Some in the Italian media are reporting that Arsenal have moved to official bid stage when it comes to Dusan Vlahovic.
Here is what I don’t understand: If AFC knew who they were targeting in October, why does it take until Jan 17 to place a bid?
I am just asking that, it’s not a criticism, I’m still in the ‘don’t know what you’re talking about’ dog house after thinking the Arsenal press release was too naive. We might not have even placed a bid here.
What does seem clear from factual evidence sourced in the FT is the agents of Dusan are the worst kind. They tried to extract £6.69m in fees from Fiorentina just to keep the player there. I read one random thread that stated there could be as many as 15 parties trying to extract fees from this transfer. Edu is more than comfortable running in those circles, the guy was shameless enough to put Willian, his agents player, on £250k a week and do the signing at the Kia’s house. Not sure he’s getting that sort of long leash these days. Certain clubs might indulge mega agents, but I don’t think Arsenal are rich enough to be adding 10-15% on top of a big fee… did I say rich? Stupid.
This is another total guess out here, but I’d imagine part of the push from Arsenal to the player will be, ‘fuck your agent, do what you need to do to go to the next level in your career.’ I really don’t understand why so many players are happy to let their agents extract so much cash from their deals. If I were the star and I knew 15 parties were leaching onto my deal, I’d put a stop to it. If an agent is slowing you down, creating a bad rep for you, and cratering your options, then you have the wrong agent. There’s a story doing the rounds in Spain that Ousmane Dembélé was set to sign with Xavi; his agent Moussa Sissokho held a meeting with the club, was very rude, demanded 200m euros over 4 years for the player, and 40m euros for himself. It’s amusing because who doesn’t like to see Barca getting rolled like that, but it does speak to a wider issue… some agents are poison. Going back to Fiorentina, their owner basically confirmed that Gattuso joined and told him which players to sign, and at what fees. The owner told him to go fuck himself and that was the end of that.
There will be a reckoning at some point, the money made around the edges of football is often far from clean, and no one ever seems to pay a price for wrongdoing. I suspect Italy will drop the first show with the price fixing scandal that’s engulfed a load of clubs, then we’ll see if the UK or Spain decide to move on it. No doubt an ex-Arsenal person is sweating about that somewhere in the French Riviera right now.
Arsenal fans took the banter to new levels yesterday, we’re all united online, which makes a nice change, and the misguided pundits looking for retweets and likes at our expense took a battering yesterday. There was a common feature amongst them all. Those that took jabs at Arsenal for postponing the game had NOTHING to say when Liverpool postponed in scandalous fashion. Absolutely zip.
Now, this is a kind of bias, and I won’t have anyone pretend it isn’t so. Jurgen Klopp is the new Alex Ferguson in the media. He has a lot of love from fans, he’s a winner, so journalists don’t want to cross him. They don’t want to lose access, get spanked by him in front of their friends, and it seems there’s a bit of an unwritten rule about criticising him. All is not well at camp Liverpool, but no one writes about it. The German rockstar drew 11 false positives, there was no Martin Lipton hit piece about it, the big journo Twitter accounts didn’t debate the moral bankruptcy of it all, no one questioned their sporting intent. Even when the EFL investigated, the story was written in an almost apologetic manner. Why? Because he has the power.
Arsenal are the whipping boys in the media still. Arteta doesn’t have enough credibility yet. In most lines of business, your reputation doesn’t update in real time, it takes a bit longer. Arsenal should be getting more respect, but we don’t, because we’re still seen as easy prey. Our time will come though, I think Arteta is doing a good job in his press conferences, and there will be a time when he has a bit more edge to him, and journalists have to think twice about whether they want to cross an Arsenal manager that might be around for a long time (or at another fancy club).
Arsene Wenger had the power in the media. Everyone wanted him to answer their question. The big journalists didn’t want to write about his clear demise or ask him tough questions. Every time our season crashed, they all ran to his defence with ‘the warchest is coming’ and ‘there have been internal meetings and Arsene really took this season’s failings hard, he’s going to fix it.’
