Morning all.
Mesut Ozil wants to return to Turkey one day, according to the chairman of his first club, Rot-Weiss Essen. He claims our German maestro hopes to sign for one of the major teams in Istanbul.
In The Express, Welling is quoted as saying:
He’s said he wants to play in Istanbul and then, as you know, America is the place to develop your brand, and Mesut is a brand. After that, well China is paying a lot for players, isn’t it?
Money, football is usually about money. Who pays most for a player and who pays the most to that player so often decides a footballers destination. Why else would any player choose to play in America or China, where the competition is very unlike playing in the Premier League or other leagues around Europe? It’s all about one last big financial package for the player and a whopping transfer fee for the selling club but thankfully, Mesut is too young to be thinking about being sold out to pasture, well, at least I hope he thinks he is.
Looking back, it does make me wonder why Aaron Ramsey chose Arsenal over Manchester United when he moved away from Wales, after all, Utd were more competitive back then and far more successful but the chance to be coached by Arsene Wenger was too good an opportunity to turn down. The Welshman was quoted as saying::
He [Wenger] likes to get young kids with talent and natural ability and turn them into world class players.
He’s done that on many occasions in the past and he’ll continue doing that. His experience, knowing how to deal with young players is quite remarkable.
He gets his satisfaction from seeing them develop as a player – and as a person as well – and gives them information on the pitch and opportunities to go out there, play, and express themselves.
That was back in 2008, so where has that great coach gone and where are the young players he likes to turn into world class footballers? Even Ramsey is far from being considered as world class, albeit if he played for Arsenal as he did for his country at the Euros, he wouldn’t be far off but Chris Coleman seems to know how to get the best out of him, unlike our Frenchman who shoves Ramsey all over the pitch in order to fill a round hole with a square peg….
So many players who Arsene Wenger signed at a young age have either been farmed out on loan only to be sold, many who have never been training with the first team, let alone playing for it. Players like Ryo Miyaichi who once looked so promising, faded away and now I don’t even know which club he plays for. Wellington Silva is another, for years now he’s been out on loan yet now he’s finally able to play in England, he’s off to Spain for good. Joel Campbell is another looking likely to leave yet Arsene fought hard to get him a few years ago. There are more, many more who just haven’t lived up to expectations so are the scouts at Arsenal getting things wrong, or are the coaching staff at the club simply not doing enough to help these youngsters improve and reach their full potential?
I don’t know the answer but when you consider how much progress Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have made, or rather not made, it’s hard not to believe it’s the coaching staff and as far as playing for the first team, I don’t think our dear manager knows the best position for any of them.
Goodness knows what Arsene Wenger is going to do with our midfield this coming season with Ramsey, Coquelin, Wilshere, Elneny, Xhaka and Cazorla all vying for a central position…
Still, at least that area of the team has plenty of cover for when the injuries hit us…
Shame we can’t say the same about the defence and attacking department…. Yet!
Rico. Do you believe that, beyond Xhaka, there are any serious transfer plans in place at Arsenal?
Or is it all at Wenger’s whim at the time?
Morning Adam, what do you make of Xhaka?
Morning All
A lots of fans,pundits,explayers,exmanages,globle superstars
it’s endless the amount of us so called experts knowing what
parts we need to get the engine turning,
he is adding the right players,but not enough to make the
difference,the dressing room know what we need,
even Arry’s dog know’s what we need,
how we ever sign player’s is a miracle to me.
Wenger’s buzz is buy’em cheap buy’em young,
someone has got to stick a rocket up his Harris.
It ain’t ganner be one of them yanks is it.
So lets all hope and pray Mr Dean get invited round
for a coffee.
Hi BT. Long time.
I have only seen him at the Euros and I liked what I saw. Looks like a bit of a rock in the middle with a strong left foot and the ability to set up attacks from a defensive position. Also seems like he could put it about a bit if he had to. Good passing range, short or long. Yep, looks right to me.
What about you?
Fred. Morning mate.
The idea of Wenger with a rocket up his harris will be an abiding image for me. 🙂
Adam, I think he makes it up as he goes along and waits to see who he can get cheaper…
Morning Bt, Fred.
I too like Xhaka, about time we had of bit of steel in the team…
Morning Rico, interesting post…
China is going all out to create a competitive league, we would do well not to underestimate them, after all there’s a few billion of them.
The sums of money they’re throwing at their new league is astronomical and would turn the heads of many a footballer and agent.
