From the last 10 year’s experience of Arsenal’s transfer activity, we know that this is how it works ….
Most of the stories linking us to players or claiming we are interested in a particular player are either from web sites/journalists trying to garner hits, or from agents trying to manipulate the market = lies.
Often, when we are actually interested in a player, it becomes quite obvious from an early stage = Nasri, Holding, Xhaka.
Sometimes we do a last minute deal = Park, Ozil
I believe we made an offer for La Cazette about a month ago. West Ham subsequently offered more but reportedly (that word means probably a lie), La Caz wants CL football. He’s good, he’s an alternative to Giroud, he knows where the goal is, he’s French 🙂 …. what’s not to like?
‘Reportedly’ Lyon want £40m. So if that is the case, just pay the *&^%ing money and get on with finding us a top CB to fill the vacuum in our defence please Ivan/Arsene.
Don’t tell me it’s not that easy – I know it isn’t but other clubs are securing targets, we need to pull our fingers out and do the business.
Rasp ….. T In C
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Another season, another balls up by us! Tight-fisted, frustrating small club attitude.
Cheers, Rasp.
I was with you until the 40m bollix. Tongue in cheek, indeed. 🙂
Since when have negotiations been conducted in the tabloids or click bait sites. Anyone that believes they are conducted like that is a complete and utter moron.
Hi chas,
Did I write anything to the contrary? I refer my right honourable friend to paragraph 2 🙂 and to the use of the predefined word ‘reportedly’ at the start of the sentence mentioning the £40m.
This article is funny … they can’t even get Wenger’s age right …
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3710656/Ivan-Gazidis-insists-Arsenal-t-afford-outgun-competitors-Arsene-Wenger-claimed-spend-big.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Yes, they will pay the money as they always intended to. 🙂
The difference is that the first low bid forced Lyon to confirm at what price they’ll accept selling.
Any club arriving with a 1st 40m£ would have seen the price increase since they would have showed that they had no problem paying it, hence certainly able afford to be charged more and be fleeced.
That’s basic negotiation skills here…
40m would be a lot for a normal transfer window but, given how stupidly bonkers this one has been, it’s not that bad at all for a guy we can resell if needed in a few years.
cheers Rasp, you are right – no point haggling and time wasting, when was the last time we won the bidding war?
It’s a bit like buying a second-hand car now. I remember it used to be fun – you’d chat with the salesman, offer ridiculously low price, slightly increase it, he would decrease his price, etc etc in the end you’d end up happy thinking you’ve done a good deal.
It’s not like that anymore. They publish car prices on internet and won’t lower them. I have already missed out on a couple of nice cars hoping for a great bargain. No, great bargains no longer exist, you get what you pay for. Same for my second hand car, same for footballer
And ice-cream – never buy Tesco’s own brand, yukkie
Why spend £40M on unproven star like Lacazette when Arsenal have already a world-class proven year-in-year-out striker in Giroud? Giroud guarantees you a minimum 16-goals a season. Walcott is a good option.
Can’t see the club willing to spend that kind of money on another mediocre player like Lacazette. Wenger will stick to his plan on waiting Welbeck coming back in December like a new signing, and of course, playing Walcott in the middle if Giroud is having a barren spell.
Olympique Lyonnais and its CEO/owner, Jean-Michel Aulas, has never (if ever) done business with Arsenal for the last 20 years, as long as Arsene Wenger has been manager. There might be some bad blood remaining between Aulas and Wenger when the latter was still with Monaco which carried on today.
Arsenal’s dealings with French clubs while under Wenger’s management (what I could gather):
PSG(Anelka), Marseille(Pires, Nasri), Bordeaux(Wiltord, Diawara, Chamakh), Montpellier(Giroud), Lorient(Koscielny), Lille(Cygan, Gervinho), Monaco(Grimandi, Petit, Adebayor, Park), Auxerre(Diaby, Sagna, Sanogo), Bastia(Song), Nice(Ospina), Cannes(Clichy), Lens(Reine-Adelaide), Arles-Avign.(Bennacer)
No Lyonnais, among the bigger clubs.
Aulas is a shrewd businessman in the same mold as Spur’s Daniel Levy. In those 20 odd years, Lyonnais and Aulas have sold their star players for big money to other clubs (even smaller ones), just not to Arsenal:
Essien and Malouda(Chelsea), Benzema and M.Diarra(Real Madrid), Abidal, Edmílson and Umtiti(Barcelona), Lloris and N’Jie(Spurs), Pjanic(Roma), Marlet and Malbranque(Fulham), Ben Arfa and Luyindula(Marseille), Toulalan(Malaga), Lovren(Southampton), Giuly(Monaco), Rémy(Nice) etc
Therefore, there is -100% chance of them selling any of their current players to us. Not Lacazette, not Fekir, not Ghezzal, not Gonalons, absolutely zero.
Maybe the deadlock would cease if either one or both of Aulas and Wenger were not at respective clubs in future.
The club’s new striker search (if really any at all) has to be elsewhere.
Excellent, fresh page, thanks Rasp
I think the Art of Master Level Dooming is to never mention figures. Two reasons, one is egg nearly always ends up on face, and the other is who cares? 🙂
I do get seduced by high valuations, however it’s silly really, as I’ve almost never heard of, or seen, the wretched players anyway.
Sorry, Rasp, my second paragraph wasn’t aimed at you.
(I realise you were just reeling in those who are a few sandwiches short of the full barbecue)
No worries Chas 🙂
Hi Micky, La Caz is a very good striker without doubt, and it may just be that none of the other big hitters are in for him – but I would imagine there is a long way to go on this one.
Sometimes I despair
I know there’s a desire for Arsenal to just cough up the extra 10 so million but it’s just not as easy as that in my opinion. As soon as we show we’re willing to pay way over our estimation for players then that’s going to be an extra 5/12/15 million for every transfer as selling clubs will know we’re willing to give in.
I know united have a reputation for getting transfers done but I’m sure I remember an article that suggested United constantly had to over pay for players because selling clubs know they’ll do it.
With unlimited resources it’s not such a problem, but for a club like Arsenal, significantly overpaying for one player, is going to have a significant knock on effect on lots of future transfers.
I didn’t know about Lyons seeming aversion to Arsene/Arsenal. That’s quite interesting.
kelsey on July 27, 2016 at 2:43 pm
LYON have told ARSENAL they will have to pay £40m plus bonuses to sign striker Alexandre Lacazette….
To me that is pretty clear.Direct from club to club.
Are you being serious here Kelsey? No wonder you get frustrated with our transfer dealings.
It frustrates the life out of me and fellow Gooners with the laqsidaisicial approach shown year in year out by Wenger looking for a bargain. The CEO pleading poverty when the cash reserves Arsenal held equated to 75% of the leagues at one point.
What puzzles me is why the business is done so late (if at all) prevening the player from fitting in and hitting the ground running from day one of the season.
Seriously, just identity the targets, make a reasonable bid and get the deal (s) done you bunch of useless overpaid muppets.
I don’t care who Arsenal sign. I only care who Arsenal don’t sign.
Disgruntledly yours,
True AFC FAN!
Nothing will happen on the transfer front until we are back from America. The club always look for value in transfers which is why they tend to negotiate the price. Why pay £40m when you can get him for £35m?
I still believe we will sign a ST and a CB and I’ve no doubt the club are doing the work in the background. Arsenal fans are easy to wind up right now so printing articles about us not paying fees or missing out on players is easy bait for the press. The real facts will be visible once the window has closed and we’ve got some shiny new toys wearing Arsenal shirts.
Quote: ‘Nothing will happen on the transfer front’
Headline: FGG is now a DOOMER!!!
Besides, we all know for a fact that Mahrez and Arsenal are both in California right now and we’ll announce his signing during the All Star game by bringing him on at half time 🙂
shard – drugs kill. go easy on the stuff
Shard 😂
Drugs don’t kill people. People kill people.
Red Top “news” headlines are like self fulfilling prophecies to doomers – they believe every word that is printed and then repeat the “news” over and over and over again.
