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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Pepe has been mismanaged and under-utilised.
I actually feel for the guy.
That’s Arteta’s way though.
Habesha Said it yesterday its pretty clear we will / need to be bringing in two attacking options in this window, with Laca, PEA and likely Pepe out. A center forward option and goal scoring threat from the wide areas. Not lost on most here how poorly that looks in terms of recruitment planning to have to do in single window. Big ask to find necessary quality in the areas thats most in demand with inflated price tags only rising. Eddie finding form and getting new deal has eased the burden but only slightly if were honest. I like Jeuss… Read more »
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2022/06/09/nunez-liverpool-jesus-chelsea-romano-transfer-exclusive/?fbclid=IwAR3Nzss7aYztLTY_c1H3iS5JmdNdl6Qn88UZUuOETVfuuRptLdhspsHUQNY
Here you go Valentin, up to 5 clubs interested in Gabriel Jesus for Fabrizio Romano. You may think no one would pay €55 mil ( £47 mil) for Jesus. But there is a shortage of strikers and teams will pay for a PL ready striker who is coming in to his prime like Jesus.
There isn’t a striker shortage just alot strikers that won’t come to Arsenal.
Sal If Jesus is signing, he won’t come in as a wide player. He will come in as our No 9. We can sign a good wide player along with that. I am not sure what people’s expectations are but I don’t think we will get a 30 goals a season in all competitions striker anywhere in Europe right now. Those are Kane, Lewa, Salah, Benzema from the old generation and Haaland, Mbappe and Vlahovic from the younger ones. The best we can hope for is a striker that can get 20 to 25 goals at their best and that… Read more »
Valentin
I would suspect that very few, if any, teams would be chomping at the bit to acquire Jesus at City’s supposed present valuation of 50+M, especially considering the his goal-scoring CV…I think that any interest is directly correlated to the underlying belief, rightly or wrongly, that City will be willing to sell him at a cut-rate number because of their purchases thus far and his present contractual situation…if City were to unequivocally state that this player isn’t on the market for anything less than 50M, that list would likely be reduced to one potential suitor, us
Samesong
I like what you did there
The Real Vierra Lynn
“was akin to someone, without provocation, going to the police station and asking to be part of a police lineup”
That had me quaking with belly laughter
Arsenal and the fanbase have a penchant for buying players who has performed admirably or excelled at specific roles in the previous club and then place undue expectations on them to generalize those performances. We buy specialist and then we want them to be generalists. Partey is a case study. He was very good at a somewhat restricted roile at Atletico, we bought him and then expect him to run the midfield, when he was never celebrated for controlling games. He’s no Cazorla, David Silva or Gundogan. We seem to be making the same assumptions that Jesus will step up… Read more »
Cheers Diss, I was actually quite pleased that little man Z required a translator at the kid’s table, as it afforded me the luxury of adding a little color to my earlier commentary
We need to get specialist players for specialist roles at the club.
We seem to buy them then start fiddling about to figure out what they can do.
We need an all out attacker, not a pressing machine that sometimes scores goals [Jesus]. Jesus seems to be the type of attacker that will score most of his goals in clusters that will be followed by long barren periods.
If we had lots of attacking minded midfielders with goal scoring instincts, then by all means buy Jesus.
Habesha
“I am not sure what people’s expectations are but I don’t think we will get a 30 goals a season in all competitions striker anywhere in Europe right now. Those are Kane, Lewa, Salah, Benzema from the old generation and Haaland, Mbappe and Vlahovic from the younger ones.”
But that’s exactly what we need
Even if that striker will come from a lesser league and has lots of room to improve. We are targeting an efficient presserthat scores as by product, very similar to Eddie. I hope we aren’t repeating the same mistakes we made with Laca and Auba.
Dissenter
Okay I am fine with not signing Jesus as long as you provide a very good alternative. Who then? I would even let you pick anyone below the € 80 mil euros pool are paying for Nunez. Puck any striker that we can target who is better than Jesus and I will listen. Just saying we shouldn’t sign Jesus isn’t a discussion. Point out some players.
You can’t help but feel that the club are going to struggle in this window. Having CL on offer remains a factual enticement to any player of real value. The selling job for Edu and Arteta is immeasurably more difficult with EL as the bait of deciding factors.
