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Legend
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almost 17 years

I don't really get it in terms of our squad. If we keep Auba and Laca, we also have Pepe, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli and Nelson. Unless Nelson or someone else is going then it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. 

Having said that, I like Willian, I think he's quality, and he's proven in the PL, so I would be happy to take him over some other gamble, especially with no transfer fee. And considering the youth in our forwards he is the right age to fit into that group - should deliver consistent end product while the youngsters mature. 

I wonder if Nelson might go on loan and Willian will be earmarked to compete with Pepe for that right sided forward spot? 

Alternatively, all the talk is that Arteta wants to go to a 4-3-3 next season, could Willian play in the 3, as an attacking midfielder? Not sure to be honest.

Marquee
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I don't get it at all. While it's a 'free transfer' the length of the contract + other signing on costs means it'll be expensive. Would rather we gave our youngsters more game time and invested in younger options.

Marquee
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whats are you guys thinking on leno v emi for the #1 spot? I'm starting to lean towards emi. 

Marquee
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I love this pic of Dani, looks like he's got an owl for a head!

Marquee
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kwlap wrote:

whats are you guys thinking on leno v emi for the #1 spot? I'm starting to lean towards emi. 

Emi's played well. But I don't think I'd be so quick to drop Leno from the #1 shirt.

Hopefully Emi is still between the sticks start of the next season and Leno isn't rushed back. When Leno's ready he can ride the bench until the necessary moment for change.

I'd want to see them battle it out over a season as opposed to one of them out of action from injury before making a call.

Controversially I'd like to see us sell one of them. Emi can't want to go back and ride the bench, and Leno won't want to be number 2. Great opportunity to cash in and upgrade some other areas of the squad.

Surge
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Can I have some lungs please miss
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brumbys wrote:

Controversially I'd like to see us sell one of them. Emi can't want to go back and ride the bench, and Leno won't want to be number 2. Great opportunity to cash in and upgrade some other areas of the squad.

I don't see this as controversial at all - I see it as quite logical. Emi has shown he's an EPL quality #1 and he's well and truely earn't that in his time with us; and more recently with his performances. Arteta has to make a choice - and sell one of them... I see Leno as the safer bet, and if we can get 15-20mil for Emi (maybe more?) then everyone's a winner really.
Legend
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I'd be keeping both 100%. We have already saved a lot of money as the talk was that we were going to go to market for someone to challenge Leno, but then Martinez showed he is actually capable of that. 

We've banked that money, we can use it elsewhere on the pitch, and we've got a pair of keepers that is the rival of any other pair in the league. 

This GK situation is the most optimal we could have hoped for, I wouldn't be changing it. 

And I'd also be having Martinez start to begin with next season. It's a proper battle between these two now, and he's earned the spot for the moment. But he will be on his toes with Leno there, which is how we want it.

Surge
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Can I have some lungs please miss
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over 16 years

We won't keep both beyond this coming season - if even the summer transfer window (whenever that is). Emi has proven to the football world he's an EPL-quality number one, as has Bernie so irrespective of who is (I'm not bothered either way but I lean towards the German), the other won't be happy or satisfied warming the bench for any length of time. And no - a few Europa league and cup games won't suffice.

One will (eventually) go - and we'll either bring Matt Macey into the squad (or if not release him), or we'll get another number two... and I expect it'll be the latter. If it is Emi who goes, his value will never be higher than it is now if he goes back to being the number two number one, and I guess the same would apply to Bernie.

Marquee
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I think Emi's age is important, he's 27. He's got another 6 years playing the top level - and he's shown he's capable. Why would he accept the bench?

Marquee
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Total side note from the world of transfers but has anyone purchased from these guys? I'm contemplating investing in a couple of retro options...

https://stellarkits.com/shirts/

Surge
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Can I have some lungs please miss
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The club beginning a "consultation" process to axe 55 staff. I don't know quite how I feel about this but I do know it isn't positive.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/club-update-2020

Starting XI
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over 11 years

If only we were owned by one of the wealthiest people on the planet who had increased their wealth by 300 million during the pandemic. At least we smart enough not to spend millions on players in January to make 2 appearances while paying existing players 350k a week to go on holiday. Future of the club protected by not having to pay Jo in accounts 40k a year anymore.

