Morning all.
FA Cup first round for Arsenal today but I think it’s probably fair to say that for us fans, our focus is just as much on the transfer window as it is on the football this month.
We know the club are going to make a signing or two but we’ve no idea who. Money is tight if we’re to believe what’s written with loan deals being our best option according to Ornstein. For the first time in a long time though, it seems the club are being more open and honest about things. Whether I’ll be typing the same thing at the end of January I don’t know and it’s hard not to be cynical after so many empty transfer promises were made by Arsene Wenger. Especially before and during a January transfer window. After too as the excuses were rolled out. One of the favourites was that he’d only sign players who were better than he already had. Hilarious really as I think the last player who was, was Andrey Arshavin back in 2009.
The headlines on NewsNow suggest we’re close to our first signing, others suggest Reece-Oxford is desperate to make a switch across London to sign for us but the one which got me thinking was the story about Isaac Hayden wanting out of Newcastle because he wants to more south for personal reasons.
Hayden showed great promise at Arsenal but injury hit him just when he was about to play for the first team. Appearances were limited after that and eventually he moved on. Still only 23 years old, could he be an option for us again? Rob Holding has come on leaps and bounds since Unai Emery took over and subsequently put his faith in him so would it be worth trying again with Hayden?
Both Reece-Oxford and Hayden are central defenders/midfielders. Hayden is the elder of the two but the bonus for us is they’re both English and Arsenal fans at heart.
What do you think guys, take a chance and snap them both up this month? Reece-Oxford is valued at £3m apparently, Hayden though is slightly more but there’s a chance we might have a buy back option although I can’t find the answer to that on the internet.
Good luck to the boys later, hopefully they’ll be no big or embarrassing headlines over the back pages later this evening.
Stay warm…..
first…
Hayden is not a transfer; is a return 😉
Pedantic Jm… 😜
Afternoon Gooners, Up for the Cup today?
Afternoon Rico, I didn’t realise that you and Scott were the HH night shift… 😄
Denis Suarez is a player who I know zilch about, our La Liga correspondent Adam might have more enlightenment on that subject, but if we sign him many fans will say ‘why are we signing him?’ and if we don’t sign him and he goes to Chelsea those same fans will complain that ‘Kroneke won’t spend or that the club is a shambles’ – sometimes you can’t win…
To me it’s looking like the club can’t find a centre half whose affordable at this stage of the season or is an upgrade on who we already have, so it’s Mavropanos and wait until the summer it seems?
Off to read the post…
Good post Rico, as you know, I’m a fan of Isaac Hayden, I always saw him more as a defensive midfielder than a centre back, like you I’m not sure if we had a buy back clause in his contract or not? The fact that he’s English is a plus point given the balance of our squad and he knows the club already so no settling in period.
Unfortunately I can’t see Arsenal going back for an ex player as they did with Martin Keown, even if we’re still light at defensive midfield. But I’d not complain if we did.
As it stands there isn’t anyone in the Stiffs whose an up and coming D/M, only on loan Krystian Bielik comes close and many still see him more as a defender (I don’t).
Whenever I hear a debate on the British economy, especially when linked to Brexit, I hear the term austerity, well that’s a term that could be quite often used when the subject of is raised, Arsenal austerity, KSE austerity, Silent Stan austerity, the combinations are endless.
Anyway, let’s enjoy the FACup today and maybe witness the continued development of our next generation of academy boys following on from those in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s.
Funny how that all ended under Wenger…..
I’ve not been drinking, but some of the above grammar was unforgivable 😄
My deepest apologies to Adam, who will be seething when he reads it…. 🤭
Mike Dean is this evening’s referee so I hope Unai Emery has left Granit Xhaka safely tucked up at home, otherwise Dean would find some way to book him, even if he was sitting at the back of the stand. 😉
Come on Reading ! 😉
Afternoon Kev, thanks.
You and me both re Hayden. I was surprised he was sold to be honest. Tall, strong, confident and English. Just what we need if he can continue to improve.
Ditto re midfield but the bonus is, he has played both positions as has Reece-Oxford and you can never have enough of those.
Night shift is good every now and then..lol
Just watching Reading give Utd a right old game..
…and United have just gone 2 – 0 up in stoppage time.
If the escalating rumours are true regarding Denis Suarez on his way to Arsenal, I’m totally confused. I understand we are losing Ramsey, but surely a CB is our priority. We already have cover in midfield without another one.
UE, please use the money and get a CB.
I know nothing about Suarez, but presumably he’s an upgrade on Ramsey, which is no bad thing as it seems likely that he could go this month. If we can get Suarez now, why take the chance of losing him if we wait until the summer.
No, Arsenal and Chelsea make shock moves for Barcelon’s Suarez
M. united and Arsenal in €50 m Barella (Cagliari – Italy)
Ramsey leave at the end of season to Juventus – free !
But Barela have also Chelsea, Naples and Inter running for him
I’m with you VCC. Defenders with a CB as a priority for me.
Fabregas says goodbye to Chelsea
Evening guys.
I reckon Ramsey must be going this month if we’re signing Suarez. Elneny might be off too.