The above is not meant to diminish either Edu or Arteta but rather point out the obvious detractor of not having an ace in your deck for negotiations. My expectations are guarded if I’m being honest.
We seem to be making the same assumptions that Jesus will step up to lead a top-4 premier league attack, when he didn’t do well in that role at City.
For all the hype about Jesus I am expecting him if he comes to Arsenal to hit the ground running.
The only player I don’t know much about that has scored 20 plus league goals is Martin Terrier. I have heard good things and he looks an okay player in YouTube (I haven’t watched him play).
And Patrick Schick is also unattainable for 50 mil. And he isn’t better than Jesus at anything else besides scoring. And he will struggle in the PL.
Moussa Dembele isn’t that great either.
The rest haven’t broken 20 league goals in poorer leagues. There aren’t a lot of options.
And Patrick Schick is also unattainable for 50 mil. And he isn’t better than Jesus at anything else besides scoring.
Isn’t that exactly what we need though? Someone that puts the ball in the net.
Habesha
I like Jesus as an addition that can play everywhere in the front line but not as specialist striker
I think we should take a chance on the Red Bull franchise players like Brian Brobbey or Karim Adeyemi. There’s Cucho Hernández at Watford who’s looked promising.
We are never going to get a top striker at their peak/break-out point because there are better suitors than Arsenal. We have to take a chance on a striker that’s just about to burst out, not that I trust Arteta to not satiffle their talent like he did for Eddie.
*stifle their talent like he did for Eddie.
If AC Milan can spot Rafael Leão from Lille, why can’t we look for an enterprising 20 year old with bags of pace and technique?
Those Red Bull Salzburg and Leipzig strikers are worthy of a look-in
Same song Timo Werner was a real goalscorer in the Bundesliga. And he had more to his game than Schick. Schick is a good goalscorer because he is playing in the Bundesliga. He would really flop in the PL. He is 26 and his best seasons have been the past two seasons. I genuinely don’t believe he would do better than Jesus if he came to Arsenal. He would find it tough to score any of the goals he scores against PL defenders. Watch him on YouTube and tell me if he you think he is a top player. And… Read more »
Ernest
lowered expectations is a way of life for the typical Arsenal fan ever since we moved to the Emirates, which is probably why the Blinders crew has seemingly maintained it’s membership numbers even after our former Professor left the building…I get it though, in that if I was a path of least resistance supporter I can see why you might find it infinitely easier to simply acquiesce to whatever was on offer at any given time…unfortunately, considering our Groundhog Day existence, that abject level of complacency doesn’t jive with those of us with a fully formed spine
Dissenter
Adeyemi has gone to Dortmund (I would have loved him though) But Dortmund are a pull for young players to make a step up like Sancho, Haaland and Bellingham.
Cucho Hernandez is a winger. Broberry couldn’t hack it in Germany and he is going back to Ajax. So all you have suggested is a transferred player, a winger and to gamble on a player who couldn’t hack it in Germany. That is why I wanted opinions.
He would really flop in the PL
Werner is not a natural finisher. Scick is. There is no evidence to suggest he would fail in the PL
With the right service he would score a bag of goals. Reminds me of a pacier Giroud.
Same song
Fair enough. You have suggested an option at least. Even though I think he would flop in the PL, how much would Schick cost?
And Schick just signed a new contract
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/patrik-schick-extends-bayer-leverkusen-contract-through-to-2027-20100
Habesha
Some options here.
https://www.footballcritic.com/top-players/attackers
And Schick just signed a new contract
Oh well dream over!
Same song
I just don’t want a list. I want options that you think are better than Jesus. For example you thought Schick is a better signing than jesus. The whole argument is can we do better than Jesus at € 55 mil euros. That is the whole point. Name players that are better than Jesus that we can sign.
