If you’ve been reading Le Grove for a while, you’ll know I don’t really raise my hand on transfer rumours, because it’s a risky game. There are very few that truly know what they are doing in this space, David Ornstein is obviously the best in the business, BBC on the resume, an actual journalist, can cut through the bullshit, has real contacts, very rarely misses. There are others that get good information, but it’s peddled via agents, the deal with the devil there is part of your messaging is good faith, but the other part is shifting nonsense, being the authentic face of bullshit designed to whip up interest.
If a big name Twitter account says X player is moving to BIG club, it might not be true, but that Twitter account creates 1000 stories that make it feel true. Football is a game of emotion and execs all have the same biases and ticks you do. So this tactic can be fruitful because a front-of-mind name for you can be a front-of-mind name in an insecure scouting office.
So, first up on the nonsense chart.
The Daily Mail reckon Cedric Soares has been denied a move to Atletico by the move of Ainsley. This is a big fat NONSENSE. Remember, Cedric was a player so average Southampton assumed that when his deal ran out, he’d go to a lower league club. The idea that Diego Simeone is going to swoop in for a £90k a week right back that; as someone neatly put it the other day, is still our 4th best right back after shipping a few, is utter dross. This is a story of Kia’s imagination designed to fool other clubs into thinking there might be a player there. If Arsenal could shake his £90k a week salary, they’d stick Bernd Leno at right-back for the rest of the season. Cedric might land a move, but let’s be real, Soares can’t do anything Trippier can do, and if he’s not an Arteta or a Hassenhutl player, he’s not a Simeone player.
The second mega noise is around Dusan Vlahovic’s camp and club. Fiorentina folk are telling anyone that wants to listen that Arsenal needs to do something, like, so bloody crazy if they want the bring the striker over this January.
This story has flaws.
Firstly, the £58m price tag. Who are they kidding? The player has 18 months left on his deal, 12 in the summer, it would be nuts if they managed to squeeze £50m for the player in this market. Fiorentina desperately needs a club like Arsenal to come for their player now, because in the summer, the price drops again.
Then you have the summer. The pickings are slim when it comes to clubs with the money and the prestige to be a draw.
- PSG – Haaland / Lukaku / Ronaldo
- City – Kane / Haaland
- Barca – skint (dreaming of Haaland)
- Chelsea – Lukaku (Haaland)
- United – Too many strikers
- Liverpool – No room
- Spurs – Broke
- Juve – Would want a 6 year loan
It’s hard to ask for something crazy in a market of one.
Then let’s talk about the wages. The Mail again saying we’d need crazy money. He’s reportedly asking for £300k a week. Come on people. Are we losing our damn minds? Arsenal isn’t going to him with that money when we have Saka, Martinelli, and Smith Rowe on our book earning around £120k a week at best. We’re not going to fuck our wage structure on a 21-year-old that doesn’t have many options outside us / hasn’t proved himself outside a tier 4 league. You think Juve are going to give him that? No chance. They’ll ask Fiorentina to pay his wages on the loan move they’ll want.
The more noise I read about Vlahovic, the more I think the move is unlikely. This chatter is all driven by agents via Italian Football Twitter, but where there’s smoke… there’s usually a really annoying player that’ll come and want to leave after year one unless they land a new deal.
Again, think about the currency of the internet: Information. Look at how much info out of accounts linked to agents. This is part of a negotiation or it’s part of a noisy ‘PLEASE SOMEONE DRIVE UP THE PRICE’ campaign.
I’m going to say it again, I think Jack Wilshere might be an option this month, remember, it only takes a second to sign a deal.
Arsenal aren’t loaded this January, pulling money from the summer for a striker makes sense, but I don’t think we’ll be finding £60m for a midfielder. I suspect the pattern you see with the striker is what you’re going to see with the midfielder.
- Age Profile: 21-24
- Appearances: 2 seasons of consistent first-team action in a major league
- Contract: 6-18months left on deal so the fee can be lower
Who knows what the specificity is going to be, but I suspect we’ll be looking at an understudy for Granit Xhaka after nearly losing him in the summer and someone that can add a bit of bite and edge heading into the end of the year.
The key for the window is to manage the emotion of it. The easiest thing to do would be to waste money on someone (Gini). The temptation will be to break the strategy with someone older that could block the path of a young player that simply needs a 6-month loan to put themselves in contention.
