Morning All,
Well all the gossip surrounding Mbappe and Arsene having three hour chats with boy wonder have led to many theories and rumours as to where the young man will end up next. If Arsene manages to pull off such a transfer coup does it mean that the club would then look at selling Alexis or would it show Alexis that the club has ambitions to win trophies and is enough to entice him to stay?
If Mbappe (a HUGE if i know) arrives would Alexis be sold to one, balance the books and two, to allow Mbappe more game time to be centre stage and the focal point of the team?
I think it’s a huge gamble to put all our eggs in one basket with an 18yr old who yes has outstanding talent but at the same time is still learning his trade, growing and looking to improve when we all know the pressure on him would be huge, the UK media would be waiting for him to trip up and would love it if he did, it would give them yet more ammo to hammer Arsenal even more with headlines of buying a “dud” which am sure they would love to write.
Alexis could in theory be the ideal foil for someone like Mbappe, the pressure would be less if he is played regularly but not every game and also I think to watch the way Alexis plays the game would be good for young Mbappe as well. It’s a pretty mean forward line if you consider we’d have Alexis, Lacazette, Mbappe as well as Giroud, Welbz and Theo…. Sorry had to throw Theo in the mix there just to annoy certain people. It does make you think that one of those would be surplus to requirements and sold, then again, looking at the above, does it tell you that for the investment involved Arsenal are merely looking at Mbappe and thinking they would be better off buying players for other positions when on paper our forward line is pretty decent and strong without him.
It is of course all conjecture and rumour concerning Mbappe, i’d absolutely love us to sign him especially if we kept Alexis and then added another defensive midfielder to the squad. The sensible side of me just thinks it’s not the kind of investment Arsenal are likely to make when we do need players in other positions to really make the squad competitive and strong in every part of the pitch. I would say however that buying Mbappe would lead to huge marketing income, would such a massive outlay really be so large when countered by income potential etc etc, he would also have huge resale value if he left in 4/5 years and thats also a consideration but what would we prefer, Mbappe or another 2 world class signings in his place..?
The team have had a couple of training sessions in Oz and seem to be charming the locals as is the way with our club on tours like this which is great for the local fans and for growing the fan base. Down to the nitty gritty tomorrow morning UK time and for the players to dust off the cobwebs of the summer holidays and back to business with the first pre-season game. I must admit am quite looking forward to it.
Have a good day.
Thanks Wath.
If……. like you say….huge if……we did sign Mbappe, I still think Alexis would be kept ( for at least term of his contract) and that would make a dream attack imo…………….Lacazette, Alexis, Mbappe, Ozil, Santi……………………..bugger, I`m getting a stirring in the loins ! hahaha
Seen him only a couple of times now, but I know Mbappe is going to be the dogs doodahs !………….certain players you know are special even from a young age and that applies to all the greats you can think of, Mbappe will take over the mantle from Messi and Ronaldo, we must get him at all costs !
From last post.
The game will be shown live on Arsenal Player, with the pre-match show starting at 10:45am (UK time) ahead of the 11:00 kick-off.
Aparrently not available to stream in Arsetralia………………..especially Melbourne !
?
Morning All
Morning Wath, excellent post
Mbappe is a nice thought, but unlikely, so we keep Alexis.
Lemar is realistic, maybe the hold up is due to Monaco finding a replacement as much as the fee?
Interesting comments on Sydney and Melbourne, I’ve been told by many Australian passengers that Melbourne is more cosmopolitan, more of a melting pot, where as Sydney is probably more British/Irish. Adelaide, so am told, is the Australian city that most resembles the U.K.
I’m with you LC, I think Mbappe could be a catalyst signing….. it shows huge intent ad ambition almost along the lines of the falling off your chair when it was announced we’d bought Dennis….!
In the short term my pessimistic side would be thinking ‘well he stays for 3/4 years becomes an absolute superstar and then Barca or Real buy him for 200mil off us but yet we had 3/4 great years from him plus the value of having him meant other good players wanted to join us as well.
I think although the sums involved are totally ridiculous and monopoly money we would actually not lose financially at all and a win win all round. I’d definitely keep Alexis as well even if he left for free as again having him there means we are that much better.
Kev, I am actually starting to think more chance of Mbappe than Lemar to be honest, no idea why but that’s my gut feel….. then it’s who do we add to central midfield..! I’d like Fabinho or Danillo but also can’t see Monaco wanting to lose half their team either seeing as looks like Bakayoko going to the Chavs or the Mancs….
