The internet is so rich the weekend after United and Spurs lose in derby games. I absolutely love that there’s a business model out there that supports fans melting down while watching their average teams losing.
I’m feeling absolutely glorious this morning.
I have spent a lot of time taking aim at the disgusting football Antonio Conte offers Spurs. I’ve had Arsenal fans lecturing me that the grim football is part of his process and I should fear it. Remember the crew that were calling for us to sign him? Where are they now? Spurs fans, in their heart of hearts know that he’s going to be a disaster for them longterm, the big question is whether he can squeeze a trophy out of Harry Kane. I really hope he can’t. They are away in Frankfurt this week, then they play Brighton, that is a TOUGH week after getting battered by us.
Arsenal looked better coached, our players looked more motivated, and we actually performed.
I still cannot believe that the mainstream narrative was, ‘yeah, Arsenal are playing exciting football that is aggressive, incisive, and unpredictable… but, Spurs are winning playing shit, so like, that’s better.’
‘The inevitability of Conte’
My favourite line of a very bad weekend for the paid subscription services. I paid $5.99 to login and leave a mean comment under the article. Imagine quoting a Marvel movie in your piece, hoping no one would notice.
Arsenal are cooking something special at the club. The vision of taking a group of very young players, instilling them with elite coaching ideas, and growing them over 4-5 seasons to become title contenders looks like it’s flowering early.
But like the original idea architechted by Wenger, there are bumps in the road that you have to deal with, and we’re looking at a couple right now.
When you have two of the best 21 year olds in world football and they keep getting better.. their value will climb and you’ll have to give them more money.
Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, without doubt, command the space they occupy. They aren’t top 20 players. They aren’t top 10. They are in the top 3 for their age group, globally.
They’ll know that comes at a price in 2022. Phil Foden is earning £250k a week. Wesley Fofana got a batshit crazy £200k a week. The price for marketable elite talent is very high in 2022. We are going to have to pay a spicy rate to keep two of our best young players and we’ll likely have to look at bumping people like Gabriel Martinelli as well.
Project Youth is only worth it if you see the fruits of the labour. Cesc, Samir Nasri, Adebayor, and Robin gave their best moments to our rivals… this new Arsenal cannot afford to make the same mistake.
Let’s be honest though, why would those players want to leave Arsenal?
We’re top of the league, the manager is one of the top 3 young managers in world football, we’re tracking towards the Champions League, the club is showing ambition, there’s literally no better place on the planet to ply your trade at that age.
Go to City? Fuck that. They have to advertise general sale tickets.
Go to PSG? I mean, sure, great club, but that league is dross.
Go to Liverpool? What, to play with Darwin Nunez and Luis Dias? It’s a no from me.
We’re the best team in the greatest city on earth.
They’ll sign… I just hope it’s not too painful.
Europa League is finally back. I’ve missed it. We’re playing Bodo. My desires here are simple.
PLEASE LIMIT FIRST TEAM EXPOSURE
I want to see Thomas Partey wearing some really comfortable clothes, maybe some winter crocs… perhaps he should rock crutches just in case? He is precious cargo, let’s not lose our minds and roll him out against cloggers.
Arteta needs to take advantage of the weaker European competition. Blood the players on the periphery and keep them motivated for the season.
We’re never going to get away with not playing any first teamers, there needs to be a bit of cohesion, but we should limit it to players that are robust or likely won’t have to move a lot. Xhaka doesn’t need to cover a lot of ground, Martinelli is a beast, and that’s as far as I’d go. We might have to see Gabriel in the side if Cedric isn’t fit.
So before we go, how great is it to see Arsenal fans galvanised around the club? When I was first pushing the idea of him coming in, one of the things I hoped he’d do is bring the fans around a very clear idea of where the club is going. He’s absolutely changed the vibe of the home fans. Everyone is behind the vision, the players, and the football we’re playing. On and offline, it is totally different. You could say it’s easy to be that way when you’re winning, but let’s be clear, the fans have been there even when the waters have been choppy.
Say it quietly, do we have the best fans in the league these day? I think so. I think so.
Right, jump on this podcast right now! x
Goona
Haaland is playing in a dominant team that feeds him. It’s strange how he doesn’t get involved in general play, he’s like a ghost who just gets on the end of chances.
I wonder if Kane has any regrets?
Tom
He chose the right career move for himself. He is just too good at finishing. And all he has to do is wait for one of city’s countless high quality midfielders and attacking midfielders to find him. It has been effortless for him to score these 19 goals. And we are at the start of October. Most strikers would kill for that number at the end of the season.
