451 Comments

I know Mike likes former players. Why not look at throwing a bid for Julian Alvarez? Mobile, nose for goal. good fella. World cup winner.

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Jan 11
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and we have that money to spend on other players right? Nico W? etc. Isak likely 150 M plus. Just a thought

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Take a look at Pedro's stat chart on Kai and Isak, it basically shows Kai scores the same amount and more assists because he is available, and not injured. Isak only plays 70% of what Kai does.

Obviously, Isak is a superior scorer/minutes played and by the eye test, but his problem is his injury history.

This coming from a guy who likes Isak as a player.

We do not need anymore injury prone players.

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It doesnt matter who we bring in if we dont change the ball watching, and not breaking or making runs. We stand around ball watching, waiting for the ball to get turned over so we can win it again. This is not how you set up attacking football. Its uber conservative.

Mike has to let go if this extra rigid system that is so predictable now. Playing the odds is not always a good winning strategy. Being unpredictable is

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Guardiola about to spend more than a £100m on 3 players because they had a slump for 6 months. Lol. And we spent £70m last summer. You can't make this shit up.

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It wouldn’t have made any difference if we spent £200 million last summer, if they weren’t spent on the right players.

Last summer, the business we did was also subpar regarding the incomings suitability and quality.

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I am saying we didn't do enough. I still beleive Calafiori will be a hit longterm and Merino is starting to find his feet. But we needed more.

Sterling on deadline day isn't something you do if you want to win the league. I wanted him over Nelson but it is like having a slight upgrade.

Had we spent big on a striker and a winger that is much better than Sterling last summer, I am not so sure we would have been in this position. We wanted Sesko and we wanted better than Riess Nelson. That tells me we didn't do enough on what was needed.

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We still don’t have that left back that’s super quality. Cala is just a reboot of Zinchenko.

MLS is every inch as good as Calafiori…and he’s a midfielder

We will still be seeking a #8 despite spending money on Merino

I can only accept Merino contextually as the squad replacement of Elneny.

Maybe I’m too harsh

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That is a bit too harsh on Merino. I too wanted a CM that can carry the ball and more technical than him. But he is similar to Xhaka. Xhaka passes the ball in higher volumes though.

And we won't be seeking an 8. We will look for an all rounder when one of Partey or Jorginho leave. There are already rumours about Douglas Luiz with Juve wanting him to leave on loan already.

And I really like Calafiori. He isn't like Zinchenko. He is much more solid. But he is more of a CB. Fitness is my only concern about him, not quality. Lewis Skelly is what Arteta wanted Zinchenko to be and was in his first season. he is a much better defender too.

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Marmoush scores again and might score more in the 2nd half.

Offensive talent of this caliber for £50-60m is what we're talking about.

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Mikel never makes is easy for himself and Arsenal.

I predict that we will still go back for Sesko and Nico Williams in the summer, even though time has proven that they’re aren’t that good.

It will about what he wants

That’s why they won’t get a director of football of repute to come to Arsenal and deal with that nonsense.

They will promote Jason Ayto who will be eager to please, and who can blame him.

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Sesko is an excellent young striker. At 50-60m he is a very good signing for a big club like Arsenal.

He is also a bargain for a club above us in the food chain; a super club. Would not be surprised if Bayern sign him. They are a giant who look for affordable signings. He can play w/ or instead of Kane

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Jan 11
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Prospect for what exactly?

Scoring 20 league goals consistently, year in-year out?

We need players that can smash it from day one

Anyways, he has a release clause of £55 million in his new contract

Arteta loves going back for players he likes so he’s probably going to be the ine they get in the summer.

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Jan 11
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The problem is when you start paying huge transfer fees for ‘prospects like Sesko.

Some prospects like Niko Williams command wages of €300k weekly too.

If they are that expensive, why not add a bit more and get the real deals that are established goal scorers.

Mamoush and Sesko play in the same league. The difference between them is too clear.