The Chinese fans are very enthusiastic, bringing an interesting atmosphere to their game.
It’s not like the MLS in the United States where players go to enjoy their semi-retirement, the Chinese are snapping up top players in their prime.
Morning Adam, BT, Fred and All…
Morning Kev.
Perhaps Wenger would see China as being a new challenge… 😉
1.3 billion of them…..
Rico. I agree that it does look that way. Every year at this time there seems to be this air of panic around the place. Who will be fit? Who needs a holiday? Who wants to leave and who can we not find a buyer for? This, usually accompanied by a few early excuses.
Blimey, it’s not like nobody knew the Euros were happening. And it’s not like it hasn’t been obvious for years that we need a new striker and a central defender is it? Perhaps it’s all in hand but experience suggests otherwise.
Premature perhaps but general confidence amongst the Gooners I know, is low.
Yesterday Wenger’s moan was the hard fixtures
we have to begin with.
Wenger Quotes..
We will have to be at our sharpest and fittest,
all available player’s will be involved.
Not sure what he thinks are easy games
in this league.
So has he dropped a clanger
when preparing for say..Easy games
You know the early morning K.Off’s
when players look like they just took
the JimJam’s off.
Hi adam.rico
Shocking way to run a club Adam.
Looking at the squad, it’s so unbalanced isn’t it. As usual a glut of midfield players, which for once looks pretty strong if they all stay fit but going forward and in defence we have few options.
As you say, we’ve needed a striker and defender for a while and I’d have thought both would have been a priority this summer – certainly struggle to understand why we haven’t bought both by now considering the new season is soon upon us.
Rico. It is frustrating for sure but perhaps appearances are misleading. Then again..
I do wonder what conclusions the hierarchy at the club came to when they evaluated last season. But then again, didn’t Keswick say that they just left it all to Arsene?
And there lies a big problem Adam, a toothless board and owner…
Can you imagine the City owners being happy with what Arsenal dished up. My guess is no and Wenger would have been gone long ago…
Catch up in a bit…
Probably right, but Kroenke wants to win, according to the interview I saw yesterday. The contract situation right now is an interesting complication I think with lots of possibilities.
Lets be honest
Who thinks we will finish higher than
Man city,Man Utd,Chelsea,Spurs,Liverpool,
bearing in mind the way we played
after January.
We have a month without a few big hitters
We have lost 3 midfielders
We have one of our strikers out
till who knows when.
We have a big strike who couldn’t catch a cold.
We have little a striker who couldn’t score in a brothel.
We have two england midfield players
who only have to look at each other and fall
down injured.
We have a giant centre half who turns
slower than the QE2.
To top it all
We have wenger on TV looking like
the cat thats got the cream,
When told how Granite could help us win the
league 2016/17,
Great being a gooner..Ein’it
Remember how many were wondering why AW bid for Vardy because he didn’t fit Arsenal playing style? Maybe he never wanted him in the first place. Because if he recognized that early he needed a striker, what has changed? Mind bugling. In AW world even if Chelsea, Man City and United finish ahead of us, we will still have the 4th place trophy. So he thinks. Maybe the price for the undefeated season was that he made a deal with the devil that he will never win the EPL again but will always be among the top 4. Who knows! Because you just can’t understand the logic of the decisions at Arsenal FC. It’s killing me because I have always been an AW fan. After throwing it away last season surely he’s not going to do it again?
And of course, the Chinese will throw inflated wages into the mix and pay stupid fees, which will further inflate an overheated transfer market….
I
Morning all.
Yes, we need another striker (a good one!) and another central defender (a mobile one!). Will we get them, will W eager break up his well earned break, after his little money spinner at the Euro’s? Nah, I doubt it.
Will we have enough players to even take to the field against the dippers? Nah, I doubt it. Too many of our players will be too tired after not playing well at the Euro’s! These are top top athletes we’re talking about. Sure they all need a bit of r and r but several weeks after the start of the season before putting in an appearance on he field is taking the piss big style. Whose fault is it? Wenger’s of course! We will be uncompetitive for at least the first few games because we have insufficient strength in depth, same as last year and the year befor. Will Wenger take the rap? Like hell he will, he’ll blame the players for not trying hard enough, underestimating the opposition, and all the other vacuous excuses he has used to deflect reality from the truth!
Will we finish higher than this year?……..NO! How can we with the depth of squad we have?
Too many questions here and definitely not enough answers. Just a reminder, “if things don’t change they stay as they are!”
What it is to be an arsenal fan!
