Tonight's the night that the dark clouds are blown away....3 nil to the Arsenal in a packed out very noisy Emirates....then on to the villa game.....think positive.....we can do this.....long way to go yet.
Juventus just got Randal Kolo Muani agreed on a 6 month straight loan. No obligation or option to buy. If he doesn't work you ship him back to PSG.
These are the kind of deals we should have been looking at, but Arteta has been fixated with Vlahovic for 3 years and he's too arrogant to have anyone suggest any other option.
So for the idiot that says we can't get a striker in January we've had Completed or nearing completionf:
- Noel Okafor from AC Milan back to Austria
- Kolo Muani to Juventus
- And the one that grates the most, Omar freaking Mamoush to City who already have Haaland.
We've lost two very creative, very important, very unpredictable players. Since the start of the window & before, we've been actively looking at what we can do to improve and impact the squad. The news of Gabi now takes the scenario to another dimension.
The funny thing about our attack has been how bad all of them have been. People have lost thier heads about Havertz because he had a horrendous week where he missed 3 sitters. He has been bad since he had a knock and an illnesss. He is clearly a confidence player too.
But I think Trossard and Martinelli have been much worse through out the season. They have been competing on who can put in a worse performance all season. Sterling has been bad but at least he has looked dangerous at times when he has been given a chance. I would start him tonight without a doubt. Spurs are always exploited by players like him.
So in the market, if I had to choose to move for a one of a striker or a winger, it would be for a winger because of our diabolical options. I want both but it is likely we are in for one forward. If we add a winger, I can trust Kai or Trossard to finish chances more than I can believe Martinelli, Trossard or Sterling can create something out wide. And that says something.
Why is it so difficult to be a successful football club? Every Premiership club employs top people in areas of coaching and scouting, let alone, financial, commercial and legal. We're unhappy and we're near the top of the table in PL and CL. Think of all the other clubs in a worst place than us!
Pretty much every fan of all Premiership clubs would be able in a split second to name say three positions that need to be upgraded in order to see a significant improvement. If we can see it, why can't they, is the mantra! The obvious answer is, of course the bloody can! Financial constraints are an issue, wages as well as transfer budget. Spaces in the squad and injuries affect what can be done.
Considering Arsenal, most of us are completely Arsenal centric, I know I am. We are aware of our strengths and also recognise weaknesses. Most fans are the same, they see their own clubs' strengths and weaknesses and look at other clubs through a different lens.
This season has been odd so far. Most of the richest teams have had issues, Liverpool being the exception. Have they maxed out on what they are capable of? ; VVD and Salah could become unavailable which would massively hinder them?
Reality is, Arsenal have been defensively sound but when Saka is unavailable, limited in attack. We'd be clear at the top with a clinical finisher, even with the red card nonsense at the start of the season.
If we win tonight and then again on Saturday, our season would be back on track. If we drop more than 2 points, the storm clouds will gather further. Finishing 2nd twice has understandably raised our hopes and expectations. Perspective is tough to cling to!
Obviously there are those who know more about the strengths and the weaknesses of other club than arsenal. Those who know when others will start losing points and when their managers will likely get the boot. But apparently they can't predict anything about arsenal. They can't see that without a proper striker we'll fall short again. They can't see that saka alone can't carry our creative burden, they can't see beyond the fact that it is dangerous to rely on corner kicks. But they knew which player in another club who will not renew his contract. Quite a lot of our fans have mastered other clubs than arsenal. They are preoccupied by fixture list of other club than ours. So I will advise you to speak for yourself.
So I have a few thoughts….below are the to date player acquisitions under Tets.
Mari – 6m
Cedric – Free
Willian – Free
Gabriel – 26m
Runarsson – 2m
Partey – 50m
Ryan - loan
Odegard – 35m
Tavares – 8m
Lokonga – 17.5m
White – 58.5m
Ramsdale – 28m
Tomiyasu – 18.6m
Trusty – 1.8m
Vieira – 35m
Turner – 5.9m
Marquinhos – 3.5m
Jesus – 52.2m
Zinchenko – 35m
Trossard – 24m
Kiwior – 19.5m
Jorginho – 11.3m
Havertz – 75m
Timber – 40m
Rice – 116m
Raya – 32m
Calafiori – 45m
Merino – 32m
Sterling - Loan
29 signings – 777m not including loan fees
How many of these 29 signings would you rate above average for a team like Arsenal ?
