Arsenal added two more players to a squad struggling for specific talents.
The first one we can officially talk about is Martin Ødegaard. The Norwegian national team captain has joined on a perm deal for about £30m. There’s no sell-on clause, I think the most Madrid have is the option of first refusal should we decide to move him on at some point (rumoured).
This is a great signing and I won’t hear any different. He adds leadership, he adds quality in the final third, he’s a ball carrier, he offers us control, and he has the best eye for a fast and ambitious pass in the team.
He’s only 22 years old.
This is exactly the sort of move Arsenal should be making for exactly the sort of fee we should be spending. I think we’ve landed ourselves an absolute bargain and I really cannot wait to see how far he can take his career in a red and white shirt.
There are some really boring folk out there trying to palm this signing off as bland, average, or whatever else they want to say. Sorry, can’t have it. There’s a weird tendency for a noisy collection of fans to only admire a signing if it feels like they discovered the player. Christian Romero? Apparently a baller signing. Ben White, terrible signing. One center-back was bombed off by an elite club and was part of a defence that conceded 130+ goals in two seasons. If that player’s name sounded like the guy who was doing your plastering, people would be up in arms.
If you banged the drum for a younger profile of player, you have to have to be able to hold the idea in your that young players get better.
We’re getting the opposite with Odegaard. He’s a Madrid cast off, therefore he cannot be elite. It’s so bonkers considering the amount of cast-offs from major clubs that are now making their way to the top. Jadon Sancho rebounding to United. Lukaku rebounding to Chelsea. Serge G finding his way to Bayern. Donyell Malen making his way to Dortmund.
Don’t write of 22-year-olds, because there is still a lot of growth in the tank, especially the player earmarked for exceptionalism at a young age.
The next move is a little more controversial. Aaron Ramsdale has made his big move to Arsenal. This is an Arteta signing. He’s gone to bat for him harder than he went for Willian. This is his keeper. I sifted through the amateur data and there’s not much I could find, but there are a lot of fans that have watched him doing videos saying this is a really good keeper.
In fact, I will call out Habesha in the comments section who went into his research a hater and came out impressed.
I have been watching short highlights of Sheffield United to see if Ramsdale was good since Christmas (because it is the only stat that matters 😂). And I haven’t been disappointed. You can’t see whether he is good with his feet in the highlights but there have been some outstanding saves. You can checkout a 3 minute highlights of Sheffield for the past year on their YouTube channel. You can also see whether the fans rate him or not in the comment section. He started slowly and grew in to the season. And most of the goals he has conceded weren’t because of his fault but because of a very poor defense. There were a couple of long range goals he conceded that I didn’t like (especially against Leicester with Ihenacho and Perez beating him). But other than that he looks like a very good keeper. I am more at ease with the transfer than I was after seeing what he is capable of. He might even oust Leno from what I saw and considering Leno’s form over the past 12 months.
How many of the loud detractors have gone to this length? How many could seriously debate a Sheffield United fan that their player of the season was poor? Not many. Again, if he was called Ramsdinho from the favelas, people would view him differently. I genuinely believe because he sounds like a 4th generation butcher, people assume he’s shite.
Back to the prop, just remember, not many keepers do great things at 23 years old. It’s a tough position that needs a maturity generally found in older players. 80 games at 23 is about 80 games more than Emi Martinez who was at Rotherham on an average loan.
Then onto what he has going for him.
It reads like he’s very good at coming for crosses and catching them. We’ve sorely lacked a keeper that can dominate their area since, well, Emi Martinez. He was apparently a bit shaky at the start of last season when judging by his one vs one’s… but towards the end he was judging them well. He has a Schmeichel spread and he’s very fast off his line. Then you have his passing, he’s got a beastly launch, he’s pretty confident playing out the back, and his decision-making massively improved in the second half of last season. Finally, he’s a great shot-stopper, because he had to be at Sheffield United.
You also have to put context around his two loan moves. I think he had 17 different defensive combinations of defenders in front of him at Sheffield United. It was a total mess for him. Doesn’t matter how good you are, if the players in front of you are broken, you aren’t going to be able to perform.
Does this signing come with risk? Absolutely. It’s a lot of money to spend on someone untested. But main point here, he didn’t choose his fee.
That brings me onto the disgusting abuse.
If you are doing that to a new player, you are no fan of Arsenal, and you can get in the bin.
