Topic: Arsenal

[killer-heels]

So...when can we sign Bellerin?

Why do we want him?

[Xabi Gerrard]

Without comment

What's the significance of the number 45? Is he an Aaron Eyoma fan or something?

[Kekule]

Trump is 45th President of the United States.

Morgan has actually gone to quite a bit of effort. 

[Xabi Gerrard]

Trump is 45th President of the United States.

Morgan has actually gone to quite a bit of effort. 

Of course. How cringeable.

[Eeyore]

There was no planned clear out, but we might end up in a better situation due to this natural evolution.

Would be just like us to screw up the Aubameyang deal though, that would be a disaster.

You need a clear out alright North Bank but it isn't the playing staff, it's in the boardroom.

[Djozer]

Without comment

Jaysus, that's embarrassing. You can tell just how touched Trump is by the fact that he appears to be falling asleep out of boredom.

Having Morgan as a famous supporter of your club must be almost as depressing as having Trump as your president.

[So… Howard Philips]

You need a clear out alright North Bank but it isn't the playing staff, it's in the boardroom.

Don't get the Bitters going, they'll think Usmanov is on the way.

[Nobby Reserve]

Walcott has been going nowhere fast.

That's not really fair. I've seen him speed his way up many a blind alley with the ball.

(none as big a dead end as going to Woodison, granted)

[The North Bank]

You need a clear out alright North Bank but it isn't the playing staff, it's in the boardroom.

I think both , but you are 100% right. Until the silent one leaves we ll always be clutching at cup competitions and doing nothing in the league.

[The North Bank]

Piers Moron is a grade A mug.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

Piers Moron is a grade A mug.

because he has 4 season tickets?

[ElCapo]

https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/957751674289913858

BREAKING: Arsenal close to reaching  agreement to sign to striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for club-record fee in region of £60m.

[clinical]

If the signings settle they have improved their team even when losing Sanchez. Walcott is a nonentity.

[CraigDS]

If the signings settle they have improved their team even when losing Sanchez. Walcott is a nonentity.

They've improved the squad maybe, but not the first choice 11.

Micky Ryan is a much worse player than Sanchez, he won't come close to contributing the same sorts of numbers as he did.

Aubameyang, if he can find form and adjust to the PL quickly, will be a better choice than Lacazette up top, but he won't make up for the shortfall in goals lost from Sanchez imo.


Personally feel they've weakened their first choice forwards and not added anyone to the dodgy back line to shore it up. At least we have weakened an area we were strong and bought a top class player for somewhere we were weak.

[CraigDS]

Also, I beg to differ than Walcott was a nonentity. He was never going to be a first choice, or even first off the bench, but he offered an option from there at least. They've lost that now.

[ScottishGoon]

They've improved the squad maybe, but not the first choice 11.

Micky Ryan is a much worse player than Sanchez, he won't come close to contributing the same sorts of numbers as he did.

Aubameyang, if he can find form and adjust to the PL quickly, will be a better choice than Lacazette up top, but he won't make up for the shortfall in goals lost from Sanchez imo.


Personally feel they've weakened their first choice forwards and not added anyone to the dodgy back line to shore it up. At least we have weakened an area we were strong and bought a top class player for somewhere we were weak.

I think it depends on how Wenger sets the team out. Also, i'm not sure we are finished yet. We could yet move for Evans, or don't even be surprised if we try for Luiz since Chelsea are so strongly linked to Giroud just now. Not sure how much they would shore up a back line, think you have shown it's more to do with tactics than anything else.

[CraigDS]

I think it depends on how Wenger sets the team out. Also, i'm not sure we are finished yet. We could yet move for Evans, or don't even be surprised if we try for Luiz since Chelsea are so strongly linked to Giroud just now. Not sure how much they would shore up a back line, think you have shown it's more to do with tactics than anything else.

I wouldn't take ours as any sign of that yet, he's only played a couple of times and going to take time to get full fitness and fully settle. Although no doubt our tactics will play a part, so do individual errors which we make a shit load of, which hopefully VVD at least won't do as often.

[Xabi Gerrard]

I think Arsenal will be stronger (if Aubameyang joins).

Sanchez is a brilliant player but too much of an individualist. Yes he scored and created lots, but the team as a whole didn't progress with him in - they didn't ever get more points, didn't ever score more goals, they won the FA cup before he joined, they won the FA cup after he joined. He adds goals but his teammates' goals dry up.

Unfortunately I think he'll suit Man Utd - Mourinho famously doesn't coach the attack and expects the forward players to solve their own problems whilst he drills the defence. That'll probably be good for Sanchez.

Mkhytarian, whilst not being as good an individual as Sanchez, will probably prefer playing in a better drilled attacking team like Arsenal. Throw in one of the worlds best strikers and I think it could work out well for Arsenal.

[Chris~]

I wouldn't say Aresnal are a better drilled attacking team. They're given more freedom to attack, but it's not particularly structured and comes across very much as improvising and individualism.

[Xabi Gerrard]

I wouldn't say Aresnal are a better drilled attacking team. They're given more freedom to attack, but it's not particularly structured and comes across very much as improvising and individualism.