Add to this, if you see the contracts renewed, for Auba, Eddie, Tomiyasu, amongst others, it’s a grim picture on talent ID man.
Now for next season, we are looking at:
Attack: Kai, Saka, Martinelli, Tross, (Nwaneri ?)
Mid: Ode, Rice, Merino, Zubi
So that’s 9 players for 6 positions. Does that mean we still have a shortfall of 3 players ? We don’t have a natural WC 8, no primary striker, and LW options in GM and LT are weak.
Def: Cala, MLS, Gabriel, Saliba, White, Timber
Tierney, Chenko, Kiwior, and Tomi clearly won’t be continued. So that’s leaves us with 2 bodies short
GK: Raya
All in all, that’s atleast 6 new players we need. That’s not possible. Our squad always seems to be so incomplete because our earlier acquisitions are average / stop-gap.
Best case scenario, you buy Sesko, back up keeper, Zubi, and one of Mbuemo / Neco (would love the Brentford man)….. and that is the absolute best case scenario given the money outlay and the minimum monies incoming, again because our outgoing players will be, Partey, Jorg, Tierney and Tomi - free, Chenko and Kiwior - 20m (remember, average / stop-gap players….)
So in this best case our squad will look like….
Tros, GM, Kai, Sesko, Saka, Mbuemo
Ode, Ethan
Rice, merino, Zubi
Cala, MLS, GM, Saliba, White, Timber
Raya, +
That’s still very weak on creativity given Ode and an infant Nwaneri + no creative 8 + impotent LW.
Ramsdale was here 3 seasons. One in a top 4 fight, one in a title fight and the other on the bench. we paid 24m plus 6 m in add ons and sold him for 18m and a sell on clause. 50m for one year is a lie.
All things considered, Jesus, Chenko, Tomi, for me have been below average signings. Tross has been slightly above average, but we are not getting any money for him when we sell him. Kiwior is we can recovered the money we spent, then, bang average.
It terribly bites my heart each time I read or hear Arteta talk about adding a defender, or midfielder, to he Arsenal squad. The fact Arteta entions Zubimendi or some goalkeeper somewhere tells me he's not ready to change.
I personally don't care about Vlahovic and Osimhem (they never liked Arsenal and Osimhen doesn't fit Arsenal style). I'd prefer Arsenal but a striker from the EPL. Isak is the right deal, for me, and Arsenal should spend over a hundred million on him. Unfortunately, Isak doesn't leave this January. Therefore, I get Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford by all means - he would make a decent buy and help Arsenal mount a better title challenge.
Sad, it hasn't work out for G.J. at the Emirates and I'm afraid t will never ever happen for him. Once back from injury, I'll let him go-maybe the gods his his luck outside the Emirates.
Viktor Gyikeres and Benjamen Sesko are the two goal poachers I'd get on permanent deal and long term, any can be number one at Arsenal. Mbeumo can deputise for the #9 and for Saka as well.
Sad that Arsenal found themselves where they are today. The EPL title beckoned to Arsenal but Arteta refused to answer. Given Man City's bad form this season, Arsenal would have easily run away with the title had they strengthened appropriately (with a proven striker). It's like Liverpool take it on a platter of gold. Believe me, if Arsenal miss out on the EPL title this season, Arteta may not get the opportunity to get so close until he's sacked. I really hope that is not the case anyway.
Fans are unhappy about the Zubimendi announcement, because we work on a midfielder deal, when our attack is just screaming from emptiness. And before Jesus injury everyone was hinting there won't be an attacking signing.
In midfield we've spent 105 mln on Rice to play 6, now apparently he's an 8. We've spent 65 mln on Havertz to play 8, no he's apparently a non-finishing striker. We've spent extra 35 on Merino - again why, If the plan was to sign Zubimendi? And now we spent 50 more on Zubimendi.