We are all bias at heart. In our jobs, there is always an element of self-preservation. So when big names ignore bigger names doing bad things, it’s not an accident, it’s because no one wants to damage their career writing things that piss off the biggest names.
Onto other stories. The Arthur Melo story seems to have died a death. The player was subbed at halftime versus Juventus last night and the press in Italy is reporting the loan is off. I cannot say I will miss this rumour, it’s emergency cover at best, so if we have to look elsewhere, then that will work for me.
Miguel Azeez has been recalled from his loan with Portsmouth under the guidance of Dan Cowley. He had this to say.
“There are some areas of his game that are beyond this level and other areas that he needs to keep working at, as with any young player.”
“I have absolutely no doubt that he’ll go on to become a top player..” “We’ve been impressed with his focus and commitment to improve.
I’m not sure if we’ve recalled because we need him in our midfield or Ben Knapper has another loan move up his sleeve.
Auba is going to come back to Arsenal for further treatment. The Gabonese star has rumoured heart lesions. I have no idea what that’s related to, but there’s been a stint of athletes with heart issue post-covid. Good luck to the player, I hope whatever the problem is, it can be fixed.
Get a vaccination, people.
ALSO, watch and listen to our latest podcast.
Did we hear information of Odegaard, Ramsdale, White, Auba, Partey, Tierney, Laca, Tomi, Gabriel, Pepe etc?
We didn’t. The only time something similar happen, in recent times that I can think of, was with Locatelli when Di Marzio said he’d rather stay at Sassuolo and wait for Juve, than joining us.
I’m not saying that Vlahovic 100% doesn’t want to join Arsenal. But that it happens not so often to have this kind of information circling the media/social media for it to be completely baseless or fake.
None of the information that the players don’t want to join us have made it big in the media but with Locatelli. That transfer failed and there is a lot of similarity to the Vlahovic situation. It might be fake, but based on recent history, it’s probably true.
Hard to know what to believe when it comes to vlahovic.I’m sure Arsenal & Fiorentina are happy to agree terms no problem.Then the latest reports from the Italian media who adore Juve in the same vein as Manure.Report terms already agreed with Juve back in October.If & it’s a big if .Surely Arsenal would know this.So why waste time f** ng about with him & his agents? Juve can only afford him & his agents fees if he runs down his contract.Certainly won’t be getting him this window? So IF ,once again,he’s doing his cheerio hugs etc,is it us? One… Read more »
Raptora, I’m sure that the Odegaard signing was delayed because he wanted to try and break into the Madrid team. It only happened when they told him it wasn’t going to happen.
andy,
Yeah, Ode wanted to join us if things at Madrid were over. We were THE option for Ode.
Vlahovic sounds like he’s dreaming of other clubs. No idea where Arsenal is in his mind, but according to the noise, he wants clubs a real top club – Juve, Bayern or to stay in Italy – Inter, and he’s willing to wait it out. Anyone would do so probably.
For all you know Arsenal were never in it for Vlahovic. Agents must be trying to use Arsenals name to milk more money from Juve. Just a thought.
Media was also wrong about Ramsdale, White, Partey for months before they joined, right?
First of all I did not suggest that the media rumours that Arsenal had made an offer for Vlahovic were gospel. What I did say was that whilst in normal circumstance I would treat most transfer rumours with a pinch of salt on this occasion I thought that there was an element of truth in story. 1. Arsenal need a new striker factoring in the uncertain futures of Aubameyang, Lacazette and Nketiah. 2. Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal are in the market in January. 3. Fiorentina’s President confirmed last week that Fiorentina had made a huge offer to player which… Read more »
Madrid accepted £40m bid for Hazard from Newcastle. He rejected it
What a spectacular fall from Grace. He should never have left chelsea. Same with sanchez, Hleb, Cesc. When you’ve got a good thing going and you’re playing to such elite standards, why risk it for one of the big two in Spain? It rarely works out for the best. Depending on your viewpoint.
