176 Comments

I wouldn't have anything to do with Raphinha, fuck that c*** and their dreams to play for one of the cheatiest and shittiest clubs in the world, let him rot in the Barca reserves ...

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Brilliant analysis & an even better written post Pedro!

Le-Grove content is top notch! Keep it up!

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Jeff:

"why he(Raya) conceded all the goals last season with a brilliant defence in front of him"

Bright guy alert.

He conceded all the goals?

Who else was going to concede goals, the CF? Saka?

The Emi Martinez stat I provided was clearly labeled as CLAIMS by keepers.

That's just one stat. Any time I mention it I make it clear it's about claiming crosses, high balls.

Raya is top in Europe by a wide margin. Martinez is 50% below, which is a lot.

It seems you don't know what claims refers to. That's your problem, not mine or Rayas.

Emi is a great keeper, but it's a fact he will never play for a team like this Arsenal, or Pep Guardiola, or a Klopp level manager.

They know the clear limitations of what he can do with his feet, so he has to shine playing for teams aiming for top 4, secondary domestic trophies or international tournaments.

He's still great, but your understanding of what top modern teams need at the back is like Neanderthals trying to work a piece of modern technology. Embarrassing really.

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Imbecilic comment as usual from the Arteta arsel licker. You're such a waste of space as trying to knock some sense into you is like asking Boris Johnson to tell the truth- impossible. Ignoramuses like you will troll out stats to try and prove your case. So our keeper with the appropriately oversized clown gloves claims some crosses and occasionally finds a player with a long kick- brilliant analysis!! What about saving goals? No, not that's not a requirement for fools like you. You're probably one of those prats who claimed Denilson was the best midfielder in the Premiership based on the number of passes he made? Each one of them one metre max......... You really are an embarrassment. Best to keep quiet and stop posting, utterly clueless.

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After getting it wrong with Ramsdale and Runnarson, i must admit Generational got it right with Raya.

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Why not just use Arteta’s name?

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Because he’s childish

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Nobody uses their real name around here, including Peter.

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I do. Assume Pedro is Peter which is hardly that much of a ‘disguise’.

You of course have changed names various times and won’t reveal your nationality or where you live. I guess being an international man of mystery suits you!

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Sid doesn’t use he’s real name because he’s full of shit 99% of the time.

Nobody knows where he’s from( no one cares) but we all know where he resides.

Inside Putin’s rectum.

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He is not an upgrade, He's the same as Ramsdale, if not worse.Raya won us one game last season- Porto. The rest of the season he was responsible for at least 8 goals which should not have been conceded ( Chelsea, Luton, Spurs, etc), whereas Rqamsdale was responsible for 4 ot 5 in the full season before he was replaced. The agenda that everything Arteta does is right is ridiculous, just like that weirdo Nigel Tufnel's extensive research on Merino whom no-one had heard of before the Euros,

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He doesn’t flap like Ramsdale, commands the box much better and his distribution is better. The only edge Ram has is a penchant for the odd spectacular save. No question therefore that Raya is a significant upgrade. There is no agenda other than the belief that Arteta is getting a lot more right than wrong.

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This was settled way back. Raya is the superior keeper. There is no point arguing with people that refuse to accept it.

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Raya wins the no 1 spot because he catches everything which speeds up the counter.

Rams makes more than the odd spectacular, it's like one every game. Raya has a vastly superior defence in front of him which, given Ramsdale's admission for switching off in games, might actually work against him, meaning he might be better at a club with plenty of goalmouuth action than a Bank of England type.

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You really need to watch the games from last season before making silly comments like this. Raya was crap in the first half of the City home game and could have conceded three. He was at fault for the first goals in both the Spurs games. Why did Raya "flap" against Newcastle away? Why did he give away the goal against Lens? The pathetic performance away at Luton? The "flap" away at Chelsea? The positioning in the last minute loss at Porto? Charging out at home v Bayern cost us the goal? Never communicates to his defenders as Saliba is always asking him to do. A"significant upgrade?!" No, Arteta knows everything. The manager who preferred Leno to Martinez, then bought Ramsdale and now listens to that idiot keeper coach and recruits Raya who is average. "Distribution better!" I prefer keepers to keep shots out and keep a better position.

