Morning all.
If the above photo is genuine, if this kit, modelled by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette is what Adidas has come up with for next season as they reunite with Arsenal, then it’s a big fat yes from me. I love both and for the first time in a while, I might be tempted into buying one. I said might!
Theres been more from Raul Sanllehi. Big words, big hope, big ideas. It’s your choice whether to believe what he says is for real but as we’ve heard it all before, it’s hard for anything anyone tells us to be taken too seriously. Raul isn’t Ivan Gazidis though, nor is he Arsene Wenger, both of whom sold us a pack of fibs. For Sanllehi and Emery, this is their first real summer transfer window as this time last season, Gazidis was still at the club and Wenger had barely left the building.
‘I feel like I have a lot of ammunition when I talk with players to engage them in our project.’ –
Arsenal are either concerned about Season Ticket sales or there really is a plan at Arsenal. Or a ‘project’ as the Spaniard puts it. He didn’t stop there though, he explained further so we’ll all get on board. To believe that the club know who they want to sign and Sanllehi is confident of getting them.
“What I can tell you is that we have identified very clearly and unanimously with our head coach and technical people, we know what we want to prioritise and we’re very clear on what our priorities are. “We’re already in the market and we’re already talking with the people that can help us to cover those positions and I feel quite strong.
“It’s going well and the image that Arsenal has in the football world is very strong. “We need to go where we belong and that’s the Champions League. “Many players really want us to be there also when we’re talking with them, but I feel quite strong on the inputs that I’m getting so far.
“I do believe that we have a very good plan to cover those positions to be much stronger next year, to deliver the success that we’re all hoping for.
There you have it then. If he and Vinai Venkatesham didn’t do enough to convince you that Arsenal have ambition up a couple of days ago, then surely after this little speech that’s changed? Yes of course I’m being ironic. For now. But surely Sanllehi would be foolish to send out such a message without intending to back it up. I’m prepared to give him and the club a chance before casting these latest comments aside and into the same bin so many empty promises before have landed.
There’s an article in the Mail today which for a change, I thought was interesting, albeit shocking. Pep Guardiola might be everyone’s highly thought of manager as he’s assembled the near perfect squad since his arrival at City but because he’s an instant gratification kind of manager under the same kind of owners, a lot of young English players have jumped ship in search of football. Most I think were offered the chance to stay but said thanks but no thanks. The Mail have bigged up the story by suggesting £300 million worth of players have left which isn’t true, not entirely anyway but the point they’re trying to make is that a number of players who were sold for peanuts, have seen their transfer valuation rocket. The big one being Jadon Sancho, who has a £100 million price tag yet left City for less than £10 million. The bigger fools were Watford who allowed City to buy him for £500k in the first place.
Dortmund saw enough in Sancho to give him that chance and he’s thriving. Others City let go are too, many of whom remained in England. Kieran Trippier is one of them, Kelechi Iheanacho another. Others though like Sancho opted for a move abroad where they too are enjoying playing the game they grew up loving. I can’t be bothered to list the rest.
Not for one minute am I suggesting that any of our younger players are worth a similar amount of money as Sancho or are at his level yet, but nor am I saying they’re not, or might not be in a year or twos time either because we don’t know until they’ve been playing first team football for a while.
Arsenal need to be careful who they let go though because they and we might live to regret it. Not just in financial terms either…
Six days to Baku, getting excited yet?
I’ve seen this kit a few times now ,so I REALLY hope they are genuine, as they are Brilliant. I didn’t think it was allowed for them to be released until Puma’s contract had ended this June. IF they are not the real kits, then Adidas should get whoever designed these two tops and employ them are they are brilliant.
Wrighty ? O what did I miss.
If you mean as far as Wrighty causing a stir in the post, it’s he who tweeted the kit photo which he’s since deleted apparently. Seems the kit is very popular on social media and I can understand why…
I couldn’t care less about the kit, it’s design or colour just as long as the players know that when they pass the ball it should go someone wearing the same shirt as theirs.
🤣
Morning, Rico,
Very interesting claims by Sanllehi but the earlier “Transfer Budget – Arsenal to spend £45m + player sales income” stories were not contradicted by him or anyone else – it was the old Arsenal sustainability model put forward to explain that.