Rap, media got those deals bang on. Might have taken a bit, but they were on them.
SohamJanuary 18, 2022 13:07:08
For all you know Arsenal were never in it for Vlahovic. Agents must be trying to use Arsenals name to milk more money from Juve. Just a thought.
your name just instantly reminds me of Ian Huntley and the poor girls he killed because thats where it happened
Serge
I think that every time I read it
Unfortunate choice 😂 🤦🏻♂️
Pedro,
Yeah, exactly what I’m saying. So we cannot disregard what the media writes about what’s going on re Vlahovic and us.
I just hope it’s not another case of eggs in all one basket on a lost cause, only to say come the end of the window ‘we tried sorry’ . We need a forward asap I just hope there’s other options.
Mr Serge It’s frustrating you get so much bollocks in the media nowadays, blame the competition for clicks. I hope we are in the market for a. striker and CM because that is missing and causing us a few problems. Our hold-up play at the top of the pitch is sorely lacking and we don’t have any aerial threat for us to mix it up. We tend to forget this team has only been together since August, 4 months, so we’ve coped well without these key components in the system and the lads are developing nicely. However, now is a… Read more »
If Juve want Vlahovic and if he wants them, then no amount of negotiating from Arsenal will make any difference I’m afraid.
Nothing against Arteta, Edu, or the club itself.
We should have let Xhaka go for whatever Roma were offering and gone for Aurelien Tchouameni last summer
He was available for transfer last season.
How would we have paid for it?
With whatever we are using to run the January transfer window
tyag,
It’s exactly what happened in the Summer when Edu/Arteta decided that Locatelli is the ONLY midfield player they want in the whole wide world. They bid £34m and never tried another midfielder after Locatelli said no.
Having a #1 target is great, says they know exactly what they want.
But if the transfer of #1 target fails, we need a back up option.
I guess that’s what happened to Locatelli not coming to Xhaka extending. They could repeat it with a failed Vlahovic deal to Lacazette extending.
The premier league is going to have an integrity problem with these wanton postponements.
They look a but silly now for postponing every game requ3ested for due to the stupid precedent they made for Leicester and Burley, allowing postponements for “AFCON and injuries”
Burnley have so many games postponed that these games will affect the relegation battle.
Obviously, Dusan Vlahovic and his team have made up their mind to wait until Summer. We should spend our effort signing one to two CM’s instead.
If there’s a big fall off between our number 1 target and the number 2 then I’d rather do without, and wait till someone better comes along.
And how come we get stick for loaning Mari when Burnley sell Wood to Newcastle and have every game postponed?
I’d like to see a Mike MacDonald list of striker alternatives… agree that these Italian clubs and the player’s agents are pissing us about again. Vlahovic’s entourage are clearly waiting for other clubs to join the party, and if he’s not interested in our project then find someone who is like raptora mentions it stinks of Locatelli all over again! Waste no more time – the club is bigger than any player, focus on those who want to play for us. Culture is key!
Karsa
Who would number 2 target be? How do we even know Vlahovic is a legit target. We get linked with everyone.
I do really like Jovic and Isak though. Isak could be immense with a bit of bull on those shoulders
Vlahovic signed yet?
My understanding of this Vlahovic issue is; Torchia, his agent had an arrangement with Juve to run down contract at Fiorentina in exchange for a huge agent fee and player signing on bonus. Fiorentina tried renewing contract – but were met with a strong disapproval by the agent. Arsenal came in and agebt refused the move. Arsenal pressurised and agent opened up that he must be paid his €10 million commission on the move. Fiorentina then joined dots and realized they were being played by the agent to get a free transfer. They had to encourage Arsenal to bid –… Read more »
Unoni
Agree to an extent re Hazard although it was much more due to injuries that he has been a complete failure at Real Madrid than any lack of performance on his part. A lot of this was brought on by his indiscipline though, I mean the guy showed up to training camp about 15lbs overweight when he signed for them for £100m! Higuain esque when he signed for Juventus and they had to get him on the Keto diet just to be able to run.
