I enjoy reading opinions about Arsenal, and not just from Pedro, but I wonder why you're always compiling long lists of players we're not going to get?
I just finished reading your midfielder list from the previous post.
Is there anybody you haven't mentioned? We don't need most of the players you list.... even more, it's like a Todd Boehly view, because if we just kept buying names that fans list, we'd have the same mess that Chelsea have... too many players, all unhappy, with no team chemistry, selfish, and collecting a salary.
Our team is a tight knit group that plays for their mates as much as any team does. That's what Edu and Arteta are always trying to explain to fans who want every player they see dribble a ball or score a bicycle kick in highlights.
There's more to it than just listing talented names.
I also love how people had no vision to see Havertz as a midfielder, even though he's done it before, but they mention Eze as an 8. In our team? You might as well put Martinelli there.
The problem with these long wish lists of big names is that it makes people feel underwhelmed if we add a player like Merino. He's not a tricky dribbler with Salah pace... but the guy lead all of Europe in categories that are massively important to winning games. The hard work, the dirty work, that allows our creative players to thrive, score and also helps defences keep clean sheets.
Sorry he's not Vitinha or Musiala, but sometimes clubs need what he brings. Chelsea or United should probably buy a guy who fills a role like that instead of shopping from your list.
"Arsenal and Genoa are close to agreeing the permanent transfer of Brooke Norton-Cuffy, for a total fee of around £3.5million with a sell-on clause included."
"Olympique Marseille are closing in on Eyle Wahi deal with RC Lens! Agreement very close, OM working on final details… they didn’t want to match €30m package for Nketiah. Green light from the player and €25m fee plus add-ons offered to Lens"
Get Merino over the line and buy a dynamic attacker who can save Saka from being knackered (think about the dropped points over the Xmas/New Year period).
The interesting thing about the bloated squads is how few rumours there are about departures. RM is the one that fascinates me as they have so many high quality forwards and midfielders
Can they and will they keep them all? That will be the ‘go to the wire’ deal that would be incredible if we got one of their bigger names again
Big takeaway from pre-season for me is that our wingers - Saka and Martinelli - are ready to cook this season. Bukayo is developing well, and the Athletic confirms he's gone full Cristiano and working on getting 3-5 headed goals a season. He's increased his G/A output every season of his career, and if he can do that again we are looking at a PFA POTS type player. As for Martinelli, the best thing that happened to him is Trossard trying to take his place in the team. Gabi is no longer chopping inside every time, he's focusing on using that blistering pace - which really is his superpower - and getting to that byline. By simplifying his game, he can be the main counter attacking outlet for the team.
Martinelli is not ready...he is trying too hard because of the pressure Trossard has placed on him. If he can relax and be more composed, he'll be ready.
Don't be surprised to see him warming the bench against Wolves.
Raptora was complaining in the last comments about the possible Nketiah price, and dissenter responds with: what should we do if there's no better bid?
I agree with dissenter.
Edu can't win in this case. A popular podcast did a poll on whether to sell Eddie for APPROX 25m + add-ons.. and it came out basically 50/50. So Edu needs to ignore critics. He will get slammed by 50% no matter what he does.
Does anyone think he's turning down better offers for some reason?
Eddie barely played last season in 2024.
How about some credit for Edu and the owners, for not letting Eddie walk for free, getting a bit of use out of him, and now able to sell him for pure profit, since he came for free....
It seems like spoiled children complaining about prices when there's only 1 bid so far.
One last thing, a fekking lot of you here were saying that Eddie's salary would make it impossible to sell him at all... I said you were idiots at the time, because it's not that much for a top team striker, and he could always take a cut if he wants to move to play instead of sit and watch.
Where are all of the people who said it was a bad deal?
Wrong as usual, les miserables move on to different topics because their opinions have been shite for years, especially about Arteta.
I disagree with the fee for Nketiah. Dominoes will fall and Arsenal could benefit from that with Nketiah. Oh, well...very nice game today, and I also believe Arsenal will win the title this year, Pedro!
We shouldn’t rely on the last day of the TW for all of our transfers though. If the deal is ok then we go for it imo - that is a not bad deal for Eddie and shifts 100k pw off our wage bill too.
I didn't say the last day...a dominoes-may-fall can happen any day between now and the last day. Arsenal needs to take a stand and this season should well be it. If Nketiah stays in the end, he stays. He could always take a pay cut if a team accepts Arsenal's valuation or if there is a bidding war and the winning club asks for that - AND IF HE REALLY WANTS TO PLAY!
I'd move him on personally. We paid nothing for him, and 25m in any currency plus add ons is good for a player who no longer plays at all for us, and who cost us nothing. I'm starting to see it as a fair price in this market.
He definitely should be moved on - and the rumblings have already begun as premier clubs like Bournemouth are beginning to take a sniff in our direction. We have to take a stand now and stop accepting ridiculous fees [under the player's value] - so that clubs like Juventus, Internazionale, and Marseille stop disrespecting us by offering peanuts compared to how they approach other clubs over players [those not at the level of the Arsenal players in question].
Ciento Quince FC has been told that a 10-week hearing will commence in September. Could this be the end of the Cheaties?
Raptora,
I enjoy reading opinions about Arsenal, and not just from Pedro, but I wonder why you're always compiling long lists of players we're not going to get?
I just finished reading your midfielder list from the previous post.
Is there anybody you haven't mentioned? We don't need most of the players you list.... even more, it's like a Todd Boehly view, because if we just kept buying names that fans list, we'd have the same mess that Chelsea have... too many players, all unhappy, with no team chemistry, selfish, and collecting a salary.
