There is a bit of chat around that West Ham are in for Scamacca, Sassaulo are after £42m. For that kind of outlay I think we’d be mad not to have a go. He’s such a different kid of striker that he would give us a real alternative.
There is a bit of chat around that West Ham are in for Scamacca, Sassaulo are after £42m. For that kind of outlay I think we’d be mad not to have a go. He’s such a different kid of striker that he would give us a real alternative.
Totally agree. But I don’t think he wants to be a 2nd or 3rd string striker. He wants to be the main attacker for the team so it would bump up his wages if we went for him. Plus, surely our spending has limits? Like we have done some fairly chucky signings for the 2 off season in a row. Might be down to rationing the cash.
Suggestions Nuno could go on loan to Brighton to backfill Cucurella. Would be a transfer master stroke if it worked out that way!
Yea that's a happy little merry-go-round that might benefit all involved? Tavares would suit Brighton's style I reckon, could potentially flourish there.
I think it’s a fair point around money but the reality is we would have spent similar cash on Raphina, so actually we could make it work. I also think he’d be the main man to extent, but would require Jesus to play alongside him or out wide. Different approaches to different games - all very much the Arteta way :)kwlap
brumbys
There is a bit of chat around that West Ham are in for Scamacca, Sassaulo are after £42m. For that kind of outlay I think we’d be mad not to have a go. He’s such a different kid of striker that he would give us a real alternative.
Totally agree. But I don’t think he wants to be a 2nd or 3rd string striker. He wants to be the main attacker for the team so it would bump up his wages if we went for him. Plus, surely our spending has limits? Like we have done some fairly chucky signings for the 2 off season in a row. Might be down to rationing the cash.
Sounds like Saliba will finally be in our first team this season. After all our teeth-gnashing, it could well be that the path of his career has been a masterstroke in hindsight. All those games on loan in the french league look to have matured him well. Zinchenko signing sealed. Did not realise he was a boyhood arsenal fan, that's a nice touch.
2-0 up over chelsea at HT. Interesting backline, white, saliba, gabriel, zinchenko. Possibly our strongest lineup if arteta likes that backline? Partey/Xhaka in midfield, odegaard ahead of them, front three of saka, jesus, martinelli
4-0 full time Nice preseason thus far, one to go at home against Sevilla Goals from Jesus, Odegaard, Saka and Lokonga Saw a clip of all zinchenko's touches in the game, he looks bloody good
I know it’s only pre season but you’ve got to think we’ll hit the first game of the season in a much better position than last season. Interesting to see how departures ramp up from here too, plenty of selling to do and hopefully a couple more acquisitions.
eish. some of our fans need to calm the farm a bit ay. Like we have done we in a couple of pre season games. playing well now is good and all that, but it doesnt actually mean anything. Some of the stuff ive seen online with people thinking that by winning in the usa that we will win the epl. madness.
Yes, take with a grain of salt, but can't ask for much more from the lads. I really like the look of our squad now. We have a very strong cohort of defenders these days. I'd be more than happy to start the season with the back four we played yesterday, and Tomiyasu and Tierney weren't even there! Shows how much better things look with Saliba now looking good and ready, and a great signing like Zinchenko coming in. Jesus in for Lacazette is a ridiculously good upgrade up top. I loved Laca but he's nowhere near that level. Saka looks refreshed, Martinelli should continue to get better and better, and how good is it seeing Partey and Xhaka fit and ready. Lokonga's finish was very nice, he's being tried in quite a different role in pre-season.
eish. some of our fans need to calm the farm a bit ay. Like we have done we in a couple of pre season games. playing well now is good and all that, but it doesnt actually mean anything. Some of the stuff ive seen online with people thinking that by winning in the usa that we will win the epl. madness.
We will do very well to finish top 4. I don’t expect anything beyond that and neither should anyone else.
eish. some of our fans need to calm the farm a bit ay. Like we have done we in a couple of pre season games. playing well now is good and all that, but it doesnt actually mean anything. Some of the stuff ive seen online with people thinking that by winning in the usa that we will win the epl. madness.
We will do very well to finish top 4. I don’t expect anything beyond that and neither should anyone else.
small steps for mine, we've been on a solid rebuild for the last few seasons, and gone from the low of finishing 8th (19/20) to 5th last season and now after almost a complete squad replacement we are looking at achieving a top 4 spot. Secure Europe, continue with the squad rebuild, add depth to stay in Europe and then look to win championships.
Realistically still don't think we can make CL while Xhaka remains our starting CM. We had the highest transfer spend in the PL last season and currently have the highest spend so far in Europe this window, in a window where the likes of Haaland and Lewandowski have moved. The excuses for not making it are running out.
Realistically still don't think we can make CL while Xhaka remains our starting CM. We had the highest transfer spend in the PL last season and currently have the highest spend so far in Europe this window, in window where the likes of Haaland and Lewandowski have moved. The excuses for not making it are running out.
Totally agree. I know there are rumours of us going for another winger (Bowen from west ham the latest I see linked) but an upgrade on xhaka is needed.
We also need to shift a lot of players on. Weird that we ended last season with such a trim squad and could start this season with a bloated one. Also sucks that many of our players don’t have resale value
Who needs to go? Bellerin, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Nelson, Mari, Leno. Pepe only if we get a new winger? Sounds like Bellerin, Leno and Torreira have suitors, we're just holding out for money from those teams. Nelson could go on loan again, still young, wages not high, could go back to Holland. We could potentially carry AMN into the season as a squad player. Mari, not sure. I know most disagree with me but I like Xhaka, happy to have him start this season, I think he's definitely good enough if he can limit the cards (big if LOL). In fact I'm pretty sure Arteta rates him and wants him in the squad until 2024 when he is contracted to.
