Morning all.
Here’s the biggest money spenders of the summer.
Liverpool spent ..£171.3 m
Chelsea spent. ..£122m
Leicester spent ..£101.5m
West Ham spent £91.5m
Fulham spent. … £80.5m
Arsenal spent. …£71.4m
Man Utd spent …£64.2m
Man City spent ..£62.6m
Totts – a big fat zero which is a surprise for a club who they and most other pundits reckon are going places. Perhaps the new stadium has taken its toll, let’s hope so. No one felt sorry for us when we had to fund a move to The Emirates so I hope no one feels sorry for them. Or Mourinho, who has done nothing but moan about not making enough signings because signings are always the answer for him aren’t they, despite how much Utd parted company with last summer. He’s got Martial, Pogba and Rashford but hasn’t got a clue how to get the best out of them. It won’t be long be ‘Mourinho Out’ posters are being held up inside Old Trafford.
It kind of irks that Fulham, Leicester and West Ham, the new retirement home for ex Arsenal players, have out spent us but the hard work starts now. Getting them all to gel is what counts. Everton have been busy too but again, it all has to click for those signings to make a huge impact.
Of course it’s no different for Arsenal either but at least our squad, well most of them, have had a full pre-season together.
Kev posted this yesterday so as I often do, I nicked it. Lol
As it stands, our 25 man squad for the forthcoming season looks like this:
Foreign (17max) Cech, Leno, Ospina, Aubameyang, Xhaka, Monreal, Ozil, Elneny, Lacazette, Mustafi, Mkhitaryan, Kolasinac, Lichtsteiner, Campbell, Koscielny, Sokratis, Torrieira.
English (8 max) Iwobi, Martinez, Bramall (or Iliev), Holding, Welbeck, Bellerin, Jenkinson, Ramsey.
Under 21 ( no limit) Maitland Niles, Osei-Tutu, Mavropanos, Guendouzi, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Willock, Nelson, Zelalem, Bielik, Sheaf, Gilmour.
Ideally we’d have signed at least another defender and it’s not like there weren’t any available as other clubs snapped them up, but I guess Emery must be happy with his lot at this stage. I just hope he’s not left ruing the decision to let Chambers go out on loan but then there’s always Krystian Bielik to call on if required and Elneny has been known to slot in when we’re down to the bare bones.
Joel Campbell and Danny Welbeck, both who were expected to depart, are still with us which as far as numbers go, is probably a good thing although with the transfer window still open across Europe, that might change. If both end up staying though, one can only hope that both have it in them to prove they were worth keeping.
So that’s it, the new season kicks off tonight but for Arsenal though, Sunday is our opener and what a big one it is too. Can’t wait.
Have a good Friday guys…
Good morning Rico and everyone… I personally feel disappointed that we didnt add to our defensive ranks, but we still have January… Funny how we spent more than man u and citycity..
Mourinho is a special case, a poor coach I insist… Just a loud mouth, but funnily coaching is no longer judged by how well you can build a team and bring the best out of them, spotting talents and instilling self belief in players so they can reach the zenith of their careers. The current man u squad needs no additions, they are good to go, but unfortunately cry baby mourinho is a spoilt brat.. Same goes to guardiola, still haven’t seen him build a team without serious financial backing…
Morning Mexzy, I agree re Mourinho. His squad is full of talent with a few top notch players too. I’d love Martial, Rashford and Pogba in our team, I really would but slowly and surely he’s ruining all three. Martial is a very special player imo and should be doing as well as Mbappe, but he’s at the wrong club under a boring defensive coach.
I’d love for them to drop out of the top four again this season.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/09/manchester-united-veto-jose-mourinho-wishlist-cash-fears
Re our lack of defensive signings, Emery/his coaches must have seen something in Mavropanos and Holding which we have yet to see because he clearly trusts them. Kos is due back at the end of the year.
Morning Rico, Everton actually spent £85m with a late deal and Fulham spent an amazing £110.5 m after late deals.
These clubs have top four ambitions with top quality continental managers, so if Stan Kroenke thinks he can get back into the top four on Moneyball then he might be disappointed.
Next season could well be the most competitive with seen in the Premier League era, with maybe 8 or 9 clubs fighting it out for the top four and with a realistic chance of finishing there.
It has all the ingredients of a very interesting campaign.
Interesting article Kev, especially the view on Maguire’s valuation..
Good morning Rico and others, I think we need to add the agents fees and signing on fees of our “free signings” to the total spend.
Spuds chairman, Daniel Levy, must be a happy man this morning he’s probably the only chairman to make a profit, £2 million, in the transfer window.
My biggest concern is our left back position, Kolasinac being injured and only Monreal with true experience leaves just Maitland-Niles as backup. Hopefully we’ll muddle through but we’re only a red card or kick on a shin away from a crisis.
Mourinho is in his third year at Man U, on past form this is when it all turns to s**t and ends in a messy divorce.
