PROPER LEFT-BACK ON THE AGENDA

by .

Listen, who tf is Lisandro Martinez anyway?

Too small.

Too ‘fancy dan’ on the ball.

HAS HE BEEN TO STOKE?

Not built for the Premier League.

Probably has a bad attitude because he’s 5ft9.

I didn’t want him anyway.

What I do want is a proper left-back.

Someone with the fighting spirit of a Ukrainian.

A player with high levels of technical ability.

An actual left-back that can maybe play LCM.

Someone that has won trophies.

A player that is mid-twenties that maybe feels aggrieved he landed similar amounts of minutes and Bob Holding.

I want someone that has tutored under a coach like Pep Guardiola.

Well people, my dreams MIGHT be coming true, because David Ornstein said we’re moving on Oleksandr Zinchenko for about £40m.

Now, jokes aside on Lisandro Martinez… he’s a top-tier talent with a high ceiling, but he’s coming from a slow league, and he’ll need a period of adaptation. The ceiling looks through the roof, but he’s not there yet. The money looks outrageous as well, £55m is the sort of cash only United would spend on a 5ft9 centre back.

I’m going to be real with you, Zinchenko is the player my head said from the start because we know what he can do. Arsenal needs to hit the ground running next season. Having a player that we know can get into the mixer off very few minutes is where we need to be.

You can spend your luxury car money on an Alfa Romeo or you can spend it on a BMW. One is a concept of greatness, the other just does what it says on the tin. Zinchenko is a BMW of a left-back. You know what you’re getting and it’s fucking great.

If this deal goes through I’ll feel a whole lot better about where the season is heading. Kieran Tierney is a top left back, but when he exits the side, we feel it and have done for 3 seasons. There won’t be that panic now. Maybe the Scot will think twice about risking his body in friendlies. Maybe the competition will help him raise his game to new heights. Whatever happens, we’ve added more robustness, additional flex to our defence and midfield, and we’ve upped the characters and winnertivity of the squad again.

This would represent some of the smartest business of the window.

I know this will pain some people, but signing an assistant from Manchester City seems to be working out for our summer so far, wouldn’t you say?

There are just two positions that need remedying after the left back, that’ll be a central midfielder in the shape of an 8, and a winger that can add goals to the frontline.

The central midfielder looks like it’ll be Tielemans or Paqueta. This kind of looks like a similar situation to the left back. Do you go with a player with a high ceiling in Paqueta? Or do you put your money on a tried and true Premier League with an international pedigree? I’m leaning into having players that can hit the ground running. But look, this is like choosing between ribeye or New York strip at Hawksmoor… you’re getting something special however you sway. Maybe you’re a fat bastard and you order both? Who knows. The Hawksmoor in New York is spectacular by the way, you should go if you get the chance.

There’s not a lot of noise with regards to the wide player. Raphinha moved to Barcelona, Sterling moved to Chelsea, the Bosnian rumour doesn’t seem to hold much weight.

I’m gonna throw it out there… Wilfried Zaha would be a very good signing for Arsenal. He’ll have a chip on his shoulder because that’s just who he is as a player, he has outrageous aggression, he always scores goals, he’s extremely direct, and he is a nightmare for defenders. The player has 1 yr left on his deal, we lack experience, he could bring that to the club.

Right, short post today, podcast with Matt and Johnny later. Hopefully some GOOD things happening in my life over the next 48 hrs. x

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Dissenter

It striking that we are overpaying for these good players from city in expectation that they will play roles that are different from what they did at city.
Zinchenko didn’t excel as a midfielder at city so why expect him to buck that trend.
Hope we aren’t buying square pegs for round holes.

Whatever happened to paying big money for specialists. We are doing the Swiss Army knife approach , way too much

raptora

Dissenter,
He’s either getting paid more or they promised to secure him a good loan this season already. How the fuck did we let him go is what bothers me. Talented wingers are so worth the investment. Reiss would have brought us 10-15m if we wanted to sell him when his value was at his peak. That’s the base for what Omari could have brought us… Sad..

Dissenter

Good for Omari Hutchinson. We tend to massively overrate these academy players anyway, How many of them have come good.

Besides Eddie did the same to Chelsea to move to Arsenal, stuff happens.
it’s like a teeeny weeny blip on the radar of nothingness.

