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

Lol!!!!

For some reason I'm confident we'll get a winger/striker in before Aug 31, just hope it's someone aside of Asano

Found this sense of humour on twitter:

Breaking Transfer News: Reports in Korea that @Arsenal are gonna sign Foo Kin No Wun

I figured out the problem with Wenger & his transfer approaches.

He's always quoted as saying something like "We do have the money to spend, when the right opportunity arises."

The problem with the first sentence is that clubs aren't exactly putting up TradeMe listings with their star players they're looking to sell. If you wait for the opportunity to arise it'll never come - you've got to take your cheque book to those clubs & test their resolve.

It could just be a lost in translation moment, or that I'm yet to finish my first coffee, but it felt like an "aha" moment.

I was thinking this the other day. All good to say we have cash, but no good if you dont have the intent behind it. 

You mean like going to 'gladbach with big coin and signing their captain before the transfer window opens?

Or triggering Vardy's release clause before England travelled to the Euros? 

There's been plenty of intent. Just like there is right now with this push for Mahrez. 

Wenger's only saying we've got the coin because everyone knows we've got the coin - it's published annually in our statements. Otherwise I'm pretty sure he'd stay completely silent on that too. Doing business in public is not Arsenal's way. 

My biggest fear right now is that with us making the first approach for Mahrez, other clubs will come in with the coin now and gazump us. 

He surely must be hot property, particularly for big clubs in the prem. 

Given the current market, even 50m is a snip really, for a league champion who was basically the best player in England last year, and is hitting his peak at 26. And I'm not convinced we'd have to pay that much - I thought he had a release clause that was fairly common knowledge, around the 30m mark???

I guess I struggle to believe anything in the media any more, given the click bait nature of transfers.

Simply looking at what Wenger is saying about the market over multiple seasons he does seem to imply he's often 'waiting' for an opportunity as opposed to creating an opportunity - solely based on his statements.

Don't get me wrong, I spent the small hours dreaming we'd signed Mahrez & that Wenger was on track to sign Aubmayang too - and I have relative confidence we will.

I agree that it's almost impossible to know what to believe these days, but my main examples were the actual Xhaka signing, and the actual triggering of Vardy's release clause. 

They are clear signs of intent, not speculation. 

As are the signings of Ozil, Sanchez, Cech, and others in recent years. We have more cash now, so it goes hand in hand that we have more intent now as well. 

I guess I don't place any weight on what Wenger actually says. If he had it his way, he'd never utter a single word about potential transfers, it's only the media questioning that he's responding to. 

Arsenal as a club prefer to keep it under the radar until signings are made usually. 

Mertesacker to miss the US tour with a knee injury and Twitter saying he's out for 5 months. Couldn't make this fudgeing shark up could you?

Sh*t that is far more exterme that what I was reading.

Garbiel has Tonsalitis - looks like the Holding signing was definitely needed!

No Kosc at the start of the season, Mertesacker injured, so at this point in time you'd say we're looking at Chambers and Gabriel as the CBs v Liverpool.

Yikes.

Or Holding & Gabriel.

Gabriel currently ill with tonsillitis so hasn't traveled either.

Don't think Jenkinson has gone either, still injured.

I dare say Monreal will be higher in the pecking order than Jenkinson, and maybe even Holding (Holding is 20, and unlike Chambers, he has not played at this level before, ever). 

Tbh I don't really give a flying f*ck about the "pre-season tour" (real name should be "sponsorship commitments"). They may as well try Iwobi out at CB for all I care.

Liverpool on opening day is the key date I'm focussed on. 

I would normally be happy with Chambers, or Gabriel starting, but not both of them, without Kosc or Mert on the pitch. Chambers is too young, and Gabriel too hot-headed, for them to maturely manage our defence. If that does occur then there will be a lot on Cech's shoulders to steer them around. Perhaps Monreal in there, with Gibbs at LB, could be a bit safer... 

I am not sure if we are still in the market for a CB, but if we are, then Mertesacker's injury should have us rushing that signing now. 

100% agree.

It's tough trying to figure out if you pair Monreal or Chambers/Holding with Gabriel.

You put Monreal in there it knocks the confidence of Chambers/Holding & doesn't do anything for advancing their career, while playing an out-of-form LB while playing your in form LB out of position. You put Chambers/Holding in there your risk is much higher for calamity, but you keep your in form LB in position.

That said shouldn't any of our first team players be able to step up?

Final ramble; Bielek is also travelling so I imagine they'll use him as back up the Chambers/Holding.