I’m in a quandary wondering how they can consider themselves to be “supporters” when all they do is tear our players and management based on their own negative viewpoints.
I think they should form their own site and call it “Trophy Hunters Anonymous” because IMHO that is what they really yearn for but they will never admit it.
“Why pay £40m when you can get him for £35m?”
Good god man what are you thinking? Next thing we know, you will be suggesting we do something as outrageous as negotiate.
I am never quite sure if Kelsey really believes what he writes. I am cautious of being drawn in because part of me thinks that one day he is going to write: do you lot really think I am that stupid.
wally
Perhaps you should present a business plan to Arsenal. After all, our valuation as a club and our sponsorships have been stagnant since 2006. Arsenal clearly have no idea how to operate in the current business environment where throwing away an extra 5m is not only insignificant, it is desirable. That is the path to success. Arsenal are clearly stuck in the old days.
Nice Rasp
I don’t see a problem? I thought we had spent money? If only someone had let me know we got Granite for free? This would have eased my guilty conscience. I have money, but every day I walk into my local newsagent and whilst indulging Ahmed with some witty repoirtee I nick something. He must think cadburys creme eggs have magical disappearing qualities.
You see Rasp, Ahmed laughs with his eyes closed. He is particularly amused by my jokes about the Azerberjan/ Armenian conflict. Funny what people laughter at isn’t it?
The way some people bang on about transfers its as though the world is coming to an end.? I myself have this recurring dream that whilst Barry McGuire is belting out “Eve of Destruction”, I am reluctantly pushed out of a helicopter to face the Viet Cong dressed only in slippers and pipe.
In the midst of the hellish fire fight, I find a deck chair and observe the combatants closely. They are obviously frustrated at a lack of big money signings and negative football, so whilst tormented by the offside trap, are forced to indulge in a pointless asiatic war.
In other words, it’s all Mourinios fault.
Thanks for a new post, Rasp. Scrolling for an hour was a pain in the Arse!!
‘Spend the money. It’s insignificant. If you win you more than recoup the expense. You sell more merchandise, the value of the sponsorships goes up, advertising revenue goes up, the value of the franchise goes up. Players want to come play for you based on your success. It’s a win-win-win result’.
I agree with a lot of this. It sounds completely reasonable when put like that. But that’s the absolute best case scenario. There’s also the possibility of spending hundreds of millions and winning nothing, depleting your resources and increasing the wage bill in the process.
I’m all for Arsenal spending money. But once it’s spent it’s gone. And as a club surviving on it’s own money, I can understand those in charge being cautious. Hopefully not too cautious though. 🙂
LB: getting warm 😉
A garda pulls over a speeding car. He says, “I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir.” The driver says, “Are you sure? I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating.” Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: “Now don’t be silly dear, you know that this car doesn’t have cruise control.” As the garda writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, “Can’t you please keep your mouth shut for once?” The wife smiles demurely and says, “You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did.” As the garda makes out the second ticket for the illegal use of a radar detector unit*, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, “Woman ,didn’t I tell you to keep your mouth shut!” The garda frowns and says “And I notice that you’re not wearing your seat belt, sir. That’s an on the spot 60 euro fine. “The driver says, “Well, you see sir, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket.” The wife says, “Now, dear, you know very well that you didn’t have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you’re driving.” And as the garda is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, “WHY DON’T YOU PLEASE SHUT UP??” The garda looks over at the woman and asks, “Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma’am?” Smiling sweetly, she replies. Only when he’s been drinking, sir.”
It wasn’t giroud or higuain. It was higuain or suarez. And as it turned out, it was ozil.
I cheer for Arsenal. Sorry that’s such a problem for you.
Napoli spent the extra £5m though and he scored tons of goals for them. What did they win whilst he was there bringing all the success?
Sky saying Szscesny back on loan at Roma with £13.4m option to buy next season.
Our season kicks off on Aug 14th against Liverpool and whatever team we manage to cobble together I will behind them 100% just like I have been in every game since Nov 22nd 1947 – well over 2,500 gamesm on .
A real supporter will being watching the game and acting as our 12th man by cheering the team on and doing their best to roar the team on to victory.
On the other hand doomers will be watching the game looking for opportunities criticize the team and the manager – after all they always know better – especially after the fact.
I’m sick and tired of those who beat the drums of doom – basically the trophy hunters.
Waldo,
Would you pay over the odds if it were your money??
3 cheers for administration!
FGG,
What did I miss??? Please tell……………
GN5 /Shard
Praise be! Doomers of the World unite……preferably somewhere a long way away.
waldo
If the worst you can accuse someone who isn’t frothing at the mouth about Arsenal is cheering for fourth, then maybe…just maybe.. your level of agitation is disproportionate?
I would love Arsenal to sign better players, but come on. Look who we HAVE signed since the new shirt and sponsor deals came in. Could it be better. Of course, when is that ever not true?
But what annoys me is people presuming to tell Arsenal how to grow their business without an acknowledgment that Arsenal have been the best at that over the past 20 years (I am excluding oil clubs. Since I said business)
Seriously. Name me one club whose profile and finances have steadily grown over the past 20 years more than Arsenal’s. Just one.
And people need to understand what Gazidis is talking about when he’s laying out Arsenal’s vision. They can disagree with it, but first they should understand, instead of just reacting with anger and scorn. When he says Arsenal can’t make it a competition of the wallet because they will lose, he is stating fact. But this fact is based on a policy. He’s not saying we don’t have the money to sign a player we want even if it means competing for him. In fact, find that one difference maker who will take us to the title, and I bet you Wenger and Arsenal will be after him. But as a policy we cannot overpay for players. Why? Because our money in the bank is a one time thing. It is not a source of income.
I can afford to buy a Mercedes. But once I buy one, that money is gone, and I do not have the income to then sustain myself at the level I want. And if I still do decide to buy a Mercedes, I better be damn sure it is the real thing and not a kit car with counterfeit engine and parts. I have to be CAREFUL with spending money. Just like Arsenal.
Why is this so hard to get?
Arsenal do not operate like other big clubs. Arsenal have reached on the cusp of joining the elite clubs on the basis of this policy. You may argue that the policy needs some update NOW, but the argument always seems to be that ‘it’s not working, so something needs to change’ Wrong. It has been working. The second part may or may not be correct. That is debatable. I might even agree with you. But when the starting point is how terrible and stupid Arsenal are and have been, then you aren’t debating that point.
GN5 /Shard praise be!
Doomers of the World unite……preferably a long way away!
It’s like watching children outside a sweet shop screaming at their mother.
I want an ice cream, I want an ice cream, over and over again.
LBG
When fans of Manchester United were upset and angry at their ownership (during trophy laden years I might add), they got together and started their own club.
I wonder why those that are always fuming about anything that Arsenal do, don’t follow the same model. Where is their ambition?
Shard
Far too intelligent a thought for most!
Much clearer for me! Let them go forth and multiply…….all together on a different site.
chocolate ice cream!! chocolate ice cream!! we want chocolate ice cream!!!!
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong on trial with Sporting Kansas City – now, that was a spectacular hero to zero career
Well said Shard.
Interesting that Gazidis has said the club will be investing heavily in the youth this year. £20m I think he said. With the oil rich clubs sniffing round playgrounds for talented players it makes sense that the way to compete in future will be creating your own talented bunch. People will argue this failed for us before but previously we couldn’t pay the wages to keep these lads at the club. I think now we are in a position where we can offer competitive salaries and if we can create a nucleus of young talent then that will be our best option going forward. If we are not willing to risk the future of the club to compete on the transfer market (which is fair enough as far as I’m concerned) then we need to find a way of creating our own superstars.
shard – why are you accusing us doomers of lacking ambition? It is you who has no ambition and is happy with finishing in first 4 and FA cup every now and then. We doomers want the EPL cup and the CL trophy. We are very ambitious and do not see why we are not wining major trophies anymore. There is more money than ever, all the fan fair attractions to lure top players and keep the team happy, a huge fan base, a billionaire owner. So what is missing? I guarantee you that Maurinho, love him or hate him, will win a major trophy for United this season. He knows how to win trophies, Wenger doesn’t.
great idea, investing more in youth. Look at Frimpong, how many years he was on our payroll?
