our diamond eyed manager Saliba hasn’t been worth while.
He must’ve shit his shorts, right after he threw up on Arteta while getting instructions from him during a break.
Sad
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9879139/Double-vaccinated-England-fan-39-dies-Covid-watching-Euros-final-Wembley.html
Tom, I think that Messi is in for a big cultural shock. He will be on the receiving end of a lot more agricultural tackles than in Spain. He won’t be as protected by referees as much as Barcelona players are in Spain. Neymar Can testify to that. Maybe because they have not faced him before, teams will have the excitement to face him but not necessarily the fear factor. The average quality of defenders is also much higher in France than in Spain where he was facing good quality defenders only 4~6 times per season: Real, Athletico and depending… Read more »
TR7 – I can believe that, Odegaard AND Maddison or Bernado Silva would be a great way to increase fan positivity and more importantly fill the team with a very technical first 11 that could for sure compete for a champions league place.
As the specials sang … It’s all a load of bollocks and bollocks to it all.
That’s how I feel the way the club is run.
Messi is in for a shock moving over to French football, hottest take of the decade there.
He’s going to get found out against Angers and Lorient is he? My word.
If it was a film: My left foot.
Saka, Silva and Ødegaard in same side… double down with Pepe on left.
Basically the Marseilles president has officially confirmed what was said before. Arsenal were willing to sell him outright, but Marseilles did not have the cash.
Also Marseilles are not going to buy Saliba for €30 millions. Their current biggest purchase was a few years ago at €37 millions.
They will buy him at €12~18 millions which for accounting purposes will let Arsenal show something between a zero loss or a €6 millions profit on him. €30 millions for 5 years is an amortisation of €6 millions per year, so after 3 years he has €12 millions still to amortise.
Sal,
Re: Messi
I get what you’re saying there. I thought the same. Would’ve been nice if went to a failing giant like Milan to try rejuvenate them or even manure.
It might be that the lure of playing with his mate Neymar might have tipped it for him. Apparently they’ve been on holiday together. And with papi playing agent/manager you can imagine the focus will be to secure the financial futures of their bloodline. Then there is the potential of leaving Europe on a high with the champions League.
David,
In France Jacob Desvarieux the singer for KASSAV died of COVID in the same circumstances. Despite being fully vaccinated, he has had a kidney transplant making him immuno compromised.
If you are immuno compromised, people are advised to stay clear of big events and if you have to attend to keep your mask on at all time.
Buuuut, if Saliba had some balls and wasn’t made of weak sauce instead, he would’ve gone to Newcastle to prove himself, and learn the language of course ……you can’t play in England without speaking fluent Shakespeare, everyone knows that, and then Arteta would’ve kept him at Arsenal the following season………..you know, like Willock.
Messi would have been impossible for most clubs. A 50% salary reduction still mean a €25 millions annual salary or nearly €500kpw.
Even Juventus is trying to offload CR7 and a €400kpw Ramsey. Inter is having a fire sale. As romantic as the idea would have been, the reality is that no Italian clubs would have been able to even afford him.
RadioR I think the 30m Euros net a year had something to do with where Messi ended up!
Radio
How you holding up brother, ready for another Arteta masterclass?
Messi did the obvious and he’s secure in every aspect, notably financially. On the up he’s living in Paris, but then I’d support Paris FC if I lived there. So theres that.
I might be wrong here, our French posters may correct me, but does playing for Marseille mean something like playing for Liverpool or Arsenal or Manure etc if you’re English? Marseille are also in Europe aren’t they?
Just saw the mad scenes of Messi arriving American Hospital of Paris
His convoy was like the Saudi crown prince was visiting. There had to be at least a 100 cops on that convoy.
Everybody loves Messi, not sure he needs that level of security
Anonymous commentator
“Wenger said we were on the cusp of having a golden gen when he was leaving didn’t he? At this point I don’t believe he was mistaken at all for that assessment.
Squandering it though.”
Absolutely…I’ve said it for the last 12 months, this will be a period of regret.
Squandering is being too kind….
Also read that ESPN want some money back from what they paid for La Liga rights.
Sal
I’m ok bro. As for Arteta nothing can prepare me for him. I’ve given in I’ll just wait till Christmas and hopefully Santa delivers. Still need to fortify myself though so I’ll head to the beach tomorrow dip into that salty cold water and hope that prepares me for the next few months of Shiterta 😂
Let’s not kid ourselves, I like Messi the player but he’s been more about banknotes than challenges.
Interesting how some of the same people who despised Maradona for his drug abuse just shrugged their shoulders when it came to Messi’s tax evasion.
Drugs— baaaad!
Tax cheat— oh well…….. the government is just too greedy
AFC learned something from last seasdon. There is only one team interested in Willock and they are only willing to pay 20 million pounds. Whether or not that is a good or bad price will only become clear with hindsight. AFC is forced to take a fee for a player they are not using while they can because he won’t sign a new contract and won’t play much. Last summer Tets kept AMN and didn’t play him. Now nobody wants him, he won’t sign a new contract and will probably leave on a free, just like Eddie who should have… Read more »
Sky sports has the bundesliga rights this season which is great
Bob
Bang on, is there a thing as too much 💰?