ITALIAN MOVING, BUT WHERE?

by .

How are you today?

I’m in New York on a work thing, so I am going to be low on posting at the moment, but… when the post land, they land, you know what I’m saying?

I just want to clear up a couple of things from my expose on the Premier League fixtures because there were a lot of angry Spurs fans and there were a few Arsenal fans that cannot stand to see data that in any way looks like it might harm their naive view of how the sporting world works.

  1. We didn’t finish in the top 4 last season for a whole host of reasons that I have covered in some detail. If you think I was saying the only reason we failed was due to the fixtures, you are wrong and likely projecting onto the work.
  2. Marginal gains are a thing. If you don’t understand that, you don’t get modern sport. Clubs will try and edge out advantages all over the place. Liverpool don’t let key players go on international duty because of ‘injury’, Arsenal do, Liverpool end the season with Trent on the pitch, Arsenal end the season with Tavares at left-back. We had a whole conversation about the weirdos that thought removing mayo from the canteen was a marginal gain because Conte is a genius. So when we look at fixtures, don’t tell me that’s not a marginal gain opportunity.
  3. Finally, the key message: Arsenal drop out of Europe for the first time in 25 years and we didn’t face a single team that had played a European game. There’s a 3.4% chance of that happening. You have to ask questions about that, especially when you know the random fixture generator has human intervention involved. Calling it ‘luck’ is to sit on your hands. The same people telling you not to be curious about hard data were those that were telling you to put on your big boy boots when we didn’t have the Brentford game cancelled. What happened after they said the games couldn’t be cancelled? The games got cancelled when other clubs screamed louder. Everything can be influenced in football, we’ve seen it time and time again, Arsenal should be banging the table on this ‘freak’ roll of the dice and demanding it does not happen again.

Anyway, thanks to all the fans that carried that message.

ONTO STRIKER THINGS:

Arsenal are apparently kicking the Scamacca approach into overdrive. The story seems to have swung from ‘he’s angling for a move to Juve’ to ‘Dortmund and Arsenal want him.’ You would have to imagine Arsenal have more sway than Dortmund, we can pay more, give him a better profile, and we’re more prestige.

I like this striker a lot. He has all the bits we’re looking for, he fast, he can can score in lots of different ways, he has a fierce ball striker, and he’s only young. What is very interesting to me is whether we’re spending less on our main striker so we can afford someone like Jesus to give us more end product in the forward line. The interesting thing for Jesus is there’s quite a bit of competition at Arsenal for the spaces his likes to occupy. Still, we need a squad more than ever next season, so there will be loads of minutes.

Bukayo Saka is apparently on the radar of Manchester City. I think this is a familiar pattern that comes from his agent who seeded that Eddie was attracting interest from Chelsea and Liverpool. It’s all a game to get his client max money this summer. Let’s be real here, it’s absolutely deserved, we just need to make sure we’re very protected so we don’t lose him for nothing at some point.

Right, short one today. If you are Patreon contributor, Johnny has dropped a little beauty into the feed today where he talks about the next 5 players in his top 25 players. To get the exclusive good content, click below.

 

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Bankz

Bankz is here for the tr4phy again

Bankz

Let’s do this!!!!

Bankz

DM and groovedaddy, come outside!

Bankz

((((BOOOOOOOM)))))

Valentin

The rumour about Saka to ManCity do worries me.

Bankz

Another day, another clean sweep

David Smith

a first!

David Smith

nope, Bankz got there

Valentin

BTW, marginal gain theory was used to explain the success of the Sky team in cycling.
Turned out that doping and cheating was the real reason of that team success.

andy1886

Still think that Scamacca will stay in Italy but if he doesn’t surely Champions League football at Dortmund is a lure?

City have said that they’re not interested in Saka. Not exactly sure why Liverpool don’t propose a Mane/Gnabry swap, would make sense IMO.

