Morning all.
It’s another big weekend for Arsenal where three points are much needed and it’s got to the stage where I think it doesn’t matter how we get them. Mikel Arteta and his players simply have to ride this storm and somehow come out the other side. I’m still not convinced Arteta is experienced enough to get us out of this mess but until he has ‘his own’ squad, I’m not sure he or any manager in his situation can be judged fairly. When less than half the team seem to be working hard for him, Arteta is never going to succeed.
Vinai and Edu have given Mikel their support publicly, next month and the summer, they need to back him financially. If the rumours around Stan Kroenke rubber stamping the fee paid for Thomas Partey are true, the board need to press him for more money next month. It’s the 18th December, just 13 days before the transfer window opens and in my opinion, Arsenal need to be negotiating transfers now and not in the middle of next month. That is if the club are intending to sign someone during the next transfer window.
Last January, Man Utd signed Fernandes and his impact was instant. That’s the kind of signing we need to make. A 2021 version of Arsenal’s Arshavin. The kind of player who’ll make a difference.
One player who will make a difference I’m sure, is Gabriel Martinelli. His game is about everything our forward players seem unable to do. Run at defenders, find space and score goals. He and Kieran Tierney were good together before injury struck.
Speed, movement and passion. The return of Martinelli can’t come soon enough for me but I know that return must be managed sensibly because the last thing he needs is a big setback. Rushing Thomas Partey back seriously backfired and whoever made that decision should be ashamed of themselves. I don’t know how long Partey is out for but his absence is a big loss for the team.
Arsenal have a long long list of players on the books but in all honesty, barring a handful, I wouldn’t miss them if they were sold. Arsenal need to sell that’s for sure and not only to raise funds. Regardless of what you and I think of our players, I’m sure most of them would get into many other teams around the world. The Premier League is hard and fast whereas other leagues aren’t. Someone like Xhaka would thrive in a league where his lack of pace isn’t such a big deal. Lacazette the same in a league where defenders allow a striker more time on the ball. Pepe where opposition players don’t kick the man before the ball if you get my drift. Our footballers aren’t bad players in my opinion, I just think some, no, many of them simply aren’t suited to the Premier League.
Sokratis, Ozil, Luiz, Mustafi and Macey are all set to leave for free next summer. The following summer though, perhaps more importantly, Lacazette, Kolasinac, Chambers, Nketiah and Elneny will also be leaving for free unless Arsenal extend their contracts. These are the players the club should be looking to sell next month or in the summer if they are not considered to be the future of Arsenal. Plus, the club have a vast number of players out on loan whose future will need deciding very soon. 17 to be precise.
The loan rules are set to change next season with Fifa’s proposal of eight loan deals per season, both in and out of the club and that figure will be reduced to six from 2022-23. To begin with, only players aged 22 of over will be subjected to the rules but I’m sure that’ll soon change. I think the changes make sense too as it’ll stop clubs signings overseas talent in vast numbers on the cheap.
Anyway, the crux of this article is that as far as the Arsenal players and their future goes, the club have an awful lot of decisions to make of the coming months. Possibly a lot of money to make too.
See you in the comments guys.
Good morning Rico.
Arteta’s first and biggest decision concerns Ozil. If he’s not to be added to the squad on January 1st Arsenal must pay him off and get him out of the club. The cost of his wages is the same as the compensation to terminate his contract.
Those of our players with aspirations to Champions League football cannot be happy about our current situation. Relegation is a much more likely outcome than a top four finish. They will be edging nearer the exit the closer the transfer window comes.
Our sole hope would be to win the Europa League but the spectre of Benfica looms large over that chance. Indeed, even to achieve Europa League qualification next season, most likely depends on winning the F A Cup.
A mid-table club without the prospect of European competition will be less attractive to ambitious players who may be within the range of our transfer fund.
Kroenke will have to dip deep into his piggy bank if we are to try and buy our way up the League.
Hi Rico and all we must win against Everton but more importantly some players must realise that they are playing for not only for their careers but also the blood hounds will be out for Arteta and Edu sacking.
