The full-back circle of life is a thing of beauty.
Arsenal have signed Zinchenko, the Ukraine captain is heading to Orlando, he had his last supper with Pep, the 25-year-old is an Arsenal player.
Manchester City are going to turn their attention to Marc Cucurella of Brighton, a superb player, trained in the basics of what City do.
Brighton, according to reports, are now going to target Nuno Tavares on loan this season, with Marseille turning their attentions elsewhere. Give me the Brighton move all day, Graham Potter has a great system, he’s a top class coach, and he’ll make Nuno better in the Premier League.
Then you have Spurs. They just signed Djed Spence for £12.5m, a player that was put out on loan by Boro’, who terrorised Arsenal, is now the star boy at Spurs.
Right?
Right?
This is the Antonio Conte unendorsement:
“Spence is an investment of the club. The club wanted to do it. I said okay, this player is young but he showed he can become a good, important player for us. The club decided to buy him.”
hahaha
Pure leadership, as usual. Now, Spurs has to sign young players, if they left Conte to his own devices, he’d be buying eleven 32-year-olds… but this shows you his mentality and why he doesn’t last long. It’s all about him. Imagine how Djed feels reading that? Imagine what they does for his standing at his new place of work? Super amusing.
Back to Arsenal.
Next on the agenda is Youri Tielemans at Leicester City. Edu is finally showing a bit of maturity with the way he moves on players. The player wants Arsenal, the club wants the player, no one else can be arsed to create a bidding war, Leicester has no leverage… so the deal will be done and it’ll be done on our terms.
The move reminds me of Georginio Wijnaldum when he went to Liverpool. Newcastle had a bad season, they were relegated, Liverpool moved, and the player smashed his chance under Klopp. Youri doesn’t have a lot of credit in the bank because fans would rather pine over someone playing for Rennes than a talent doing it at a high level in England. Also, far too many people think the only way you can exist as a midfielder is if you are Bissouma. Sorry people, you don’t need sprinter pace to be an elite midfielder. Tielemans doesn’t need pace. He’s operating in a small section of the pitch. He has to be able to turn in tight spaces, he has to have the intelligence to create openings. He has to have the ability to executed complex instructions. Thierry Henry’s fave player in Monaco has all that. He’ll be an absolute star at Arsenal, do not sleep on his talent, you’ll end up looking silly like I did when I championed Tall Boy Summers.
Tielemans has it all, he’ll be a top, top signing for Arsenal if we get him.
After that, we’ll need just one more player: A wide forward that has elite levels of production in their profile.
I have no idea what that looks like but Raphinha was interesting to Arsenal for about £40m with incentives. You can do some damage with that sort of money. Remember, cash really isn’t flowing around Europe, our sort of money can get you a very good deal if you know where to look.
Leroy Sane would be ideal, but it feels a bit naive to think we have that pull now, I’m not sure we’re going to be dropping £290k a week deals when we’re in Europa. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t other players that could do the job. Johnny on the latest Patreon suggested we might source a wide player that can operate as a #9 if needed. We’re short in the striker department, so who knows.
… but, whatever your thoughts, you can’t deny that we have gone very big already and with two more players we’re talking about a 10/10 summer on paper.
How awesome is that?
Very awesome.
Ok, some sexy new content for you.
We have a NEW Patreon that you can get access to today. We talk vicious animals, Zinchenko, and where he’ll play, whilst also ranking our summer so far. I’m tired, but look, I still try and deliver a 10/10 performance for the good people that send cash our way.
You could become one of them and get the early access content. Just click below.
If you are cool watching some older content, we cover off Sane and Zinchenko before the confirmation landed. It’s a cracker, so dive in, then give in to the Patreon dream after.
Also, to get more traffic, you have to do these dumb thumbnails where the brief is basically ‘what’s an annoying face that will draw attention.’ Did I do it right? Click the damn video and we’ll see.
Oi Oi!
Love Tielmans to come in also…. whos going though?
We’d be far too heavy on CMs/CDMs
Bankz is here for the tr4phy again
DM and grooveydaddy, come outside!
((((BOOOOOM)))))
What does “come outside” even mean?
Ha Bankz… not this time!
I am celebrating with a beer for it being my first ever 1st 🙂
Oh wait… you meant 4th…
Would be perfect to get tavares a year at Brighton. Potter is a great coach and that would definitely prepare him to come back and challenge or tell us he needs to be shipped off permanently.
