A shiny new signing arrives at the Emirates. €2m for a January to May loan deal. Same amount as we paid for the whole of Rob Holding.
I read of his signing on the BBC website – many were complaining that the BBC had duped them into thinking that it was the Biter we had signed. There are some very, very stupid people out there.
No, we have signed a 25 y.o Spaniard, named Denis Suarez Fernandez. Denis started his career at Celta Vigo and was signed by Man City as a 17 y.o. During his two years at The Northern Oilers he was voted Man City Youth Player of the Year, then Barcelona called. A short loan at Sevilla before Barca sold him to Villareal with a buy back clause which they activated. After 43 games for Barca he has arrived at a proper club – The Arsenal.
Essentially we have signed a Journeyman. Just turned 25 and on his 6th club.
We have a fine history of Spanish players – Cesc, Nacho, Santi, Reyes, Arteta, Catwalk – if he hits their heights we have got a bargain but why Suarez?
Another Spanish Pretty Boy
Suarez plays on the right of midfield i.e. where Ramsey plays. So why not play Ramsey and sign Suarez in summer? it is not as though we have loads of money to burn on chaps riding the pine. Emery knows him from his Sevilla loan and must have seen something in the lad which he believes Arsenal are lacking. Just what that is we will soon discover. Suarez is undoubtedly an Emery signing.
Also in the news today, our very exciting prospect Smith Rowe is going on loan to Lepzig. Fine move for all 3 parties. Smith Rowe (Lab) is a right sided midfielder, much like Ramsey, and Suarez.
And, the elephant in the room – Mhkitaryan.
Henrikt is a very highly paid player, he is a right sided attacking MF. Perhaps Mr. Emery has a penchant for midfielders, much like his predecessor. Arsenal overloaded for MF’s, surely not?
Can Suarez play as a right winger? Mr. Emery said we need wingers and he is right, we do. Hopefully, we will sign one in the next few hours. As it is, we have an exciting new player and I wish him every success.
Written by BR.
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
This from earlier this morning …
LBG:
Will be disappointed if Smith-Rowe and Eddie go out on loan today, because it would mean Dick 1. Doesn’t think he is going to use them enough 2. He is happy to stick with players who are no longer good enough to be in our squad IMO and 3. This type of player could decide ” the grass could be greener” for them abroad.
Suarez, Perisic, Carrasco, could be long term “solutions”, but will need time to settle. Try the youngsters out consistently Dick. We are giving you time. Long term quality is more important even than short term Champions League or Europa Cup IMO.
Ramsey is leaving so this is tome fir him to adapt to english football ready for when rambo leaves.
Nice post, BR.
I can’t work out if you’re not keen on the move, have your tongue firmly in your cheek or are looking for a few nibbles on your hook.
Probably all three, I suspect. 🙂
We definitely need centre backs and wingers, so it’s easy to see why another attacking mid might be viewed as a extra luxury rather than a necessity.
He’s not very tall so can’t play CB but maybe he can do a job in that right sided position that Micki has vacated.
“We have an exciting new player and I wish him every success”
Hear Hear.
In other matters, did you see that at half time Liverpool only cleared the half of the pitch they were going to attack?
(the ball had been sticking on certain parts of the pitch in the first half because of the dusting of snow )
So pleased it was a tactic which didn’t come off.
Interesting chas. Is that cheating?
And look at all those empty seats in Fortress Anfield
Nothing much to add to what you have said, BR, you have said it all very nicely.
Guys allow me…Suarez is not a winger, he is an attacking midfielder very much like Ramsey – maybe a bit better technically and maybe slightly faster but he is not as good in front of goals and not so keen to run back and cover…Is he competing with Mikhy? To a certain extent but apparently, Suarez will only be with us for 6 months so…Miky can sleep tight for now
Chas,
Not that any of us would think there was some ‘advantage taking’ i.e. cheating, but the area cleared was specifically the penalty area ‘Pool was going to attack in the 2nd half.
Nothing wrong with that, if they had also cleared the other penalty area too.
Arsene used to instruct the groundsman to ‘well water’ the pitch because it suited Arsenal’s attacking style — but it was the whole pitch — same for both teams.
At the very least, Liverpuddle have been engaged in sharp practice to gain an unfair advantage — or cheating in my book.
Like you, I am pleased it did not work.
Thanks BR
The position we are in dire need of is right wing back — could Suarez play there? My money is that Emery will try and make that happen.
This is a very smart move, I don’t see how we can lose out on this one.
On a scale of 1-10 how much do you believe that the club are only able to make loan deals right now, 10 being certain.
