Have to do something. We are currently 3 Sr players over the limit. So at the very least we must offload 3 players in the next 7 days. Prime candidates right now to be sold, loaned or termination of contract without needing replacement... Lucas, Campbell, Debuchy, Gibbs, Akpom & Santi (assuming he retires due to injury). Anyone else sold would likely need to be replaced for either depth or strength of squad purposes.
So it looks like the only business in the next week would be Mustafi out and VvD in, right? Along with maybe a couple sold/loaned.
If that happens it would be that plus offloading atleast 3 of the guys I mentioned above. We currently have 28 Sr players (21 or older) and on 9/1 we have to register a 25 man roster.
If true, then Arsene is shopping for a CM. But I'm not sure Seri provides the balance that Arsenal need in that position, his contribution appears to be top heavy on the offensive end (which makes him a Wenger target). For offensive and defensive balance in an 8, I think Goretzka would be a better choice.
By my count, we're at 24 players who are 21 or older (rule is age 21 at the beginning of this year). Homegrown players (ascending by age): Holding, Chambers, Bellerin, Ox, Mustafi (at Everton!), Wilshere, Welbeck, Coquelin, Ramsey, Gibbs, and Walcott Non-HG: Xhaka, Kolasinac, Elneny, Lacazette, Ozil, Perez, Alexis, Giroud, Monreal, Koscielny, Cazorla, Debuchy, and Mertesacker Iwobi doesn't count for this season because he turned 21 earlier this year. Looks like we can sign one more player if needed. Also have capacity to add foreign players, but will need to move someone (like Wilshere or Gibbs). Also, Debuchy is 32. He's unsellable. We could loan him out, but would probably have to pay a fraction of his wages to make him move.
Per the Guardian... Looks like you are missing Akpom, Cech, Ospina & Campbell. Plus Mustafi is not HG. Arsenal’s 28 senior players Goalkeepers Cech, Ospina Defenders Bellerín*, Chambers*, Debuchy, Koscielny, Mustafi, Mertesacker, Holding*, Monreal, Kolasinac, Gibbs* Midfielders Ramsey*, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain*, Elneny, Wilshere*, Cazorla, Coquelin*, Özil Forwards Sánchez, Lacazette, Giroud, Welbeck*, Walcott*, Campbell, Pérez, Akpom* Notable under-21 players Iwobi, Maitland-Niles, Nelson, Bielik, Reine-Adelaide *denotes homegrown player
You're missing a third goalkeeper. But Arsenal probably don't need to worry about registering either Cazorla or Campbell until the first of next year.
We have no other Sr GK on the roster so I ssume we are gonna use a U21 or recall Martinez if one or both of Cech & Ospina go down.
Wouldn't be apposed either. Little concerned though going into the season with Kos, VvD/Mustafi, Per, Holding & Chambers as our only natural CBs if we are going to continue with a 3 man back line. Don't wanna see Nacho or Kolo back there except in emergency. Would feel much better if our plan was to sell Gibbs and get VvD and then run with Kos, VvD & Mustafi as our starting CBs.
Argh - that's what I get for going off of ESPN. I think Mustafa is homegrown because of his time at Everton. We might end up not including Akpom and Campbell is the season's squad.
Ho-lee-shit... Telegraph reporting that we are offering Ox 180k/wk. Not that good, just sell his ass.
RE Mustafi... Per info on Wiki I would tend to agree with you but this convo is the 1st mention I have ever heard about him possibly being HG. I'm guessing there is a snag somewhere that killed his HG status.
I think you need to spend 3 years at a club/in a country to be homegrown. Mustafi joined Everton in May 2009 and left for Sampdoria in January 2012, so he didn't get to 3 years.
Because Ox is a wingback, not a fullback. It's not as bad for a wingback to be "caught out of position upfield". I don't want Ox playing as a fullback, and if we go back to four at the back we might as well sell him.
Yeah, this. If he turns back into crap, we're stuck with him for five years. Btw, Wenger out. There's only so much of this the fans ought to be indulging, and we hit our limit a looooonnng time ago.
Meh, give Ozil a raise if he wants one. Alexis doesn't want to be here, and I don't think money is going to change that.