Topic: Arsenal

[ScottishGoon]

Christ they were shite today. Doesn't bode well for them, with Sanchez clearly about to leave for better things. Lacazette will disappoint, in my opinion. Take away penalties and his scoring record is ordinary. Suspect they'll have to get used to Europa League football.

We were shite yesterday, but Chelsea were full strength apart from their new signings, we had a couple of kids at the back, it was the end of a long tour with games played in difficult humidity and on awful pitches. After the problems during the week with the virus,  it looked like they just wanted out of there and back home. Emirates Cup next weekend and then the Community Shield, even then its difficult judge.

[Floydy]

Can see it ending badly next season at Arsenal, fans already waiting in the wings, possibly lose their talisman, even if he doesn't leave his mind is somewhere else. I think there will be a few comings and goings there this summer, so cant see them putting in any sort of title challenge.
Will the fans settle for their bi-annual FA cup?
Some unhappy players, fans patience virtually non existent, only a PL title or serious challenge will do. Too much ground to make up on other teams.

[rickardinho1]

Can see it ending badly next season at Arsenal, fans already waiting in the wings, possibly lose their talisman, even if he doesn't leave his mind is somewhere else. I think there will be a few comings and goings there this summer, so cant see them putting in any sort of title challenge.
Will the fans settle for their bi-annual FA cup?
Some unhappy players, fans patience virtually non existent, only a PL title or serious challenge will do. Too much ground to make up on other teams.

Where they finish in the league will depend on how Wenger approaches the Europa League.

Last season Arsenal did finish on 75 points in a season with CL, and if they played weakened sides in the EL they'll be a threat for Top 4 again due to to their ability to put away bottom sides.

Of course, a lot depends on keeping Sanchez. If they keep him, I don't believe that he'd suddenly stop trying next season. He's a football player, and would effectively be playing for a big payday at age 30 when he could leave on a free, kind of similar to how Suarez was playing to earn a move to Barcelona in 2013/14. If he has a really poor season at Arsenal he'd basically be losing out on money on his last big contract.

[TepidT2O]

Looking at the fee for Lacazette, he seems quite cheap now, his club must be kicking themselves, they could have got £15m more.

[Floydy]

Where they finish in the league will depend on how Wenger approaches the Europa League.

Last season Arsenal did finish on 75 points in a season with CL, and if they played weakened sides in the EL they'll be a threat for Top 4 again due to to their ability to put away bottom sides.

Of course, a lot depends on keeping Sanchez. If they keep him, I don't believe that he'd suddenly stop trying next season. He's a football player, and would effectively be playing for a big payday at age 30 when he could leave on a free, kind of similar to how Suarez was playing to earn a move to Barcelona in 2013/14. If he has a really poor season at Arsenal he'd basically be losing out on money on his last big contract.

#indeed   i reckon they will get 4th as it happens. as stated wont be enough to keep the wolves at bay

[PeterTheRed ...]

Looking at the fee for Lacazette, he seems quite cheap now, his club must be kicking themselves, they could have got £15m more.

Well, so far only Man City (Walker) and Man Utd (Lukaku) have spent silly money on a player. All the other top transfers, like Salah to LFC or Morata to Chelsea are being done at relatively sensible prices. We know that Aulas is generally a very tough negotiator, but in this case he was pretty open to selling Lacazette, so there must have been some promise that the player could leave this summer.

[TepidT2O]

Well, so far only Man City (Walker) and Man Utd (Lukaku) have spent silly money on a player. All the other top transfers, like Salah to LFC or Morata to Chelsea are being done at relatively sensible prices. We know that Aulas is generally a very tough negotiator, but in this case he was pretty open to selling Lacazette, so there must have been some promise that the player could leave this summer.

Is morata worth that much more?

[Gerry Attrick]

Is morata worth that much more?

Morata is younger and has a knack of being a big game player so even though his overall goalscoring record isn't special I'd say he is worth more.

[PeterTheRed ...]

Is morata worth that much more?

Well, Real Madrid reported the Morata fee at €65 million, and Lyon reported the Lacazette fee at €53 million, so it is not that much more. Also, Morata is younger and comes from Real Madrid, so that probably played a role in the price. Yes, Lyon probably could have got a bit more for Lacazette in this market, but probably not £15 million more, as you have suggested above.

[ScottishGoon]

Still seems adamant he's staying, from Arsenal.com

Before he left China on Saturday night, Arsene Wenger had one final media duty to fulfil - a chat with newspaper reporters.