I go for 3
The other part of this loan deal with Suarez is that Emery doesn’t have to put his neck on the line; he doesn’t have to spend big and be be judged badly if he does not live up to expectation and the reality is that they do go wrong — often.
So far Emery has been able to hide behind Mislantat but he is gone so now we will see just how good Unai is in the transfer market.
The reason I go for 3 is I don’t believe that Arsenal do not have the funds or would make the funds available if the right player became available.
‘Loan moves only possible’.
A negotiating tactic if ever I heard one.
RC,
We have brought in a fair number of new players since the departure of AW, but ……..
From my perspective, Arsenal have been looking at the job lot market of players nearing the end of their careers, or who are not particularly better than the ones they have replaced. Suarez comes into that category.
I would rather that Arsenal had bought just one top class tutti fruity, and promoted from within the club to the positions such as the GK. Leno is not any better than Martinez. Or Lichtsteiner – no better (worse?) than Medley, Maitland Niles etc.
Yes we are back in the heady heights of 4th place, shared with a wilting Chelsea, but that’s the point, the terrible display against Cardiff shows we are benefiting from other clubs (Manure/Chavs) being crap, rather than the Gunners being really good.
The two clubs I mention have the resources to get back on-song and leave us trudging along in 6th place before too long.
LB,
In answer to your question about whether or not Arsenal have funds they could use to buy players — there is no question the club could buy more upmarket players.
However, as I understand it, that is not necessarily the problem. We have fallen fold FFP rules, which requires clubs to only spend transfer money in relation to their turnover and wages, and their profit margin.
Having paid big salaries to Mesut, Auba, Lacazette and increased the pay of the kids to keep them at the club, they cannot offer the salaries players now demand and yet still buy expensive players on the market.
That, from what I have heard, is why they did not complete the contract Rambo wanted.
[I have skirted the exact finance/FFP rules – as we have been over it so often it has become boring – as everyone really already knows the gist of it.]
I do not have any inside knowledge of anything that goes on at Arsenal, but this theory makes sense of some of the ‘goings on’ regarding our new players whose salary demands are probably more modest than the high flyers would demand.
Interesting RA
Thanks for that.
RC
I don’t think we should lose sight that Lichtsteiner was only brought as back up and has played almost certainly more than anticipated.
I still see him as a smart purchase, the jury is out as to whether AMN is better there as he is not covering himself in glory right now.
Cheers BR! Not sure what sort of player Suarez is. From the link below it looks like he plays more on the left than right, with a tendency to come in and shoot at goal or pass. Is he a replacement for the injured Mkhi?!
He seems two-footed with good close ball control and will take players on. But he also seems good in the centre of midfield and Emery could well be looking to combine him with either Xhaka or Torreira. My money is on Suarez competing with Iwobi for the left wing position, but I hope he will be played more on the right and Emery sticks with AI on the left. An attack of 3-1 – Iwobi/Ozil/Suarez behind Laca (or Auba in some games) – with Xhaka/Torreira in the DM-pivot could be exciting for the rest of the season.
RA. 10.25. Agree.
Suarez may be an improvement but equally he may not.
Is he a no-downside signing? I am not sure as explained in the post.
As Dylan Woods wrote he has the opportunity to bed into the PL ahead of a potential permanent signing and from this POV it is a positive signing, IF UE has decided Ramsey and Mhki are not the men for him.
And then there is the Ozil question – again. Who gets dropped for Suarez? Ozil or Iwobi is my guess, and I would be unhappy about either of them being sidelined.
TA. If he is to play left wing it makes a bit more sense.
Transfer deadline day – how much would you pay in today’s prices for these boys?
Rasp and London Football (in considerable detail) gave an explanation of how we ” may have fallen foul” of the FFP rules for this window, and, without any special insider knowledge, I see no reason to question that as made up! Clearly stated as well was how much future freedom would be provided by the new Adidas deal in the summer. I also have doubts that Dick needs “protecting” from the potential of buying big and failing. Do we believe, given his detailed approach, that he did not have a significant say in The purchase of Terrier and Ouzi? If so, why would we also question his statement that ” the right Suarez” is a winger (right sided, but with two good feet). How can we lose if we don’t have to buy him?
Anybody agree not using youngsters more is disappointing? Feel this particularly sad with regard to CBs! ( as long as they are not blooded alongside Mustafi!!!)
Highly rated Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe is in Germany for a medical ahead of a proposed loan move to RB Leipzig, the Bundesliga club’s coach Ralf Rangnick has confirmed.
Smith Rowe, just 18, has enjoyed playing time for the Gunners this season, appearing six times across the EFL Cup and Europa League, netting three goals.
The attacking midfielder has looked particularly promising in his four European outings, scoring on trips to Vorskla and Qarabag.