I’d also consider a cheeky offer for Matic…. He’d do a good job for us ‘imo’
Do we need a Matic though Wath?
I’m not sure we’re in such need of a defensive midfielder with a back-three.
Goal scorers, you can’t have enough goal scorers mate.
We could have our own Mbappe in Reiss Nelson, 17, hope he gets some minutes on the pitch tomorrow…
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/report-arsenals-dan-crowley-set-to-join-willem-ii-in-permanent-move/
Morning, another good opener Wath.
If anyone can sweet talk Mbappe it’s our French prof. If they were together for three hours chatting, it sounds good to me. A shame we don’t have Thierry and Patrick as ambassadors, they could add a lot of oomph to our cause.
Imagine that, a room full of the Arsenal greats, Dennis, Patrick, Thierry, Robert, et al talking up the club. Who could resist? Failing that, they could just use strong arm tactics and kidnap him.
Really though, le prof has more than proved he is up for it this year. It may have taken some shocking home truths last season, but whatever. As long as he is on the same hymn sheet as the fans now that’s all that matters. If he gets Mbappe, he is due some brownie points for achieving the impossible.
I see word out of Manure, is that Lacazzette was scouted, but didn’t measure up to Napoleons standards. I hope the lad reads that and plays his socks off, especially against them this season. No more motivation needed.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4688710/Arsenal-stars-visit-Australian-children-pre-season-tour.html
Nice link @ 12:06pm, Kev`……………………………I reckon one of those kids is Scott !…………………locked and tied his boy in the bedroom and took his place ! 😆
Thing is !……………………do we really believe (and if you do I want evidence) that Arsene was stuck in a room with Mbappe for 3 hours !…………………………………………..wouldn`t that be classed as some serious tapping up ?
Kev, the back 4 only works as well as the defensive midfielders in front of it and take out Xhaka who else is his quality..? hence I’d grab Matic if we could get him at a good price and why i’d go for Fabinho or Danillo..!
LC, yep 100% on the tapping up issue unless they say it was all about discussing France and international football…!?!? and/or did Monaco give permission for them to chat..?
He must have done it with the permission of his club, else there will be big trouble, as he has made no secret of it.
Le prof is on good terms with French clubs, so it’s possible.
Good Post. Good topic. It’s true that they met. Monaco has allowed Arsenal, Real and PSG to speak to the kid and his reps; and actually it is not the first time. 2 years ago Arsene sat with the kid and his parents, they wanted to come to Arsenal, in a meeting that was arranged by the same agent that recommended Kante, and Arsene thought 10m was too high. Just like he thought 25m was too high for Lacazette 2 seasons ago. Apparently, they met another time after that also and there was also another meeting before the 100m bid.
I think that if AW gets Mpabbe, Sanchez will be shipped to Saberia for all practical purpose I believe Sanchez has created an atmosphere that Arsene doesn’t want.
There are much better options for DM than Matic that would also be cheaper: Illarramendi, Surman, Sane etc…
Matic is prem lge experienced though Obi and how much cheaper are those other options…!
Wath, Andrew Surman is PL battle tested. Salif Sane at Hannover will adjust to the PL because he loves the physical side of the game. But if AW is thinking about spending 100+ on an 18 y.o. with no PL experience, then surely PL experience is overrated.
.
Chelase wants 35+ for Matic. They quoted MU 40m.
That`s it !…………..Obi has un-done all Wenger`s good work this season with the line……….”and Arsene thought 10m was too high”………………….are we all not frustrated by the stories of Wenger not paying the money !………………………………Wenger Out !
Kante, Mbappe and Lacazette for around £45M the lot !…………..but he prefered Sanogo…………………………………………..
🙁
After being ushered down stairs of the hotel, then down a corridor, through the kitchen and into an elevator, we arrived at the designated room.
5 minutes waiting, when the fire creaks open.
Theo appears, telling our boys he’s on the wrong room!!
He then bursts in, followed by Aaron, Danny and BFG, sending the boys into jibbering messes 🙂
They could not speak!!!
Eventually, the players and our lads were ushered into a mini bus followed by a security van, with us following, to a training ground.
My mate and I are sent upstairs to the grandstand to watch the boys arrive, and arrive they did-each hugging an arm of the FA Cup, assisted by the players!!!
Photos were taken, the boys were again ushered away, only to emerge with new kits, and out onto the pitch to train.
The day went incredibly well!!!
Of course, what topped it off was that evening at the new kit launch, having a chat to Ray Parlour, who wants to share one of the brews we brewed in his honour at the harbour cruise in Saturday.