I thought the whole idea of AA was for different opinions and if something is said that others don’t agree with one is called a doomer.
i have always been consistent in my views and even AW has said it takes time for new players to bed in so why do practically all our negotiations take forever and more often than not we lose out., and then a scramble at the last minute.
Why do some players chose to go to clubs not in the CL this season as opposed to us when the money alledgedly offered isn’t that much more than we offer.It proves money rules all with all top players and agents.
I an understand the 3.5 million small gamble on two players maybe for the future but no guarantees as they aren’t any with big money signings.
Anyway there is a growing number of people who feel like I do and kindly refrain from calling us doomers.At least we write as we speak not like some who say something verbally to another friend/supporter but actually write the opposite on print.
do you want some ice cream Kels? 🙂
shit, Cesc was red carded for a shocking challenge, what an idiot, it was supposed to be a friendly game
Eddie,
Invest in youth and get some Frimpong’s or blow millions on transfers and get some Gervinho’s?
Choose your poison.
That’s too easy FGG
Bloody loved Gerv The Swerve 🙂
Morning all.
It proves money rules all with all top players and agents.
Kelsey
Who has ever argued otherwise? Money is probably the most important factor in where professional players choose to play. It is their job after all. It is NOT the only thing however.
But as to why the CL matters. Money!
Being in the CL allows clubs to spend more money. This is now a fair bit less important because the English TV deal makes the difference smaller. (Difference between 30m and 60m is more significant than difference between 100m and 130m. This is why the CL is planning to change format too. To get bigger TV contracts and stay more important than the PL) So partly, this will explain why non CL clubs can now sign good players.
CL is also important because playing in the CL gives players the opportunity to earn more money. How? They are playing in the premier competition in the world. This means more in image rights and sponsorships. Apart from that, there is perhaps the chance to showcase yourself against the best in the world and earn a bigger contract/move. (And non-money issue, professional pride)
Clubs like Chelse and ManU can spend enough money to overcome the other reasons to not play for non CL clubs. Arsenal can’t (or can’t as easily)
Besides, I presume you are talking about Mkhitaryan and Kante. Mkhitaryan is being paid somewhere between 180-250k pw and there is no way we’d pay him that much, and I doubt we were ever in for Kante once we bought Xhaka. Where does the idea come in that he chose Chelsea over us? How is any of this Arsenal’s ‘failing’?
Well, that post had the desired effect! 🙂
All we need now is a few resignations and it’s complete. Hehe
go on then chas, resign and promise never to blog on AA again 🙂
fattie – we need a nerd to do the stats – how much did it cost us bringing up Frimpong vs how much we paid for Gerv. I think Gervinho scored more goals than Emanuel did
Eddie
Simply wanting something isn’t ambition. Only one side accuses the other of lack of ambition in this ‘debate’ anyway. And that is nonsense. We all want the same thing. The disagreement is only about how best to achieve it.
Besides, I wrote ambition because if people are so frustrated with the ownership/board/managerial policy that Arsenal won’t/can’t act like ManU, then why don’t they follow the ManU example of fans going from being johnny nobodies to owners of a club where they can be decision makers. #Ambition
Eddie
I actually just looked up the Gerv numbers
We bought him for £10
Sold £8m
Roma then sold him to China for £15M
Eddie,
Both methods have their pluses and minuses but in a world where there are 7 or 8 other clubs with far more resources than us who are pushing up prices and paying crazy fees for youngsters who’ve had 1 decent season then I think it makes sense to try and develop our own talent.
FGG
Couldn’t/shouldn’t we do both ie pay the top end fees (200k per week to say three players, get rid of two or three overpaid deadwood players wot get shoehorned in, and promote yer Iwobis, Jeffs and Chubas to more game time in cup comps.
The numbers would balance out to be the same
Personally, given the type of football I think we’re trying to play, and with additions of Elneny and Xhaka, I’d happily swap a Ramsey and a Theo for one Hazard or Mickyterrain 🙂
ambition
amˈbɪʃ(ə)n/Submit
noun
a strong desire to do or achieve something.
“her ambition was to become a pilot”
synonyms: aspiration, intention, goal, aim, objective, object, purpose, intent, plan, scheme, mission, calling, vocation, desire, wish, design, target, end, dream, hope
“her ambition was to become a model”
desire and determination to achieve success.
Stated aim: Arsenal to be one of the top clubs in the world both on and off the field.
What Arsenal have done: Leveraged their standing as one of the best teams in the league to finance and build a new stadium, which has allowed them to increase their financial standing among the top 5 or 6 clubs in the world.
Ensured that they don’t fall off the cliff and remained competitive despite the growth of oil clubs just when their own spending was curtailed.
Started to keep best players, buy great players and winning trophies again.
State aim to continue down this path that has got them so far, while acknowledging both the realities and the frustrations along the way and for the future.
What (some) fans have done: Scream ‘Trowphies’, ‘spend some effing money’, and ‘ambishun’, while groaning, booing and abusing the people they are supposed to support.
So who has shown more ambition?
micky
Those are quite complex calculations requiring a bit more than just a back of an envelope to carry out 🙂
A club as obsessed about value as Arsenal will already be doing those calculations.
ha ha ha shard, so ambition is a strong desire to do or achieve something 🙂 and you said that just wanting something is not an ambition
bollix to the new stadium argument! The stadium has probably paid for itself by now. Plus we have a billionaire owner.
WE.HAVE.AS.MUCH.MONEY.AS.ANY.OTHER.WEALTHY.CLUB.
The difference is that our money goes to the shareholders and Kroenke’s ranch. And you Mr Shard saying that is fine and dandy is beginning to irritate me. I might have to resign.
Morning all 🙂
Chas, everyone was skirting around the point and so I thought I’d just allow the debate to take place then we can get it out of the way and move on hopefully.
I have to agree with Kelsey about the label ‘doomer’. It was one of the first I put in room 101. For some it is used with an air of affection and for others it is a condemnation – not necessary in my opinion.
Micky,
I would say we are doing both, but it still doesn’t seem enough for some. We’ve bought Özil, Sanchez, Cech, Welbeck, Xhaka etc in the last few seasons whilst at the same time bringing through Bellerin, Coquelin, Iwobi etc. I suppose it could always be better, but I don’t believe it when people say the club are doing things wrong or lack ambition. Why does money spent = ambition? I don’t believe it does.
Eddie, I don’t think Stan creams off any/much of the profit – he doesn’t need to, the escalation in the share value has made his ‘investment’ grow admirably.
I agree with you, we do have money and we could spend more if we choose – but we don’t. It is a conscious policy that the club doesn’t hide = Gazidis yesterday.
I would prefer it if we were more speculative with our money, but I don’t make those decisions 🙂
The difference is that our money goes to the shareholders and Kroenke’s ranch.
Nonsense Eddie. Arsenal don’t pay dividends. Much to Usmanov’s chagrin.
We actually have MORE money in the bank than any other club in the world. (We also have higher debt payments than many of them)
We do not EARN as much money as perhaps 5 or 6 other clubs.
We can be outspent by clubs who earn nothing but rely on their owners. (which we don’t)
And yes, wanting something isn’t ambition. It is a desire to ACHIEVE something. A kid wanting a chocolate ice cream isn’t displaying ambition. If he gets out and gets a job to pick up some pocket money so he can buy that ice cream, then he’s displaying ambition. Because he DID something towards ACHIEVING that goal.
Shard
Sure it’s more complex than that, but the gist of my point is reasonable.
Our overall wages are high, but Arsene chooses the distribution, and it’s that bit I think is worth re-considering.
The semantics surrounding ‘ambition’ … hmmmm, you’re on dodgy ground there Shard, I think you’ve given your personal definition.
The generally accepted concise definition of ambition when used as a noun is …. a strong desire to do or achieve something.
FGG
You say “Why does money spent = ambition? I don’t believe it does”
I happen to agree with you, however, into that equation must go money earnt, and we have a surplus.