We don’t need to do anything wild. Arsenal has a wild couple of weeks coming up. The job is clear. We need to beat Liverpool for cheating their COVID testing, then we have to go to Spurs this weekend and take a point or more. After that, beat Burnley and we are game on for the Top 4 race for the rest of the season.
All we need to do is ride four games, then we enter into Phase 6 of the season with a 17 day break. Last season, I think Arteta took the team to Dubai. Get into that break without too much damage and the players will get some sun, they’ll have a mini-preseason with the new players, then we’ll jump back into Phase 6 of the season fresh, with no Europe, no more cups, just pure focus and a clear objective to chase.
Back to Liverpool. The press now seems pretty clear that, yes, conspiracies do happen in football, but only because Jurgen Klopp was dim enough to reveal it in the press. Liverpool opened their training ground a day after our postponed game, then admitted they had 10 false-negative tests. You’ve a better chance of winning the lottery than getting than many bad test results. Is there any other way of framing this outside cheating? There’s not.
At the core, this is a huge compliment. Jurgen Klopp has fucked Liverpool’s season by January again, which is a huge, huge failure on his part. He needs an insurance trophy, that is now the League Cup. He wants a good news story. Last Thursday, he knew Arsenal were in outstanding form, he didn’t have all the players he needed, so they gamed the system and had the event moved by Rick Parry (exLiverpool exec). False positives are rare. A load of them, at a professional football club, is impossible. This needs to be punished by more than a cursory fine.
Still, the ACTUAL positive here is Arsenal didn’t have Xhaka, who was really sick, and now they do. Arteta needs a performance, the boys need to get some good news into those tired legs, now they have a chip on their collective shoulders, so let’s see what we can do there.
I will say again… media that play the: ‘Hmmmffhhhopppphhh, fans are so dumb when they call out cheating in the game’ really embarrassed themselves with the lack of probing around what Liverpool did. Call it out, Klopp is a disgrace. Be a little curious on other things like referees and the drab data associated with how they behave around certain clubs.
Final piece related to Cup nightmares and the internet. Nottingham Forest are trying to get a promotion this season, they are in the mixer for the Play-offs. Did anyone think it was nuts that Steve Cooper went out of his way to shit-house Arsenal and put Djed Spence, their excellent full-back, in the shop window like that? Boro’ now has a proper coach in Chris Wilder, who must be wondering why a player that can go toe-to-toe with Martinelli is out on loan to a rival, and now the rest of the Premier League is looking at the same player and wondering if they need a new right-back. Mad put your best silver on show in a trophy you can’t win, but here we are, that’s football for ya.
Ok, have fun in the comments and WATCH THE DAMN SHOW (subscribe too) or LISTEN (subscribe) to it. Johnny seems to have won MoTP for his showing. Thank you for watching and tuning in, we love you. x
WE,
raptoraSeptember 19, 2021 23:03:09
I rate Antonio a lot btw. If he was 5 years younger he’d lead my list of attainable CFs by quite the margin. Sadly not the case.
” Trying to pretend, as some are on here, that cheating doesn’t matter is a road to disaster and the integrity of the game. It is irrelevant whether Liverpool did us a favour or not, they probably did, it’s about making sure the game is honest and ALL clubs are treated equally. Not deciding which games they don’t want to play for whatever reason.” AFC, and who on here is pretending cheating doesn’t matter? No one. Klopp might be full of shit to the same extent most other managers are by wanting every decision to go their way, but thats… Read more »
Unoni
Finishing aside he played one of his best games for us ever in that CL Final in ’06. Led the line magnificently but it did destroy him physically, down to 10 men and covering so much ground his legs were gone by around the hour mark and imo it is what caused such a tepid and un-Henry like finish when he was through on a 1 vs 1 in the 2nd half and scuffed it.
He would be a gaffer’s dream today because of his versatility to play LF or CF.
Sid
As things stand I think ESR would be more suited to the role than martinelli
Nigeria beating down Egypt.
Feel for Salah a bit, this is a very poor Egypt side. I remember when I was a kid they were so dominant in AFCON, won x3 in a row.
Had guys like Ahmed Hassan, Aboutrika and Mohamed Zidan.