He just doesn’t need to touch the ball. His every touch is becoming a goal. The league will be depressing without any competition from now on.
HG, I think there’s a release clause in his contract that could be activated after two years.
He’s father said he wanted to brake records in all Europe’s major leagues.
Tòm
But who can afford him? Barcelona, Real Madrid,PSG? Even then I think City will throw everything at him and he will end up staying at city for at least 5 years in my opinion.
HG, I hope he fucks off to Spain tbh.
Barca would be perfect for him.
He could do exactly what he’s been doing at City, just score.
Messi has now scored against 40 different teams in the CL.. Thats when you know you have been good for a long time and are old. Think he passed up Ronaldo by two teams now.
Pep will most likely go after Bellingham to replace KDB.
When that time comes
Thierry
That kid Bellingham is a real talent. He’d be great here with our youngsters. The goal he scored today was pure class.
Come on Milan.. can’t stand Chelsea.
Tom
Me too man. I hope he goes in 2 years. If not no one will have a chance with him scoring 40 to 50 goals at least every season. The only thing that would stop him is himself.
Don’t like tonali look slow and unathletic
Hsllsnd it’s just another level of stupid they will dominate with him there
AFC
Can’t believe he’s only 19. And he’s wearing the captain’s arm band. Last time I saw a kid that age influence games was Cesc. And yes, he’d fit right in with our current squad
Midwest
Yep Messi is a bloody freak. I watched a recording of a Barcelona training session, he was doing ridiculous things with the ball.
Interesting comparing him to Haaland, Messi is involved all over the pitch, while Haaland is a penalty box predator. He’s 5ft 6 compared to Haaland 6ft 5. too, but both are goal scoring machines.
Oh damn.. Auba goal. Game over. Reece James has been the best player, today hate to say it.
Milan’s midfield cant get the ball.
AFC- yep I still think Messi is the goat as the kids say.. I did see Maradona live once.. in the 90’s .. close second.
Messi is one the best players of all time arguments for pele and maradonna I have seen the later and messi play halaand is not in that class although he is a world class finisher
And James scores.. damn..
Middy I turned it over once Auba scored
Habeesha, Raptora has already addressed the point I’ve made about earnings, age and how it affects the team wage structure. I’m not devaluing of pissing on Saka and Martinelli but what I’m referring to are options. At some point we are gonna have to start bribing in some big money for transfers to balance our books. Consequently of the three, my point was that Saliba is irreplaceable in our current set up when you factor in his age and level of skill. We can survive losing Saka and Martinelli and the drop won’t be that steep. And if we can… Read more »
Serge_ Yep… I need to do the same. Maybe switch it to PSG.. since it’s a draw so far.
Mid,
Switch to Sevilla vs BvB. Good game
Sevilla.. ok.. ill check it out.
The CL officials are mature compared EPL refs
Milan has to be the worst Serie A champion in recent times. Drawing with Salzburg to getting absolutely demolished by this chavs team… Goodness gracious…
If you are not invested in watching any game on European nights the goals show on BT sport really good watch.
Highlights, goals as they go in and about the only panel of pundits on it that just talk football without narratives.
Gd4 it’s a false economy selling martinelli and saka and buying replacements WHATS it gonna cost to get a Leoao or nkunku? More than we would get for martinelli plus their wages will be higher
Far better to give a decent pay rise to our superstar kids, plus they both love Arsenal saka is one of our own, you can’t buy that
Serge you clearly didn’t understand what I’ve been saying from the get go.
Topside.. yep Paramount has one of those too… Golazo show.. Freddie Ljungberg is one of the co-hosts. it’s not bad.. But I like to flip around and watch a little more of the games to get a feel for it then they show.
Haaland is a parody at this point. Basically the One Punch Man of football now. A handful of touches a game and as many goals. I don’t get it. I’m just used to seeing striker do more but whatever the freak can keep on doing what he’s been doing but I dunno just gets boring for me. I hope he does fuck off to Real in a couple seasons as I would rather have Mbappe in the league.
GD4 “We can survive losing Saka and Martinelli and the drop won’t be that steep. And if we can get big bucks for them then it’s worth considering.” Are you actually being serious or is Johnnygunner right? You think we should coach players to suit a particular tactical discipline, integrate them within a team framework, develop patterns of play and then after all that has d work sell them to a rival? I have no idea what you’re thinking mate. If we started doing that, undoing hard work, behaving like a selling club and sold all our best young players… Read more »
AFC what exactly is the pebble In your sock here?
Who wants to sell Saka and Martinelli right now?
