My dad went on a stag-do with his younger cousins about 15 years ago, I wasn’t allowed to go. He had his own style, always, a sharp dresser if ever there was one. His best bit of work advice to me was.
‘If your clients aren’t talking about what you’re wearing, you’re wearing the wrong thing’
That has stood me well, being a bad dresser and all. Back to the point, he went on a Marbella stag do and decided he liked a £1000 cowboy jacket. It was black brushed leather with Eddie the eagle tassels so he looked like a bird when in the Jesus pose. Everyone told him he shouldn’t buy that jacket, but he wouldn’t listen, he knew it would crown his outfit… and that night, he was going to look like a hero.
He bought the jacket, owned the night, and never spoke about that jacket again.
To Arsenal fans, I think Aron Ramsdale is the jacket, we’re the friends wondering what’s going on… and there’s nothing we can do to stop the purchase. Arsenal are ten pints of data deep on this kid and they can already the dopamine hit when everyone is fawning over the tassels on the dance floor.
There is only one thing I can tell you to make you feel better… the same people that have identified Lokonga, White and Tavares are heavily skewing this decision. There’s something in his profile the club think they can work with. It’s not just him, it seems he’s quite popular in football circles, remember Chris Wilder is a proper coach and he made him his star signing (do NOT look at how that turned out). It is also worth noting that despite playing for relegated teams the past two seasons, both sets of fans voted him player of the season.
He’s also very, very young for a Premier League keeper.
So we’ll see. I’m just happy we’re bringing in a backup keeper. Even happier that the money would suggest he’s coming in to replace Leno as #1 as soon as the German drops a major footwork clanger against Brentford.
What I’m not happy about is that we are heading into the first game of the season having not added a single body to our attack. Arsenal had the 3rd best defence in the league last season and an attack that dropped just 55 (9th). Chelsea finished 8th for goals and spent £100m on Lukaku. I appreciate that attack often starts in defence in 2021. Ben White and a keeper that can pass will show us plebs that in due course. However, it is still quite baffling to be at a stalemate with our strikers and to still be fumbling around hoping Leicester or Madrid decide to deal this week.
Brentford will be a tough game, just because they have no history of the Premier League yet. We should beat them, but I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever known an Arsenal start to the season to be so pessimistic. There are a couple of reasons for that.
- Arteta burned all his ‘hope’ capital at the start of last season with that dreadful 14 game run. If you were a non-emotional fan, you’d be looking at the 60% of games we played post-Christmas for clues as to how we’re going to play this season. But you’re not, you are a hot mess of emotions and all we’re thinking about is how bad that start was last season.
- Preseasons against London rivals was a bad idea. Nice if you win, but back to back derby losses really was a waste of energy.
- Our start is hard.
A lot of the fear isn’t grounded in truth. I saw someone write ‘I just wish my team could register 15 shots a game’… our worst showing this summer was Spurs and we had 11 shots, 2 on target just like them. Chelsea 14, Watford 15+, Millwall 15+, Rangers 19, Hibs 19… shots hasn’t been the issue, but our forwards certainly have been.
There are going to be a lot of eyeballs on that teamsheet on Friday.
Is it going to be Hierahy FC this season? Are we going to see the rebirth of Laca/Auba as a mainstay? Will Arteta panic and start Mo Elneny in midfield next to Granit Xhaka? Who will start as right back, because Hector has been atrocious? Will we have to see 4 bad results to see the best starting 11?
Many questions I will look to tackle tomorrow.
Before we get there, I wanted to thank everyone who has been tuning in to the podcast this summer. We had our best week ever last week! We’re going to continue to bring you podcasts with LIVE video as the season goes on. One minor shift I want to make you aware of… we’ll be doing advertising on the podcast and a little bit with a great sponsor on the site. I went back and forth on it… but the reality is, I can’t ask people to do this for free, and this platform is expensive to run… servers, tools, microphones, WILD nights out in Vegas, all these annoying little subscriptions.
Anyway, jump on the latest videos, know that cancel culture exists and YOU made me change my haircut, and leave a nice 5* rating on iTunes.
Be nice if ainsley would shut the fuck up and play RB
Only a sack of coal Sal because it would be a loan deal and it likely just sees him return to Real Madrid next summer when Modric is nearly 37.
