Daily Bits and Bobs

Last Season For Santi And Tomas? Brozovic & Gundogan Offers Made?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Thierry Henry makes his debut for Sky Sports this weekend for our match at the Etihad. It’s been a long time since we won at City’s ground, how fitting would it be if we could break that bad run with our old boy watching on. Lets hope he brings us some better luck. I also hope he’s alongside Gary Neville as the two of them will talk a lot more sense than either of the two ex Dippers and Henry is much easier to understand than one of them!

Santi Cazorla, one of a few players to shine this season believes it’s all down to him playing centrally instead of being pushed out wide to accommodate others:

I always try to make goals. It’s important for me because I am a midfielder and I always want to help the team score, and I will try to make more before the end of the season.

I have more space [in the middle], more possibilities to score and assist, and I like this position very much.

Ok, he didn’t quite say that he has to switch positions but clearly that has been the case whilst others were fit. Since Ozil and Jack have both been out injured, the little Spaniard has played really well. Wilshere isn’t back for a while yet but Ramsey and Ozil are so what Arsene Wenger does with them all will be interesting. One thing for sure is he can’t leave a player of Ozil’s quality out of the side but then how can he leave Cazorla out either whilst he’s in such fine form. Then of course there is Rosicky and Ramsey. Oh to be a manager eh….

So the rumour about trying to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and that the German club our considering our £15.6 million offer seem odd if true, especially when are needs are much greater in the defensive department. Well, that’s what I thought t first but then, Santi isn’t getting any younger, neither is Rosicky so suddenly it made sense.

Could it be the last season for one or perhaps both?

In other gossip, we have reportedly submitted a second bid for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, according to Sky Italia. Arsene Wenger has apparently been tracking the 22-year-old for some time and reportedly had an initial bid rejected by the Croatian club. A second offer, believed to be somewhere between £5.5-£7 million has been offered.

Chuba Akpom is mulling over his new contract offer as many other clubs look on with great interest. I hope he signs up real soon. We have to have another player from the Academy coming through one day soon surely….

Finally, The Guardian report that we have finally made an offer bigger enough to see Krystian Bielik become an Arsenal player but as we all know, until it’s on the official website, it’s all speculation…

Mind you, I doubt that if/when the Krystian Bielik signing is confirmed, too many Arsenal fans will be happy.

That’s it for Wednesday…

rico

134 thoughts on “Last Season For Santi And Tomas? Brozovic & Gundogan Offers Made?”

  2. allezkev says:

    Morning All
    Morning Rico.

    More attacking midfielders?
    Is that really what we need?

    Ospina to start at City?
    Szczesny to start against Brighton?

  3. allezkev says:

    Would be good to see Hayden get a run out in the FACup, Maitland-Niles as well…
    Good opportunity to give Ozil, Ramsey and Walcott a start also…

  4. rico says:

    Looks that way Brad

    Morning Kev.

    That’s just what I thought but then what if it is all about AW looking to the future? Sounds unlike him I know but with others ageing, it kind of makes sense although a strange time in the season.

    Especially when we need defensive additions for the here and now…

  6. tsgh says:

    Then again Gundogan’s idol is the Lil Mozart; just like Reus and possibly most other BVB midfielders. lol

    We got to surely see Serge Gnabry soon…

  7. tsgh says:

    Brad, I doubt Bony moving to the wastelands will trouble most Arsenal fans as several folks on here did not rate him to be Arsenal quality…

    I bet WAth is getting a fat commission for being Bony’s agent. 😉

  11. Wavy says:

    Morning Housers

    If the old one sees a bargain now, that he can afford, why should he wait until summer and then have more competition and pay more? Good players, really, really top, top players are very few and hard to find! So……….!
    As for keeping what we’ve got. Reading between the lines I got the distinct impression from what and how Santi said that he doesn’t see his future at Arsenal next season. He’s off to Spain e viva España!
    Rosicky I think he’s still under contract for at least next year and maybe longer? So I’m not so sure he’ll be gone, not yet anyhow.
    Akpom is a fish in a different kettle! If the old goat gives him a bit of significant game time he will probably sign a new contract but if he is left languishing on the old subs bench he’ll go, and for free too!

    Nice one Rico the start of another busy gossipy day!

  12. tsgh says:

    Me personally, if AW can harness Ramsey for the DM role then a fitter Gundogan will be far better in the box to box role as he is a younger TR07/MA08…

    AR16 has the attributes to be a splendid DM as we all know but maybe not under AW’s kamikaze style of football…

  18. rico says:

    But why change a players natural game, leave Ramsey to do what he does best and sign a DM..

    Surely Arsenal are better than playing square pegs in round holes?