Alexis was the main subject - as he has often been at press conferences on tour - and here’s what the boss said about the latest speculation.

on if he thinks Alexis is in Paris…
No, I don’t think so.

on the French media claiming Alexis has been in Paris…
I read L’Equipe in the last three or four days. It has moved from Sanchez to Neymar. Today they speak about Neymar, three days ago they speak about Alexis. They need as well, like you [reporters], subjects.

on PSG surely not being able to sign Neymar and Alexis…
No. They cannot get Sanchez so they go for Neymar.

on if he’s adamant that Alexis will be an Arsenal player on August 31 and if his mind could change…
No, my mind has been made up for a while now.

on if he needs to make that stance…
I think I made it clear a few times.

on whether Alexis has specifically asked to leave Arsenal…
No.

on the club being in a different situation to 2011 or 2012…
We are in a strong financial situation. So we want to keep our best players. You can see that there is a fight everywhere to get top players.

on whether he expects to move any players on - such as Kieran Gibbs…
There are talks, yes. There is contact but we are not close.

[SerbianScouser]

You definitely wouldn't put it past Alexis to raise hell if necessary to get his way. For a while his demeanour was 'I'm bigger than Arsenal' anyway. Wenger can say whatever he wants but if Alexis becomes determined to leave he will make the situation so untenable that Arsenal won't have a choice. It would have been a totally different case if the contract situation gave Arsenal at least a bit of leverage.

Given his age you could understand the urgency on his part to go to a CL club to try to win it.

[The North Bank]

You definitely wouldn't put it past Alexis to raise hell if necessary to get his way. For a while his demeanour was 'I'm bigger than Arsenal' anyway. Wenger can say whatever he wants but if Alexis becomes determined to leave he will make the situation so untenable that Arsenal won't have a choice. It would have been a totally different case if the contract situation gave Arsenal at least a bit of leverage.

Given his age you could understand the urgency on his part to go to a CL club to try to win it.

He's had a bad attitude all season and was still comfortably our best player. South Americans seem to have  the ability to go on the head while their feet  still dazzle.
I just want the season to start , it's been far too long this break, tired of tennis, pre season friendlies and having to pretend that women's football means anything.
At least we start on the Friday, one day before everyone else.

[Ciara (with a capital "C")]

Antalyaspor in talks with Arsenal over a deal for Wilshere?

What a fall from grace that is! Was sure he would end up at a Swansea/West Ham type Club.

[PeterTheRed ...]

Antalyaspor in talks with Arsenal over a deal for Wilshere?

What a fall from grace that is! Was sure he would end up at a Swansea/West Ham type Club.

To be honest, I wouldn't mind playing my football and earning my millions here ...

[gerrardisgod]

Aren't ciggies relatively cheap in Turkey too? Puff away, Jack. Puff away.

[clinical]

If they hold onto Sanchez and get Lemar along with Lacazette and Kolasinac they will challenge for title.

[The North Bank]

If they hold onto Sanchez and get Lemar along with Lacazette and Kolasinac they will challenge for title.

You know we ll never do that, if Lemar comes in, Sanchez goes. Its the Arsenal way, always 1 player short.

[ScottishGoon]

If they hold onto Sanchez and get Lemar along with Lacazette and Kolasinac they will challenge for title.

Even if we do somehow manage that, i feel we might be short in midfield, we have the numbers but not necessarily the quality.

[clinical]

You know we ll never do that, if Lemar comes in, Sanchez goes. Its the Arsenal way, always 1 player short.

To be honest out of all the players that moved this summer, the one I can't work out why we weren't involved in was Kolasinac. Great signing on paper and risk free for you. After Matip success I'm surprised we didn't try again. Everyone tells me Robertson was great price at £10m yes he's on low wages but still over the contract length Kolasinac will be cheaper.

[Schmidt]

To be honest out of all the players that moved this summer, the one I can't work out why we weren't involved in was Kolasinac. Great signing on paper and risk free for you. After Matip success I'm surprised we didn't try again. Everyone tells me Robertson was great price at £10m yes he's on low wages but still over the contract length Kolasinac will be cheaper.

Not necessarily, Kolasinac will have been given a signing on fee that wasn't reported (ditto for Matip), I wouldn't be surprised if he costs more than Robertson in combined fees and wages.

Also Klopp may just not have wanted him.

[Dim Glas]

Not necessarily, Kolasinac will have been given a signing on fee that wasn't reported (ditto for Matip), I wouldn't be surprised if he costs more than Robertson in combined fees and wages.

Also Klopp may just not have wanted him.

I'm pretty sure he would. He is going to be one one hell of a wage there. 

The Kolasinac thing has been done to death. There could be many reasons Liverpool where not interested from not thinking he's suitable style wise to this team, to being worried about that bad injury he had, or to just not thinking he's that good.

Or it could be that they where intersted, but he wasn't, or they couldn't / wouldn't compete with the wages / bonuses he was offered at Arsenal.

We'll never know though

[Ashburton]

I'm pretty sure he would. He is going to be one one hell of a wage there. 

The Kolasinac thing has been done to death. There could be many reasons Liverpool where not interested from not thinking he's suitable style wise to this team, to being worried about that bad injury he had, or to just not thinking he's that good.

Or it could be that they where intersted, but he wasn't, or they couldn't / wouldn't compete with the wages / bonuses he was offered at Arsenal.