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I watched every game thanks some at Emirates and rest on RC or streamed, and have done every season. Get your head out of your arse before you write

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Then you're in denial if you didn't see all the Spanish clown's mistakes which led to goals which I have outlined before on a couple of posts. And don't tell me how to post, northbanker- is that rhyming slang for what you are? You and the execrable Tufnel really are a couple of weirdos- zilch football knowledge, let alone any observational skills. Raya "not an upgrade on Ramsdale" as we were sold and is worse. Go on, tell me he's better than Martinez, As for "out of your arse"- about time you got your head out of Arteta's.

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Yeah, He also calms our defenders and midfield, and plays higher to help in build up, the way Arteta had asked Ramsdale to, but Aaron wasn't comfortable with that.

For the doubters- Raya claims 50% more (!) than Emi Martinez, who is the next best in all of Europe.

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I think you also made the ridiculous comment some weeks ago that Raya was a better keeper than Martinez. Enough said! For all the lovers of Raya,

provide an answer to why he conceded all the goals last season with a brilliant defence in front of him. Ramsdale had that cripple Holding causing mayhem in our defence when he made the errors at the end of the previous season.Arteta is now on his 4th keeper in four years. We'll soon find out next season when Raya screws up, he'll be looking for yet another keeper.

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Rich (and anybody else), howdy! Take a pick between Sane and Chiesa. If the 2 became available at a cut price (irrespective of wage) would you bite, considering their skill level and ability to impact performances?

Also Chiesa seem to be injured a bit. Do you have an opinion on this? Should we steer clear?

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Chiesa is a free transfer but looks like one that can be shifted to the Saudi lottery if it doesn’t work out.

He will need a hefty transfer fee though and big wages

For me, it’s always hard to come back to the same league you left- I wouldn’t touch Sane, he’s also individualistic and selfish. He will need big wages and Bayern will want a fee that matches the reputation.

Pedro Neto is the one I would go for, even when injuries are considered. He’s on about 50k weekly at wolves so doubling his wages is enough to convince him.

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I’d absolutely take Sane. Whether he’d accept the pay-cut and the role we’d have for him is another question.

Chiesa is a no-go for me. We need to move out players with unreliability / injury issues, not add them. We’ve been held back by this sort of thing, it would be taking a step backwards. Pedro Neto would be incredible if he stayed fit, but we can’t make gambles like that.

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@all. I look at Sane's age and all he's achieved and I doubt he would have the hunger to do a lot for a team like Arsenal (remember he already conquered England with City). His quality has never been the problem, maybe the hunger.

For Chiesa, that's where I'm leaning towards. Apart from his availability issues, he's electric. I think he'd come on big wages and could bench either Saka or Martinelli permanently if he stays fit. So maybe Art wouldn't want that.

Pedro Neto, apart from availablity issues is perfect. Wolves might want close to 50m and I wonder if it isn't too much for a crock

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Chiesa bench Saka? C’mon man. There are maybe (generously) 5 players in the world that could bench Saka. Chiesa is not one of them

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deletedAug 4
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If we’re accepting chequered injury history then it would be mad to double that gamble on someone unproven in the PL and without any physicality that would suggest an easier transition (e.g. Calafiori). If we’re gambling then it should be Neto. And we shouldn’t be gambling, in my opinion we shouldn’t go after Neto.

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Guimares to Arsenal

Osimhen to Arsenal

All gathering steam. If we negotiate wel, 150m GBP that will surely take us to the title. Bring it on!

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Guimares has stated he’s happy at Newcastle. Can’t see us signing him as well as Merino.