  19. scottfromoz says:

    Onya Ginge.
    Once again, our problem is if Wenger plays Akpom, we all whinge and moan that he’s not ready and we should be playing experienced guys.
    Honestly, which way to we, the fans, want it because to my eye we want it both ways.

  22. allezkev says:

    Gundogan means no Sissoko and no Schneiderlin then?

    Unless the bid is meant to force Newcastle and/or Southampton to be more realistic with their demands?

  24. Wavy says:

    Yer but, if Akpom plays and has a blinder we’ll be asking, very politely , of cours, where the F and why the f has he not been picked before. It’s definitely a no win, no win situation! Or ha can just be left to fester!

    As mentioned earlier…….where is Gnarbry?

    T’s I wonder how positive I’ll be late on Sunday. Afternoon???

  25. tsgh says:

    Still that £15.6m could be 2/3 of the price of Schnerderlein.

    Oriol Romeu who is on loan with Vfb from the chavs want out… he is a splendid and underrated DM too…

    Another young player impressing me is Guilherme of Udinese… he is not tall but he is athletic.
    I wonder why AW never buys from Ajax? Riechedly Bazoer is another superb CDM albeit the same age as Hayden… he will be cheap.

  26. allezkev says:

    Scott, what you do, is have Akpom on the bench and always, if possible, bring him on and gradually introduce him to the senior game.

    Don’t just throw him in and watch him sink…

    Well, that’s what they used to do, when we actually produced our own players.

    It worked then, but not now it seems…

    Where’s Fred?

  27. scottfromoz says:

    Santi is in fantastic form.
    Why sack him?
    Aaron is a super player.
    Why bench him?
    Same with Ozil.
    We can’t play them all.
    Wavy, Gnabry has been injured I think.

  29. tsgh says:

    The thing is Barca, Ath., RM and FC Hollywood, Manure, Chelski have won the UCL and their respective league titles without a ‘proper’ DM.

    How many AFc fan’s rate Obi Mikel? but he helped them to several titles by playing 1 m passes just like Carrick.

    Imo, as I have always said if all teh players tried 5% more defensively we will be fine just like all the better team s in the world…

    We can’t as fans berate AW for not evolving and then call for another PV04 or Manu petit…

  30. scottfromoz says:

    Kev, Wenger fair enough but the kid should realise he’s a baby, and doesn’t simply have a right to play now.
    These kids let their egos get in the way and listen to the wrong people.
    Look at Ox.
    Now he’s been a PL quality player for a few years but still is a bit part player.
    A long, slow education will pay benefits down the track but most of these kids want it all now.

  32. tsgh says:

    SC19 is playing well now because he is playing in his preferred position of CDM/box to box instead of as a no.10.

    As i always use to say he had always played as a winger or a CM for his previous teams and Spain.. i.e the poor man Iniesta.

  34. rico says:

    Ts, agree on the extra 5% – I think we all agree that if all our players had the work ethic of Alexis, we’d be up challenging the Chavs and City…

    Lee – agree re the moulding of players, it doesn’t often work imo..

  40. tsgh says:

    The last of the bunch of 2009 class gone now i.e Afobe.. Pure shame… I love Aw but he needs to check himself on his purported record of developing youngsters…

    My bad JW and Le Coq still around…

  42. potter says:

    Interesting this morning. You have to offer young players something to keep them interested , going out of the capital cup has had a great knock on effect , Ospina ,possibly Podolski and Sanogo might have got more playing time and Akpom could have got his 20 minute cameos.

    I have always said that Wenger doesn’t want a defensive midfielder , but a deep lying player that holds a position with good passing ability would fit his bill nicely .
    Cazorla is looking at the return of Ozil and can see himself shunted out wide again to make room and will go back to Spain should that happen and we will miss him more than people realise.
    A replacement on the pitch is more likely for Arteta than Rosicky , Mikel probably will head home for a couple of farewell seasons before taking up coaching somewhere but Tomas has still got it in short bursts as long as he starts matches. Bringing him on for the last few minutes doesn’t help him get into games but as last weekend showed he can run a game and still has copious amounts of energy still to burn , all the injuries have stopped him getting burned out.
    A decision has to be made regarding Ramsey and Wilshere , in my opinion they don’t play well together, unless you keep them and like a Black Forest clock and one figure goes in whilst the other is out injured one may have to be sold . Whichever way it goes there is a need to grow a squad as opposed to a collective of good players.

    Oh BTW morning all.