Yes Kev, it just goes to show why the English premier league is the best in the world… You can’t find this level of competition anywhere in the world, who needs the champions league with the leave teams looking more like world war 3 rehearsal…
Rico of the three you mentioned Martial is who we need in arsenal, could have fit into our squad perfectly… We already have our own pogba, infact two, a tall and short version…hahahaha
Morning Kev, that’ll teach me to check again on the morning after.
I guess a lot depends on how our younger players progress. We could have 6/7 stars bursting through, or they could all flop although I doubt it’ll be the latter. So our next summer transfer window might not be as important as it it to others as we’ve got our own players.
Defenders though, that’s probably where we’ll fall short. Again.
Morning Cicero.
Haven’t we got another young left back coming through too?
I know it’s not ideal to have these shortages, but under Wenger some of us were crying out for the younger players to get more of a chance before being thrown on the rubbish heap, I know I was. I reckon Emery wants to give them that chance.
We’ll see once the season gets going how things will turn out, but I’m actually very optimistic.
Rico, there must be a left back in the under 21s, but Premiership ready?
I think Torreira could be a very influential player, sitting in front of the back four and allowing Xhaka to play his normal attacking game. he’ll hopefully provide some much needed steel in mid-field.
Silva might have been unscrupulous in his way that he eventually finished up at Everton, but he is a very astute coach who will make Everton a serious contender for the top four.
Pelligrini will ensure that West Ham will play good attacking football, he has some good new additions to his squad which could ensure that the Hammers are a realistic threat.
Can’t recall the Fulham coach, but from what I’ve read he’s been very impressive, he’s brought in some really good players, Arsenal have helped him with Chambers, the Cottagers could be a dangerous opponent.
Add those three to Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea and it’s going to be a major job for Emery to get Arsenal, with our flaky defence still learning how to defend again, back into the top four.
I don’t know Cicero, who does until a player is given his chance.
Agree re Torreira, Guendozi too – in fact I think our midfield is looking very strong on paper. If Emery can get more from Xhaka and Elneny it’ll only be a bonus.
There’s always Bramall Cicero.. 🙂
This is who I was thinking of. Turns 20 years old in January.
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/youngpros/tolaji-bola/
Kev, I really rate Silva. Had Arsenal gone for him I’d have been more than happy..
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/youngpros/dominic-thompson/
This guy looked good in the FAYC Rico.
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/youngpros/jordi-osei-tutu/
This guy is a right back, but he can play left-back.
I sent two more full backs Rico, but I think they went into spam
Dominic Thompson and Jordi Osei-Tutu
Thompson is too young, but Osei-Tutu was on the preseason tour.
Thanks Kev, just shows we’re not quite as bad off as it looks. Emery will have seen enough of these players to make an informed opinion. Now it’s all down to how they play on the bigger stage when/if they get their chance.
It seems that Bouldy retained his job because when Emery arrived with his full dossier on the players he asked Bould to sum up their strengths and weaknesses and found that they agreed. This kind of suggests that Bould and Wenger did not.
As for tomorrow I will sit back and see what Emery now feels is his best team to combat Guardiol;a’s system , and then look to see if he changes system to combat the Chavs , then we will get to see how prepared we are and how much of a squad manager he is.
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.
The tiny Totts are financially restrained by their new stadium being over budget and over schedule;
https://shewore.com/2018/07/27/tottenham-face-financial-difficulty/
I’m enjoying all the negativity emanating from The Petulant Portuguese Pygmy. He isn’t doing his club, team or players any favours. Come Christmas I wonder what the odds on getting the boot will be? His halo seems to slip and tarnish during the third year of his tenure.
Rico – Re: Arsenal giving youth a chance. There were some study results recently that stated that our beloved club was tops out of the EPL teams for promoting and giving their young players a chance. Only are good enough for our first team, but many of our Academy graduates go on to have successful careers elsewhere.
I know, you take a shine to some of the Arsenal youth, but many stumble at the final hurdle. If I remember correctly, you were a big fan of Chuks Aneke.
Morning Cg.
Me too.
Potter, I bet our teams/systems change on a regular basis.
Cicero, younger players under Emery might be very different to younger players under Wenger. The latter used them, but how often in their right position? No often I think..
Blimey CG, did you look at the comments following that post about the New Slum, there was some really vitriolic exchanges, is that what it’s like on Twitter?
Kev – I don’t have a Twitter, Facebook, SnapChat or any other social media account. I enjoy a good argument/discussion or a bit of good natured banter. However, I despair of what many anonymous persons think is informed opinion.
I am sure that’s why I gravitated to sites like Highbury House (“WHERE IT’S OK TO DISAGREE!”) or A Cultured Left Foot.
I try not to take myself too seriously as a lot of people don’t either.
Oops, my 1-07 was for you Cg.. lol
Kev – I usually don’t read a lot of the comments after the articles on other sites, but I did go back and read some. As we both know The Lady of the House would have pulled the plug on many of those comments and banned those posting them.
It can get a little heated in the House at times, but it rarely degenerates to that level. Rico would have us shovelling out after her chooks.
