Morning all.
Well it seems like it’s done and dusted and Arsenal FC have surpassed the record transfer fee for a player they set when signing Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid. Depending on which outlet one tends to read, Alexandre Lacazette will become an Arsenal player for anything between £44 million and £52 million but who cares what the final figure is? All that matters now is he plays well and continues the great form he’s shown in France with Lyon.
As this post goes on, they’ll be a few graphics showing what he brings to the table, thanks to KickOff. I’m quite excited by this signing which might surprise a few people and considering I often knock Arsene Wenger for signing a player like Yaya Sanogo, I’m all out for giving him a big slap on the back for making this one happen.
Mind you, as I’ve always said, I’m not a big stat fan and only what he does in the shirt of Arsenal matters now but it’s not like we are getting an inexperienced player. He’s used to playing in Europe, scoring goals along the way and he’s quick. Two footed too which isn’t a bad thing is it, just ask Mesut Ozil as I bet he’d love to be able to use his right foot. As would we all love him to because if he could, he’d be a much better finisher, not that he’s bad with his left at times.
He’s no big fella, but to me he always looks strong so we may just have a player who isn’t about to be easily pushed off the ball, unlike a few of the wimps in our squad who with the slightest of touch, hit the deck in the hope of getting a free kick. But as we all know, with the dreadful referees in England, an Arsenal player has to almost be brutally assaulted before the whistle blows in our favour.
The good old France debate. The ‘Lacazette can’t even get into the France team ahead of Olivier Giroud’ – a statement which always makes me laugh when reading around the Arsenal blog world. Deschamps sets his team up to play to Ollie’s strengths so of course Lacazette is going to have to take a back seat. But Arsene Wenger, for all his faults, doesn’t like to play that way. He likes the game to be quick, slick passing, great movement and ‘the perfect football’ as it’s often been called, although we haven’t seen too much of that since the Invincibles broke up. Glimpses yes, but not enough by a country mile.
Comparing the new man with Alexis would be unfair imo. One has played in the Premier League for a couple of seasons now, the other, well it’s all new to him but if Lacazette puts in the kind of effort Sanchez does every time he dons a football shirt, then the Arsenal fans will soon be right behind him. Lazy players aren’t welcome at our club, we have too many already..
Ok, the last graphic has left me scratching my head…….
As said earlier, with such a hefty transfer fee, Lacazette is going to be heavily scrutinised and if he takes time to settle, criticised too because I can already hear the lazy media and television pundits rolling out the line ‘For £50 odd million he really should be doing better…..’ as a chance to score goes begging. Then we’ll either read or hear the ‘Arsenal paid over the odds for a Frenchman who can’t even get into the national side and considering the Transfer Market have the Frenchman valued just £34 million, perhaps Arsenal have paid over the odds but that’s football these days.
After all, Romelu Lukaku is valued at £42 million by the same site, but it’ll cost Chelsea around the £100 million mark to prise him away from Everton. And to think he was once on their books too!
Anyway, that’s their worry not mine, just as spending Arsenal money isn’t mine either and all I care about is going into the new season with a fully prepared squad who are up for the challenges ahead.
The boys were back in training yesterday, well, those who weren’t involved in any international football after the season finished and just looking at pictures of our new left back was scary. If Sead Kolasinac plays the game like he’s photographed, we’ve got a brute. He looks strong, very strong.
So, that should be two players in this summer and even Alexis Sanchez must be thinking we are already on paper looking better and there’s plenty of time to convince him yet that the club is as ambitious as he is. Perhaps that’s the thing, he’s told the club he’ll stay if they match his ambition and they’ve said they will. Alexis already knows where he’s playing next season because he’s said so, so maybe it’s simple for him. He’s staying at Arsenal and as long as the club make a few top notch additions, that new contract will be signed. Let him down, and he’ll be off….
If that’s the case, and maybe the sun has got to my brain, then so far so good I’d say and there’s still plenty of time to convince him further.
Talking of which, there’s a lot of talk in Russia according to a few headlines on NN that Aleksandr Golovin could be the next one through the door. Yes yes, I know it’s all media speculation but perhaps after spending so much money, a £10 million signing of a younger player could be more likely, certainly than a £125 million Mbappe that’s for sure.