My main beef is our wage structure, because I do believe we could afford the last pieces of the jigsaw without upsetting other players.
Clearly we could afford Sanchez, Mesut, Kos, +1 to be on top wack wages, it would simply mean less in the middle, and therefore more promotion/opportunities for youth/homegown
Rasp
Don’t bin words, I like the cloudy merkyness surrounding doom and ambition 🙂
A Purist doesn’t give a shit about top four or trophies, just goals and excitement. A Purist has ambition AND dooms 🙂
Rasp,
That sums up my feelings too. I’d love it if we spent £200m on players every window, it would be great fun, but I accept that the club is being run in a way that protects its future. I don’t have much of an issue with that although certain things could always be improved.
micky
I don’t disagree. I think Gazidis even said a few years ago that they are constantly assessing that distribution and the value they get from it.
Wage distribution is a common and widely understood issue in US sports, where a wage cap means you have to evaluate how much you pay your star player(s) and how much goes towards paying the supporting cast around them.
Arsenal do not pay their best players as much as some other clubs (with higher resources) do. Can we? Perhaps in an exceptional case (like we paid Henry and later Fabregas more than our self imposed wage cap) As a policy, no.
I think our current highest wage stands at around 150-160k/wk. I could see it going up to around 200k in the near future. Perhaps even a little higher. Will this allow us to get a much higher calibre of player? Unlikely. Because just as we can increase what we pay with the new TV deal, so can our rivals.
Also, by paying that much as policy, ManU for instance, often pay top tier wages for Tier 2 (or 1.5) players. So just because they pay those wages doesn’t mean they get players that are necessarily better than ours. (As we can see with Ozil and Alexis)
Basically, I think Gazidis is spot on that we cannot make it our policy to compete on purely money terms with certain other clubs. We’ll lose out if we do that. Hence our need to search for value (and the next big thing) Even if it costs 300k/w to keep 10 young players, even one of whom becomes a star, it’ll still mean Arsenal have a greater chance of winning (because 1. We’ve already bought that star. and 2. Because we also have a supporting cast)
🙂 OK Micky, you carry on being an
out and proud member of the P.A.D. brigade 🙂
Yep FGG. If we can’t change it, and it’s not going to change, then we have to just accept it and move on I say.
Shard
you are far too intelligent for me to debate with you but hope your knee is better.
Rasp
I bloody well will. Pure and Proud 🙂
Shard
Ooo, we nearly agreed. Gazidis was right at the beginning of your comment, then wrong
“Basically, I think Gazidis is spot on that we cannot make it our policy to compete on purely money terms with certain other clubs.”
We can live more in the here and now though. We can afford three players on 180-200, just not 175 players on 70k pissing about not playing or improving
Thanks kelsey. I hope you are doing well too 🙂
Micky, last para. I don’t know about the figures, but I agree with the sentiment.
My point was that raising our ‘wage cap’ may not necessarily lead to us obtaining a higher calibre of player, whilst it could affect our ability to have a good supporting cast.
But I agree in terms of going into ‘Win now mode’ (Another term from US sports where they accept that a team will go through phases of winning and not winning) Arsenal can definitely afford to do that and they should.
Agreed Rasp,
Best just to get behind the boys. All the calls for Wenger to leave are pointless as all that will happen is the club will hire another manager who can operate under the same restrictions and buys into the self sustaining ethos.
It’s not all doom and gloom anyway. New season starts soon and I still think we can challenge if we get a CB and a ST which I still expect us to do.
“Francis Coquelin has revealed that he has been playing at centre-half in Arsenal training during the club’s current injury crisis.
The Gunners face a dilemma this summer after Per Mertesacker was confirmed to be out for “some months” by manager Arsene Wenger on Wednesday.
The German suffered a knee injury in pre-season, and his absence, combined with that of the rested Laurent Koscielny and the ill Gabriel, leaves the club short of options at the back.
Calum Chambers is their senior recognised central defender, with Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal the current alternatives. Their Premier League season begins in little over a fortnight.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official Snapchat account on Wednesday, midfielder Coquelin confirmed that he has been training in defence.”
Good old Wenger saving money and playing yet again a player out of position Now if Coquelin says this it could also be a master move but deep down I think we all know we need a real physical commanding tall CH not a guy who was recalled from being on loan in an emergency.He is Ok but for a team near the top we need better.
If true (here comes the doom) Wenger is acting as if the club is skint :).
Bingo Shard. It’s a deal 🙂
In my usual back of a fag paper way, give me the first team squad and their wages, a large red felt tip marker, one minute and I’ll solve everything 🙂
Kelsey,
Wouldn’t read much into that. Wenger has already said he’s looking for an experienced CB. They’ve only taken Chambers and Holding as CB over to America so I would imagine if they are having a training match then someone has to fill in.
Micky,
http://www.totalsportek.com/money/arsenal-player-salaries/
Get the red pen out!
Take out Debuchy, Diaby, Arteta, Flamini and Rosicky and that’s £350k a week!
A little worrying that Kos has 1 year left and is on £60k a week. Hopefully £100k will see him sign a new contract. Obviously got a few players missing off the list like Elneny and Xhaka, and I think Bellerin re-signed, but other than that we should still have a good £200k left in wage bill space. Some for new signings and some for the Özil/Sanchez negotiations.
fgg
I’ve heard some conflicting reports regarding Kos’ contract. There’s the above figure and length, and then there’s reports that he’d signed a further 2 year extension and so his contract runs till 2019. Probably paid closer to the 100k mark too.
I’m not sure, but I think I also remember Monreal signing a new contract last season. Might be wrong though.
FGG
Blimey, this is easier than I thought. I’m only 20 seconds in to my allocated 1 minute and I’ve already saved £660k per week.
Ok, I’ve got to up some wages, and give some to Iwobi and Jeff, but still I’ll easily get my 200k man 🙂
Ok, and Xhaka and Elneny, but still easy 🙂
haha micky. I can imagine that Arsene would have had much the same glee when he did those calculations at the start of the season. 🙂
Arsenal overtake Chelsea as London’s most valuable Premier League club, according to Forbes’ 2016 sports team list,
The biggest mover in the top 50 is Stan Kroenke’s Arsenal squad, which rose 13 spots to No. 23 with a value of $2.02 billion.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2016/07/13/dallas-cowboys-head-the-worlds-50-most-valuable-sports-teams-of-2016/#3890eea26bd7
I’m on a different time-zone so my comments are a bit late but Arsenal must be doing something very right if in the last 3 seasons we’ve won 2 FA Cups, just finished 2nd in the EPL (the win will come) and now the club is becoming more valuable each year whilst the likes of Manure have over the years gone backwards, from 1st to 5th. Plus we have Ozil, Sanchez etc. Xhaka is looking world class etc. I remain on the optimist side.
I don’t want to rattle GoonerB’s cage, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Xhaka play his first game (out of position 🙂 ) at CB.
“I don’t want to rattle GoonerB’s cage”
Why not? 🙂
good question micky!
guess what nationality is Shkodran Mustafi, apparently our target
Welsh?
Oh boy,
It’s only 6.25am here are it looks like I missed out on a lively discussion.
GN5 definition of a doomer =
1.Someone who constantly looks for what is wrong vs what is right.
2. Someone who justifies negative comments by saying my views have always been consistent = confirmed and entrenched doomer.
3.Someone who looks for hidden meanings in innocent comments.
4.Someone who believes and repeats as gospel Red Top headlines.
5. Someone who knows all the answers – after the fact.
6. Someone who repeats the same negative argument using different phraseology.
That enough to get me in trouble…………
I may lose my internet any second as I’m moving to a new home today.
You’ll get your chocolate ice cream Eddie when Arsene is good and ready, now stop whinning or you’ll be on the naughty step.
Gn5,
Would i pay up? Certainly. If wenger is only going to add only players better than what he has and he’s made a bid for this guy. Clearly he believes lacazette can make the team better, and in a position of need.
It’s very straight forward.
Wenger believed that Vardy would improve the team and put in a bid that appeared to have been accepted. The thing is, as we now know, is that Vardy decided that he did not want to play at the home of football.