At the same time, we could have spent big money on an actual striker or a skilled winger that you actually don't have to move around the pitch and just let them do the job they were bought for. Our biggest attacking signing is Jesus that really didn't move the needle.
Vlahovic has 7 goals out of 11 xG in Serie A. He's the same misser as Kai, not a finisher.
Semenyo has 7 out of 9 xG. Also not that clinical.
Mbeumo has 13 goals out of 7 xG. Maybe over performing this year, but still quite good.
Cunha has 10 goals out of 4.5 xG (with a direct corner goal). I know we moved past him, but he would received 4.5 xG in Arsenal in just three games. He is the closest to what we actually need.
Sesko has 7 goals out of 4.5 xG (not sure why Leipzig created so few).
But yeah, Vlahovic looks like a worst choice for a finisher.
Tonight is one of the biggest games of the Arteta era. Absolutely must win at all costs. Liverpool dropped points yesterday, and if we can close the gap to 4 points, we are absolutely in a title race. It's all about being in the hunt when we go to Anfield in May.
People won't want to hear it, but tonight is a referendum on Kai Havertz. He needs to score a goal. I don't care if it's the scrappiest thing you've ever seen, a NLD goal is a game changer for an Arsenal players rep.
P.s. I don't think I've ever seen an NLD premier league fixture kick off at 8pm! Night time NLD under the lights at the Emirates. OMG. Every pub from Old Street to Seven Sisters is going to be standing room only. The lads can not lose this game.
Tonight's the night that the dark clouds are blown away....3 nil to the Arsenal in a packed out very noisy Emirates....then on to the villa game.....think positive.....we can do this.....long way to go yet.
Love the user name. And the positivity too.
All Juve thus had to do to get Kolo Muani on loan with no obligation to buy was to pay all his £200k wages.
Why didn’t we just do that?
We love making things hard for ourselves
Vlahovic isn’t all that, time has proven that already.
Is he better that the much maligned Havertz?
Juventus just got Randal Kolo Muani agreed on a 6 month straight loan. No obligation or option to buy. If he doesn't work you ship him back to PSG.
These are the kind of deals we should have been looking at, but Arteta has been fixated with Vlahovic for 3 years and he's too arrogant to have anyone suggest any other option.
So for the idiot that says we can't get a striker in January we've had Completed or nearing completionf:
- Noel Okafor from AC Milan back to Austria
- Kolo Muani to Juventus
- And the one that grates the most, Omar freaking Mamoush to City who already have Haaland.
Our organization and planning is pathetic.
Arteta on transfers
We've lost two very creative, very important, very unpredictable players. Since the start of the window & before, we've been actively looking at what we can do to improve and impact the squad. The news of Gabi now takes the scenario to another dimension.
The funny thing about our attack has been how bad all of them have been. People have lost thier heads about Havertz because he had a horrendous week where he missed 3 sitters. He has been bad since he had a knock and an illnesss. He is clearly a confidence player too.
But I think Trossard and Martinelli have been much worse through out the season. They have been competing on who can put in a worse performance all season. Sterling has been bad but at least he has looked dangerous at times when he has been given a chance. I would start him tonight without a doubt. Spurs are always exploited by players like him.
So in the market, if I had to choose to move for a one of a striker or a winger, it would be for a winger because of our diabolical options. I want both but it is likely we are in for one forward. If we add a winger, I can trust Kai or Trossard to finish chances more than I can believe Martinelli, Trossard or Sterling can create something out wide. And that says something.
Why is it so difficult to be a successful football club? Every Premiership club employs top people in areas of coaching and scouting, let alone, financial, commercial and legal. We're unhappy and we're near the top of the table in PL and CL. Think of all the other clubs in a worst place than us!
Pretty much every fan of all Premiership clubs would be able in a split second to name say three positions that need to be upgraded in order to see a significant improvement. If we can see it, why can't they, is the mantra! The obvious answer is, of course the bloody can! Financial constraints are an issue, wages as well as transfer budget. Spaces in the squad and injuries affect what can be done.
Considering Arsenal, most of us are completely Arsenal centric, I know I am. We are aware of our strengths and also recognise weaknesses. Most fans are the same, they see their own clubs' strengths and weaknesses and look at other clubs through a different lens.