Surge
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Can I have some lungs please miss
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One of the Arsenal NZ guys put a wee vid together from the cup final at the Fox (sadly we couldn't get any down here) and we got a shoutout/share from the club...

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2646951445622342

Keep an eye on our fb page (https://www.facebook.com/ArsenalFansNewZealand) too, we've got a couple of things coming up that might interest some/all of you. 

And on that note - I'm keen to try (again) to give it a bit of a kick in the guts in the next few weeks heading in to next season... will talk to a couple of Wgtn venues about what we might be able to do for derbys and other big games.

Starting XI
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over 11 years

Saw the club shared that last night, pretty awesome. Good luck with Wellington venues, am also keen to be involved.

Legend
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almost 17 years

Seems like a terrible move, PR wise at the very least. 

I guess I don't know the internal goings on but it just doesn't sit all that well does it. 

Surge
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Can I have some lungs please miss
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paulm wrote:

Seems like a terrible move, PR wise at the very least. 

I guess I don't know the internal goings on but it just doesn't sit all that well does it. 

Agreed... especially following the unexpected Europa income. It seems an odd decision, very poorly timed.
Starting XI
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over 11 years

Timing seems like they've tried to sneak it in while everyone is still drunk and celebrating watching FA Cup re-runs. Similar to the other season when they used the feel good factor of being top of the league to announce ticket price increases for the following season. 

It seems it's only going to cut about 3 million of costs, when we just got 3.6 million that couldn't have been accounted for by winning the cup. Not sure if confirmed but apparently Cagigao and the entire scouting department are gone. So is Kia essentially in charge now?

Marquee
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over 16 years
brumbys wrote:

Total side note from the world of transfers but has anyone purchased from these guys? I'm contemplating investing in a couple of retro options...

https://stellarkits.com/shirts/

Are they reproductions or original shirts? If they're original then they're priced quite well compared to ebay prices. I have all those Arsenal shirts apart from the bruised banana.

There was an ebay seller from Russia selling reproduction shirts from the 1987 League Cup final. They looked pretty good. I was tempted to get one. Had all the proper adidas badges and League Cup final badge and embroidery on it.

Legend
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15K
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almost 17 years

Seems like we've ditched scouting pretty much, in favour of our Academy + Kia and his tendrils. 

If it works, great, but if it doesn't it's a very stinky way to go about things. Just doesn't seem ethically good. 

I don't think Wenger would have wanted to be a part of a set-up like that, and that fact makes me cringe a bit. If there's one principle I always loved about Arsenal it was about being classy and trying to do things the right way. The way we are operating now doesn't seem to meet that principle. 

I know bashing Ozil over unrelated matters can be a kneejerk thing, but with what they have done, I can't help but wonder how that guy feels now, sitting at home on those wages, when he's probably getting more in a day than some of the sacked staff make in a year. If he has principles, he would call it a day and instruct his agents to allow us to sell/loan him. Yes we signed him and he's got a right to claim that money, but come on mate, you can see what it's doing now, things have changed a lot since that contract was signed and you have not lived up to it.

I'm never a fan of drawing direct correlations between the higher paid employees and the lower paid employees, as there's a lot more involved with that discussion than your average socialist arrogantly assumes, but in this case I think there is a case for making that correlation.

The FA Cup win apparently meant that the players' paycut went from 12.5% to 7.5%, so I don't really understand why the non-playing staff did not see any benefit from that windfall as well.

Marquee
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over 16 years
brumbys wrote:

Total side note from the world of transfers but has anyone purchased from these guys? I'm contemplating investing in a couple of retro options...

https://stellarkits.com/shirts/

Are they reproductions or original shirts? If they're original then they're priced quite well compared to ebay prices. I have all those Arsenal shirts apart from the bruised banana.

