Morning all.
The Mirror suggest Atletico Madrid want Granit Xhaka and they’re ‘pushing hard to get him’ – their words not mine, written in today’s online version. They say our Swiss midfielder, valued more than the £35m we paid for him, is seen as the ideal replacement for Rodri who’s linked with a move to Man City. Again, that’s all over the back pages, it’s not me making up stuff. Ok NN?
Anyway, if true, I hope Madrid get their man and we finally say goodbye to the guy who really hasn’t done as well as I and probably many of you, hoped or expected he would. Xhaka isn’t a bad player by any means, just not what this Arsenal team needs in the centre of midfielder. In my opinion, our midfield needs power, pace, height and strength, not to mention someone who can read the game. Be proactive rather than reactive, slowly in Granit’s case. A Vieira kind of player, or Toure, a fit and healthy Diaby. Whether there’s that kind of player out there somewhere I don’t know. Better still, do we already have a similar style of player already at the club? Chambers, Bielik or Willock? Will Guendouzi be stronger next season, strong enough to take on that role? Unless the club plan to sign someone of that ilk, we surely have to hope someone steps up and proves they’re ready because a midfield as weak and disorganised as last season will leave our weak and disorganised defence vulnerable again.
The Mirror go on to say that Arsenal wouldn’t let their ‘prize asset’ go, not with four years left on his contract.
I though think his four years left on his contract, one which he signed only last summer, wasn’t about ensuring Xhaka stays at Arsenal but ensuring that if he goes, he goes for a transfer fee rather than for a pittance or nothing. Same with Elneny who had his contracted extended at a similar time.
As we’ve said before, too many of our players have left for free or a small sum but at last, that appears to be being addressed. No player, regardless of how long their contract runs for is guaranteed to stay at the club. If the right offer comes in for any of them, I’m sure the club will think long and hard before making a decision. Then it’s down to the player, the guy who at any time can hand in a transfer request and ‘demand’ to leave. Of course, the club doesn’t have to bow to their demands if they don’t want to but once a players head is turned, in my opinion, they should go.
Maybe Xhaka fancies Madrid, who knows. I hope he does, as I strongly suspect many of you do and perhaps Simeone will whip him into shape. Once he’s gone, if he goes, I don’t really care.
Who comes in this summer is far more important to me, as are the players who have one thing in common. To make Arsenal great again.
Apologies if there are any spelling mistakes of grammatical errors. I’ve read it twice but even so, I’m only human. I make mistakes….
See you in the comments guys.
PS – a couple of rumours.
Arsenal step up interest in Kieran Tierney after Unai Emery identifies Celtic star as his top left back target.’ – Daily Mail. Where they got that from though I really don’t know.
’Arsenal manager Unai Emery is prepared to let young striker Eddie Nketiah go on loan for the season so the England U21 striker can continue his development.’ Mirror.
I wonder if the author has a hot line to the Arsenal manager. I can see it now, red phone to red phone in a very ‘Batman’ kind of way.
I just hope that we are not throwing the baby out with the bath water.I know that we have to raise cash but Xhaka is a useful squad player and there are others I would want to go first
Prize asset.Hilarious banter!let the tug boat go pleassssse.
As much as I think Xhaka isn’t right for the PL. Europa is a very different kettle of fish, domestic cups too..
Prize asset.Hilarious banter!let the tug boat go pleasssssse…
Another example of a player who’s thrived elsewhere, thrived on the international stage and we’ve utilised differently only to see fans turn on him.
Morning all.
I’m not sure it’s that Scott, I just think the PL is too fast for him.
Maybe, Rico, but surely he deserves the chance to okay his best position:
Wenger did it to several players.
If you mean Xhaka Scott, what is his best position?
Rico, for his national side he plays higher up the pitch.
He’s more creative than he is defensive.
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico
I’m not sure of the stats, but I wonder what Arsenal’s results are like when Granit Xhaka isn’t in the team?
He is for us isn’t he Scott? Not sure he’s meant to be though… 😜
What about his previous club though?
Morning Kev.
The Aubameyang links to Man Utd are a bit worrying, is he about to tread the path taken by David Herd, Frank Stapleton, Robin Van Persie, Alexis Sanchez?
The Mancs do like to cherry pick our better players but when did we last sign one of their top players – it never happens?
Not unless you think that Jimmy Rimmer was a top Manc player…
Afternoon Ned…
Kev, stats mean nothing.
Our win rate was poor with Jack starting yet most loved him, it was fantastic with Ramsey starting yet most couldn’t stand him 🙂
I’ll see if I can find them Kev.
Not seen those Auba rumours… can’t see this regime selling to them.