Unoni.
You’re right, we don’t know.
All I’m saying is I’d rather we get no-one than someone just for the sake of it.
I’d like Isak personally, but haven’t seen enough from anyone to get really excited.
Tiz
Great work! It’s always Italy
I’d rather Jovic as an alternative.
Isak doesn’t cut it for me. I’ve watched him on TV a couple of times
A bit wary of signing players from Seria A. Not many from that league have come in to EPL and set the ball rolling.
Toney is a player who could be available on cheap. He is a good striker.
Links to Tielmans excite me. He is a quality CM. Him and Partey in the middle would be terrific.
It’s the same in Germany and Bayern M. Absolute monopoly over the domestic transfer market.
And there have been a good few success stories from PL stars over to join Real Madrid/Barcelona. Luis Suarez, Modric, Mascherano, Alonso, Ronaldo, Bale, Courtois were all success stories. Henry was a huge part of Barca’s watershed 2008/09 treble season and scored 26 goals from LW, that alone makes him a big success in Barca even if he never reached the dizzying Arsenal heights. Robben and Van Nistelrooy both had decent spells there too and won titles. Fabregas didn’t do too badly either and won titles playing an important role. Only huge money PL flops off the top of my… Read more »
Nah, Toney just simply will not score nearly enough goals at PL level for me.
We need a bona fide 15+ PL goal a season ST, 20+ ideally to replace the Auba void with more of the all-round ability of a Laca mixed in.
Isak looks like he should be running a marathon or something and looks a little light weight to be tacking the Prem defenders , don’t see any real turn of pace either but that’s just an uniformed opinion, it seems we need more of a target/hold up type of striker
So are we interested in Alex Isak or not cuz if we are, we should already be chatting him up too. Hopefully his agent/s don’t want a fee of 8 million. Dude gives off Henry artistry too.
Toney’s pass completion is 57% as well which is absolutely horrendous for a ST. No chance he could knit the play together with that.
Ivan Toney has a primo-tax because he wears his socks low.
Isak looks decent but I get a flaky vibe off of him, tends to blow hot and cold and go off the boil for long spells of form. We need a more consistent player to lead the line imo.
Toney has it in him to score 20 goals a season, has got the basis ingredients. The current one is his first season in top flight. That he is not scoring many right now gives us a chance to sign him for a modest fee.
Brereton Diaz 22 Championship player.
TR7, not sure you’re getting Toney for a modest fee. It took £55m to get Ben White and no one knew his name. Toney has a deal until 2025. We need to be looking at strikers with 18months or less on their contracts because then we’ll have leverage.
Brereton is an interesting shout Samesong.
Guy could not score to save his life until he added a Diaz to his name and took up his Chilean citizenship, since then he has been a goal machine. Have not actually watched him but his goal compilation is a good watch, looks very clinical.
I like Gouri at Nice because he can play through the middle and as a LF. 5”11 and has a change of pace to go with excellent technical ability and dribbling. 9 goals and 6 assists in Ligue 1 in 20 apps, only 21 years old.
Brereton demolished us in Wenger’s last FA Cup game – a 3rd round 4-2 loss to Nottingham Forest. He won MotM and was 18 yo at the time.
Karsa
Yeah I’m in a similar boat. Don’t have enough knowledge of who’s who anymore to offer suggestions and I do agree. We should go for top 2/3 targets as long as there is no hefty drop in quality.
I would swoop for Patrick Bamford if it wasnt for his age . Didnt even realise he was 28 .
Oyarzabal too
Quality player
I actually think that we will finish above West Ham, I’m 50-50 about United and less confident on the Spuds although points on the board are always >>> games in hand so they still have to go out and win those. Away to Leicester and Chelsea in their next x2, tough games there. With Utd it’s more down to how much longer whatever it is that is festering beneath the surface there continues. They have much more talent than we do if we are honest but they are a mess in terms of organization, morale and playing identity. To be… Read more »
If Vlahovic doesn’t pan out then our most realistic target is Costa on a 6 month loan. No respectable club will sell a top striker in the January window unless their hand is forced by an expiring contract. Especially if they have a week to find a replacement.
