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

https://arseblog.com/2018/05/ramsey-deal-or-no-dea...

Good write up on Ramsey from Tim Stillman. He's key point is while Ramsey's great, his loss is easier to absorb knowing you've got Laca, Ozil, Mhiki, and Auba to fit into a starting 11. Replacing him with someone who can maintain their fitness/physicality season long and you'll almost make a net gain.

That said I really do like the guy, would love to see him sticking around more than I would Jack.

L’Equipe reported this week how, when players returned from lunch at Clairefontaine, they each found a letter to them from the 32 year old (Koscielny) wishing them good luck in Russia and asking them to pull together for the sake of the team.

What a man.

From what I've read and seen, Ramsey would be the perfect Emery player. I think he'll try everything to keep him. 

Personally I think Ozil will struggle.

Liverpool will be playing the Champions League decider on the 26th of May. It hasn't been a happy date in the past.........

This is what I've been thinking.

I think there's a reasonable chance Ozil could be lined up as a player to make way, and provide funding for others, if we could find a buyer. 

Would be sad, I love Ozil, but Ramsey strikes me as more of an Emery-style no.10. 

Very speculative thinking though. Ozil doesn't seem like a pressing type player but having said that, he's renown for running high kms per game, so he has the engine, but can he buy into a team-pressing philosophy? Perhaps Emery might even see him as a wide forward rather than a no.10. 

While he isn't know for pressing I don't think Ozil has been required to. I would imagine that if asked to he could do it, given as you say Paulm he's consistently recording the km's on match day. Would be interesting to see how this changes his game, and if he finally get's the haters off his back.

Emery seems to prefer a 4-2-3-1, and Tim Stillman, in his latest column, believes that he will be looking to purchase a destructive DM to sit alongside Xhaka. Apparently Emery has been an admirer of Xhaka in the past, if online sources are to be believed. 

If this is the case, then that really moves Wilshere and Ramsey out of the midfield two, unless he thinks he can re-purpose Wilshere as a DM. So that would leave 4 attacking roles, for which we have these personnel currently contracted;

Ramsey

Wilshere

Ozil

Mkhitaryan

Welbeck

Iwobi

Lucas

Lacazette

Aubameyang

I've left Joel Campbell off the list as I assume he'll be sold.

But that's 9 guys for 4 roles. I think we're going to sell 2 of them, maybe 3. Some tough decisions to make. 

It's a big moment for Ozil right now. The way he talks, and what he put in his book, suggest he is a player that needs a lot of support from his Manager. He specifically sought Wenger out when he was leaving Madrid, he talks a lot about needing a Manager to believe in him, and seems to play best when you set up the team around him and give him free reign.

That doesn't sound like it will be the way under Emery. It's about fitting into the system and following detailed instructions. 

Having said that, Ozil did play well under Mourinho, and he is often put on the flank for Germany, and plays well in their system, so he might buy into this and be fine. Who knows.

I think if we press well, it will cover for Xhaka's defensive qualities. As the deepest lying midfielder/playmaker, he won't be required to press as much, and in theory the pressure on him defensively should be a lot less if we're defending as as unit.

Really interested to see how we go next season. I think it will take at least half a season to 'click' - maybe a full season. Guardiola and Klopp have had their struggles, so I expect Emery to as well.

Remember the first Pep season - 'Fraudiola' was flying everywhere.

re: Ozil, I just think he's too comfortable now. Wenger has protected him perhaps a little too much; though that was always Wenger's way, better or worse. It'll go one of two ways - he will push back, or he will give in and accept the new instructions. If it's the former, he'll go. We all hope it's the latter.

Could not have said it better myself 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-...

Actual quote;

'It's a little bit of a mixed feeling,' Aubameyang, who only joined the club in January, said when asked about the managerial change.

'Over the last few seasons – you have to tell the truth – the club has stagnated a little bit. I think everyone is actually a little bit excited to see what happens next season.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5770391/Arsenal-stagnated-Arsene-Wenger-insists-Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang.html#ixzz5GVFIYVvx

Don't think anyone would disagree with that; including Arsene given some distance.

Great insights on Xhaka, Ozil, and expectations on Emery for the first season. Couldn't agree more. 

Rumours overnight that we're trying to get right back Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus on a free transfer. 34 year old, experienced swiss international.

Not sure what he's got left in 34 year old legs but might be a good buy to back up Bellerin, considering we had no specialist back-up this season at all. 

Also rumours we're after RB Leipzig winger Emil Forsberg. 

I think this would be a very shrewd signing. I haven't seen  that many Juve games, but did watch Juve v Spurs and he helped change the game when he came on. He still seems very fit, which isn't surprising for a Swiss bloke. Also seems to have a bit of mongrel about him.

With Per, Kos and Santi out of the squad, he would also provide some much needed experience. He's also a serial winner.

Perfect short-term back up for Bellerin until the likes of Osei-Tutu can challenge.

I see PSG are about to be hit with FPP restrictions and will likely need to sell a couple of players - let's snap up Guerdes please! Would the perfect solution to our lack of a winger, though maybe not our most pressing need.