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I hear what you saying but his statement means nothing except that he won't force a move out. He also said he wants to compete in the UCL and win titles.

Only Merino won't be enough if we really want to have a go at the title

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Arsenal are not recruiting Guimaraes in this transfer window. All the evidence is that we are recruiting Merino in midfield. He is a much cheaper option.

Arteta and Edu suggested at the end of last season that we would be exercising

our option to buy Raya and were also in market for a defender, midfielder and forward.

So there is still a forward to buy. However, I don't see Arsenal buying Osimhen.

Firstly Napoli are not going to sell him cheap. Second his agent will demand silly

money and last his wages will also be ridiculous.

It is still unclear whether Havertz will play in attack or midfield. That decision may

well determine whether we buy a first string centre forward or a bench player.

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I'm sure you're right about Guimares but if he was the first choice of Arteta and Edu, before pressing the button on Merino, it was worth giving Newcastle a final opportunity to sell to us.

By buying Merino, it will give Arsenal more of a budget for the final transfers in.

Osimhen feels like a long shot, particularly as we're probably having to compete with PSG and to deal with the Napoli owner! That said, as Pedro suggests, it could be about being patient, with the knowledge that most of our potential targets would be more than happy to join us. Not many clubs have cash. Rodrigo, Rafinha, Sane would all add to our attacking threat, all would be affordable.

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Agreed Bob. Guess we just have to wait this window out and see who we can get. I'm optimistic of a good window

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Diet Busquets

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Bad night? Needing to get some frustrations/anger out?

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Every night is a bad night for poor old Sid

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https://x.com/billycarpy/status/1819674736927887436?t=a8i-rC0RZwkwQShu19K2Yg&s=19

All you could ever want to know about Merino.

Apologies if the deal falls through.

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Nice find!

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There is under a month left for the transfer window to run its course. There is no reason that teams that are quiet now may not take a second look at Arsenal players towards the end of the window when they are clear about their needs. Fans are caught up in the here and now.

Also, some of the people slamming Arsenal for taking a tough stance on Nketiah while we are halfway through the window will be the same sorry folks slamming the club if Nketiah was let go for a pittance or less than his worth.

Remember the blah-blah-blah about Toney to Tottenham? Shit happens. His replacement is out for the rest of the year. Still think Toney is going anywhere? Anything can happen this month - just go with the flow.

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I must be in the minority, because I don't care how much Eddie fetches. I would take 10 mill and be done with it. Not my money, though. As long as he's gone, that's all I care about.

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I get it about 'Not my money' but the bigger the sales, the more money we can spend to improve our squad.

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Chelsea need a keeper.

So do United, though they're both in denial it seems.

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Nigel Chelsea signed a keeper on 1/8 never heard of him but he was number 1 at Villa Real

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They are not in denial Nigel

Mist neutral fans don’t rate Ramsdale

Why should they, when his own manager doesn’t trust him to share minutes with Raya, who’s by no means world class.

The two games he was forced to play against Brentford because Raya was loan tied, he was dreadful.

Sorry, There are better options than Ramsdale for anyone looking for a keeper.

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'Mist neutral fans don’t rate Ramsdale' - source?

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Can't agree much on that. He's a confidence player, much better stopper and distributor than both those keepers for example.

Wasn't he voted premier league PFA keeper of the year, only one year ago?

I know he looked bad in at least one of the Brentford starts, but we know how important confidence and continuity is for any keeper... especially Ramsdale, a sensitive guy who's used to starting at all levels.

Raya is clearly better for us, so I'm happy.

I'm still saying to keep Ramsdale as a great backup, unless we get a serious offer. 30m+.

Loaning him doesn't work either.

I trust he'd have a great season on loan, but we'd have to buy a good replacement.

If he returns in a year teams would squeeze the hell out of us because they know we have 3 quality keepers.

And what better options are out there than an England international

and PFA keeper of the season for the second place team behind Man Cheaty?

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Such high standards you have for Rams. You should be pining for him to play for us then.