So things were not straight forward, in fact they were far from it.
Shard,
Save the drama and hyperbole for the pub stories.
Could it be better of course. And i well and truly understand that we can’t get everyone. And i understand that simply spending money doesn’t guarantee a championship.
Now a couple points.
If wenger is only adding talent that is better than what we have one presumes that a bid for lacazette means he believes that he can meaningfully help the team. There is no calculus that enables you to say that he can only help the team if we pay 30mm but at 40mm he’s not helping us or he’s not helping us as much. If we’re only willing to pay 30mm wenger is saying he’s not that sure that lacazette can help us, that he may turn out to be a bust (a jeffers or wiltord as it were). In essence wenger doesn’t trust, isn’t sure, of his own judgement about the player. That doesn’t jibe with what we’re being told about adding only better talent does it.
As to gazidis’ comments I find them disingenuous. We may not be able to pay 100mm for someone like pogba but the notion that we can’t afford mistakes is irrational. On the one hand he, kroenke, the board have supreme confidence in wenger and they don’t trust wengers judgement on players (can’t afford a mistake). Which is it?
No you can’t sling money around like it’s payday on every player but this is a supremely profitable club that as you rightly point out has grown it ‘s revenues massively over the last 10 years. We’re the the 8th most valuable football franchise in the world, IN THE WORLD!
This notion that we need to be cautious, that we can’t afford mistakes, doesn’t jibe with reality.
And while the money once spent is gone there’s a boat load coming in again next week and the week after and the week after…..This image of penuriousness that gazidis is selling is rubbish and every team out there knows it.
And finally, we’ve been on the cusp for how long now?
Like every operation that is successful and grows bigger your processes have to evolve to accomodate and maintain that growth. If they don’t evolve you stay where you are and don’t move to the next level. That’s where we are at and where we’ve been. Too long in my opinion. Not everyone agrees with me, I get that. i don’t begrudge you that opinion.
I want to see this team push on. The players, from their own comments want to see the team push on. Management needs to do more to enable the team to push on. For me, anything less is settling.
It’s not personal.
wally
Reasonable enough.
But….. Lacazette is not the only player we could sign and there is no price tag on Lacazette (unless he has a buyout clause) Arsenal bid a certain amount for him. Lyon turn it down. What next? Arsenal can bid more, look around for other options, or both. What makes you certain that Lyon would accept a higher bid? Ok, everything is for sale, it is just a matter of negotiation, right? Ummm…which is exactly what Arsenal are doing.
That is also what Lyon are doing by going public, by the way. A negotiating stance to put more pressure on Arsenal to up the price.
LB.,
My tact on your 12:23 is that he got cold feet and decided to take the easy road and stay at Leicester, after accepting their increase to his contract.
But in the eye of others it would construed in in very different way – to suit their negative agenda.
The question was whether i would pay up for him.
Vardy’s situation and decision have no relationship to the question asked do they. If lacazette says no i’d rather stay then you’ll have a point, but until then, no.
I keep hearing the same broken record day aftr day .Haven’t you got the bolloxs to actually address me,even though everyone knows who you are talking about. I hope they look after you in the home.
‘And finally, we’ve been on the cusp for how long now?’
Not really very long at all actually.
But I can see where you’re coming from. I don’t mind it either. I just took exception to you talking about revenue growth/sponsorships/players joining etc as if Arsenal don’t understand that or haven’t done that. Plus, the simplistic relationship between those factors and signing a player by just paying the money.
As you can see, I agreed with micky that Arsenal can afford to be less conservative now, and also that they should. But, this isn’t a contradiction to the policy statements regarding Arsenal that Gazidis has made. Arsenal are not going to be successful making money their prime modus operandi. It is a simple fact that we are not on top of the food chain right now. We’re a heck of a lot closer than when we started this though, and that is a result of Arsenal being careful with their money, and looking at other means of improvement rather than just big money transfers. This will continue and it should.
Arsenal have made it clear where they stand. They aren’t going to operate like a ManU or a Chelsea at least in the immediate future. I happen to both like and agree with this stance. It’s partly why I became an Arsenal fan (hence again why Gazidis statement of ‘values’ adding to Arsenal’s following also ring true to me) If you don’t agree with it, that is fine too. But how you choose to react to it affects how others might respond to you. (Not saying you react terribly or anything. The you was a generic term there. Not aimed at you personally)
And this angst doesn’t need to exist. Arsenal have just faced too much negativity in the past decade and that has driven people apart and picking sides. As we can see from your last comment, we actually aren’t that far apart in how we view things, and definitely not in what we want. I just get frustrated with how often Arsenal’s own fans want to believe the worst of them rather than try and understand why they operate the way they do (and then discuss the way things can be done better)
Shard,
we’re mostly in agreement. we nee to let the negotiations play out. But if we don’t get him (and i understand walking away from a ridiculous price) i’m left wondering wtf is going on at colney. Don’t tell us your working hard and have no results to show for it. That has gone on for far too long now.
For those that don’t know we are on Sky Sports 2 at 12.45am
The chairman of the doom and gloom club has spoken – he must be looking for hidden meaning.
Yes I will be looked after in my new home – it happens to be a newly built penthouse condo apartment.
I’ll be back in a few days once my move is complete to catch up on the latest doom & gloom.
YMCA PERHAPS 😉
no micky, Shkodran Mustafi is a Big F German CB
LB – I am showing signs of ambition – I went and bought my own chocolate icecreams, lots of them. Magnums, my favorites 🙂
Eddie,
If you had real ambition you would’ve made your own and sold any that didn’t turn out right for a small profit. 😉
Plus, imagine the satisfaction you would’ve had if you’d made and eaten all those ice creams and still had a tidy sum in the bank. Also you’d be safe in the knowledge that you hadn’t lined the pockets of your local shopkeeper who is now your competitor when it comes to selling ice creams.
Makes you think! 😂
that’s is very Arsenal way – small profit and a tidy sum in the bank. that is not Eddie’s way – no money in the bank is more like it 🙂
FGG
Ice cream business for you then 🙂
Eddie
Ah ha, a big ‘effing German defender eh? Sounds good, although did you see that fella Ba in the Lens defence.
‘kin hell, he was massive. In fact with him, you’d only need the one defender. That big.
Hahahaha
Nasri has been named and shamed as the over weight fat bastard at City.
I wondered who it was going to be.
it took City that long to realised why we’ve called Nasri the FFB for 5 years now 🙂 Excellent news 🙂
yeah, I have seen that Ba. But I haven’t seen us being linked with him anywhere. We are linked with Shkodran Mustafi though
Eddie
I’m 100% convinced we’ll get a good attacker, so I will be happy
micky – see, you show no ambition whatsoever. Any attacker and you is happy. Mummy, get me ice cream, any fecking ice cream will do and the kid is happy
NO. We want world class attacker and chocolate bloody icecream
chas – what makes people want to tell others how to do things?
you can find vids to do just about anything, some tool recorded it for sure.
While other “tools” post comments on Arsenal blogs. 🙂
So, you didn’t understand the subtle reference to homegrown ice cream?
BEWARE – bad everything
home grown ice cream, you are a tool 🙂 good night x
Sky Germany now reporting our interest in Mustafi.
Apparently he has a £42m buyout but they say we can get him for £25m plus £8m add ons.
I would say those are the sorts of figures that some people class as showing ambition! 24 year old though so might be worth the investment.
Best comment of the day……………
Eddie, 8.40
Good sense of humour.
Love the ambition debate on AA. 😄
For me Ambition is the desire to the maximise our potential whilst being true to our principles and values. I think we are doing more than ok. 🙃
Decent line up.
Cech
Debuchy Holding Bielik Gibbs
Coquelin Elneny
Ox Wilshere Campbell
Walcott
Is Bielik now a CB because I thought he was bought as a HM player? Or is Coquelin playing there tonight!?
So, here goes review of the game.
