(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 2)

Good man

Still plank spanking?

My new Amplifier arrived yesterday , by gum it's good

Well done, it's an awful place. 

It really is. I can't imagine living there.

count me in :)

Seems like Xhaka is done. A good start to the transfer window...now for a striker!

2 strikers (1 world class) and a world class CB, then we're sorted

rumours that xhaka will take no.34 from coquelin, who will inherit arteta's 8. 

also alexis to switch to 7, and cech to 1

If those rumours were true then we'd be looking at this at the moment;

1. Cech

2. Debuchy

3. Gibbs

4. Mertesacker

5. Gabriel

6. Koscielny

7. Alexis

8. Coquelin

9.

10. Wilshere

11. Ozil

12. Giroud

13. Ospina

14. Walcott

15. Oxlade-Chamberlain

16. Ramsey

17.

18. Monreal

19. Cazorla

20.

21. Chambers

22. Sanogo

23. Welbeck

24. Bellerin

25. Jenkinson

26. Martinez

27. 

28. Campbell

29.

30.

31.

32. Akpom

33. 

34. Xhaka

35. Elneny

Possibles to get numbers for next season;

Szczesny

Iwobi (currently 45)

Reine-Adelaide (currently 57)

Macey (currently 49)

Bielik (currently 36)

Willock (currently 59)

Hayden  (currently 42)

Xhaka Khan has signed for sure - will be interesting to see how he goes. Do you think he will play with Coq, or with Cazorla/Ramsey? Or Elneneneny? We've got some options in there.

I just assume Wilshere will be injured.

Now to sign that #9

Officiaaaaaaal Welcome Granit pic.twitter.com/jaLLSI1GWH

— Valon Demiri (@CheValon1) May 21, 2016

I was thinking with Cazorla, given that Elneny has been preferred to Coquelin in recent weeks. 

How good is that new kit. Red socks finally!!

Will be interesting to see what happens with our team make-up now. 

Marcotti and others suggesting that Xhaka will suit us best as the deepest lying midfielder, competing with Coquelin for that spot.

Elneny, though keeping Coquelin out recently, seems comfortable in either role.

Wilshere has been preferred wide left, or in the no.10 role when Ozil is absent, but he's also an option in either midfield spot. 

Lots of talent, how will this work out?

Coquelin

Xhaka

Elneny

Ramsey

Cazorla

Wilshere

If by some miracle they all are fit at once it will be a bit of a conundrum!

With good rotation we should be ok, this way we should be rest up Santi and have him fresh for the big games. Wilshere and ramsey will play a few games on the flanks i'd say.....Coquelin goes to bottom of the q really. Also having Elneny or Coq on the bench to come on and close out game would be awesome

Also Santi can cover for Ozil to give him a break too.

Morata's goal scoring stats dont quiet make good reading

Wonder which other strikers we would be looking at?

Another CB would be good, still not convinced on Gabriel and Metsacker is good older.....and slower

Some talk of Mehdi Benatia overnight

I'd rather Icardi than Morata - tho Morata does have some upside over Giroud. But then again so does my coffee mug.

watch Xhaka's you tube clips, he's passing game does look very good.

Would be ideal if we could off load Theo and get a real winger

I'm still big on Lacazette:

All data from whoscored.com

In fairness to Morata he was riding the bench a bit but still...

Hasn't Lacazette had a whole lot of muscle related injuries as of late? Would fit in well..

Gee some of you are harsh on the Handsome One. If you look at that youtube video of every goal we scored this year, Giroud was involved in most.

Sure, he has dry spells, but imo he still has a role to play. I don't think his best is good enough to be a starting striker for a team that wants to win the prem, but he's perfectly serviceable.

I didn't think I was harsh on OG at all - Morata does have some upside to Giroud... primarily being he's younger and quicker. Did I say OG doesn't have a role to play - no... would I be happy if we had a younger, quicker, alternative to use on occasions - yes. In other words, I pretty much agree with you. Entirely. 

This season proved if we want to win a premiership we can't rely solely on OG. Unfortunately DW is crocked for the season and TW is clearly not up to it. 