Here’s a Youtube clip, he looks a bit like a mix of Tomas and Santi…..
Enjoy the clip, and the sunshine…..
Morning rico. It’s gonna be another scorchio here in the SE.
The Roo is returning to Everton and will have a new lease of life there I reckon. BUT…. They are also offering £20 million for Giroud. Nooooooooo!
We will regret letting him go IMO.
They already now have a new top goalie in place (who I wanted us to go for).
Interesting to see Manure are refusing to pay top dollar for Morata. Seems they are not a spend spend spend club under Napoleon this year.
Oh, and Hector has asked to leave us apparantly. Barca have let us nurture him for them, and are offering £35 mill. One step forward and two steps back for the Goonettes.
Morning Meerkat.
I don’t blame Rooney, not one bit. At least he’s not heading to China just for the money…
I read AW has told Bellerin he’s not leaving. But, if he really wants out then sell him, he’s under a longer contract so hit the price high. £50 million plus should put them off!
Barcelona have done another hatchet job, trying to drive a wedge between the player and the fans.
I don’t want Hector to go, he’s been no bother, didn’t procrastinate over a new contract, signed for 6 years, no problems, has said nothing to the Press, it’s all coming from Spain the spin, a bit different from Oxlade-Chamberlain who spends all his time on fcuking snapchat, him and that stoopid bimbo he’s dating.
Morning All
Morning Rico.
How things have changed in the world of Arsenal…
Even 5 years ago, this blog would have been rocking following a club record signing, especially a striker…
Now, there’s hardly a peep, despite the time of year…
That’s what they’ve done to us, the dead hand of Stan Kroenke has squeezed all the enthusiasm out of the fan base.
That and a manager who living on past achivements
Morning Kev. I’d rather he stayed too but if it’s true and he’s forcing a move, we need to really play hardball with Barca…..
Spot on re your second comment…
Hi all
Just a quick thought on the Laca deal. Given that he was set for Athletico this tells me that once again we hadn’t put in the groundwork before the end of the season, if that is the case he couldn’t have been our main option and begs the question what would we have done if he had joined Athletico?
Good question Bob and good point… I hadn’t looked at it that way..
I remember FA cup final day, merely a few months back.
Bugger all comments that day and that can’t be blamed on Wenger or even Stan, because we won.
Morning all.
Look at all Arsenal blogs- they are filled with people who hate Wenger, but it gets pretty boring when everyone just agrees with each other.
Can’t disagree with someone for the sake of it Scott. I think opinions on here are different some days though. As for the quietness, it’s down to several years of being worn out by Kroenke, the board and a manager who should have gone a while ago imo…
Rico, I’ll respectfully disagree.
With which bit Scott?
I have always said that Barca treat us as a finishing school but doesn’t always work out for them. As Rico knows Catalans are extremely nationalistic and the football club is their symbol of independence. When Barca comes calling it is like getting called up to the army and often with young men family pressures become to much
Scott take your e mail down.You never know who might start sending you dodgy messages .
You are right Potter…
Afternoon Rico and All
Don’t shoot the messanger guys
Alexandre Lacazette’s transfer to Arsenal won’t be announced before 17:00 English time, which is when the French stock market closes.
Ray Parlour likes a joke and a piss take but I never knew
Dennis Bergkamp was one as well.
Ray tells this story: For a bit of fun.
Arsène was so clever at identifying great players to come in. But there were one or two gambles that didn’t quite come off. In the summer of 2000 a player turned up on trial at our pre-season tour. He was a tall centre-half. Now, Martin Keown was always worried about people coming in to steal his position. If we had a centre-half on trial, Martin would say he was useless. This big guy from Latvia, Igors Stepanovs, turned up. He was a unit, but seriously, he was not up to standard.
A few of us were on the bench watching as he played in this trial game. Stepanovs is out there and every single pass he made, the boys started applauding, just because we knew Martin would be getting a bit steamed up by it. Dennis Bergkamp was sitting behind Arsène and kept doling out these compliments about this defender. “Great header! Unbelievable tackle!” Igors kicked this one ball 20 yards away from where it was meant to go but it still went to one of our players so we all stood up clapping. Martin’s muttering: “He’s not that good.” He started to point out where he missed a tackle or a header.