After the liverpool game all season ticket holders should rip up their seat and take it home with them
We should get something for our money after all.
At this moment in time paying a grand to watch this team feels like paying 500 to go watch a pub side for the year.
I saw that Adam, didn’t he say something like ‘football is no fun without winning’…?
Does he mean matches or the PL though… 😉
Some see it as a veiled message to Wenger Rico.
Let’s hope so Adam.
After the last few seasons there is a lot of pessimism around Rico. One scenario I can envisage is of a perfect storm where a lot of factors coincide to decide our season but that’s an easy line of thought perhaps. As long as Wenger shows grit, ambition and determination then he’ll carry the fans with him. Abuse their faith again and all bets are off.
I get that Adam. Let’s hope is does but I won’t be holding my breath…
Yep pardner, Stan is getting serious, as he doubts on his cowboy boots and spurs, climbs aboard Dobbin, dons his 10 gallon hat and rides off into the sunset, lasso in hand, with a ‘yip yip yahoo, lets round’em up’….
It’s comforting to know that the club is in such safe hands… ☹️
🙂 Kev.
It’s gonna be dodgy Rico, batting last on that wicket…
Hales, Vince and Ballance owe us a score.
Especially if Pakistan get a big score Kev….
I think that was lip service from Stan.
None of his sides really compete across all sports, he’s a known tight arse in terms of squad investments and only counts the money.
Quite different from his previous comments, that’s for sure…
Yes quite the flip from from “sport isn’t all about winning” (paraphrasing) to this statement.
A lead of 220, with 5 wickets to get Rico, we could be sweating on a draw…
I reckon we need Anderson and Stokes back in the team…
Anything over a 300 lead and it’s gonna be bloody difficult to avoid defeat…
Ball and Finn have been pretty ineffective up till now…
Very much so Gd…
Why is Jimmy out Kev, injury?
Afternoon all.
What a fcuking world !………the radical muslims want to kill us if we dont turn to Islam and the “Yellow” peril is going to take over world football domination !……………….although a English player leaving to join the Chinese Super League will be in the best country for English Take a Ways !…………..I can see some Take a Ways with names like………..Shakespear Soup Kitchen………………….Churchill`s Cream Teas……….Smith and Jones Sandwiches …………………………………and we will still have Arsene and no striker !.
Our youngsters got hammered 3-0 by Boreham Wood !……………….we`re doomed !.
3-0 LC?? Bodes well for the future… Lol
Stan’s comments about winning related to an interview regarding the L.A Rams . They are his new toy , Arsenal just funds his portfolio bit like the U.K does the E.U. . So just pay up and don’t expect much in return.
Why am I not surprised.. I really wish he’d sell his shares and push off…
Have a good evening guys. Night all.
From where is Boreham Wood?
Hi JM. It is near London Colney and the training ground.
Morning…
Sure is. And that’s probably Brexit’s fault.
Everything else is…
Morning Rico, Potter and all. Heavy, heavy night weather-wise, in London.
Morning Adam. Nice and fresh here…
From The Telegraph..
The purse strings have been loosened, the form book disposed of, and the emphasis on signing unproven young players thrown out of the window.
That’s according to reports in France, which say that Arsenal have whacked a €50m wodge of cash onto a rustic French table in an attempt to get Lyon to part with their star striker Alexandre Lacazette.
But Football Club (but means goal, French language novices) reckons Arsene Wenger has increased his bid for the 25-year-old goal-enjoyer who makes sense as a plan B should Gonzalo Higuain prove out of reach.
Still, €50m. Bit steep isn’t it? That’s £41m these days.
As far as value for money goes these days, I can’t work it out myself.
That’s cheap for a striker isn’t it? 😉
Morning Rico, Adam and All…
The Higuain saga lurches one way, then the other, rumour, counter-rumour, mixed messages, all seemingly coming from Italian sources.
Napoli want to sell I reckon, but they won’t want to sell to another Serie A team, so I don’t think the Juventus link is as strong as some say, but Arsenal ain’t paying £78 million for him, anytime soon…
And Napoli will want to bring in a replacement, so it’s a classic Wengerish game of who blinks first…
Wenger may enjoy his little games, but I just find them increasingly irritating….
Big day for the English batsmen today Rico, we could effectively be one down in the series if our lot don’t learn and learn quickly how to read leg spin…
Makes you question our preparations for this series actually…
Morning Kev.