Morning Cicero, Geoff.
I really hope Ozil doesn’t come back into the squad. The last thing we need is a player who won’t roll up his sleeves.
Rumours are abound that it’s a couple of players plus a group of players that are spoiling the spirit and upsetting the squad.
Luiz and Willian are named but the others aren’t.
Personally I have a list of those I’d like to get rid of but it may be too much for this January window.
Macey,
Mustafi,
Luiz,
Sokratis,
Kolosinac,
Bellerin,
Soares,
Xhaka,
Ceballos,
Ozil,
Willian,
Lacazette,
Guendouzi,
Torriera.
Might leave us a little light………
But we would only really need to buy 3-4 to replace that lot and balance the squad.
Hobart, I’d keep Cedric. He’s a tidy right back I think.
I’d sell Auba too and bring Balogun into the team.
Rico, I thought long and hard about him. He’s tidy and useful but not I don’t think he’s good enough as a first choice just a back up. Then I thought about AMN. I think he can do that back up role making Cedric redundant.
I also agree about Balogun (if he signs) but I think Auba, Nketiah and Balogun.as our three centre forward options would be OK.
Unless AMN goes into midfield Hobart. I think we need experienced players in the squad but the right ones. Then build a squad with younger players, 22-25 year olds and no more of the Chelsea pensioners, or any other pensioners for that matter.
Mikel might as well get his boots out…
I work on a two person per position plus a few options for a squad.
So for next season…
GK Leno, Runarsson and Iliev
RB X and Maitland Niles
LB Tierney and X
CB X and Gabriel, Saliba, Mari, Holding, Chambers
DM X and Elneny
Mid Partey, X, Willock, Smith Rowe, Saka and Maitland Niles
RW Pepe and Nelson
LW Martinelli and X
ST Auba, Nketiah and Balogun
A few of the above are flexible so I’d say 4 as a minimum and 6 would be good.
Evening Rico and the House.
The u23s play Leceister tonight. Team is
Okonlwo
Norton Cuffy
Chambers
Mari
Saliba
Alebiosi
Akinola
Azaaz
Cotterel
Balogun
Moller
Scouted round for a stream but to no avail , No Martinelli is that a good or bad sign ?
I just hope we get Balogun tied down sharpish.
Evening Rick. Is that game being shown anywhere?
!-0 Chambers
Good hopefully. Maybe on the bench tomorrow if the rules allow.
1-1 half time now 2-1 Baolgun
Finished 2-1
Great team goal to win
4 player move , a move the first team cannot make
Rico I did find alink of sorts 5mins on 10 mins off.
The nerd that I am stuck to it.
Things are looking up for the boys ,with 4 straight wins they
are shooting up the league. Finished now untillJan 9th
Tomorrow the U18s have a big one home to Chelsea
I would give my riht arm to be there,
Big week for the Better half and myself next week.
We are having our first Vaccination on Tues
very nice xmas pressie.
So Mari and Chambers definitely not in the picture for tomorrow.
Morning all.
I really do hope Martinelli is eased back into football, and I think fans do need to give him plenty of time to show his best.
On the plus side, he is young so should have plenty of natural improvement in him anyway.
Morning all
Is it today or not?
Good luck Rick, when you the 2nd one you’ll at least have that extra security and might hopefully start to recover some normality.
We could all do with some of that!
when you have the 2nd one…
Yes JM it is today, 5.30pm UK time
In my opinion, it seems that Arsenal makes decisions based on personalities rather than talents and abilities, and that has greatly limited the team’s success. From Wenger subbing Perez in CL finals because he was leaving, to Emery not playing Torriera because he wanted Ingozi, to Arteta isolating Ozil Guendouzi and Torriera when he had success with them, as compared to Xhaka and Ceballos. It is mind boggling. I don’t think it matters what players are brought in, in the end it has to be about “man management” and thats a problem at Arsenal. Guendouzi is not trusted but Xhaka is? Unbelievable.
I will have to wait until 19.10…
Hope all goes well Rick. My mum has hers this week too. It’ll be a huge relief..
New post up now