He seemed genuinely chuffed we’d bothered 🙂
Not sure if this was a compliment or not, but the gents from Arsenal Fan TV asked was I the person soon to he Arsenal brews, and if so, could they interview me on the weekend!
What a day!!!!
It’s certainly onebthatll never be forgotten!!
Ooop !……………………………the grandkids will be left at school if I dont go and pick them up ! hahaha
Obi, get what you saying but what the Chavs tell teh Mancs ad what we get quoted could be rather different. Think with Mbappe’s potential Arsene isn’t worried about the rough and tough of the prem lge but in midfield to fit straight in would I think be a huge benefit, just my opinion.
Sounds like the day went really well Scott, am sure Sean was chuffed and in awe but hopefully he old enough to of also taken it all in.
I told ya Ray would be chuffed lol… that case you on about won’t last long.
I love the Alves situation over at Man city my hatred for them is growing by the second…
Sounds a memorable time Scott, but seeing your mug on AFTV could just be the tipping point Digger… ?
I wonder how AFTC got over there and who paid………………
Wath @ 2:39, I got ypur point though.
Wath @ 4:35, I guess Robbie is making a lot of money on those t-shirts…lol…
The Arse v Sydney FC live on Viceland 7.30pm 2nite.
So Jose deems Lacazette below standards? This is coming from a guy who goes after players only after another team puts in a bid and has never built a team. Simone thought that Lacazette was the perfect replacement for Griezman when they were going to sell Griezman but all of the sudden Jose assertion counts more than Simone, a guy who builds team yearly with far less funds.
I have my opinion with Lacazette being a lone striker, but AW says he will stick with the formation change. And I believe that defensively he’s a passenger so he has to be protected. But he’s a legit striker and all this assertion about he plays in ligue 1, so did Hazard.
Watch the games people.
Obi, Ligue 1, So does Mbappe…..
Have we any player in sub-19 tournament?
Josh Dasilva
Sead starting…. Lacazette,Giroud, Chamberlain on the bench
Nelson and Bramall looking really good..
Per scored a good goal by the way….
Good first half play from the boys… Willock, Bramall, Nelson all showing promise.Sead was assured and composed in defence,Bielik too…
yes, DaSilva is from Angola 🙂
Lacazette is good…..good goal.
Good game…..Nelson and Bramall were outstanding. Enjoyed watching Lacazette, great positioning and awareness.Good link up play too.
Lacazette, no fuss, no fancy extra touches, bang, takes it early and dispatches it with consummate ease.
Promising…
Well i know you can only beat what’s in front of you and the opposition were very average to say the least but it is what it is and for a first pre season run out I thought we looked pretty good, some of the youngsters definitely stood out. Seems the stories of Joe being the best of the brothers are correct, he looks a proper baller. It’s nice to see our youngsters get stuck in and have skill technique and speed. Amazing when a proper striker comes on how easy he makes it look to score from ten yards out….. am thinking he needs to give Theo lessons for sure seeing as he couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo..! A very good work out for the lads and onwards and upwards..!
The Mirror… “everything you need to know about Arsenal sensation Reiss Nelson”… really, what a f’kin joke…. typical shit reporting from the media blowing smoke out of a young players bum after a good game in pre-season, couldn’t make it up.. Is that so they an hit the headlines in a tr or so and slag him off if he doesn’t make it and give him the ‘wasted talent’ tag…. pathetic journalism as usual from fleets streets finest.
From the ground, Willock looked superb, and Nketiah is pure class.
All the kids looked good and Sydney are a decent, well drilled side but in very, very early stages of pre season, but obviously nowhere near the class of our guys.
They were willing, though, and it was a good hitout for both sides.
Crowd was terribly quiet but I promise, we tried to fire them up lol
Saturday will be different.
The Wanderers have a fan group as vocal as anything in Europe and don’t doubt it for a second-they’re superb.
I hope Gooners respond in kind!!
Most importantly was I FINALLY WATCHED ARSENAL WIN A GAME, LIVE 🙂 🙂 🙂
Morning all.
The ‘jinx’ has ended then………….
Hahaha
They had to come here to do it lol
What was the final score?
Froom lost the yellow shirt
Ricardo Pereira (Porto and Nice) – Totts ? Please no….
2-0 🙂
It was a good work out JM, a good first game and glimpses from a few of the youngsters of the potential they have..!
Afternoon all.
Great stuff, Scott !