Arsenal with basically 2 tier team to start game possessed about 38 of the 45 minutes of the ball in the 1st half. Jack, regardless on what other critics say, can pass, dribble and make things happen. The 2 kids who just put on a 1st team jersey-ever, played with composure that is beyond their years. Elneny is a metronome, Debuchy is a back up to Hector, Cech a goal keeping god, Ox is direct yet still wants to peel the leather of the ball, Campbell made the most of his chance, and last but not least Theo needs to go NOW!
Watching in warm ups Theo missed an open goal on Cech from 8 yards, wide left by 4 yards. His futbol brain is slooooooooooooow, thinks about it when he should shoot, and when he shoots should pass the ball. 10 year waste of time!
Met a lot of Gunner fans, cheered beside a bunch of MLS fans and had a blast.
Second half much more subdued, and Gio for MLS was a real handful. The pass from Nacho was perfect for a tap in which the young runner did not miss, as Theo surely would not have even been there. Elnany and Xhaca both hit 2 missiles that put a smile on my face. Shoot the gd ball Arsenal!
Hope we still sign a CB and Striker before season starts.
Thanks for that Aaron
Chas
I touch your two videos from last night and nothing. Even touched on stilberto’s name and went to twitter and they weren’t there
Cross, because I bet they were good
You were one of the lucky ones.
Football was better when most of the dicks were on the pitch instead of in the crowd.
Must be Lads ‘n Dads coming up soon 🙂
Lads and Dads was last weekend. Still recovering. Brilliant, though.
What’s Spunky on about?
8:02 ha ha ha
Hands like shovels with the greatest manager that ever lived.
Ardiles: genius
Chapman: moron
🙂
chas – some of the lads must be getting on a bit now. They will become dads themselves soon. Will the adventure called ‘Granddads, Dads and Lads’ and Peter Pan Charlie 🙂
Eddie
Last time I saw pics, the lads were about 12
Or are you implying that the Vines Tribe are an extraordinarily fertile bunch?
yeah, last time the lads were 12, that was 5 years ago, so now they are about 16-17
I had a guy from Newcastle delivering a rubbish car last week. He was 31, had 5 children from 2 different wives, the oldest 16, lots of gold and tattooes. No idea how people up north can afford so many children and all the gold?
My son started dating his childhood sweetheart when they were 16. That was almost 16 years ago, 2 amazing children, happy together, make Eddie happy too 🙂
Rio Olympics look just awesome. Football stadia are huge, I think bigger than our Emirates.
I wonder if some athletes can compete in both – football and diving competitions? Some professionals could
Kenny Irwin, an American “artist” who became Muslim
Morning
people forget that George Eastham was in the World Cup squad in 1966.
Chris Froome wwill be zooming past our house on Sunday for the annual race based on the Olympic circuit in 2012 called Ride London
Don’t know how to respond, Eddie
Crap art? Rubbish beard? Appalling palm trees 🙂
Some people were only just alive in 1966, let alone remember anything 🙂
micky 🙂 🙂 🙂 an ejeet if there ever was one 🙂 🙂 artist my arse! nut-nut one raisin short of a Christmas cake
Morning all, the Mahrez rumours are gaining strength – can it possibly be true?
Ice cream all around if they are Rasp 🙂
Good game to watch. Summary:-
Goodbye Theo. He’s awful and needs a move for himself as much as for Arsenal benefit. Makes poor decisions (shooting on his left foot from 18 yards when he’s got a 5 yard pass to set someone up for an easy finish), has an awful touch, and doesn’t have a football brain (turning the wrong way with the ball and losing it when the other way we are 3 on 3).
Xhaka is an absolute beast and exactly what we’ve missed. He’s commanding (bellowing out instructions), seems to find himself in great positions to break up play (can you teach that?) and has the passing range of Cazorla. Speaking of whom, the prospect of their link up in midfield is getting me moist! Also, because he can dictate play as well it means against better sides we can get away with playing Coquelin next to him for extra solidity but not miss too much going forward. Very excited about this guy.
Holding and Bielik were excellent and looked calm and assured for the most part. I thought Bielik was a HM but didn’t look out of place at CB. Early days but great CB prospects. It’s been a while since we’ve had some good CB youngsters and suddenly we have 2 or 3. Good news.
Debuchy conundrum. Do we let him go or keep him as back up for Bellerin? We do have Chambers who can play RB and I’m not a massive fan of Debuchy, but my instincts tell me we might need him until January by which time Jenks might be back. Keep him for now?
Ox was fantastic for the first half. He still has a tendency to play a sloppy pass or run down a blind alley, but seeing him running at people with confidence is a joy to watch and he does make things happen. If he can get off to a good start and stay clear of injuries he could explode this season. Sure we’ve said it before though!
Wilshere was quiet in the number 10 role and struggled to get into the game first half. I think it helps if he has a striker he can feed the ball into and play 1-2’s (Theo isn’t that!) in around the box. I think I prefer him running from slightly deeper and being on the ball more but I do worry that he could himself struggling for game time going forward. The arrival of Xhaka and Elneny could see him or Ramsey becoming fed up. Both have contracts until 2018 and I’m not sure both will re-sign. We shall see. Still a special talent in the right set up though.
Shooting from distance was an interesting sub plot to the game. Ox, Xhaka and Elneny all had decent strikes and it was good to see. The percentage of long shots that go in is low, so I understand why Wenger wants the team to build up play, but the other side of shooting from distance is that the opposition start to think about it. If you’re known as a team that never shoots then it’s easy for the defenders to stay in position and not worry about closing down the player with ball, but if you’ve got one or two who are renowned for a great strike (Xhaka, Elneny, Ox, Cazorla are all capable) then the defenders will close you down leaving them out of position and able to fake the shot and play into someone in space. That element of doubt in a packed defence can be what gives you the breakthrough.
Campbell was busy and I love his energy and work rate. Plus he’s technically decent too. Rumours of him leaving but I’d much prefer him over Theo. Hopefully he stays.
Finally, I thought our youngsters were overall very good and look really promising. Willock and Zelalem still look very lightweight so probably need to develop on that front before breaking through, but the likes of Akpom, JRA, Iwobi, Bielik and Holding look like they could hold their own and maybe useful squad players if kept.
Enjoyed the game and thought we played with good tempo. It’s only a friendly so these are very early observations, but I’m looking forward to the next game.
Brilliant, thanks FGG
Good, don’t need a defender. Arsene said “one more player” (according to some MR I read earlier) so a goal merchant it must be.
Micky,
In the last week he’s said he wants a defender and a striker so hopefully some new players coming in. Rumours of Mahrez too but get the feeling that could be paper talk.
Exciting few weeks ahead after the USA tour is done.
Top read Slim
Thanks.
Kelsey
I shall also be speeding past your house on Sunday, not at the same speed as Chris Froome alas but the same course nevertheless. The weekend warriors take to their bikes in the morning the pros in the afternoon.
No traffic all the roads closed it is the closest I ever get to fell what it is like to be a pro.
I will look out for you 🙂
If you squint really hard you can sort of understand why Vardy decided to take the 5 year extended contract with Leicester but there is no way that Mahrez is going to stay there. When you are hot, you are hot Ryad.
I have been thinking about that game I am starting to come round to the idea that Sanogo might be a better option than Walcott up front.
LB
You won’t need to look out for him
Roundabout. Top of Wimbledon Hill. Bloke in Shades. “THE END OF THE WORLD IS NIGH, SO WHAT’S THE POINT” banner.
I’m as excited about xhaka as I am about anyone the rest of the league has signed. I think he’s going to be a fan favourite.
Is Klopp starting to sound like Wenger?
http://www.espnfc.com.au/liverpool/story/2919811/liverpool-boss-jurgen-klopp-takes-swipe-at-spending-100-million-on-a-player
he he he he
shkodran mustafi rumours are getting louder too. you lot better start googling him now, so you know all about him once he signs da ting
chas – will you kindly refrain from picturing Kelsey as some doomer ?
chas – one of your fav photos, ey?
You just know he’s asked Dogbra if he fancies playing for us, hasn’t he?
I think that this categorically shows us that it’s points that win League titles, not goals for, not goals conceded and not even summer signings made. 🙂
If Everton can bid for Ashley Williams so can we. Come Arsene!