Raul got some right and some wrong but Noone could accuse him of inactions unlike Gazidis/Wenger. And when he bought Pepe, the 2 hottest properties in the transfer market were Pepe and Havertz. It was impossible for most of us to believe we could pull it off. Ironically I think Pepe and Havertz careers should have followed the same trajectory. Havertz was bought ht as a playmaker but after some weeks Chelsea realized he was more a goal threat than a creator and promptly moved him closer to the opposition’s goal. We sawafter a few weeks that Pepe wasn’t the… Read more »
Habesha, I do not believe that there is currently value in the £40-£70 millions bracket for striker. Most are good decent strikers, but not game changers. At that price point, you want somebody who would guarantee 25 goals per season with 15 goals in the league. In his best season, Gabriel Jesus reached 14 goals in the league in a side that scored goals for fun. Gabriel Jesus may have been offered to Chelsea because everybody knows they a striker to replace Lukalu and that the new owner will want to make a marquee signing. That does not mean that… Read more »
RP7 FFS, I am not defending Arteta. “””” 2. You want us, ordinary fans, to find a better prospect than Jesus? Why? We have a generational coach and we must have actual professionals scouring the world for someone like, say, Vlahovic before this season, who will explode in the following months under Mikel’s generational coaching.””” Why even discuss transfers if we can’t have opinions on the abilities of players? “I don’t want such player but the team should find someone out of their ass” is such a childish view. “Just find the next exploding talent that is going to be… Read more »
Valentin
Okay fair enough. I am not going to argue the “Jesus can be a good signing” point any more.
But which are these strikers in the 20 to 35 mil range that can improve us? And are they better than Eddie?
Habesha I’m still a big fan of Mattheus Cunha. He has barely gotten a chance at Atleti all season with Simeone preferring pensioner Suarez but has `10 G/A contributions in about 11-12 matches worth of minutes so he has been far from a flop. He’s a cracking player and imo has the ability to play leading the line. Obviously a gamble given he does not have a track record as a ST but he has just turned 23. TH14 was converted into a ST at 22/23. Same goes for Gouri who is 22. These for me are preferable alternatives to… Read more »
WengerEagle I like Cunha. Atleti under Simeone isn’t a place for that kind of player to thrive. Could be a good punt. But he would cost at least 30 to 40 mil. Gouiri is very good. But I would be surprised if they didn’t ask at least 50 mil for their prized possession. But both these players are a huge risk when we are trying to get back in to the CL. Jesus isn’t a risk for me. He would probably score 20 goals in all competitions and make our forwards play better too. There is upsides to those players… Read more »
Aguero struggled in the striker role with Pep??? 82 PL Goals in 125 PL Games under Pep, would love a striker that struggled like that. It’s two goals in every three games. Gabriel Jesus’ PL figures per season (Games/Goals) 10/7 29/13 29/7 34/14 29/9 28/8 So that’s around 1 in every 2.74 games overall and about 1 in 3 games over the last three seasons. Forget cup & European goals if we want CL football it’s the PL that counts unless he’s going to win us the Europa League. And let’s be honest, what kind of argument is it to… Read more »
If we really can’t find a top draw striker then I would prefer to go with Eddie and a prospect that has a different style as an alternative or even as a partner with two up front. As others have said, I can’t see the point of having more of the same on the bench when ‘Plan A’ isn’t working. Also worth pointing out that if we have a decent coach he should make them better. Just buying the best players makes you a check book manager, not a good coach.
People don’t rate Toney but I think he can offer something different to Eddie.
here’s the dilemma with the whole “find me a better Striker for the same price as Jesus” narrative, it’s a rather ridiculous endeavor, as it speaks to the inherent problems of allowing a particular monetary amount to be the deciding factor when it comes to footballing decisions…just think of how much time, energy and money has been lost along the way when we’ve allowed non-footballing variables to guide our recruitment process fact remains, if you don’t possess a world-class scouting/recruitment team, the chances of you unearthing a whole host of gems, like a Dortmund, before their market values take a… Read more »
‘ EFL clubs could be allowed to wear their away kit at home next season under a rule change designed to help colour blind players and supporters who might not be able to distinguish between kits’ Wow nice. Finally. As someone who is colour blind myself o can’t tell you how much I appreciate that and how much of a difference it could make – especially to the actual players For perspective, when I am playing, my colourblindness can cost me up to 1 second of time to process who is on my team unless kits are extremely different because… Read more »
Find my a better striker for the same price or less as Jesus? Sadio Mane!
Btw how did Moller do last season? Anyone track him closely?