I’m discussing a hypothetical situation where we have three young players and all I’m saying is that in my opinion only one is irreplaceable… you can have your own opinions but that’s what I believe …
Gd4 I understood alright and think it’s madness to talk like that
I’m not in charge of Kroenke’s money but if I was, I’m not giving Saka 200 per week. We will make him a great offer and if he doesn’t accept then he can be sold. Same for Martinelli.
What’s the big hiccup here?
Did I say sell em today?
What is all this hysteria about?
There are way too many me caught up in their feelings here
What’s madness is throwing around Money like QPR and United and end belly up like former and even more shambolic like the latter .
If there’s one thing Arteta has proven is that he can get his young players to stay the course so I’m hopeful
GD4- Bruv, yer gone crazy with doze pigs man. It’s like you’ve been watching Deliverance on yer plasma an yer run out of yer mothers milk.
Sell Saka and Martinelli- hmmm crazy talk … let’s move onto sensible subjects.
What hysteria?
These kids can become world class and you would rather sell them than give them the NOT REPORTED 200k a week let’s discuss your hysteria GD4
GD4 just wants to replace them with Bissouma. That’s his hot take. Jokes aside kindly name their replacements and factor in the contracts and what we’ll be paying?
Hypothetical you say! Nice try. You’re having a laugh!
“Dropoff won’t be that steep” SO you want to regress the team for some chicken change and some fancy players from Europe to deliver in the PL what Saka and Martinelli have straight away because that’s what will have to happen according to your hypothesis! Bruh like just pack it in already..
GD4 you’re talking about selling them in 18 months cause thats when Saka’s contract is up and Martinelli is under 2 years. So you’re talking about selling 23 year olds. Nice try!
GD4… you really have outed yourself tonight bruv,homie….whatever you want to use.
All on your own.
You do realise no one is going to take you seriously from now on? If they’ve read your comments for the last 5 months then they already know you’re a misfit.
My question to you 4 months back or so was ‘GD4 are you sure you’re really a Gooner?’
The vitriol and bile followed…go and have a look.
You’re no Arsenal supporter- guaranteed.
Arteta’s weakness of managing established players has been exposed. Agents of Saka and Martinelli know Arsenal cannot afford to replace them two with a Gnabry or a Coman or any other experienced player because Arteta is COMFORTABLE managing KIDS only.
Smart moves by the agents, one must say.
There are plenty of better replacements of Saka and Martinelli all across Europe but replacing them would also mean taking Arteta out of his COMFORT ZONE.
Serge,
You don’t get it so carry on.
I’ve got more important things to do than deal with a closed mind
Thrash Spurs and they all come out.of the box.
AlrightGD4 go play with traffic lol
Right after you swim sharks
Martinelli skinned Royal all game. It was embarrassing to watch Good job he got sent off to save his blushes. As for Saka, he and White were too good for Spurs. Funny watching them regress as we get better and better.
Arsenal’s football mngt and the current strategy are too heavily dependent on Arteta now. A strategy which is so inflexible, is bound to fail. Arsenal should have invested heavily soon after Wenger’s exit and targeted Europe (CL). That was never to happen with Emery and players like Laca, Xhaka, Kolasinac and Bellerin. Arsenal are still in the 4th-is-a-trophy mode. With a target like that, no team can cross the group stages of CL. Greatness in Europe is QF onwards. These Kroenkes are never goin to put in that kind of money in Arsenal. 22-23 wil be a breakthrough year for… Read more »
With Kroenkes around, the best Arsenal can target is a Liverpool-like purple patch of 4 years. For that we have to replace Arteta with Nagelsmann or Pep. Can we?
Cmon Fox – Pep wont be at City forever. Which, as I’m typing this might not be a good thing if they turn to his former number 2 to replace him
I never understand why people post under multiple accounts. As soon as they get called out fur a bad take, along comes a random. Social media is full of idiots.
AFC I hear you
I look at the table and I see Arsenal at the top. and that makes Arsenal current contenders for the PL title.
I look at the table and see Man City second – which makes City currently rivals for the title.
More than three quarters of the games are yet to be played, there is a long way to go.
We worry about Partey -how will Arsenal cope without him?
But Pep has a bigger worry: how will City manage without Erling?
Mr Serge
It’s so immature. You try to have sensible discussion but the trolling prevents that.
GD4 is a bad, bad boy. It’s taken you all months to see it.
Englandsbest
“More than three quarters of the games are yet to be played, there is a long way to go.”
That’s true. However, Man City are further along the development curve, that’s the reality. Adding Haaland has improved them considerably. However, our progress is impressive and if we can keep our top players fit who knows where that could take us. Top 4 would give us access to the very best players to improve us further.