WE,
Yes, I like that plan. Heard you mention Zapata. I’ll add Raul Jimenez from Wolves. Both 30 yo, will be relatively cheap and could easily give us a couple of good years. Same goes for Lacazette doe. If he is in good shape, might not be the worst idea to keep him for a couple of seasons more.
Weagle
Henry is a managers dream in any era. He literally had it all. Could play effectively on either wing, as a 10, as a 9 or as a combination of any and all of these roles in the fluidity of a Wenger side.
High bar to set for Martinelli. However in Arteta’s rigid tactical frame work, I don’t see martinelli with his back to goal. Maybe in future. 1000% not next season
Again, a player like Martinelli needs the freedom to create and move with the ball.
Ala players who are in that mold – your Suarez’s , Messi’s, Salah’s etc.
Needs the ball at his feet to do his magic.
Will Arteta want this? I doubt it.
I think Mike is getting a taller target man, which I agree with right now,
Our lack of headers and incessant crossing means this is a critical need.
Unoni
Agreed. And look, I would love Martinelli to just get to even Sanchez levels eventually.
Henry was hands down the best ST of his generation (2000-2010) so that would be a stupid high bar to set for him.
Sid 17.09
Spot on – ESR will be the star of the show – eventually. Unless of course he goes elsewhere.
Rap
Sadly I think Jimenez has had it, he doesn’t look the same player since the head injury.
The Jimenez before that, absolutely.
Joao Pedro of Cagliari could be a smart pick up. 29 but only starting hitting his stride the past few years, scoring 15+ each season for one of the worst and lowest creative sides in Serie A.
Rap everybody you listed there can play the cf role better than gabi. Jesus who’s like gabi isn’t trusted enough to lead the line over foden etc
Raul,
Yes, the “top class cfs all over europe leading the line” are CFs in their 30s + 4 others that we have negative chance of bringing here. Okay. Glad we figured they are better than Martinelli.
Martinelli is Arsenals Mane, wing forward is his best position
WE,
Still believe that Jimenez can come back from it by the end of this season. It’s wishful thinking so far. He was 4 goals in 9 games when Luiz maybe killed his career. Roughly 17 goals extrapolated over 38 games. Very good in addition to his overall play.
I have now watched Vlahovic 4 times this season on bt sport and he looks average at best
Why not swap Aubamayang for Jovic for 5 months?
– Auba goes to his happy place – if he can’t impress there then he is done.
– Jovic gets to play every game for half a season.
– Madrid have Benzema and Auba.
Maybe Madrid get Mbappe or Haaland in the summer… Arsenal get a ready solution.
+ they trust Arteta to play their loanees, however poor they are.
+ Jovic is good (a bit of a Shearer type).
Big win for Nigeria there against Egypt. Seems the new coach has something about him compared to the German who was in charge there before
Jimenez is the one I would have wanted. A beast pre injury.
Mexican too, full international with lots of exp.
Great at headers.
Then Luiz came
Always liked the look of Joe Aribo, the Rangers lad. Such a smooth player
Jovic is exactly what can happen when you buy a player after 1 quality season.
Since his transfer to RM, he’s scored a total of 7 goals in 63 games (a lot of games as a sub obviously), including the loan back to Frankfurt in the 2nd half of season 20/21. In that loan deal, he finished the season with 1 goal in 15 games as he was benched even in Frankfurt.
Might be a player there, but just how badly can things turn out buying after a breakout season. It’s literally a roulette most of the times.
Nigeria with a terrific fan support.
Grats on the win to the many Nigerians that support Arsenal. When a 35m Iwobi doesn’t start for their NT, you know it’s a quality one. Big win today.
Balagoon
I’d be happy with that. I like Jovic
“Someone in the RVP skill set would be welcome.”
Mason Greenwood. From the 1st time i saw him play i thought he had Van Persie(ish) skill set.
Raptora
How many did anelka score at Madrid? How did Torres and Crespo do at chelsea? Ibrahimovic or Griezmann or Sanchez at Barca?
Good players can be rescued from these elite clubs and restored.
Good shout on the Auba/Jovic loan swap Balogoon.
WengerEagleJanuary 11, 2022 17:31:04
UnoniAgreed. And look, I would love Martinelli to just get to even Sanchez levels eventually
Eagle
He’s got it in his locker. Could very well exceed sanchez levels. But yeah, I’d snap your hand off for 4 years of elite sanchez returns
Also, Jovic might have matured a bit from his disappointments, like Ramsdale maybe.