If he plays in any way well he will stay at Real and where does that leave us exactly?
Weagle
My concern is we realistically have no alternative to Abraham, he’s ideal in many a sense even if he’s not elite. But fact Chelsea want some cash means he’ll be granted a modest enough move, and even loan first. Just ain’t happening anywhere else for your Lautaro, Isak sort of players.
Ramsdale apparently scuppered because we offered less than 20 mil guaranteed with a cap at 20 with all the add ones. Maybe it’s posturing to pressure them to sell, but I’d hope we walk from anything above 15 mil.
Ceballos has damaged his ankle with some nasty ligament ruptures.
It’s unlikely that Madrid well allow Ode to leave.
Waiting on Madrid was always a very poor transfer approach but that’s the state our. Luv is in now.
Eagle
Thanks for clarifying, agree on any loan nonsense its time buy or walk. For the record as much as I like Golders Green the jews wouldn’t let me in.
Zacharse
Where you posting from?
Oakland
Assuming yr in nyc sal. Ive got a lot of fam spread around back there
Zacharse
NY for me, used to be a whole contingent on here from city but there all leaving me.
Oakland you punk rocker what a town.
Not to worry Debbie they have fat Isco to fill the void.
Charlie There’s a shortage of gifted up and comings STs around Europe but the reservoir isn’t completely running dry just yet. You may laugh at Barrow as a suggestion but he is a very good young striker with the potential to explode, Darwin Nunez has yet to put it all together but he is another one with plenty of potential for me. I also like Boadu ans expect him to do well at Monaco this season. Guys like Martinez, Vlahovic and Isak are already blown up and established and are not the profile of player we should be going after.… Read more »
now I’m seeing these articles about ramsdale deal off due to us not going above 20m on the fee.
looks like edu been reading LG???? thought we were paying 34 or whatever hahah
Fat Isco, Full-fat Hazard, porky Marcelo, Mariano carrying extra timber too.
I swear they have got to enforce that churros ban over in Real if they are to get back to the big time.
sal
a contingent from NYC on LG or like a bar?
That’s a big win for Le Grove in my book.
Saving the club one day at a time.
congrats eagle. youve saved the club.
👏👏👏
Weagle
Don’t disagree, Islam and co are just too pricey for what they are, but unconvinced some of the lesser lights would offer much next season. Usually a bit much to expect talents to take off day one, and idk how much wiggle room Auba/Laca are leaving.
Eddie looking our sharpest CF is painful viewing to any not named Pierre.
Arsenal in pretty solid position for gifted up and coming center forwards, Martinelli the next in line with Balogun trying to get a look in. Tricky part is finding bridge with our duo crumbling, sure money’s on another season of that duo with hopes that Martinelli breaks thru. Which makes me yearn for Middy’s Tokillya.
Did I mention i’m warming to Abraham?
My Tammy propaganda is getting to Sal. Result
I’ll leave this here to stoke the fires before Roma confirm a deal..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kqAvkfaDUao
Loves the FA cup, he’s made for us.
Sal I’d be game to see Martinelli get a run down the middle this season, he couldn’t be any worse than Auba was last season. We don’t know much on Balogun as of yet, he looks to have the right physical ingredients and he’s a good finisher at youth level but will that translate to the senior game? It still hasn’t yet for Eddie. Balogun loan for me or if not, start him in League Cup games/early FA Cup maybe. Zacharse Thanks mate, just doing what I can one day at a time! I’ll dust off my cape and get… Read more »
Charlie
Islam? You still have Slimani on the brain it seems, obsessed much.
Eddie and Auba sold, Balogun loaned out to a lower PL/Championship side with a decent ST coming in would be my dream ST summer.
Selling Auba next to impossible though, he is our potential new Ozil.
Weagle Isak got an Apple rebrand there, Slimani is long gone. I’d bin Auba and Eddie, just don’t see it. Best we can hope for is pushing Laca the way of Roma and taking Abraham on board. Run with Auba/Tammy offering a similar skill set….in theory as far as Auba is concerned. Outgoings crucial to us doing anything transformative in the final few weeks. Do wonder if the Brentford performance will provide a catalyst too. We start well and maybe you’ll see us doubling down, meanwhile we huff and puff and it could make us twitchy. Would hope it didn’t… Read more »
Slimani… this comments section, toooo elite
CC
It really doesn’t take much CC, gotta feel for Mrs Paradise.