WengerEagleJanuary 18, 2022 15:13:31
And there have been a good few success stories from PL stars over to join Real Madrid/Barcelona.
Weagle
There have but many more have killed or stalled their careers there than have taken it to the next level
Besides the obvious big names there were many more younger speculative signings like woodgate, Owen, song, vermaelen, hleb, petit et al who should have stayed put or went somewhere more suited to their game.
Seems very cut throat and dog eat dog when you get to these places
WE
Diaz looks prime Harry Kane in those YT vids.
Actually I take that back about the playing identity, we still lack one on a consistent basis. Too many bad performances tied in with the brilliant ones vs Leeds, Villa, Spurs, Norwich, etc.
And our central midfield is pretty dreadful. This is something that Arteta has failed to rectify after 2 years and if anything he has perpetuated the situation by going out of his way to keep Xhaka.
Shaun
Isak has a turn of pace but more importantly, he has skill in droves and a keen footballing brain
I can see Bierth as a striker ready to rock next season with the help of Laca as tutor, then we only need to add 1 or 2 centre mids..
Unoni A lot of those were not marquee signings though with a couple of exceptions like Overmars and Petit. Most were actually below £10-15m which even 15 years ago was not a lot of money. I agree with your general point though, a lot of players would be better off staying as a big fish in a small pond and can look a fish out of water when at the elite clubs in Real and Barca. Nabil Fekir is an example of a player that seems to have realised this, he has been brilliant for Real Betis and has just… Read more »
Eagle
Identity is streets above United. I’d say we’re looking better than chelsea in that regard too right now. Only lack of squad depth and a movie coach has cost us
Arteta climbing the ranks though while learning on the job
WE Spurs have to travel away to the top 3 sides; Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, They also have to go away to Man Utd, Leeds & Villa. They’ve been on a run of games that have been quite favourable, apart from Liverpool at home, plus we have to play them yet. We are at the halfway stage and Spurs program second half of the season is much harder than the first half. I think our young lads have a real chance as long as they can keep their heads when the pressure builds up. Bring in a striker and CM… Read more »
I agree with your general point though, a lot of players would be better off staying as a big fish in a small pond and can look a fish out of water when at the elite clubs in Real and Barca. Eagle Exactly what I mean. Players are humans too and not many seem to cope with the cut throat pecking order at real or Barca. When the going is good at clubs like arsenal and Chelsea, I understand the ego as it it’s largest and the draw of those clubs must be huge but for me, if you’re ripping… Read more »
P&M…………….Yawn
Tiz sums up the Vlahovic debacle succinctly.The ideal situation would be its a smokescreen for our intended target.because at this stage there’s no point flogging a dead horse.Move on.There’s others who would improve us move the needle.what we def don’t want as someone pointed out is a Locatelli mark 2 situation with f** k all to show this window of opportunity.Sorry but we tried ain’t going to please the fan base.
Hey peanuts.Who rattled your cage.🙈
Unoni, Let’s not forget that there were also huge tax incentives to go to Spain. Up until the Messi and Ronaldo court cases there was an entire tax-dodging industry serving the players. I read an interview with Alex Song yesterday where he basically said “Barcelona told me I wouldn’t play much but considering how much I’d be paid I didn’t give a f*ck”. He doesn’t come across as the sharpest tool in the shed but it tells you how big the difference was. It’s not like he wasn’t paid good money at Arsenal. Real and Barca will always be among… Read more »
AFC Agreed on the fixture list being kind to the Spuds. I see Chelsea beating them and the hope would be that Leicester can at least take x2 points from them. Song is a weird one, clearly never really had a lot of love for the game. Superb player but always had a flaky attitude, also had that Xhaka bone-headedness in him in giving away cheap fouls in really dangerous spots that punished us. Has had a very nomadic and strange career post Barca. Went to Russia, then Switzerland and now playing in Djibouti. He has always struck me as… Read more »
”if you’re ripping it up and considered one of the best players in the world in the current team, league, tactical frame work that clearly suits you then why throw that away?” Even though they are suffering and much declined now, Barcelona and Real Madrid have long been seen as the absolute pinnacle in the game and playing for them is seen as a huge achievement for most players. Also the much increased chance to win the Champions League, together they both won x6 of the x10 Champions League titles on offer between 2010-2020 and in the previous decade 2000-2010,… Read more »
WE
And he made a pretty decent career out of his job one would think.
