Morning all.
Back in the summer of 2016, Arsenal were quite heavily linked with Henrikh Mkhitaryan who was then at Borussia Dortmund. The rumours flying around seemed to please many an arsenal fan but then in fame Jose Mourinho and suddenly the Armenian was a Utd player. Whether or not Mourinho really wanted him remains anyone’s guess but he has had a habit of pinching another clubs targets. He did just that back last summer when he nicked Lukaku from under Chelsea’s nose, well, that’s what the press would have us believe anyway. Despite arriving during different summer transfer windows, both players careers started well with their new club but now, Mikhtaryan is allegedly being offered to us as part of a deal for Alexis Sanchez and Lukaku’s £75 million move is not quite looking value for money. Mind you, Lacazette is looking like. £50 million signing either but then he’s not getting the right kind of service imo.
I digress. The point is, should Alexis fancy a move to Utd instead of joining the manager who sold him whilst at Barcelona, do we need or want Mikhtaryan? Over to you to discuss that one.
I’d have thought that right now, if Wenger plans to spend any kind of money, it would be on defensive players, especially now Francis Coquelin is no longer an Arsenal player. The French midfielder was one of Arsenal’s many marmite players during his time at the club which incredibly, was ten years but I think it would be fair to say he was the closest thing we had to a defensive midfielder. Wenger tinkers with others in that kind of role but not one player has really ever filled that huge gap which Gilberto left when Wenger let him go. Not the quickest of players I know but like Big Tony, he could read a game well and more often than not he’d be in the right place at the right time. He was Mr Reliable for much of his Arsenal career and to think Arsene Wenger has neglected such a key position is scandalous really as every great team has one, if not more in their squad.
Arsene Wenger seems to prefer a box to box midfielder these days and has done for a while, either that or he’s simply got lucky when asking certain players to fill the role like Santi, Arteta until age caught up with him and now Xhaka but as much as the latter has improved as time has passed, he’s still not a player who looks after his defence as a priority. Well, I don’t think he does. Like so many, the attacking side of the game appears to be higher on his list of things to do. Not his fault imo, no, it’s the way his manager likes us to play and because of it, we’ve conceded far too many goals already this season. The inclusion of Jack Wilshere has improved us slightly but with him now out for a short while, not sure how long but thankfully his anle is just sprained, our midfield is looking bare. We’ll find out this morning if Aaron Ramsey is back in the squad but if not, I suspect Mohammed Elneny will fill the gap, and that’s all it is though, filling a gap because we have no one else. There’s Calum Chambers if Wenger gets desperate and that position isn’t strange to him but perhaps as he’s just getting a few games under his belt in defence, moving him would be a bad idea. In any case, we’re short at the back too.
Which takes me nicely onto our defence, another area of the pitch which Arsene Wenger has neglected for a long time too, not only with his signings but with his coaching. Another big howler made by the Frenchman. In life it’s common knowledge that behind every great man is a great women, well in football, behind every great team is a great defence. Arsenal haven’t had the latter in yonks, probably a decade now, if not longer.
We looked more assured against Chelsea in the EFL Cup but that was just one match. We should be looking more assured for an entire season, not just for ninety five minutes and as much as I don’t want to take anything away from the team, Chelsea really were poor in front of goal, just as they were in our last league fixture.
Money can help, of course it can because without money, clubs can’t sign footballers and yes, I’m still of the belief that we need more experience at the back as well as in midfield which is why I hope the club can get a deal done for a proper defender. I wasn’t sure about us going after Jonny Evans but having had a rethink, who better is there for two young English defenders to gain experience from than an mature English head in the game? No frills, no spills, just a proper defender.
Aside money though, the stuff we have plenty of, studying the players we have is equally as important, if not more. The coaches and manager should identify their strengths and weaknesses. Focus on rectifying the latter, as Pep has done with Stones for example and play to their strengths. Make our defensive unit more unified, more compact and certainly more affective. Do that and the goals conceded would soon lesson.
But that’s not a job for Arsene Wenger, that’s a job waiting for someone else.