A couple of setbacks, a bit of reflection… come to realise the value of being at the right level,
and of how lucky you are… (to be at Arsenal).
(Vlahovic doesn’t have any of this – he’s at a different part of his ‘arc’)
Plus, if Jovic isn’t good enough, send him back in June. (and it costs virtually nothing).
The Vlahovic story is getting tiresome. David Ornstein, Fabrizio Romano and Chris Wheatley all confirmed that the player and the agent are the problem or he would have signed by now. I can understand that he thinks he has better options. But we should never be anyone’s backup plan unless they are expected to dominate the next 10 years of football. Even then we should rather have someone of lesser quality but committed to the project than a superstar that doesn’t care. For all we know he could end up like Jovic. He is a specimen physically and that is… Read more »
Liverpool, are being very disrespectful towards Salah. They won’t even pay him as highly as KDB.
He just wanted to match the highest paid player in the league, which is KDB.
Just shows why it’s important to . tie your best players to long term contracts. They still have him tied down till 2023.
Habesha
I believe we were Dennis bergkamp’s fall back option too. He wanted to join the spuds if I remember correctly.
Got to admit though, the noises coming out about Vlahovic are off putting. Sounds like a bell end if reports are to be believed. But many of the world’s best attackers are total bell ends too so…..
Ah fuck I’m on the fence on this one
Habesha, just read Vlahovic played and scored in the Belrgrade derby at 15 ……….that’s crazy good.
Can you really blame him for wanting to play in the CL though, which is supposedly his main sticking point when choosing the next club.
Don, I don’t agree with your examples. Anelka had a breakthrough season for us before Madrid, but it happened in one of the best teams in the world and a top 2 team in England. Not for Eintracht Frankfurt who finished 7th with 17-goal Jovic. Anelka was a safer bet because he was a standout player in a top, top club. Torres and Crespo at Chelsea is more about players who had MANY fantastic seasons before Chelsea, and during and after Chelsea they were never able to go back to the quality they had before Chelsea. Nothing to do with… Read more »
Don, I don’t agree with your examples. Anelka had a breakthrough season for us before Madrid, but it happened in one of the best teams in the world and a top 2 team in England. Not for Eintracht Frankfurt who finished 7th with 17-goal Jovic. Anelka was a safer bet because he was a standout player in a top, top club. Raptora Surely it’s easier to score when you have Dennis Kanu and overmars setting you up on the way to a double than a lower league side? Either way I think the comparison stands. Yes he could flop at… Read more »
I remember Michu – the one-season wonder for us, Fantasy football enthusiasts. Scored 18 goals in the EPL for a garbage ass Swansea City. Was literally the transfer of the season in the Fantasy football league. 2 years later he was playing for a Spanish 4th tier team!
If Laca goes and we sign a 21 year old whom I’ve never heard of, but everyone else on this site has been following since he was 5 years old, our front 5 are
19, 20, 20, 21 and 23
I didn’t think I would say this but I think keeping Laca for another year would be very good business.
If Josh drops £100 then go for striker and midfield, but midfield has to be a priority
Unoni, Tom Vlahovic is good. But there are other good strikers too. We need to check his attitude and the agents aspirations before we sign him. It’s no good to us if he comes and disrupts the good group we have assembled. And our tragectory is definitely headed to at least consecutive CL football over the next years. Either he believes in it or not. And Bergkamp would have been committed where ever he went. That was his personality. Ian Wright was talking about Bergkamp’s diet and how he followed every rule of meals at home too whether the food… Read more »
I don’t give a toss about the Liverpool game, we should look on it as a minor irritation.
We should absolutely concentrate on the game at the lane on Sunday we need to batter them wankers
Don,
Yeah. Loan deals have worked for us with Ode. It’s a safe bet as we wouldn’t lose much if anything.
What I meant is that I’m not sure we should throw 60m on a one-season wonder, like Real Madrid did with Jovic, because we could end up in RM’s place. If we’re buying a Striker for huge money, it better be someone who has shown the right quality and our management is almost certain the player will bang for us. Else, just get by with what we have or buy a stop gap for a couple of seasons.
“Can we guarantee Vlahovic’s commitment to Arsenal and to stay put and not make it all about him like pogba has been doing for 5 years at United? ”
Habesha, actually, we can guarantee the opposite because he’s apparently said he sees himself playing for the biggest clubs in Europe.
