Morning all.
I don’t know about anyone else but I’m struggling to remove my cynical side when it comes to Arsenal players and their injuries. Kolasinac, yes, 8 – 10 weeks for him which is a huge blow to him and the team especially as Nacho Monreal has had much of a preseason, actually, I don’t know if he’s even returned from his holiday yet so I very much doubt I& he’ll be ready in time for next weekends opener against Man City. Not an ideal start eh. Aaron Ramsey though, now his reported injury I find hard to believe but only because of his contract situation. If Arsenal haven’t by now convinced him to stay, it’s likely they never will imo, unless of course it’s purely about money and the club finally succumb to his demands. Otherwise he’s likely to be sold over the next six days. I read that Emery was hopeful that Ramsey would sign the new deal on offer, confident even but time is running out. They’ll be a plan im sure but should he leave, does he need to be replaced like for like?
AMN, Emile Smith-Rowe and Joe Willock are all waiting in the wings with Mohamed Elneny, Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira no doubt being the first choice. Smith-Rowe would be my choice to step up but at eighteen years old, is his body able to cope with such demands? I’d say not. Iwobi it is then and fresh from signing a new long term deal at the club, perhaps he’s ready to show signs of improvement under the new coaching staff.
Finishing with the transfer gossip, Arsenal are this morning being linked to a move for Domagoj Vida who recently helped his Croatian teammates reach the final of the World Cup. A versatile defender who can play anywhere across the back line. There you go then, the left back problem sorted and another experienced defender in the squad. Has be true doesn’t it?
The Metro say it is, but the club must sell either Mustafi or Welbeck to release the funds required which is £25 million for the Croatian.
There’s also a few rumours about us going for Danny Drinkwater too.
Lazio are our final preseason opposition later today. It’s live on the Arsenal Player..
Enjoy it…
A swap deal in the pipeline?
Ramsey for Drinkwater?
Morning Rico and the gang.
Two posts in one day Rico, we are being spoiled.
Not sure that I rate the guy with the weird hairstyle at £25m.
Not sure that the club will do anymore business other than sales.
Morning Kev, I didn’t put that two pls two together re Ramsey. Could be I guess but not sure how we come out of that one if it happens.
First post earned me a shilling Kev… 😉
Good morning Rico, good morning Kev.
Hmm, Drinkwater for Ramsey? Hardly the level of player we need. Is he even an improvement on Ramsey?
Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all Fellow Gooners.
Rico – Two posts in one day? The Transfer Window must still be open.
I share your opinions re: Ozil, but only if he is played in the #10 position. That has yet to be determined as Emery has shifted team formations and players during the preseason.
As for Ramsey, I think it is mainly about money. He has seen what Ozil managed to pull off last season and thinks he is worth more then is currently on offer and will see if he can emulate Ozil in negotiating tactics and wages.
He may also be concerned, but to a much lesser degree, as to what position he is going to play. He doesn’t seem to like being played on the wing. Again, much like Ozil.
Morning Cicero, Cg.
I too reckon Ramsey is about the money. I don’t think he deserves anywhere near what Ozil is earning, then again, neither does Ozil imo.
Ramsey’s “injury” makes it difficult to sell him, only Wenger would buy an injured player Kim Kallstrom? Could it be a ploy to enable him see out his contract or perhaps significantly lower his asking price?
It is unfortunate that we are all so cynical about one of our best players.
However, if Ramsey is truly looking for pastures new, he should know that most of our senior players who have forced a move haven’t shone so brightly elsewhere. Alexis Sanchez being yhe most recent example.
CG, it is unfortunate that “one of our best players” , a description of Ramsey with which I sincerely disagree, appears to be cynically holding the club to ransom.
Kholi out LBW now we have a chance of winning the first test. C’mon England!!!!
Or Cicero, he’s not injured and the club are simply making sure he doesn’t get injured because that would be a big problem if he’s set on leaving.
Morning Goonster, a shiny new left back would be ideal but can’t see it, although with Montreal’s future up in the air, who knows.
I’m watching too Cicero, a good test although England need some slip catching practice.
I reckon Ramsey also knows his starting place is not guaranteed as it was before under Wenger. L8me all of them, he’ll have to work for his place. Jack was told the same and decided leaving was his best option and unless Ramsey becomes more consistent, imo he’ll bit a bit part with us and certainly at any other top club.