There’s a weird culture of entitlement where fans assume their choice for a goalkeeper is the one… and if it doesn’t happen, they go on the attack… literally to the player’s Instagram. It’s appalling. The same people will be asking why the players don’t go to war for the shirt in December. This trend is embarrassing and the only way it stops is if fans start to unfollow accounts that do this sort of thing. What keeps them going is the likes and affirmation. Cut that off, block, report, and as fans, we start to control the community. Attentions seekers thrive when people pay attention to them.
The backlash against the Saka abuse filtered into IRL. Spurs fans were clapping him. Why can’t we take that approach to all football abuse?
Have your thoughts about the transfer by all means, but 1) Abuse is never acceptable 2) The player hasn’t dropped a single game and he could be far better than you think. If I can get excited about Willian for 5 minutes, we can all get excited about a young keeper with a high ceiling.
Onto the pre-match prezzer.
Mikel Arteta was on better form this week. He didn’t look sullen, he gave some good answers, and he seemed a bit more in control of what was going on. He asked for perspective on last week, and if I was to try and give it, it’d read like this.
Arsenal trained a very specific way all week, with a very specific starting 11.
The covid hit 4 players the day before the game.
The club didn’t know who else would be out of the squad as they frantically tried to test all the squad the day of the game.
We had to line-up with a striker who’d never played a Premier League game and we had to shuffle the deck with players that were also making their debut.
We were missing Thomas Partey, Gabriel, our two best strikers…
Hard not to frame that as a bit of a nightmare to deal with.
What didn’t help was the emotional reaction Arteta had to the problems. He let it consume his press conference when he should have been pumping our chances. The players went out like they knew their own manager was defeated and that wasn’t cool.
This weekend is a chance to start again with a bit more good news lifting the squad.
Auba might make the bench, there’s a chance there will be two new names in the dressing room, and the team will have trained with a specific plan in mind with the right players.
You’ll see Martinelli playing as a #9 from the start, we’ve seen him do damage against Chelsea in the past.
You’ll likely see Saka start from the left, which is always mega.
You could even see Odegaard and ESR starting.
All those things will make us better.
I’ve seen a lot of ‘ARSENAL WILL GET SPANKED’ and I’m not sure that’s ever the case with Arteta. We’re much, much better in big games with him. Sometimes a huge prestige game is what you need to get things back on track. It’ll be tough because it’s Chelsea, but I’m feeling a little bit better.
There are a lot of rumours doing the rounds that we could still be in the market for more players. It won’t be Auoar, so don’t get your hopes up there, but there are a lot of people talking about Calvert Lewin, who is a monster striker for Tierney-style crosses, as well as the absolute clear need for a right back.
It’s a big weekend, but we have a home-game, so if you’re going, head there and give it your best as a fan. If you can’t be arsed, why would the players care?
This new squad we have is young, vibrant, hungry, and they will be better if we are better as supporters.
Fingers crossed they bring the fire. I’m excited. Football is back baby, let’s make this Chelsea game a memorable one for the right reasons.
See you in the comments. x
1st
And
Tr4phy
The
Arsenal for top four this season gents
Sorry Eduardo. It’s mine 😀
Odegaard is a good signing (finally) but the fact remains the starting XI is no better than the one which crawled to eighth place last season.
Top 8…let’s not finish here again! I’d take something a little higher.
“If you can’t be arsed, why would the players care?”
Because they’re professionals being paid a fortune?
Let’s at least hope Xhaka doesn’t mug off the home fans again if things start going badly.
Who’s our new rightback lads?
Nice to have Le Grove pumping Arsenal – the days of Geoff’s pieces still haunts the site.
Pedro A blogger should be very thorough in his research and try to cover all view points. That you are always on the lookout for views/arguments that align with your thoughts is typical of you. That you cherry pick Habesha’s comments is cringe when there have been many good arguments made against signing of Ramsdale. Your comments on Romero only depicts your ignorance about the player and your hypocrisy too. That Ramsdale was the GK for two relegated teams doesn’t matter for you but Romero is shit because Atlanta conceded a ton of goals in two seasons while he was… Read more »
Geoff was a joy to read, I think many would love to see him contributing again. Maybe he’s full on retired now? Enjoy it Geoff if you are!