Jim

Absolutely think Saka->Citeh is agent work to make sure he gets the absolute max he can, and Saka deserves it undoubtedly. But as we’ve discussed at some this ‘model’ we’re running requires some sustainability… ergo we are going to have to sell. The question then comes are there some players that are untouchable? If that means we get Scammaca & Jesus (personally prefer the former anyway) in return for «one of our own» leaving is that still a good deal, especially if that comes at the expense of our culture. In this instance don’t think Saka wants to leave anyway… Read more »

TR7

Arsenal interested in Jesus and Tielemans as per Romano

Tom

“Arsenal should be banging the table on this ‘freak’ roll of the dice and demanding it does not happen again”

Arsenal should be banging in the league table making sure finishing out of Europe does not happen again.
There, I fixed it for you, Pedro.

Thierry Martinelli

When we didn’t face the Europe-engaged teams, we built confidence by beating lesser teams. Maybe we could’ve lost and sunk further. It could’ve been marginal gains or marginal loss.
I get your argument Pedro but unfortunately it doesn’t wash for me. Hope you won’t say I don’t get modern sport

Br0wnie

I find interesting, as one who is exposed more to North American Sports like hockey and basketball , where trading players is commonplace, that you just don’t see trades between teams much in European football. I don’t understand why. Can someone explain that to me?

Valentin

I think that Saka will stay 1 extra year and decide based on where we finish. Of course that could all change if ManCity comes up with a £100 millions offer. If I were his agent I would tell him to wait especially of they come. Pre World Cup he would be in direct competition with Grealish. Nonpoint in forcing a move to end up on the bench. That’s what happent to Grealish who despite being their marquee signing did not get that much playing time. To me, the one I think Arteta and Edu may be ready to sell… Read more »

Soham

Liverpool going for Darwin Nunez per Romano

Thierry Martinelli

Blog slowly turning into The Sun newspaper with all the report ed rumours 😂😂

Mr Serge

Wankz defo has some sort of tool to see when Pedro posts so he can do his boring boom thing contribute you twat

Mr Serge

Darwin will defo go pool he has already tasted the atmosphere at anfield

Bertie Mee

Saka needs to play regularly in World Cup year . He won’t do that at the top two but will at Arsenal . He will negotiate a release clause and that makes us vulnerable to losing him but sure if a fair price . It may mean he ends up at Newcastle or PSG but he wants to stay at Arsenal ….at the moment

Nigel Tufnel

People will believe anything they read. The whole Bissouma talk happened because he reposted a fan comment on his Instagram. He would love to move to Arsenal. An Italian article about him and Arsenal is based on that nonsense or from his agent. Bissouma is not coming unless we sell Partey. Anyway, he would be a downgrade. He isn’t half the passer that Partey is. The people who want Bissouma don’t really think passing ability is important in a midfielder I guess. Don’t show me passing stats either. Watch them both play. What we need is an upgrade on Xhaka… Read more »

S23

All of this hysteria over Saka leaving,I am afraid it is part of football. We have seen Ian Wright,Henry,Viera,Petit,Fabregas and Liam Brady all leave,and yet Arsenal football club still rolls on. I really like Saka as a player,but if he decided to move on and we are paid accordingly,it wouldnt be the end of the world. I think he faded towards the end of the season and wasnt the best against Germany,so I think he is far from the finished product-he would be wiser to stay at Arsenal than to move to City or somewhere and get lost in a… Read more »

TR7

I rate Tielemans and Ndidi. Tielemans is one of the few allround midfielders in the league. He is very very good in attack and not very shoddy in defense when he is switched on. I think last season he was not really playing at his best and had checked out of Leicester at least mentally. When he is at his game he can be very good. Ndidi when fit is a top class defensive midfielder. I don’t know whether he is available for transfer but if he is then he should be one of our targets. Jesus given the limited… Read more »

Ernest Reed

I know everybody hates Melo. I have a feeling Arteta likes him. There would be people having fits here“ Is there anything about Melo that even remotely moves the needle on Melo, Nigel? For me there is zero about the player that would work with Arsenal, aside from what you mention that Arteta is interested. If Melo is the best that AFC can do in terms of upgrades, then that is disappointing and sends a potential message to supporters as to what the club aspires to and their ability to actually achieve it. People shouldn’t like this because Melo is… Read more »

Bigper

Okay I can’t be bothered to go into detail but quick look at city, liverpool and Chelseas results after European games and they won/drew mainly and the few times they lost it was against other teams in Europe I.e man city lost to Liverpool.
So I think its probable that the whole conspiracy of playing teams after Europe being and advantage is a myth anyway

zimmie2652

Serge,
No different tool than all of us have access too.