Dissenter

I don’t even think the club rated Omar Hutchinson as highly as the fans watching from a distance Had they thought he was that good, they wouldn’t be buying Marquinous Arteta could have helped the situation better though Taking only one academy player on a traveling party of 33 to the states is a very POOR decision. We took too many players who aren’t part of the future and neglected to give hope to the academy kids. That’s not elite management. Why are likes of Runnarson and Bellerin going out on tour when everyone knows the won’t be here next… Read more »

Mr Serge

Why would a youth player leave us for Chelsea much more likely to get game time with us
Omari can do one

Un

Shane about Hutchinson. Quality little player. The sad thing is that he would have had his chance here.
Arteta has shown that he’s happy to play the young lads and give them a go and with Europa and league cup games coming up he would have got game time for sure as a senior with European experience.

Un

Omari will be looking at Saka in the right and thinking he’s not going to usurp him but both can play centrally and on either wing
I don’t see how he will think he’s going to get better playing time at Chelsea with the amount of attacking players they have in wide positions

Wicked Willy

Gutted about Omari, but we’ve got Patino, Flores, BNC and Azeez to bring through. Let’s try and help two of those become first team stars. May anyone in blue rot into obscurity

Habesha Gooner

I actually think it is a debate between Flores, Patino and Omari H. for the best youth player right now. I guess I can understand selling him if he won’t sign a new contract. But we should be able to keep this players on decent wages and sell them later at a better price if they don’t make it. From Omari’s perspective though, it makes Zero sense to move to Chelsea if it was about playing time. They only have a few academy players that made it to their line up. Mount, Reece James and Chalobah are the ones who… Read more »

Matt

I don’t quote understand the excitement about Zinchenko. I’m not saying it’s a bad signing, but the guy must have played no more than a handful of games last season. What are people seeing that is getting them so hyped up?

Goobergooner

Haha 5 goalkeepers for the US tour is pretty funny. And like a lot of others have said, taking players that have no future and not taking enough of the young guns

It’s like they think their value will increase or something from those games

Freddie Ljungberg

Can’t really blame Omari if he thinks he’s not going to get playing time for us. Arteta is terrible in playing youth players. Saka was already established when he arrived and one of our best players even then, Martinelli got his big break under Emery and then Arteta benched him for a long time for no apparent reason, ESR only got his chance because Willian got Covid, Saliba got sent out on loan for 2 seasons without getting a minute for us. Only youth player that got a look in last season was Patino and that was just as a… Read more »

Habesha Gooner

Matt You haven’t seen enough of Zinchenko it seems. He has played a significant role in some of City’s wins. He isn’t the most defensively sound fullback but he is technically gifted and he affects games from LB. Even their final day win against Villa that gave them the title was due to him affecting the game from LB. He is exciting because our season won’t break down again if Tierney is injured. https://fbref.com/en/players/51cf8561/scout/365_euro/Oleksandr-Zinchenko-Scouting-Report https://www.whoscored.com/Players/273257/Show/Oleksandr-Zinchenko These stats are amazing for a fullback. Especially the passing numbers. He is in the 99th percentile in Assists too. And he can play in… Read more »

benkind

Pierre “… I’m hoping Arteta will pick players on merit, meaning if certain players are not delivering , whether it’s in goal, central defence, centre mid, creatively or up top, they will not be guaranteed starters just be… ” Pierre you are an hopeful man. Covid and injuries always force Arteta’s hand. I really hope he realises with 5 subs you don’t have to keep playing your favourites always. Not surprised on the youth players. Arteta is still yet to blood one academy player even though 2/3 were on the bench in the later end of last season. The earlier… Read more »

Terraloon

Rap Chavs fked up with their super talent CHO and also the likes of Loftus-Cheek and Billy Gilmour. They have what – James and Mount when we have currently Saka, ESR, Marti and Saliba all young and the base of our team. Hard to argue that they are a better team at promoting young players. To other teams maybe, but not in their own. As I pointed out in the past my brother is a ST holder at Chelsea so I have long debates with him about many things Arsenal/ Chelsea. He claims that in their squad next year they… Read more »

benkind

Also, the thing with Chelsea is that their loan system is a very great one. They don’t need the player to play at Chelsea to make money on the player. For all our project youth, Chelsea have a very good youth players. In the last 10 years I would say they have developed or produced young players that are playing well or they have sold from their youth/loan system. Some where saying that Chelsea were done with Abramovich gone, yet with all that distraction they made 3rd and now have another mini sugar daddy in Bohely. I hope Arteta does… Read more »

Marko

Wouldn’t worry too much about Hutchinson we had similar worries when the likes of Mavididi and Amaechi left us. Who cares he wasn’t going to make it at Arsenal in it’s current form. I base this purely on Mikel favoriting number 10 ‘s and CAM’s instead of actual wingers.

