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over 16 years
Also, this window is going to have a ridiculous end to it. So many clubs who need to sell can’t move players on (both English clubs with players on big wages and clubs in Spain/Italy/France on the verge financial ruin) so I suspect we’ll see a flurry of activity as people run down the clock to secure better deals.

On the firing front I actually suspect the end of the window will determine if Edu keeps his jobs. If we don’t see at least 2 more arrivals and some departures I think he’s ripe for the sack.
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over 16 years
Ramsdale deal looks back on. Initial fee of £24m + add ons. I’m glad we’re doing that over Neto, so long as we get other signings in (which still appears likely).

Would be good to get this spot closed ASAP so Leno feels the heat, keeps Runarson away from the PL, and ensures rest of the window is looking at Odegarrd, ST, RB.
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over 16 years
Ordegaard didn’t train with RM today. Reports from Spain that he was with an Arsenal rep and his agent. Promising 
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Does anyone actually rate Odegaard? I would've rather kept Joe Willock and saved the money to spend on someone else.
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I think they are different players. I always saw Wilock as Ramseys heir. That sort of late arrival into the penalty box kinda midfielder, while I think Ordegaard is probably closer to Ozils replacement. Though I think he is more rounded than Ozil and Wilock. 
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Soo Ramsdale anybody? Looks like an agreement has been made. He was left out of the  blades team today and his manager is pretty pissed off with the situation. I think he's coming our way...I know nothing about him but I hope he can push Leno hard or be better than him. 
Legend
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over 16 years
from what I saw of oodengaard I thought he looked solid, and appeared to have the drive we needed in midfield.
Marquee
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over 16 years
Ramsdale & Odegaard signings are tidy bits of business.
Still think we might go get a Striker and maybe a RB, plenty of time yet in this window and clearly we’re happy spending some cash in the sub £30m mark (White aside).
Legend
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almost 17 years
I liked the look of Odegaard and am very happy to get him permanently.
He really wants to be here and has a good relationship with Arteta too.
His injury was ill timed last season and I think it affected him more than we realise. I am expecting big things now. 
It also takes some pressure off Smith-Rowe to be our only creator, and they can play together as well. 
Agree with those who see Willock as a different player. Willock is a little bit of a luxury player in our systems, he's probably best suited to a 4-3-3 or a diamond, with no no.10. 
I really don't know anything about Ramsdale and he's getting a bad rap with the fans, most seem underwhelmed with this purchase. But he's very young for a keeper and already rated the 4th best english one so there must be good upside there? I am assuming he must be good with the ball, and suited to our style, if Arteta is wanting him ahead of more experienced options. A lot of fans are complaining that it's a misappropriation of funds for a back-up keeper and I don't disagree, but I have a gut feeling that he is not being purchased to be a back-up keeper. 
Starting XI
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over 8 years
paulm
I liked the look of Odegaard and am very happy to get him permanently.
He really wants to be here and has a good relationship with Arteta too.
His injury was ill timed last season and I think it affected him more than we realise. I am expecting big things now. 
It also takes some pressure off Smith-Rowe to be our only creator, and they can play together as well. 
Agree with those who see Willock as a different player. Willock is a little bit of a luxury player in our systems, he's probably best suited to a 4-3-3 or a diamond, with no no.10. 
I really don't know anything about Ramsdale and he's getting a bad rap with the fans, most seem underwhelmed with this purchase. But he's very young for a keeper and already rated the 4th best english one so there must be good upside there? I am assuming he must be good with the ball, and suited to our style, if Arteta is wanting him ahead of more experienced options. A lot of fans are complaining that it's a misappropriation of funds for a back-up keeper and I don't disagree, but I have a gut feeling that he is not being purchased to be a back-up keeper. 

When Jordan Pickford is regarded as the best English GK, how much of a claim is it to be 4th best?
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Pre euros, that's a fair take on pickford. Post euros, not so much. 
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My thing with Ramsdale is with the English tax and experience in EPL, who else is available at a comparable price?

Back up goal keepers are tough signings as most want to move to get more playing time if they’re decent.

In Ramsdale’s case he’s choosing to ride the pine and compete for a spot in the PL rather than start regularly in the championship which shows ambition.

On the MO front I’m reliably informed he’ll be in the #8 jersey for us!

Oh and for all the shark chat Auba/Laca are Covid positive, the most logical explanation. What’s interesting is seeing the consternation about why this wasn’t shared earlier, but for me I’d expect players privacy should mean you’d need their consent before sharing a diagnosis like this.
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kwlap

Pre euros, that's a fair take on pickford. Post euros, not so much. 
 