If I'm not wrong (please correct me if I am), but Mourinho's past players have said that he doesn't do any coaching for the attack - he drills the defence and buys attackers who can solve their own problems, i.e. his attacks are full of individualists rather than being a system.

On the contrary, past Wenger players have said that he doesn't do any work with the defence - one of the famous old guard (Adams, Keown or Dixon I think) said they were surprised when he joined and expected them to solve the defensive problems whilst he drilled the attack. 

[ScottishGoon]

I wouldn't take ours as any sign of that yet, he's only played a couple of times and going to take time to get full fitness and fully settle. Although no doubt our tactics will play a part, so do individual errors which we make a shit load of, which hopefully VVD at least won't do as often.

I was being a bit simplistic there, of course VVD will take time to settle & such. We too suffer from individual errors, take the Man Utd game at home for example, a game we should have won about 5-2 were it not for De Gea & the brain farts in our defence leading to their opening 2 goals. Like i say, it's not something i can see Evans or Luiz really solving while we leave the defence so exposed. I'm hoping if we do sign 1 of them, our main attention in the summer is for a proper midielder that could help protect the defence, either by athleticism or much better tactical & mental discipline, both of which Xhaka seems to lack. 

[The North Bank]

Im very excited by Aubameyangs numbers, absolute goal machine in german football, very interesting how he does here. A front 4 of Ozil Micky Auba and Laca is very exciting, the rest of the team not so much.

[Gerry Attrick]

Im very excited by Aubameyangs numbers, absolute goal machine in german football, very interesting how he does here. A front 4 of Ozil Micky Auba and Laca is very exciting, the rest of the team not so much.

2 attacking midfielders that like to occupy the same space and 2 strikers that are almost identical stylistically (ie offer almost nothing outside the box). Not sure you can have all those on the pitch at the same time.

[CraigDS]

2 attacking midfielders that like to occupy the same space and 2 strikers that are almost identical stylistically (ie offer almost nothing outside the box). Not sure you can have all those on the pitch at the same time.

Almost certainly they won't. If they do then their defense, which was already open enough, will be shockingly open.

[robgomm]

4-2-2-2 should do it, with two deep lying midfielders and plenty of width from the full-backs. Sorted. Make me Mr. Manager.

[ScottishGoon]

I think the transfer of Aubameyang is important in terms of sending out a bit of a statement more than anything else. Everyone was predicting Sanchez & Ozil would leave, we wouldn't be able to replace them, we'd struggle to attract good quality players & continue on a downward spiral. What the signings do, at least for the time being, is halt the spiral of negativity we were in danger of finding ourselves in, especially within the fanbase, & perhaps within the players as well. Perhaps there's a small chance it encourages Ozil to renew? We just need to see if that translates to performances on the pitch.

I think what he's done with the Micky T transfer, although i highly doubt this was planned either, is afford himself a bit of insurance if Ozil doesn't renew, seeing as both like to occupy similar spaces. I think if that happens you might see him going back in for a genuine wide player in the summer, perhaps someone younger like Malcom or Pavon or along those lines. 

[clinical]

I think the transfer of Aubameyang is important in terms of sending out a bit of a statement more than anything else. Everyone was predicting Sanchez & Ozil would leave, we wouldn't be able to replace them, we'd struggle to attract good quality players & continue on a downward spiral. What the signings do, at least for the time being, is halt the spiral of negativity we were in danger of finding ourselves in, especially within the fanbase, & perhaps within the players as well. Perhaps there's a small chance it encourages Ozil to renew? We just need to see if that translates to performances on the pitch.

I think what he's done with the Micky T transfer, although i highly doubt this was planned either, is afford himself a bit of insurance if Ozil doesn't renew, seeing as both like to occupy similar spaces. I think if that happens you might see him going back in for a genuine wide player in the summer, perhaps someone younger like Malcom or Pavon or along those lines.

Think you're making a big mistake replacing your best player in this window. You'd have been better waiting till the summer 

[CraigDS]

Think you're making a big mistake replacing your best player in this window. You'd have been better waiting till the summer 

They've not replaced him. Not one player they've signed replaces what he brought to the side.

It's like suggesting VVD has replaced Coutinho.

[Gerry Attrick]

I think the transfer of Aubameyang is important in terms of sending out a bit of a statement more than anything else. Everyone was predicting Sanchez & Ozil would leave, we wouldn't be able to replace them, we'd struggle to attract good quality players & continue on a downward spiral. What the signings do, at least for the time being, is halt the spiral of negativity we were in danger of finding ourselves in, especially within the fanbase, & perhaps within the players as well. Perhaps there's a small chance it encourages Ozil to renew? We just need to see if that translates to performances on the pitch.

I think what he's done with the Micky T transfer, although i highly doubt this was planned either, is afford himself a bit of insurance if Ozil doesn't renew, seeing as both like to occupy similar spaces. I think if that happens you might see him going back in for a genuine wide player in the summer, perhaps someone younger like Malcom or Pavon or along those lines.