We'll never know though

Maybe his wife wanted the London shopping, like Sanchez.

[Dim Glas]

Maybe his wife wanted the London shopping, like Sanchez.

indeed 

[.adam]

Kolasinic is rumoured to be on around £140k p/w. There is no way Klopp would've sanctioned that level of wage for someone to compete with Milner, especially when Milner is on similar money.

[Ashburton]

Compete with a winger, turned CM, turned auxillary left back?

I thought it was expected you pay more when you have no actual transfer fee attached.  Even if you assume 100k pw, 40k per week difference is 2m per year.  On a 5 year contract we aren't talking more than a player would have cost up front.

By that logic you'll probably have spent more on Moreno.

[ggcc14]

Why aren't they interested in van Dijk..? Seem's like he would suit them.

[The North Bank]

Why aren't they interested in van Dijk..? Seem's like he would suit them.

Im guessing the price, 60m is a lot of money to us, especially on a defender.

[Ashburton]

Im guessing the price, 60m is a lot of money to us, especially on a defender.

60m, for a defender?  Arsene's got a nose bleed already.

I thought we were selling defenders this transfer window, too, with Jenkinson, Gibbs and Chambers all on their way out.  A shame for Chambers especially as I quite like him.

Most important signing we could make is a quality CM, I'd like to see a bid put in for Keita.  Wilshere rumours over him joining West Ham, however he seems to limit himself to a move within London and his high wages limits where he needs to go.  Think it's about we let him move on, and I've been one of his more vocal supporters over the years.

[Dim Glas]

60 mill is mad, but then again, so was 35 mill for Mustafi

[Ashburton]

60 mill is mad, but then again, so was 35 mill for Mustafi

I just think of him as two Alberto Aquilanis and the pain goes away.

[davidlpool1982]

I just think of him as two Alberto Aquilanis and the pain goes away.

Hey, there's only one Alberto Aquilani! With his sad, brooding eyes and permanent Doctor's Note.

[Dim Glas]

I just think of him as two Alberto Aquilanis and the pain goes away.

you had to go that far back? Two Stewart Downings more like   

[The North Bank]

Mustafi no longer looks overpriced, when full backs are costing 50m. He ll soon look like a bargain.

[ElCapo]

Overpriced is a silly concept, I don't understand why fans get arsey and moralistic about it in the first place.

Would you rather overspend by 20 million to fill a gap in the team/squad that can help you win a trophy, or would you rather Kroenke extract 20 million extra dividends from the club? 

[The North Bank]

Overpriced is a silly concept, I don't understand why fans get arsey and moralistic about it in the first place.

Would you rather overspend by 20 million to fill a gap in the team/squad that can help you win a trophy, or would you rather Kroenke extract 20 million extra dividends from the club?

If we have the money id want us to spend it, but even very rich football clubs have a limit on what they can spend. Id rather spend 60m on Lamar than Van Dijk, obviously id love both, and Mbappe, Neymar too, but fans see what the likes of Man city are spending and incorrectly assume that any club can spend 200m every window because the premier league is rich.

[Skeeve]

Overpriced is not so much a silly concept as it is a moving target.

Most years you get a steady increment from the previous one, but every few you instead get a larger jump so it is perfectly possible for a player like Mustafi to have been overpriced at 35m last season even if that same player would now be getting overpriced at 45-50m instead this season.

[The North Bank]

Overpriced is not so much a silly concept as it is a moving target.

Most years you get a steady increment from the previous one, but every few you instead get a larger jump so it is perfectly possible for a player like Mustafi to have been overpriced at 35m last season even if that same player would now be getting overpriced at 45-50m instead this season.

The price is only moving one way, and its not down, now there is talk of 150m players, and no is batting an eye lid.

[Antex]

Seen it over and over again. One side of me hopes that the so called "new direction" doesn't allow it to fuck us up again but the other side wants that petulant child Sanchez gone. I was sad when Fabregas left, annoyed with Nasri and Adebayor, Henry & especially RVP but if we can get a good fee for Sanchez, I won't be mad at all if we spend it on the likes of Lemar. His childish "sick selfish smilies" that he posted instead of showing up for training are annoying me to bits. It reminds me of what Gallas displayed after I believe Clichy gave up a penalty years ago. There's a difference between being mad at mediocrity around you like Keane and annoying characters like him and Gallas. At this point I don't care if he goes or stays as long as there's quality players invested back into the team.

[ScottishGoon]

Emirates Cup this weekend. Heard a wee rumour we were going to arrange Ray Parlour to take Ralf Ragnick and Naby Keita out in Islington tonight for a few Strongbows and Jagerbombs to lay the groundwork of a Keita deal materialising. Heard we were willing to throw in Debuchy and Gibbs as part of the deal,obviously Leipzig would need to put money towards that. 

[Pistolero]

Crywank alert: RB Leipzig v Sevilla  live on Quest (!) ....2.00pm