I’m pretty sure the mailing list and any of the social media links send you a link once the new post is up. It isn’t that hard to figure out bud.

DigitalBob

Ideally I’d like any deal for Gabriel Jesus to be wrapped up in the next couple of weeks. Sooner if at all possible. Stranger things have happened than a club team like Arsenal flying out to the brazil squad to conduct the medical, get it done Edu! The reason I say that is the longer it drags on the less likely the deal will be, it seems Real and some other champions league bound teams are already circling. Tielemens is the same but to a lesser degree in terms of urgency as so far it seems Man Utd would rather… Read more »

Graham62

So are we officially blaming our fixtures for not getting top 4?

Please advise.

Guns of SF

is it me, or do we NOT need a tall striker with good heading ability? I know this Scamarra is tall, but I certainly hope we dont call it a day with Eddie and Jesus.

Graham62

If Arsenal had won one more game, we wouldn’t be talking about fixture conspiracies.

Everything is seen as a conspiracy to cover Arteta’s limitations.

Muppetman

Graham did you even read the blog or just jump straight to comments to moan like fuck as usual?

Chris

Hope we are not being led down the garden path was this Italian striker like we were with Vlahovic. Hasn’t he already said he isn’t interested in joining us?

Chris

“So are we officially blaming our fixtures for not getting top 4?” Not what Pedro is saying Graham. He has covered the other reasons previously. The data on the previous post was interesting and would be worth investigating if it happened in successive seasons in a scenario we kept failing to get into Europe. And despite small percentages of it can happen it will happen. And yes I get marginal gains etc but we have to accept we lost out on top four because ultimately we just weren’t good enough. We lost 13 league games last season, I suspect that… Read more »

Thierry Martinelli

I’ll say it for the 1M time, let’s get Milinkovic Savic from Lazio. Double digits in goals and assists. 27yrs old – so he’s at his prime.
Why Scamanca when you can get Schik. 24 goals in 27 apps. I like Jesus but can we convince him to come play Europa when there are sure suitors who’ll offer CL football? Same for Gnabry and most if not all tier 1 attackers.

Graham62

Muppetman

I very rarely read Pedro’s blogs.

I’ll pick out snippets and then bite.

My constitutional right!

Un

Thierry

You know

Graham62

We had 38 PL games.
No European commitments.
Knocked out of the FA Cup at the 3rd round stage.
I’m sure, given the time between games, we could have found a couple of points from somewhere.

englandsbest

Selling off top players for big money is likely to be the future policy of the Club, an essentlal MO if the intention is a perennially young and vgorous squad. In circa 4 years Saka is likely to be the Club’s first £100 million sale. We will all miss him – but not so much if he is replaced by someone of similar ability preferably a product of the academy, with his career ahead of him.

Guns of SF

Dont see many italians coming to EPL
In general they tend to stay at home..
The good ones rotate with Juve inter Roma or AC- then call it a day

Thierry Martinelli

June 8, 2022 18:48:26
We had 38 PL games.
No European commitments.
Knocked out of the FA Cup at the 3rd round stage.
I’m sure, given the time between games, we could have found a couple of points from somewhere.

Hurts but it’s true

andy1886

Whoever we get in needs to supply what we lack – goals. The idea that someone who isn’t prolific will come to Arsenal and then suddenly score a hat full when we’re not a particularly attacking side is cloud cuckoo land.

I get why some people love players that are good on the ball, but scoring isn’t as Wenger used to claim ‘simply the final pass’, it’s a very specific skill. We don’t need the greatest footballer in the world, just someone who knows where the net is.

Thierry Martinelli

SF
Yeah, can’t remember the last Italian who came and lot up the EPL apart from.