The problem is the guys you are signing don't do much to bring down the average age of your squad. You're becoming a bit Everton like in that most of your important players are not young. If Aubameyang signs you'll have Cech, Koscielny, Monreal, Mkhitaryan, Ozil and Aubameyang aged 28 or above. Signing Aubameyang just reeks of kicking the can down the road to me. If Wenger goes out soon the next manager will have an almighty job on his hands transforming the squad.

[CraigDS]

The problem is the guys you are signing don't do much to bring down the average age of your squad. You're becoming a bit Everton like in that most of your important players are not young. If Aubameyang signs you'll have Cech, Koscielny, Monreal, Mkhitaryan, Ozil and Aubameyang aged 28 or above. Signing Aubameyang just reeks of kicking the can down the road to me. If Wenger goes out soon the next manager will have an almighty job on his hands transforming the squad.

Never realised some of those were so old. Cech 36 in May, Koscielny is 33 in Sept, Monreal turns 32 next month, Mkhitaryan has just turned 29, Ozil is 30 in Oct, and Aubameyang is 29 in June.

[ScottishGoon]

Think you're making a big mistake replacing your best player in this window. You'd have been better waiting till the summer 

I see what you did there. 

They've not replaced him. Not one player they've signed replaces what he brought to the side.

It's like suggesting VVD has replaced Coutinho.

Doesn't have to mean direct replacement. We've adjusted ok in the immediate short term without him so far, before adding Mkhitaryan & Aubameyang into the mix.

Eduardo didn't bring what Henry brought to the table either, but the full team adjusted & almost felt a weight lifted off their shoulders when he left. The ideal scenario for us would be something similar, (but without a leg break & a Gallas meltdown).

The problem is the guys you are signing don't do much to bring down the average age of your squad. You're becoming a bit Everton like in that most of your important players are not young. If Aubameyang signs you'll have Cech, Koscielny, Monreal, Mkhitaryan, Ozil and Aubameyang aged 28 or above. Signing Aubameyang just reeks of kicking the can down the road to me. If Wenger goes out soon the next manager will have an almighty job on his hands transforming the squad.

It is a bit of a worry, but there are still younger guys there. The guys you mention have a spread of 35 to 28 there, so it's not like they all need replacing in the same year.  Then there's the other guys in the squad, like Bellerin, Mustafi, Kolasniac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Wilshere, Lacazette are all not included in the list you mention. Then there's the younger guys like Chambers, Holding, Mavropanos, Nelson, Maitland-Niles, Nketia who you would hope improve.
Like i said, i can see him signing a younger attacker in the summer, we've certainly been looking at them.

[JamesG L4]

Give me old players who win cups over young players who don’t any day.

[Xabi Gerrard]

Give me old players who win cups over young players who don’t any day.

Dilemma - if someone offered you winning FA or League Cups quite often but never ever challenging for the league or CL and never looking like you will (a la Arsenal), would you take that for Liverpool?

[CraigDS]

Give me old players who win cups over young players who don’t any day.

Bit of a silly post given Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan have hardly won too much of note. Nor have Monreal and Koscielny for that matter.

[Xabi Gerrard]

Bit of a silly post given Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan have hardly won too much of note. Nor have Monreal and Koscielny for that matter.

Between those 4 players they've got a Europa League medal, 6 FA Cup medals, a German Cup medal and a League Cup medal.

Not a bad haul. Whether it's good enough for a club of Arsenal's size though is a different matter.

[CraigDS]

Between those 4 players they've got a Europa League medal, 6 FA Cup medals, a German Cup medal and a League Cup medal.

Not a bad haul. Whether it's good enough for a club of Arsenal's size though is a different matter.

I did say too much of note. I mean there is what, over 50 years of pro football between the four of them?

[Xabi Gerrard]

I did say too much of note. I mean there is what, over 50 years of pro football between the four of them?

It's not great looking at our own crop of players then and judging them through that lens. Apart from James Milner (who's hardly the future of our club) we don't have anyone who can boast anything like that. Should we be worried that our players don't have what it takes also?

[CraigDS]

It's not great looking at our own crop of players then and judging them through that lens. Apart from James Milner (who's hardly the future of our club) we don't have anyone who can boast anything like that. Should we be worried that our players don't have what it takes also?

I never said... "Give me old players who win cups over young players who don’t any day." though.

Just pointing out that some of their old players haven't won all that much over their combined 50+ years of being pros.

Granted they've got the likes of Cech who has, but even he has shown signs of losing form this season.

[Xabi Gerrard]

I never said... "Give me old players who win cups over young players who don’t any day." though.

Just pointing out that some of their old players haven't won all that much over their combined 50+ years of being pros.

Granted they've got the likes of Cech who has, but even he has shown signs of losing form this season.

Fair enough.

I'd argue though that Mkhitaryan and their current crop of players (Koscielny, Monreal et al) have actually got a very good recent pedigree of winning trophies though. Not the trophies that I think Arsenal should be settling for, but trophies nonetheless.

[ScottishGoon]

Dilemma - if someone offered you winning FA or League Cups quite often but never ever challenging for the league or CL and never looking like you will (a la Arsenal), would you take that for Liverpool?

There is an even worse option of not doing either!