Defender & striker on their way out as Arsenal start to move.

Morning all.

I know this news came out of Sky Sports yesterday but it remains topical I think.

Rumours out:

  • A gap in valuation remains between Arsenal and Roma for sale of Granit Xhaka. Talks continue with all parties remaining hopeful a deal can be done.
  • Marseille are interested in Matteo Guendouzi. Arsenal are listening to offers for Guendouzi and want to do a permanent deal. Guendouzi spent last season on loan at Hertha Berlin.
  • Arsenal listening to offers for striker Eddie Nketiah. Nketiah has one year left on his contract and talks over a new deal have failed to find a resolution.
  • Arsenal are in advanced talks with Stuttgart over the sale of defender Konstantinos Mavropanos. Mavropanos spent last season on loan at Stuttgart. A deal is expected to be finalised this week.
  • Arsenal have rejected a bid from Aston Villa for forward Emile Smith Rowe. Arsenal not entertaining bids for the player and remain hopeful he will sign a new contract at the Emirates Stadium

Rumours in:

  • Arsenal are interested in Sheffield United ‘keeper Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale is one of a number of keepers Arsenal are looking at.They also remain interested in Brighton’s Mat Ryan. Once again throws into doubt the future of Bernd Leno who has intimated it may be time to move on.
  • Brighton have rejected a £40m bid from Arsenal for defender Ben White. 
  • Arsenal are in talks with Anderlecht over the signing of midfielder Albert Lokonga. Lokonga is 21 and has been capped by Belgium U21s.
  • Arsenal remain interested in Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves. There is a gap in the valuation for the player.

Also linked to Arsenal is James Maddison which would be great if a move came off but I just can’t see it happening. But it does seem like there’s legs to the Ben White and Albert Lokonga stories.

Aaron Ramsdale is an interesting one. Might he better for Arsenal than Leno?

 

Quite like the fact that with most of his saves, he manages to push the ball  away from goal and not back into the path of an opponent. You’d get better odds at machines à sous than you would on Leno punching the ball to safety.

As said, I’d love Maddison at Arsenal, Bissouma too and if White does join Arsenal, then we’d have a right back, defensive midfielder and centre back all in one player. If Arsenal want them, especially those who the club have reportedly made an offer for, they’ve got to go back with a better offer sharpish. If they don’t, another club soon will.

It does seem though that Arsenal have begun to move in this transfer window. Arsenal and transfers don’t seem to move very quickly so whilst your waiting for the big signing to be announced, take a look at best online casino Australia and have some fun.

As far as the exits go, I’m not surprised Eddie Nketiah could be going. He needs to play and without sounding horrible, I don’t think he’s going to get any opportunity next season. Same with Mavropanos. If he’s happy where he is and he doesn’t fit the profile Mikel Arteta wants at the club, then selling him would be the right thing to do. ESR, well Aston Villa can take a long run off a short pier.

At the Euros, Granit Xhaka and his Swiss teammates were on the end of a 3-0 hammering yesterday so unless a miracle occurs, Switzerland are heading out of the tournament. Wales though did much better by beating Turkey 2-0. Arsenal old boy Aaron Ramsey missed a couple of sitters early on but finally got his goal after Bale produced a lovely through ball, A  really good finish it was too. Unlike Bale’s penalty which he blazed high over the bar. Russia beat Finland in the other match of the day.

Today’s fixtures are:

Denmark v Belgium
Ukraine v North Macedonia
Holland v Austria

Just a reminder guys, let’s show a bit of respect for other people’s views and opinion rather than ridicule them. We may not agree, especially in relation to transfers and that’s good, healthy too but there’s a reason the word ‘debate’ is in the dictionary. Let’s talk to each other and not at each other.

See you in the comments.

 

 

96 thoughts on “Defender & striker on their way out as Arsenal start to move.

  1. Devilgunner says:

    1st????

    Good post Rico.