£80 odd million for a player of Higuain’s age would be silly imo. And as you say, Arsenal won’t be spending that amount on any player, it’s not their way.
Yep, needs the top order to show a bit of metal today, or hope the rain comes in… lol
Stuart Broad, the youngest Test seamer in history to reach 350 wickets.
Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies.
Once upon a time…..there were three teams. Team A played against a Northern team. Team B played against a Midland team. Team C played against a Southern softie.
The games began. And after 2 minutes Team A scored the opener. The supporters rejoiced and said……we are winning. wowwwwwiiiiieeeeee
Team B did not score before the 45th minute. And for 45 minutes the supporters were grumbling….until they scored. From then on they said/……..we are winning. wowwwwwiiiieeeee
Team C scored immediately after the kick off. However the supporters instead of rejoicing kept grumbling and grumbling and grumbling as they wanted more goals.
During the game Team A kept the score 1-0 until the 89th minute……when the opposition got an equalizer. And the supporters went home with the club earning 1 point.
Team B did not score and neither did the opposition…..so the supporters went home happy with just 1-0 win
Team C kept hearing the supporters GRUMBLE but kept on plugging and plugging and plugging away until the final three minutes when they scored twice in quick succession. The supporters, WHO HAD KEPT ON GRUMBLING, at last found their voice……albeit only for one minute. But they lived happily ever after.
Now I ask you……….who do you think are the most satisfied supporters. Obviously the latter you will answer.
And here ends the sermon……for all those supporters who keep on grumbling that AW will sign only one star this window. There are still more than 45 days left for it to close. Its not even half time chaps and brexits. ooooopppppsssss shouldn’t have said that word. So its chaps and chops..
Hi Rico and the House.
Is there a lamer duck anywhere in football management than Arsene Wenger?
They must all live in a bubble counting their riches at Emirates Towers, because they clearly have no conscience regarding the club’s huge fan-base.
Maybe they’re content with filling the stadium with tourists who spend money without the emotional attachment, because our position in Forbes’ Rich List belies any footballing ambition at the club.
Herbert Chapman would be embarrassed at what the club now represent after building the best club in the world.
As soon as we beat Hull and pictures were released of arrogant Wenger holding aloft the FA Cup as though it was something significant, I knew he was signing that new three-year contract to hold us back even more.
I am now seriously beginning to hate a manager I once thought of as our saviour.
He really needs to leave Arsenal soon.
Borehand Wood… incredible…!!!!
Juventus wants Higuian : 78 million euros. So, it is not for our purchase.
In a month, we play against Liverpool… then Leicester.. then we must go to the market..
Debuchy signed two years ago. It’s not a question of quality, he is not integrate in our team. We must sugn a new full back; and we need three more players at least. Our squad, last year wasn’t deep enought and we players were leaving.
It feels somehow as if the club is broken, with Wenger holding all the broken pieces. He knows he is responsible and desperately tries papering over the cracks without ever attempting to fix the bigger breakage, because it is beyond his capabilities.
Wenger is no nearer to challenging for the PL or CL since moving, in fact we’re further away, so why does his opinion still matter? What does he bring to Arsenal that is relevant?
Any proper, forward-thinking progressive football club would have said ‘Au revoir’ long ago.
When the club show the required level of intelligence and desire to fix this sorry mess they might just begin to re-unite the divided vitriolic fan-base that their incompetence has caused.
I’m not holding my breath though.
Hi Herb and all.
I get how you feel Herb. I once had so much respect for Arsene Wenger but I hate what he’s doing to the club these days. He’s an embarrassment…
We’re already guaranteed United take six points from us next season.
We’re just so horribly predictable.
Got to feel sorry for Demba Ba. He suffered what is described as being a horrific leg break which could end his career…
Add City and Chelsea to Utd too…
Not liking the stories linking Koscielny to Bayern….
Evening Rico. Still time for Wenger to do some business.
I don’t care who leaves, Rico, I was hoping for Ozil and Sanchez to demand better from Wenger, but that hasn’t materialised.
Rip the whole crappy script up, get rid of Wenger, and build up again from the basics with someone who knows what they’re doing and isn’t afraid to spend money to get the balance of the team right.
I’m sick of Wenger and square pegs in round holes.
Evening Adam. I guess so but soon they’ll just be scraps left once the other clubs have done their business…
Herb, the stubborn one won’t listen to either of them I’m sure.
I wouldn’t want Kos to go….