Worrying how little noise there is around outgoings: Torreira, Ainsley, Hector, Pepe, Mari.
Cant imagine us going for Sane…wonder who the wide forward will be.
Seriously Nico Pepe hired a new agent to get a move and still nothing…
Most of our outgoings will be after the season has started unfortunately.
All these incomings are great but not the zero outgoings
Oh youre tired are you pete? 😘
Nobody cares bankz! apart from 12 sad individuals. Boom
Beth Mead and Williamson trying to beat Spain. ❤️
Tielemans is a great move – only 25, feels like he’s been around for an age, technically proficient, prem proven. Ticks an awful lot of boxes for us. Additional thought is that the Anderlecht connection might help bring out the best in Lokonga? Can’t believe they’re only two years apart in age (is that right?) but speaks to Youri’s level doing bits from a young age. Read somewhere when/if Zinchenko deal officially goes through we would have spend the most in Europe’s top5 leagues. Impressive & certainly unexpected of recent times / our current situation. Think moving with a clear… Read more »
Not sure about Sane. Remember when Sterling ridiculed him when he got that tattoo on his back of himself? He doesn’t sound like a team player to me! I’d rather we went for Asensio who may take time to adapt to the EPL but he will be hungry to show Barca that they should have invested more time in him. Otherwise stick with Zinchenko on the left and try to bring in Paqueta who has the ability to play in an advanced role with Tielemans sitting in behind him what an awesome spine we would then have. After Zinchenko, we… Read more »
If tielemans goes through, and thibking regardless of whatever formation we play and that tielemans and zinchenko (in lb) start, we’ll have added two crucial if not nailed on starting xi man city players to the three upgraded first team slots. Not bad by any means… you didnt expect it a few months ago but a
Rams
Tomi saliba gabi zinch
Tielemans partey xhaka
Gabi. Eddie. Saka
I mean that slays on paper
What does “come outside” even mean
It’s either aggressive or sexual or sexually aggressive
jabberwocky don’t post much. But I like his style.
Why is no-one else “arsed” to make a move for Tielemans at the reported price as Pedro stated?
Surely at the price quoted and how he has been bigged up on here he would be generating a lot of interest from other clubs.
As for Tavares going on loan to supposedly be the replacement for the outgoing Cuceralla well Brighton are going to see a bit of a drop off in that certain position aren’t they lol.
Let’s be positive and state that Zinchenko is coming in to replace Xhaka in midfield.
The line that he is going to be competition for Tierney is boring in comparison.
Let’s all pray that Tierney stays fit and healthy as he is one of our better players when he does so.
Let us dream for a period until the league season starts.
Zinchenko for Xhaka.
Zacharse – so no place for Jesus then?
I think not
Ish isnt it obvious tielemans has said no to everyone except arsenal. We’re his barcelona atm. Seems pretty clear so far, that may change i suppose but i doubt we’d let him go somewhere else if pushed
Northbanker jesus on the right. Keep forgetting so many habis!
Gabis*
Bankz lol are you trying to be an autobot?!?!
Frotn line of
Gab jesus…….Eddie….saka(on the left)
Zacharse
No way Eddie is in our first xi, no matter how much Pierre keeps chanting it into existence in his basement on top of a pentagram. Also Xhaka isn’t starting over Ode if we sign Tielemans or Paqueta.
As long as we don’t sign Melo I’m fine.
Zacharse
“isnt it obvious tielemans has said no to everyone except arsenal.”
No it isn’t obvious to me. Pedro stated that other clubs can’t be “arsed” to bid for him.
If it were the case that it was only Arsenal and was always going to be only Arsenal why the delay? Why not wrap him up relatively early?
Damn freddie. Eddie ahead of saka and gab jesus means biz in my eyes. I think if eddie finds a rhytm he starts banging them. Physically hes got it all technically seems like hes right up there. What I think is that in terms of complementing one another, making the attack greater than the sum of its parts those three make most sense to me and prob frighten any defence
Ish
Out going Player sales? negotiating tactics? Minor injury? We will know soon enough wont we
We need to get some players out of the door too
Zacharse
I mean we will probably see something like that late on in matches to shake things up but beasting our only 2 CFs seems a waste.