Chrispy

Hutchinson to the Chavs is some truly fucked up shit. Fuck him. He’s now dead to me.

Un

Freddie LjungbergJuly 15, 2022 12:46:22
Can’t really blame Omari if he thinks he’s not going to get playing time for us. Arteta is terrible in playing youth players.

Erm Freddie
We literally have the youngest squad in the league 😂 😂
Didn’t think that one through my old matey

Marko

Also can we not just buy a LB and a CM instead of these pseudo players out of position? Like Zinchenko is good but he was a bit part player for City who only deputized at LB when one of Walker or Cancelo wasn’t playing and he rarely played CM for them so again I ask why not you know buy actual players who play in their natural position?

Un

I mean we’ve got Eddie Saka ESR Odegaard Lakonga vieira white Ramsdale Gabriel Tavares AMN tomi Jesus Marquinhos all 25 and under but Arteta is crap with young players 🙈

Terraloon

Chrispy Hutchinson to the Chavs is some truly fucked up shit. Fuck him. He’s now dead to me. My brother just sent me a text re this. Very interesting he suggested that Arsenals academy to first team pathway has stalled and amongst his mates they felt that when you drive down wage costs that means every level and elite youth players will know that a club cutting its wage bill will almost certainly try to get a youngster ,who is just about to sign their first senior contract, to commit for far less than a club that will be looking… Read more »

Marko

Don I don’t think you comprehended what was said properly. He said youth not young meaning players coming through the academy. Keep up son

Un

Crispy

That’s the spirit
If you join the chavs then you deserve no sympathy

Terraloon

Un
Freddie LjungbergJuly 15, 2022 12:46:22
Can’t really blame Omari if he thinks he’s not going to get playing time for us. Arteta is terrible in playing youth players.Erm Freddie
We literally have the youngest squad in the league 😂 😂
Didn’t think that one through my old

He isn’t talking about the age of the squad he is talking about given youth players game time

Un

Marko

Ok let’s narrow it down

Chelsea have how many youth products currently start for Chelsea?
Mount and James

How may start for arsenal?
ESR Nketiah and Saka

How may get game time for Chelsea?
Loftus cheek, Hudson Odoi

How many for arsenal?
AMN Nelson Patino Flo

Marko

Ok let’s narrow it down

Let’s not. Freddie’s point went over your head and now you’re trying to double down on something else. I don’t care

Un

Both arsenal and Chelsea lead the way for youth products in the premier league
If I were a young guy at arsenal I’d not want to be anywhere else in England for my development

TR7

Apparently fee for Zinchenko is approximately £27M plus add-ons amounting to £35M. £27M if true is a fair valuation of the player although I hope there’s scope for further reduction.

Adams

Goodluck to omari.

Un

Marko
Then shut your pie hole and sto trying to elevate chelsea above us when the figures prove both you and Freddie wrong

We give chances to more young players than any club in the league. #fact

Marko

sto trying to elevate chelsea above us when the figures prove both you and Freddie wrong

What are you doing right now you’re actually arguing with yourself… and somehow losing. Go back and read what Freddie said try to understand it this time and go about with your day

Un

Saka was already doing really well but it was Arteta who repurposed him as a right winge and dropped our lost expensive player (wrongly in my opinion btw)

Arteta turned ESR into a midfield who scored 11 premier league goals in half a season

Tets also took Eddie and gave him his change to turn him into what he is today
A £25-£30m striker (as things stand) who scored 10 goals in 13 starts

That’s 3 top quality starting youth team products
Nameme one other side in the league who has done better….. you can’t

Un

Few typos in there
My screen is buggered and I didn’t bother to edit my post
🤷🏻‍♂️
You’ll get the drift

Foxy

Would not be surprised to see ESR move on or at least be having his agent making enquiries of other Prem clubs.