Top 4 is a must this season though. We've done all the groundwork, Arteta basically has the squad he wanted, it's all there now, time to deliver. I think top 4 last season would have been an over-achievement all things considered, but not this season.
I know its only pre season but I love the look of Jesus and how he's fitted in. To me, it looks as though he has actively taken on the responsibility of being the main striker and is thriving in it. A much bigger role than he was asked to do at City. It also seems to be bringing out the best in Martinelli. Exciting times but let's not get carried away.
I’ve no problem with Xhaka staying in the squad so long as we played in the left 8 role. His performances there get the best out of his attacking and break up play without exposing his weaknesses.
He should never find himself deeper than our back line as he was in the Jota red card last year.
If we do need someone to cover Partey I’d back Elneny or Lokonga to do it.
Smith-Rowe, Tierney and Tomiyasu all seen back in training at London Colney, so that's good news. Vieira is still injured, I think he's our only confirmed absence for Palace at this stage. An extra friendly against Brentford has been pencilled in as well.
About a 50% hit rate for those that believe what she's written and those that think she's lying. Will be interesting to see what comes of this - if anything.
The story has some inconsistencies, and the screenshots that are supposed to prove he admitted to something don't seem to include admission or prove who the conversation is with as it's under a Snapchat username. She also claims he tried to pay her off, then later says she was paid off. It's uncomfortable reading if all true but doesn't seem to show the concrete proof she claims it does. "Serial rapist" is a big claim without evidence too.
Yep, and probably just to 'Arsenal' rather than needing the season in it.
If the club really did know about the allegations and his behaviour a year ago then it certainly raises questions about what kinds of behaviour the "non-negotiables" actually cover, especially given the way the club captain was banished for not fitting in with them.
Found time to watch the first half of the chelsea game, when we had basically a full strength lineup out there (aside from tierney/tomiyasu injured). Looked very slick. Everyone is talking about Jesus etc but some other takeaways; - Ramsdale's distribution is an amazing weapon, created multiple chances out of nothing with pinpoint long kicks - Partey was excellent in midfield, his game is perfectly suited to our style - Zinchenko fits our system like a glove and has all the skills - Saliba looks really good. Positioning is excellent, but also has excellent pace on recovery. Strong in the challenge, and a very calm and composed passing game, better than Gabriel's (which is good too)
All that comes out and the police drop one of the charges and extend his bail. Hard to know truth, only time will tell. I don’t think what she has said/accused is as painfully obvious as Greenwood so I can’t see how the club could suspend him at this point.
Interesting departure rumours from this; - Bellerin giving up all of his final year salary to enable the move to Betis. Feels like he’s the kind of guy to do that. - Leno to Fulham progressing but Leicester eyeing up a move too with Schmeical possibly off to France. - Nuno to Atlanta loan fell over as we wouldn’t agree to a buy clause, Marseille now most likely. -Onkonkwo off to Crewe on loan.
Minimal solid chat about Nelson, Torreira, Mari, Pepe, Runarson.
It was sad to hear the news about former Arsenal manager Terry Neill passing away. Showing my age here but he was Arsenal manager when I first started supporting the Gunners back in 1978. He still holds the record as being Arsenals youngest captain at the age of 20, yes, even younger than Tony Adams who was 21. He was only 34 when he was appointed Arsenal manager and then retired completely from football at the age of 41 when he was sacked in 1983. He took Arsenal to three successive FA Cup Finals in 78, 79 & 80 as well as the 1980 ECWC Final. RIP Terry. 4365413-Terry.jpeg48.85 KB
I wouldnt mind watching the Sevilla game, reckon we'll probably play our strongest team as a practice for the first game? Hard to figure out if we can watch it here or not. The arsenal page says it's pay per view "priced at 5.99 for UK viewers", which suggested to me that it's UK only, but then the article goes on to specifically list countries where you CANNOT watch it, and NZ is not in the list. https://www.arsenal.com/news/how-stream-arsenal-v-sevilla
Here we go lads. Surely you would think that Tomiyasu and Tierney won't be ready. Even though they are in training, they were not in the squad at all for Sevilla. Funny how things have changed so much already since the end of last season - this does not worry me now, whereas in our run-in it was the number one problem (along with Partey's absence). Zinchenko on the left is very strong, and with Saliba looking the business, and White getting more and more comfortable on the right as a result, we are in a better position there too. I think the lineup has picked itself - whenever Arteta has clearly picked his strongest eleven in pre-season (starters against Chelsea and Sevilla), it's been the same, and it's what I think we'll see on Saturday morning; Ramsdale White-Saliba-Gabriel-Zinchenko Partey-Xhaka Saka-Odegaard-Martinelli Jesus I am really excited about this. Tough match first up for us, we struggled against Palace last season, I expect the lads to up the intensity big time from minute one. Oh and something interesting... only three starters from our first game against Brentford last season are backing up in this fixture, this is our starting side against Brentford on day one last year; Leno Chambers-White-Mari-Tierney Lokonga-Xhaka Pepe-ESR-Martinelli Balogun
More outgoings, Balogun off to Reims on loan. Leno to Fulham as good as done. Torreira to Galatsary is the latest rumour. Mari has a couple of suitors in Italy too.
Episodes 1-3 of All or Nothing are out tomorrow (or possibly Friday if it's 4th August UK time, that's not clear). Hope it's ok to post this here, but a hack was posted over on Cheapies where by signing up via the Turkish website you can get a 30 day free trial and then ongoing cost of about $0.71NZ per month. I've got the trial so will see what it actually charges after the 30 days. https://www.cheapies.nz/node/35042
