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

Much easier to spell/seems accurate ;-)

"A group of players from Nottingham Forest joined the Club and this connection with the future European Cup winners would spawn Arsenal’s famous red shirts."

There's a joke in here but I'm too tired...

Updated after Xhaka's number change

1. Szczesny

2. Debuchy

3. Gibbs

4. Mertesacker

5. Gabriel

6. Koscielny

7. Alexis

8. Ramsey

9.

10. Wilshere

11. Ozil

12. Giroud

13. Ospina

14. Walcott

15. Oxlade-Chamberlain

16. 

17. Iwobi

18. Monreal

19. Cazorla

20. Flamini

21. Chambers

22. Sanogo

23. Welbeck

24. Bellerin

25. Jenkinson

26. Martinez

27. Gnabry

28. Campbell

29. Xhaka

30.

31.

32. Akpom

33. Cech

34. Coquelin

35. Elneny

Other possibles to get (lower) numbers for next season;

Reine-Adelaide (currently 57)

Macey (currently 49)

Bielik (currently 37)

Willock (currently 59)

Hayden (currently 42)

Toral (currently 57)

Crowley (currently 38)

Zelalem (no number)

Wellington (currently 58)

So... if you get bored by this crap just ignore... but if you're a nerd like me who gets his jollies from this stuff, then indulge ;)

If we assume that Debuchy is going, but that for now the rest are staying, then as it stands, perhaps we have A and B lineups looking something like this...

                         Cech

Bellerin-Mertesacker-Koscielny-Monreal

                  Cazorla-Xhaka

            Wilshere-Ozil-Sanchez

                         Giroud

                       Ospina

Jenkinson-Chambers-Gabriel-Gibbs

                 Ramsey-Elneny

               Walcott-Ox-Iwobi

                       Welbeck

Notables left out: Campbell, Szczesny, Flamini, Coquelin

Note: I've assumed that Walcott is going to be focussing solely on the right wing next season,  as that seems to have been widely reported over the last week. 

Obviously goes without saying that there's an absolute crapload of arguable decisions in there, both in which team players appear in, and which position they are in... 

But it does show that we've got a pretty stacked squad. We're looking at adding probably 2 or 3 more players by the sounds - a striker, a CB, and perhaps a new LB if Gibbs wants out. 

I think that however many come in, the same number will need to go out... 

Squad is stacked quantity wise but looking at that the gap in quality between first choice and backups is too large in most positions. Central midfield and left back are probably the only areas now where major injuries to first choice players wouldn't hurt us too much. Any injuries to forwards or centre backs and things are not looking great.

I think RB is ok with Jenkinson there to back up, and GK is fine, plenty of quality in our top 3. 

But agree on Forwards and CB. 

In particular we need a pacy striker (if Vardy falls through), and a brand new CB so that we have four good options. 

With Welbeck's ability to play on the flank, I would think a striker arrival would probably mean a departure for either Campbell or the Ox. Personally I'd prefer Walcott to go but that seems less and less likely given what the media have been reporting. 

With Welbeck out for much of the next season unless he makes a miraculous recovery, I think we need 1 wide forward and 1 central one.

You said indulge...

                         Cech

Bellerin-Mertesacker-Koscielny-Monreal

                  Cazorla-Xhaka

           Ramsey-Ozil-Sanchez

                       Giroud

                      Ospina

 Jenkinson-Chambers-Gabriel-Gibbs

                 Coquellin-Elneny

             Walcott-Wilshere-Cambpell

                          Welbeck

Notables left out: Szczesny, Flamini, Ox, Iwobi

Flamini should be gone surely?!

Yeah that's about right. Ramsey has earned the starting spot for now, Wilshere hasn't. Jenkinson who never looked good enough anyway is coming back from an ACL so a new addition to replace Debuchy wouldn't go astray.

While Wilshere has mostly been injured, I feel he is of such a high quality, he walks into my lineup any day of the week. That's really a personal preference though, rather than trying to honestly claim that he's better than Ramsey. I think I mostly like the desire and tenacity Wilshere brings, which is fairly rare in a technical player like that. 

To be arguing between those two is a very healthy position, they are both excellent players to have.

I see where you're coming from re: Jenkinson Ajc. My only thought there is what RB with any ambition is going to come here when we have the best one in the league already, and he's only 20? Bellerin is our first choice for the long term, so someone like Jenkinson who is already signed, loves the club, and is half-decent, would be ok for me as the second choice. He showed at Westham that he's good enough for this league, and would probably be ok with at least one season at his childhood club as a no.2. Problem is if Bellerin goes down long-term I guess, not sure if Jenkinson would be good enough as our starter for months on end. But how much do you throw at a back-up right back signing? It's worth it on the left because Monreal is getting on a bit, but Bellerin's youth really works against us in that respect. Tough call. 

