At the 6 spot, if we replace Partey/Jorge with Zubi/Partey, my question is about Partey. I understand the footballing reasons to do so, the injury risks he presents and to a degree the economics, but... what about the legal? If we stick with him, does that imply that the club thinks/knows that the legal case against him is virtually dead? Or that it's likely t be a settlement out of court rather than a trial/conviction? Because if the latter is still possible, then potentially losing him for legal reasons would seem to be a much bigger risk we'd be taking than potentially losing him due to injury. p.s. And this is putting the moral and ethical dilemma, regarding the accusations, aside for the moment. Which obviously can feel "wrong".
Team New & Tix says Sesko is the priority and Gyokeres is the backup plan, so looking forward to Mbeumo being introduced as the new 9.
Just Heard Adrian Clarke say on HBO podcast that Ted Knutsen says no to any of: Isak, Gyoketes or Sesko. Apparently he thinks there’s not enough value in either of them, compared to the risk. From that perspective, he likes Delap better. I’ve seen enough of Liam to say that I wouldn’t mind him on our team, but like the guys on the pod, it’s hard to see him as our primary/transformational CF.
I tend the agree. If I'm Arteta I would have to be thinking if I get one of these £100 and don't get it right, I'm out of a job. And I just don't see Gyokeres being 40+ g/a... But also I don't see that guy anywhere so maybe I'm getting that thing where everything isn't as good as the thing in your past
Seen some more discussion on this and it really doesn't make any sense, basically a bribe to keep him from handing in a transfer request and refusing to train? Will he pay it back if he plays poorly? It's also really hard to see them keeping Martinelli and Trossard and also buying a left wing. Shop Martinelli? Sign a right sided player like Mbeumo? What does that mean for Nwaneri? Play more at 8 or go on loan for experience?
Given the injuries we experienced this season, I can 100% see Arteta wanting 5 options at W. Thinkmy ideal scenario would be to bring in someone better that can ideally play both sides. Then have Saka, Marti & new guy be your primary W rotation with Nwaneri as a W/AM and a 5th option that can play W/ST or W/FB or W/CM. If Trossard is open to being that reserve/rotation peice then I guess keeping him for another year to delay a 2nd W purchase would make sense. Personally, I would sell Trossard and go for a u21 right-footer for that 5th option. No idea who that guy would be.
While Gyokeres, Sesko or Ekitike have risk and Isak will cost an absolute ton, I can see something in each of their games that allows me to see why Arteta would be interested. Admittedly I haven't watched a ton of Delap. What little Ive seen did not look like someone that would work with Arteta's tactics.
Big picture look at the summer window.... We've had one of if not the best GA for the last 2-3 seasons and #1 this season. Part of that is quality and part of that has been tactics designed to cover some deficiencies (Partey turnovers) in MF. What we need to get us over the hump is (a) keep GA about the same but (b) increase GF by 10+. Zubi in theory helps both categories. He is a bit better defensively and less prone to turnovers compared to Partey. That should allow MO and the Ws to play higher and have a greater impact on offense and ideally increase transition goals. After that we need to add ST & W depth that can help improve our GF against low & mid block teams. Of the current links I honestly dont know who would be best for that. My uneducated guess would be Rodrygo or Gittens (strong progressive carries and take ons) for W. Not sure for ST.
I don’t shop Martinelli. I’ve said this before, from an end product point of view, the only linked left wing that represents a significant upgrade on Martinelli is Rodrygo. There is no guarantee that any of the other left wings linked will provide more goal contributions in the Premier League than Martinelli has this season.
I don't follow a lot of Arsenal social media, so I don't know how much talk there is regarding Partey's legal troubles keeping him from playing. But I can't think of any media outlets reporting on any concerns about Partey's potential to be arrested in a long time. In the US, if there was a concern, the team would know, and he'd be gone. I get the UK has different laws and different economics, but the Kroenkees run multiple US based sports franchises. I feel like they made a decision on how to handle Partey's legal troubles long ago. Just my opinion. I'm more concerned about his injury record and age impacting his ability to help Arsenal next season.
I’m not seeing fees for Gyokeres anywhere near 100m. For the last week or more, his fee has been said to be 65-70M Euros, which is under 60M GBP. It’s still a lot of money, but not as big a gamble. and not interested in Delap unless we sign one of the other rumored strikers and Delap comes as surplus and reasonably cheap. Even Yanited, who need a striker more than we do, aren’t very excited about him.
People would have flipped out if our first signing was Huijsen but I don't think people realise how good the kid is going to be. Theres a reason we would go for him as a Saliba replacement if Real had gone for big Willy. I am glad we are open to opportunity purchases, and I think Rodrygo is in the same basket. A month or 2 ago he seemed disgruntled and he wasn't on our radar, but he is an immediate upgrade on our left side.
The issue with Sterling wasn't what we paid him, it was 2/10ths of ******** all, the issue was come January we couldn't loan in someone like Rashford for CF depth because we had two schmucks in Neto and Sterling as domestic loans.
I'd add this: Tim Lewis was a partner at Clifford Chance, and while I'm fairly certain he was not a litigator, he certainly has access to very good ones. So from a UK legal perspective, I'd guess the club has vetted the issue. The moral/ethical side of it still gives me the heebie jeebies, if I'm being honest.
Agreed, but I'd actually put more onus/blame on the Neto loan as being the dumb one, especially after he was already cup-tied. In hindsight, Sterling (playing wise) was a disaster, but I can understand the willingness to take a punt on a loan for him at that cheap of a cost.
This is what I meant by mentioning how sports teams navigate the law in the US. The Kroenkees know how to get information. The rules might be different in the UK, but the answers can still be found.
Florian Plettenberg started popping up on my algorithm. Not familiar with him, but he says Arsenal discussing Lookman.
Would suck for Wirtz to end up a pool but the bonus for us is that they were supposedly in the Rodrygo sweepstakes. Not likely they can pull Wirtz & Rodrygo in the same window.