There will be plenty of minutes for both of them anyway.
Also I want to see Martinelli smash it this season so there’s that, lol.
There is a contradiction here actually. We were told by Pedro that the club and Arteta are perfectly happy to have Xhaka continuing as a first team player in midfield and that’s why we can forget Zinchenko perhaps taking his place and it’s left back spot for him. But in virtually the same breathe the Tielemans to Arsenal move is whipped up but who is Tielemans going to replace in midfield? The same Xhaka that Pedro implies is nailed on again to start in midfield this coimg season? Tielemans for Odegaard lol? Don’t think so either. It don’t add up… Read more »
Zacharse
“Out going Player sales? ”
What midfielder are Arsenal waiting and going to sell then before swooping on Tielemans?
433
Back 4 is same
Tielmans–TP/Xhaka__Zin
Saka__jesus__martin
Am anxious about august 5.
Zinchenko is not going to play midfield too often for a number of reasons. One because Tierney isn’t healthy at the moment and two he isn’t a goal scorer. Hence why I think we will go for Paqueta in midfield.. he is a 9 goal a season player. If Tierney ever shakes his knee issues then maybe, Zin gets his chance. But for now I think he will relegate Tierney to the bench until he isn’t a semi- cripple.
KT has got many issues.
Knee, Hamstring, Hernia etc
I have serious doubts along with TP about his long term play ability
Still think we need a third striker… Is Balogun back with us ?
We need a tall striker tho… despite Mike thinking that we are ok with strikers under 5’9
What is a Premier League squad list?
Each Premier League club submit a squad list after each transfer window closes.
It can contain no more than 17 players who do not fulfil “Home Grown Player” criteria.
The remainder of the squad, up to a total of 25 players, must be home grown.
So yes, we need a clear out.
Unless you live under a rock, we know the players who are expendable.
_____
Extra time in Brighton
Although,.. there are many times Zinchenko will play as a midfielder in all but name despite being listed as a fullback… so it is a bit of semantics in that regard, Because with TT as rb he can afford to push up.. or we may just play 3 at the back at times who knows.. it’s a good problem to have, But i want another cm. don’t stop now.
If we needs to free up a spot .. surely LT is pretty much gone already.
Tielmans in…
—Ram___
TT__Sal__Gab__Kt
Vieira__xhaka–Tiel
Saka–Jesus–martin
Zinchenko is going to start the season on the starting 11 because Tierney is just returning from injury and has to be eased into football,
Saliba is starting the season too, on the starting 11, because Ben White has some niggles and will have to be managed initially.
Xhaka needs to go
He didn’t play well last season that’s a fiction like most of his career . He was bang average . There won’t be much demand for him although if he’s that good there should be . Tierney starts at LB and Xinchenko replaces Xhaka
—–Ram—–
TT–Sal–Gab—KT
–Xh/TP–Tiel
Saka–Vieira__Martin
——-Jesus
4231 might not be so bad
Diss
Agree with that, as we stand, and assuming everyone’s fit, I think we’ll see this:
……….Ramsdale
…….Saliba Gabriel
Tomi Partey Zinchenko
Odegaard Xhaka
…..Saka……Martinelli
…………Jesus
I dont think KT gets the boot only if injured, which will happen sooner than later
Zin will be in the midfield
I dont see how kiss ares xhaka gets a spot personally but knowing Mike he will
Middy
“Zinchenko is not going to play midfield too often for a number of reasons.”
You forgot one of the reasons Pedro stated though.
That being that Arteta is perfectly happy with Xhaka continuing as a first team player in midfield.
Quote: The club are “happy” with Xhaka.
Happy, happy, happy, happy talk. Talk about things……………………
Guns
“Zin will be in the midfield”
Yes! Yes! Yes”
Rich you just have to play Ode dont ya….lol
Guns – word on the street is that West Ham are in for Scamacca when he was previously supposed to be on our radar. Apparently PSG do not need him now after they signed up Ekitike so if we need a 3rd striker as I strongly believe we do then why not lure him towards us. He will provide the height and alternative options to what we have but I’m not sure that he’s ambitious enough to leave Serie A and probably dreams about Juventus or the like such as Vlahovic once did!
Rich
“Odegaard Xhaka”
To quote you from earlier.
“What a waste”
What a waste. I could be the ticket man at Fulham Broadway Station.