Raulhuss: “In the position xhaka plays most coaches prefer lowkey”
LOL, is this the ‘lowkey’ Xhaka who has a record number of red cards since he joined us, that is a gobby donkey that is good for the odd Hollywood pass and little else? The guy that Wenger told not to tackle because when he does it’s more suited to rugby than football?
And he has the cheek to say that China doesn’t understand the game.
@Taylor Swift – we’ve already offered Laca another year with an option for a second year but he wants a longer deal.
I’d let him go, we’re done with older players on big deals who down tools as soon as the ink dries.
Tom Honestly, I don’t think he is that good yet. He can believe he can play for the top clubs. And may be he can. The demands and the noise is like a Haaland or an Mbappe. But he is not that level yet. There is a lot of growing up to do in his game. And I don’t know if he is the right fit for us. His overall game needs work. He doesn’t make his own chances, he needs service. And his hold up play can get better. I feel like Arteta doesn’t understand what has been working… Read more »
I remember Lewandowski when he was a backup to Lucas Barrios at Dortmund. Barrios was getting all the goals and Lewa was a backup. But even the you could see their was a great player in there by his ability to play football. And the goalscoring naturally came to him eventually. I would rather have someone like that at the start of their career than someone who is an elite goalscorer but not enough overall game yet.
Raptora
Time will tell. They’ve got it right with tomi Gabi and ramsdale so far, transfer wise so there’s credit in the bank with the scouting team for me
Would you have wanted the lukaku that moved to United from Everton? He will still score goals but won’t be the answer. That is what we will get with Vlahovic I am afraid. With a better first touch though.
Vlahovic is too much of a risk and will be a problem sooner or later even if we got him
Here is an odd suggestion for a CF. Richarlson from Everton. I feel like their is a top CF in there.
Def no on Vlahovic
Isak yes!
we also sorely lack strikers who can dribble the ball. Laca is ok… but we need someone who can create space and also run at defenders.
Isak- checks the dribbling, finishing, height boxes…. not so sure his heading ability, but he is also young and experienced.
Habesha
Richarlison is my kind of striker and I have praised him plenty.
Works his socks off, good in air, and decent with his feet.
Aggression levels off the charts.
Street kid, knows how to fight… tough mentality.
Everton will NEVER sell their jewel tho, but someone very similar in this mold will be great
Think Richarlison thrives because he has DCL doing all of the dirty work. Richarlison struggles when DCL doesnt play.
Isak’s goal scoring numbers are deplorable He’s scored as many league goals as Martinelli in more games
People seem to be latching unto the sleeky player we say at the Euros but he’s not replicating these performances at the club level.
It’s like crowning Xhaka as world class based on his Euro performances.
Diss
Good points but maybe its the team or league he is in?
I feel like Arteta doesn’t understand what has been working for him when it comes to the CF role. He Luke’s out and out goalscorers. It’s why he persisted with Auba so much. And that’s why he also like a poacher like Nketiah. Vlahovic has more tools to his game like physicality and Aerial prowess. But he is still not an elite player but an elite goalscorer. And that is not the right fit for us IMO. Habesha I totally agree with this. I cannot yndetand why he is persisting with this style of forward whe it is so unsuited… Read more »
Diss
What you saying? He’s the next Thomas Brolin?
Guns
I am always impressed with him when he plays. He isn’t up there on the stats but if he played for a top team, he would get those numbers up. But you are right it would take a ridiculous amount of money to get him.
Venga
I would argue DCL has improved because of Richarlson. Richarlson is known for doing his own dirty work. What he could do better at is finishing and a bit of decision making.
Guns I’m not sure, I think the lad was supreme at the Euros which is why he dominates discussion here. He’s not a prolific goal scorer. I wonder why David Jonathan David doesn’t come up more. He hard working as an ant and has had to work to defy stereotypes because he’s Canadian from the MLS. He started out in Belgium and has worked his way up to Lille. He’s exhausted that already after winning Ligue un and needs to take a next step up. He’s going to jump at the chance to come to Arsenal without drama and will… Read more »
He won Brazil the Olympics- fella was pissed at losing the Copa America!