  44. eduardo says:

    allezkev you say have Akpom on the bench, but in place of who, if fit we would have Giroud, Welbeck, Alexis, Walcott, Ozil, Cazorla, Oxlade-chamberlain, Campbell to have in the team or on the bench,
    akpom needs to sign a new contract and then go on loan to a Championship club or a FAPL club that will give him game time, but people have to remember that he had two loans spells at league one level last season, Brentford and Coventry, and he failed to score in the 10 games he played in, just as he has in the 5 for Arsenal. He could not get a regular start with 2 League one clubs last season, and yet some think he should be getting game time for Arsenal now. The lad has potential, but he has an awful lot of things to improve on before he is ready for Arsenal, anyone who has watched him for our U21’s this season will surely have seen he is a long way from the finished article or being ready for the first team, just like Crowley who despite being very good at that level, he aint ready for our first team. Its time some of you realized there is a massive difference in lower league football and FAPL, and even a bigger difference in U21 and FAPL.

    Afobe has completed his move to wolves

  48. frednerk says:

    Blooding young players at the top level,
    is a gamble for most teams.
    Many years ago we were on the verge of relegation,
    we brought in.Brady(17)Stapleton(17) and O’Leary(16),
    that was a last ditch gamble,that worked.
    No one really knows whats best.
    In my very humble opinion,
    exceptional players always standout from the rest,
    manages can’t resist the temptation,
    must be some kind of dought,if not in yet.

  49. joe says:

    What makes an academy player
    What age does he have to join the academy to count as an academy player my thoughts are 15-18 years.

  50. rico says:

    Potter, I too am starting to see Jack as the real problem, only in the sense that when he’s fit, AW always plays and I’m not convinced it helps us..

  52. potter says:

    Scott Ramsey for a start.Whether it’s Jack or Aaron I don’t know but if they play together in the middle they go forward together , they don’t drop in and cover each other when required . If we play with Santi or Ozil one gets shunted wide and gets wasted . To me he is a great television product , looks great on the ball but off of it apart from a succession of yellow card lunges he leaves gaps and ball watches , lets players run past him and rarely covers their runs into the box.

  53. rico says:

    Eduardo, I think most of us realise there is a huge difference between the lower leagues and under 2l’s than playing in the PL but at some stage these young hopefuls need to get a chance to get playing time, even if it is just 10 mins when we are winning comfortably – not that that happens often this season.

    But, regardless of which league a player is in, if as a striker he has a nose for goal, he’ll score. Danny Ings is proving that for Burnley this season and he’s not only young but playing in the PL for the first time…

  56. Bob John says:

    Hi all
    Just wondered if anyone shared the same concern as I have about a defensive midfielder given the way we are treated by referees? The likes of Matic, Mikel, Fernandinho, Fernando regularly make 5, 6, 7 fouls per game without getting booked. I think Fernandinho made about 10 fouls against us earlier in the season. In the past the likes of Makelele specialised in stopping opposition attacks with fouls. We have already seen Le Coq getting booked virtually every game for one foul. Gilberto was pretty good at the breaking up play foul with the innocent look to follow but in today’s climate would an Arsenal player get away with so many fouls?

  57. rico says:

    I always think one thing is interesting when discussing signings/youth players.

    It’s often asked on here ‘who has seen him play’ when we tout names and how they’d be good for Arsenal, but the flip side to that is how many players from our under 21’s/reserves or whatever they are called these days have actually been watched by the same fans before they are being sent to dung pile….

    I would suggest not many….

  62. potter says:

    Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi Picks Nigeria Over England. Becomes an overseas player when he is 21 and curtails his Arsenal chances in doing so.

  65. tsgh says:

    BJ- you have a point Claude Makelele was averaging 10 yellow cards per season. i.e 1 yellow card per 5 games and hardly got red-carded.

    Saying that he hardly made tackles or covered ground as he was literally playing as a sweeper in front of John Terry and Carvalho. The likes of Deco all put in an effort thereby requiring claude to only make emergency tackles… unlike our team which is split in 2 with 5 or 6 players defending for the team whilst 8 or 9 players contribute to every attack.

  66. rico says:

    Lee, a dirty s**t for sure. If he played fr us, he’d spend more time banned with today’s officials…

    Potter – another one bites the dust then…

  69. allezkev says:

    Fair point Eduardo…

    But considering Arsenals on-going and appalling injury record, not a point that should prevent Akpom getting time on the bench imo…

  70. eduardo says:

    bt62 that is the point, he was not good enough to force his way into game time at either Brentford or Coventry.

    rico I am for him getting some game time if he is good enough, but who do you leave out of the squad in the first place so that he is on the bench to be able to come on for 10 or 15 of a game, if we start with Alexis, Ozil, Walcott and Giroud, and have OX, Campbell, Welbeck, Cazorla or Rosicky on the bench, there is no room for Akpom in the match day 18

    potter you will find Iwobi remains a homegrown player regardless of which country he decides to play for, it makes no difference as the rules stand, there is talk that it will be changed from Homegrown to English at some point, but as of yet its homegrown, for example Szczesny is homegrown

  71. eduardo says:

    allez if there is room for him on the bench I’m sure he will be there, especially with Pod and yaya gone out on loan, but is being on our bench what he needs at this stage, or should he not sign the contract and look to get a 6 month loan at Championship or FAPL level, and get the experience needed, get regular games.

