I don't want Sterling. If we are going to get rid of Sanchez, take the cash. Sterling is the captain of the September All-Stars.
He chose Man City apparently, so no need to worry on that front. Pep is really saving us from ourselves this week.
Wenger didnt do a good job at developing him. This feels more like a "Arsene, you may be wrecking my career" move than anything else. I think he could be good in a more rigid system and with proper coaching. It coulda been faster if he had a different coach at a younger age.
I'm gonna feel pretty melancholy about losing Ox. He's never been a consistent player for us but it's been apparent how much potential he's had, and how poorly he's been developed. That's obviously a theme with our squad of young players in general. I'd say also--I think Ox has passed the eye test for this calendar year, as well as the stats test. That is to say I personally don't think Knutson's analysis clashes with the player I've watched. On the whole he's been good, and he's taken on the Ramsey role of "doesn't hide in matches, even when we're getting smashed." I really can't blame any players that are trying to leave this club at this point. I just desperately want a new manager with modern ideas about...everything regarding a football club. There's not much that's more frustrating about an "innovator" who only disrupts one cycle of thinking, and then rests on his laurels for the rest of his career. That's what we have in Arsene. Having Sterling here will probably feed into his worst impulses as a player--think he probably needs structure like Ox does. Maybe it'll be enough chaos theory to keep us in the top 10 lol
+1 I've wanted Ozil to leave for 2 years because I like watching him play well! It's a tragedy he will waste his talents on this crap! I've said all along Ramsey and Wilshere are ruining their careers at Arsenal Ox is already 24 - he can make it but not if he stays He needs to learn his trade, from other elite players and with elite management - and NOT be injured all the time. The players have simply realised en masse what Nasri, Cesc and RvP realised.
Serious question: Sterling, Walcott or Welbeck? I disagree in that there were/are broader circumstances that make those you mention rather different. Arsenal was still a perennial CL club back then. Cesc left to return explicitly to Barcelona, otherwise by all accounts he was perfectly content here and used quite well. Nasri was wooed by big money and made what at the time was a lateral move. In effect he and RvP caused the demise they were foreseeing, meaning they well could've stayed and contributed to righting the ship just as easily.
And yet they didn't because Wenger could not convince them to stay. The dudes Mana has been running out
I'm pretty sure RVP and company are more symptoms of the problems that already existed at the club rather than a cause for what we are seeing.
RVP and Nasri left for three times the money guys. Wenger could have been Arrigo Sacchi crossed with Pep Guardiola, and it wouldn't have mattered.
I'm at a loss why any of the parties involved would want an Ox-to-Chelsea ... He's probably too important on Arsenals team, he's not good enough to be a starting 11 on Chelsea, and he's sure as hell aren't going to become better by sitting on their bench
But actually nothings changed RvP looked for any evidence the club was serious about signing elite players Liverpool have now secured better signings and may well spin the Cuntinho money into Lemar Arsenal are currently + in the transfer market
Are you guys seriously buying that guys like Nasri and RVP didn't leave for triple wages but instead left because of a lack of supposed ambition? You can't be that naive. We can criticize Wenger and the club for many reasons, but not blowing up their wage bill isn't a great argument.
It was pointed out on Arseblog that the strangest aspect is he was not offered a new contract - presumably because he was considered not good enough - then suddenly they tried to retain him Why? what a mess!
RvP would have got huge money had he stayed. He left to win stuff. The bottom line is the combo of Wenger+Stan is toxic I am convinced the only point of Wenger is to make Stan as much money as possible on the smallest outlay. That's now turned into fear of loss. Stan won't fund big moves because he can see he is in for some serious cash hits.