    Nope…Swiss are not yet out because their last game is against Turkey and if they win that and Italy win against Wales then goal difference comes in…..plus the fact that the 4 best 3rd place teams also go in the next round.

    So Swiss are out only if they lose or draw.

  2. Ben says:

    Thanks for the summary. To answer your question… Ramsdale would not be an upgrade on Leno. Ramsdale is the most overrated keeper right now. He is total dross. Given his age, he could potentially become a solid keeper with great distribution but as it stands, he is no way near good enough.

    Like most Arsenal fans, we don’t trust Arteta, Edu or any of the management team with transfers. They’ve been bad for years but signing Willian on high wages for 3 years and selling Martinez (esp without a buy-back clause) were such obvious calamitous errors that >50% of fans could see it. Why couldn’t they?

    So expect Ramsdale in bound :-/

  3. Devilgunner says:

    Just seen some stats….Pepe and Pulisic both played 43 games. Pepe was involved in 21 goals while Pulisic was involved in 10.

  4. rico says:

    You don’t rate Ramsdale then Ben. Lol

    I don’t think everyone mistrusts the Arsenal board in relation to transfers but I certainly remain sceptical. I also think that that if Arteta and Edu cock this transfer window up, they’ll come under a lot of pressure from the fans if the season doesn’t go well.

    I wish we’d just get a deal done for Bissouma and go from there.

  5. Devilgunner says:

    I think it will be Sambi lokonga and White Rico. Madison is another story but it might turn out to be true

  6. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. Bissouma seems such an obvious choice, especially if Xhaka goes that, apart from his club’s valuation, I can’t understand why Arsenal don’t just get it done. He’s mobile and destructive and surely a better partner for Partey than Granit has been. I don’t think I’ve seen Lokonga play.
    I agree that there’s a lot of pressure building on Mikel and Edu.

  7. Devilgunner says:

    The problem I see is that we keep harping about this midfielder and that midfielder, especially in the AM areas when we have our own stars in ESR and Willock.

    Its a fact that Arsenal’s win percentage when ESR is in the team is 67% while without him its 30%. When he came on, on Boxing day it resulted in Arsenal getting better results and if the table began there and than we would have been 2nd plus he was involved in 11 goal contributions in all the games he played.

    Joe Willock has more goals than class players like Mount, Grealish and De Bruyne. he matched Shearer’s record of scoring in 8 games in a row plus he has had more goals this season than Pogba’s best ever season. And he is still only 21.

    Which is why I want him and ESR to share that AM slot between them.

    And as I pointed out earlier…..Pepe has more goal contributions than Pulisic – 21 to 10 respectively in the same amount of games played – 43

    Pepe alone has played in 58 matches and has been involved in 37 goals.

    MArtinelli has been played in 24 matches and been involved in 18 goals.

    So imo these four players should be kept at all costs.

  8. rico says:

    But we need a goal scoring midfielder Devil, so far, Pepe, ESR and Saka aren’t scoring enough imo so I understand why Arsenal would look at signing one. They’ll still be room for Willock because of injury, form and rotation etc but imo, we need more goals from more players.

  9. ScottfromOz says:

    Devil, it’s human nature to look for greener pastures, and you’re right, we have some fantastic youngsters at the club.
    Build around them.
    Top up in positions we are weak.
    Simple stuff?
    In theory, it is.
    Finding the right player at the right price who’ll adjust to our club is the key.
    The risk can be minimised to a certain extent by buying players with PL experience but then, their ability is exposed and the price tags reflect that.
    Fans must realise that this is not Xbox though.
    Just because we want a player, it doesn’t mean we can have them.

  10. Devilgunner says:

    Scott…that is the main reason why I keep harping about young lads which we can buy. That is why I prefer UK/English players…..like White, Aarons, Doig. Yes I know that White and Aarons won’t come cheap but they are the future. And are still young enough imo to be moulded into top team players. Chambers and Holding are no young lads because they are in mid twenties….but they took to Arteta’s formations like a duck to water. They combined well with Tierney and we saw how stable they were. And infact even though we went through that terrible run between October and December we still ended the season as the third best defence. And from January onwards we have no equal.