I dont think he ever smiles. I feel he would rather kill someone. LOL
Unoni
I’m just saying you can’t ignore Isak’s poor numbers and I don’t understand why many people are willing to gloss over that central fact.
Diss Im with you on David, and yes players from the “Americas” do tend to have it harder to overcome this stereotype. US players, Mexican, Central American etc.
Unless you from brazil or argentina, its really tough.
I think that DCL and Richarlison both are exactly what we need in our team, to be honest- given our style and what our needs are.
Replace laca and Auba with those 2 and its money money money.
Cha Ching
Dissenter
I have watched Isak play numerous times. He isn’t prolific. But what he brings is fear from opponents. His dribbling ability is insane. And he has speed. Remember Henry scaring everyone with a trick and his speed? That is what Isak primarily brings. He has been poor this year but he was scoring at a good rate last year.
Anyway we have a lot of options. Goyiri, Darwin Nunez at benfica are also options besides David, Isak and DCL. If Vlahovic doesn’t come then we will get another hotshot striker.
Gouiri*
Unoni I’m just saying you can’t ignore Isak’s poor numbers and I don’t understand why many people are willing to gloss over that central fact. Numbers aren’t the be all and end all at his age. Drogba, Henry, rvp, shearer, vieri even Messi and cr7 were not offering up numbers at that age. The promise is in the game play. Saka and ESR aren’t offering elite numbers yet are considered two of the biggest prospects in world football right now. I like Isak from what I’ve seen. I like Jovic too. Not seen to much of Vlahovic or David personally… Read more »
Dissenter
The above response was to you
Richarlison can press but his hold up play with his back to goal IMO is not enough to lead a line. DCL is a bully and allows Richarlison to thrive. They do compliment each other very nicely though
I think a forward line of martinelli isak and Saka with ESR and Odegaard floating behind could be the most fearsome in world football in 2 years
I’d still like to see Pepe get some action in there though. Very underrated and offers end product whenever he starts
You guys need to chill on the keeping Laca bullshit. He is leaving. he’s a Lyon boy what makes you think he wants a one year extension to “teach” or “lead” the younger players? You are all sounding out the same tropes when we signed and extended David Luiz. Laca will do what is best for his career which is to move on for his last big pay contract. None of this sentimental bullshit you all keep peddling around. Fact is why his contract runs out and he hasn’t and isn’t renewing. You all behave like there’s a tiny pool… Read more »
Izzo
If it were so easy to replicate what laca brings then we’d already have it
What’s your suggestion
Get the next best younger version. Simple. Don’t care how much he cost and from where he comes from. That’s what Edu and the scouting team are paid to do. Laca is not a unicorn. There are players out there that are/will be better and younger. Pedro has constantly said we are in transition blah blah blah then buy the player that fits into that transition.
Izzo
Yeah. That’s what the whole discussion is about
But you can’t expect a 20 year old to be parachuted into a side like arsenal and to be able to consistently offer mature performances. It’s extremely rare and those players usually cost more than a club like arsenal can afford
Jonathan David has one of the ugliest highlight videos I’ve seen. Literally 80% of his goals are easy finishes from chances he gets served on a silver platter. He wouldn’t get even 1/3 of the easy chances in the EPL. No way.
There is a chance he’s the Pepe of CFs and his goals are artificially pumped.
20 mil for a 30 year old chris wood? The Saudis are burning money just to survive this season.
Laca is not a unicorn.
classic!
Chris Wood release clause updated 25m!
Under the radar we have signed a player from West Brom 16 year old Lino Sousa a left back.
Unoni
There’s a lot of players in the age range of 20-25 we can buy right now to replace Laca rather than giving him an “Auba” contract to stay. Are we not supposed to struggle/suffer to get back to the top? I’d rather see younger players struggle than Laca struggling on his bumper contract. Live and learn. Twice bitten by Ozil and Auba. Time to DO BETTER as a club.
3 goals in 17 Chris Wood isn’t the guy to keep them up either.
Should have thrown a mega offer Everton’s way for DCL.
Preach it Izzo!
Newcastle will be relegated which will be hilarious for the Richest club in the world.
May even see the Saudi’s pull the plug. It has happened before with sugar daddies that got bored in Malaga, Anzhi and Monaco so it can easily happen to Newcastle.