OG absolutely has a role to play and should start plenty of games... however having someone quicker to play off him - and also provide a different type of target to play off MO and AS will add another dimension to our attack, which is something we very clearly need, if we want to win a title.

Besides which every female fan will revolt if we dare move him on. Won't happen. (by the way, that' a lol).

Giroud delivered exactly what was expected of him this season. When he wasn't scoring, Walcott should've been, but he was pants. 

He was supposed to be that speedier alternative but he was overtaken by Iwobi, Campbell, and then Welbeck when he came back. Those three are all younger and they work harder. 

Theo doesn't offer enough on the wing, I feel he had a proper chance at striker this season, I'd get rid now. 

More and more noise about Morata this morning. Not convinced, seems a lot of squid for a player who will strengthen the squad but isn't necessarily a guaranteed starter. We're paying for potential I s'pose, and we know that doesn't always end well - esp with forwards.

The stats don't necessarily back it up but reading from people who have watched him regularly most think he looks class. Fee would be in line with the amount paid for Martial which seems reasonable given strikers always command an extra premium. Would make a change for us to go and get someone this highly rated the season before they become unobtainable.

I think ajc is pretty spot on, a few clubs have been looking at Morata for a while now, and we've certainly been interested since before he went to Juve. He does seem highly rated.

Sounds like he's been a bit mismanaged there with the the manager not favouring him but he's generally been a difference maker in the big games. Came on and won them the Cup final in the weekend for instance.

Good evaluation of the current squad here:

https://www.football365.com/news/arsenal-back-sack-...

He'll be good for us and signal intent, which is probably the biggest upside of all - particularly to Ozil & Alexis.

Meanwhile - did you see this on Arseblog... much lol:

https://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/2015-...

In the EPL Ospina & Cech did really well.

That final day hurt both De Gea and Schmiechel missing out on sharing the golden gloves with Cech...

Pretty good. Harsh on Gibbs though. He hasn't done anything wrong at all really, Monreal has just been undroppable. 

I'd love to keep Gibbs, great for squad depth, but would completely understand if he wanted out for more game time. 

Also disagree about the Ox, I'd love to keep him and see if he realises the potential, definitely way more upside than Walcott. Just depends on who comes in and overall squad numbers, particulary since the signings of Elneny and Xhaka mean the Ox is not likely to get any time in central roles. 

I think if you keep the Ox you have to buy another winger. Sanchez is the only out & out winger we have in the squad currently that is worthy of a starting spot. Campbell appears to be out of favor, Walcott needs to be sold/doesn't want to play there, and Iwobi is still pretty raw. I'd love to see us grab an Insigne/Reus type player.

Leaning towards getting rid of Ox too if someone comes in with a decent offer. He had a terrible season, hasn't shown any signs of progression for years, always injured and just not good enough to be near the starting 11 of a top 4 club. Think we can only afford to have one permacrock taken up a squad place and Wilshere has the talent to justify hanging onto him for now so long as we're not planning on him playing 50 games. Thankfully the signing of Elneny and hopefully Xhaka mean we're not relying on him for CM but we still need a winger too.

My ideal 11 + subs next season (and possibly controversial):

                    Cech

Bellerin Gabriel Kosc Monreal

       Coquellin  Cazorla

New Winger Ozil   Sanchez

              New Striker

Bench: Szezny, Gibbs, Per, Xhaka, Elneny, Campbell, Giroud

Missed out: Ramsey, Wilshere, Iwobi, Welbeck,

Sold: Walcott, The Ox

unless it's £35-40 million Ox stays

Not sure on the stampede to sell talent

We need a CB  (still) unless we bring one of the young lads up

We need a striker assuming Walcott is leaving, however I'd like a 3-3-1-3 with Ozil as the 1 and Sanchez front and centre

But yeah wishful thinking

Be lucky to get half that for Ox tbh. There's no "stampede to sell talent." Just that at least one of Walcott or Ox should go because they are not good enough and are injured too often.

Talent is worthless unless and until it is translated into performance.

(me, May 2016) lol

There is no reason to sell Ox. Unless it's a big payday.

Selling (or buying) on an injury/fitness record is dodgy as.