That night we went for dinner and laughed about it as we were only trying to wind Martin up. We all knew Igors was nowhere near the standards set by Tony Adams, Martin and Bouldy. But Martin is such an easy target because he bites. Once someone bites it’s too tempting. Dennis seldom missed a trick because Martin would kick him every day in training. He always came out with a blinder to explain it to Dennis: “I’m just getting you ready for what you are going to face in the match.” Martin was a great player, a great character, a great winner. I think we all cared so deeply.
When we got back to the training ground at London Colney a week later we had a surprise though. Igors was sitting there. I said: “What are you doing here?” “They signed me. Four-year contract.”
Incredible. Arsène didn’t know we were just trying to tease Martin. He just kept listening to us heaping praise on this player. And if Dennis Bergkamp stands up and says: “What a player,” Arsène would be entitled to take a bit of notice. I suppose it looked like a bargain at around £1m. No disrespect to anyone from the lower leagues but Igors was a yard behind us on the pitch, it was like taking my brother to training.
Afternoon Fred, I’m reading Parlours book at the moment and that did make me chuckle…
Bob at 12:31, I think that assessment is unfair, for all we know it could’ve been between Athletico and Arsenal, just as Ozil was between Real and Arsenal and 3 years later he came. Actually it was all Arsenal if AW would have been pro-active because they have followed Lacazette for 10 years, which beckons beliefs.
I think that people are not excited because even if the deal goes through, Lacazette and Koslasnic alone do not make us #1 or #2 team in EPL. We need two more quality players: DM (Aranguiz, Illaramendi, Salif Sane, Marchisio or even George Boyd) and a good winger J. Viera, Forsberg, Calhanoglu or even Willian), and also keep all of the first team players.
Aaaand he’s signed!
It’s done, finally, so who’s next?
Potter, send all the dodgy emails you like 🙂 🙂
Seriously, I get enough every day and always have so an extra few won’t hurt lol
Rico, I disagree with you on why we think things are quiet on blogs.
Official at last. Just not sure whether to be pleased. If it wasn’t for the 50% chance that Sanchez leaves, I would be pretty chuffed we have moved fairly early this year, not Everton standards, but pretty quick for us. But so much now depends on Alexis. I don’t want him to leave under any circumstances, surely we can give him a rise and a get-out clause in a year?
Hi Scott, you seeing our lads soon?
I’m excited Obi. Think Lacazette is a great signing myself…
Andrew, i agree. If Sanchez goes, it undoes all the good work done in getting this signing over the line. Good player in and great player out. Lets just hope our fairly early movement can persuade Sanchez to sign an extension….and Ozil too.
Glad it’s official. Now then, next…. ?
Ok Scott. Just don’t think your thoughts are thatbof everyones, certainly not here…
Frednerk………My Son and I went to a dinner and evening speech with Ray Parlour a few months ago, in Billericay Essex.
He told that story and many more. A fantastic evening, and real gentleman. Very approachable.
If you get the chance to do the same, I strongly advise you to take the opportunity.
VCC
If I ever meet you I’ll tell you few more..But not on here.
His book like Rico says is a funny read.
VCC, I wish I’d known about that Ray Parlour evening. Down here in Southend, it’s always West Ham oldies at the Cliffs Pavillion. MInd you, had a good time when we saw Jimmy Greaves a few years back.
Wrighty’ book after that for me Fred…
bumba11
For the first time, Sky Bet has Sanchez more likely to stay at Arsenal than go to City. In fact odds have him more likely to stay at Arsenal than go anywhere at 10/11.
Not putting a bet myself on though!
I reckon he’ll stay and the chances of him doing so will surely increase the better quality of player Wenger signs…
rico, just seen Charlie Nicholas say that he thinks it will have no bearing on Sanchez’s decision. But then Winterburn thinks it might. All guesses!
I guess it depends on what promises, if any, he’s been made Andrew. If Sanchez is telling the truth, seems he knows already where he’s going to play. That to me suggests he’s staying…
Me too Rico
Get us Fred, being all positive… lol
Ok Scott, leave it to me, I can guarantee a long tirade of abusive emails heading your way.
Hmm ‘thinks’ Botany Bay, kangaroos, corks on your hat, hopeless at cricket, Fosters lager, VW camper vans, boomerangs, going walkabout, Prisoner on cell block H, Kylie Minogue, Les Patterson, Frank Ifield, Tasmania, yep, there’s loads of ammunition there. ?