TR7
you miss the point about ramsdale, for one thing he’s not played a single game for us yet so save the know it all snide until he’s made a few howlers that have cost us games the way leno already has (last week for one).
that someone spent some time watching ramsdale and it changed their opinion…if you’ve got such an inside take post some howlers, there’ll be plenty of youtube compilations of last season
Romero= Juve cast off
😂
Now that Ramsdale is signed, we have to give him a change. I agree that you can voice your objection before. Now we have to support all our players…
The abuse players get on social media is just a sad reflection of where the society is right now as a whole. I hope Ramsdale becomes a huge success at Arsenal and not only because he’ll cost the club £30m, but rather because we need him to succeed with Leno on his way out, apparently, and Arsenal unlikely to spend big on the keeper position again anytime soon. His job would’ve been easier with just Leno in the picture but unfortunately for him he’ll be also compared to Emi, who should’ve been given the no 1 spot when that decision… Read more »
TR7,
Thanks for the tips on how to make a blog work.
I didn’t say Romero was shit, you’ve just projected that into the mixer. He’s a top player, I’m just showing you how fans treat our signings. Romero is elite despite having relegation numbers against his name defensively over two season in Genoa, and not cutting it at Juve. Ramsdale is shit, because he was relegated twice. Habesha has spent more time than 98% of fans actually watching him and he changed his mind.
It won’t be Aouar? How so? Because it’s prob the most obvious need of the lot? Chances are it prob will if the club has any sense.To see him rock up at the spuds won’t be a good look.Not one little bit.Considering the price range& we’re still very,very short on creativity.Of course if we can dump bellend in addition .That would be a bonus for an incoming RB.Therefore two min I would suggest.
Pedro
Argument against Ramsdale is the price we paid for him, not necessarily his quality. You know it very well Pedro.
Love this from Dave Seaman.
“I was England’s number three at the World Cup in 1990, Ramsdale has just done the same (at the Euros).
“I started getting a load of stick because the fans didn’t want me. They were all singing ‘Lukic is better than Seaman’ and ‘You’ll never play for Arsenal’.
Pedro
Money and the fact that we would have been better off both financially and quality wise had we kept Emi and Ryan. We would have 25 M more in our kitty and more quality.
TR
the player might be worth every penny, depends on the performances. just like every transfer.
get behind the signing and support the actual players improves their chances of succeeding rather than attacking their social media etc. can u imagine how shitty that must be to get yer big move and then have some dumbass who’s watched you play 4 or 5 times mouth off at a time like that.
TR7, Emi wanted to go despite being told he was 95% certain to start the season. Mat Ryan would make 2 errors and people would be lambasting the fact that our back-up was bombed out of Brighton.
Agree Zach, it’s a big ticket signing, I wouldn’t have made it, but now he’s our and he’s young… so let’s back him. Better than Neto.
Recruiting a youthful spine is commendable
Our biggest problem remains the naïveté and distance of the owners
Problem which has been well chronicled is that they’re ‘football specialist’ dependent and have committed to the same model they went down with wenger
Entrusting the club to whoever has the most appealing vision
Their leadership recruitment has been lazy
And now we have arteta whose football philosophy, coaching ability and recruitment is in serious question
If he gets it wrong he could set this club back a further 10 years
@Pedro – stop using that to try and soften the decision to let Emi go. it was an inexcusable decision.
Plus – Arteta makes shocking decisions with squad selection. See:
*starting Willian over and over and over and over.
*Dropping Gabi Martinelli for like 15 games after a poor half
Emi had every reason to want assurances based on his performances. We shoudl’ve given them to him period end of.
Almunia Very specific top 5 category for this one. Sizeable incoming transfers who were viewed as a bit ‘meh’ BEFORE they started, ie not costly players who flopped despite being trailed as game changers, but instead players who left us scratching our heads before they’d even kicked a ball for us. Here are mine 1. Ramsdale. Deeply uninspiring and the costs bears no relation to what the squad needs and the limited budgets we have. If Bernie stays, we’ll see next to nothing of him. 2. Wiltord. Was a record signing adding to an already stellar group of attackers. Scored… Read more »
Pedro I suggested after the season ended that Arsenal would spend this summer between £130-150 million and that Arsenal’s priority signings would be 1] Right Centre Back [replace Luiz] 2] Attacking Midfielder to replace Odegaard if he did not return 3. Second String Goalkeeper [replace Ryan] 4. Second String Central Midfielder [replace Ceballos] 5. Third String Goalkeeper from Academy to replace Runarsson 6. Balogun to replace Nketiah since both are handled by same agent I suggested also that Arsenal would not buy a new Centre Forward this Summer, because that would bring Arsenal’s budget beyond the threshold. The right back… Read more »
Yes, Pedro, Emi wanted to leave but so did Xhaka, but apparently you can still find every reason to justify Arteta’s decision to keep the latter, while the former is an open-and-shut case.