Wenger Eagle
DCL wouldn’t join. They are barely convincing old timers to join. Younger players will wait to see if they will survive this season to join. Chris wood is a double move I think. To score some headers from Trippier and St maximan. And also to weaken Burnley. 20 mil though is ridiculous.
All the signs point to Newcastle going down hence their purchase of Chris Wood. I’ll take Allan Saint-Maximin as backup to our young wingers in the summer.
Izzo
Who? Name names? Who’s gonna come in and form the partnerships on the field that laca has with the younger players next season?
And I’m not saying offer him a 3 year deal on £300k
1 year on current wages. Just like we did with bergkamp and Keown, year on year. Best way with over 30s. Arsene knew
Agree Habesha on both accounts.
I still would have thrown a big offer Everton’s way to tempt both parties.
Tripper sold out for the bag, hope he enjoys dropping from CL football to Championship football in hos peak years.
I was all for letting auba and ozil leave in any way possible. But a olayer like Lacazette is well worth keeping around. Always had a better attitude, work ethic, team ethic, leadership. And he turns up when you need him to. He will never be prolific but he makes us a better team and enhances the more talented younger generation with his selfless work and ability to spin and pop balls off on the half way line, acting as the springboard for decisive counters
Unoni, I can only repeat that Laca HAS been offered a one year deal with an option for a second year but he turned it down. He wants a longer deal and one big last pay day. Leaving on a free he can pick up another year’s wages in lieu of a transfer fee. Then there’s his agent who will pick up a nice wedge.
bye Laca,
Cant say I hate the fella. He tried, busted his ass and had only a few down streaks in his career here.
Auba way worse despite starting hot the first 2 seasons.
Yea I see Laca in Spain or France.
Unoni we all know and can names players from all the transfer rumours but like you said they have to “form” partnerships and that takes time. Smart planning would be to bring them in now in January hence why i hope we’re bringing in a Striker now and use the rest of the season as bedding in period. Don’t care who it is whether its Isak, Vlahovic, Jovic, or even an unknown name like how we got Tomiyasu which is my preference for signings moving forward. Just have to trust that the transfer team have done their homework.
Always have been Laca > Auba myself even if the latter pretty much single-handedly won us that FA Cup which he deserves a lot of props for.
Laca has always been more complete, just a shame he has never been clinical in front of goal for us.
Andy
I was unaware of that. That’s a shame. If it’s true then let him leave for free. I wouldn’t see the club held over a barrel again. But he won’t be joining a better club than arsenal so I’d hold out until the end
Izzo
Yes we all know the kids of 20/21 years of age
But I want to know these strikes you’re referring to in their mid 20s
You say laca is not a unicorn. Well who comes in and does his job next season immediately?
Should have kept Giroud instead of signing auba
Total fucking waste
Laca needs a partner to lead the line. With Weng, and his prefferred 442 it would have been fine…
This 4231 BS is hard for the lone striker… someone his size and skill set.
Even with Auba ( just think its a chemistry thing) did not work that great
Unoni
Literally named them and you’re making it out like nobody else can do what Laca does? What does Laca do again? Not score….riggggggght. fabulous then any striker from age 20 -25 would do then. Again we’re in transition and you think we can’t progress without extending Laca and i’m telling you we can and will and every new player adapts differently (odegaard /tomiyasu) and if you don’t buy them you’ll never know. Living in fear and sticking with Laca(which means giving him more money he doesn’t deserve) is not the way to progress.
Vlahovic may come and fall in love with the club like Dennis and Thierry
No chance I would give laca a new contract he does not score enough goals
We had to sell Olly to get Auba in that weird deal
So Auba won us the FA cup so it was worth it. His first 2 seasons he was fire.
Then bad drop off….
I think we have all seen now how limited he is, takes one touch and passes, safely or crosses. Never ever seen him take on a defender dribbling.. and be sucessful.
Not a speed merchant either… thought he was
He is a poacher. Quick one touch shooting that is it.
Not bad, but we need so much more
. Living in fear and sticking with Laca(which means giving him more money he doesn’t deserve) is not the way to progress.
😂
Yeah. Just throw martinelli or Balogun at it. What’s the worst that can happen? Laca isn’t a Unicorn after all.
Anyone can do what he does. 🤦🏻♂️
We literally have 4 other strikers at the club right now and none of them enhance us the way he does when he’s deployed as lone striker izzo.
Like I said, if it were so easy we’d already have his replacement