When I was at the Sweden v Chile game recently he played more as a central/attacking Mid - He was the best player on the pitch.

seems like every player Unai has coached is now being linked with us. 

I'll take Rakitic and Neymar at a push.

Never heard of him. Any good?

Think he'll breach the no cocks policy

I guess those last 3 FA Cups Wenger won don't look all that bad next to Klopp and Pochetino's trophy records in England which both remain at 0 for another season. Interesting the amount of abuse Wenger got for not winning all those years compared to how great everyone says these two are.

I think Wenger was particularly targeted the lack of success after finding such huge success early on. But you're right, Klopp's now gone 6 cup finals without a win in a row, 3 with Liverpool.

It's quite interesting really. The big difference is the precedent Wenger set in winning trophies early in his Arsenal career. 

I remember us talking about a "trophy drought" back in 2007 and 2008, 2 or 3 years without a trophy was already considered a massive failure at that point. 

Liverpool haven't won anything for 6 years, and have 1 League Cup to show for the last 12 years. 

Spurs haven't won anything for 10 years, and have 1 League Cup to show for the last 19 years. 

Anyhow, we have our own new Manager and club chapter to deal with now. We could have a glorious time, or we could be staring down the barrel of something similar if things don't go well. 

To be fair, the brunt of which has come from Arsenal fans...

Fair; and it's no coincidence that the fans who started watching Arsenal around their most successful time, are also the fans in the age group who are the loudest on the internet. (i.e., me :) )

Yeah it has. But surely those questions will have to start being asked of the other two I mentioned.

Sokratis from Dortmund is gaining steam with Ornstein calling it on Twitter. Interesting signing that, about to turn 30 and hasn't had the best season...should fit right in!

Edit: if he's our only CB purchase then it would really show a desire to prioritise game time for Chambers/Holding/Mavropanos.

Looks like we're making experienced signings to try and get us back into the top 4, then the real 'rebuild' will happen. A bit underwhelming, but makes sense.

Trying to get some attitude at the back. 

I like it.

Wenger of course would've been crucified for these signings ;)

The do harken back a little to the days of Squillaci, don't they? Lets hope they're more successful than that.

I'd like to think Emery will bring more structure defensively, though, so they won't be hung out to dry as much. We'll wait and see..

I think the most important piece of the puzzle is a top class midfielder, personally. Fabinho would've done a job.

Rumours from overnight.

Ramsey has made positive noises, said he's excited about Emery and "can't wait to get back to Arsenal". Rumours there is an improved 5 year contract on the table for him. 

Wilshere might well be gone. No news on his future, and now he's removed Arsenal references from his social media bios. I believe he's technically off-contract now as well. Sad, but someone was going to go I guess.

Sokratis just about over the line for 16m. Also expected that Lichtensteiner will sign on a free for 2 years. 

Rumours that Emery has got the inside running on a highly rated 17yo midfielder in PSG's youth ranks, Yacine Adli. 

Adli rumors have really ramped up this morning. It almost seems like its done. But i'd be very surprised if it was. 

We are also in for some RB Lipzeg player, but i forget his name right now. 

As for Lichtensteiner, I'm not sold ay, I think Bellerin needs someone to push and compete with him for the position rather than mentor him. But he would add experience to our playing squad.  

New goal keeping coach sounds locked in too. Reading Liechtensteiner is a 1+1 which makes sense given his age. Heard it put that if Liechtensteiner and Sokratis are the signings for defence then it leaves more in the kitty for midfield and GK. You have to give it to Liverpool, two phenomenal players in Keita and Fabinho. We need to make similar signings in this area.

Yea Liverpool's signings are good, especially if they manage to get Fekir too. The Ox will be gutted. Despite his apparent "improvement"  Klopp is signing a whole new midfield ahead of him LOL

The Leipzig player is Jean Michel Seri. Quite highly-rated, I will be very happy to get him. 

3 years today since the FA Cup win over Villa. The video popped up on Facebook and first time it's struck me that none of the 4 goalscorers that day play for us anymore. In fact of the 7 goalscorers in the 3 finals since 2014 only Koscielny and Ramsey remain. The former is possibly done, the latter may be off this summer if he won't sign.

na its someone else. He plays for Nice

Oh whoops, correct you are!

This sounds like what you're talking about:

https://metro.co.uk/2018/05/28/arsenal-open-talks-...

Don't know a lot about him, Seri would be good though. Bring back the ox and stick him on the wing again!

Ahh yes forsberg I did see those rumours earlier this week. I don't know much about him but seems quite highly rated. 

Personally I think Bellerin is one of our best players and extremely harshly rated by most fans. He just needs someone who can step in and give him a break.

I agree Valeo. I think a lot of times he's lost his man or been beaten in the air is due to the fact that his CB's have let him down. I think the focus for him for the next season is leveraging his key strengths (pace, veganism, long hair) to help complete his attacking (crossing, ammiright?) and defensive play (balls into the box).