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Jan 11
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I’m not a big fan of prospects that are on mega wages and command big transfer fees

Especially not on year 6 of Arteta’s tenure

It will be used to ask for ‘patience’ from the fans

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The annoying thing is that this January is actually unbelievable in terms of the players available

Mamoush won’t be any cheaper in the summer, same as Kvara.

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It is. Marmoush and Kvara are normally summer deals. Especially Kvara. It is a tiresome excuse if we don't sign anyone.

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Plenty of talent available and I think we've got the money to get 1 solid player.

I hope there's a plan already in motion and we're waiting for final confirmations about pulling the trigger. There's no way we're not sniffing around. It's probably done under the carpet.

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I too would have liked us to try and sign Omar Mamoush

He’s has that x-factor, like Alexis Sanches

The dressing room and fans base needs a lift desperately.

I know nothing happens at Arsenal unless Mikel wants it so we just have to wait and see what he wraps his mind about.

That’s how it is now.

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The fee they are talking about now is more than £60m for him. City are just on the line interms of risk. He is quality but he was value when it was under £50m.

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I read Frankfurt are very much set as a counter attacking side so question marks around Marmoush being good against low blocks but yeah. He might be excellent as well.

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Marmoush and Lookman are the two names for me this winter. (with my limited knowledge)

Marmoush to City is all but done so we need to get Lookman.

If we lose on both, it'd be interesting who we go for, if we go for anyone at all.

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I am honestly shaking my head about us not being involved at all with the Kvaratskhelia sale. Waiting for Isak (which we will not get) and Nico Williams (who isn't the better player) is ridiculous when a talent like this is available for sale. And at £70m too

If Chelsea, City, Liverpool and United all were in the position we are in, they would be pulling the trigger. This is just the worst thing about Arsenal. We miss such obvious signings because we are reluctant and don't act fast. Bruno Guimaraes, Hazard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Yaya Toure, Zlatan, and so many others missed because we have cheap owners that suck. Fucking annoying.

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I'm waiting for the Lookman news to hit soontm. (zero news so far)

It's about bringing in someone that we would have signed in the summer regardless. Not cause we need a player RIGHT NOW.

A bunch of solid players will move this winter. There will be quality. I'm expecting 1 signing to give ourselves a higher chance to do well while Saka's out.

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I like lookman. But I still feel uneasy about the failed PL stints and him not making it in Germany either. Gasperini is a genius. He gets a ridiculous level out of players. Big money on look man would be a risk for me.

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Jan 11
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Football is rarely linear like that. Gasperini has managed all his life in Italy. Him doing an incredible job over there doesn't mean he will in the PL. But he is a genius.

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So you listed all the symptoms and then still came up with the conclusion that in recent times, it’s because the owners are cheap?

If they were cheap would they be paying a manager with 5 years experience the second highest manager wages in world football?

You’re still refusing to consider the possibility that this is because we are very tunnel vision with our transfers, unless Arteta approves it, it won’t happen.

If Arteta tells them summer available players like Cunha Niko Williams, Mbuemo, and Sesko are who he wants ….and that he’s ready to wait?

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It probably will be harder now to convince Kroenke to spend big on an EPL unproven talent post the Mudryk fiasco, where Arteta lobbied heavily to spend north of €70m on a player who flopped and is facing a possible 4 year ban.

In which case his value could go down next to nothing.

It would have been another Nicolas Pepe waste of money all over again.

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May be you are right. But last summer is exactly what I have seen from the kroenkes for 15 years. I still remember the summer we signed Cech and no other players. We spent £10m. We were crying out for a Striker.

They just do enough to the point we compete. But they never go for the win. As long as UCL football is guaranteed they were always happy.

I have seen Arteta be flexible on targets. The January before we signed Rice, we went in for Caicedo at £80m. That means we really wanted Rice but we were going to get Caicedo and move on.

I really believe it isn't Arteta saying this is the only player I want. He signed Trossard after we wanted Mudryk. Those two are totally different in profile. Same with Jesus after chasing Vlahovic.