I also think that we are in pole position for top 4 over Man utd, Tottenham and West ham. However, the same reason we are in pole is the same reason we could easily finish 7th…Arteta. it’s make or break for him, this run in
Mystic
Absolutely, Song had an extremely successful career compared to most footballers. He was much better here than he is remembered for imo, strolls into our current CM.
Sausage
I think we are going to see an era of English clubs dominating Europe now until one of the giants can get their shit together. Only Messi and Ronaldo broke that up from 06-2018 and even then we had 8 English clubs in the final and 2 winners (Liverpool, arsenal, United, Chelsea with spurs a year later)
Spain had 10 (9 being Barca or real)
Germany 5
Italy 4
France once
I think that Bayern Munich are still incredibly strong and I see them winning this years’ Champions League. Provided that they get their CM back to health in Kimmich and Goretzka. Crucial to that machine those two.
Their problems start when it comes to replacing Lewandowski and Muller when the time comes, 33 and 32 right now. Musiala looks capable of taking Muller’s spot in time but not sure how you can replace a 40-50 goal a season man in Lewandowski without breaking the bank.
Very simple, buy Haaland!
What is the point in having the Ballon D’or and the FIFA Best Player Awards separate? They had it right before when they were merged for a number of years, always found it bizarre before that. It’s like in Boxing having half a dozen different belts/titles, cheapens it.
Shevchenko won a Ballon D’or the year that Ronaldinho won the FIFA award and was clearly miles the better, same as Michael Owen winning a Ballon D’or. Imagine that he won one and Henry was snubbed all those years, just dreadful.
Sead to Marseille confirmed!
We won’t sign anyone just carry on hoping to win.
Arteta has his excuse
Wengereagle
“Toney’s pass completion is 57% as well which is absolutely horrendous for a ST. No chance he could knit the play together with that.”
Says he who scoffed at Eddie’s 100% pass completion in his last 90 minutes.
Does that mean that Eddie has no problem in being able to “knit the play together”?
You can’t have it both ways
Low pass percentage…can’t knit the plat
100% perfect pass percentage ..can knit the play..
marseille a haven for our outcasts and kids
Admittedly, we are stretching the rules by claiming we can’t raise 13 players for a premier league gales and yet we are on the verge of sending out 4 players out on loan within 7 days of that NLD
Kolasinac leaving on loan will just ramp up the anger against Arsenal.
Pierre
Eddie stringing together a dozen passes vs a Championship outfit doesn’t make him Karim Benzema II as much as you like to delude yourself that it does.
Big Mo to Turkey? Love it.
Dissenter
We are clearly taking the piss and bending the rules but so are everybody else so they can all bugger off with their pissing and moaning.
Sampaoli is an alpha, Marseille oozing with testosterone
“Admittedly, we are stretching the rules by claiming we can’t raise 13 players for a premier league gales and yet we are on the verge of sending out 4 players out on loan within 7 days of that NLD
Kolasinac leaving on loan will just ramp up the anger against Arsenal.”
Let them continue to moan till thy kingdom come. No one bats an eyelid when Burnley got matches postponed why selling also a player.
Arsenal didn’t make the rule.
Tee
Vast difference to selling a player against your wishes because a buy out clause met
As an aside Kolasinac hasn’t gone on loan he has had his contract cancelled
Diss, the argument isn’t simply raising players. It’s about the condition of what you have and the type of players you can raise.