Dani, the point of two keepers is competition. Emi didn’t want competition so he went to Aston Villa.
He was my preference, but big clubs don’t guarantee games.
Tom, Arsenal got what they wanted for Emi, they didn’t with Xhaka. It’s a really easy thread to follow.
Emirates, not many people crying about Arsenal NOT spending money right now, that’s for sure.
They are crying about who we bought, which is a better problem to have tbh.
Pedro I hear you but I’d rather have the best keeper in the league than some notion of competition. We could have guaranteed him he would start as #1 and if he made howlers we could have dropped him.
Second point: I love competition! We didn’t have any at GK last season anyway! RUnarsson? lol.
I suggest that the most urgent transfers left to complete in the next two weeks are:
NKETIAH whose current contract ends next June. Arsenal will not want him to leave on Bosman.
KOLASINAC whose current contract also ends next June. I suspect that he will be released on
freebie. Highly unlikely that Arsenal will register him for next season.
Ramsdale official on the .com
Actually quite excited to see our keeper catch a ball let’s wait and see how this one pans out eh lads.
Pedro
As I posted before the club is 100% owned by the Kroenkes. I am not personally concerned if they lose money. If they are unwilling to accept or afford the losses then the club will be sold.
There will be no shortage of buyers for a club with Arsenal’s heritage and location.
seriously all this whining is depressing, pedro finds something positive to say and gets attacked. You want to defend spurs signing but not the club you claim to support? Weird
Dani, I love Emi, but I think the club needed money for Thomas Partey, so they took the hit on someone that’d get them a fee.
Cash was tighter last summer.
Pedro I still have issues with the massive fee. It wasn’t wise to spend that much on a Goalkeeper when we have Xhaka and chambers as our lyncpins. But I have changed my mind on the player if we take the fee out of the equation. I think he is a good Goalkeeper after I did my own research. He isn’t as average as I thought. And I am advocating for giving him a chance because there is nothing more we can do and he is coming in. But I don’t think the signing is sensible because we have other… Read more »
Also Dani, by binning a keeper who wanted no competition, we actually created an environment where there was no competition. Bad times.
“There are some really boring folk out there trying to palm this signing off as bland, average, or whatever else they want to say. Sorry, can’t have it.”
Some thought the same of Arteta’s hiring and…all about perception
Back to his abnormal normal self 😒
Pedro What does 95 percent chance even mean when it comes to GK ? Most clubs have clear first and second choice keepers. All Arteta needed to do was to assure Emi that given his form he would be the first choice as long as he justified being the no 1. That he didn’t want any competition is your figment of imagination. The guy kept going for 10 years until he got regular first team place for a few months and beat 3 GKs ahead of him to become Argentina’s no 1. Won them Copa and is currently one of… Read more »
That;s the reason we let him go mate! Not competition.
In hindsight, it is a shocking decision as were now outlaying 50% more for a worse – albeit younger – keeper.
The question is: was there really no one in Europe willing to cough up 10-15 for Berndt? Was there no better deal economically to be had at CM than paying 100% in advance 40 million?
Kroenkephobe,
This will end up becoming a worst transfers thing so the way I’m interpreting it is when the player arrived I said WTF? Sometimes I was right, sometimes wrong.
1. David Seaman. We had super Johnny Lukic. George you are losing it!
2. Eddie Mcgoldrick. 1 million quid. April fools day?
3. Reyes.(RIP)Remember thinking where the fuck does he fit in?
4. Santos. Why???????
5.Arteta. Didn’t like him at Everton, couldn’t see how he would improve us.
TR7, it means pretty much certain, but no guarantees because we’re a professional sports team.
He left on 95%.
You can tell me it’s not true, or I’m misinterpreting it, but it’s a literal quote from him.
‘the club is 100% owned by the Kroenkes. I am not personally concerned if they lose money. If they are unwilling to accept or afford the losses then the club will be sold.’
Emirates
Problem is Arsenal picks up the tab ultimately
Kroenkes won’t be picking up the tab long term
“You could even see Odegaard and ESR starting.”