Funny thing they denied we'd made 48 mil bid but quoted we'd made a 35 mil one.

The statement reads: "The club regrets yet again that Le Progres did not decide to contact us before publishing this false information that has created confusion on the day where the Group, on the stock exchange, publishes its annual accounts showing €218.1m, a progression of 111% from 2014/15.

"The reality is that the club Arsenal made an offer worth €35m, which Lyon did not follow up on for one reason: OL will keep Alexandre Lacazette who is irreplaceable and who is one of the main leaders in Bruno Genesio’s squad."

Anyone in Welly around Sunday week for a wee Gooner catch-up?

I'd be able to pop down for a bit probably, depending on time/venue. 

What you thinking?

Should be around next Sunday.

Wenger confirms Mertesacker is out for "a few months." Assume like Welbeck he's a write off for this season. Makes an established centre back a priority surely.

Sham Fraudsythe strikes again? Can understand someone like Wilshere getting constant impact injuries with the way he plays, but consistent serious ligament injuries every season point to something fundamentally wrong with the way we train or the style of play.

The return of the Verminator perhaps?

Was thinking a wee chin wag about the next year of Gooner stuff... Sat arvo might be better?

Kicking off the Wellington supporters arm eh? Saturday may be ok for me but would have to be late afternoon (sport earlier etc).

You mean the guy who has systematically reduced our injuries sustained since he joined?

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsena...

Mertesacker injury sucks, but I'm glad it's happened now rather than September 1st when the window is shut.

Vermalen return would stop a gap; but I'd rather we looked more long term like Varane, Marquinhos, Laporte, Hummels, 

Heh, wasn't really serious with the Sham Fraudsythe thing. Last season was actually quite good for injuries by our standards. Aside from Cazorla, it was pretty much just the same guys who are always injured who were out. We do keep picking up serious ligament injuries every season though and there has to be something wrong at the root of it. Would like to see a comparison to other club for muscle and ligament injuries.

I don't think you guys will be signing Hummels any time soon. He's only been at Bayern for a few weeks 

Whoops! Forgot he'd moved :)

Some fairly strong rumours that we're in for the german CB at Valencia - Mustafi.

Also rumours that we've put a stop to plans to loan out Chambers. 

And has everyone has seen the news last night - we've had a bid for Lacazette turned down. Lyon are talking tough too, claiming he's not for sale. I'm assuming we'll be going back with a new offer to test that resolve. 

Weird statement. By saying "we did not reject 48, we turned down 35" they seem to be saying "come back to us with 48." Bit ironic that for all our complaining about the guy who starts for France we're now going for the guy who doesn't make the squad. Think it's clear though with the kind of fees required for guys like Higuain, Morata etc if we get anyone it will be adding depth in the form of someone to rotate with Giroud, not upgrade on him.

Well the strategy was either buy an upgrade on Giroud (Higuain, Morata) or buy different to Giroud (Lacazaette, Vardy).

I personally prefer the diversity of buying different as Welbeck's last spell up front showed how a pacey striker changes our entire dynamic - which is a great strategic option to have.

I've gone off Aubamayang a little after his statements about Real.

If we got him it'd be Cesc & Barca all over again.

Lots of news this morn that we're in talks with Mustafi, apparently willing to pay 25m, which is a lot for us for a CB. Arsene must rate him.

Rumours we're going back with another bid for Lacazette too.

Very quiet on the Mahrez front :(

If we got all 3 I'd be a pretty happy man. 

25m for a CB starting for Valencia, playing for Germany, and is only 24 - seems legit.

Given Citeh are supposedly paying fiddy mil for John Stones - I'd go that (notwithstanding the hg BriTax).

Certainly it does when you consider in the last 2 years we've spent about 30m on non starting defenders. Need to get this one done.

Game against MLS stars is live on ESPN this morning. Coquelin apparently playing at centre back.

I know it's only a stop-gap for this tour, but to be honest I think Coquelin would make a great CB.
Although he's not tall, his tackling and anticipation is unbelievable - if he can learn the craft of the CB I think he'd be amazing there.

Hearing that Xhaka is good in the air. That and someone like Giroud might be able to make up for the lack of height when defending set pieces hopefully. But aside from that weakness, there's a lot to like about the idea. Not to mention we're now adequately covered at DM, with Xhaka and Elneny both purchased since Coquelin famously came back from loan.

Yeah can see him playing well there and Wenger certainly likes internal solutions.

And despite that rumour he's not starting there. 

Drogba must be relishing the prospect of destroying us once again with that lightweight defence.