Burnley could pull kids from their academy, but that’s not fair on them.
We’re just doing the same as everyone else, why should we have to start Kola in midfield?
How much did it cost to cancel Sids contract
Weagle
“Eddie stringing together a dozen passes vs a Championship outfit doesn’t make him Karim Benzema”
Whether it was a dozen( which it wasn’t) or closer to 20(which it was) , you are correct in your assumption that having a striker with a perfect pass percentage will be able to ” knit the play together” much better than a striker with a 57% pass percentage”.
Love Sausage
Costa is now a free agent . He has dual nationality but as things stand I am far from sure he would at his age , the league he has played his trade in, no fee involved added to the fact that he hasn’t played International football for nearly 4 years , get a workpermit
Lads Kolasinac is gone , rejoice ! Just one Granit Xhaka remains .
Pedro
“Diss, the argument isn’t simply raising players. It’s about the condition of what you have and the type of players you can raise.”
As things stand Arsenal at this point in time have just 18 players in their 25 man aged over 21 squad.
With 4 away at the AFCON that means that before injuries there are just 14 at this point in time and one of those is suspended for the next game
Eagle
Yes. You get a champions league medal but if I were bale or sanchez or hleb I’d have stayed put.
For me it’s better to have a great career where I’m comfortable and can reach my highest level, hopefully winning things than to be guaranteed winners medals where I am bit part and my game drops
Terra,
OK, I missed that he’s become a free agent. I thought he was still with his Brazilian club. So he’ll probably be on the lookout for a 2-year deal now.
Either way, if Vlahovic doesn’t happen, I don’t think there will be other long-term options until the summer. At least we’re getting rid of some deadwood. It should make the summer business a lot easier.
Terraloon
Your post made so much sense when I got to the end. Then I had to go back again and read. I almost tore my hair off 😸
Talking of hairs…. where’s Receding?
Sanchez regretted that move the very next Monday. I was a big fan but somewhat felt betrayed.
Unoni,
The problem with Arsenal for many years was that it was so comfortable that no one could reach their highest level here. Those two things don’t go together. I don’t think anyone goes to those clubs (except maybe Song) and is happy not to play.
Qualifying for the CL this season would go a long way to becoming a destination club for ambitious players again.
On the other hand, I loved Chelski losing Hazard and him flopping in Madrid. That c*nt was the sole reason we lost that final.
2 out of the calamity trio of Mustafi, Kola and Xhaka gone. Xhaka apparently “not happy at Arsenal”, one can dream.
As much as I understand the importance of Champions League, if you offer enough money any player can be bought. Thomas Partey is one such example.
However, it can create a problem which would take too long to solve. If you start handing 21 old years 200k/week wages, there will be discontentments.
Alex Song was terrific in one on one tackle/challenge. The only thing lacking in his game was positional awareness, had everything else that is needed in a modern defensive midfielder.
TR7
I want to see him playing in Champions League against Bayern or Madrid in red and white.
/s
Arsenal transfer news: Sead Kolasinac joins Marseille on 18-month deal.
_____________________________________________________________________
But I thought that Marseille has a transfer ban. Maybe it only takes into effect in the Summer.
Dissenter I couldn’t give two hoots what anyone says about Arsenal. As we saw with the disgraceful behaviour of Spit Dog Carragher and Gary foul mouth Neville, they don’t need an excuse. For years we’ve had it given to us and we’ve taken it like the soft touch we were. Not any more. What I just don’t understand from so-called fans, is this sudden outbreak of morality, expecting us to play Spurs with all our best players missing. Bit weird if you ask me. I am sick and tired of us being expected to always bend over and take one.… Read more »
Sausage
I like your offerings mate but that’s not even debatable
Who reached a higher level away form arsenal outside of Ashley Cole and Gnabry (as well as a couple of other young players who never got a game for arsenal?
Nobody. Everyone dipped. Even hernry and rvp