Ashley Williams is shit.
Hi Chas
I think you will like this read. Its a behind the scenes insight to how things sometimes happen on transfer dead line day with unusually — a human touch.
http://www.balls.ie/football/kim-kallstrom-arsenal-account/341105?
You can read a lot into the question (can you take penalties) and incredibly when it was asked. I am going to say this before one of the cynics does: so much for Mr Meticulous and having everything pre-organised down to the minutest detail.
What a great essay by Kim Kallstrom, thank you LB for putting it on the blog.
I’ve just read an article in The Times by Oliver Kay about the 1966 World Cup heroes and how in their seventies and eighties their lives are not much fun. The FA has done little to help them financially where there’s a need. The current crop of players are made for life unless they do very stupid things with their money. How sad that only three of the heroes still have their medals. Worth a read, sadly you have to be a subscriber.
Magnificent, LB.
Yep, we all knew it was a weird deal and Wenger was widely castifated by all and sundry for going ahead with the signing, but what a fine testament that essay is.
Ok, Kim Kalopstrom article. Back in a mo
Yes LB
Cool read, thanks
ps Arsene would have known Kim had taken “thousands” of pens before. I think 🙂
Chas
What’s brilliant about that Kim pen vid is having read LB’s article, you can clearly see Kim is really enjoying the moment as the camera zooms in
Most would be bricking it
ride ’em cowboy 🙂
Chas 2103
Slightly harsh, I’d say and certainly Williams would add a great deal more to our defence and the squad than Kallstrom did!! But I bow to your superior knowledge as always!
Oh don’t grovel LBG 🙂
I was only kidding, bro. 🙂
Bloody Nora
Just been reading about salaries in Chinese super league.
Jackson Martinez, Graziano Pelle and Hulk, all on about 350k per week!!!!
So, what the hell is their problem in not wanting ……???? 🙂
I mean, it sounds like they go for the bigger, lumpier sorts 🙂
No, no, no Micky! Morata is a” big lump”, ” Williams is shit”…..I know my place in exalted company. I should stick to, say Ted Drake…..my era!!
Let’s agree to agree that if Pogba is worth £112m then Walcott will turn out to be a No 9 of quality!!! Morning all!
I want ice cream
Morning 🙂
Oh Mr Foodie, someone made ginger clotted cream ice cream in last nights Masterchef final and everyone agreed it was amazing. Any idea of a recipe?
There’s a fun discussion on Twitter about clubs buying back players for huge sums, Everton want £75m for Lukaku to go back to Chelsea, how much should we bid for Harry Kane?
Clotted cream
Add ginger
Make cold
🙂
Nice one Peaches
Harry Kane hmmmm, pre-euros price or post?
LBG
Look, I’m not trying to suck up to sit next you again or anything, but Ted Drake was not your era, you’re way too young, clever and handsome 🙂
Woah LB, shouldn’t you be stretching, drinking water and eating weirdshit seeds and stuff
Good luck today
I don’t like ice cream that you have to eat with a spoon.
I don’t like Harry Kane either. I still think he’s a flash in the pan
Mauro icardi is very keen to join us! Good lad and lovely eyes
Serious question LB, who do you think is better, Kane or Vardy?
I go Kane
I was hoping Kane was a flash in the pan too but I think he may be a proper footballer. Certainly knows where the goal is. He’s having house built half way between ours Eddie, according to my window cleaner 😉
LB – Post euros obviously to get the best deal 😃
serious question Peaches, who do you think is better looking, Kane or Vardy?
I go Kane
http://video.skysports.com/42eGFqeDqzonTz7iiDzvwzZJmjqBm-NA/Ut_HKthATH4eww8X4xMDoxOjBzMTt2bJ
half way between ours?? but that is green belt, not allowed to build
I have to ask my gardener, he will know 🙂
Surely that’s a bit like asking who’s better looking, Susan Boyle or Nicola Sturgeon?
he he he he 🙂 I happen like that mad Sturgeon woman, she has bollix!
Micky
“Susan Boyle or Nicola Sturgeon” What a card!
You are welcome to sit with me and talk Ted Drake anytime, Sir
…and that is coming from a man who met Lee Dixon and talked about his gloves with him 🙂
Neither appeal to me, not even in a cougar way 😉
Not through the fields Eddie, the other way round, where the road is 😃
Enjoy your bike ride LB
Morning all. the Mahrez deal looks like a mini hoax, but the Mustafi signing is (apparently) on the cards … 🙂
Morning all. While abroad will be in and iut of wifi but will use AA when i can for news on our world class striker pursuit. So have we got him yet?
Some great habdbags at dawn the other day but i have to say that Kelsey does have some valid points and has been harshly treated imo.
Rasp…tell me Aw isnt playing people out of position……that would really rattle my cage 🙂
Can someone start a new post. Bloody pain scrolling through all this on a phone…till later peoples.
Doesn’t the FFP apply to the Chinese super league?
Harry Kane looks like half-moon face and Vardy like a finger puppet that is not to be sniffed at – both unworthy of the shirt, the former for being a Spud and the latter for snubbing us.
Sturgeon anytime! 🙂
Have a good holiday GB.
If positions are constantly changing, can we really play a modern footballer out of one? Can we afford to stick to square holes? 🙂
No weird seeds today Micky, the day before a big ride its a carb fest.
Kane but I was so convinced that we were going to get Vardy.
Jamie mate did you see our games last week with Theo up front, did you see the chances that were laid on a plate for him, that could have been you. Now if that doesn’t make you question your decision making process, imagine adding Ozil to that mix, we are talking about the man who supplies more assists than any other player in Europe, you would have won the golden boot this season you, ahhhhh, I don’t know what — fool.
PS pass this onto your mate Mahrez.
Don’t be so negative TA, Vardy did not snub us, he simply did the honourable thing and showed some respect and loyalty to the club that showed faith in him.
Ben Yedder gone to Sevilla.
Na, he bottled it, Eddie. THOF is a big pond for a finger puppet. 😜
By the way, love your blog comments this summer. ⚽️😀
TA – I am glad you do. Chas thinks I am a stupid intelligent woman who lets herself down by dooming.
I had a lovely phone call this morning from another doomer, and we had a good giggle 🙂
To doom is to bloom, Eddie.
If you are unhappy about something else you are more likely to be kind to yourself. 😜❤️
dogs don’t always look like their owners, although I look more and more like my pug
Walcott for Sturridge….you heard it here first 😉
I am glad Eddie found another doomer to talk to, that makes at least 3 of us 😉
doomers united 🙂
I wonder if that dog can play CB……….
Ben Yedder to Sevilla??? NOoooooo.. Damn.. Now I’m sad 😦
I might even doom with the best of them.
Evening all, and shard.
To be honest, apart from a Malcolm McDonald striker, I don’t want any more transfers.
Watching us beat that team of American geriatrics showcased our young talent and reinforced the fact that despite us been the biggest club in the world, we maintain our values and identity.
Last season Leicester showed that you can win the league with 10 shit players and Robert Huth. Hate to say it, but Totnumb, with there policy of playing young men with disadvantaged facial appearance, did well to..
We have seen what Iwobi can do. Another two or three impacts like him, then we can win the league.
10 shit players and Huth 🙂 classic
BTW, where is Raddy, still on holidays? Ridiculous
Forget Pokemon, EPL Fantasy Football is about to start.
Is anyone running a League Comp I can join please?
“The Arsenal manager insists he will only buy players who strengthen his side”.
Johnny Evans??????????????????????
You idiot Wenger!!!!!!
Another get out clause,gnarley.I used to support a great classy football club not an investment bank but kroenke will be beaming allover. Mr Wenger what does the japanese kid and the Bolton kid give us now for the massive total of 3.5 millionWe are a laufging stock, can or wont negotiate properly the whole lot from kroenke downwards need to be shot.It’s actually embarrasing.last season was bad enough but those who live in hope something will fall in our lap by accident as with Ozil.