    And that is also the reason why I prefer Chambers and Holding to stay. Infact as many of us have pointed out we needed a RB, CB and LB. Aarons was mentioned many times but White for me came out of the blue while Doig is an up and coming prospect whose club has put a £5M to £7M price tag. So not beyond being bought. And he will be a good cover for Tierney which we can also keep in mind that he can play at CB.

  11. ScottfromOz says:

    Devil, we’ve all criticised players we’ve bought, but how often do fans get excited about players when we sign them, only to then criticise those involved in buying him?
    It happens every season.
    Hindsight is a wonderful thing and unfortunately, the club doesn’t have the benefit of it when buying.
    Holding is absolute proof that we can still find damn fine players for a pittance-they’re out there.

  12. potter says:

    The Martinez and Buendia situation has given Villa the impression that they can ride all over us and their bid for ESR shows how little respect they have for our negotiation team , they obviously believe that we are a push over.
    All this chat about splurging money on players and the amounts that we are being quoted shows just how the rest of football senses our desperation. It would be interesting to see if Villa went in for Bissouma just how much they would be asked for.
    We have a nucleus of young players that have got Arsenal DNA , time to trust them and integrate them .

  13. rico says:

    Imo, it’s not the buying of players who subsequently might be criticised around the Arsenal blogosphere, it’s continuing to play them when they’ve been dire for 2/3/4 games on the trot. Worse still, keeping them and giving them a new contract.

  14. Devilgunner says:

    we have done that too many often Rico. Some of those we gave a new contract to beggars belief. Even some of the players we signed. And they were often signed just to make up the numbers. Dont tell me we never had an academy player better than Sylvestre or Squillaci because I am sure we did. At least dont waste money on a has been (Willian). Promote someone from our ranks. And I am sure we would have saved a lot of money.

    And likewise that of playing them. There is only so many chances one can be afforded. If you are not performing for 4-5 games running its time to let someone else take a chance.

    As Potter pointed out….other clubs sense the situation we are in and they try to push us around. And as he pointed out we should integrate our own crop of youngsters and trust them…..and in my opinion stick two fingers to such clubs.

    Potter, with regards Buendia I feel that Arteta and Edu did not want to try hard enough. Buendia might have interested them but i feel that the club had different fish in mind and did not press that hard. Because I am sure we could have equalled the Villa fee easily and bettered it. But they stuck to their guns and said enough is enough.

    If Arsenal splash around 100-120 million on Madison, White and Sambi lokonga than we can be sure that they would have got Buendia had they wanted him.

  15. Devilgunner says:

    It may seem that way Scott….but the way Arteta and the club treated with Ozil and Papas show that the club have learned. And if the player does not accept being transferred he will know that he will be treated the same way….out of the squad. So what remains is for the clubs to agree a fee. And maybe we will have to bite the bullet a bit and lose some cash.

    I am sure that we will be in a much better shape with regards squad in the coming season.

  16. rico says:

    We have Devil and we’ve repeatedly made the same mistakes. I really hope Willian is the last of his kind of signing the club makes.

  17. Cicero says:

    I can’t see why we are looking to spend in excess of £40 million on the Brighton defender Ben White. He is said to be able to cover three positions, right back, centre back and defensive midfield fine, but do we not already have such a player in the squad? Calum Chambers has played much of last season at right back, has also played, quite often and quite well, at centre back and the great Arsene Wenger was confident that in the future he would find his best position to be defensive midfield. Can there be places in the squad for them both?

  18. ScottfromOz says:

    Devil, how many fans on social media have been rabid with their criticism of Xhaka, yet think we will be selling him too cheaply at the 20 million being quoted?
    Arteta is the man, though.
    He’s making the tough calls we need to see.

  19. rico says:

    I guess that would give us two right backs we need Cicero, assuming Arteta’s speedy dumping of Cedric means he’s no longer in his plans. Like you though, I don’t under the White move but perhaps all will come clear if he signs.