Exodus from psg exodus from barca, city and soon utd-we should be getting some loan players soonish!
Thankfully the best news I’ve heard today? Someone who is not coming.
Aaron Ramsdale talks have fallen through because we’re not going above £20m.
Thank goodness. Common sense has prevailed.
Can we get on with signing our ACM and RB please?
Haha, you’re my target audience Sal. Hoping to create a wave of anticipation around Tammy, big budget imagery.
Just clocked we play Chelsea on the 22nd of the month though, care to indulge the notion they won’t let him go until after then? That’s my pitch for a slow burn. They’re scared of him in red…
lokonga xhaka mf doesnt bother me too much. lokonga looks ready.
think we all definitely wanna see a blowout friday.
CC
think that chelsea told him he could stay and fight or leave. sounds like it’s up to him now
PEA singlehandedly carried this team on his own for two seasons but despite that he’s getting vilified and written off by many. He showed to us loyalty, where’s our loyalty to him?
For my part, if we manage to get an effective ACM who manages to get the ball to PEA he will start scoring again… I reckon.
PEA isn’t finished yet.
Leeds
Loyal to the tune of being paid 350k a week which he wouldn’t have come close to even sniffing anywhere else in Europe.
He has been shite for over a year now and he is 32. Safe to say it’s more likely than not than he is in the midst of a terminal decline.
Pedro
I think it’s important to be able to see the difference between anti-Arteta and anti-Arsenal. I don’t agree with too much of what AC says but I don’t question his motives as an Arsenal fan. Equally, if someone says Leicester is as much of a draw as Arsenal now, I don’t agree with them but don’t see that as denigrating the club. It’s just an opinion based on performance over recent years (winning the league, smarter management etc).
WE
Call me an optimistic fool then. If we get the ACM we need, I think PEA will surprise people.
If I’m wrong, I’m wrong but I think PEA’s poor form can be explained by being ill with malaria and off the field worries with family.
He might not read 29-30 goals but I can see him getting say 20-21 goals next year.
Pedro – if ramsdale wasn’t good SU wouldn’t have dropped 20 million on him
Posters – yeah what about 23 on Ryan Brewster?
Pedro – radio silence.
Way to go, you showed them plebs!!
Have to say I’m more perplexed that anyone is defending Emery at this point, though. The reason why so many people (including you) called for Arteta’s head after the Villareal loss was because Emery put out a shoddy looking team that we should have run over and instead Arteta twisted himself in knots and choked.
*score
Leeds, gonna call you old just because
So when are we going to address the CM position?
With partey out, we have xhaka, elneny and lokonga.
Why can’t we just loan a keeper? Surely that’s cheaper
I miss Pedros haircut ….
“ PEA singlehandedly carried this team on his own for two seasons but despite that he’s getting vilified and written off by many. He showed to us loyalty, where’s our loyalty to him?”
Is this serious? If it was about loyalty Tony would still be playing in the back four. Since he signed a new deal he’s mailed it in. Atrocious. It doesn’t work like that, it never has done. When he puts the work in we will be back on his side. Until then …
A quick review tells exactly the story we are facing. First Emi was sold for around £18m and Leno promoted back to his first 11 starting position. Then Runnarson to replace Emi as back up keeper. Then Leno wants to leave reports being because he has no confidence in Arteta’s keeping coach who also brought in Runnarson. Now with various options including taking a chance on Onana not because he is an unknown keeper. Quite the contrary he is an excellent keeper but got caught with a banned substance and now has been allowed to play again. The AFCON cup… Read more »
I’ve simply had enough of those two muppets ruining our club.
Simpla as.
Funny enough, some MNCs still hire muppets to entertain staff, clients and supporter during Xmas dinners. I suppose they are cheap…. and guess what, some people do like them！ LOL.
Leeds
I don’t know why you think auba will get 20 goals next season. He May break 10, but I don’t see any more than that, unless a new manager comes in and has a new manager bounce.
We need at least a 20-25 goal season from PEA, just think he needs to be up front and a penalty box player receiving service. This is more out of hope and desperation as he hasn’t looked serviceable since the beginning of last season.