He wants quality and hard working players. That is what he wants imo. I just think the funds aren't available in January.

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Jan 11
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I don't know why people defend these owners so much. We were invincible when they took over. They made us hate on our greatest ever manager.

I am supposed to thank them for doing the basics when it comes to investing in players like a big club should? Again we have spent less than United, Spurs, and Chelsea since Arteta came here. And City have almost spent as much as us with a much better starting point.

The only signing we have pulled off under anyone has been Rice. We never sign Superstars to get us over the line. I have seen Juventus, Chelsea, Barcelona, take attacking targets from us. So no I won't blame Arteta when he is the only one I have seen at Arsenal compete for a league title in 20 years over our owners.

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Jan 11
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It doesn't matter if they give him a couple of hundred million when we don't have the upper hand. By then our best players will leave. The time to really strike was last summer. We had an 89 points league season. And it is this January too.

Partey was one of the first players he signed. Now he is about to leave ending his contract. That means another gap will open up when we are trying to fix our striking issues.

Arteta isn't blameless. And even me as a defender of him want him gone if he doesn't deliver till the end of the next season regardless of circumstances.

But the last crappy window and the last 20 years aren't on him. And I won't thank shit owners that turned us in to a joke for 15 years for doing the bare minimum of how a top club should act.

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Looks like we’re wearing the ‘ spursy’ shirt tomorrow.Surely,surely they could have come up with a different colour to get their point across?To add insult.Manure prob in their home colours?

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Fabrizio Romano

Antonio Conte confirms: “Kvaratskhelia has asked to leave the club”.

“I spoke to Khvicha and he confirmed his plan to leave the club immediately”.

“I tried to convince Kvaratskhelia to stay but he has decided to go and try new chapter”.

“The club and his agent will now find the solution… I can’t keep Kvara here if he doesn’t want to stay”.

As revealed two days ago, PSG are on it.

__________________________________________

Joining PSG shows all there is to Kvara. Napoli are first in Serie A btw. He could win his 2nd title, be canonized eternally in the incredible city of Napoli, but he'd rather leave right now - for PSG?! For real.

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He is about to quadruple his wages. And Napoli have been a stepping stone for years. He is going to be playing guaranteed UCL football too. That is tempting for a player who is from Georgia.

There are no other offers at the table too. This doesn't say anything. This just wants he wants to get paid better and wants to play in the highest competition in Europe.

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Surely a gentleman's agreement like the one Caicedo had with Brighton would have been the best. Not that I know the details, obviously.

But help Napoli get another historic title, be paid a higher salary in the meantime, and allow him to leave in the summer when the offers would have been more and better, surely sounds logical enough.

Leaving in the winter a team on course to win the title to leave for PSG... It's so shitty it makes me question his motivation. It's weird but it's his choice. I'm saying I don't agree with it.

Also quadrupling his wages... He'd be paid that in any club in England. Like literally any club in the PL can pay 120k-150k pw. It's laughable that he's leaving Napoli for PSG for a wage this low.

If he's going to sell out for money, do it for a lot of money. There are so many clubs that can pay him that. Unless no club has showed any interest at all.

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Jan 11
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He is choosing PSG over staying at Napoli. Rap is just trying to shit all over him when the offer isn't between the PL and PSG. Even if he did choose them, it doesn't say anything. Plenty of superb footballers have chosen Paris in the past.

You keep saying the manager though. But I saw this during the Wenger years too. Just one or two players away from actually doing damage. A shit window when we are about to be on the verge of greatness. That is all kroenke to me.

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Jan 11
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They have spent. But if you really look at it, they have never gone above and beyond to win. The facts are Spurs, United, Chelsea have spent more than us since he took over despite the consensus, he has. City started at a better place when Arteta took over at Arsenal. They were already PL winners. Since then, they have spent nearly as much as us adding quality.

Not saying the Kroenkes haven't spent. But they never go for the jugular when it matters. Abramovic used to spend mega money when he felt the team was nearly at the finish line of achieving greatness. So would the City owners. They never stand still.