Johnnygunner
He’s not the only one to be fair. But he mugged himself off big time tonight. You were right.
AFC you know who to talk to and who to ignore I knew Vera lyn and that other moron Kilroy where trolls they would only come on here to stir shit when we lost, spurs fans for sure, like peanuts and monkeys another fool who can’t come on here as we are doing well,
Sid is a strange lad but harmless aren’t you sideeq or sidathopolous what you gonna be called next time you get banned and come back? Hiliesidlassie?
Whether he comes off of the bench or maybe even starts it’ll be good to see Matt Smith finally get a game, he’s done his time, done the loans, sat on the subs bench, trained with the 1st team, I reckon he’s more than earned his debut. I hope he gets it…
allezkev
I must admit I like seeing the youngsters get game time. It’s good they’re in and around the first team but the reality is playing in the first team is a whole new level. Be interesting to see our team selection with Liverpool on the horizon.
Hi Kev, good to see you still doing your bit mate, hope you’re well.
Please, can we stop believing every salary rumour we read. That number of 200k is probably far off the reality. We’re suckers who fall for it every time. Agents and other interested parties leak false numbers for lots of reasons. The media and clickbait sites love to run stories with bigger numbers. It’s called sensationalism. They do it with transfer fees and salaries. If you see a headline with an outrageous number, you’re more likely to click on it and share it. If you haven’t figured that out by now I don’t know what to tell you. And if somehow… Read more »
Topside Northbank, Thanks so much for the article about Arsenals option years on Saka, Saliba, and Martinelli. It changes everything we’ve all been assuming and panicked about. We’ve been thinking we’re in a rush for the end of NEXT season, and that the players hold all the cards. As it is, we can approach the players from a position of decent strength, and say in a nice way, we’d like to reward you with a nice raise and keep you at the club even longer because you are loved here. The players will get substantial raises now rather than wait… Read more »
The Oracle talks about William Saliba
https://youtu.be/dBqSu06l_Y0
Pedro tweeting about Bissouma Lol.
Grove scouts embarrassed again.
The Oracle? Lol, what the fuck is fab romano an oracle of? information that he’s been fed and vetted? may as well call him the platform. and your financial acuity speaks for itself, you can only processthe idea of a basic wages, no understanding of the fine print where the magic happens. go do your homework GD4, probably a better use of your time than pretending to be something you ain’t for a bunch of anonymous arsenal fans on the interweb
FoxInTheBox, I’m not sure you really have a clue about strategy mate.
A real basic for you here: If a strategy is flexible, it’s probably a bad strategy.
Patino apparently had another excellent match against Sunderland. Here’s what the Blackpool head coach had to say: “18 years old he still is, he can deal with the ball in any area of the pitch, go past people left side, right side. “I said when he came to the club he’s as good as anything I’ve seen dealing with the ball and with good movement of the ball as you’ve seen tonight he can play as a six, can play as a ten, can play as an eight. He’s got a really, really good future ahead of him. “It’s important… Read more »
I’d be offering Saka 150k and let performance related bonuses take it over 200
The bonuses should be realistically attainable but not easy. Like 20 goal contributions across all comps at the end of the season makes up the remaining value of the 50k per week
If we give Saka and Saliba huge contracts already, the. It’s Martinelli. Before you know it the whole starting 11 is on 200k. That’s not sustainable for us
Saka has been carrying us for two seasons. Its not that we bought Saka for 30/40 or 50m. If Partey deserves 200m Saka deserves same. Is not your money.
That Bruv G4derD is one crazzzzy dude. I’m callin this out bruv I’m tellin’ all you hommies from the Endz’
I swear it bruv!
Which Endz? Front Endz or Back Endz?
It would be unjust to give players like Saliba and Saka who play more than 90% of the season less than Yakubu who plays less than 50%
dSidstathopoulosOctober 6, 2022 07:00:38
It would be unjust to give players like Saliba and Saka who play more than 90% of the season less than Yakubu who plays less than 50%
That,Sidney is a very very astute point.
By that logic, we should make packages somewhat dependent on number of performances, rather than uprate the whole squad based on one star performer who gets injured a lot, which is a high road to bankruptcy.
One could also counteract that by saying, ok, how much was Partey on when he was 21, ok if you want to take the comparative approach, we’ll pay you that!
Management have to take a rigorous approach to wage structures, rather than the facile postulations of the blogosphere.
Saka and Saliba deserve every penny they get.
Unlike Josh Kronk , they have earned their money through hard work and their talents.