Unfortunately not as Odegaard’s visa etc is not yet sorted.
Think that second point is a bit of a strawman Pedro. We’re dealing with top tier of elite sporting professionals. Competition is baked into the equation. My understanding is Emi wanted to be the #1 going into the season — which is not the same as not wanting competition.
TR7 – stop bleating about Emi – he’s gone so its a pointless debate. Only thing that matters now is whether Ramsdale is going to be good enough to replace Leno. Ryan would have been a handy signing but he was never more than a no 2. We really need to get behind these players and support the team. Forget your Arteta hate views and whether he should have spent that on the Ram – fact is we weren’t going to get him for 8m or whatever. So all that matters now is whether he can be an Arsenal great.… Read more »
Habesha, sure, we all do… my point was, you did the hard work and you changed your mind. Most crucifying the player haven’t done any work.
Pedro
Leave all the arguments.aside. The fact of the matter is we let go of a world class GK and now one year later we have two very costly GKs who are nowhere as good as Emi. That’s bad management whichever way you look at it.
The Emi topic is done. It was a massive mistake to let him go but now it’s done. I think we should give this kid a chance. He is still 23. And I saw some incredible saves that would make alisson and ederson proud. And the fact that every year his transfer fee is going up tells you how good he has been despite two relegations. If he is not that good, we can still sell him for 15 mil or something. Now that he is ours, we should back him. And I have seen a lot of interviews of… Read more »
I love the fact that Auba is declaring he wants to be a legend for the club. His head seems to be back in the right place and if he can ready his scoring boots then this could still be a good season for us.
We are still making Emi Martínez grade mistakes both in buying and selling.
The reason why the criminal negligence should not be permitted to be swept under the carpet.
Dani, if I was told a job was 95% certain going to be mine, I’d feel pretty good. He left because of it. No strawman, that’s just what happened.
@Habesha agree the Emi topic is done. But I wont be having Pedro paint it as some sort of good decision for the sake of competition.
The whack of cash to spend is solely attributed to the Kroenke Apology Tour from the Super League debacle. Rumours were very much in the range of what has been spent in this TW. How they spent that money and on whom, will remain points of discussion for years to come. Have Edu and Arteta done enough to make the team a Top 4 contender? Or have they essentially blown a significant sum of money on middling talent returns? And perhaps what could have been had the club actually invested in good scouting talent? As supporters we have what we… Read more »
I painted you the reality, Dani.
Venga – so just leave it – it’s ancient history
Almunia
I understand all of those choices. We’re both acolytes of JL and DS. I think I saw the reason for signing spunky but I was definitely unhappy about Lukic being sold. I loved the guy. Santos was a seriously irrational piece of business, made real when everyone saw the size of his midriff. Off for my first proper game inside a stadium (bit of a stretch describing it as that I suppose) tonight. Haverfordwest County vs Cardiff Met University. I’ll be disappointed in myself if I don’t get a police caution at the very least!
Two comments on Ramsdale Spot on by Seaman. I remember it well. And of course that was only a season after Lukic had won a Division 1 title on that unforgettable night at Anfield so was a much bigger decision than this one. And in turn Lukic was a very controversial signing himself – not least as he had conceded 5 against Arsenal when playing for Leeds, the first an awful own goal. Imagine if Ramsdale had done that And second comment – my brother is a rather lapsed Arsenal fan but also now a AFC Wimbledon member – and… Read more »
Habesha,
You’ve become clan Ramsdale’s bannerman. If he’s no good I know who I’ll flame for giving me false hopes.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2vB27P3wlak
At this point in time Ramsdale is no worse a keeper than Leno. If the kid is solid on his feet and his passing confident, then its good business. He played for crappy defensive teams in his last couple of seasons. If he gets even marginally better support from Arsenal then he’s going to be just fine.
Alright Pedro, mate. If you say so. So glad we got such great competition for GK last year!
All well good now though, no excuses or anywhere for the manager to hide anymore. Should see some sort of plan or tactical shape starting to take place not 1993 George Graham backs to the wall counter football, we’re not Stoke City. Performances and results have to now follow, no more excuses really. Only play once a week and this should be the proper time to do a lot of work in training that translates to performances on the pitch not look like 11 guys that have just been tossed into the pitch on a Saturday morning. Get rid of… Read more »
Pedro
It’s so bonkers considering the amount of cast-offs from major clubs that are now making their way to the top. Jadon Sancho rebounding to United. Lukaku rebounding to Chelsea. Serge G finding his way to Bayern. Donyell Malen making his way to Dortmund.