Evening all and thanks Rico for a superb stat post……..do like a stat post with graphics !…………even better are posts with voting polls ! . hahaha
Good signing by Ornstein, but will be a step back if Alexis goes and as Ornstein says………other signings depend on Alexis/Ozil/Ox trinity !. Good start, but we will be cursing if them contracts are not sorted quickly and what`s the betting that we next see Arsene in Ozland with half the squad and Alexis on holiday !…………………………and Arsene says he`s working 24 hours on it !
https://www.arsenal.com/sites/default/files/styles/large_16x9/public/images/laca2.jpg?itok=-7i0huWO
PS…………………….Wavy was right !…………..it was sunny in Devon ! 🙂
Dont forget Rolf Harris, Kev !……………………………….oh and that big red bulbous hard thing in the centre of Australia !………………………….Dame Edna`s knob !
😆
Cocker, I thought that I would diplomatically steer clear of Rolf Harris.
Andrew, my son and his best mate saw Parlour, Grovesie and Merse at the Cliff, Southend a few months ago. He said it was hilarious. They had pics taken afterwards, said all the lads were top geezers.
Glad you liked them Lc…
🙂 Kev, that’s funny….
Gud day all, what about Bony? And Skippy? Jeez they’ve made some garbage! Sorry Scott but, it has to be said!?
Not forgetting (how could we, his mug still keeps popping up everywhere), dad of the decade, Peeeder Andre. Urgh!!
Kev, I knew you’d come good hahahaha
To be honest, I have no idea what Potter is talking about as I don’t see me email appear when posting, or even after posting-where does it show up???
How do I fix it???
Andrew, I’ll be at both games, but we also have a meet and greet, and plenty of other activities scheduled for the time the clubs here.
ATM, I’m not the least bit excited as I’ve been too busy with arrangements and other things, but the closer we get, I’ll relax and enjoy it.
People are strange-I’ve been telling Arsenal supporting mates for a few years to join Arsenal Australia for $25.00 a year-app. £13.00 a year-because the benefits will come.
All of a sudden, they want to know why they can’t access the players at these events and want to join???
Boofheads 🙂
Now Arsene, get Alexis, Ozil and one or two others to extend!!!!
Another signing or two of Lacazettes quality and we could be in for a ripper season.
It was showing earlier Scott, I removed and added your name
well, well Lacazette in 🙂
Thanks Rico.
Kev, arh, that would have been a top night!
Scott, serves them right!
Agreed, get them to renew, sign a midfield or defensive general, and I’ll convert and support AW as much as you do!
No worries Scott. I didn’t spot it, but Potter did…
Just watching some vids of Lacazette on You Tube and yes it can make an average player look world class, but I have say and I don’t wanna go overboard, er, ah well fcuk it, he actually reminds me more than a little of Ian Wright, he looks a finisher, you know an Eduardo type, someone who just puts the bloody ball in the net and bollocks to any marks for artistic impression.
I like him…
Me too Kev. Just been read Lg, you’d think we’d just signed Sanogo judging by some of the comments. I honestly can’t wait to see both our new signings in action…
I’d love us to get the Russian too. Similar with YouTube as you say, but he looks good, quick too with an eye for a pass….
If the Laxative scores in his first game, as Freddie did, then I think he will find instant acceptance, but, if he turns into John Jensen the ‘noes’ will have it. Scores a plenty and we’ll find we have a player, not score and he will become another very expensive piece of dead wood, ready to the slackers eleven!
What’s it to be? Hero or zero?
Time will tell but as Kev said, he doesn’t seem to mess around in front of goal, unlike a few of ours currently. And let’s be honest, we create the chances, just need another player other than Alexis to take them….
Wavy, ‘oh he of little faith’, did not Bergkamp and Henry start slowly, as did Pires ?
Rico, I don’t know much about the Russian tbh, Goretzka seems to be the favourite, but I’m only going on what I’ve heard…
AFTV said there’s been no contact with Mahrez, but that Arsenal are actively looking for a Cazorla replacement…
Anyone know if the Australian and Chinese game are gonna be on TV and what channels?