If any of those owners where in the position we were now, they would be getting the signings to try to win this league. Not the kroenkes though.

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Joining Arsenal (same is valid for Liverpool) instead of PSG is a bit different.

He'd be coming to a highly competitive league where nothing is guaranteed. With actual fans for generations. Not a plastic team in a 1 club league owned by a country state that has been the graveyard of top talent for over a decade now.

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Why aren’t we all over it like a rash? WTF?unless PSG are promising him he can trouser silly money? Would he not prefer us or am I being overly positive ?

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I'm reading they've already agreed terms on a 4x/5x his current salary that is £30k pw.

Meaning he'll be earning £120-150k pw.

We're paying Merino and Calafiori that much. It's a paltry wage for a supposed top player.

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Jan 11
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Definitely helped giga talent Neymar become the best player in the world.

Thiago Silva stopped being considered the best CB in the world cause he moved to France.

Mbappe developed nothing while playing there.

You say the PL isn't all that but it's factually the most watched league in the world. They pay top dollar, players there are more secure than in most other cities (ask Auba). Are you willing to argue facts? Like, come on.

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Who has the EPL helped become the best player in the world? A player that can earn as much at PSG and win plenty titles is choosing PSG over Arsenal or most other EPL all day. Except the person is a fanboy

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The whole country would have been prouder with him if he was to join an actual respected and loved club around the world.

The PL is by far the most watched league in the world. His compatriots would have been tuning in week in, week out.

Instead, who cares about PSG and the French league? Only French people.

And the salary offered is apparently quite low - £120-150k pw. He could be getting that if not more in England. While continuing to improve himself in a tough league. Unless he'd rather take it easy.

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I'm reading Alex Baena but I can't see it.

We already have Fabio Vieira. They are basically the same player.

Just recall Fabio, go for Lookman and call it a day.

We'll have quality and depth in Saka's absence.

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Your obsession with Fabio Vieira is unique 😂😂😂. Atleast Pierre was obsessed with a mercurial talent in Ozil.

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You only have to see what a director of football like Monchi sees for squad development

They have two decent strikers in Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins

Duran is disruptive and is in high demand. He’s also too similar to Watkins

So now they are signing Donyell Malen for about €30 million Euros and will sell Duran for about £80 million to PSG or Chelsea.

Easy peasy stuff you’ll say.t

Mikel is the de facto DoF until they appoint a veritable known commodity.

Jason Ayto was a rapidly promoted protege of Edu and he’s not going to have any gravitas without his former boss. He’s not going to offer any resistance or counter balance to Mikel.

What does Mikel do now?

For starters they are offering an extension to Trossard

How can that be okay?

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‘During Klopp’s tenure at the club, Liverpool spent €928 million on transfer fees, while earning €584 million from player sales. This resulted in a total transfer fee deficit of -€343 million in the Klopp era. For comparison, Liverpool's main rival in recent years, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, spent €1,505 million on transfer fees and recouped €694 million through player departures, resulting in a total transfer fee deficit of -€811 million in the same period.’

The above puts in perspective the job Klopp did running Pep close, besting him once ( almost twice), and going to the CL finals twice, winning it in his fourth season.

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Arsenal transfer deficit under Arteta , -€556m

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Barca reps have gone to talk to Utd about getting Rashford

They can’t afford to register Olmo who they paid 40m for in the summer as well as another player but they’d like to spend money on rashford, a player who is also demonstrably not elite. Whatever the hell they’re smoking must be some good stuff. Love to see that club ruining itself with its arrogance and mismanagement

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In the summer I’d actually like us to go for Jude Bellingham’s little brother at CM. He’s going to be a megastar one day like his brother. He can tackle, pass, dribble and shoot amazingly. Get him before he’s a 100m player.

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Let's add to the list of "reasons we are struggling"

PGMOL

Unfavorable fixture

Luck

The ball

Our wage bill

Did I leave out anything?

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Different turf vs Emirates

Ramsdale

Walcott

...

Trump

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