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

Hahahahaha, well played, fudge me dead.

That he's not English?

I can't wait to see our spine as Evans, Mkhitaryan and Welbeck. Maybe Silvestre can come back to coach.

News coming out in the last couple of hours that we might be close to agreeing a fee with Dortmund for Aubameyang, in the region of 53m pounds.

Apparently Giroud wants to stay in London and was not interested in going the other way, but IS keen on going to Chelsea, now that we're signing another striker.

I can hardly blame him but I would prefer if we held on until the end of the season. 

Yea I do love the guy, he's been a great servant to us, would be the nice thing to do, similar to when Chelsea let Cech go. 

But I actually just want him to stay in an Arsenal shirt because I love him! 

And obviously he's a great bench option, I'd rather flick Welbeck right now. Welbeck's ability to play on the flank is what's keeping him here, we don't have enough balance in our forwards, they're all bloody strikers! Actually this window has been so Arsenal... sold two wingers, replaced them with a striker and a no.10 LOL

Auba is an exciting possible signing, but jeez it makes no sense at all. He's kind of similar to Lacazette in that he often won't touch it for long periods but then pop up with a goal - he does have more pace than Laca though.

Laca and Auba do not make sense playing together, so we'll likely have one of our most expensive signings sitting on the bench. Why are we not using this money to shore up the midfield or, at the least, get a fudgeing winger?

Makes no sense. Not to mention Auba is 28/29 and in the last of his peak.

Mkhi doesn't make sense playing with Ozil either, so hey.

Also, seeing Giroud in a Chelsea shirt will make me vomit. Please don't.

We'll see one of them on the left wing which would be peak Wenger. Auba seems to excel in a team that counters so not sure how effective he'll be in a team that passes the ball around the edge of the penalty area for 90 minutes.

Yep, doesn't look like he'll fit us at all. Just a name signing to get fans off the back for a few weeks...really silly.

Jack Xhaka

   Ozil

Mkhi Auba Laca

I'm assuming we will play like this. Mkhi and Laca aren't wingers, though, so it's going to be weird.

Jaysus christ you guys need some happy pills!

100 goals in his last 117 games Aubameyang can only score on the counter??? Dortmund must spend a LOT of time defending to allow him to score all those!

I don't know what Wenger's plans are for these guys and understand the winger v striker conundrum, but they are quality players, Wenger must have a plan, and replacing Sanchez/Walcott with these two is an upgrade overall for me, I'm pretty bloody happy. 

Much better than the old days - when Henry left we replaced him with an unknown Eduardo out of the Ukraine, and made a net gain. When Fabregas left we scrambled for Arteta on deadline day, and again made a net gain. When van Persie left, again, a profit, this time buying an untested Giroud out of France. But this time, with virtually no time left on his contract, we've swapped Sanchez for Mkhitaryan and then spunked our record transfer fee on Aubameyang. 

Some things at Arsenal haven't changed but our power in the transfer market definitely has, and I'm feeling pretty bloody positive about it for once!

Sorry but that's just obviously not true. 

I don't feel it makes much difference who comes or goes so long as Wenger, Gazidis and Kroenke remain in charge but I'm hopeful he can help us enjoy a bit of football again.

I didn't actually say he can "only score on the counter," but he seems to have excelled in those situations/tactics which are quite different to the way we play, where the the striker predominantly gets the ball with his back to goal. Hopefully Wenger can get the best out him.

I think the mystery of how they'll all fit together is part of the excitement of these new guys coming in. If we keep Ozil and Jack Wenger will have a number of attacking combinations he can adjust his team for based on the opposition - something he hasn't had for awhile.

Late to the party on Evans but it's got to be a short term hold over deal. With Per retiring, Koscielny not far behind either, and the same for Monreal he could be a good stop gap age wise to give Holding and Chambers the time to mature into their roles. However I'd actually rather go out and buy an established 27/28 year old CB to do that who can lock sh*t down with Mustafi for the next few seasons.

Kolasinac in possession is likely what's hurting him, he's got the pace and strength on Monreal but I think Monreal reads the game better and contributes better in possesison too, with way less dangerous turn overs.

Giroud to Chelsea just can't happen. We can't strengthen them by helping them out in this scenario. West Ham or Crystal Palace are both in London, send him those ways if he would like to stay in London. Ideally on loan until the end of the season then re-assess too.

Auba has scored something like 90 out of 110 goals from inside the box - he's a poacher. Very similar to Lacazette, with a bit more pace and less guile/less involved in build up play.

It just seems like a completely pointless name signing that doesn't actually improve the team, and instead forces out a fan favourite in Giroud and likely upsets Lacazette as he'll be on the bench.

We could be spending that money on a midfielder that would actually make a difference. Shark, Auba can't even play Europa, so with Giroud going it actually weakens that squad.