  20. rico says:

    Doesn’t this prove how ridiculous transfer fees are today.

    ATLETICO WANT £43M FOR TRIPPIER

    Atletico Madrid want almost £43m if they are to sell Kieran Trippier to Manchester United or anyone else this summer.

    The Spanish champions do not want to part with the England right-back, who has two years left on his current contract.

  21. potter says:

    Football is broke apart from a few clubs , if the big 6 within which we are still thought to be a member comes in for a player , the selling club treat it as Christmas , Birthday , New Year and bonfire night. Ask silly money and try to get rich.

  22. rico says:

    Morning Devil, all.

    Just read that article and whilst statistically it might be correct, I cant believe for one minute that an article on NN would change the way a team plays the game.

  23. Devilgunner says:

    I wasn’t focusing on their one minute glory claim to fame Rico. I was focusing on the fact that we have made less and less tackles and relied more on interceptions. On the fact that we had less yellow cards and committed less fouls.

  24. ScottfromOz says:

    Arsenal fans.
    So a fellow Gooner abuses the crap out of Leno on social media for the mistake he made during the Germany game.
    Someone points out that “Leno wasn’t playing, it was Neuer.”
    “Oh, my apologies.”
    “That’s ok, everyone makes mistakes.”
    Well, unless of course you’re a footballer, apparently 🙂
    Love it.
    Morning all.

  25. Cicero says:

    Good morning all. It’s p*****g down here in the UK’s driest county.

    Tierney has been declared fit to play in tonight’s game, a miraculous recovery from the calf injury that prevented his exclusion from the squad for the Czech match.

  26. Aussie Geoff says:

    Scott you should be happy why this so call fan is having a go at a leno he is leaving Arteta alone

  27. Devilgunner says:

    Fonseca has been ‘turned down’ by the Spuds. Now it seems that Gattuso has been ‘turned down as well’
    I might apply for the job 😂😂😂😂😂 I will give my word that in just two seasons they will be challenging for 1st place.

  28. Devilgunner says:

    Well Scott…..my first season with them will be with the intention of making them the STRONGEST team in the league…..that is…..bottom place (they will be so strong after holding all the others up for the whole season 😂😂😂😂😂) then in the 2nd season I will get them to fight for 1st place in the Championship.

    Promise kept no???

  29. Aussie Geoff says:

    Devil please make spuds finish second bottom after they have lost the trophy cabinet key and will have no were to put there wooden spoon for coming last

  30. rico says:

    Morning Adam. It’d be pretty stupid to make it up although I suspect it has been. I’m pretty sure the club can’t spend that amount even if they wanted to. Unless there are a lot of sales planned.

  31. Aussie Geoff says:

    Morning Rico and All
    Rico just read 90min.com post still no talk about winning trophies just buying young kids and hoping their value goes up then what sell them to make kroenke more money and restart with a fresh bunch of kids

  32. rico says:

    Morning Geoff, I think that’s being smart in the transfer window though. I doubt, IF the club are to spend that kind of money, it’ll be all on youngsters.

    It’s down to the board who we sell and sign, by that I mean Arteta and Edu and if we sign young and sell on then that’s more money for reinvestment imo.

  33. Devilgunner says:

    Do you honestly believe that Arsenal (and Kroenke) are daft enough to make such a statement that they will sign off £250M for transfers???

    If I was the chairman I dont know what I will do if someone from the board/management leaked such a top secret info. But he will not have chance to regret it I suppose.

    If anyone at Arsenal claimed that they have that amount, without any shadow of doubt the players’ prices will go up while those we want to sell goes down.

    Nah. I just did not click on any of the sites claiming such news.

    its all a load of BS. Because that is not the way Arsenal operate.

    I would not put it past the club to have a deal or two done already and are keeping it secret so that they can sell the players we have at good price.