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He’s already stated that Raya is better! We had a good goalkeeper in Ramsdale and we upgraded. As we seek to get better still those tough decisions wil be made. It doesn’t stop Ramsdale being an upgrade on the likes of Onana.

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Lequipe reporting that Marseille haven't left the table in negotiations for Nketiah. If this works and Edu gets more money, then he would have sold masterfully.

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I would chain them to the negotiating table and beg for a £1 add on if Eddie gets 1 appearance. Unless we have interest from inside England, we can't use Eddie anymore.

We've outgrown his game.

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Why would Man City give a good player (Alvarez) to their main rival? A team that's almost equal to them?

When they could send him anywhere else in the world.

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By your logic, they were devastated, selling us two players that haven't really taken us to the promised land. Both crocks, and we're all in agreement to be rid of them for better players.

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They sold two players who were surplus to requirements to a side that finished in 5th and 24 points adrift in the league.

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Yeah I’m struggling to believe this too. No way City would sell to us now

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Weird I don't think Manchester City need to win the league again. I think their focus will be CL. They will sell to whoever the player decides to go to.

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Pep doesn’t play in any league for second places, and for a club like City the CL doesn’t really begin until the QFs.

Surely you aren’t suggesting he’s going to play his second stringers 2/3 of the season.

But then again maybe you are considering you said City were done without Gundogan, Mahrez, and aging KDB.

How did that work out?

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Nobody said anything about him playing second string players. I'm alluding to us beating them to the title this time around.

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author

No politics

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Sooo rude, Pedro, it must’ve taken Rich half an hour to compose his end of times diatribe, and you just erased it.

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deletedAug 3
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What was this about rich? Were you popping off about the unrest back home?

Missing it

I’ve been away for weeks

I think Pandora’s box has finally opened

The tinder box has been lit

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deletedAug 4
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Well all the leader of our nation has to do is inform the United Nations that we disagree with their policy on human rights and immigration and inform them in writing that we are opting out of their agreement, so we can address the issue

We aren’t bound by EU law. Like you say, it’s all so preventable. As soon as I’m able, I’ll be leaving the U.K.

when my children are older or moving somewhere in the U.K. where our laws and traditions are respected and my children face less violence if they want to go and shop or catch a film with their friends. Anyone who grew up in london or has teenage children in London will know exactly what I’m talking about. Fortunately my children are still 10 or below and we live in a quiet Suburb but it’s creeping out now and I will end up battering some little scum bag if they put their hands on my kids for an iPhone

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deletedAug 4
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Hey, don’t take it out on me, I quite enjoyed it.

Pedro is the villain here.

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Alvarez is getting enough games at city yet he wants to leave. A lot of clubs are after him. Eddie is vilified at arsenal, he is viewed as low quality player by many of the fans and yet there are clubs after his signature. But the elephant in the room is Jesus. A man who came to us with lots of expectations. Handed the number 9 jersey with expectations that he will be rubbing shoulders with the big boys in the league, strangely, he is still rated highly by some but obviously not rated at all by other clubs. He is happy sitting on the bench for a midfielder turned striker, lost his place in the national team, yet he is making no effort to find a new club. I can't think of any other player who lacks ambition like jesus.

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Jesus is in the last chance saloon this season and he knows it.

The fact that he is looking sharper and got his shit together in pre-season points to this.

Now whether he can convert this into actually scoring goals is a different story.

I genuinely hope he does. Otherwise he must be 100% sold ASAP as he would have wasted our time more than anything else.

And please someone talk to him so that he stops that "too quick to fall down" stick that he pulls off all the time. It works at Cheaty but not with The Arsenal. We don't pay off refs. He really needs to cut that crap out.

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Jesus should be booted out of the saloon. Frankly

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I agree with you. Sesko is his replacement. He will cost a little more next season. But that is not a problem as he will carry on being coached and have 100% game time with RB Leipzig next season which is 100% what he needs right now.

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