Let the rebuild start... Summer 2018 transfer thread

I get it. But AWs departure is a massive shift, so I have no problem with just trying to get the ship pointed in the right direction before igniting the afterburners. 60m signings are really risky when the manager hasn’t even unpacked.

I fully expect some more movement this summer, but I think it mostly depends on Jack, Ramsey and wellbecks contract situations. Unfortunately, the players may drag that out—I know Ramsey said he hasn’t spoken to Emery yet and Welbeck is at the WC.

Let’s not forget, Emery’s MO is that he adapts tactics/strategy to what he has. So I wouldn’t be shocked if after these clear defensive holes have been filled, we wait until January to spend some money—especially if we are on the cusp of CL.

 

Ya. I kind of agree. Depends a lot on the Danny/Wilshere/Rambo situations. All three are <1 year I think after the summer. Club will likely try to keep 1-2 of them bc homegrown. They may not want to stay though. That’s more than 300k/wk in limbo on top of any fees for two of them.

Don’t forget Perez and Campbell are still on the books. Wonder what Emery thinks of them.

 

They're on loan, so they don't count all that much towards this season's wage bill, and count against next season's if they come back.

 

Are we sure that the other teams are paying 100% of Joel & Lucas salaries?

 

Dont throw rocks at me but am i the only one okay in finding a way to trade/sell away Ozil for a good Winger or DM. If the rumours of making Ramsey the mid field focus are true?

I think it could ease a lot of the complexity in our squad formations etc.

 

I think he will slot ozil wide like he did neymar, who played more like a playmaker drifting dee and inside when not on the break. Plus his front three at PSG were always interchanging.

Assuming we get no forwards and no CMs.

PEA——Laca——ozil
Ramsey—xhaka—miki

If we are playing a good opponent, I expect he will switch a forward for another CM like elneny:

Ozil—pea—miki
Ramsey-xhaka-elneny

For better or worse, I expect Emery will adapt and try different things which is something we aren’t quite used to.

 

First and foremost, Sokratis will bring the steeliness needed to the Arsenal backline. He's rarely injured and he's tough as nails. He's got great athleticism. He's a great man-marker especially vis-a-vis tricky players like Salah or Pogba. But he does struggle against bigger players due to their sheer size advantage, like Lukaku. He's usually a very consistent player who can hold his teammates to higher standards, although he has seen a dip in form over the past year or so, which I believe is psychological and attributed to Dortmund's continuing decline and Greece's recent poor run. Physically he's still top of his game and I think he can give Arsenal 3-5 years of quality service, although 5 might be stretching it. I wouldn't call him inspirational, but he can lead a team and draw on teammates to gain confidence in the backline again, which I'm sure would be a huge boost of confidence to midfielders who love to attack.

Overall I think a new challenge at Arsenal will encourage him to play at a higher standard again. He's an improvement over what you're seeing now, no doubt about it. I'd rate him more highly than Otamendi if that should give Arsenal fans a relative idea of where your defense would stand after his signing.

 

Thanks for that. Thoughtful, informative, up beat. If we sign him I hope he does rise to the occasion like you believe he will, and that he will be an upgrade on what we have currently.

 

Lichsteiner will solve any issues about steel on his own. He can enforce an entire team, he's a prick of the highest order on the field, a brutal bastard...but we need some of that lately, so he helps. But man, if you guys hate Ramos and Costa, then you'll hate this guy. Though I'm sure we'll warm up when he saves us a handful of points next season. The guy is the definition of a no-nonsense defender. He will definitely raise the level of focus others need to have in practice and games or they will catch one of his patented elbows.

 

There’s a big difference between their c^nt and our c^nt. We need more bastards, so he is a welcome addition if that’s what he adds.

 

Apparently we're stealing away PSG's top youth prospect Yacine Adli. Will be pretty ironic if Emery's first transfer is a 17 year-old French attacking midfielder...

 

Looks like he’ll be a couple of years away, but the bonus is that if we keep him for a few years, man city will have a homegrown player.

 

YIkes! A steely enforcer is one thing, but "brutal bastard" a la Diego Costa. If you're right, then I'd personally pass on him. But is he really that bad?? I have a vague recollection of seeing Lichsteiner play in UCL in the past few years and don't recall any examples of his bastardinous. If we do sign him, then I guess I'll just wait with "baited breath".

p.s. I would be great to have legit cover at RB. IMO, Wenger gambled big time last season, and got lucky that Hector stayed healthy.

 

You learn something new every day! But the challenge comes when you have to unlearn something that you mislearned 30-40 years ago... sigh.

 

I think I get this joke lol

He played with the first team for PSG, and somebody said he was promised some level of first team time at Arsenal. We shall see

 

Someone just got "lawyered"

 

To be fair, we have had brutal bastards its just that we don't see it because they are on our teams. Vieira, Lauren and Keown, according to my mates, were total bastards.

 

Senator I knew Viera, Lauren & Keown.* Diego Costa is no Viera, no Lauren, no Keown. They were not brutal bastards.

*Somewhat obscure American political reference, co-opted.

 

Yeah, amazing how your perspectives about past administrations can change ain't it?

 

And we thought Arsene loved the bargain bin? I guess the average squad height is too great now that santi is off.