Finally, a mention for Francis Coquelin who yesterday left Arsenal FC after spending ten years of trying to cement a place in the side said he wished he’d left sooner, good luck. I actually don’t think he’ll need it. Just as Gabriel Paulista didn’t. His new team Valencia sit third in La Liga, just two points behind Atlético Madrid. Not bad eh, not really.
Santi Cazorla:It was a pleasure and a luck to play alongside you, thanks for helping me from the first day, always in my team crack,good luck in this new stage. #Coquelin#topplayer
Won’t it be interesting if we meet Valencia in the Europa League? If we do, I hope both players receive a warm welcome, after all, can you blame them for wanting a better footballing life elsewhere?
By the way, Alexis is going nowhere according to Arsene Wenger, unless he finds a replacement…..
Have a good Friday guys.
Cracking post mama bear. I still think a better coach ‘ll make Wilshire xhaka and lecoq work. Shame he’s gone really. His highlight for me was the game at the etihad. He and santi bossed it. Good luck Francis. Thanks for the memory. Morning HH.
Thanks Goonster, I like the words from Santi..
I read around the other blogs about Xhaka and the main criticism is his lack of speed which I struggle with. Gilberto wasn’t quick but he wasn’t bad was he.
The problem with Xhaka as I see it is he’s too keen to press forward and then, when he struggles to get back, his lack of pace is exposed. If he was told to concentrate in defending (when the game needs it), pace would not be such an issue imo.
Is Walcott really gone?
Not yet I don’t think but soon it seems, Arsenal and Everton are in talks according To Big Sam.
I think carlo’ll bring out the beast in xhaka. You don’t go from being in the bundesliga team of the Year to being shit all of a sudden. He’s neither a dm or a box to box midfielder. This is the same kid that was touted as the next next “xabi Alonso “He rejected Bayern to join us. Get a combative ball playing midfielder and we’ll see the real xhaka that the moenchenglabach fans adored. Am his biggest fan.
Rico this might be me but I have a bad feeling about theo leaving. We might end up regretting it. I just don’t feel great about him leaving. He stagnated under wenger but might blow up with a different manager setting and tactics. I hope we all don’t end up regretting it.
I like him too, just think he’s being hung out t dry because Wenger hasn’t signed the right kind of player to partner him in midfield.
Same with Ozil when he first arrived and the list goes on….
Rico don’t even get me started on that archaic outdated fossil of a manager. This is the same man that haggled over 2 million for mark shwarzer and stuck with aluminia all those years ago. We needed a striker after robin got injured but he kept playing bendtner. We had the best midfield in Europe cesc flamster hleb and rosicky yet we had an erratic adebayor and a crock van persie as our strikers. Ffs we played with shitvestre squilacci djorou and senderos!!!! Can you imagine that? Whenever we have a great midfield we lacked a good striker or defence. When we had a good striker our keepers suck. Since the invincible season arsenal has never been complete. We ve always been deficient one way or the other. Like you said why buy ozil and play a lumbering giroud up top. No offence to the French guy he’s a good player but why get the best creater if chances in Europe only to play him behind a slowpoke? Wenger’s decision making over the last 15 years has been unbelievable.
Have to agree Goonie, although 15 years might be harsh, 10 more like… 😉
Feels that long Rico lol?
It certainly does Goonie…
Rico you have no concerns whatsoever of theo leaving? He’s one of the fastest players on earth. Since we ‘ll be getting shot of wenger soon why not keep him and see what we can do with him in the next 2 years. Walcott is a big game player one of if not the only player currently on our books that has scored against all the top 6 teams in England. I say keep him if arsene leave. We can’t afford to strengthen others while we bleed to death.
He has a good record against the chavs shitty and even manure. Currently no one I this present team does. I even remember him scoring a few against Liverpool and toteham.
The thing about Walcott is that players know ! Everton is a curious place for him to end up , teaming up with Rooney again . The same Rooney that starved and would not pass to him whilst playing for England . Theo is a dangerous weapon that can finish provided that other players think for him. He is not a predatory player too often caught on his heels if he has to react but put through to run on goal will score more times than not.