35m and 160k for Jesus is the max I would offer (I actually wouldn’t try and buy him at all, but if we are) City would accept that sooner or later. There are no other clubs in for him and they don’t want him and he’s leaving on a free if they don’t. As for the player that’s a 60% salary increase and nothing higher is on the table. Even if he leaves on a free next summer, only an English team could pay him more but now will take him. Only arsenal can be in a one horse race… Read more »
Habesha Agree I think Jesus primary role would be thru middle but his versatility enables him to play across front three if needed. Market will dictate whom were able to get, for me this window really has the vibe of year we went in for Suarez, then Higuain and came out with Ozil. Think landing Jesus going to be trickier than we think. With a few clubs playing in the elite Euro competition waiting to pounce. That said convinced we’re bringing two player in for the front three with Pepe out, lets hope we get it right. Some really good… Read more »
TRVL Not so much a money issue as it is a desirable destination one imo. No matter how much Pedro and others try to sell ‘we have the best project in all of Europe’ guff, a top class player in his prime like Gnabry or Jesus even is going to take a look at us and see that we have no CL football to offer as well as having our work cut-out to even qualify next season with United and Spurs both likely to improve. The fact is that we are behind at least half a dozen clubs if not… Read more »
Sal
Where do you think that Pepe lands?
My prediction is back to Lille for £15m max. They will have officially pulled off the heist of the century there getting him back aged 27 and coming into his prime years.
Eagle
My moneys on Monaco, Sevilla or Nice with his former boss. Financially it will not be a pretty end as you’ve alluded to, £15m on his lofty wage would be good all things considered.
Reality total car crash on and off paper.
Eagle
Ideal window for you?
Thorough, “I won’t be surprised if Pepe starts banging them in once he gets a better coach. Pepe around the opponents box is something that scared the opponents. Pepe at the corner flag or in the midfield is a total liability. We fucked this up.” Yes, anytime Pepe came more inside on either the left or right, he looked his best. Defenders were scared when he was running at them in the box, they couldn’t handle him. We should have found a way to get much more out of him. One disagreement.. he had a great coach in Emery who… Read more »
WE although I somewhat agree with your destination argument, I would suggest that we’ve been notoriously poor when it comes to the art of the negotiation…whether through the submitting of an insulting bid or by trying to secure ridiculously arduous payment terms, our club never seems to be able to properly read the room…I strongly believe that if we went to the table with a “reasonable” offer, especially considering the wages on offer here, it would be difficult for any team and/or player in question to not have their respective heads turned…instead we try to play hardball, which clearly isn’t… Read more »
Sal Top priority has to be a starting ST, a new starting CM to partner TP and a LF. We also could use a reliable LB cover for Tierney which Tavares is not and another CM and get rid of Xhaka. So 3 players minimum we need, ideally 5. As an example: ST- Jesus/Scamacca/Abraham/De Tomas LF- Gouri/Cunha/Brandt/Moussa Diaby/Guedes CM- x2 of Bissouma/Tielemans/Aouar/Sangare/Anguissa (still gettable imo, Napoli only paid €15m for him) LB- Hickey/Antonee Robinson/*Cucurella (Beyond our affordability and too good to be back up to Tierney), was impressed by that fella Raum for Germany vs England. He had 11 assists… Read more »
TRVL Derisory bids was more of a symptom of the later Wenger era, I actually believe that we have the opposite problem of late and that we are too willing to overpay for players. We have outspent Liverpool since Klopp’s arrival for context. You are correct though in that things are never as bleak as they appear and we are still an extremely attractive destination in Europe for talent even if we are behind 7-10 clubs in the pecking order. That still gives us a massive leg up on the rest of the clubs in Europe outside of that top… Read more »
Ideal i’m going big: Lautaro M, Gnabry, Zinchenko, Neves. Alternatives: Jesus, Tammy, Leão, Diaby, Richarlson, Aouar, Bissouma, Tielemans, Jose Gaya I adore. Id be lying if I wasn’t thinking would it not be nice if Gundogan decided he wanted to play alongside Partey in the Red n White in the big ones. This will never happen and thats OK. So I’ve come full circle on Neves, from absolutely wanting in 2018 to thinking he’s lacks mobility to now realising he’s perfect for what we need considering Partey fitness issues. Bring Saliba back and loan the madness that is Tavares out… Read more »
Great list by the way… agree with much. Our boy Aouar needs a look in.