There was an ebay seller from Russia selling reproduction shirts from the 1987 League Cup final. They looked pretty good. I was tempted to get one. Had all the proper adidas badges and League Cup final badge and embroidery on it.

Yeah reproductions, not originals. Seem to have all the iconic badges and original brands stuff on there unlike what you can buy at the armoury.

Marquee
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paulm wrote:

I know bashing Ozil over unrelated matters can be a kneejerk thing, but with what they have done, I can't help but wonder how that guy feels now, sitting at home on those wages, when he's probably getting more in a day than some of the sacked staff make in a year. If he has principles, he would call it a day and instruct his agents to allow us to sell/loan him. Yes we signed him and he's got a right to claim that money, but come on mate, you can see what it's doing now, things have changed a lot since that contract was signed and you have not lived up to it.

This was my reaction too. I think this is his opportunity to win the fans back, even if he wants to still play offering to take a paycut to enable these jobs to be saved.

At the very least it would force the club to acknowledge that this isn't about money but about a new direction.

Marquee
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Sanchez to Inter confirmed.

Apparently United were still paying the bulk of his £500K+ package, and they've agreed to cancel his contract so he can move on a free.

If we get some money for Mhiki you'd think we ended up with the better deal there - or more aptly the lesser of two evils.

Starting XI
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over 11 years

Pleased to hear the players are upset by this and wanting answers given they agreed to pay cuts on the understanding it would mean no job losses. Also find it quite noticeable with an announcement like this that suddenly it's "your club" and no longer "our affairs."

Marquee
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ajc28 wrote:

Pleased to hear the players are upset by this and wanting answers given they agreed to pay cuts on the understanding it would mean no job losses. Also find it quite noticeable with an announcement like this that suddenly it's "your club" and no longer "our affairs."

Somewhere in Arsenal there is a communications manager who needs to be counted in the 55 heads, they've been getting this stuff wrong for wayyyy too long.

Marquee
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Looks like we're on track to spin up our latest venture, the Chelsea FC half way house. We take their ageing stars, give them one last pay day, and help them understand a different style of football to kick start their success moving behind the scenes of a football club after they retire.

Banter aside, I'm torn about Willian. He could be good, could be absolute dog shark. Here's hoping if we're offering 3 years they are heavily incentivised to off set the risk of his age.

Marquee
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over 16 years

Still pretty meh on Willian as a player and I'm definitely miffed by the cash we are supposedly throwing at him. 

A few other rumours floating about:

Torriera off to Torino - never quite made the grade so not to disappointed in this. But it only works if partley or someone else comes in

Matteo - everyone has gone quiet on him/nobody wants him. At this stage, he might be sticking around, which is interesting in itself. Maybe it will give him a chance to mend some bridges. 

Auba to sign within the week - still not sure how firm this is, but there is a lot of smoke about it

AMN - up for sale and offers are coming in, apparently one from sp*rs! bonkers.

Marquee
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So it looks like not being in Europe has actually done us a solid. Given those games are ongoing still it'll cost those squads a few weeks as they have to give their players at least 2-3 weeks holiday in one solid chunk at the end of the season.

You'd expect our guys went on holiday the day after the FA Cup final, so 2nd of August - back for pre-season 24th August, a full 5 days before community shield and 3 weeks before the EPL season starts.

You'd hope we smash our business right now so we can get on with that pre-season - but deals can drag into early October which isn't ideal.

Marquee
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over 16 years

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSIrKfmgR1s

Worth a watch, great analysis. 

Also, Ozil's come out strongly in the athletic saying he'd stay. Here's hoping the club manage to turn the situation around.

Marquee
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over 16 years

Good analysis and sugguestion of players. But "sensible transfers" and "arsenal" rarely go together.  

#1 Drupal Fan
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about 12 years
Hey folks, for site performance reasons we're splitting up some of the larger threads - so this one continues in Arsenal 2020/21

Thanks!
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