Spot on potter. A fast counter attacking team ‘ll benefit him. All our endless tiki taka crablike footie only stiffles him. One ball over the top and have him run into it. I hope we don’t regret it.
https://youtu.be/AkKFm-2-vPM
Afternoon Rico and All
Arsene says Sanchez must be replaced
before he can go..You have to effing laugh..
Read this in the week:
Mayor of Liverpool asks FA and police to
investigate Ross Barkley’s Chelsea move.
The mayor of Liverpool has asked police to
investigate whether Ross Barkley’s cut-price
transfer from Everton to Chelsea constitutes
fraud.
Barkley joined the champions last week for
£15m having rejected a £35m move to
Stamford Bridge on transfer deadline day
in August.
Where on earth other than our club could
this man get away with it.
Morning all.
Well it appears to be happening:All this money we are saving but will it be spent wisely and attract top quality players or is it a clear out so a new man can pick his players in the Summer?
“Everton manager Sam Allardyce says today the club is negotiating with Arsenal to sign Theo Walcott on a permanent deal.”
Also re Sanchez especially and Ozil.It is like a very public dutch auction which IMO belittles the club especially when Wenger keeps saying he has had no contact from anyone.He should tell the press that they aren’t allowed to ask anymore about this,as in any case he won’t tell the truth,but I fear it will become a bigger story each day. Everything is wrong at the club,it stinks.
Afternoon Rico…
We are living in Very interesting time to say the least.
The new faces at the club seems in motion
The clearing the rubbish players started
Coq……good riddance
Feo….hope out soon…..Wenger pet
Willshere …..not dishing out contract renewal …..hmmmm.Normaly le prof is loyal to his pets….not now.
I want him to stay just a squad player ….knowing is injury prone player but he is the only one can at least try to initiate an attack from any where.
I really don’t think people realise how much shit we really are in player wise….
Sanchez sale
Walcott Sale
Coq sold
Ozil sale/stale
Ospina sale
Debuchy sale
Mertesacker retired
Chambers sale or loan
Jenkinson sale or loan
Cazorla retired
Elneny sale
Campbell bosman
Peres sale
Giroud sale
plus numerous players in the final year of their contracts…………..
This shit show is going to cost a fortune to rectify!!
****ozil sale/stay**** actually stale might be a better fit!!
Sorry Goonster, my doorbell rang.. 😉
I wouldn’t sell Theo, certainly not this month as we’ll need him in Europa at least.
I don’t think that Chambers will be leaving Lee, not unless the new man doesn’t fancy him, of course a new man with new methods might actually see our defenders looking like defenders.
Can’t really argue with most of the others, question marks over Giroud and Perez again it may depend on the new manager.
Hi Fred, Alex.
Lee, as long as Wenger isn’t around to spend the fortune eh… But what a bloody mess he’s got the club in.
I’d get Perez back now if it’s possible Kev. We are seriously missing something on the right hand side…
Rico, I’d sell Theo, might be our best chance of getting a decent fee, his contract is up the same as Ramsey in 2019, as is Giroud.
His recent efforts have been pathetic, I know it’s difficult to get up to speed straight away when your not playing, but really is he any better than Reiss Nelson?
I’m not saying that Theo is a bad player, but he’s gone stale and needs a change, Everton under Allardyce could be just what he needs and we need to get his salary off of our books.
Yep, agree 100% on Perez, especially if Alexis leaves Rico…
I wonder if Wenger knows that he’s a dead man walking?
I’d sell him Kev, but just not now. I’d wait until the summer unless Wenger is going to promote Nelson or get Perez back. The thought of Iwobi filling that position again is not a welcome one.
I reckon Wenger knows. If he had a shred of decency he’d fook off now.
It’s strange that nobody at the management level has come out and distanced the club from all the Ancelotti rumours or stated that Wenger is in situ until the end of next season.
