Daily Bits and Bobs

Elneny the start of a big reshuffle? Martinez in for David Ospina….?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Mohammed Elneny is clearly not a short-term fix. He’s young yet experienced, but of course he’s never experienced a fixture like a trip up North to face a bullish Stoke City side on a cold winters day. He may very do just that on Sunday though. Saying that, Switzerland is a cold country during winter and I’m sure a few clubs further down the Super League play a bit tough when facing a relegation battle. Perhaps there’s even a ‘Big Sam, Tony Pulis or Mark Hughes’ style of manager in that league.

It’s well known that in the summer, Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky are out of contract and should be moving onto pastures new, leaving Arsenal requiring replacements but I wonder whether Arsene Wenger will try and fill those vacancies from within.

Jeff and Iwobi did pretty well last weekend against Sunderland but are they ready for a full season of Premier League football? The same question applies to those who are currently out on loan like Akpom, Hayden, Maitland-Niles, Zelalem, Toral, Jenkinson, Szczesny etc – will they come back at the end of this season, ready to take their Arsenal career to another level?

Having signed Elneny, we finally have that extra defence minded midfielder in the squad which is something we all craved for back last summer so is there a requirement for another? Yes, I think so and in this transfer window and the back pages suggest Victor Wanyama could be that man but unless Arsenal go in with a huge offer, I can’t see Southampton selling him during this transfer window.

Another option for our midfield is Jack Wilshere plays in that role for his country but his fitness/injuries problems seem to be getting worse, not better so relying on him this or next season would be foolhardy imo.

Santi Cazorla, a super little player who has been great alongside Francis Coquelin, but his little legs are getting any younger are they and who knows how he’ll be once he returns. I’m not writing him off, just thinking ahead.

Anyway, as said, three midfielder’s leave in the summer, some like Debuchy and Ospina could go this month with Everton reportedly interested in our Columbian so there still might be more for Arsene Wenger to do yet before the locks and bolts on all windows are secured until July.

So, today’s question is, can the voids left be filled with players already at the club, or will Arsene Wenger have to go knocking on Stan Kroenke’s office door, telling him to get his short arms deep into his long pockets?

Over to you….

rico

72 thoughts on “Elneny the start of a big reshuffle? Martinez in for David Ospina….?”

  1. Alwaysagooner says:

    I believe in le prof. If he signed Mohamed then he might have seen something in him. Trust Wenger to find the diamond in the ore (or so I hope). In any case with our injured players coming back we can and should get only stronger. Here is to the first win at stoke in a long time. I will be happy with Alexis and Mohamed getting around 20 mins for them to get warmed up.

    OT: I don’t think the Liverpool game was that bad from arsenals pov. Having come from behind twice I think it was a good result.

  3. Joaquim Moreira says:

    we need to win the midfield battle. At Anfield and at southampton, when the opponent presses high, we have many difficulties.
    Then, missing “muscle” in our midfield.
    Against Stoke will be essential.
    Moreover, they have a strong attack: fast, finishers, strong and with the objective of the goal

  4. maxcat says:

    I am thinking that Hayden will be added to the first team next year as a fill in DM/CB,
    Wondering what Wenger is planning for Jon Toral since his contract runs out at the end of the season. For a long time we have been linked with Julian Draxler and Toral seems to be almost a carbon copy.

  5. allezkev says:

    What a post Rico…

    That has to be up there with some of your best. I was simply blown away… ?

    Don’t know about doing business next summer, I reckon AW should be doing more business this month…

    We might have to wait until the end of the month though…
    Gives Arsene a couple more weeks to make up his mind. His indecision is final.

  6. tsgh says:

    Very good read. We all wish Elneny the best if he gets to play at Stoke.

    Its still the only EPL ground without decent 3G coverage. What a dump…; the only decent bit about visiting Britannia is the friendly 5.O

  8. Iceman says:

    I think we should trust AW – after all, who had heard of Toure, PV4, Reyes etc. Just because he is relatively unknown, does not mean that he is immediately shit. He looks strong and pacey with an eye for goal and a pass. Problem nowadays is if a player doesn’t cost £40m plus everyone thinks they are not good. I’ve a feeling this will be another AW gem.

  15. allezkev says:

    England will do very well to reach 280/300.

    Disappointing to see Taylor go cheaply…
    As long as Root is there, we’re in the game.

  18. rico says:

    He does..

    AW says he has been tracking Elneny for a year. That’s about the amount of time it takes to get a transfer done… 😉

  19. Nashua Gunner says:

    Good Afternoon Rico and All.

    Good read Rico. We all wish the best for him and hope he’s a career at the club. But we should never forget that it takes certain players some time to adjust to the hustle and bustle of the EPL. The roughness of certain clubs make it difficult for players to hit the ground running.
    We’ve gone through a lot of injuries in past, and serious ones at that.