Until we sign another midfielder I wouldn’t count Xhaka out .. he has more lives then the HIghlander.
____Ram_____
___TT–Sal–Gab–KT
—TP/Granit legs–Zin____
Saka_Vieira__Martin
_____Jesus
There you have it…. the famed 4231 with Zin
Ishola and Xhaka!
tsk tsk tsk [shrugs]
Has it occured to you that any manager could find something to like in Xhaka; Wenger , Emery and then this manager who’s stopped him from leaving TWICE.
You don’t think the manager who stopped a player from leaving twice would have use of that player?
Tielemans is needed to oust Xhaka
We cannot move to the next level with him in the team
Just relying on Zinchenko won’t be enough. We need a consistent CM and Zin will have too many LB duties
If we sign Yourinthen I believe Xhaka will leave rather than be a bench warmer
Rich
That midfield twosome you have playing in front of Partey looks a little shit tbh.
I’m with Midwest that KT will not last and ZInchenko should be either central left or left wide but in midfield. When I see him in midfield he provides much more influence. We seem to be covering the bases as a squad. Saliba and White can both play RB and Cedric may only have a season left. Definite need to strengthen the spine. So CMs and a CF would make us much more solid imo
Dissenter
What are your views on Xhaka playing further forward in midfield this coming season?
What sort of delights are in store for us with Xhaka parading more advanced?
I reckon if Vieira stays fit he benches Ode.
He says he is a CAM, so i hope Mike plays Vieira as a CAM we sorely lack in the middle forward/attack without ESR
Engerland’s women’s team showing a bit of Ze mental strengthz. Pretty entertaining match regardless.
They some sexy ladies playing.
I would be very surprised if Vieira starts any PL games at cam. probably more of a change of pace as a sub when the game is more opened up.
Vieira looks light weight and will need time to adapt. Nevertheless I suspect he’ll be an ace player to bring on and add the final ball in the final third. While we need EPL ready players the cost of getting them may not be entirely within our grasps atm. Is it poker face time or carpe diem time?
Ishola
“What are your views on Xhaka playing further forward in midfield this coming season?What sort of delights are in store for us with Xhaka parading more advanced?”
It’s a moot point because we know Arteta just trusts him, no matter what you, I or anyone else here thinks.
If he has footwork like Bernardo Silva then its going to be really fun.
IF he can make tackles like Vieira even better! lol
Dissenter
You speak up for Xhaka so you yourself should be able to tell us what sort of exciting play Xhaka will provide us further forward in midfield.
Forget Arteta unless you want to paint him as untouchable in regards any errors of judgement from him. You certainly haven’t implied that in the past. You have been critical of Arteta. All managers have blind spots you know.
Leah Williamson is a diamond and proper captain.
I think Vieira is going to need a year in the gym
One who isn’t is Marquinhos who looks reallly robust. I have this feeling he could be the buy of the season
Yea Marquinhos looks built, strong and with pace.
I hope he is a diamond
Don’t get me wrong Im excited to see what Vieira can do..as well .. no doubt.. but I doubt we throw him in as cam.. middle of the pitch abuse is high in the PL.
Don’t know about Portugal.
Vierra [5′ 7″] is no smaller than say, Cazorla [5′ 6″], Bernado Silva [5′ 8″] or David Silver [5′ 7″]
I agree that 128 lbs is way too small, even for that height.
David Silva was about 138lbs in his playing days.
Santi was about 145 lbs in his playing days
Bernado Silva as about 141 lbs.
These guys can all kick ass and take the punishment.
Fabio has a lot of catching up to do.
Ish nowhere did i imply that we needed to sell a CM and we dont. If AMN or TORREIRA left i wouldnt shed tears- xhaka, partey, tielemans, elneny, lokonga plus one more purchase- i still dont quite see ode in a CM in a 433 but im prob wrong
Buying Marquinhos made Omari Hutchinson leave.
Well done England ladies
The reason Arsenal won’t purchase Tielemans will be because of Granit Xhaka.
It would have been done by now.
I will be absolutely delighted to be proved wrong on this of course.
Ishola
I was rejoicing this time last summer when it looked likely Xhaka was leaving.
My point is that Artea will redesign the wheel tactically, if need be, to get Xhaka a prominent role in the team.