Facebook is usually ok, but I believe Twitter can get a bit feisty..
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Thanks Rico and Kev, the info about our young defenders certainly cheered me up. I’m now much more optimistic about the coming season.
Has Ramsey signed his new contract?
Managed a nice walk along the River Bure this morning, just had time to enjoy fish and chips in the garden before the rain set in.
They don’t call it The Twattersphere for nothing…
Rico – It has been quite a different transfer window in the House this summer. There seems to be an underlying sense of optimism. Even Stan, our Blonde Adonis, was calm and upbeat. I hope that carries over to our team.
As usual most of the press, pundits and other assorted opinionated parasites have written our team off. I think they just might pull off some pleasant surprises this season.
I read yogi’s warrior too CG . that and Arseblog then I call it a day unless something special happens. And the AFC forum which was founded by the members of the original club’s forum that PHW closed down because strangely it was criticising the board and Kroenke.
Cg, you didn’t read his comments yesterday then? He was like a man possessed. Lol
Glad to help Cicero.. lol
I didn’t know that Bt.. lol
Rico – He was up he was excited. Compare that to two years ago when he was ripping his hair out and wailing like a bereaved widow in a Hollywood melodrama.
Potter – There are a few other good sites like the ones you pointed out, but there are many others I avoid like the plague.
I’d call it different to excited Cg…
Rico – I defer to The Lady of the House.
😅 Cg..
doy we have a team for win Sunday or not?
if not, our goals could not be the 4 first places and we will fight for the Euro Leagueand the cups.
Losing to City on Sunday will not be a disaster but tlosing to City and Chelsea would be. Only because it would set the doubts in peoples minds and heap pressure on the squad and the media frenzy would go into overdrive. I do not expect much from the two opening matches , I would be happy with 3 points but if it was 2 we would still be set for heading into the the next few games with confidence.
We have West Ham and Everton soon as well and then Liverpool before we get to december with Spurs and United. Going to be interesting.
I’ve been down the river Bure a few times courtesy of a Hoseasons cruiser, there’s some really nice pubs and restaurants along the riverbank
From Yarmouth to Coltishall is the way to sail the Bure .Start off in the rough and head for the tranquillity of the broads but not in the holiday season.
Evening,
I actually think mourinho,s playing a clever game, a bad run, and he,s words that “he felt they were short” before deadline day will play in the boards ears, a good run and he will take all the plaudits for finally getting the best out of his players, still you,d feel if they don,t challenge this season, he could well be back in the portugese league as a has-been.
Thoughts on the season ahead, whilst the passion, anticipation and the old enthusiasm is slowly coming back, I am looking forward to seeing us under a new manager, I don,t think we,ve had a bad T.W, really looking forward to seeing torreira playing, he looked a real proper hard nut D.M in the W.C. I,ve always thought lichsteiner was an arsenal type player, bellerin will learn a lot from his experience,
Sokratis could surprise a few, could relish the premier league as a no nonsense defender, and Cech will be looking over his shoulder now, knowing he,s got a guy waiting to come in and impress.
Whilst I don,t fancy us quiet yet to win the title, City or Liverpool for me, I do think a third place finish is very possible, and should be the minimum of our ambition, either way a top four finish should qualify as a decent first season for our new manager,
Fingers X, he,s a success…
Lichtsteiner is as accomplished and experienced as any defender in EPL, and up until last season Sokratis was very good to excellent defender; but somehow to some fans they are not good enough for arsenal even though they hadn’t played a game that counts yet.
Holding and Mavropanos are very much above average defenders given their ages and with the proper instructions the sky could be the limit. If they were in other teams, we will be salivating over them. In Guendouzi and Torrieira we have finally solidify the middle of the pitch. I simply do not get the pessimism.
Btw, did pessimistic Arsenal fans saw the defense that Man U fielded against Leicester City, how was that better than any combination that Arsenal can put up?
Good points Jonathon on Mourinho, that’s his style isn’t it, all about him him him.
I’m pretty much of the same opinion re Arsenal, really looking forward to seeing how our new players adjust to the PL, especially Sokratis because although he might not be the quickest, he looks solid to me, a proper no nonsense defender. I’m sure Emery knows neither he or Mustafi are are full of pace so he’ll play the kind of game which gets the best from both.
Morning all.
Obi, I was surprised Leicester didn’t score more against Utd last night. Utd were there for the taking imo.
Personally, I’d rather see this Arsenal team play the Emery way for a few months before judging any individuals or the team collectively. This isn’t a Wenger approach anymore, this is Arsenal under a manager who does his homework on the opposition, has a plan to nullify their strengths and exploit their weaknesses- City don’t have many I know but at least we should be well prepared. And we haven’t been that for yonks.
I don’t get the negativity there is around at all, I don’t get the ‘they only cost x amount’ comments either, it’s about the individuals we get, what they can do, how they fit in and what they give to team and team mates. Judging them on 3/4 friendly pre season matches seems very short sighted imo. It’s what happens now that counts.
New post up now.