Pissed off with Ornstein, he`s tweeting about ManC/Spud stuff !!!……………………………….it`s like RVP/Nasri/Cesc stuff all over a again !…………………….
https://twitter.com/VintageAlexandr/status/885498256238809088
Just seen the highlights and Reiss Nelson who looked a player for the reserves has every chance of making it big and he`s at the right club to get that opportunity……….with his skill it`s a case of keeping up the hard work and it will all come together !…………………..as an example and love him or hate him, Ronaldo has all the talent in the world, but it`s his passion, will power and work ethic on the training ground that sets him apart !…………………………..bit like Alexis !…………..told to take it easy and he`s on the running machine at highest incline with weighted back pack !……………………Beckham another one who still stayed behind to practice his free kicks !.
According to Arsenal player there was a 80,00 crowd with what looked like lots of red !…………………..was it mostly Arsenal fans, Scott ?
LC, the ground was 90% Arsenal mate if not more and red and white everywhere, Puma must be licking their lips…! merchandise galore…!
Totally are as well with the work ethic, great players are not just great due to the talent, the the ones who also seem to put in the most effort on the training ground. Bergkamp was also one who stayed extra and worked in things just because he wasn’t happy with himself or a certain issue he though he needed to do better on, says a lot.
I send my missus to get me a few beers and it cost me $100.00
Little fekker comes back with an away shirt for herself-she remembered the beers though lol
Puma are doing very well 🙂
Wath is right-the huge marjority were Arsenal fans, though I guess there’d be a decent number who support both clubs, but donned the Red and white on the night.
I’ve said to Wath that Arsenal really are doing the entire tour thing much, much better than the other clubs who’ve visited these shores in recent years.
They’ve been quite accessible to the fans, and have been involved with so many events, it’s been surprising.
Most other clubs have been here, done a some media and played, not much else.
Arsenal will won a lot of fans over, and attract new ones from this tour.
Job very well done.
Wath, on Dennis, I remember him saying when his mates were busy juggling the ball, he’d have his brother throwing a ball him at various heights so he could work on his first touch.
Best first touch I’ve ever seen and it wasn’t luck 🙂
Scott
Calm down, half the country doesn’t even know The Arsenal are in the country. The media coverage outside of Sydney has been virtually non existent. More people are talking about the rugby league state of origin decider than The Arsenal.
Sydney FC can’t half fill a 30,000 seater stadium even during a boom season, so naturally 90% plus of who attended were wearing red & white. I think it was a PR failure TBH, if The Club wanted to spread the word in Australia. If they wanted to spread the word in Sydney, it was very successful.
On a more positive note Reiss Nelson looked gr8, & the Lacazette goal was uplifting.
GG, Think what Scott getting at and from what I have seen in the Oz papers is that what Arsenal are doing in Sydney is a million times better than any other side has done when they have visited.
They hardly need to do PR in the rest of the Country when they are playing 2 games in Sydney..!
Also a lot of the local PR will be down to the organisers who will obviously look to fill the stadiums for the matches being played which means to focus on the ‘locals’.
Campbell injured, that’s one player we won’t be able to sell until January then..!
9million offer for Wilshere, oh how the mighty have fallen, is that a deal we’d accept or given his track record and inability to push on would it be a god-send..? Maybe sell with a buy back clause just in case he stays injury free and does hit his full potential.
Wath, who, allegedly has offered £9m for a wheelchair? Are they tooled up with a full medical kit?
Morning all. Dull, cloudy and cool here. Not a nice day.
Wavy, Sampadoria… maybe they have shares in the local pvt hospital..?
Cheers Wath,
I hear you/read you, but what you all need to grasp back in Blighty is that Australia is a lot more than Sydney & Bondi Beach. Melbourne is & always has been the sporting capital of Australia, why not play the 2nd game there & spread the word more.
There is no doubt it’s been a success, but in Sydney, but Sydney is stagnating?
I think The Arse missed an opportunity, that’s all!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iLL57puZPM
I just reckon The Arse missed an opportunity, that’s all
GG, Arsenal will go where the sponsors pay for them to go mate, don’t think it’s a matter of doing a City to City tour when we all know Arsene would prefer to be in Baden Baden doing zero world travelling so to stay in one City less travel less stress and keeps the old boy happy..! As said who set out the itinerary..? The promoters/organisers ? I bet it wasn’t Arsenal although as said one stipulation may of been lets try stay in one place as it makes it easier on the players. They are in pre-season not on a promo tour end of season jolly up and that’s the bigger issue as far as Arsene will be concerned.
New post up.