I see Ozil liked a tweet on Twitter which mentioned Arsenal needing a striker…
Catch up tomorrow guys, on another no news day no doubt…
Night all…
Arsenal fans have such a positive attitude lol
Smile you lot.
It ain’t nearly as bad as some like to make out.
That’s true Scott, it really isn’t ‘that’ bad, especially not if you’re content with going through yet another season with no real prospect of competing again…
That’s why I’ve pretty much accepted that that’s what we have in store for us during 2016/17…
I shall not get too wound up as my expectations are so minimal…
For example, despite a shed-load of shit written in the Press etc, I really do not expect Wenger to sign a new striker, I fully expect Chuba Akpom to be the striking cover for Welbeck until he returns next February.
Is that good enough Digger???
Well of course not, but then we are Arsenal, so what else do you expect…
A new centre-back???
Nope, although I think that signing Holding is still a strong possibility.
We’ll go into next season with what we finished with last May…
Jenkinson, Iwobi, Willock, Reine-Adelaide, Johnson possibly, Bielik perhaps, Maitland-Niles, Takuma Asano maybe? That’s where Arsene will source his reinforcements. And good luck to the lads.
I wish them well…
But don’t expect an EPL challenge…
Or the CL, lmao…
But funnily enough Scott, I’m kinda looking forward to this coming season. No expectations whatsoever, but it could be a seminal season, when possibly we finally see Arsene walk away and a new era begins…
Hi all, it’s summer and the house is still cold as ever – oh being a gooner.
The season starts next month and our only striker was given a months rest then every pics released by the .com there is a figure of Yayo Sanogo towering in them. That deeply unsettles me. We’ll meet Klopp’s charged team without AS(doughnut in his ankle) Kos, Ozil and mr link up play. Yipee! Rince, wash repeat…
And then come September it is revealed Sanchez requires a surgery, wont be available till Christmas, the window will have been shut all along and we start with a thin squad and English wingers who don’t instill hope again. Remember Welbeck’s last season fiasco?
..well that is if that ankle isn’t handled. I’d promised to be more positive but…
Morning all.
I wonder if any of the other clubs have given their Euro players as much time off as Wenger ?……………………….we will see if Emre Can is on holiday with Ozil for the opener !
With so many being given extra time off and others injured it tells me that Wenger definately has some deals lined up that we, the media and Ornstein dont know about !…….get excited, get very excited !. 😆
It’s a tough call re rest time after the Euros because if AW didn’t allow them a good break and they suffer injury, we’d all be saying he played them too soon….
For me it’s about having the depth to cover and strength of course, but right now, we don’t imo..
Morning guys…
Sign a striker and defender and we’ll be better…
I suppose Wenger didn’t know that the Euros were happening otherwise he would of strengthened squad already…..
A striker and a CB are needed asap, stop fucking dithering and pull the trigger Arsene!
Beggar’s belief that Sanogo is anywhere near Arsenal…
Doesn’t it just Lee, but then again, who would buy him?
Just don’t understand why all the dithering…
Rico apparently Feo has been posting videos on social media of how hard he’s been working on his fitness………..putting himself in the shop window perhaps?
Morning all.
Kev, no expectations is right…….top 4 again, maybe……no point stressing.
Arsene seems cool, calm and collected lol.
I still hope against hope he will surprise us, but the past few years I’ve expected him to, so at least this time I’m not setting myself up for disappointment.
Lee, the only problem there would be the transfer window closing before Wenger realised he’d need to replace him…
Surely getting players signed isn’t that difficult, other clubs seem to manage it quite quickly.. I think West Ham have already signed 4 or 5….
With the squad as it is and if AW plays the same old way Scott, I don’t even think we’ll get top four, in fact Europa might even be a step too far….
Rico, we did say that last year, but the others clubs who spent up, failed, so we can’t really say that at this point.
Still, if he doesn’t buy a striker at least, he is going to cop more abuse than ever before.
So it`s Eurovision then !……………only to be knocked out by a band from Kazakhstan !…………..what have we become ?
I think it’ll be very different this season Scott. Klopp will have had a transfer window, Pep, Mourinho and Conte will have the ‘new manager’ effect and Bilic will continue to improve what is already a good West Ham team. Then there’s Koeman at Everton…..
Meanwhile, we have a manager who lives in the past with his tactics and is tight with the Arsenal money….
Rico…………..I reckon Wenger goes on blogs, reads the fans dismay at his dealings and gets aroused whilst looking at the bank balance !……….and who said men cant multi-task ! hahaha
New post up now.
🙂 LC…