Cicero on the face of it the Ramsey /Drinkwater thing doesn’t rock anyones boat – and it probably won’t happen anyway – but Drinkwater is a league champion and was a very key member of that team although Kante got all the praise, plus it’s needs must, we need players who can dig in.
Swapping players, as in the Alexis/Mkhitaryan deal is one way the circumvent the reluctance to just sell to a rival. But it probably won’t happen and we’ll just sell Ramsey and hope for the best.
Cocka, I thought you was having a larf with the Joao Virginia stuff, but as you said, he’s joined Everton. Maybe the fact that the club gave Iliev a new deal and he’s 23, unsettled Virginia, who is 19 soon and probably wants/needs to start playing soon. I think we may regret that decision.
Yeah, the Ramsey ‘injury’ thing was a bit odd, of course it could be genuine but I guess we’re all cynical. Today’s line up could be interesting.
Too many years of being spun a yarn Kev..
Rico – You may have something there about having to work for their places in the team. Many of our squad being played regardless of their prior performances led to complacency by too many of our players last season. Bellerin being a prime example.
As for Jack, he has shown a true lack of ambition. Last season he could have gone abroad to play on loan for some quality teams, but he chooses Bournemouth. This season he again has some good opportunities, but he chooses West Ham.
Cicero – Ramsey does seem to polarize opinion, much like Arsene.
Interesting to see that Fulham have now spent more than Arsenal in this window.
Do they have wealthy backers?
Arsenal are now the 4th biggest spenders behind Liverpool, West Ham and now Fulham.
Cg, a lot might come down to Jack having young children. As much as he could have opted for a tougher challenge etc, I totally understand why he’s moved to West Ham. Perhaps he’s not interested in earning the mega money bigger clubs could offer although I doubt West Ham aren’t rewarding him handsomely, but maybe he just wants to play the game he loves.
Wasn’t he a hammers fan as a kid too?
So did Everton last summer Kev, but it didn’t make much difference. 😜
CG, Jack seems to like to prefer to stay close to family and friends, he also has young children from a previous relationship who he likes to still be involved with.
I was hoping that he would go abroad this summer after leaving Arsenal, but again he wanted to stay close to his roots. Lack of ambition is one way of looking at it, and you might be right, but I suspect that being close to his kids also had as much influence.
Yes Rico, they did, and only £58m this year, I wonder what will happen if Usmanov rocks up there? He couldn’t get Arsenal off of Kroenke so I guess another way to get one over the American is to make Everton successful, maybe have them finishing above us?
Boys and their toys eh? 😉
Wow, just seen, England won the test.
Fulham are owned by Shahid Khan a Pakistani American , in fact the same one who wants to buy Wembley stadium to promote grid iron “” football “” to the u.k. Not only has he got a few bob but he is prepared to spend it on his teams. Like our Stan he owns an American team the Jacksonville Jaguars but he has a diffent outlook on their development.
Interesting read on him at :- http://www.fulhamfc.com/shahid-khan.
Kev – I was aware of the family situation, but young children are quite flexible.
Here’s Jeorge Bid’s take on Joao Virginia;
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2018/08/04/virginias-shock-move-to-everton-leaves-arsenal-short-of-u23-goalkeepers/
Rico – One further point regarding Ramsey. This is probably his last ‘big’ contract and he will want to maximize it. He’ll be knocking on in another 4-5 years.
Thanks for info Potter/CG.
We got an undisclosed fee for Virginia.
And apparently only £900,000 for Akpom.
I hope he keeps his Arsenal shares in his safe Kev and keeps trying to oust Kroenke..
It was a good test Kev, very entertaining and funny enough, I managed to watch most of it.. 😜😜
Good for you Rico, makes a change you putting your feet up. 🙂
Cg, then he’d be better off running his contract down.. lol
Rico – The cynical view is that Usmanov has fronted the money for the Everton buyout/investment. Yes, I know – more cynics connected with Arsenal. He is tired of trying to buyout Silent Stan. So, he will sell all his Arsenal shares and move across to Everton.
If Kronke manages to buy Usmanov’s shares he could force a buyout of all other share holders and take the club private. No more Annual General Meeting with it’s question period. Stan could do what he wants with no one else to answer to.
This is the reason why when our previous custodian board cashed in they should have sold a percentage in trust to the club. However they went for the money rather than the security of the club as a whole.