The doomer show series 6 episode 7 😉
Chas has cheered me up enough to 🙂
I have seen the Definition of “madness/insanity” thing tripped out on Twitter quite a lot in the last two weeks…..you know the one of you repeatedly do the same thing in hope of an outcome and the outcome doesn’t happen but you keep doing the same thing anyway.
None of these twitterers seem to realise that they are guilty of the same thing in terms of reading news headlines that are purely clickbait. If we sign Johnny Evans I’ll eat my hat.
you don’t have a hat Gie, micky does.
The truth is that I used to wait all summer for the opening game of a new season. It was my favourite day of the year for many years. But this year I am not interested, I am not going, cannot be arsed.
Kelsey is right – we are supporting a business enterprise heavily subsidised by us the fans. Some of the magic is gone.
Doomers episode 6 part 2.
Simply believing whatever the media says causes far worse problems than simply football angst.
The trouble is also that this belief extends only to whatever is already an existing pattern of thought. Like, I’ve seen reports of Mahrez being a done deal. Yet, no one seems to believe this and give Wenger (premature) credit. But sure, Johnny Evans linked (far more tenuously) and Wenger are Arsenal are an embarrassment.
Federico Fernandez from Swansea to fill in the gap left by Per, Koscielny and Gabriel against Pool.
Oh, and it seems that our new striker is Jese Rodriguez from Real.
I can live with that.
chas
That was interesting about George Graham and the discourse around him. Any idea when this is from?
Cheers Kelsey😆
What’s happened to Big Raddy?
Ft, Raddy is having his annual sabbatical in northern Italy, lucky so-and-so 😉
Alive and onboard Norwegian flight Dy2—-. On way home and ready for the season.
Can’t wait
Think it was 1994, Shard. I’ll check when I get home.
Can I not be the one to tell Erik things are not good
If “Norwegian flight Dy2” means the bloody hippy has been on a plane between Italy and Denmark for two days, then I’m guessing a hijack situation is in progress
Still, I guess if he’s happy then that’s the important thing
Hippie Ki yay, motherf***er
Eddie, LBG, other dog fans. ALERT
Near us is a disused quarry, that was flooded into a massive 30 acre nature reserve lake. It’s down a long track with a sign saying no swimming, dogs on lead. Result being, no-one is ever there, and we have the place to ourselves where we can be alone swimming and everyone off lead. Perfect
Spent all day there yesterday. This morning, our dog Dotty’s tail has stopped working!
Mrs Didit has been furiously googling, and it happens when either dogs don’t warm up before vigorous exercise (eh?) or excessive swimming.
Today we’re going beach for surfing, and Dotty loves the waves. Not allowed to come. Rest day. Gutted is what she’ll be.
Where’s our bloody goal machine, Arsene?
micky – really?? Gosh, I have never heard of the tail problem! poor Dotty will miss out of surfing, perhaps don’t tell her where you are going, sneak out back door
Cheers Rasp & BR😎
I’m looking 4ward to the season. I’d really love another title!
Ok, it’s been a while, but I’m back from down under & ready for another tilt @ the Title.
Mustafi and Mandzukic will be the next two signings.
The only one in the air is Mahrez now…
Cech – Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscieliny, Monreal – Xhaka – Ramsey, El Neny – Ozil – Giroud, Sanchez
If Mahrez comes, then we play 4-2-3-1
First game:
Cech – Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal – Xhaka, Coquelin, El Neny – Ox, Campbell, Cazorla
Got a good feeling about Iwobi.
GG9. I agree about Iwobi
Chas
If AA had a greatest ever artshitbollocks list, your 5:51 would be at the top
Superb work 🙂 🙂 🙂
Oh, and, welcome back Erik.
Beware, some of us are feeling little bit mis., while you’ll be full of Barolo and goodwill, so go gently on us 🙂
I have to agree.Super Chas.Olympics next week, bigger audience.
never mind thebolloxs, micky 😉
Crystals
DJ Marmite may be printing bits of A4 as we speak, but meanwhile every AA’er who attends games is currently making A0 cut outs of you know who 🙂
I cannot wait to see you appearing over the balcony of top tier Emirates Stadium
If that happens I may get a knighthood 😉
Micky 11.13
Yes I have heard of the “tail” problem before linked significantly to cold water swimming, but only temporary.
Brady is a keen swimmer, and I have a job getting him to come out of the many lakes in our area.
chas 🙂 brilliant 🙂
LBG
It was warm water, but limp it remains 😦
micky – if she is fine otherwise let her rest. Otherwise – vet, it could be something serious. You never know with them bloody hunds, won’t tell you what’s up with them
Eddie
99% it’s called Limber, Limp or Cold Water Tail. Common amongst Labs and Retrievers after much cold water, as LBG says.
Give it a day or so, if not, vet.
I get cold front tail surfing in January, so I understand these things 🙂
Oooops, that was a little unnecessary. I apologise
Cheers BR
Anyone else listening to the game ……….
Just me then ……… Rob Holding scores his first Arsenal goal in the first half and Oxlade-Chamberlain just made it 2-0 with by all accounts a beautiful goal 🙂
Akpom makes it 3-0
Oxlade-Chamberlain goal
Here’s Chuba’s goal
Six changes at half-time and another two just happened.
Jeff and Zelalem came on for Coquelin and ? …… back in a min
Also Martinez just replaced Ospina
Debuchy just wide
Then gives away a pen 3-1
Finishes 3-1 although Arsenal.com have just told me it finished 3-2!!!!!!!
Hi gg9 good to see you back
Last one or chas will have nothing to put up later 😉
Lovely goal by The Ox great support and the boys seemed to enjoy themselves but then there is Walcott who will be saying his goodbye to West Ham not Liverpool as I thought.
I’m redundant!
looks like a voluntary redundancy
what was peaches doing up all night?
micky – sorry to hear about you not being able to waggle your tail
this woman looks like Bernie Eccleston’s daughter. But oh no, she is old devil’s mother-in-law!!
Morning all
Partial wag returned. Phew
Great stuff Peaches. Are you currently in a match friendly time zone or just a loyal supporter?
Certainly not match friendly time zone 😦 The ding on my phone at 2am turned out to be an Arsenal score alert lol
I was awake so I listened to the 2nd half. Sounded like a lot of fun. All our favourite songs being sung loud and proud 🙂
Pleased to hear there’s a little wag this morning
Great match reporting peaches, thank you.
I didn’t realise the game was being played at that time. It sounds like a good performance – what was the quality of the opposition like?
Rasp
They were called Chivas Regal I think, and although I’ve never heard of them, I guess they’re Scottish and as good as Real Madrid, so we’re actually looking deadly in attack
whose partial wag returned – dog’s or DidIt’s??
Sorry Rasp, I should have given you a nudge 😉
I don’t think the opposition was up to much although Chivas brought a player on in the 2nd half that rattled a few cages.
Debuchy gave away a penalty chasing some guy down in a rather aggressive manner and Joel Campbell got into a fight in the 88th minute which looked like handbags. Worryingly Campbell didn’t respond well to being pulled away by his teammates, might be an insight into his nature.
As requested by GB, should we stick up a new page to avoid the scrolling down?
Maybe a simple question with a simple pollvote. One player to buy. An attacker or a boring defender. You choose.
Thanks peaches 🙂
Micky, I think we’d need to give some options. You’re right, there is no point in skirting around the ‘who will/should we buy question as it is foremost in most supporters’ minds.
What, you mean like players actual names and shit?
Kinda rules me out
We need an RC79
Names would be good 🙂
What about a poll as to how many players we will still buy in the transfer window like Williams,RvP,Chamakh, etc 😉
Best I can do is:
A French striker
An Algerian winger
A German defender
🙂
🙂 Micky … the German defender is being denied!
Hi Kelsey, fancy jotting down a few words for that post?
Well that’s terrific news, Rasp
My week begins well. No more defenders 🙂
It’s now simply down to what flavour of goal machine
Oooh, I was just about to write something short and crap and I see a certain Nottingham based AA stalwart is conjuring up something far more meaningful 🙂
New post to stop the scrolling issues. 🙂
Stall Wart more like. 🙂