Now it’s all about recruiting the quality we so abysmally lack in the current team.
Me? I will believe it when they bring in someone who will improve the team. Wrighty? Vieira? Bergkamp? Thierry? — no wait — those Arsenal days are gone, aren’t they?
Didn’t know that , however the kits look more traditional but as Cicero says it’s not what you wear it’s how you play in it.
No fashion man am I – but a shirt is a shirt – and they all look much alike to me, so I agree with you Cicero there are other matters that are far more important — mind you — your demand that Arsenal players should pass to someone wearing the same colour shirt is a bit harsh – just ask – well 80% of any given Arsenal team last season. 😁
Morning RA. The £45m figure has come from the media rather than the club though I believe so who knows how much they plan to spend. What matters imo is that the club back up his bold comments because if they don’t, he’s going to look a prize p***k….
I quite like a nice kit, look smart and play smart I reckon….
I heard a lady on the radio yesterday, saying that the PL teams have to be VERY careful with their wages and transfer fees as she predicted there will be a BIG fall in the TV money that comes into the PL. It seems that the competition for the TV rights has made it too competitive and the big TV companies are losing money, she also said the Companies like Amazon & Netflix which were once fuelling this competition will now be pulling out she thinks.
It seems the money raised from TV has been falling year on year ( not as I thought rising) and she thinks next time there will be a bigger fall in the money available, and clubs that overspend relying on the TV money will be in trouble as it will be less, …So it may work out that being a self funding sustainable model is the right way to go.
I actually think we have better managers running our club now than the past few years, hopefully we will see the improvement in the class and type of players we buy
Morning Rico and all. Having watched that unusual interview I must say that this new tiered delegation of responsibility smacks of management think-tanks and careful vetting of the questions and the whole atmosphere of the thing. The cost of running the club is escalating all the time and I am sure that Raul feels the hand of history on his shoulder. Arsenal have found a smooth talker. But the unpalatable fact remains that, given the unbelievable opportunities of CL qualification, the team and the club blew it. And not just once. Surely whatever motivation was needed should have been at hand under such a carefully crafted regime?
We have a second chance to qualify though.
Which radio station Sohara?
Talk Sport the lady was from a Company Called Enders Analysis I ‘think’
Morning Adam.
These last few interviews with Raul etc have actually raised my hopes about the clubs future. Of course though, that might very well change come the end of August.
Thanks Sohara.
Rico. I know what you mean. He’s a smooth operator alright.
I’ve found a report which suggests that only the bidding for TV rights has decreased by 10% on last season. I’m not sure that’ll have an impact on what the league pays out though.
Adam, he is but he’s not stupid enough to make false promises surely? His reputation would be damaged and he must be aware of all the spin we’ve heard before.
I don’t know why but I think he and Emery need one more transfer window so we’ll know exactly what their intentions are. Especially if by some chance we do beat Chelsea next week.
Perhaps when the oil runs out and the TV money has gone we will come into our own with the self-sustaining model.
Rico if you are interested to listen to the programme ( I may not have remembered everything correctly as it was quite detailed ) it was Clare Enders from Enders Analysis . on the Hawksbee & Jacobs show podcast available broadcast yesterday 22nd
I think I’ll be in a wicker basket before then Adam….. 😜
Ok, thanks Sohara. Do you work for Enders? Lol
Wasn’t on Eastenders though.
I blame Grant for that…
I wonder where Fred is these days…
I think I sing from the same hymn sheet as you Rico in partly not believing a word of it and feeling it is all very staged and “what the fans want to hear”. However you are right he has kind of put his head on the block here and isn’t likely stupid, so we will find out over the next 10 weeks or so.
Even if the £45m didn’t originate with the club, the fact they haven’t denied it worries me as it tends to lend itself to them wanting that figure out there. It would be easy to set up a P.R interview to deny it came from them and that no specific budget had been set at this stage.
Sometimes you feel certain transfer windows the boat needs to be pushed out a bit rather than linking it purely to that years profits and I feel this is one of them.