Hypothetical scenario but we revert to a 4-3-3. We know that those front 3 rotate round based on their abilities, so it's not the end of the world if you end up with Laca, Ozil, and Auba up there. Then behind him you drop Mhiki to play ahead of a deep-lying player like Xhaka/Elneny, and a box to box player like Ramsey/JW10. 

You've still got 2 midfielders on the bench and Giroud on the bench who can offer fresh legs/different dimensions in the EPL, and starts in Europa.

Not the worst scenario we could be in, and fairgrounds to justify hanging onto Giroud even with the signing of Mihki and Auba.

Looks like it may not happen anyway. Chelsea are screwing us a wee bit.

Ideal scenario would be that Giroud accepts a loan deal to go to Dortmund and we end up with Auba, Giroud gets playing time before WC and potentially comes back to us next season to see out his career.

Where did all that come from?

I wouldn't question it mate, keeps Andy Caroll and Peter Crouch off your books haha!

It's come from Ornstein who seems reliable with regards to Arsenal transfer news. Would be so Wenger like to end the window on a low by strengthening another domestic rival. Can't we just give them Welbeck?

https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david

[quote=ajc28]

It's come from Ornstein who seems reliable with regards to Arsenal transfer news. Would be so Wenger like to end the window on a low by strengthening another domestic rival. Can't we just give them Welbeck?

https://twitter.com/bbcsport_david

[/quote

Don't be so horrible about Danny. After all you paid 16 million quid for him and he has scored 13 goals.:)

16m for a winner at OT in the FA Cup run we went on to win is 100% worth it ;)

They claimed Welbeck wasn't up to their standard, spent that ENTIRE 16 million on Falcao's wages for one season, finished below us, and Welbeck knocked them out of the FA Cup en route to our victory at Wembley.

Thanks for bringing that up guys, made my day :)

Yeah but at least we don't have Danny Welbeck in our squad

A least he has an EPL medal.

If Chelsea are in the market for a striker why aren't the screwing us over and buying Auba?

That's bizarre really because they could pay more and offer CL. Surprised they haven't hijacked it yet but they seem to be going for a big target man.

Edit: Actually he's cuptied for CL this season but they would still offer the greater likelihood of having it next season.

They desperately want a target man. Everyone they are looking at fits that bill. PEA doesn't. I assume that would be why.

Yep. PEA does not fit their team. Just like he doesn't really fit ours :)

Sounds like Giroud to Chelsea is happening, 20m. Although he's still in our squad for Swansea today. 

So that completes the merry-go-round: Giroud to Chelsea, Batsushayi to Dortmund, Aubameyang to us. There was talk of a swap - Giroud for Luiz. Always hated Luiz, but did seem a tidy-ish way of getting in an experienced CB which it seems we are trying to do. In any case sounds like that's not going ahead, and it's a straight sale of Giroud. 

Seems a sensible decision, even though I love the guy and would prefer him to stay. We're just too top-heavy with strikers though, and Welbeck's versatility has meant he's the one to keep. Would have preferred to sell him to Dortmund or elsewhere overseas, but he apparently really wants to stay in London, and has been a loyal servant despite the fans bashing him constantly (until about a year ago), so happy to let him go there. 

Also in some weird news, 18yo Mcguane out of our academy has signed a 3 year contract with Barcelona. Very odd development, hadn't actually been hearing much about him - other youngsters in our academy appear more highly-rated. Will be interesting to see what that is about. 

Onto this morning's game... Wilshere apparently ill, so Ramsey comes into the lineup, otherwise as expected. 

Mkhitaryan and Giroud are both on the bench. 

                     Cech

Bellerin Mustafi Koscielny Monreal

        Ramsey Elneny Xhaka

         Ozil Lacazette Iwobi

I'm fairly happy with Giroud doing what he wants to do. Lots of respect for him. Gives his all and barely (if ever) whinges or moans about things.  Will wish him luck.

Not a fan of Luiz. Can hit a ball well but really suspect defensively. Doubt he would improve things much.

3 points here a must.

1-1 at HT. 

Monreal again! Guy is on fire.

Looked like Ozil was clearly fouled when they won the ball and scored? Have only watched one quick replay though. 

Luiz is a total liability. You can't seriously play him as a CB.

WTF Cech?! He's been interviewed recently about changing his luck with penalty saves and now he does this?!

Drop Cech? 

Costing us big time. 

Another bad away day at Swansea looking likely here. Why can't we win there???

I'm not opposed to this. Until I look at the bench and Ospina looks less convincing. Why the fudge did we sell Szy again?

And now Monreal f*cks up under pressure, Ayew carries it into the box, Clucas scores with 2 defenders right there.

All the aubameyangs and mkhitaryans in the world aint gonna change that sort of comical defending. 

We aren't getting top 4. It's Europa or nothing now.

Good to see our former keeper is having another great game against us - no f*cked up back passes.

Any buyback clauses for Szczesny or Fabianski? 

ACTIVATE BOTH NOW

We have f*cked up our Goalkeeper recruitment something chronic

Yep. The Mourinho treble is ON.