However, he has not made an appearance for Unai Emery’s men in the Premier League, and Leipzig are close to bringing him to Germany.
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Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Rangnick said: “Yes, I can confirm that the player is in Leipzig. At the moment he is in for the medical checks.
“Then we’ll have to see if we have everything available to complete the transfer today.”
Could almost be father and son!
Some nasty person on twitter asked if Emery has been sleeping in his car all week. 🙂
Thanks for the post BR.
I have watched the available vids of Suarez and I’d agree with those who are saying he is potentially a Cazorla type player. Clearly he has some way to go to reach that standard … having said that, I think that failing to replace Cazorla was one of the main reasons for our slide down the table in recent season, so it’s a very worthy objective.
By the looks of it Suarez will have to toughen up a bit to deal with the rigours of the EPL … Cazorla’s impressive strength was disproportionate to his size. No doubt we will analyse the hell out of DS in the coming weeks, As always I’d say give him a warm welcome and as much encouragement as we can muster.
UE has the option to patch up gaps in the existing squad or to bring in players who fit in with his plans for the future. I think he is doing the latter. By this time next year I expect us to have fewer than half the first team starters we had when UE took over.
Hello all…So Arsenal can make the deal permanent for Suarez.
1. Suarez is not a Cazorla type of player, he is a lost more like a Ramsey and Mikhy type of player.
2. Seeing Smithe-Rowe go on loan is OK with me as he will gain game time
3. Everyone says we need to work on our defense and defensive mid and I agree BUT Emery said he will tackle this issue this summer once he can clear some playerso ut.
4. I think we have a very exciting player in AMN but he needs to be played properly and for me he needs to play as a AM or Winger. We play him as Wingback because we don’t really have a choice right now but he is going to be better further up the pitch.
5. I agree that this summer Emery will overhaul the squad.
6. I also agree that we will be standing behind both Chelsea and Utd when the season ends.
I second LBG’s point about the youngsters, all we can hope is that UE sees this as part of their development and intends to give them a chance to prove themselves next season. I was very impressed with Mavropanos before his injury so would hope he is already in contention. The fact that we are out of the two cup competitions does mean that the ones we are sending to Germany would probably have had very few chances to play bearing in mind that every game in the EPL and EL are ‘must win’ from this point forwards.
Hi RC, my assessment of Suarez is based on his technique, two footedness, eye for a pass and close control in the available videos, I bow to your greater knowledge if you’ve seen more of him. Like us all … you’ll just have to wait and see 🙂
Hi Raddy,
Thank you for the post.
It’s f***king freezing cold today – the coldest day I can remember -25c with a wind chill of -36. It goes up to -11 on Friday and then we have temperatures above 0c for 5 days – it will feel like an early spring.
I know nothing about Suarez and I will wait until he plays to make any comments. But I’m shocked that there appears to have been no effort to buoy up our creaking defense,
Ok now it makes sense why we pulled the ramsey contract
Lol
Rasp – there are some similarities with Cazorla as well as you have mentioned but Suarez is nowhere near the workrate of Cazorla…He also does not have Cazorla’s shot.
Thanks RC … you’re not selling him to me 😂
Hi GN5
Feeling for you. Somewhere in GB managed -11 last night. And they are threatening 3-5 inches of snow in the South East tonight!! Now as you will realise, since the weather forecaster was male, this will probably mean 1-2 inches, but it’s effects will be the equivalent of 4foot + in one go in Canada!!!
I’ve got to say I’m very excited by the prospect of a young, talented Spaniard joining the Arsenal. I fully expect us to complete a permanent deal in the summer so I’m not overly co Verne’s about how he does in the next 6 months. I imagine he will take a bit of time to bed in, but it’s been said a few times that the likes of Mkhi, Iwobi, Ramsey, Özil are not doing great for us right now so maybe he can come in and breath a bit of life into our attacking midfield area.
As for the defensive side of things, I have heard people like Charlie Nicholas slating the club for not buying defenders, but I would much rather us wait until the summer to find long term options than take up a squad place with an over-the-hill player like Gary Cahill for example. We have enough average, older CB’s already at the club so it’s time for Emery to go out into the market in the summer and fix the problem by buying a mid-20’s powerhouse. Easier said than done, but much more chance in the summer than right now.
Arsenal have confirmed defender Hector Bellerin has undergone successful surgery on his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The Spain right-back appeared to twist his knee against Chelsea on January 19, when he was making his first start since recovering from a calf strain.
It was later confirmed Bellerin will miss the rest of the 2018-19 season and Arsenal announced on Thursday he has had an operation in Spain, which has gone as planned.