Sheffield United’s starting demands were to demand a fee of £35m for Ramsdale and we were looking to complete a deal at half that price apparently.
If so, I’m glad we’re not being fleeced like that. That would have been criminal.
Auba needs to take the middle…
Its been said countless times
LW is not his position
At all
Never was
Never will be
Center forward only
But Mike never learns
Most of us think White is a very good ball playing defender. It was the price tag which was moaned about.”
This bro just pathetically lied with a straight face.
You mean, yue defender that called to teh national team because of injuries sustain by others?
A defender that didn’t play a single match at the euros?
A player who was carries by dunk?
A player that wasn’t noticed all through the season?
A player no one talked about?
A defender you expect to score/assist 20 goals?
Etc?
Damn, I was feeling pretty confident in my Arteta Out stance and now I read Jamie O’Hara says that ‘Arsenal’s biggest problem is Arteta’. This might just force me into the pro-Arteta camp.
Bacary don’t do anything rash lad. Think before you jump.
Eggs and faces don’t usually go well together.
MD
You are shite show before and during the super cup match.
You fluctuating from taunting arsenal with your Emery’s about to win his second euro cup while we settle for local cup to Villarreal play from the back is shit like Arsenal then back to Villarreal is playing beautiful flowing attacking football, all within a space of 90min
swinging pendulum bob comes to mind
JonnygunnerAugust 11, 2021 23:26:58
Mr Serge
I always back my talent in my industry and know in the main I will kick their arse……Jesus…you’re really into yourself aren’t you….that’s so fucking cringeworthy.
Rather that than being a Pillock like you that always had a pop
How hasn’t sharteta been mentioned before???
Yeah it was farteta vs bummery and mentions of sharts but not sharteta
I love that 3rd kit by the way. No chance I’ll be purchasing for over 120 Aussie dollars though. Fuck you Kroenke
China you funny kent 😂😂
Still time in this window. And we are great at a (shit) trolley dash.
But man oh man. How underwhelming this last few years has been. Tets better man up this season, his balls are on the line regardless so he needs those cajones to be out and about and take us back to elite purgatory at the bare minimum
I seriously want to love Arteta. But I just can’t. I loved that we signed him as a player, I always used to watch the toffdoogs with my mate who supported them and was stoked we did sign him, despite the better options available. But yeah managerially I think it’s a step too far The Arsenal job at this stage of his career. Maybe he will come back and win that CL for us, but yeah don’t see even top 4 under him. It’s funny how people say he was a nothing player. He definitely slowed down nearer 30 but… Read more »
If we don’t sign a xhaka replacement (or the very least if that isn’t Lokonga by Christmas) the only positive from that will be listening to the shit talk from numpties saying 50m was worth it for a CB we didn’t need and that the priority of signings actually did matter 😂😂😂.
Come on artedu. Make the above not the case!!!!!
Mid West
Very interesting you comment about your Chelsea supporting brothers view on TA because as I
have posted on here supporting Arsenal is shared in our family.
My brothers and indeed everyone of his Chelsea supporting mates aligns 100% with your brothers view on TA.
I personally have watched him on many many occasions and top notch PL is not his standard indeed at best I would suggest he needs 5 chances to score just one and that is no where near clinical enough.
What he has is height and decent speed but his positional sense is awf
awful
Goober 120 Aussie dollars is £63 so that’s about £10 more than they sell it here. The cheapest I saw it was £45
Will get one for my son I am way to old to wear replica kits anymore
Terraloon one of my mates is a Chelsea season ticket holder and he says that Tammy is a bit wasteful and light weight considering his size
Aubamayang has obviously lost his confidence in front of goal , and when a striker loses his confidence it affects performances in many different ways. It can affect have a massive psychological affect on a striker before he steps foot on the pitch. A striker brimming with confidence will walk onto the pitch with the belief that he will get the chances to score, he won’t be down if he misses a chance or 2 as in his mind he will finish the next one. A player lacking in confidence will have a desperate feel to his game, his brain… Read more »
Abraham has all the attributes to be a great striker, but he does not have the instinct and composure to be one. Coaching and experience can make improve in term of movements and composure but instinct can’t be taught. Instinct is that split second decision that an elite strike make to move or to stay before scoring that lesser strikers don’t. When you ask them why, they can’t explain why they made it. With great coaching he could still be a very good premiership striker, but will he get that attacking coaching here? I have not seen evidence of Arteta… Read more »
The Maddison rumours have dried up, this is so fucking depressing
Pierre such a consice post until the last paragraph where you let yourself down
It’s not the fans fault we are selling willock and Eddie it’s edu and artetas calling us fools does not endear you to me especially
Why don’t you just keep it to MA and edu ?