Afternoon Gooners
Afternoon Rico
Isn’t it weird, the gap between our season ending and the Europa Final, now it’s like the close season, the summer transfer window, the cricket world cup, Wimbledon, The Open etc and yet we still have a cup final to play – very odd.
But everything surrounding this cup final, the venue, the criticism of Azerbaijan and UEFA by Amnesty International, Mkhitarayan, the ticket scandal, UEFA backhanders, £1000 to get to Baku, airline and hoteliers rip off stories, Cech joining Chelsea before officially leaving Arsenal, it’s all very odd and leaves a nasty taste in the mouth…
As for Raul, he said some interesting things, made the right noises, didn’t give anything away on transfers, which is exactly as you should be doing at this stage of the summer, he talked the talk, so now Raul, let’s see you walk the walk.
Maybe the Moonwalk?
Has any club published its transfer budget?
We can read much in our daily papers about how this or that club will spend X number of millions, but do those clubs confirm or deny the reports? They do not!
Keeping the size of the kitty private make perfect sense, to me, the lower the figure, the lower the expectations of the selling club when it’s time to make the bids.
Is it not time that the Premiership followed the lead of the Rugby Union Premiership and put a player salary cap in place.
Cech’s contract runs until 30th June, he is then a free agent and can do as he likes. There is nothing to stop him taking steps to secure his future employment. We just have to take it on trust that he won’t disclose to opponents our strategy (if we have one) for winning the Europa League final.
The home kit has a bit of the 1989/90 look about it, quite like it, not too fussed over the away.
As for players passing to each other, I’d say that would be quite high up in the coaching manual, anyone got one !
Cheers Rico.
Love that Red kit and will definately buy one in a small so that it`s tight fitting and shows off my ab muscles !……………………..I will share it with you Rico if you cant afford one ! hahaha
RS is like a politician trying to get us onside……………..I dont trust any of them !
Goonerb, the worst thing they could do is deny the £45m, let other clubs believe we are broke because if they thought we had a big kitty, they’ll only want more money for their player.
Afternoon Kev.
Agree re the Cup Final, it stinks from start to finish.
Micko, I think Wenger took it with him….
My size wouldn’t go over your head Lc… 😂
True ! 😆
I’ve listened to it and it sounds good. However I’ve heard it all before.
I’ll judge the transfer window when it ends, in the same way that I’ll judge Emery when the season ends.
From before….
2010 – Net spend £7m
The club has always maintained that it has the funds to compete in the transfer market and this was confirmed by chief executive Ivan Gazidis when commenting on the most recent accounts, “We have money available to invest in the transfer market when we can identify the right players to add into the mix that add something to the squad.” A couple of weeks ago, chairman Peter Hill-Wood gave an explicit green light for a spending spree this summer, “We have got more money than we’ve had for a long, long time and we would like to spend it. But we want to spend it sensibly. There is plenty of cash, although not in comparison to Manchester City.” His normally circumspect manager was just as bullish, “We can match Chelsea and Manchester United in any bid. They can’t buy all the top players.”
But exactly how big is the transfer budget? For obvious commercial reasons, the club has not divulged how much money it has, but you would expect a considerable surplus to be available from playing in a 60,000 sold-out stadium with some of the highest ticket prices in the world, especially when the club’s wages to turnover ratio is among the lowest around. The newspapers certainly appear to be completely confused. The Daily Telegraph announced this week that “Wenger gets £18m war chest”, though did not bother to explain how they arrived at this figure in the accompanying article. The Daily Star typically went big with “Arsene Wenger’s £60m spree”, while the Sunday Times was more oblique, “If Wenger wants to sign two £20m players on £80,000 per week this summer, he has the means to do so”. Even John Cross at the Mirror, normally so authoritative on all Arsenal matters, seems unsure, saying that “the club has £50m plus to spend” last October, only to reduce this to a “£30m plus budget” this month.
2015 – Net Spend £13m
Arsène Wenger will have a £50 million transfer budget this summer and will prioritise signing a new central midfielder but will also closely review both the centre-back and goalkeeper positions.
Hobart, ditto. Similar words, different regime but I guess the new need a chance to prove they’re more honest. If they are of course…
New post up now