Please don’t say poxy Sky or poxy BT…
Kev, I watched the German in the con fedccup, very good. Depends on how much money there’s left for players after we’ve signed Mbappe as to who follows I guess…. 🙂
Is the official site showing the pre season fixtures?
Seems that they’re all on satilite channels Rico…
Ah well, I’ll watch the highlights on You Tube,
Hasn’t the old chap just spent more than half his wad on the bowel easer? Mbappe is off then until we get the CL money! Oh bugger, we’ve not qualified have we! Shame! One to come then? But a much cheaper option, or perhaps two.
Exciting times, eh?
That might change Kev…
Wavy you old cynic… lol
My pillow calls, night you two and all…
I never thought I said this, but atm Leon Goretzka is not better than Ramsey if Ramsey is played in his natural position, and this is coming from someone that don’t like Ramsey. Moreover, Golovin is not better than “the Jeff” or for that matter Iwobi, imho, but then again am just a dude with an opinion…… Sometimes we just can’t help it but just keep looking at the other dude’s girl even though ours is better….lol.
AW needs to try and get another ready made player or someone very close to the finish product and stop buying players who’s 3-4 years away.
Is winning the EPL worth £50 million?
I think I know how Stan Kroenke would answer as trophies mean nothing to him.
But as with RVP a few years ago, if we sold Alexis to Man City that would tip the balance in their favour and weaken Arsenal.
So I ask again, is winning the EPL worth £50 million?
Of course there’s no guarantees, just ask Man Utd, but would Arsenal really be in the mix for the title, maybe even win it if we retained Alexis, even if he walked away in the summer of 2018 for nix..?
To me it would be worth it stopping Man City and possibly going on to win the bloody thing ourselves.
Afternoon to you all @ HH. Quite mild here when the weather blows in from the South Pacific.
Look I know you are mostly jaded by ol’ Froggy Pugwash @ the helm for so long, but I can feel a Title coming on. And like you were after the FA Cup win, I believe the general feeling you have about The Club will change once the wins start adding up. But Sanchez’s services must be retained, as well as Ozil’s.
Any solid update on Mbappe would be appreciated.
Hope you don’t mind my cousin lateralthinkinggeorge10 filling in for me rico. He is a bit more to the point than me, but loves the Gooners no less. Anyway, footy calls. 37 years of shite might be coming to an end. Its just that I’ll be in London if it happens. Bloody piss poor timing on my behalf 🙁
Kev, I’d rather keep Alexis and be in with a chance. Alexis would be stupid to move to City unless money rules as they have players in his position and many of them. For football reasons alone, he’s far better staying with us imo. But then I am biased…
Morning all..
Thanks for the eagle eye, Potter.
Much appreciated.
Andrew, support Arsene, or accept the fact he’s at the helm?
I say B 🙂
Saying that, I will support any manager we have so maybe a little bit of both lol
Fair point Scott, doesn’t do any good ‘not’ accepting him as long as he’s here. If Sanchez went for nothing in 2018, I think we would have had our £30m worth by today’s standards! And there’s no way he wouldn’t give his usual 100%, the guy couldn’t do that to himself.
Morning Rico and all. Sanchez’ situation, if the reports are remotely accurate, is probably about negotiating power. I doubt the club will see £400k a week as anything like a good investment. If that is a reflection of where he is then he will be sold I would think. Push the M’Bappe deal through and his position becomes very different perhaps.
Morning. Adam, don’t you think it was always Lac OR MBappe? I find it hard to believe we would be serious about buying both. Mind you, I remember Man City buying two strikers on same day a few years ago. It was as if they ended up with their first and second choices.
Morning Adam.
£400 is obscene and no player should be earning that. Mbappe arrival would change everything for a few imo, Alexis and Ozil would definitely want to stay, others will know their time is most certainly up… 🙂
Andrew, maybe it’s Mbappe in, Alexis out? Just a thought which crossed my mind a split second ago… 😉
Hi Andrew. I just doubt that the club will want the Sanchez situation to dictate their transfer strategy and as long as his contract situation remains in limbo, that’s what is happening. I don’t know if they could do a deal for M’Bappe but it would effectively allow Alexis to look around for his £35k a day deal. Who would pay that, I cannot imagine.
But, it’s all conjecture at this stage I guess.
Actually £400k a week is more like £50k a day plus isn’t it? Blimey.
