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

Yea any purchase has to be facilitated by a sale, given we've really got a full squad

I'd be very surprised if Morata was to come in and someone wasn't shown the door at the same time

How about on a sustained period of poor performance? Our biggest current problem is goals so we can't afford to have players in the front 3 who offer neither goals nor assists.

As for Morata I suspect his agent is just using us a leverage and he'll end up back at Real.

He scored 2 goals & 0 assists in 33 appearances last year, half of those appearances were off the bench but it's not just injuries it's form. 

I think our interest in Morata is genuine, we've been linked with him for a couple of years now, and I think the Agent would prefer him to move to us, given he'll pick up more fees if that happens. That's all the agent cares about. 

Ending up back at Madrid won't make him nearly as much money. 

Xhaka into the starting 11...you dont spend that much $$ for a bench player. For me Elneny would start over Coquellin

Hypothetically, if we were to get Xhaka, Morata, and no one else, I'd go for;

                          Cech

Bellerin-Mertesacker-Koscielny-Monreal

                  Cazorla-Xhaka

            Wilshere-Ozil-Sanchez

                          Morata

Bench: Ospina, Gabriel, Gibbs, Coquelin, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud

I know that's not Wilshere's best spot but I'd have him in there somewhere, and probably as captain to be honest, he has the qualities. 

In saying that, how bloody hard is it to pick a line-up with our squad! I've got no Welbeck, Walcott or Iwobi in there... 

We're definitely going to have to sell one or two...

To be fair, in your lineup above Ramsey and possibly Elneny (who you have forgotten entirely) are really the only ones left out of the 11 who have a case to be in it, and probably Ramsey should be in Wilshere's spot given he's more likely to be fit. On the captaincy it should stay with Mertesacker if he's staying but if there has to be a change then Cech is the only real standout for me. Maybe Koscielny for seniority in the squad but not sure if he's a leader or vocal enough. Wilshere would probably do a good job but having had non playing captains for several seasons now I don't think you can give it to someone you can't expect to play more than 5 league games in a season. He still needs to earn a starting spot even if he is fit.

True - but I'm basing this on the form/previous experience of the Coq working with Cazorla well...

Yea forgot to list Elneny alongside Walcott, Iwobi and Welbeck in my "unluckies" group...

I wouldn't have him in the starting eleven ahead of Xhaka (purely based on price and reputation), or Cazorla, but perhaps a case to be made for him to take Coquelin's bench spot, given he's slightly more versatile, but even then maybe not - the Coq can cover fullback roles as well... 

Super tough to pick!

I totally understand what you're saying about Wilshere. You could easily make a case for Ramsey there, and Ramsey probably has been slightly more effective in a wide role than Wilshere.

But if he's fit (HUGE if), I'd always have Wilshere starting, and would love to make him captain. I feel heshows the qualities we need in our captain - berating Alexis for not listening in the last game etc. He's out to do one thing - WIN. Nothing else matters. That's the mongrel we need. Personally I wouldn't be surprised if Wilshere went on a long run of being fit now - all his injuries have been impact ones, he hasn't suffered ongoing muscle issues like Diaby, Rosicky etc. 

Also saw a rumour on Twitter that Bayern had approached Koscielny, he turned them down, and is being rewarded with the captaincy. Probably not true but would be interesting if it was.

I feel like Coq had his one great year - much like Ramsey did. Happy to be proven wrong though.

I feel like Coq had his one great year - much like Ramsey did. Happy to be proven wrong though.

What the f*ck is going on? It's May and we've officially made a major signing...

https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160523/...

https://www.whoscored.com/Players/89401

He was ranked 12th best played in the Bundesliga by Whoscored - good signing.

Welcome. Don't know anything about him but for that money he must be decent. Good to get some business done early but hopefully that's not it for the summer.

Welcome Granit - I'm glad we've signed someone with a bit of aggression too... and he's a leader too. Lot's to like... we need a bit of psycho in our midfield.

27 years ago today and I can still clearly remember watching it live in my parents lounge and the weird feeling of Arsenal being Champions for the first time for me as a fan.

I'm guess all us gunners fans will now be watching the switzerland games LOL

Fudge it was magic

It was a big deal just to have a live game

Got round to Mum and Dads to watch it with Vim and BuffK

About 10 to go I'd gone outside for a Camel and had decided we wouldn't get a second goal

Dad was more optimistic...

That was a brilliant game with everything you could want, tension, spirit, excitement. 90 minutes of emotion.

I did the Emirates Stadium tour with Perry Groves and he always points out himself in this picture which hangs by the players entrance to the stadium.

I did it with Charlie George and he pointed out all the photos and said he prefers the older ones pointing to the one of him with the FA Cup. They also gave out Perry Groves autobiography, which had just come out, for free.

I did it with Charlie as well and actually enjoyed his tour better even though Perry was funnier. Perry's book is hilarious. I took my copy over to the UK with me and got him to sign it. 

I'd love to do it with Lee Dixon who currently does them (didn't when I was there). His testimonial was the only game I got to at Highbury.

Me with Perry

and with Charlie George

Jealous as all hell.

I went in 2010 and the guy who ran our tour was just an everyday guy with a good knowledge of the club, apparently the regulars weren't available that day.

Still good, but obviously gutting as all hell for me at the time. I was really looking forward to Groves or George or somebody. 

Arsenal have announced that Ramsey will actually get the no.8 next season. Xhaka hasn't actually had his number confirmed yet. Flamini has not been announced as officially released, but apparently is no longer available in the "kit builder" function on arsenal.com, so will take that as confirmation he has gone. Also Cech is still technically no.33, and Szczesny no.1, so just updating this for accuracy;

Look away now:

https://twitter.com/CookPassTim/status/73591206386...

Rhyming Arsenal with Arsenal... genius!

If I was Welbeck, I'd steer well clear from taking the vacant cursed number 9 shirt

Lol. 

That's a Barry Crocker

"This is why we took 2 points in the last 4 games". 

Alan Smith did alright

Don't know if you're following this rumour but a 24 Y/O centre half from Napoli is on the cards...

https://news.arseblog.com/2016/05/reports-napoli-ce...

Video of his game - looks strong & quick with good levels of skill on the ball...

Would be a great signing to challenge Per for a starting spot.

from the rumour mill this morning

Ospina is off to Bestikas(sp?)

Ramsey is being monitored by Barca. 

we have made an offer for bolton youngster, Rob Holding

not sure about the top too, but the reports about holding are interesting. 

Coquelin keeps 34, Xhaka takes 16, Iwobi takes 17, Gnabry takes 27.

Also put Flamini back in for accuracy since technically not released yet, and added a few more youngsters to the possibles who will probably be involved in pre-season. 

We keep no.s 1 - 35 for the first team as a rule. Apparently Iwobi wanted to keep 45, and Bellerin originally wanted to keep 39, but were not allowed to. 

Jenkinson's favourite player when he was younger was Kanu, so that's why he requested 25.

On arseblog there was a good piece about numbers - I think Surge posted/tweeted it.

So not many numbers left then. Although surely a few will come available, with Flamini, Debuchy, and probably more leaving - one of the goalies perhaps, and one or two more even, depending on arrivals. 

Arseblog has pointed this out also but it's hilarious how interested people are in numbers.

I like Kanu too

Not quite Obafemi Martins, but a fine player. 

i read arseblog and that's what prompted me to update it!

lol

i can't explain it but there's something mentally pleasing about listing the accurate squad list by number

That Chelsea hattrick

.

I wonder if Jon Toral will be given a chance this season. He's done well the last two seasons out on loan at Brentford and Birmingham City. Would be tough to break into our midfield though.