Thierry Martinelli

Lit*

englandsbest

Graham62

Crying over spilt milk is a fruitless exercise, it changes nothing. Better to store your discontent and – if things turn out as bad as you seem to expect – let rip next season.

AFC Forever

Graham62

Jesus mate, have a day off. Please. Last season you were raving on about Sean Dyche, thank fuck we dodged that bullet.

AFC Forever

Thierry martinelli If my aunt had bollocks she would be my uncle. The reason we didn’t get top 4 was because we got 2 points less than Spuds. A team further down the development path and with Kane & Son winning them games. Their freak win at Leicester when they were 2-1 down in the 96th minute is one of those things that happens. I would also add that my earlier comments regarding teams like Spuds being able to get more minutes out of their key players is relevant. In his 2 seasons at Spuds Hojbjerg has played 38 and… Read more »

englandsbest

Arsenal have been the victims of skewed referees since forever. I’m inclined to believe it’s a geographic bias and, to a degree, subconscious, more of a ‘southern softies’ viewpoint from refs who, in the main, come from the midlands and the north.

But there are some refs who are plain malevolent.

CG

AFC “”The reason we didn’t get top 4 was because we got 2 points less than Spuds. A team further down the development path and with Kane & Son winning them games.””” Thats your reason, but its utter tosh. And so is ‘Fixturesgate’ Spurs finished 7th last season, had Europe and x3 managers but still made top 4. And Kane and Son , looked liked Laurel and Hardy under their 1st manager. My reason is , Arteta and the club had a great opportunity to get CL after 5/6 seasons and choked. Thats what happens , when you have people… Read more »

Matt B

I very rarely read Pedro’s blogs

Utterly charmless Graham, how very apt.

Please continue droning on zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

IAT-Robbie

Sid,

So our Thomas is really a full-fledged Akhi now?! LoL.

I actually can’t believe it. As someone from a multi-faith family tree, conversion through marriage is not for the fainthearted. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you were already moving in that direction already. I hope Alhaji Yakubu knows what he’s getting himself into😁

Matt B

Deja vu silly season 2021 — it really is the place to dodge in June and July Graham et al very at home when no football being played, so they can drone on about how shite our season was, how crap Odegaard is, how Arteta hates Saliba and all the other youngsters etc. etc. Yeh, yeh, each to their own and all that, but ffs leave — is there nothing positive to say? Comments section is sorely missing Rich and Champagne Charlie, but nice to see AFC back. Plus all the others who clearly know their football even though they… Read more »

Matt B

CG: Agreed we choked — let’s see how things pan out the early part of this coming season, if we get our business done by July, no reason we won’t be in the mixer

Un

Matt
You missed out all the armchair fans who couldn’t kick a ball if their lives depended on it salbbering over transfer season rather than the football itself
Brand new th syndrome kicks off yet again

Almuniasaynomore

Matt B,
Can’t speak for the English lads but here’s Tommy Tiernan explaining the Irish predisposition to pessimism if you have a spare 5 mins….
https://youtu.be/hOlE6tLvXgU

Tee

Graham
So are we officially blaming our fixtures for not getting top 4?Please advise.

Out jumped two footed like the idiot you really are most times Without even reading .

Waiting to read the redressing of your usual boring takes. Keep biting till you lose all 🦷.

The Real Vieira Lynn

much like the grass is green and the sky is blue, as soon as our resident Apologist scribe issues another excuse-laden post, every Kool-Aid slurping basement dweller appears out of the ether to prop-up their plastic prophet…just imagine how all of you half-wit hypocrites would have reacted if things had happened in reverse and Spuds fans were trying to rollout the same line of supposed logic, after shitting the bed in such an epic fashion…give your collective heads a good shake as for those of us who continue to hold this organization accountable for their actions, or lack thereof, we… Read more »

andy1886

Good grief, who let the trolls out?

Bitching and complaining because they don’t like alternative views, name calling but no actual logical counter arguments.

How old?

raptora

My time for a hot take:

Xhaka will bench Tielemans if they are both in our team for next season.

I’ve disliked Xhaka as a player for 6 years but we kind of got used to what he can and what he can’t do for us.