Other factors need to be consider re Xhaka, mainly, who else is in the team… 😆
No point in selling him unless we are getting something better. I remember seeing a video of Elneny playing before he joined us he was spraying long diagonals shooting from distance he looked a different player.I wonder what happened.
That’s true, Rico:
Xhaka had some damn good spells this season, usually when Torreira was along side him.
Lack of playing time I suspect re Elneny, and Wenger getting hold of him and changing his style of play.
Trouble is Scott, his errors usually cost us a goal and those are hard to erase from the memory.
I know, Rico, but that is further reason to try him higher up the pitch I reckon.
If we keep him, of course.
Kev I have to disagree. We got Sylvestre from manure and Wenger said that he was a “top, top player!”
Auba to manure, I doubt it very much. I can’t see him leaving his best buddie Lacazette behind to forage on his own, well not yet, they’ve only just met it would be foolish to a, break up the pairing and b, we haven’t many 20 goals a season players, have we.
All click bait nonsense.
Afternoon all, by the way.
Ah yeah, that was a transfer that only a genius would have made, you are so right Wavy.
I guess that signing was the clearest indication at the time that our manager was losing his grip.
Mind you, Denis Suarez hasn’t filled me with too much confidence…
Santos was a good one…
Afternoon guys.
I was fan of Denis Suarez as you might recall Kev, but a lot of players who play in different leagues are surrounded by players that have abilities that the current Arsenal team do not have. Besides, I reckon it takes a while for that player to adjust to a different style and pace and, THAT’s IF he’s played in the position he’s used to coupled with the frequency he is used ?
Placing players in positions that they are unused to is counter-productive, so it’s not surprising the team doesn’t click.
Injuries to key players does unfortunately mean that it will happen, but wouldn’t it be better to takes someone from the U23’s who plays in that position?
Just a thought.
Andorra I knew next to nothing about Denis Suarez when Arsenal were negotiating for him last January, the positives about him for me was that he’d worked with Emery before and that he was educated at Barcelona.
Unfortunately I was seriously underwhelmed by what he brought to us during his few cameos, not knowing of course about his fitness, but even someone half fit might have shown something, but I felt that he didn’t show anything.
I’m not saying that when he’s fully fit that he isn’t a good player, but I’m not sure that physically he would be suited to English football and with that in mind I don’t think he’s what we needed then or now.
I think that Arsenal’s Kroenke generated austerity will definitely ensure that we see plenty of our U23’s this season coming Andorra…
Rico, what I liked about Santos was how he embraced many things about British culture and especially fish n chips, anyone that can knock back a large cod n chips and play left wing back for Arsenal, will do for me… 🙂
Ned, are you going to support Juventus next season?
Just asking… 😉
I’ll be watching a few of their games, no question 🙂
Just want to see what you get these days for 400k hahahaha
Morning Rico and all. Lovely day over this way.
Early sunny day here in Norfolk only disturbed by the reversing beepers of the dustbin collection . Very early today they must all be off to the beach later.
Morning Adam and all.
Beautiful here in west Berkshire too. No news day again, although ‘we’ve agreed terms’ with around eight players now… 😝
Rico. I can’t wait to see the new line-up myself. 😃
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, Adam and all…
It’s frustrating, but so far none of the other top six, or Leicester/Wolves/Everton, are doing a shed load of transfer business to any degree and tbh I’d rather we miss out on certain targets than overspend on wages and end up paying Ozil/Mkhitarayan wages to players who don’t give a shit about Arsenal…
We’ve seen how doing that, allowing players to control the narrative by running down contracts, has left our club in a bipolar state, not knowing where to turn next, so if January was a taste, then let’s bring on the kids.
And if Aubameyang doesn’t sign, then sell him and reinvest, it’s going to be painful but because of the handling of Wenger/Gazides we’re viewed as a soft touch by agents and that impression isn’t going to change over one transfer window.
We’re a Europa League club that charges its fans Champions League admission prices run by an owner with a Conference mentality.
It needs to change but it won’t under the present owner whose focus is firmly on Inglewood.
But let’s never forget that the state were in has to be left at the door of the previous regime, despite the Wenger apologists arguing otherwise. The obscene wages paid to many players whose transfer value is zero will continue to hurt us until we move them on or their contracts expire.
🤣 Adam.
Morning Kev. Good comment.
I’m with you re Aubameyang and not only him. If players don’t want to commit to the club, sell them. That’s half the reason we are where we are imo. Would Ozil have stayed without such a hideous pay rise? Clearly not, would Mkhitaryan or Auba have joined for less money? Again, probably not.
Compare us to that lot down the road and we’re a joke as far as signings and contracts go. Or we were under Wenger and Gazidis.
New post up now.
Makes sense to keep them to me too. Until they play in an Emery team, how do we know what impact they might have on the team.
Two players who can play Dm and CH – it’s a no brainer when we have a tight budget.