In a medical update posted to the club’s website, Arsenal said Bellerin “has now commenced recovery and [his] rehabilitation programme”.
Ahead of Sunday’s trip to Premier League champions Manchester City, Arsenal also had positive news on Laurent Koscielny and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Captain Koscielny is back in full training after suffering a facial injury in last week’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United.
Mkhitaryan, meanwhile, is being assessed as the Armenia international prepares to make his comeback from a foot injury.
So Suarez regards himself as an Iniesta type midfielder. Hope Dick has told him he might end up on the wing! Looks like potentially even more competition for Mesut’s slot!
Carrasco, Perisic and Nkunku are all, apparently more wing-like than Denis, so go and get one, Dick.
Good to have a Denis 22 in the team. Good luck.
chas. I was at OT for that semi-final. we had seats to the left of the goal and the Seaman save remains the best save I have ever seen (alongside Banks/Pele)
LBG. 12.37. Fine stuff.
The cricket is going TU again. Doctored pitch. Not good.
LBG,
We are experiencing what they are calling a Polar Vortex. At -25c it is recommended not to take deep breaths as you could damage your lungs. If you throw a glass of boiling hot water in the air it will vaporize instantly.
I vividly remember cold days in London’s damp atmosphere it ate right down to your bones, I’ve never felt as cold in Canada as I did in England – but I think that all down to being prepared.
The amount of snow here is rarely an issue as every city, town, municipality has a crew ready to plow, salt & sand the streets at 3:30/4:00am to clear the roads for morning rush hour.
If one chooses to live in Canada you have to accept it as a part of life and adjust your lifestyle accordingly. I accept it fully and would not want to live anywhere else – unless we lose TV coverage of Arsenal – then all options are open.
Thanks Erik
Am happy about Suarez? Yes, very
Reason? Why not
Don’t I want a CB? No
Reason? Got loads of ’em and I saw Mavro on the bench the other day, plus, defenders are a bit thick and it takes them forever to settle in, so I’d rather muddle through
Please delete my thoughts on transfers as Micky sums it up but with far more style! 😂👍
Raddy
Wait until Jimmy and Broady get on this pitch. Up and down and swing. Low scoring, over in 3 1/2 days.
Micky has style. The Georgio Armani of arsenalarsenal!
Antigua is a beautiful island, with class….and lots of spiced rum.
Fred. I have been lucky enough to visit most of the Caribbean Islands and as you say Antigua is lovely (and the home of the great Sir Viv)
My fave is Grenada though St. Lucia is a close second.
I agree with the others, Micky, you have great style — no one else can take a random numbers of words throw them up into the air and …… hey presto ….. down comes the view we all agree with!
That chimp you were talking about the other day had just better watch out that you don’t pinch his stardom, even if he did write “Twelfth Night” in his youth, using the same technique as you did. 🤩
LBG. Micky = Primar-ni not GA 😀
Hi GN5, 😁
Your thoughts on adjusting to life in Canada are very true.
I have been in Banff in the winter, and found the best way to clean my clothes was to wet them — hang them out on a laundry line where they froze instantly — then hit them hard with a shovel, the ice broke off and left everything beautifully clean, as the dirt came off with the ice.
Simples!
Ok, less seriously then: I really do think we’re ok in the CB department for this season. Understanding is so important. Kos and Sok are ok and I really would like to see more of the Greek bloke
RA and others earlier have highlighted our issue with the wage bill, so let’s wait until the summer and some of the big earners are off-loaded.
It may turn out that the future is already here in Mavro and Holding with Kos and Sok as back-up but only time will tell
Hi Rasper,
You said something above that is pretty much on a par with marvellous Micky the soliloquist on all matters football;
— “my assessment of Suarez is based on his technique, two footedness, eye for a pass ”
Couldn’t agree more, and just imagine how much better he would be if he had a boot for a pass! 😳
Seriously Micky your 5:58 is spot on!!
Are we considering Chambers as a possible squad player in midfield when he comes back? He’s been good for Fulham in that role and could be a good English alternative to Elneny. I’d like to see him given a chance next year.
RA
It’s alright. If you like that kind of thing 🙂
Must go. Grub’s up
FGG. Chambers? Could be a post.
If you were Chambers would you really be aspiring to be Elneny’s replacement?
LB 😀
Yea St Lucia is one of my favourite also recommend it to anyone
Never been to Grenada as yet
Don’t forget Chambers
A little bit Fabregas, a little bit Cazorla, a little bit Ramsey and a little bit Freddie.
Lots to like about this new lad when he’s doing this sort of stuff, but I imagine also lots to improve upon.
NEW POST
Which Freddie me or lumberg 😁
Lol