This season has been odd so far. Most of the richest teams have had issues, Liverpool being the exception. Have they maxed out on what they are capable of? ; VVD and Salah could become unavailable which would massively hinder them?
Reality is, Arsenal have been defensively sound but when Saka is unavailable, limited in attack. We'd be clear at the top with a clinical finisher, even with the red card nonsense at the start of the season.
If we win tonight and then again on Saturday, our season would be back on track. If we drop more than 2 points, the storm clouds will gather further. Finishing 2nd twice has understandably raised our hopes and expectations. Perspective is tough to cling to!
Obviously there are those who know more about the strengths and the weaknesses of other club than arsenal. Those who know when others will start losing points and when their managers will likely get the boot. But apparently they can't predict anything about arsenal. They can't see that without a proper striker we'll fall short again. They can't see that saka alone can't carry our creative burden, they can't see beyond the fact that it is dangerous to rely on corner kicks. But they knew which player in another club who will not renew his contract. Quite a lot of our fans have mastered other clubs than arsenal. They are preoccupied by fixture list of other club than ours. So I will advise you to speak for yourself.
Certainly not speaking on your behalf, your mind is your own!
So I have a few thoughts….below are the to date player acquisitions under Tets.
Mari – 6m
Cedric – Free
Willian – Free
Gabriel – 26m
Runarsson – 2m
Partey – 50m
Ryan - loan
Odegard – 35m
Tavares – 8m
Lokonga – 17.5m
White – 58.5m
Ramsdale – 28m
Tomiyasu – 18.6m
Trusty – 1.8m
Vieira – 35m
Turner – 5.9m
Marquinhos – 3.5m
Jesus – 52.2m
Zinchenko – 35m
Trossard – 24m
Kiwior – 19.5m
Jorginho – 11.3m
Havertz – 75m
Timber – 40m
Rice – 116m
Raya – 32m
Calafiori – 45m
Merino – 32m
Sterling - Loan
29 signings – 777m not including loan fees
How many of these 29 signings would you rate above average for a team like Arsenal ?
Add to this, if you see the contracts renewed, for Auba, Eddie, Tomiyasu, amongst others, it’s a grim picture on talent ID man.
Now for next season, we are looking at:
Attack: Kai, Saka, Martinelli, Tross, (Nwaneri ?)
Mid: Ode, Rice, Merino, Zubi
So that’s 9 players for 6 positions. Does that mean we still have a shortfall of 3 players ? We don’t have a natural WC 8, no primary striker, and LW options in GM and LT are weak.
Def: Cala, MLS, Gabriel, Saliba, White, Timber
Tierney, Chenko, Kiwior, and Tomi clearly won’t be continued. So that’s leaves us with 2 bodies short
GK: Raya
All in all, that’s atleast 6 new players we need. That’s not possible. Our squad always seems to be so incomplete because our earlier acquisitions are average / stop-gap.
Best case scenario, you buy Sesko, back up keeper, Zubi, and one of Mbuemo / Neco (would love the Brentford man)….. and that is the absolute best case scenario given the money outlay and the minimum monies incoming, again because our outgoing players will be, Partey, Jorg, Tierney and Tomi - free, Chenko and Kiwior - 20m (remember, average / stop-gap players….)
So in this best case our squad will look like….
Tros, GM, Kai, Sesko, Saka, Mbuemo
Ode, Ethan
Rice, merino, Zubi
Cala, MLS, GM, Saliba, White, Timber
Raya, +
That’s still very weak on creativity given Ode and an infant Nwaneri + no creative 8 + impotent LW.
Our trophy hunt will have to wait my brothers
My bad - so how much did he cost us for the two years he played for us ?
Tavares, Viera, Lokonga, massive failures
Ramsdale cost us 50m for one year
Ramsdale was here 3 seasons. One in a top 4 fight, one in a title fight and the other on the bench. we paid 24m plus 6 m in add ons and sold him for 18m and a sell on clause. 50m for one year is a lie.
All things considered, Jesus, Chenko, Tomi, for me have been below average signings. Tross has been slightly above average, but we are not getting any money for him when we sell him. Kiwior is we can recovered the money we spent, then, bang average.