For some reason Arteta does not seem to really rate ESR at least for the system he wants to play and could well play Viera and Martinelli ahead of him. I wonder if ESR stayed he could actually develop into a similar role that Tielmans plays in.

TR7

Honestly I don’t see the point in fretting over Omari. Even if he stayed at Arsenal I don’t think he would have got a look in anytime soon.

Un

Marko

I thought you wanted us to spend money on world class players anyway
You’ve been scathing on every other youth product who got a run of games anyway
Quite the 180 old chap

TR7

City letting go of Sterling, Jesus, Zinchenko and Bernardo

Ishola70

Un

There is no guarantee that Eddie N will be a first team starter now with the arrival of Jesus.

And as for Pepe there is obviously something wrong with this player. Most probably he is not showing the correct application expected and required in training and just generally. It’s no good showing application coming on as sub for 20 minutes or for sporadic periods in some matches. His general overall body language on the pitch many times is awful.

Un

Roxy

ESR was first choice until his injury issues in jan
Arteta kept trying him but he wasn’t up to th standard h was before Xmas and he needed legs to try n protect Tavares at lb so martinelli got his chance

Arteta did what he had to do otherwise ESR was clearly first choice
Most of you were moaning that martinelli wasn’t getting a look in and now it’s the other way around
Just “fans” looking for something to dig him out about by the looks of it

TheBayingMob

“I just can’t see us spending £40 million on a backup for Tierney and then spending another £40 million on midfielder, unless Granit is leaving or unless Tierney is being demoted to backup.” Tierney demotes himself to back up for approx. 40% of the season … what if he fancies another 180 mins for Scotland in dogshit friendlies, then he’s gone for another season? Another Wilshere, he’ll be retired by 30 unless a) he accepts a back up role where he doesn’t play as much, or b) move to Italy or Spain where the toll on the body is not… Read more »

Un

Ish
We have 3 youth products starting regularly as scoring goals under Arteta
Not one other side in the league can better what we are doing currently

Ishola70

ESR looked more dangerous offensive wise than Odegaard when playing CAM.

Why Arteta sees Odegaard as a better bet for attacking central midfield is his overall game compared to ESR and specifically range of passing.

This is why Xhaka is still around for his supposed range of passing.

Despite what some may say I still think ESR’s best position is CAM.

Terraloon

Un Ok let’s narrow it down Chelsea have how many youth products currently start for Chelsea? Mount and James How may start for arsenal? ESR Nketiah and Saka How may get game time for Chelsea? Loftus cheek, Hudson OdoiHow many for arsenal? AMN Nelson Patino Flo Sorry your getting a little bit confused here. Appearances from academy players in 21/22 includes sub appearances Arsenal: Chelsea’s Saka 43. Mount 52 ESR. 37. RLC. 39 Eddie 27. * James. 38 Christensen 34. * AMN. 10. Chalobah. 28 Patino 2. Vale. 5 Balogun 2. Simons 1 Nelson 1 Soon sup bell 1 Hall.… Read more »

Ishola70

Un

“We have 3 youth products starting regularly as scoring goals under Arteta”

Yes at the end of the season just gone.

There is no guarantee at all that Eddie N will continue to be a first team starter this coming season.

Un

Terra
Chelsea had european football
We didn’t
And let’s have a look at starts over appearances
I’ll eat my left bollock of Chelsea have more
But even if they don’t, who else in the league Eve compared to both sides?
Arteta clearly plays his youth products and clearly gives chances to young players all round
The argument is erroneous on all counts

Un

I just don’t get you lot
We have the youngest team in the league and have youth products flourishing al I’ve it yet you choose to ignore reality and cite chelsea as the reason you think Arteta doesn’t give youth a chance
Unbelievable bias on display here

Un

Ishola
Eddie will start at least 20 games for arsenal this coming season

raptora

I mean hard to argue vs Arteta not giving our youth enoough chances if any. It’s the guy who didn’t give a single minute to Saliba even in Europa League group phase vs the likes of Dundalk, Rapid Vienna and Molde in a 3 CB formation btw, and gave his time to Mustafi, Holding, Mari, Chambers, Xhaka as CB, Kolasinac as CB. I don’t want to start another Emery vs Arteta clownfest but Emery gave ESR, just turned 18, 3 starts in EL and probably more if he didn’t get injured. Smith Rowe scored 2 goals in 3 starts basically… Read more »

Ishola70

Un

“Eddie will start at least 20 games for arsenal this coming season”

He may well do but I was just responding to your earlier post where it stated first team starters.