I think we have a better chance of signing Paqueta because of the Brazilian/Edu BBQ connection
thing… he is like the Braziilan Pied Piper calling in his country mates. And seemingly he has talked his price down if stories are to be believed.
Pedro,
You’re being a little too cocky on Tielemans or any other midfielder we all crave….
All it will take is one tweet from a good source like Ben Jacobs, Ornstein, or Fabrizio saying that Chelsea or United are entering the fray and we’ll all have stomach pains.
Dissenter
“My point is that Artea will redesign the wheel tactically, if need be, to get Xhaka a prominent role in the team.”
Re-design the wheel for Xhaka eh?
A fluid spinning wheel no doubt rather than a clanking wheel.
Yep xhaka is mainstay in the first team according to the arsenal.com.
He would certainly be captain if the club knew the fans wouldn’t rage at the thought.
Maaaaan. Xhaka is our most experienced player.
I love how the squad is evolving. But i really just need to see the back of literally one man to be fully on board with the project (yes it’s xhaka not Arteta 😂)
No Cl with him as leader and first name on the team sheet speaks volumes.
Tielemans signing I have doubts on if Xhaka staying
Zinchenko seen in Arsenal kit at the Orlando stadium
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1549863513799200769?s=20&t=a2FzQ2w9RgVg6ZPE8KK5tA
The only way the xhaka wheel would be efficient is in zero gravity
Anyway have a good day/evening Grover’s!
Goober
“The only way the xhaka wheel would be efficient is in zero gravity”
And yet, Arteta will make it happen, that’s how much the manager fancies him.
Best thing we can hope for is for the club to sign another midfielder like Tiellesman and then Arteta will see the difference himself.
Man.. I cant beliee the game is like in an hour to hour and a half.. away, already. Time flies when your being lazy.
Good laziness everyone
Arsenal Asian Handicap -2
Chelsea Asian Handicap -2
Bayern Munich Asian Handicap -2
For tonights friendly bets.
Middie
I haven’t been more excited about a preseason friendly in a long while
Diss- nice.. I’m still jealous you got to see them live this week..
Ish I said: “I think we’ll see this” Not: “I would like to see this” 20.00 kick off, Friday night, away from home, Palace fans will be up for it, particularly after last time. We’ll need to either keep it tight for the first 35 minutes, or silence them with a sucker punch, because the home side in these types of games, usually start quickly. We need to keep it tight, and give the home fans little to be cheerful about, and if Palace start quickly, as home teams in these types of games usually do, they should run out… Read more »
Palace is 3 weeks away…
No offense to the majority here, but hasn’t Xhaka been heavily favoured by every professional manager he’s ever had? Seems kind of stupid to turn it into an Arteta specific blind spot, I get it he’s the current manager, but obviously not the only one who rates him. You all need to just calm down with the hate and try to think more rationally. Unless maybe you just hate Arteta, and want to use Xhaka to abuse him more. I think that’s probably the case because you watched Wenger and Emery start him without fail, and also his national manager.… Read more »
I think the club as a whole has had a blindspot regarding Xhaka which includes the three managers that have relied upon him.
Him starting for Switzerland is not a huge matter and neither is him playing for Basle or Moechengladbach.
But why worry Nigel about Xhaka? You told us prior to worrying about him that in fact there is nothing to worry about him lol
Rich – I agree – sadly Xhaka is a nailed on starter which is why Tielemans is a critical signing
And Odegaard was one of our stand out performers last season so very happy he’s our no 1 CAM
Vieira wil be a rotation option but no way is he going to displace Ode
Nigel
Plenty of people has said Xhaka isn’t good enough for the 1 million years he’s been at the club, has nothing to do with any perceived Arteta hate.
Although it was ridiculously stupid to convince Xhaka to stay (twice) when he had one foot out the door so that isn’t exactly a plus point for Tets.
The new away kits are supposed to be on display tonight.. that in itself is pretty exciting.
Nigel
“I think the club as a whole has had a blindspot regarding Xhaka which includes the three managers that have relied upon him.”
Your question was answered 30 mins ago
“Has it occured to you that any manager could find something to like in Xhaka; Wenger , Emery and then this manager who’s stopped him from leaving TWICE.”
Ishola was specifically asking about NEXT season, hence the harping on this manager.
Nigel
I swear you would start a fight with the phone book in a telephone booth.