    Mind you…..I would not put it past Arteta either, if (let’s say Xhaka to Roma) Roma refuse to pay what Xhaka is worth, to freeze him out like he did with Ozil. Ozil was made an example of……those who refuse to do as they are told will be frozen/loaned out. I doubt any player is daft enough to go through that.

    Yes we need a GK, RB, LB, CB, 2 DM. Arteta and the club will buy them. And if a player is daft enough to sit out for a whole year then so be it.

    Arteta has already shipped out in some way or another, Ozil, Kolasinac, Mustafi, Papas, Guendouzi, Torreira. And the players know that he is no soft touch like AW or easily stitched up like Emery.

    Arteta will be sacked only if he fails abysmally or if he cocks it up and gets too big for his boots.

    And those who invade whatever social media with Arteta out with stupid comments are simply weather vanes who turn around with a slight breeze.

  34. Devilgunner says:

    Player number 1001 linked…….Dominic Calvert Lewin’s turn has come. He is supposed to replace Auba and Laca.

  35. Aussie Geoff says:

    This story sounds fake to me, maybe it was Kroenke who wrote it to get the fans back on site

  36. ScottfromOz says:

    Stan spending?
    I’ll bet when that rumour came out, a cold chill went straight up his spine, the poor fellow.
    No chance, imo, and there is no way it’d be announced, if it were true so I just can’t see it.
    Then, with players going out, the youngsters stepping up, a few important signings and a brilliant manager In charge, we don’t need to spend 250 million, imo.
    We are well down the track to becoming a great squad again.
    The tough decisions that everyone knew had to be made and have been, seem to be ignored when plenty judge Arteta.
    Seen it all before, and we will again.
    Weather vanes-well said, Devil, and very apt.

  37. ScottfromOz says:

    Geoff, Stan would not make that up-he’s only look even worse than he does know if he was caught out.
    Nah, it’ll be some kid in his parents cellar coming up with rumour after rumour.
    I don’t believe we are as far away from having a top squad as most.

  38. rico says:

    Might have been a leak from within Devil.

    I disagree re the social media and Arteta etc, If fans want him out, why not discuss it on twitter etc…?

  39. rico says:

    Geott, or maybe Kroenke knows Arsenal need to have a good summer to make amends for the Super League stuff. We’re all just guessing at what this summer might bring really.

  40. Devilgunner says:

    The majority of those on social media don’t discuss Rico. They just criticize everything negatively and contradict themselves in the same breath. They resort to name calling when you try to discuss with them in a civil manner.

  41. rico says:

    Not at all Rick, I was watching England v India women but it was finally hit by rain. The Indian opening bat is just 17. A real talent.

  42. Cicero says:

    Rico, he was rubbish in the last game too. He has no pace, just jogs around the pitch waiting for someone to win a penalty so he can add to his personal tally. Surely we have someone better on the bench.

  43. Cicero says:

    There’s a telling stat from the commentator, Kane had only one touch in the penalty box in the first half.

  44. Devilgunner says:

    England have lost a good chance to stake a foot in the hat. They lacked invention, imagination and too much predictable. Kane was all over the place…in his mind of course. His feet were full of lead in his boots.

    England have failed to deliver tonight.

  45. Devilgunner says:

    now they have to face Czech Republic. And they must increase their performance level. otherwise it will be back early for them.

  46. rico says:

    I think England will still go through, unless Croatia thrash Scotland. If England lose to the Czech Republic and Croatia or Scotland win, two clubs will be level on points.

  47. Aussie Geoff says:

    At the end of the day I don’t care how much we spend as long as Arteta is given enough money to buy the players he wants to make us a top 4 team

  48. Cicero says:

    Two England players who are living on their past reputations and no longer deserve to be selected as starters. Kane and Sterling. Whilst Rashford isn’t worth a place on the bench. If Southgate cannot recognise the situation, his time as manager is almost over.

  49. Cicero says:

    Nicola Sturgeon is demanding that Scotland be awarded all three points, because their fans shouted louder than the English ones.

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