I haven’t really got an argument with you regarding Chelsea as you seem to have with others.

raptora

I know that Saliba isn’t our youth player but it was just an example how Arteta decided against giving time to a young player that was desperate for their debut game.

We all know that Saliba would have registered a lot of minutes in Europa League that season if Emery was still the boss.

Terraloon

Un

Ish
We have 3 youth products starting regularly as scoring goals under Arteta
Not one other side in the league can better what we are doing currently

Think it’s a stretch to say Eddie is / was a regular starter but you are right that 3 academy players scored for Arsenal last season elsewhere in the “top 6”
Man Utd 4, Chelsea 6, Liverpool 4, City 2 Spurs 3

raptora

Don,
if the youth was thriving as you say then surely Arteta would have had our youth players mixing up with the seniors in the USA tour instead of just 1 single youth in Reuell Walters. Gottemm…

Marko

Don really missed Freddie’s original point and now he’s on a tangent about something else entirely. Surprising no one

raptora

If the didn’t travel to USA to give them hope that this is the season for their breakthrough surely it gives bad signals of what’s to follow. Ideally if any of them were trusted to make the next step they’d be on that plane.

Freddie Ljungberg

Un Completely missing the point as always. How many new youth players got minutes last season? How many minutes? The only other youth products we have were either already established before Arteta arrived, Saka and Martinelli, or only got a chance because of covid or the fact that Laca couldn’t score in a brothel wearing a suit made of hundies, ESR and Eddie. There has been 0 youth products breaking through under Arteta and that’s a concern, if we acyually have talented players in the youth set up that’s ready, not 100% sure that’s the case but they at least… Read more »

Fedda

Raptora,

Well Saliba wasn’t registered to play in Europa. So Arteta had no choice.
Saliba had a loan agreement which got pulled last minute from ?Lille?, and that was after the deadline for registration. You can blame Arsenal, but hardly Arteta for that.

karim

Do you go with a player with a high ceiling in Paqueta? Or do you put your money on a tried and true Premier League with an international pedigree ?

Paqueta does with an orange everything Tielemans does with a football.
Tielemans is a little slow while Paqueta is electric.
Tielemans has never done anything of note with a declining Belgian side while Paqueta has become very influential in a very promising Brazilian team.

I know which one I’d choose.

Distanced hairline

Omari Hutchinson is going, arteta is turning our club to machinery club, soon smith Rowe would be sold, I don’t like arteta fr, hes a rookie, he’s just trying to make the club buy finished products so he can win and be called a top coach. 0 skills at development of players

Mr Serge

I would have the brazzilan over tielmans

Mr Serge

Distanced hairlineJuly 15, 2022 14:25:07
Omari Hutchinson is going, arteta is turning our club to machinery club, soon smith Rowe would be sold, I don’t like arteta fr, hes a rookie, he’s just trying to make the club buy finished products so he can win and be called a top coach. 0 skills at development of players

Wow your finger is on the pulse lol

raptora

Fedda,
“I feel really bad for William Saliba,” Arteta said. “Because we had so many central defenders, we decided to leave him out of the squad which was really hurtful for me to do.

“I was hoping that Pablo would be back in two weeks but he had a setback and then we don’t have Pablo and we don’t have William when he’s fit and available to play.

“But when you make those decisions, you can’t always think about every possible outcome.”

There we go.

Marko

“But when you make those decisions, you can’t always think about every possible outcome.”

What a quote.

Ishola70

Karim

“Paqueta does with an orange everything Tielemans does with a football.”

Orange?

Well of course Arteta squeezes lemons but they are similar.

Arteta could squeeze more out of Tielemans perhaps.

Completely with you though regarding Paqueta over Tielemans if it’s a toss up between these two.

Terraloon

Un

start munching

These are starts , not sub appearances.