There are a lot of players that will be an upgrade on him, not Tielemans though.

We will not improve as a team.

andy1886

EB: So we missed out on fourth because of the old referees’ ‘Northern Bias’?

Damn those Northern Spuds!

Reality suggests that our failure to act, even to get a loan, in the January window ultimately cost us. No need for conspiracy theories.

Graham62

TRVL Very good. Tee Why should I have to read posts that have become as predictable as night following day. I guarantee that there are other posters on here who look at the headline and straight away switch to the comments Also, why should I care if I ruffle a few feathers on here. Matt B So, as far as your concerned, knowing about football is knowing about producing statistics that, to be honest, are totally irrelevant and, more often than not, meaningless. Maybe you should read some our hosts disrespectful comments directed at his own posters before passing judgement.… Read more »

The Real Vieira Lynn

Raptora although I agree with your premise, in that I can likewise see Xhaka benching Tielemans, but not because this would make the most sense from a footballing standpoint, but due to the fact that this tactical albatross around our collective necks enables our present manager to opt for his much preferred negative tactics…there’s no doubt in my mind that Tielemans is an upgrade on Xhaka, even though neither provide much defensively, simply because he offers considerable more in the final third, which is of paramount importance considering our rather pedestrian output last season…even when MA was trying to be… Read more »

AFC Forever

CG “Thats your reason, but its utter tosh” Nice debating skills there. You should do this professionally. In your attempts to bolster Conte, I wonder if he would have achieved the points total he had, if Hojbjerg, Kane or Son, had not played virtually every game for him? Or is Conte so good that it didn’t matter? It is not tosh to suggest that teams losing key players for a period of time drop points. It falls into the ‘bloody obvious’ category. One of the best examples is what happened to Liverpool last season. There is a fundemental reason why… Read more »

IAT-Robbie

“Damn those Northern Spuds!”

Haha. Ain’t that the truth. If the Spuds benefitted from the Northern bias, then Arsenal must be a Midlands side.

Matt B

Alumnia: Hah, I enjoyed that — thank you!

I’m much darker than happy-clapper, perhaps it’s that little bit of Irish in me. Good to question things of course and to see opposing points of view, but when people are completely intransigent, unforgiving and relentlessly focus on the negative, well, it grates a little…

Matt B

Graham: The reason we’re all here is because of Pedro and Arsenal. A little acknowledgement of that now and then wouldn’t go amiss.

IAT-Robbie

Matt,

So your solution to what you see as moaning is just to moan some more?
I don’t understand what the big deal is. It’s just an opinion at the end of the day. It’s not like it’s causing you to lose sleep or something…

Matt B

Andy: Not sure if you’re comment was directed at me or not. Love discussion and counter arguments but its simply pointless to argue the toss with people who never, ever change their point-of-view, regardless of what evidence you put before them.

Some posters on here wear their intransigence like a badge of honour — it doesn’t mean they’re more principled, or worthy of debate or whatever, they’re just boring

AFC Forever

Matt B

“Whining on about how shit this and that is, isn’t really an opinion, but to say you don’t read the blog and just come on here to moan.”

To be fair at least he admitted it.

My counsellor always told me that being able to admit your faults is the first step to being a better person. I regret hitting him now.

Matt B

IAT: It’s not a solution, just an observation

Matt B

AFC: Hah!!!

Almuniasaynomore

Matt B,
You’re welcome. There are natural optimists and natural pessimists and a whole range in between. Life experiences probably push us in one direction or another also. But I have to say that Arsenal supporters have been taking blow after blow for years,decades now. So I’m very sympathetic to the pessimistic outlook,I’d even say it comes naturally to me! But if you throw in a bit of humour like that clip,you can get away with murder. We’re all dealing with Arsenal’s struggles to get back to the top differently I guess,just have to remember to keep laughing.