  21. allezkev says:

    Interesting to see both Alexis and Elneny in the provisional Arsenal squad for Stoke, and Tomas Rosicky…

  27. Wavy says:

    Someone has just posted on the BBC website that a “Root and Stokes partnership should be called a Rooster”
    Made me smile! ?

  28. allezkev says:

    You know Rico, i used to think that I was missing something when it came to Ian Bell. All the experts used to go on about how good a player Bell was technically. Even Jeff Boycott used to say he had all the shots and was technically England’s best player. I never saw it myself and I can’t remember Bell ever playing an innings like Root did today. That is a big score, When the team was under pressure.

  29. rico says:

    🙂 Wavy..

    Kev, Bell has played some great innings over the years imo, some have been match savers but his recent form really dipped – Root is still so young, he cold go on to be one of best n03’s England have had. Just hope he isn’t made captain any time soon… 😉

  30. allezkev says:

    Not for me Rico…
    Whenever there was a collapse, I don’t recall Bell digging in too often and getting England out of the mire.
    Yes Bell played many are a fine innings, but that was usually when the team was well on top.
    It’s easy to play a big innings, when the openers have seen off the opposition pace attack, but another thing to dig in and save a Test…

  31. allezkev says:

    But I agree totally on the captaincy issue I don’t want Root to be anywhere near the captaincy for a long long time…

  36. allezkev says:

    Thankfully… ?

    Tbh, I think there is an element of some players’ faces fitting more than others…

    I mean, what did Graham Onions ever do wrong?

    And Compton didn’t deserve to be dropped.

  40. Wavy says:

    It used to be ‘old school tie’ or patronage from the higher echelons of the cricket fraternity! It still is. At junior level if one was from the local Public School it was deemed likely that one was made of ‘the right stuff’ and would, therefore become a ripping good chap and a ‘fine cricketer’!
    There were a few Geoffrey Boycotts, of course, but even he was a Grammar School boy! However, if your face fits, despite your background, you’re laughing! (So long as you are not too common, of course!)
    Funny old values to be found amongst the cricketing hierarchy, and times have not changed much in 150 years. At least not in this country.

    Imo!

  41. Micko says:

    Reading through the paper today, there was a little bit in the sports section about the 25 most likely transfers that could happen this window and lo and behold I think we were linked to 8 of them, dunno where we’re gonna fit them all.
    Afternoon all.

  44. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House,
    After playing for the first team last week Jeff is in the U18 side playing Swansea in the Youth Cup tonight.
    Full team Keto,Sheaf, Robinson ,Mcguane,Bielik(capt)Marc Bola, Jeff, Bennacer, Malan, Mavididi, C Willock.

    After tonights game the U18’s are away to Leicester TOMORROW KO 1130
    Will Jonker play the U 16’s in that game

  46. Rick says:

    Unless it is called off at the last moment they are Rico,
    Conditions poor in Wales nonstop rain making control very hard
    no goals at the moment

  49. Rick says:

    H/t 2-1 and we are down to 10
    Robinson sent off.
    Backs to the wall now
    Rico as far as I can find out the game is on the fixture list for 16 Jan and is still being played.
    I have been told we are so far behined in games played they would not let us change it
    I have no idea if that is correct.

  50. rico says:

    Crazy though Rick, those kids can’t play twice in two days….

    I’m off for the day so night to you and all..

    Hope the young guns can see the win through, unlike the men… Lol

  51. Rick says:

    Mavididi scores to make it 3-1

    Players taken off the field when a Swanse player was injured.
    Now back on and have just started 10 mins injury time.
    come on boys hold on.

  52. Micko says:

    rico 8.50, your having a laugh, those kids are living the life of Riley, if I was boss they’d be playing double headers every week, didn’t do me any harm !

  53. Rick says:

    F/T 3-1 we are away to Coventry or Charlton in the next round to be played before Feb 1st
    Very fiesty 2nd half a number of yellow cards

  54. allezkev says:

    Great news Rick…
    And a great result with 10 men…
    Malen seems a very promising prospect…

    Yeah, I guess the U16’s will play tomorrow, but we must still have some 17 & 18 year olds who can fill out the squad…

  58. Rick says:

    Kev Coventry Charlton play tomorrow at 7pm
    the next round is being played Sat 6th feb at 7pm
    I hope its Charlton and that you can make .There are a couple of players I would like your views on.
    The U21’s and U18’s have a heavy fixture list over the next month and I am hoping Ars ene gives some playing time to the likes of Tomas,JW DW and even The Coq It would give the boys a great lift.
    Thats it for today Good night all.

  66. BT62 Gooner says:

    First task this morning was feed the cats and apply medication,after yet another visit to the vets.
    Next up is making breakfast for the Mrs when she rises from her slumber.

    That’s good to hear Adam, now you can pack the sporran away…….

  72. allezkev says:

    Morning All

    Morning Rico, Adam, BT

    Waterloo Station in the sunshine, listening to the cricket, England are 311 for 9…
    315 for 9, good old Jonny Bairstow…

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