Sal ”Ideal i’m going big: Lautaro M, Gnabry, Zinchenko, Neves.” Should only set us back £200m odd! 😀 Sadly the cat is out of the bag with Leao who has already exploded and will be on the radar of the really top elite clubs. He is absolutely tailor-made for the PL given his characteristics so I’d be amazed if one of Chelsea, Pool, etc did not go in hard for him. I’d have him as my no.1 LF target after Gnabry who I also believe is ungettable. Not as big on Neves myself and yes he’s too one-paced for my… Read more »
A midfield trio of Partey-Bissouma-Aouar would be fantastic.
WE “Should only set us back £200m odd! 😀” It’s June 9 on heals of collapsing in the top four to Spurs, a man needs fantasy. Agree on that mid field trio, could be done for cost of Neves which then makes it the no brainer. Doubt well dip in for Bissouma with his recent issues though which is a shame considering veracity of it all. Gnabry everyone says wont happen, but on a deeper dive if a few things go against him he won’t have many options. Tony Soprano says Home is Home. Lautaro my number one, get the… Read more »
habesha
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gabriel-jesus-man-city-winger-21876848
The Real Vieira LynnJune 9, 2022 20:52:36 ZacharseI’m not surprised whatsoever that my comments went over your head, as based on your “contributions” this seems to be a fairly regular occurrence…not sure if you could even comprehend the dumbed down Coles notes version, but here goes…your unsolicited response to Old & New’s post, saying that you were upset that you weren’t included in what was a justifiable admonishment of several posters, was akin to someone, without provocation, going to the police station and asking to be part of a police lineup, which, at best, would be stupid, and, at worst,… Read more »
sal
add some fullbacks to that dream list!
Zach
Pretty sure Zinchenko or Gaya would suffice. The latter likely put Tierney in the transfer window which won’t go down well with some here.
Zinchenko would be such a boss signing as he could literally play alongside Partey, when Tierney shits the bed for a months or two slot in there.
Zach
very savvy of you to repost my entire statement as it will invariably take considerable attention away from your terribly sad and totally uninventive response…maybe there’s a glimmer of hope for you yet (lol)
Zacharse,
Good article about Jesus. I’ve been saying that I heard he’s not wedded to playing CF. This is why he and a bigger striker can come, especially if Pepe goes. He’d be versatile and improve us. I’d like to see him at false 9 against some tough opponents too.
sal ya gaya is a wing/fullback huh. SIGN HIM. agreed about zinchenko.
Anyway we can get Bernardo silva? I knoe the barca rumors are there but what a quality player. He would transform the midfield. I’d be ready to spunk 60m for him. Pepe money on a player that could be our next Cazorla
WE I think you might of misunderstood what I was inferring…obviously I believe that we paid above the number for Pepe, Ramsdale and White, but none of these players fit the profile for “overpayment”, according to the criteria I was suggesting, minus the fact that the latter two both play in positions which have recently seen an uptick in the open market now if these players were centerpiece figures, like a VVD or a Donnarumma, who both ticked all the boxes when they moved to Pool and PSG respectively, then paying a premium would fit the hybrid script,…whereas we paid… Read more »
Vera “although I somewhat agree with your destination argument, I would suggest that we’ve been notoriously poor when it comes to the art of the negotiation…whether through the submitting of an insulting bid or by trying to secure ridiculously arduous payment terms, our club never seems to be able to properly read the room…I strongly believe that if we went to the table with a “reasonable” offer, especially considering the wages on offer here, it would be difficult for any team and/or player in question to not have their respective heads turned…instead we try to play hardball, which clearly isn’t… Read more »
Vera it’s a football blog where we fans come together to share opinions not try and tell others they are stupid or to be obnoxious I doubt you act like this in public, why do you have to act in such a sardonic way on here ? I actually like the differences of opinions on here btw I would just prefer a little more harmony sometimes 😁
How can Arsenal not have a top negotiator in its team ? How do I apply 😂
China
City would accept that sooner or later. There are no other clubs in for him and they don’t want him and he’s leaving on a free if they don’t. As for the player that’s a 60% salary increase and nothing higher is on the table. Even if he leaves on a free next summer, only an English team could pay him more but now will take him.