IAT-Robbie

Fair enough Matt

IAT-Robbie

Arsenal had a young group of new players to develop into a team, there was no previous development as Spuds had or any of our other rivals. That in itself brings challenges.” But this isn’t really a balanced point. Spuds have had to undergo as much team development as we have. Much of their starting XI were signed in the last two seasons and most of them were U24 just like ours. Reguilon, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Hojberg, Emerson, Doherty and Romero were all signed in the last two seasons. Only Doherty (the Gooner) was above 25. They’ve had to gel together… Read more »

englandsbest

To repeat myself, I’m okay with 5th place and the Europa. It’s the doomsters who moan and groan about missing out on 4th – but gloom is their perpetual state of mind. And ref ”southern’ bias is endemic not a 2022 quirk, as every Arsenal fan knows.

Un

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rIIgnNAh0Y0

We were so lucky
I’ve seen him live,
I’m the flesh so many times
Met the guy
Lucky to have witnessed it

Mr Serge

Dane Vera sometimes you should hold back a bit

China1

What would be the point of buying Jesus and scamacca and putting Eddie on big wages in the same summer That presumably means Eddie goes into next season third choice again. No way he’ll be happy about that and 100k is a silly wage for a third choice striker in a club that hasn’t even made the CL Likewise if we’re planning to put Jesus on the wing why not buy an actual winger who is more productive? Eddie, scamacca and a winger to replace Pepe makes actual sense. Scamacca Eddie and Jesus seems like an unnecessary and inefficient use… Read more »

China1

Lol what odds on arsenal going into next season with 3 first choice CFs and somehow Xhaka still on the first team because we ran out of money?

I know I know it surely won’t happen…. will it?

Mr Serge

China we won’t be buying 2 strikers no way,

izzo

Lol we’re never buying an italian. Whenever i see links to italy its always 100% bullshit. No surprise Vlahovic ended up at Juve. We’re talking about an Italian player here. Why do we do this to ourselves?

Vintage Gun

“Which arsenal first team player went through whole season without an injury?”

Saliba?

lol

izzo

All the good players are going elsewhere. Darwin Nunez to Liverpool. De Jong to Man U, Tchouameni to Real. We’ll be left with Championship level signings and Pedro will wax lyrical how they’re the best thing since sliced bread ( Benny Blanco and Ramsdull) More average signings coming in. Jesus feels like he’s going to end up somewhere playing CL footy. This what happens when you celebrate coming 5th and proclaiming we’re going to sign top players to play in 2nd tier euro league on Thursdays.

Killroy-TM

Regarding our interest in Scamacca: “You would have to imagine Arsenal have more sway than Dortmund, we can pay more, give him a better profile, and we’re more prestige.” Arsenal has more sway than Dortmund? I don’t think so is that why young and upcoming stars choose Dortmund over AFC or is it the incapable ones that let Bellingham slip to Dortmund. We can pay more. Most likely at this point but if the 3 stooges keep spending money on players that don’t integrate well the money will dry up. We give him a better profile? Really since when is… Read more »

Vintage Gun

Think Jesus will be our No9. If an additional CF is purchased then I’d expect Jesus to play LW and cover for Saka on the RW. Either way i think Eddie will be our 2nd choice CF going into the new season.

Personally i’d be happy with Jesus and a goal scoring wide man such as Gnabry (let me dream) or Moussa Diaby. Although i do get the issues regarding the lack of height in our forward line if any of these players were signed.

izzo

Whatever quickens Arteta and Edu’s exit. At this rate i’d rather see the youth from the reserves promoted than watching another season of Xhaka and Elneny. Thank fuck Laca is gone. What a waste he and Auba were choked and delivered nothing on their way out. Good riddance.
Can’t forsee another season where everything falls for us to come 5th again likely finish lower. 6thor 7th more likely. Arteta will find a winning formula then destroy it before it blossoms. Galaxy brain will strike again. We have our own version of Xhaka in Arteta the manager. Lol…

Killroy-TM

Our new signings ARE?

Courtesy of Almunia “Players Returning Loan” 😆

salparadisenyc

Could easily see Arteta put Jesus on left if we manage to pull that one off with Eddie or another thru middle.

izzo

If I were a CL level and PL winning striker why the fuck would I downgrade to play in Europa League no matter the name of club playing in it? Unless I just want a payday then fuck off the moment things on the pitch don’t work out. I’d be surprised if Jesus makes the move backward and I’m not convinced its gonna work out with the way we play and manager in charge. Smells like another Willian albeit a better player. Summer off to a crap start.