Pierre, I don’t think that PEA has lost confidence in himself, to me it looks like he has lost confidence in Arteta’s system. He does not make those runs, because he does not believe he will receive the ball. Arteta’s instructions are clearly to cross the ball high instead of fizzing the ball across the penalty box. High balls that he is unlikely to do anything with. So instead of being prepare to anticipate this ball across the ball, he stand back thinking “what am I going to do with those high balls?”. Rather than being physically shot, his body… Read more »
Valentin I think Pierre is correct he has lost his confidence in front of goal
Valentin what do you think is the main cause? Artetaitis? A nasty virus that clogs the channels slowing everything down.
I’d say it’s contagious 😷
Mr Serge,
Has lost confidence in himself or in the system?
If he has lost confidence in himself, then Arteta will need to show him love and trust.
If he has lost in the system and his positioning, then Arsenal need to change system/formation for him to rediscover his mojo.
I believe with a different system and a different manager, we would see a re energised Aubameyang with still his flaws and limitations as a footballer but a much more clinical one.
Mr S Since I made my post at 8.06 I have been reflecting on Arsenals position re strikers. Both Eddie and Balogun have potential and without doubt at junior level have been prolific but there have been player after player who have been standout when playing against other academy players but when stepping up to PL level they just haven’t made it Ironically Brewster and Solanke are two quite recent examples and like Eddie they all started off at Chelsea s academy with Tammy. I know the attraction of seeing an academy player making it is attractive but neither Eddie… Read more »
Still think if Auba plays as a CF and not on the left side, he will score goals. Of course his overall game will always leave a lot to be desired but he will get goals for sure. Hopefully Martinelli takes the left wing spot once he is fit again as he has ample energy to track back to help defense.
A front 3 of Saka, Auba and Martinelli is the way to go. I like Laca as a player but he doesn’t score.
Tony,
You know where I stand. That nasty Artetaitis slow things down and put everything in the air rather than on the floor. The body is overloaded by instructions and that led to paralysis.
BBC Report Arsenal pull out of Ramsdale negotiations.
Quoting Sheffield United have out priced him.
Valentin not sure if it’s the system or the player
Tr7 I think auba too can find his mojo but we need to move lacca on now he is ineffective and we can’t have our two oldest strikers with the same issue
Plus we should get some kind of fee. Lacca has been an expensive failure in my eyes. A lot of fans thought he was not too level before he joined and they were right
Val, Pierre: You’ve both mentioned it before. We know exactly why auba has been shite. He rarely gets the ball played in behind. He is one of the best counter attacking strikers, especially considering the rest of his game. If our play from the back allows auba/Pepe/martinelli/Saka to be released into space earlier by white then we are onto something. If white can bring the ball out but only pass to Pepe in his own half on the wing with a fuck load to do to just even be somewhat useful; or to play to a static auba; or bellerin… Read more »
Once I see auba live I will know his movement and anticipation has always been excellent but not seen any of them kick a ball for well over a year now in person
I like what I have seen of Eddie so far. His movement is great and has bulked up a bit too. He is a decent finisher too. His biggest weakness for me was his inability to impose himself in games, he seems to have some presence about him now. Let’s see whether he can do well this season.
So the Willock transfer has hit a major problem.
Newcastle are struggling to agree to his wage demands.
Tr7 isn’t Eddie on his last year of contract ? We keep doing this to ourselves don’t we
Pierre an adult getting worked cuz we are going to sell an academy player. Shame on you old man, you’re a disgrace. You should be old enough to have seen so many of them showing promise but not quite making it
Valentin “Has he lost confidence in himself or in the system?” 12/ 15 months ago Aubamayang was scoring many un Aubamayang type goals and I said at the time that this won’t last as his food and drink is the one touch finish. The un Aubamayang type goals have now dried up which is not surprising and yes I agree , the system has let him down up to a point and this has led to a lack of confidence in himself and the system , especially in the first half of last season when the team obviously missed the… Read more »
People forget arteta actually likes eddie. I think we’ll see alot of him this season
Terra
Tbf it’s not martinellis fault he hasn’t kicked on
He started well like you said. Then arteta started phasing him out for unknown reasons. Then he got injured. Came back raring to go and started quite well then got benched again for being ‘too eager’ whatever the hell that means (arteta doesn’t like him). Wenger would’ve had martinelli doing awesome by now.