What’s a ‘k’ between friends Adam… 😉
I watched the tennis yesterday, what some of them go through for such little money compared to football is incredible. 3hrs and 15 mins for the match involving Konta and for nothing near what the overpaid celebrities earn…
Rico, I believe £100,000 a week is obscene! 5 million a year! With little danger in your job.
Andrew, you and me both. Money has ruined the game. I do wonder how long this kind of financial stuff can be sustained. It’s got to reach breaking point at some stage…
Morning all…………………still hot and sunny in misty Cornwall. 🙂
£400k pw is ridiculous and Arsene wont pay it, cant believe the rumour !…………….but !………………….that`s £28M per year………………..£84M for a 3 year contract with no purchase fee !………………………………..Mbappe will cost £125M plus wages(?) !………just saying !
Probably the press just trying to drive a wedge between Sanchez and Arsenal. It had been known 😉
Also ……..if true, then we should sell for £60M and use that as a deposit for Mbappe !
Also…………..I know they are rich, but are Mansour City going to pay Alexis £400k pw ?………………………….others will want the same !……………………………………and brings me to my final point……………it makes the £300K pw sound like a bargain ! hahahaha
I blame Jean-Marc Bosman!
Have to nip out this morning. There will be a post but a bit later.
Catch up in a bit..
What if the £400k is a reflection of what he has been offered from one of the Chinese clubs? Will he go or will he no? It all seems a bit Diego Costaish. Back to AM as the Chinese didn’t want him, in the end! And so with Sanchez. He has just priced himself out of the market. Not even citeh would pay that kind of money. Actually he’s not worth that kind of investment, no footballer is, imo. Keep him and let him walk free next year. If he does the business then, fine. If he doesn’t put him with the stiffs, fine. ( a dreadful waste but else should he expect?)
Morning all. Bubbling up nicely here. Sun’s out, temperature’s rising, the brows a bit sweaty! Lovely!?
Does anyone believe that if Lacazette can fire, we will see the best of Ozil?
I reckon that pacy guy with Intelligence can only be a good thing for Mesut.
Morning All…
Adam, if by some miracle Wenger secures the signature of Mbappe, then I guess that’s time up for Alexis, but have a Man City even made an offer?
So far it’s all speculation, what if Man City offer £25million because of the wage demands of Sanchez, are we gonna take that?
It’s a problem that Wenger has created for the club by not sorting these things out in the summer of 2016 and then flouncing around over his contract.
I thought that he was a professional..!
Anyway, I still say that winning the EPL is easily worth £50 million in all ways, prestige, business etc, it’s a no brainer to me.
But Kroenke won’t see it that way and he’ll force Wengers hand.
Sanchez is not going anywhere, simply because this is a guy that doesn’t even want to be substituted. I have said it several times unless he plans on been a rotation player, all the teams he’s linked with goes 2 deep already at his position.
And whatever happened to Costa’s 4ook p.w. The dude is going for 20m and there are no bidders. Is his attitude that bad? I would definitely take Costa.
How about Everton 75m for Lukaku to MU and they get MU to pay a third of Rooney’s wages…. wow. For a player they bought for 35m.
Poor Chelsea, really bad week lose Lukaku, no takers for Costa and their new CB, Rudiger, is an Arsenal fan that wears Henry, Bergkamp and Sanchez jersey around….. can u say own goal….lol. if AW has a week like that we will be calling for His head……including me.
The word is Mpabbe to PSG he wasn’t convinced with Real and PSG bid was higher than Arsenal.
Then Alexis stays for me Obi…
Same with Ozil, just suck it up but really go for the EPL.
Worry about next season next year, focus on the here and now.
Basically, selling Sanchez to Man city is like handing them the tittle like we did to Man Utd a few seasons back. We would be out if reckoning even before we had the chance to challenge for the title. Even kroenke won’t want that… Or will he?
Obi, that’s funny.
New post up now..
Think Kev is right, keep Alexis and fcuk the £50M if it wins us the EPL…………………anyway, Arsene said Alexis was going nowhere and even more convincing from the horses mouth is this tweet from Ornstein and this was his last and latest on the matter ………………………………and answers Kevs question…………….
https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david/status/881125326990004225
In Ornstein We Trust ! 😆