The Real Vieira Lynn

Shit Serge, that was my kid gloves version

Vintage Gun

As for CM the media talk is one of Tielamans (strong rumors) or Bissouma.

We need both if you ask me. At 29 and 5 years at Arsenal, plus entering the last two years of his contract it really SHOULD be the end of the Xhaka loathe story now. But as he said the other week he will leave on his terms when HE is ready so I’m expecting him to stay.

However, Bissouma AND Tielemans for a combined £55m is a quality steal and it would be terrible to miss out just to accommodate Xhaka for another 12 months.

Mr Serge

It never offended me but some are slightly less hardened TRVL 😀

Mr Serge

Vintage agreed we need both sell Pepe to add funds but get both it has to be a statement year, no more bullshit excuses from edu and Arteta it’s make or break time

salparadisenyc

Izzo Have to think once window kicks off Jesus going to be linked to host of sides, Bayern in need, Chelsea, Madrid, only hope is Arsenal have the wage and Arteta relationship. I rate him but am suspect it’ll happen. That said in less than 6 months we will of shed Auba, Laca and one has to imagine Pepe from the side. Absolutely room for 2 attacking options in this window, Jesus and Scamacca the current links Diaby, Gnabry and maybe Leão all look to potentially move. Thats not even touching on Nkunku, who is beyond our reach this summer.… Read more »

Zacharse

i’d love to see scamaca at CF. very strange for us to be going so hard for jesus. he’s stated outright he wants to be playing RW and winger is the one position we’re pretty ok on atm. maybe a smokescreen? wouldn’t mind seeing him mentoring gabi but rather we get a stronger CF

also are we targeting a 2nd CM or is tielemans realistically it in that dept?

Nigel Tufnel

Sal, vintage gun, I agree, Because of the versatility of Jesus I can see him pushing Martinelli on the left. He was disappointing in end product, we have to admit, we could really benefit from lighting a fire under Marti. Jesus also presses like a demon, and either he or Martinelli would be an energy burst if brought on. I hope we can get him. I’ve been saying all along that renewing Eddie allows us to buy 2 forwards if we get rid of Pepe. China, I don’t think 100k for Eddie is too much for a successful premier league… Read more »

Old & Wise

‘but when people are completely intransigent, unforgiving and relentlessly focus on the negative, well, it grates a little…’ Truth always hurts the uninitiated who largely enable those who can’t walk the walk after talking the talk. Arteta bottled it, no other reason we came 5th. What’s the point of reading unbalanced posts by Pedro written to soothe his minions? Those of us who report what our eyes see from the table, which read games in hand and a numerical points advantage for 4th where we needed 5 wins from 8 games that even Wenger would have managed. Instead we shipped… Read more »

Nigel Tufnel

I don’t think I’d be satisfied with 5th or lower this coming season. I want to see progress. Like fighting for 3rd..

The first hurdle is getting in some players that improve us.

I also think it’s ridiculously personal to say that Arteta is completely responsible for the choke at the end. He is partly responsible, of course. I just felt that it was largely down to an immature, very young team…. failing under pressure.

But of course to some, it’s that Arteta is basically the anti-Christ and root of all evil in the world.

Zacharse

why am i not included in the arteta cult? did you just get here old & wise? i’m deeply hurt.
you should change your name to ‘new and insecure’

The Real Vieira Lynn

Old & Wise taking all the thumb-suckers to the toolshed….now that’s some sweet chin music above all else, this off-season’s TW, unlike last year’s, should be all about quality not quantity…so I have no problem whatsoever if we kept AMN, Nuno, Reiss and Lokonga for proper cover, if we secured Nkunku and a Striker the likes of Oshimen, or a Scamacca, who’s lower price-point would allow us to secure the positionally versatile Jesus too….with the players we have on the block and the wages lost through contractual attrition and stupidity, we could easily raise 80 to 85M of the 160M… Read more »

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