League. FA Cup. EFL Cup
Saka. 36. 1. 4
ESR. 21. 3
Eddie. 8. 1. 4
AMN. 2.
Balogun. 1. 1
Patino. 1. 1

Totals. 68. 3. 15

Chelsea

Christensen 17. 3. 1
Chalobah. 17
Mount. 27. 5. 3
James. 22. 3. 2
Loftus. 13. 2. 1
CHO. 11. 3. 3
Vale. 3. 2
Son Bell. 1
Simmons. 1
Baker. 1
Hall. 1

Totals 107. 18. 15

Mb

Un

I think it’s more about Arteta trusting an academy player. As someone pointed out, ESR got chance because of Covid, Martinelli and Saka were already playing for us. Guen was ostracized and Saliba wasn’t even registered.

There is a difference between buying 18 yr old in 10million and playing a 18 yr old academy player.

Omari probably felt he is not going to get chances, with Marquinhos and Vierra joining and Saka is already very hard to displace.

Farewell to Omari…and fuck him for joining Chelsea

Ishola70

Not really concerned about youth players coming through tbh. If they are obviously good enough then the manager whoever it is will have no option but to play them every week as with Saka. And if you have a better overall squad which Chelsea have had over Arsenal for many seasons then you have more scope to play the younger players with less risk of losing matches. Remember Arteta squeezed the optimum out of this team season just gone to go as close to 4th as he did. He told us. Yes those lemons again. Tuchel doesn’t have to squeeze… Read more »

karim

Lol Ishola

Always liked Zinchenko, hope we get him too.
Looks like we will.

Kegunner

Arteta needs to give youth players more game time. There matches where we are clearly losing. Sending in a youngster may not turn the result but it motivates the player. Losing out on Champions League also leads to players willing to go for a more glorious club.

Kegunner

Sometimes it seems Arteta wants to fight every basic rule in the book.

Ishola70

For Tuchel to finish nearly 20 points behind 2nd place in EPL coming into the season as European champions and everyone up his arse telling us what a great manager he was and is then it has to be seen as sightly disappointing for Chelsea in the EPL season just gone.

Very high standards to match the top two of course but plenty were telling us at the start of the season just gone that Tucehel was up to it to make a challenge of some sort. Came nowhere near close.

Naija+soccer

The Hutchinson situation reminds me of the Saliba situation when Arreta went and got Ben White when he already has the former. Now there are are rumors he is refusing to sign a contract unless he’s guaranteed a starting spot. I mentioned this concern during the season, when Emmanuel Petit was poisoning his mind telling him not to sign a contract unless he’s guaranteed a starter. Well thats what he’s doing now apparently.

And Omari Hutchinson has now gone to Chelsea after the purchase of Marquinhos.

Naija+soccer

I support Arteta naturally but I pray that he doesn’t hurt his own success by being too clever when the simple solution will suffice sometimes.

Naija+soccer

Arteta*

raptora

Tuchel will need to achieve quite a bit more to be mentioned in the same breath as Pep and Klopp. Not even Conte can be in the same conversation.

raptora

Barcelona on a spectacular rebuild as things are shaping up.

Since January this year, they have added Ferran, Auba, Raphinha, Kessie, Christensen, Lewa and their next targets are Kounde and Bernardo Silva. If they manage to pull the last two transfers in, they my lord this is some 2022 for them.

David.D

Looks like Saliba is forcing himself in to a corner if true. I felt that he was unfairly treated by being sent out on loan again and that his Arsenal career should have started a lot sooner. But that very loan which he was obviously pissed off about has now increased his profile and given him a taste for more plus international recognition so it has bitten us in the arse in a way. I was very much on his side. However now i wish he would just shut the **** up, knuckle down and fight for his place. How… Read more »

Gonsterous

Good to upgrade our squad but I hope arteta picks the best squad and not play favorites like this season. That does him more harm than good

Mr Serge

So reports are zinchenko is flying to America to meet edu and tets this seems to have wings

raptora

Also Gnabry renews contract with Bayern so that ship has sailed too.

Mr Serge

Raps we was never getting him

If saliba really is asking for a first 11 slot before he signs then he is a prick and can piss right off
It’s probably paper talk he can’t be that arrogant

If he is that good he would take someone’s spot not need to ask for it

KAY Boss

Those thinking Rudiger is a better player than Koulibaly haven’t actually watched both play. Rudiger was average to good before his revival under Tuchel whilst Koulubaly has been consistently performing for Napoli. Chelsea have signed a better play bar his age.

