Few notes from Charles Watts youtube...... - Doesn't see Gyokeres happening. Thinks the cost is too high. - Thinks that the proposed timeline (decision before Euros) likely makes Sesko the current #1 target for ST. - Doesn't see us making a big money (100m+) type signing this window. Thinks instead we will spread the money around to improve several positions. Believes we will still make some impactful signings just not huge money. - Cannot confirm the Kadioglu smoke. Says he is not hearing anything from any of his sources that confirms our efforts or interest. - Doesn't want to ESR go but thinks it may be in his best interest. Thinks Nwaneri will/should take his spot in the roster.
Would not be surprised at all if all 8 leave. But I'd be surprised if all are permanent moves. Loan with an obligation to buy could easily be a thing.
Andrew and James on the Arsecast said the same thing. This time last year everyone knew Rice was the target, and that same link isn't there this summer. Only way I can see it happening is if someone like Vini/Rodrygo/Valverde who isn't available right now shakes loose. But even then, I think that player likely goes to PSG, not Arsenal.
I could see And I'm ok with that. We only really need 1 starter this window but I don't think we need to spend 100m on that starter. We've been linked to several guys (some of which may no longer be options) that would cost 50-60m and would be good additions. The big dollar guys are fun to dream about but you don't need to spend like that to compete. Vini/Rodrygo/Valverde weren't always 100m players. Just got to have good scouts and good player selection instincts to turn those 20-50m players into 100m ones.
Perfect example..... we are constantly being linked to Amadou Onana from Everton. Everton is looking for 70-80m GBP. An alternative that is said to be available for 30m euro or less, Youssouf Fofana..... Look them up on FBref and look at their "Similar Players". Tell me which list you would rather sign from.
Agree. I like Fofana, though. He may never be much more than a squadie but I think he could be a solid rotational piece for both 6 & 8 at worst and given his age and the level of performance he has had at Monaco I think there is a decent chance he could be a strong contributor for us. Given the current market, snagging that for 25-30m euro would be a steal. The other I'd like us to take a flier on for about the same price.... Manu Kone.
Yeah, as I've mentioned here before (not that he's some expert) but Tom Canton from Gooner Talk has been touting Fofana since last summer---even before the Emirates Cup where he played well against us.
He is never available and Arteta doesn’t trust him. The ESR you were excited for was when Arsenal was on the ascent. We are near the pinnacle now and he isn’t good enough. Good luck to him.
Technically he was "never available" last year. This year (per TM) he was available for 40+ matches across all comps. Arteta simply chose not to use him.
Maybe, but he'd still be good depth. Arteta needs to rotate more and giving games to ESR, Nelson, and Vieira will help keep the likes of Saka, Rice, Odegaard, and Havertz fresh.
My thinking after last Sunday was basically this... We had relatively good luck with injuries this season While playing a relatively small squad, i.e. sticking w/ same XI a lot We played quite consistently, had one or two great runs, excellent results against the top 6, awesome GD, etc Pep is going to be at Citeh next season So, if we wanna take the title next season away from him, we probably need to: Increase the quality of bench depth, so that… Mikel can/does rotate more Sign at least one new elite starter… someone at the level of Saliba, Rice, Ode or Saka… ideally who can score goals, so maybe up front If we do all that, we have a decent chance. But I’m basically assuming that we won’t be able to repeat the same injury luck next year, so we have to compensate for that through our business this summer. And doing that business early, enabling a good preseason for all/most. Is that expecting too much? Or duh??
So then he wasn’t trusted Arteta needs to play players he trusts. He didn’t trust ESR like he didn’t trust Reiss Nelson and post-January Eddie Nketiah. None of those guys gave him a reason to trust them either.
Part of me thinks that if you gave Arteta 8 new world-class players this summer, by next April, he'd still be down to only playing 12-13 guys and not making subs until the 80th minute.
Arsenal had worse injury luck than you seem to have assumed. Timber basically missed the whole season, Partey was restricted to just 12 premier league appearances primarily through injury, Tomiyasu only had 22 league appearances, Zinchenko missed games partially due to injury, Jesus struggled with fitness all season long because of his knee. They finished where they did, because they had decent depth. They could absolutely use more depth, but hopefully if the docs can clean up Jesus’ knee and Tomi and Timber can stay healthy a significant portion of next season, they an help provide some of that additional depth.
Is he? I don’t think any of Reiss, ESR, or Eddie have showed literally anything in the minutes they got this year. When Eddie was playing at 9 it was frequently as if we were playing a man down in attack. If the level of play is going to go down that much when these guys come in, then there’s no real way that Arteta can afford to rotate with them. Not that that absolves Arteta of responsibility, because he re-upped these guys. Bigger picture: the unfair thing is we have to compare our bench quality and Arteta’s rotation habits to City and Pep, where they have literal 100M pound players on their bench. But it is what it is. We need more Trossard pieces—guys that aren’t going to bring the attack to a screeching halt if they get subbed on/rotated in.
Of course we did have some notable injuries but the most important and arguably irreplaceable starters stayed largely healthy: Saliba, Gabriel, Rice, Ode, Saka. OK Saka maybe not quite, as he seem to be carrying a knock or two for long periods, but he did play the vast majority of games. The main injuries we had were: at LB (and even without Timber for the season, we could come up with creative replacements, as you said); at 6 (but we had a credible veteran replacement there too… which was wise b/c Partey has been basically unreliable fitness-wise… I wrote him off); and perhaps at 9 (but that’s been a position of weakness IMO so the fact that Jesus was carrying an injury, didn’t end up being the most critical loss really, plus Mikel finally figured it out with Havertz) So from that POV, yes I still think we had a relatively lucky season injury wise. Teams like Newcastle and Liverpool were on the other end of the spectrum. This
@mebeSajid didn't mention Eddie, who oddly is the one player Arteta seemed determined to give every opportunity despite performances that didnt warrant it. Look at his minutes, he played a ton in the first third of the season. Middle portion he played less, but still got off the bench almost every match. Then he finally disappeared for the final run. Part of that is the Jesus injury but it seemed to go beyond that. Meanwhile he would let subs go unused with a 2 goal lead at home vs Bournemouth rather than throw ESR, Nelson or Vieira on.
Maybe Eddie played earlier more than later, because: (a) Jesus was our main striker and Mikel was using Eddie mainly to manage GJ’s minutes?; (b) Once Mikel figured out using Havertz there, and since he’s a bit of an ox, Eddie wasn’t really needed after that?; and (c) Eddie lost his mojo in training??
I always wonder what might have happened with ESR had he actually converted the 5-6 would be goals that got deflected or cleared off the line. Would have been harder to bench him if he was putting up stats innthe limited opportunities he received.
Esr is not quick enough to be a left forward or good enough defensively to be an 8 he’s a nice kid but needs to move we need another midfielder to play at the base and potentially a creator vieira is not that dude sadly unless he becomes hench the need for contributing forwards is pressing too. Martinelli and the lb combination really didn’t work this year but trossard was good. Hopefully he can regain form as he was important last season still wouldn’t mind a versatile striker who can play wide as Havertz has shown he can be the main guy