Defenders next through the door hopefully.
He’s off to join Henry isn’t he Jm?
Arsenal: Cech, Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Elneny, Ramsey, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Iwobi, Nketiah
Subs: Martinez, Jenkinson, Medley, Torreira, Guendouzi, Saka, Lacazette
Thanks Rico.
Not sure I want Hayden back as I haven`t heard anything great about him, not exactly in the England squad or anything !
We wanted Luis Suarez and we may get Denis on loan !…………………will we pay an extra £1 in wages ?
Apparently he did rather well against Utd Lc..
He’s been a bit out of favour since his transfer request back last summer.
Jenkinson getting his chance.Kos breaks down in warm up.
The defensive line-up doesn’t look bad, but where are the goals going to come from? Ramsey, Nketia and Iwobi? No great threat there. Maitland-Niles, Elneny and Willock? I don’t think so!
That’s just f*****g great, Koscielny not fit to complete the warm up! What is going on at Arsenal these days?
Could be an FA Cup record away score, no way will we lose this one, it`s not like we`re playing Nottinham Forest is it ?
Add another defender to the transfer wish list, Kos is finished imo.
Koz not playing ?…………….fcuk !……..we`re doomed !
Come on Eddie, take your chances…
Can’t believe Blackpool are making our defence look bad… 😜
We lose a centre back replace him with a dodgy fullback and leave young centre back on the bench. Where’s the logic in that?
I despair!
A bit over excited by Eddy, but Willock took his chance well. Rico.
Another one by Willock.
yes Fabregas to Monaco.
The kids are alright ,its Lichtsteiner and Iwobi that looks dodgy..
Agree re the kids, they’re lively and up for this.
It could be 2 – 5, Nketia with three good chances muffed!
Lichtsteiner is not a centre back, Emery should hook him now and put Medley on.
Agree re Medley, he gives us a bit more height too against their big guys.
Why on earth bother bringing on Lacazette…?
That’ll make Mike Dean happy, he’s able to book an Arsenal player, Kolascinac.
Now we have two right backs, two centre backs and, perhaps, our best midfielder Maitland-Niles at left back. No wonder our defending so often looks lime an amateur pantomime company one-off-night.
On an off-night
Into the fourth round 🔔🔔🔔 better than last season. 😉
Rico, I know he is one of your favourite youngsters but on tonight’s showing I’m not convinced that Nketiah is the striker of the future you hope he will become. He has pace and awareness, but is not calm enough, or clinical enough, in front of goal.
Maybe in time, but not right now.
I like Eddie Cicero but I agree, he’s a way to go yet. Like you, I’m not sure he will but I hope he can. Should have had a few goals tonight..
The consensus among tonight’s pundits, Tony Adams, John Hartson and the Blackpool bloke is that Nketiah should go out on loan as soon as possible. They suggest to a Championship club but I think he’d be better at a German side as Nelson has done.
Also though and as they said, he’s got to go to a club where he’ll play and where he’ll fit. Too many times in the past we’ve sent players on loan and they barely play.
The last loan Gnabry had pretty much ended his chances at Arsenal.
That’s why I suggest a German club would be the favourite option, the Championship is a distinct lower level to the Bundesliga and the standard of football is considerably higher.
When is the fourth round draw?
Maybe he could join Nelson?
Tomorrow I think.
The problem you have with loaning out Nketiah is if we lose one of either Aubameyang or Lacazette, because since Welbeck got injured Eddie became our 3rd striker.
It might change if we sign another forward this month, but that’s by no means a certainty.
Morning all.
If a player keeps getting into goal scoring positions, I believe goals will follow so Eddie just needs to be patient.
I said the same about Ramsey all those years back when he kept blowing chance after chance and eventually, the goals did come.
His movement is superb, as well so there’s a player in him I reckon.
Eddie’s time will come, hopefully.
Decent result.
When’s the draw for the next round done?
Agreed Scott , if he wasn’t there to miss them I would be more worried . His movement and pace was excellent , just the finish needed a bit more poise. Maybe it was the pressure of thinking that this was his only chance but even after he had missed them , he kept going.
BTW Jenkinson had a good game too.
Potter,
You have to love Jenks.
You just have to but we all know he’s never going to be regular starter.
At least you can be sure he will give 100% and that’s a decent starting point.
I saw Eddie in Sydney last year and he just looked the part.
He’s still a baby.
Edison Cavani, 31, £50m…
What are they smoking at Stamford Bridge?
Scott, I agree about Nketiah, I think he’s trying too hard atm and he’s also been a bit unlucky.
Once he breaks his goal drought he’ll be off and running.
I thought that Emery would give him the 90 minutes, but I didn’t see the game and maybe he was getting tired?
Jenkinson has one more year after this season, it would make sense to use him, he has to be more effective at full back/wing back than old man Lichtsteiner.
I think that the club have the option to sign Lichtsteiner for another year after this one, can’t say I’m confident that they will…
Hiya Kev,
I never saw the hame either, Just some highlights so not sure why Eddie was taken off.
He’s got too much going for him to give up on the lad, I reckon.
Chelski love throwing the cash about and away 🙂
New post up now