Morning all.
Considering how many times I’ve heard and read the ‘January is such a long month’ moans and groans, this particular one has flown by. For me anyway. One minute I’m wondering what Arsenal might do during the transfer window, the next it’s deadline day with the answer still not certain.
While Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith-Rowe look to be heading to Germany to finish the season on loan which is a great move for them I think, Mesut Ozil has reportedly turned down the opportunity to join PSG for the remainder of this campaign. If true, I’m surprised. The big city of Paris, slightly milder temperatures and a league far less demanding are right up his street I’d have thought. He might even get his hands on some silverware in May had he accepted the offer but for some bizarre reason, he’s staying in London. Of course, he wants to stay and fight for his place in the team and help us to win the Europa Cup and secure fourth spot. Good for him. That kind of commitment and desire is to be applauded. Me, ironic? Never….
The Denis Suarez saga rumbles on. Barcelona confirmed he’d moved to Arsenal yesterday but that statement was removed from their website soon after. No doubt he’ll be an Arsenal player by 11pm today. As could Christopher Nkunku and or Yannick Carrasco. Maybe both, or maybe neither.
No doubt Jim White will be up to fever pitch by the time 11pm comes around that’s for sure. Sky Sports do like to milk a deadline day.
A few more shock results last night with Liverpool drawing at home to Leicester City, the snow on the pitch was Klopps excuse which is funny in itself really. Apparently at half time the ground staff cleared the snow in the penalty area they were attacking but left the other one alone. Karma eh. A better result for us was Bournemouth thumping Chelsea 4-0 which meant we’ve crept back into fourth place due to a better goals scored tally. Utd drew too at the old toilet after being 2-0 down. An unwarranted five minutes of added time allowed them to nick a point which left Sean Dyche fuming. Looks like Mike Riley wants to have a say in the top four battle yet again.
With a trip to Man City up next, it’s highly likely we’ll drop points but as Newcastle proved, they’re beatable. The downside for us is that Pep Guardiola has probably given his players a right old telling off after Tuesday and we’ll face a side keen to make amends. I’d settle for a point……..
Have a good one guys, stay warm and safe…
Good morning Rico, very cold and foggy here.
Foggy too as far as our transfer dealings go. Suarez in London for a medical, deal done say Barca, at least they did before removing the “news” from their website. Perisic was coming now he’s not, Ornstein got that one wrong. 😉 Carrasco might be coming but Gazidis is also in the hunt for him on behalf of Atletico Madrid.
Thank God the window closes in about twelve hours, until then keep calm and carry on.
Quick, before Le Coq wakes up, Ornstein only 50/50 on French twenty-one year old midfielder Cristopher Nkunku signing on loan from PSG. 😉
That was a shock Cicero, the way that Gazides transferred from AC Milan to Athletico Madrid, he’s certainly a slippery customer… 😉
I can never tell the difference between all these Jonny foreigners Kev. 😉
Morning Gooners
Morning Rico, it’s going to be one hell of dull day day I suspect.
Willock apparently turned down a loan move to Luton Town, now it’s doesn’t get anymore exciting than that… yawn.
We can’t spend any money but we’re being linked with a £40m bid for some Everton no mark, Gueye I think, just shows how desperate some sites are for clicks, don’t be drawn in… 🙂
Ha ha ha, I know Cicero, me too…
Morning Kev, Cicero and anyone.. lol
Freezing here still and nearly went up on my backside on the ice earlier. Nice… 😆
Rico, a point from the City game? Well, I shsre your loyalty but not your optimism. Why? Smaller teams get better results than us from these “big teams.” Example? Leicester against Liverpool, Burnley against ManU. Bournemouth against Chelsea. Reason? They are more compact, show more commitment, defend together and are switched on for the duration of the game. Tactics wise, their managers decide, ahead of the game, what they want and how they will go about achieving it. A few tweakings here and there and the commitment to greater marking, quick counter attacks and a “safety-first-approach,” rather than our naive attempts at passing ourselves out of trouble at the back will help. Can we do these? Well, the smaller sides know that they are playing a bigger and better team on paper, but on the pitch, they are ready to neutralise the advantage by sheer hard work and a large dose of common sense.
If we can do these, then, I will comfortably be as optimistic. Can we trust Arsenal to do these?
Secondly, I hope Emery is not emulating Wenger in his passion for attacking players. Do not get me wrong. This team has always needed wingers, but for many years, based on their defensive records, everyone will agree that our defence has the greater need. Not in terms of number, but quality! How cnnfident are we with Leichtener or the alternatives we have for the right back position in Bellerins’s forced absence? Yes, ther is Kolscieny, Mustafi, Papas, etc, but have they proven to be the quality needed? We can argue that we do not have the money right now to do any decent business, but come the summer and the arguement will be that we already have the numbers in the defence. We can score as many goals as we can but a situation where any harmless attack against us results in a goal agaist us, even when we have the full complement of our defenders, should be worrying.
If the Suarez deal is sealed I think that will be the lot for January.
