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

I think we are about to find out. Unless a new CB turns up in 48 hours

Let me re-frame it for you, are we ready to give him his first start coming off a season as Bolton's best player and a number of appearances, when the alternatives are:

Chambers - not new to the club but hasn't had a run of games for awhile.

Monreal - has done a job there but would mean you're starting your in-form left back out of position.

Coquellin - hasn't played there competitively but has the technique to make it work

EDIT:

Koscielny - still drinking away his sorrows but could be rushed back & given a kale smoothie for the hangover

Fark I keep forgetting this; sorry all - and good spot Oracle of German football :-)

Holding looks like quite a player if pre-season is anything to go by, but the lack of experience at this level surely counts against him.

If Wenger doesn't trust Chambers for this game it would be telling. 

Draxler had a verbal agreement with Wolfsburg coach and Director when he signed that if they dropped out of the European spots he would be allowed to leave.

Wolfsburg finished 10th.

Coach comes out with statement saying Draxler is going nowhere. Draxler comes out with his own story saying  that's crap and he is leaving.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10521049/arsenal-target-julian-draxler-says-he-wants-to-leave-wolfsburg-this-summer

I have no doubt we will have to dig deep, and Wolfsburg will be obstinate, but a 22 year old Draxler now, could well be worth breaking our club record for.

is draxler what we need? not convinced...

1st Priority: A proven/starting goal scorer.

2nd Priority: A proven/starting CB.

3rd Priority: A quality winger who can create and score.

4th Priority: Julian Draxler (given what he'd cost, the money can be far better spent elsewhere).

Wouldn't Draxler meet the criteria for priority 3?

So, to break up the usual transfer window monotony - charge up your funny-bone and have a look at this... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX-FmqeVKkU&feature=youtu.be

Agree re: Mahrez over Draxler, for sure. 

Looking at Draxler's career stats so far (yes I know he's still pretty young so it could change) he doesn't appear to be a goalscorer (I don't follow the Bundesliga so the stats are all I have to go off). Only hit double figures 1 season out of 6 for all competitions and only scored more than 2 league goals in a season twice and 24 league goals in 142 games in total. Assuming we stick with a front 3 we probably need the wide players scoring at least 10-15 each so not convinced he'd offer that. Presumably he'd be an upgrade on Ox with just 7 league goals in 100 games though.

Yea draxler is definitely one yet to peak, so much risk involved with a fee so large - similar to Morata in that respect.

Upon reflection I feel that Mahrez and Lacazette might be more suitable purchases for us right now. 

Good way of looking at it mate, hadn't considered the numbers that way.

Fair enough, I only looked at games played not minutes. Too often we don't take the gamble because we're scared of failing when sometimes not taking the gamble makes failure all but certain. It's clear we need to add something to our forward line.

If you take out youth leagues it is more like 340min/goal - just better than 1 goal in 4 games, or about 10 goals over a 38 game season if he played every min of every game. Caveats - based on how he has been played and still only 22.

Just as a comparison, how were Henry's stats pre Wenger?

28 goals in 141 games for Monaco

3 goals in 19 games for Juventus

Game against Viking FC to live stream on arsenal.com tomorrow morning 6.30am our time. Sanchez and Ramsey are in the squad so Wenger must be trying to get them ready for the first game which is good news. They are much needed. Goes without saying but Wilshere still out.

Gnabry came off the bench and scored for Germany in their Olympic opener this morning.

Good player needing game time

Will Ragnar Lothbrok be playing?

https://www.transfermarkt.com/thierry-henry/leistun...

For Monaco a goal every 249min - not too bad for years 17-21yrs of age (great UCL record, goal every 81min). Wenger did give him his debut at Monaco. 

He was playing predominantly on the left wing right throughout that period too, so even more impressive. 

Nah Comrade

Left Wing = High Achiever

Asano came off bench late and scored

Japan lost 4-5, exciting game

Yes and no. I know that in CM2 97/98 he is listed as F LC and did play centrally for France in some games at the '98 WC. Depends on the setup, at Barca he played on the left of a front 3, which is different to being on the left of a midfield 4.

Oh man

https://twitter.com/BlackScarfAFC/status/761494799...

AIA

Arsehattery in Action

thoughts on first 45.

SELL WALCOTT

that is all.

Finished 8-0. Didn't get up early enough for the first half, and to be honest barely watched the second since the stream worked so badly for me it was like watching a series of still pictures. Not sure why Xhaka wasn't even on the bench. Crocked already?

probably rested so he play close to the full 90 vs city.