I think they know that there would be a meltdown among the fan base if it became known that Kroenke still supported Wenger. Season ticket sales next summer would crash…
I wonder if Wenger knows Rico?
Maybe the club agreed to a two year deal just to put a stop to all the incessant questions on Wengers future, but maybe one more year was always the plan?
The longer Ancelotti stays out of a job the more likely it seems that he’s the safe pair of hands we’ll need whilst the repairs to so many years of mediocrity by Wengers standing still policies take place. It could take 3 to 5 years to recover from Wengers last two contracts and Kroenke inertia.
Arsenal right-back Tafari Moore has joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan for the remainder of the season.
He’s gone straight into the squad for tomorrows fixture.
Good, hope he gets a lot of playing time.
AK whatever way you look at it, it’s a fucking mess!
Kev, it’s funny that no one in the press/media have asked Wenger about Ancelotti either..
Kev, I’ve always thought he’d only do one year because two is an odd length to give him as no sooner is this season over, the same old questions will be directed at him and we know what happened last season…
I’m convinced he’s going in May, I really am and the two big appointments made by the club add weight to that theory.
Manchester United are close to agreeing personal terms with Alexis Sanchez, according to Sky Italia.
United now look to be slightly ahead of Manchester City in the race to sign him.
BREAKING NEWS Sky Sports.
Manchester City are prepared to risk losing Alexis Sanchez this window rather than pay more than £20m for the Chilean, who is out of contract in the summer.
It’s understood Arsenal are demanding £35m for Sanchez, while agents are likely to receive another £5m on top of that, adding up to a £40m deal before wages are even discussed.
And, citeh say they won’t pay more than £20m in this transfer cycle. So, Sanchez goes to manure if the price is right or he waits until summer and he will pick up the bulk of the £20m rather than the Arsenal.
I know what I’d do- line my own pockets and screw Wenger! But we’ll see.
As for the rest of Lee’s long list of probable leavers I believe most of them should go and seek their fortunes elsewhere, but not all together and not at the same time! If they do all go we will find ourselves in the proverbial “shitehole”, (Trump 12/01/2018).without nuke to help us!
Wavy, I think if Alexis refuses to move to Utd, Arsenal will sell to City for £20m. I can’t see the club allowing him to go for free.
I never trust a proposed deal withMourinho who has always had one over Wenger.I bet you if given a choice where Sanchez goes most would say abroad but if he stays in the PL and also not CL cup tied 80% would want him to go to City.If he goes to United there will be murder within the fanbase.
Let’s hope he chooses City, unless an overseas club in Kelsey..
Rico
Sanchez….i believe is 29 …right ?
His performance is declining ….not same as previous season.
With that in mind i think he can go anywhere and i dont mind if he go to Moanino.
Moaninho he will run him to the ground and by this time next year will be another Costa…..lol
From the Independent:
Next season will be the second of the two-year deal Wenger signed last summer and the questions are already mounting about whether he wants to see it through. But at his Friday morning press conference he insisted – Arsenal fans have heard this one before – that he has never walked out of a contract, and is not going to start now.
“I am always committed, I am here for 21 years,” Wenger said. Asked whether he would be considering stepping down at the end of the season, Wenger said that he would not be going anywhere. “My contract clarifies that”, he said, pointing to the fact it lasts for next season too.
“Did I ever walk away? Never.” Would he change the habit of a lifetime in the summer of 2018? “Why should I change?”
So there you have it, if he gets his way he’s staying till the summer of 2019 at least.
And who will facilitate his decision to stay?
The club owner.
Stan Kroenke.
Lol told Rico this cnut isn’t going anywhere kev. He ‘ll be here past 2020.?morning HH.
Kev, I don’t believe a word that comes out of Wenger’s mouth. In any case, he might want to stay but by the time May comes, it might be impossible for him to do so.
Especially if the clause in his contract is true.
Morning to you, goonie and all.
Morning Rico. I agree. Wenger isn’t going to announce his departure now.
Morning Adam, it would do no good whatsoever to do so imo.
Ozil could stay it seems.
New post up now.