Other than Lukaku, the above players were not cast-offs!!!
Oh come on Pedro, what a load of codswallop!
Martinez didn’t want “competition”. Where did you pluck that one from? Anything to suit a narrative.
It was a shite decision, which cost Arsenal massively last season. Europa league qualification definitely and even maybe Europa League success.
Fingers crossed for Sunday.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/20/arsenal-fans-need-mikel-arteta-to-work-out-what-he-is-trying-to-do
Last one I swear
PedroAugust 20, 2021 18:52:10
Dani, if I was told a job was 95% certain going to be mine, I’d feel pretty good. He left because of it. No strawman, that’s just what happened.
——————————————————-
That’s exactly why you can’t compare PR/marketing jobs to elite footballing. Telling Emi “your performances were great and you earned the right to start this season at #1” IS NOT THE SAME THING as some office bloke telling some other office bloke “yeah the gig is your’s”.
‘Martinez didn’t want “competition”. Where did you pluck that one from? Anything to suit a narrative.’
lol, literal quotes from the player. Prime example here of people who want to believe something that’s not true because it feels better.
North
You call Leno a massive liability and yet at the same time think Emi debate is a waste of time without realising that we wouldn’t have a serious liability as our no 1 if we made a correct decision.
As for Ramsdale I have been watching a lot of analysis video of him. Even his ardent supporters believe that he is a work in progress and may become a future great but right now he is not anywhere close to top quality.
Cannot understand posters who comment
on Ramsdale you would think they where
SU Supporters who have infinite knowledge
of his every game without probably have ever seen him live.?
We have a keeper who is like BAMBI ON ICE in front of his goal
Enough said.
Raptora
I mean nobody really knows how a signing will fare. But I had a hasty opinion about him because I didn’t watch him regularly. But after I saw what he is capable of I was impressed. That is all I am saying. Some of the saves were really outstanding. And he is better than Leno in coming out for crosses. And supposedly he is also better with his feet.
One thing I agree with Bati though, is that Arteta has ZERO excuses left. At the very least we need to see an identity. All these players are his choices.
Okay I lied this is the last one. Emi: “‘Even before the Community Shield he didn’t know who was going to play in goal. After 10 years at the club I didn’t want to wait until Friday night, the day before the game, to know whether I was going to play against Fulham or not. ‘So I just text him to say I was going to Aston Villa, so please help me and let me go.’” Do we really think Emi expected to play week in week out at Arsenal FC if he is dropping clangers left and right? That’s… Read more »
Great post, Pedro. An honest defence of Arteta ‘s behaviour last week, given the horrid circumstances he faced. And a thoroughly deserved exposure of the ‘I-told-you-so’s’ on here who prefer to see Arsenal lose if it proves them right.
Okay, the odds favour Chelsea. A settled side with no apparent problems. I don’t expect to lose – a home draw for me – but if we do, let’s bear that in mind, and remember we are only two games into the season.
I’ve followed le grove for a long time you guys do great content. I’ve never posted before but something you said in the above I need to pull you up on.
Agree with everything other than your reference to the Saka abuse, and comparing it to what some idiots / fake fans are saying about Ramsdale. The Saka abuse was racially motivated. It’s another level. it had nothing to do with his perceived ability. People abusing Ramsdale are a disgrace but please do not not try package it with racial forms abuse. I hope I’ve not misread.
Anyone who has an open mind can go see Sheffield United highlights in their YouTube channel. There is 3 minute and 10 minute highlights of last season’s premier league games. You can see if he had a clanger, what goals he conceded, and what saves he made. The extended highlights give you a better view. And unlike other player positions, You can see attempts at his goal and see how he did at crucial moments.
By the way, very excited and hoping for the best from Ramsdale. Looks promising and I hope he gets into the team sooner rather than later
Have to give rare credit to ownership for backing the manager with a big net spend this summer. We can argue whether the money was spent wisely but we’ve shelled out a lot more than many of us were predicting I had expected a 75m net spend (way off at least until we get that 60m for Bellerin, AMN and Torreira that some blue sky posters were estimating😂)
Jesus TR7 – you really won’t let something go will you? You must be a nightmare to share a beer with! I’m not arguing any differently. I was at least as vocal as anyone on here when we sold him and yes I do think it was one of many massive Arteta mistakes. Yet Arteta is still here – he should have been sacked at least on two occasions- and Emi has been sold and we kept the lesser keeprer. That isn’t hindsight – I new and said as much at the time. BUT he’s gone – sold too cheap… Read more »
* knew
Where is Tanguy Ndombele going to wind up do we think?