I didn’t rate him during euros. Wasn’t solid with the ball at his feet and looked nervous making saves. While you can’t fault the clean sheets, the way he plays didn’t fill me with any confidence.
Starting XI
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over 8 years
kwlap

Pre euros, that's a fair take on pickford. Post euros, not so much. 

One tournament does not a player make.

He also made a couple of awful errors at the Euros, he was just lucky they went unpunished.

He's a good goalkeeper, he's just got a penchant for a brain explosion
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Hope you guys are doing OK with lockdown, hopefully it’ll be a short one and not a Sydney explosion 🙏🏼
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over 16 years
Apparently, Kola is off to some Turkish side. Can't imagine we will get much for him but at least it will ease the wage burden. 
I was always a fan of his runs into the box, pity that is where the good work stopped. 
Surge
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Can I have some lungs please miss
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over 16 years
Did I mention I fckin hate Chelsea?
Legend
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over 16 years
2 games in and 2 games lost with 2 goals conceded with weak defending.
This week was more expected of course but even still you'd have hoped we would have been more of a fight at home. Not blaming Leno for the goals but something has to change and if it isnt him then it has to be some of the back four who are changed.

Legend
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almost 17 years
To be fair only one member of our back 4 is a first choice starter. 
In fact I'd make the argument that only 5 of that lineup would make it into our first choice team (Tierney, Leno, Xhaka, Saka, Pepe). 
I see Gabriel/White as the starting CB combo when fit, Partey into midfield, Aubameyang and Odegaard into the attacking end, and a new RB (or Chambers) in place of Soares. I'm also hoping Ramsdale goes well and takes Leno's spot. 
I know it's all a convenient excuse but the difference between us right now and Chelsea with everyone fit and Lukaku into the side is quite large. 
Put that down to Edu and co on the season preparation I guess, but we are in a bit of a sh*tty position right now with the CBs all out, Partey going down in pre-season, and now Auba/Laca etc getting Covid. It's basically damage control against City next weekend, I'd be going for the old 3-4-3 if I were Arteta. 
Legend
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Also thought it was a penalty, for the record
I'm all for quick decisions and minimal intervention from VAR, as long as its consistent. I fear it won't be. 
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over 11 years
Interested to see what the 'All' refers to in 'All or Nothing.'



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over 16 years
paulm
Also thought it was a penalty, for the record
I'm all for quick decisions and minimal intervention from VAR, as long as its consistent. I fear it won't be. 

Last season we were top of the table for acknowledged incorrect VAR decisions. Looks like we’re carrying that on.
Legend
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listening to the commentators discuss that penalty shout they seemed to suggest there had been a push for referees to make a decision based on what they saw and be less influenced by players drawing contact, also suggested that VAR had been directed to support these decisions unless it was blatantly wrong (which was VAR's original purpose). Personally I think the ref got it right. Saka went into the box and looked for contact, he was caught a little but it wouldn't have been called a foul anywhere else on the pitch, nor was Saka looking to shoot. Will be interesting to see if this continues or if referees fall back into old habits and the inconsistency creeps back in.
Marquee
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over 16 years
I disagree, I thought it was a classic defending stepping across the player and catching him. Any other part of the pitch it’s a foul. But that disagreement highlights how hard it is to understand what’s a foul!
Surge
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Can I have some lungs please miss
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I find it odd that people utilise a players' intent to argue for or against a decision. Not just in this example, but across numerous sport. It's an irrelevant argument as referees (on field and video assistant) should be judging what happened - not why, or how, or what someone was thinking about it.

If a player is contacted and it's a penalty; then it's a penalty whether the player was looking for it or not - and equally, if a player looks for contact and falls over when there isn't any, that's simulation.

Circular arguments are unnecessarily circular.
Legend
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perhaps I should have worded it differently and said Saka felt contact (which was minimal and perfectly allowable in football) and made the most of it. The ref saw the contact as minimal and within the laws of the game therefore no pen.

Maybe, just maybe if this is reffed consistently the players will eventually quit over-reacting to any contact to force a whistle. 