That was a good win for England, India are the number one test country in the world at present.
At last it seems as though we’ve found out how to prepare a pitch to suit our bowlers. A lush, well watered out-field, to ensure the ball retains its shine and ability to seam and swing, and a pitch that offers something for our pace bowlers.
Yep Rico, slip catching practice wouldn’t come amiss, and an opening batsmen who hasn’t been “found out” by just about every test team there is. Cooke is way past is best.
😂 Kev, it does…
But has Usmanov confirmed this Cg, or just media speculation. That’s the biggest question. Could Kroenke afford the shares now I wonder, perhaps for the good of the club, Usmanov might sell to someone different, after all, why should he sell to Kroenke when Kroenke won’t sell to him?
So many questions there..
Indeed they did Potter, shows where their loyalties were…
Agree re Cook Cicero, he’s looked out of touch this match but knowing him, he’ll be back with a century next match.
Allezkev @ 12:06, you are so on point.
I think that two of the most highly underrated players in the EPL is Drinkwater and Snodgrass. Their work rates, ball intelligence and in-game leadership are immersive. As you said they may not rock people’s boat, but imho, they win you league titles when you have the right players around them. I take Drinkwater over “flashy” Ramsey any day. We have at least 3 Ramseys on the squad, but as for guys who will get “stuck in” we don’t.
Usmanov’s partner in Red and White Holdings, Farhad Moshiri is a billionaire in his own right ($2.8 billion), so I don’t think he needed a hand out from Usmanov in order to buy Everton.
The chance of Usmanov selling his shares to anyone but Kroenke are zero. Any other buyer would have no influence in Arsenal FC, no seat on the board and no say in it’s running.
Earlier this year Kroenke refused an offer of $1 billion from Usmanov and made an offer of $500 million for Usmanov’s shares, which he in turn refused.
Stalemate!
Why Drinkwater left Leicester I’ll never know.
Not just this test Rico, he’s been out of touch for the last few series, the only “touch” he gets now is off the outside edge and straight to the slips.
Cicero – The report about Usmanov seeking to sell his shares was reported in the financial press not the broadsheets.
Rico – Speculation on my part but, I doubt Usmanov would sell all, if any, his shares to Stan. I could see him selling enough to third party/parties or keeping same to prevent a total buyout by Stan.
Anyway, I’m off to bed to get a few hours before the Lazio game kicks off.
Ha ha Cicero, to be fair, a few others have too. Sounds familiar…
Let’s hope he doesn’t Cg. Sleep well.
It gets a bit hot and you start on the siesta
offside
Certainly looked just a teeny weeny bit offside there. Still he was in the (almost) right place at the right time. Fox in the Box? 😉
………..2 – 0 Job done. Another good win, The future’s looking bright.
Defence still looks a bit suspect.. That’s that then, now it all begins..
Letting too many crosses in, getting caught on the back post too often
That’s how I see it Obi, Drinkwater is an English ‘water carrier’, no Hollywood football but a reliable 7 or 8 every game.
We’ve been linked with N’Zonzi all summer and then the guy at Mainz, not eye catching but both dependable, tactically aware types.
It just seemed to make sense to me, if were gonna lose Ramsey, then replace him with a player type that we’re short of and English to boot, which fits the balance in the 25 man squad of 8 home developed players.
Lucas Perez, if the transfer rumours are true, it seems as if we’re basically giving him away to get shot of his wages. It also means that unless the club have a big surprise up their sleeves that Danny Welbeck is staying.
Only saw the goals and Nelson looked offside to me, but he reacted really well with some smart instant control, he tucked it away nicely.
Aubameyang struck his goal beautifully, I think that he and Lacazette could both get over 25 goals this season, could be like Geoff Strong and Joe Baker again, as back in the early 1960’s. I just hope that our defence isn’t as porous as it was back then…
You know you’re spot on Kev. We have players who can be brilliant one week, maybe more but then can so quickly hit a dip. Whether that’ll be the same now under a stricter regime remains to be seen but we seem to lack a mr consistent or two. Elneny is probably the closest as with him we know what we’ll get, no frills just steady.
Maybe Drinkwater would be a good addition because he too is a steady Eddie who was key to Leicester’s success. Although it seem Chelsea are trying to use him in a swap dead for Zaha now.
New post up now.