Think you may have missed that Chelsea seem to be going hard in on Sterling
We already have potentially a top ( maybe elite) striker in Eddie , so it wouldn’t bother me if we didn’t bring in another striker as all that will do is restrict the opportunities for Eddie , which would be foolhardy considering his performances last season. I get that a large percentage on le grove fans never rated him and are finding it difficult to believe that a player they have written off for the past 2 years can actually lead the line , but we will find it very difficult to find a striker who is better than Eddie… Read more »
If you watch the link you will see that Eddie created 3 clear cut chances for Odegaard , all squandered ..pity Odegaard didn’t create similar chances for Eddie
We already have potentially a top ( maybe elite) striker in Eddie , so it wouldn’t bother me if we didn’t bring in another striker
Good points Pierre yes correct in alot of ways. However football is about squad rotation and Eddie at some point maybe will get burned out or injured, or even if he’s our number 1 to relaxed knowing that there is no pressure on him as he is the only striker for us to rely on. I said before I would bring in someone like a Toney who offers something different also.
Zacharse Players always say they want to play a certain position. Gabriel Jesus isn’t coming to Arsenal to play as a backup to Saka or Martinelli. If he is coming in as a winger, I don’t want him to be honest. There are far better wingers. I think he can be a dependable striker for us. Not elite but good. Give him game time and I can see him scoring at least 20 goals a season in all competitions. I am tired of defending this point though. Ideal window if we can fit it in with consideration for our budget… Read more »
Sinesstra from Feyenoord *
did i miss something? what point are you ‘defending’? if jesus comes i’ll be unimpressed. i think there are more inspired transfers to be had….my point is that he’s not the type of CF we should be aiming at, he’s a play across the front 3 in a 433 type player who wound up in the middle for pep. he’s a top player but he’s not what would transform our side where someone like abraham, who most definitely isnt coming, i believe would. btw good shout on d luiz. talk of him coming to us was pretty loud a few… Read more »
..pity Odegaard didn’t create similar chances for Eddie
Pierre
From the top of my head I can remember Eddie missing a one on one chance against Man United. He shot it straight at De Gea.
This is very stupid to pick out three moments as something to prove your point.
Zacharse Okay. I understand you want a different profile of striker. A big bully to be exact. But these types of players don’t have a transformative scoring records either. Tammy Abraham, in his best ever season in Serie A , scored 17 league goals. 23 over all and half of the 6 goals he scored came in the conference league. Scamacca hit 16 goals, David hit 15 goals and Toney hit 12 goals playing as a striker all season. Those are the big bully type of strikers and none of them hit more than 17 in poorer leagues. I genuinely… Read more »
If Martinelli is the player that many think he is , then surely he ( and Balogun ) can be the reserve striker
Pierre,
You’re missing the fact that Arteta has shown firmly that he will not play Martinelli in the #9 position. Can’t be the reserve striker if he’s not considered a striker by the manager.
Great article on the Athletic that explain the importance of proper metrics in football and how they can help identify really decisive player. Irrespective of the formation in which they play, central midfielders need to be able to make line breaking passes without resorting hollywood passes that never come up. Players who instinctively choose the right option when presented with a set of passes with different risk/rewards are worth their weight in gold. https://theathletic.com/3355520/2022/06/10/stats-perform-football-analytics?source=user-shared-article It show exactly why Xhaka who always choose the safe option especially when under pressure is not the right player for a team with Champion’s League… Read more »
I know Jesus has a lot of experience for a 25 year old striker but honestly for me he doesn’t offer anything that Eddie can’t. There’s no point in having two strikers who are very very similar.
Looking like Tielesman and Jesus for circa £70 million will be this seasons summer signings.
Very similar feel to the Ramsdale and White uninspiried signings of last summer.
£150 million for x 4′ decent’ /”above average’ premier league players but hardly needle movers and players the CL clubs have ignored.
(Sort ot players , Spurs / West Ham used to buy,.)
Although , the young Brazillian winger, seems an imaginative purchase at a sensible fee.