Marquee
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I can kinda see both ways but settle on that If the ref blew that as a pen, no one would be complaining. 
Anyway, on to city. Ah shark
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In transfer chat: 
Willian looks gone and Torriera is gone, but on loan. Palace have put in a bid for nkietah. But it won’t happen unless palace up there bid by 5-10mil. 
Bellerin still trying to leave but not finding anyone who he wants and who wants him. 
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Oh and CR7 to city. 
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The final 7 days of this window will get interesting. Clubs in Italy, France, and Spain are having to sell to sort their finances.

Some of the big boys in England like Chelsea/Arsenal/United have unwanted players to move on.

Also City, United, and Liverpool have done sweet FA in the market (Grealish madness aside).

All of this could lead to a lot of movement in the final week.

For us I’m hopeful departures of Willian, Torreira, Kolasinac will free funds for a decent experienced RB (the use of decent excludes Trippier from that list) & perhaps a striker to offset a likely Laca departure given he is in final year.

Then what happens to academy trio of Nelson, AMN, and Nketiah gets tasty too. All 3 are running down contacts and don’t look likely to extend - but if no offers come in I wonder if they’ll change their minds for security sake and take a loan move on (Nelson) or own their shortcomings and battle for a spot (AMN).

As always in sport, it’s the hope that kills you!
Legend
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Off to a good start against WBA, Saka looking way more positive as a wing back. 1-0 so far.
Legend
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expected easy win against a very young WBA, but this is a result we needed to get before Man City this weekend. Saka looked good, as did Odegaard, Auba and Lacazette when he came on, Ramsdale was solid too, no errors and will be happy to have a clean sheet to start.
Marquee
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over 16 years
Home to AFC Wimbledon in the next round. I wonder if Arteta will prioritise this competition seeing as we don't have any European games this year. Nearly 30 years since we last won it.
Starting XI
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over 11 years
Realistically it represents the best chance of silverware this season and comes with a European place so without European games to worry about it would be silly not to prioritise the cups.
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over 16 years
That was bloody good fun, glad we got that done. I think the biggest thing we can change in how we attack was on display last night, drive through the middle, quick interchanges around the box. It also means when the ball goes out wide we actually have space to cross and become less predictable.
First Team Squad
1K
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over 15 years
brumbys
The final 7 days of this window will get interesting. Clubs in Italy, France, and Spain are having to sell to sort their finances.

Some of the big boys in England like Chelsea/Arsenal/United have unwanted players to move on.

Also City, United, and Liverpool have done sweet FA in the market (Grealish madness aside).

All of this could lead to a lot of movement in the final week.

For us I’m hopeful departures of Willian, Torreira, Kolasinac will free funds for a decent experienced RB (the use of decent excludes Trippier from that list) & perhaps a striker to offset a likely Laca departure given he is in final year.

Then what happens to academy trio of Nelson, AMN, and Nketiah gets tasty too. All 3 are running down contacts and don’t look likely to extend - but if no offers come in I wonder if they’ll change their minds for security sake and take a loan move on (Nelson) or own their shortcomings and battle for a spot (AMN).

As always in sport, it’s the hope that kills you!
 I'm interested how Sancho and Varane constitute "sweet fudge all"?
Starting XI
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over 11 years
Away at City in 2021 and Kolasinac is starting in defence. This lineup especially defence looks like another 8-2 incoming. 
Marquee
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over 16 years
20 Legend
brumbys
The final 7 days of this window will get interesting. Clubs in Italy, France, and Spain are having to sell to sort their finances.

Some of the big boys in England like Chelsea/Arsenal/United have unwanted players to move on.

Also City, United, and Liverpool have done sweet FA in the market (Grealish madness aside).

All of this could lead to a lot of movement in the final week.

For us I’m hopeful departures of Willian, Torreira, Kolasinac will free funds for a decent experienced RB (the use of decent excludes Trippier from that list) & perhaps a striker to offset a likely Laca departure given he is in final year.

Then what happens to academy trio of Nelson, AMN, and Nketiah gets tasty too. All 3 are running down contacts and don’t look likely to extend - but if no offers come in I wonder if they’ll change their minds for security sake and take a loan move on (Nelson) or own their shortcomings and battle for a spot (AMN).

As always in sport, it’s the hope that kills you!
 I'm interested how Sancho and Varane constitute "sweet fudge all"?

A youth prospect and a couple of Real Madrid has beens? Please. 😉
Marquee
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over 16 years
Absolutely, on the 10 year anniversary no less.

I know Mari had a bad game but surely a move to a back 3 suits him more than Kolasinac at LCB…
ajc28
Away at City in 2021 and Kolasinac is starting in defence. This lineup especially defence looks like another 8-2 incoming. 
 

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