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

K.Toure was famously switched to CB right at the beginning of the invincible season, what a master stroke that was. I read a book about that season recently, and all the press talk going into it was that we had no CBs - Toure being switched was seen as a sign of failure on our part. 

Anyway despite the Coquelin talk, I see Holding and Bielek are also starting, so Coq must be in midfield today. I assume he'll get a run off the bench. 

MLS Allstars' front line is Drogba, Villa and Dos Santos, with Kaka behind, and Pirlo in midfield. Sheesh they could put some goals on our young CBs!

Also Ronniemac sent me this bloody great transfer page, showing all our ins/outs since '92. Really interesting reading.

Over that 24 years we've got a total net spend of under 180m. 

Of that, we've spent 158m net just in the last 4 years! Goes to show how impressive our frugal years really were. Our ability to get value out of the market is unparallelled amongst the bigger clubs.

My other take-away from this is that the difference in the last 4 years is that none of our valuable players are leaving any longer - if you look at the outs column since van Persie and Song left, only Vermaelen has left that we perhaps would have preferred to keep, and he was injured for a full season after that anyway. 

You can look at other clubs by hovering over the All Club Transfers at the top right of the screen.

https://www.transferleague.co.uk/arsenal/english-fo...

Think Drogba enjoyed that goal.

Final score 2-1.

Akpom with the winner on 87mins. 

Good result really.

Had it on at work but wasn't able to analyse much.

Did think that Xhaka looks like the business though... he's got a hammer left from distance, took all the free kicks/corners, and looks like a bit of a beast around the pitch. 

highlights floating about anywhere?

https://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/07/29/mls-...

From the Arsenal website it sounded like Walcott was useless up front...

Yup, Walcott was pants. Had a chance to slip Campbell 1 v 1 with keeper and shot wide instead. Always hate that.

Xhaka's highlights

https://twitter.com/TerryAFCx/status/7588892486027...

honestly think he'll be an awesome player. The next big thing.

Saw the odd highlight from Germany last 2 years and he was good in an average team. 

I think at 23 you've got a gem. I like Coq too so could be a real strength for you in the next year or two.

Away and third kits launched at some event today on the USA tour. Amazingly I saw them both on sale at Lifestyle Sports at Outlet City in Tawa this afternoon and was sure I hadn't seen them announced yet. Not sure about the third kit. Very unusual colours for us and looks exactly the same as Chelsea's away shirt.

I saw the yellow shirt in a Brisbane sports shop last Tuesday. Admittedly, they were hanging behind the counter and not with the other stock.

Spanish sales are up.

Have we signed anyone yet?

Sounds like Mustafi could be close. Rumours that fee is agreed, he's been left out of Valencia's latest friendly, some claims he is en-route for medical and agreement of personal terms. 

Could all be bullsh*t obviously.

Sounding more and more like the Mahrez deal was never really on. I have a feeling both he and Vardy's agents used us to get new contracts at Leicester. Sh*tty for us, but all power to them, and good on Leicester for hanging on to 2 of their big 3 if that is the case. 

Despite the Lyon chairman's blustering it does sound like Lacazette wants to come here. We've just gotta stump up the cash I reckon. Not sure how much it would take. 

David Ornstein (BBC) is claiming Mahrez has signed for us and it will be announced soon.

He's been fairly reliable in the past, let's see this time round.....

Scrap that, someone has setup a very similar looking Twitter account (looks just like his official one).

Back to reality, Mustafi sounds close

Rumours that alexis will be raring to go against Liverpool on opening day...

No.

Arsenal apparently are planning a move for Jonny Evans for £15m. Mirror.co.uk.

I think he'd actually be pretty good for Arsenal. I rate him.

to quote Arseblog.

In conclusion: Jonny Evans? Fcuk off.

Also love the Vardy story this morning about how turning down Arsenal was easy.

He is towing the company line with his propaganda about how Mahrez should stay. Rumor is Wenger was in the crowd watching Mahrez

play in the International Champions Cup defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.

More than a rumour, he was pictured there.

Could be for a few reasons, but does make you wonder. 

More than pictured there: https://twitter.com/mikesanz19/status/759844826925...

Just watched the same vid, snap!

I thought the mahrez deal was dead in the weekend. Now not so much!

Have seen mention on Twitter that the Mahrez contract extn "story" was a crock.

Dare we dream?...

2 weeks till season starts was really hoping we were going to the business done and dusted early. 

we should just offer Wally and some $$$ for Mahrez....win win i say lol 

in saying that CB and Striker is way more important then Mahrez for me

I agree numbers-wise alone, but in terms of quality, I put Mahrez above striker for sure.

No matter who we sign at Striker, they just aren't going to be that good - we are not going to get an upgrade on Giroud, we're just going to get an alternative, and he's going to be expensive, whomever it is. Lacazette, Icardi, Morata, Jese, all these guys, they just aren't of the calibre we would want for those prices, due to the lack of quality strikers in the market.

Mahrez however... blimmin heck, even I could probably bag 20 in the striking role if I had Mahrez/Ozil/Sanchez behind me!

If I had to choose between Lacazette and Mahrez for example, I'd take Mahrez any day of the week. Hopefully we get both though... 

On another note, there was a little talk on twitter from gooners complaining about the kick-off times in pre-season - only time in the year where england-based fans actually have to get up in the night like we do week-in, week-out! Saw this tweet which I loved;

I'm guessing the team is back in the UK Tuesday/Wednesday?

I reckon we'll get a signing announcement before Sunday - either Mahrez, Lacazette, or a CB.

Love this kind of message. I often get crap from other fans and even LFC fans from the UK that i'm not a real fan, don't go to games, don't know football etc. yet we rock up to games at 1am on a Monday, 6:30am on a Tuesday, 1am on a Sunday and watch every pass and do it whether the team is doing well or struggling. Commitment!

That's pretty c*nty from them.

Oh and I agree about Mahrez Paulm.

That said we're currently starting the season with no Giroud, Ozil, or Sanchez, so our front line is looking bare!

We do need that bit of business ASAP, because starting the season with Walcott leading the line is horrendous.

There's always Sanogo though...

It happens from all fan groups - usually very limited form within the same fangroup - but it still exists. 

That's ridiculous. Some terribly small minded individuals around the place.

OK so BS social media driven rumour of the day; Mahrez has unfollowed Leicester on Instagram.

It's a sign guys.

That said I think Szy did something similar with the Roma signing a few days before the announcement.

And interestingly enough Leicester is currently in LA on pre-season - like we are ;)

Wilshere bizarrely not even on the bench, injured already?

Xhaka and Coquelin starting together in midfield. 

Cazorla playing no.10. 

Walcott up top again. 

1-0 up

Holding with his first arsenal goal, assisted by Chambers... not joking!

Goal clip

https://twitter.com/ArsenalGoaIs/status/7599297335...

Ox stunner, 2-0

Clip: https://twitter.com/ArsenalGoaIs/status/7599366446...

Akpom, 3-0, Debuchy assist

Goal clip: https://twitter.com/ArsenalGoaIs/status/7599387332...