Shamelessly name dropping ozil. You’re deluded bro probably sick even
Raulishuss
Think about it , omit Ozil from the squad and the team suffers the most chronic lack of creativity in living memory .
Stands to reason that Ozil was missed by the team as he was the only offensive player omitted from the squad.
Thankfully we had a few of Wenger’s academy players to save our season
Pierre Ozil again really ??? Wtf ozil is a husk of a player has been for 3 years how is he doing in Turkey ?
Pierre, Aubameyang became a one touch goal scorer because he was limited as a footballer, so managers set up team to maximise his output. However he can score other types of goals. Chasing ball over the top used to his meat and drink at ASSE who were not gifted with great wingers. That was the type of goals he was scoring during his purple patch at Arsenal. The problem is that teams have wised up to it (they defend deeper) and Arteta has switched to a slow ponderous build up. So one touch tap-ins and counter attacking goals have dried… Read more »
“You’ve both mentioned it before. We know exactly why auba has been shite. He rarely gets the ball played in behind. He is one of the best counter attacking strikers, especially considering the rest of his game.” Yep. Our build up play is too slow and we lack penetration through the middle of the pitch. So by the time we methodically work the ball up field the opposition are back in position so we have to funnel the ball out wide to advance. We need more drive, trickery and penetration from central areas this season. Both from deep and further… Read more »
Tr7
Agreed would rather start Eddie n flo on Friday
Arteta likes his players to be methodical and predictable. The problem is that unless you have Robben or Messi like dribbling ability, being methodical and predictable make it easy to defend against. So the team struggle to score. Robben was predictable, every knew that he will drop his shoulder and come back on his favourite foot before shooting, yet he was very difficult to stop because he knew how to hide when he was going to make his move. We don’t have player with that level of ability, so we need more quick off the cuff moves. Getting better players… Read more »
Apparently Willocks dad is holding up the completion of his move to Newcastle as he wants a bigger representation fee. I suspect the move will still go through as the toon army will go loony if they don’t get him now.
The worst thing about it all is we are sooooooooooo boring to watch. Really are an eyesore to watch.
Great to see common sense has prevailed and we have walked away from the over priced Ramsdale deal. Better to bring in a backup keeper for half the price and then if Leno is off in January or next summer address the issue then, we have more pressing concerns than a new number 1 goalie. Maybe if were lucky Onana comes in but more likely a veteran keeper in the mould of Matt Ryan. Maddison talk has dried up, looks like Bernardo Silva wants champions league football this season so the £42M bid for Odegaard I suspect will use the… Read more »
First time I can ever remember not a single one of the 20 pundits doing the BBC league predictions having us in the T4. Even last season there were a few who had us coming 4th. Understandable given the reality, but does show we are truly solidified in a secondary group. The club has to be consistently smart to bounce back. Funnily enough, it’s Danny Murphy offering positive words on our behalf: “If anyone might surprise a few people it’s Arsenal – they are not in Europe, and they have got some fantastic forward players. People forget that last season… Read more »
Leicester’s summer
Soumare Daka Bertrand & going for Vestegaard . Thats in less than 60mn . CF CB CM and LB all positions Arsenal were looking for .
“I like Laca as a player but he doesn’t score.“
Scored more than Auba last season and played less minutes, so not sure where the confidence in Auba comes from outside hope.
Beware of players that are popular in football circles. Emile Heskey, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsdale etc. They are ones that are forever mystery to fans, but managers somehow see something in.
Nothing suggests to him… is everyone forgetting that Auba is 32 years old? Also much like Ozil, his performances have fallen off a cliff since he secured the 350k a week bag.
At least Lacazette offers you a little bit of something else when he is not scoring goals (scored more than Auba last season too). ESR in particular plays very well with Laca up front.