Too many of our fans are too fickle regarding our players. We can’t win any laurels without internal competition and every player needs to earn a place. ESR hasn’t been healthy and u can’t bang your hope in such a player.

Tom

HG, I watched some 90% of City’s games last season and can’t remember a single one when Zinchenko had a significant role in winning them.

He is technically sound and his possession stats are good but his assists (5 in all comp) at the club that scores for fun is nothing special.
He’s a good player made to look better by his surroundings.

KAY Boss

I still have my doubt regarding Arteta

izzo

Flores is the real star of the academy. Literally already playing for the Mexico national team and will be at the world cup. Really don’t give two shits if Omari Hutchinson goes to Chelsea and we’ll likely never see him again. He’s not getting into their first team either. Some of these teenagers have dim people managing them so that doesn’t help for their careers. Also says alot about his mentality thinking he should be ready for senior football at this time. All he needed to do is look at what is happening to Balogun and make some sense of… Read more »

Samesong

KaY Boss

Completion is healthy exactly. Needs players to be looking behind them and thinking hmmm if I drop a level this guy taking my place.

Samesong

Competition*

Marko

Rap we were never getting Gnabry back he’s too good for us it was a pipe dream. Some speculation we might be interested in Sane though apparently he was being shopped to Real and they said they’re done doing business.

Guns of SF

Why some are speculating on twitter we getting Sane.

if that is so, my jaw would drop

Mr Serge

KAY BossJuly 15, 2022 16:17:31
Those thinking Rudiger is a better player than Koulibaly haven’t actually watched both play. Rudiger was average to good before his revival under Tuchel whilst Koulubaly has been consistently performing for Napoli. Chelsea have signed a better play bar his age.Too many of our fans are too fickle regarding our players. We can’t win any laurels without internal competition and every player needs to earn a place. ESR hasn’t been healthy and u can’t bang your hope in such a player

I have watched them both play live Rudiger is the better player

Guns of SF

I would take sane any day

Tom

“If saliba really is asking for a first 11 slot before he signs then he is a prick and can piss right off
It’s probably paper talk he can’t be that arrogant.If he is that good he would take someone’s spot not need to ask for it”

I’m sure no one’s seen that coming.

Emiratesstroller

Zinchenko would certainly make a very good signing. For a start he is an established left back
and has played the position for Both Man City and Internationally. He would be an upgrade on
other players we were alleged to be interested in.

The fact is that Tierney is injury prone and we cannot afford to go through a season relying on him and Tavares.

Arsenal still need a top class central midfield as well.

Northbanker

Zinchenko news is great if true. Can we get the Tielemans deal done please? My big fear is we sell Gabriel and take a Juventus player part ex. I don’t want Rabiot instead of Tielmans. That is two backward steps.

Really pissed off to hear Hutchison is going.

Nigel Tufnel

Saliba has never given an impression other than arrogance as far as I’ve seen. The way he talks about himself and the noise surrounding his decisions. I hope I’m wrong but he gives off bad vibes… haven’t seen a photo of him smiling once in an Arsenal kit. He’s too special to be “one of the guys” maybe. Monster talent, I hope we can make it work, but I did always suspect that he would consider himself “above” rotation, too good to have to earn his spot and work his way in to become a first choice. We are a… Read more »

Terraloon

Mr Serge I have watched them both play live Rudiger is the better player I too have watched them both live and to be honest I always felt Rudiger was a bit rash and was lucky not to be booked or even sent off on a few more occasions. Some of the tackles he got away with were plain dangerous Playing alongside Silva Rudiger looked top class but not so much playing in a four or more central Koulubably is far better passer than Rudiger not as good in the air neither are particularly slow Napoli with him playing most… Read more »

TR7

“We are a team full of harmony and that will serve us well in the long run.”

In every team you will find players resenting not getting regular game time. There’s seldom a team “full of harmony”. I bet Leno and ESR don’t like being second fiddle to Ramsdale and Odegaard. Eddie was on the verge of joining another club. Zinchenko is leaving City who win league every year to get more starts at Arsenal.

Mr Serge

Terraloon

Getting koulibaly is making sure that they are as strong at the back as they were last year Chelsea are going for it unfortunately

Batistuta

Weird that in what now 2 and a half years in charge you can’t point to any academy guys getting a look in

Batistuta

Very unArsenal like