Not sure if many are still watching the Nketiah contract situation because here we are just 20 days before his contract expires and still no official announcement re his new deal indeed you just have to wonder what the hold up is ? If the suggestion of £100k a week is close to being correct I think most will agree that if probably more than he is worth so what could be the problem? I know some are banging big drums but sorry I just don’t see it . Ok he had a good three or four games at seasons… Read more »
We are in a precarious position though in my opinion. Jesus and Eddie are not dissimilar but we can’t go into the season with Eddie as our option up top solely. Balogun is likely to get more games but would possibly benefit from another option so we will definitely need another capable striker of some sort.
Can’t help but feel underwhelmed with the transfer links, but I do recognise our standing in the game in June 2022 and players would have to be willing to come and play drab football under Arteta.
*benefit from another loan.
Pedro’s point is reasonable that the small % outcome on the random generator to have us play no teams after Europe might have been a contributing factor to our 5th place finish. However, as a poker player, I can tell you that 3l4% outcomes happen all the time and I think it’s wrong to cast doubt on the integrity of the company without clear proof of malfeasance. Not saying Pedro is stating thatb ut I would put it down to raw bad luck over anything else unless evidence of badintentions was uncovered..
*3.4%
Terraloon “I know some are banging big drums but sorry I just don’t see it . Ok he had a good three or four games at seasons end but do any really see that he is proven enough for Arteta to accept his starting place is close to being guaranteed? ” Actually he scored 10 goals in 12 starts , and you “don’t see it” because you refuse to believe what you see with your own eyes. All the Eddie doubters repeatedly said that Eddie couldn’t do it in the prem, if his performances away to west ham and chelsea,… Read more »
The issue for all of us is that we don’t know what is going on. Sure there’s plenty of media clickbait. I’ve mentioned before all the hype last summer about Maddison. Then after the window closed, Brenda quietly explained Arsenal never bid for him and there was never any negotiation for him. It was all media bollocks. We can expect the same this year. But if some of the media speculation has any basis in reality, I’m concerned because the names being dropped do not strike me as fitting in with a particular style of play, where they can be… Read more »
What’s happened to le grove’s faith in Martinelli , he is the “talent of the century” according to klopp, and yet le groaners refuse to believe he has the quality to play up top , a position that he scored a number of goals ( in cup comps) when he was used by Emery as a striker.
Let’s show some trust in our kids because the likes of Saka,Eddie, Smith rowe and Martinelli are our best players.
What is it with Arsenal and the lack of physical players. We need a bruiser up top not some pretty boy.
Players like Martinelli and Smith rowe get injured more often.
Toney is the man.
I don’t think Eddie is going to stay at Arsenal. Maybe wrong. But he would of signed da ting by now.
Tr7
I agree
Unless Jesus is being brought in to play left wing/forward
Eddie stays no doubts about it
Luis Campos now at PSG. For the complaint about Edu and the lack of serious football men in the club’s hierarchy I am surprised we didn’t try (based on rumours of course) for him. Arteta In or Arteta out, I am just concerned that if Arteta leaves today we will most likely start another process with another coach. Someone mentioned that dortmund (who we are copying their project youth, though badly with player sales) fire managers that don’t meet objective but still stay true to their approach. I feel we are building around Arteta and not for the club. Someone… Read more »
There is a fair amount of delusional thinking about our transfer targets. If Jesus signs for us it will be because other bigger clubs dont want him on the wages he is demanding not because he wants to come to Arsenal. We are in the second tier regarding transfers. Its my view that our signings may be a bit last minute as players hold out for better clubs and more money. If they dont come through then they will consider us.
Un
“contract offered, ongoing discussions” means there are doubts about it. There are no doubts when ink is on paper.
Anyone else think our incomings will be towards the end of transfer window so that Arteta can say he didn’t get a pre-season with new player(s)?
There was much talk in recent months about Arsenal have 5 or 6 clearly identified targets, that fit a specific profile of player. People justified the refusal to sign anyone in January on that stated position. Since then if feels like there has been an ongoing effort to reduce those expectations. If Arsenal had their targets decided, why have they not gone hard for them and done what is needed to bring them in? It almost feels like there is second guessing and distraction going on behind the scenes. If the diligence had been done to identify those targets we… Read more »