So Martinez was told he had a 95% chance to start the season as the no 1 and that wasn’t enough to convince him to stay………… why not a 100% , would be my first question? If he couldn’t be guaranteed the start ( btw, no manager has guaranteed a keeper a full season of starts in history of football) after the streak of games he had for Arsenal which culminated with the FA cup win , then those percentages could only have gotten smaller from then on. To me that’s less to do with not wanting to compete and… Read more »
Now that Ramsdale is over the line we should focus on getting the bums out, or let me rather say the players that Arteta thinks are bums
Great post Bati
No more excuses
Hope you’re taking notes pedro
On another note
Any chance le grovers can move on from Martinez/ saliba litigation?
Uber redundant
Martin Odegaard is a great signing. As for the goal, it’s damage control after we fucked it up with Martinez. I feel we still need a striker much more than we need a right back. Auba and Laca both limitations that will derail our season again. We need grafters in attack. It’s not a coincidence that our poor league position has coincided with them two in attack. Sanchez and Giroud were a better duo than these.
Northbanker
Pedro brought up Martinez in his post when he claimed Ramsdale had some attributes we haven’t had since Emi, so it’s a valid debate.
No ones bringing up Martinez when talking about our limited goal scoring capabilities are they.
Politics , movies, Saliba, Martinez, ….. they all have one thing in common…….. you can scroll right past if not interested.
I’ve had this feature installed on all my devices , it’s amazing……. highly recommend it.
When will the anti-Arteta brigade stop acting stupid about the Emi departure? I’ll put it in first degree lettering. Maybe that will help them understand. ARTETA DID NOT WANT HIM TO LEAVE. And again. ARTETA THOUGHT EMI BETTER THAN LENO.
So why didn’t Arteta keep Emi and sell Leno? Capitals again.THERE WERE NO OFFERS FOR LENO. And again. LENO INSISTED ON STAYING.
Got it?
Tom, you say that, but there are quotes from Emi that specifically say that Arteta was the one the gave him the chance and the football we played under him helped him shine. The benefits of an ex-keeper that talks too much.
Tom – you have totally misunderstood the context.
Not sure whether 95% or 100% matters with Martinez. The fact is we sold him and we didn’t have to. He had 2 years on his contract. We sold him because we wanted to bring Parteyvin and our budget was limited last summer. Of course, it’s a head-scratcher how last summer we were laying off 55 employees and this summer when finances surely can’t be any better (especially after the Super League collapse), we’re on a spending splurge. It feels like a desperate reaction to last season but I’ll take it. The Kroenkes could have dug their self-sustaining heels in… Read more »
Ramsdales a good signing because he was third choice at a Euros and so was Seaman at some point, flawless logic right there.
Pedro “Don’t write of 22-year-olds, because there is still a lot of growth in the tank, ” Do you mean the way you wrote off Willock and Eddie… I don’t mind Odegaard but for me he might have peaked early and is on the way down, whereas Willock and Eddie are going in the opposite directon performance wise.. Eddie and willock are victims of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, .there time will come ,just a pity it won’t be at the Arsenal… Also , it brings a smile to my face when i hear about le… Read more »
We sold Emi because we needed money for Partey is another strange argument to make , when we had an exactly the same offer ,if not bigger ,for AMN and Arteta decided to keep him ………on the bench.
Sly
The manager has been ably supported by the club this summer, we’ve spent money and everything the manager wanted it seema he’s gotten.
We’re way past making excuses not just for poor results but also for poor performances or not having any patterns established
The “positive” brigade is very gung ho right now, asking people to blindly support all the wrong decisions of Arteta – White, Ramsdale, Xhaka and Odegaard. Let’s see how long the positivity lasts.
“Ramsdales a good signing because he was third choice at a Euros and so was Seaman at some point, flawless logic right there“
At least there’s some loose and tenuous connection ( for lack of better word) there, unlike the Maddison would be our next Bergkamp under Arteta try.
That one was a real head scratcher.
If Arteta is even rumored to want someone, that player instantly becomes next level.