  72. allezkev says:

    Yes, I inderstand entirely what you are saying Eduardo…
    I guess I am looking at on a psychological level. You know, making Akpom feel a part of things, of being involved, rather than seemingly ignoring him.

  73. rico says:

    Ed – when do we ever have all our strikers fit is the first question but even so, he could make the bench but of course that doesn’t mean he’ll get on but AW needs to rotate at some stage and perhaps in the games when we play teams at home which should be bankers, he’s got to get a chance at some stage.

    But, don’t get me wrong, if he signs a new contract and then goes on loan to a PL club, then he’ll only benefit as long as he’s played… So many of our players go on loan and just sit on the bench regardless as another manager won’t drop one of his own for a loan player it appears.

    I wonder how many games Sanogo will get…

  75. frednerk says:

    Joe,
    as far as I know its 16,
    The top clubs take the boys out of school at 16,
    and educate them at the academy’s.

  77. tsgh says:

    Rico- jw has made a career on the back of the barca game at Emirates playing next to cesc and song who made him look good.

  78. frednerk says:

    Bob John,
    If you play in the middle,its odds on you get booked,
    most of the top defensive midfielders,use the top half,
    to tackle,Refs seem to let that go.

  82. joe says:

    Fred thanks I am wondering does that preclude Walcott,Ox and Ramsey as they came to to the club at 17.
    but would have got some time in our academy

  83. rico says:

    Ts, but AW and RH must see something in him…

    Lee, I know…

    Thanks Kev, so could be a good time to play him and then send him on loan if that’s what’s in AW plans…

  84. frednerk says:

    All starts to happen for the lucky ones after 16 Joe,
    its what level 17 year olds are at,
    education wise all the signed academy players and full time players are one,
    as far I know.
    If we found a Messi it would be hard not to play him.

  86. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Ed, my point about his time at Brentford was they were on a long unbeaten run, a manager is hardly going to pull a regular team member, to give a loan player game time.

  88. tsgh says:

    Rico, jw i n my opinion is a exceptional talent but he has no football brain of someone who has played close to 200 games at the highest level imo…
    Gundogan has also been off injured and so has draxler but tactically they are superior.imo.
    As Dev and I have discussed frequently the academy has to take some share of the blame…

  92. Joe says:

    Got to love the FA Huth (Stoke player) gets a misconduct charge for something he wrote a Stoke player puts a fellow player out of the game for up to 12 weeks nothing.
    Priorities

  96. tsgh says:

    My honest opinion is that Ath. Have pentioners in key positions.
    Also,Jaws is no where near the same level as cr07 and messing.

  98. Joaquim Moreira says:

    gundogan is always injury and he is very fat!
    when was the last time we watch him play?
    he has,maybe more, 20 kilos the his normal weight

  100. tsgh says:

    He plays regularly for bfn now but he is not as good as compared to before his injury.
    He has played in 12 games this season and scored.Also he is back playing in as part of 2 sitting in front of the back 4.

  106. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House.
    Some very interesting comments today.
    On the way out but will be back later and will give my views on acadamy Akpom and Loans. Latta

  107. George says:

    Afternoon all…

    Akpom is following Afobe…Championship at best..

    Remember everyone telling us Jay Simpson JET Lansbury and Yennaris will be premiership players …..really? Lansbury wont come up with Forest, Simpson cant score for Orient,JET is a hit and miss with Bristol City and likely to come into championship along with yennaris who doesnt even make the brentford bench..

    If they get a career at championship level, then fair enough. The one that got away and will haunt us is Aneke…at Belgium premier side Zulte Waregem…watch this space..

    On another note, I bet my grapefruits Sanogo gets 1 goal at best by accident in his 10 sub appearances. Pardew will not start that clown.

    JM …very funny re: Fatboy Gundogan lol

  111. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    Let me say this…..I don’t hate Jack at all.
    I’ve always thought Wenger has never quite worked out how best to utilise him.
    Ok, Jack is probably one dimensional, but that Barca game showed what he is capable of.
    Trouble is, we can’t wait for the one game every few years he excels.
    I love reading the “Costa is shite” jibes but did anyone on here ever say he is shite?
    Dirty arsehole, thug and cheat were well used but shite??

  116. allezkev says:

    Morning One and All…

    Morning Rico…

    18 days left…

    Three out on loan.

    One sold.

    Nowt in…

    A normal Arsenal TW…

  125. Joe says:

    Morning all, is it just me because at least with a TW you get to hear about a lot of players i’av never heard of being linked to Arsenal. Or it’s a great way of finding out which players support Arsenal.

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