And flamini... well yes you would've thought he should've said his goodbyes alongside Arteta and Rosicky, but not to be.

I secretly suspect there's a Flamini clause in Ozil's contract...

Cover image from BQ - Bromance Quarterly?

Should probably be in the meme thread but didn't want you guys to miss out...

I see Leicester have bid for Deeney. Maybe a sign Vardys coming to us?

Who's booked in for the Arsenal NZ tour? I've been thinking about it and as per all of my decisions have left it to the last minute!

Nah, haven't got the money to pay the deposit at such short notice. Probably going to do our own thing and make more of a holiday out of it anyway. Would be cool to have a Wellington meet up over there maybe.

I'm holding off for the moment too - who else in Welly would be keen?

Thinking of holding a pre-season Welly meet up thingeemebob... hoping we have some EPL coverage sorted first then can discuss other opportunities, not to mention Sydney - any travel agents around?

I've emailed the travel agent asking if they can provide a price ex Wgtn and if there's any flexibility around the deposit being due today - will update when I get a response.

Yea a bit to far in the future for me to want to put $750 deposit down. I'm likely going solo would anyone be keen to get match tickets together?

Personal financial situation is very trying, starting to question my ability to get there at all now. 

Sad situation, but thems the breaks with 3 kids under 5 and one income!

They can give us an extra fortnight before the $750 is due but need numbers before they can provide a price ex Welly.

If you're keen PM on here, or email, or the Twitter this arvo and I'll give her a number (ideally greater than one lol) on Monday and we'll see what she can come up with.

I think my mate and I will do a quick fly in fly out for the matches and do it on the cheap

As I said, we're probably going to do our own thing but definitely keen to get quotes for that too so count me as 2 people for numbers.

Probably lump me in the same boat as ajc. Also , anyone know what the deal is with twinshare rooms if you're travelling solo?

Hopefully this:

More likely this:

Looking forward to getting a look at Xhaka tomorrow. Interesting that his brother is playing for Albania too (where their parents are from). Must be extremely rare for 2 brothers to play against each other for different countries. I know the Boatengs have done it a couple of times at the World Cup for Germany/Ghana but can't think of any other instance.

Vieri's bro played for Australia (?)

Paul Pogba bro Guiena/Equatorial Guiena(?)

BBC reporting Vardy has turned down a medical with us.

Seems that Morata is off the table... who's next? We still NEED a striker! (not to mention a CB and probably another wide forward).

Guinea and Equatorial  Guinea are different countries.

Looking at Xhaka's passing against Albania, it's even more reason would need a clinical finisher brought in up front.

He 's going to be like having another Ozil in the team but deeper in defensive midfield.

I can imagine him getting frustrated with Giroud for not finishing his passes and chasing him around the pitch lol

let me clarify I am a fan of Giroud, I can't defend some of his 'easy' misses though...

Equatorial Guinea does not require a double space.

Yeah, Xhaka laid through some absolutely terrific passes I thought.

I think he will be deeper for us than he is for the Swiss, though.

Xhaka looked comfortable in possession although fairly quiet game.

Ramsey didn't have his best game on the ball but got through a lot of work and seemed to be everywhere. Probably their best player as opposed to Bale who barely got involved and just went for glory the few times he got on the ball. 

Wilshere looked a class above anyone else on the pitch from the first moment he got the ball and should start the next game. Don't know what Hodgson was thinking going with a completely different formation and lineup to what he'd been preparing with. Wilshere and Vardy have to come in for Sterling and Lallana at the very least.

Beautiful assist from Özil for Germany's second. 

Just came on to post that Arsenal. He also should have scored but that right foot of his isn't so good under pressure.

Koscielny - solid ✓

Giroud - scored, looked dangerous ✓✓

Xhaka - man of the match ✓✓✓

Ramsey - played well, looked sharp ✓✓

Wilshere - subbed on late, can't really rate him properly --

Szczesny - had nothing of note to do, clean sheet anyway ✓

Ozil - assist, looked very good all game ✓✓✓

Cech - a number of fine saves to keep the czechs in it ✓✓

Good tournament so far for our players. 

Oh and if we are still counting Rosicky then he did ok as well, made some nice forward runs on the ball.

Heroic defending from the Czechs and great game from Cech. Shame they couldn't quite hold on. Know its only 1 game but Morata did not look a 60 million pound player. Put one sitter straight at the keeper and spent the rest of the time standing offside.

Didn't watch but heard that about Morata too

Also heard that Lukaku was absolute pants this morn