It terribly bites my heart each time I read or hear Arteta talk about adding a defender, or midfielder, to he Arsenal squad. The fact Arteta entions Zubimendi or some goalkeeper somewhere tells me he's not ready to change.
I personally don't care about Vlahovic and Osimhem (they never liked Arsenal and Osimhen doesn't fit Arsenal style). I'd prefer Arsenal but a striker from the EPL. Isak is the right deal, for me, and Arsenal should spend over a hundred million on him. Unfortunately, Isak doesn't leave this January. Therefore, I get Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford by all means - he would make a decent buy and help Arsenal mount a better title challenge.
Sad, it hasn't work out for G.J. at the Emirates and I'm afraid t will never ever happen for him. Once back from injury, I'll let him go-maybe the gods his his luck outside the Emirates.
Viktor Gyikeres and Benjamen Sesko are the two goal poachers I'd get on permanent deal and long term, any can be number one at Arsenal. Mbeumo can deputise for the #9 and for Saka as well.
Sad that Arsenal found themselves where they are today. The EPL title beckoned to Arsenal but Arteta refused to answer. Given Man City's bad form this season, Arsenal would have easily run away with the title had they strengthened appropriately (with a proven striker). It's like Liverpool take it on a platter of gold. Believe me, if Arsenal miss out on the EPL title this season, Arteta may not get the opportunity to get so close until he's sacked. I really hope that is not the case anyway.
"The biggest fear now isn't whether we can catch Liverpool, it's whether clubs with scorers behind us could move ahead of us"
100%
This is my biggest worry. Last thing I want is a slugfest. We know Arteta will crumble under the pressure
Fans are unhappy about the Zubimendi announcement, because we work on a midfielder deal, when our attack is just screaming from emptiness. And before Jesus injury everyone was hinting there won't be an attacking signing.
In midfield we've spent 105 mln on Rice to play 6, now apparently he's an 8. We've spent 65 mln on Havertz to play 8, no he's apparently a non-finishing striker. We've spent extra 35 on Merino - again why, If the plan was to sign Zubimendi? And now we spent 50 more on Zubimendi.
At the same time, we could have spent big money on an actual striker or a skilled winger that you actually don't have to move around the pitch and just let them do the job they were bought for. Our biggest attacking signing is Jesus that really didn't move the needle.
Vlahovic has 7 goals out of 11 xG in Serie A. He's the same misser as Kai, not a finisher.
Semenyo has 7 out of 9 xG. Also not that clinical.
Mbeumo has 13 goals out of 7 xG. Maybe over performing this year, but still quite good.
Cunha has 10 goals out of 4.5 xG (with a direct corner goal). I know we moved past him, but he would received 4.5 xG in Arsenal in just three games. He is the closest to what we actually need.
Sesko has 7 goals out of 4.5 xG (not sure why Leipzig created so few).
But yeah, Vlahovic looks like a worst choice for a finisher.
Tonight is one of the biggest games of the Arteta era. Absolutely must win at all costs. Liverpool dropped points yesterday, and if we can close the gap to 4 points, we are absolutely in a title race. It's all about being in the hunt when we go to Anfield in May.
People won't want to hear it, but tonight is a referendum on Kai Havertz. He needs to score a goal. I don't care if it's the scrappiest thing you've ever seen, a NLD goal is a game changer for an Arsenal players rep.
P.s. I don't think I've ever seen an NLD premier league fixture kick off at 8pm! Night time NLD under the lights at the Emirates. OMG. Every pub from Old Street to Seven Sisters is going to be standing room only. The lads can not lose this game.
We had a
N 8 pm kick of 3 seasons ago away when holding got sent off and they derailed our Top 4 charge
Don't bring up the sad memories. It's bad juju.
I remember a League Cup game at WHL when Flamini of all, scored a brace. His second was an unbelievable volley from 20 yards.
Zubi if a done deal is by far the best midfielder we can get for that position he is second to Rodri as a 6. Superb player
If he's second to rodri he'll be playing for Madrid
I wonder why fans would see needs and potential crisis but the club's decision makers never see them until they blow up in our faces.
Arsenal would've been streets ahead on the league table if the club was serious