Our team is a tight knit group that plays for their mates as much as any team does. That's what Edu and Arteta are always trying to explain to fans who want every player they see dribble a ball or score a bicycle kick in highlights.
There's more to it than just listing talented names.
I also love how people had no vision to see Havertz as a midfielder, even though he's done it before, but they mention Eze as an 8. In our team? You might as well put Martinelli there.
The problem with these long wish lists of big names is that it makes people feel underwhelmed if we add a player like Merino. He's not a tricky dribbler with Salah pace... but the guy lead all of Europe in categories that are massively important to winning games. The hard work, the dirty work, that allows our creative players to thrive, score and also helps defences keep clean sheets.
Sorry he's not Vitinha or Musiala, but sometimes clubs need what he brings. Chelsea or United should probably buy a guy who fills a role like that instead of shopping from your list.
The Athletic -
"Arsenal and Genoa are close to agreeing the permanent transfer of Brooke Norton-Cuffy, for a total fee of around £3.5million with a sell-on clause included."
Fab Romano -
"Olympique Marseille are closing in on Eyle Wahi deal with RC Lens! Agreement very close, OM working on final details… they didn’t want to match €30m package for Nketiah. Green light from the player and €25m fee plus add-ons offered to Lens"
Perfectly okay with me. Marseille behaves like the Italian clubs.
I believe Nketiah will leave before the end of the month - and with a fee closer to or higher than Arsenal's valuation.
Agreed. Marseille can do one. Eddie will end up at another Prem club for £30m+ i reckon.
Heya Pedro
Love your comments and angles om different themes
Keep up the good work 👏👏
Get Merino over the line and buy a dynamic attacker who can save Saka from being knackered (think about the dropped points over the Xmas/New Year period).
The interesting thing about the bloated squads is how few rumours there are about departures. RM is the one that fascinates me as they have so many high quality forwards and midfielders
Can they and will they keep them all? That will be the ‘go to the wire’ deal that would be incredible if we got one of their bigger names again
Rodrygo is the one that’s most likely to be sacrificed.
But I suspect City will want him to replace Alvarez, and Liverpool also linked.
I like the Merino deal and hope it can now conclude. He has power and experience and is perfect while we develop Ethan and Miles in midfield.
That would also allow us to go full throttle in a last minute striker
BUT if the last minute shopping also pullled Camavinga out of the bag I’d be delighted
We dont need a CF because Saliba, Gab, Calafiori combined will score more goals than Solanke.
They may well do Sid but Man City are the threat not Spurs. Adding a 25 goal CF could help clinch the title
Big takeaway from pre-season for me is that our wingers - Saka and Martinelli - are ready to cook this season. Bukayo is developing well, and the Athletic confirms he's gone full Cristiano and working on getting 3-5 headed goals a season. He's increased his G/A output every season of his career, and if he can do that again we are looking at a PFA POTS type player. As for Martinelli, the best thing that happened to him is Trossard trying to take his place in the team. Gabi is no longer chopping inside every time, he's focusing on using that blistering pace - which really is his superpower - and getting to that byline. By simplifying his game, he can be the main counter attacking outlet for the team.
Martinelli is not ready...he is trying too hard because of the pressure Trossard has placed on him. If he can relax and be more composed, he'll be ready.
Don't be surprised to see him warming the bench against Wolves.
Raptora was complaining in the last comments about the possible Nketiah price, and dissenter responds with: what should we do if there's no better bid?
I agree with dissenter.
Edu can't win in this case. A popular podcast did a poll on whether to sell Eddie for APPROX 25m + add-ons.. and it came out basically 50/50. So Edu needs to ignore critics. He will get slammed by 50% no matter what he does.
Does anyone think he's turning down better offers for some reason?
Eddie barely played last season in 2024.
How about some credit for Edu and the owners, for not letting Eddie walk for free, getting a bit of use out of him, and now able to sell him for pure profit, since he came for free....
It seems like spoiled children complaining about prices when there's only 1 bid so far.
One last thing, a fekking lot of you here were saying that Eddie's salary would make it impossible to sell him at all... I said you were idiots at the time, because it's not that much for a top team striker, and he could always take a cut if he wants to move to play instead of sit and watch.
Where are all of the people who said it was a bad deal?
Wrong as usual, les miserables move on to different topics because their opinions have been shite for years, especially about Arteta.
I disagree with the fee for Nketiah. Dominoes will fall and Arsenal could benefit from that with Nketiah. Oh, well...very nice game today, and I also believe Arsenal will win the title this year, Pedro!
We shouldn’t rely on the last day of the TW for all of our transfers though. If the deal is ok then we go for it imo - that is a not bad deal for Eddie and shifts 100k pw off our wage bill too.
I didn't say the last day...a dominoes-may-fall can happen any day between now and the last day. Arsenal needs to take a stand and this season should well be it. If Nketiah stays in the end, he stays. He could always take a pay cut if a team accepts Arsenal's valuation or if there is a bidding war and the winning club asks for that - AND IF HE REALLY WANTS TO PLAY!
I'd move him on personally. We paid nothing for him, and 25m in any currency plus add ons is good for a player who no longer plays at all for us, and who cost us nothing. I'm starting to see it as a fair price in this market.
He definitely should be moved on - and the rumblings have already begun as premier clubs like Bournemouth are beginning to take a sniff in our direction. We have to take a stand now and stop accepting ridiculous fees [under the player's value] - so that clubs like Juventus, Internazionale, and Marseille stop disrespecting us by offering peanuts compared to how they approach other clubs over players [those not at the level of the Arsenal players in question].