Arsenal have confirmed Suarez deal
Daniel, I thought my attempt at irony would be spotted… I fear for us at the Etihad, especially without our two better centre backs..
Suarez confirmed on the official site now. Get the balloons out.. 🎈
OK Rico, 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈
Does he deserve that many Cicero, or are they for the club for getting a deal over the line? Lol
Thank God that gradually Emery’s players are coming in. I pray the winger chase and Nkunku work out also. However, Suarez’s size and the fact that he is lacking game minutes is a worry. With a small size in the premiership, you must be extremely good to make it. And being an Arsenal recruit even more is demanded as the Watfords, Palace and even the Cardiffs of this world will target you. Weneger began to have a downtown in his coaching fortunes when he abandoned what worked for him – grit/physicality, speed and talent, to copy the barcelona model of smaller players but with immense talent. Unfortunately, fabregas, Nasri, Song, et all were not of the barcelona quality. I welcome Suarez and pray he is of a better cut
Me too re Suarez, he might not be everyone’s cup of tea but who knows, Emery might just be the right manager for him. It’s not like they are strangers.
Personally Rico, there is little I can find about him that would inspire me to offer even one balloon, but I suppose we have to be happy that we have acquired any player at all in these straitened times.
Maybe Emery can find something in him that Barcelona couldn’t.
I don’t know Cicero, I’d say no player is better than a bad player. Let’s see what he brings to the side though.l
Cesc was class he just didn’t have Iniesta and Xavi with him .The nearest we got was with Rosicky and Hleb but injury to Rosicky curtailed that and he got Denilson .
Whether our signing can make it here is moot but he is not replacing the class of players at Barca and he has previously been successful with Emery at Sevilla.
Cazorla was no giant but he is the one our midfield could do with.
Santi, Tomas and Hleb, great players for us…
Well, hello guys – lots of interesting opinions of past and current players.
Yes, Santi was a gem and now that he’s recovered he’s back to playing well…..but, for another team. Who thought that one up?
Cicero (if you haven’t already had a look……….Suarez – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F0GZ13S2I0 (No4, you might be pleasantly surprised?)
Lacazette scored a well-earned goal against Cardiff with a spirited run after recovering from being fouled.I wish Auba would put in as much effort.
We don’t see much of that with Arsenal normally and Suarez certainly does have those abilities it would appear……..?
Hey, even Mustafi put in a huge tackle against a Cardiff player who would, I think, have scored. A small highlight but nontheless a positive?
Man City coming up – we’d better get motivated and try and stop these amateur defensive mistakes.
Afternoon all and thanks again Rico.
Unless that Ozil rumour was by Ornstein it deserves the contempt I give it !…………………..only believe in Orny ! hahaha
That Daniel Egwu makes some great sensible comments………………………..then there`s mine !
😆
That Newcastle win over Mansour City was the worst thing for us, I fear a record EPL loss, but if it decides that Mansour lot wins the EPL instead of Bindippers then I`ll suffer it !
Roe joins Leipzig on loan
No more news.
Forty minutes and counting….
No forward Nketiah stays
Afternoon Gooner’s
Afternoon Rico.
As January Windows go that has to have been the lowest of low key, the radio was getting ever so excited about the transfer of an average striker from Chelsea to Crystal palace on loan and that was that pretty much. I don’t reckon that Jim White shouted once yesterday.
Suarez seems, from what I know, a decent signing but I can’t see him being the difference between Arsenal finishing in the top four or not, he isn’t going to turn us into the Invincibles, so my expectations of this season remain unchanged.
Smith Rowe should hopefully get a few games in the Bundesliga and return a more rounded and mature player, the shame is Emery couldn’t allow Nketiah the same opportunity because we only have two strikers.
Willock turned down a loan to Luton it seems.
I’m not sorry that we didn’t sign Perisic, good player but £35m for a 30 year old is crazy so I’m glad we walked away.
Carrasco could be a deal we revisit in the summer, but I can’t say that I’m too bothered, I mean to move to China in your prime should send out alarm bells about a players motivation against his love of dough…
The PSG young midfielder is a deal I suspect we’ve set up for, in the summer.
I see that Emi Martinez has suggested that people at the club (coaching staff) have told him that he’s very much in the managers mind to replace Petr Cech next season.
To me that makes a lot of sense, he knows the club, isn’t on stupid wages, has never looked dodgy on the occasions he’s played, is great at saving penalties, at 26 he’s at a good age for a goalkeeper, is a good team player, has 3.5 years left on his contract and financially it makes sense as we’ll be on a tight budget in the summer.
Hi Kev, all.
Bloody snow! 🥶😜
Pleased for Martinez if he’s in contention for next season. Hopefully Reading will play him and they stay up. It would do him the world of good.
Smart move by Willock I reckon..
Maybe if investing in his “football” team wins him the SuperBowl he may invest in his “soccer” team to get success !……………………..shall I hold my breath ?
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-owner-stan-kroenke-praised-13940231
You never know once our hideous wage bill is reduced..