Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2016

newbie2

must be favourite for the league now lads ?

wonski

Holding is the only player in this game holding his position All others have been replaced.

Ken Shamrock

Xhaka and Holding looked very good. Chambers is not ready.

emergingstar

Wenger said we will sign 1 more offensive player

j14

So if it's true that we are only signing one more offensive player would you prefer to see Lacazette or Mahrez signed?

x PyRo

Mahrez. All day, every day. IMO, it's not even a question.

wawaman

x PyRo wrote: »

Mahrez. All day, every day. IMO, it's not even a question.

This. Mahrez would give goals but also the creativity we lack when Ozil is off form

gosplan

Thought Beliek looked good last night with what he had to do. Very composed for a teenage midfielder playing CB.

Also after talking a lot about Walcott yesterday I was watching him last night and kind of wondering 'does he simply bottle everything?'

Like watching him trying to finish that chance in the first half was soooo Theo. It all seems so hesitant and unnatural to him. His finishing attempt is like some school kid who's been practising something and is trying to get it right for a crowd of friends. Like can he not just blast it in the corner instead of trying this highly contrived Henry-style sidefoot curl around the keeper. He's just not a natural finisher and it's clear as mud that he's been working on it and working on it ... but when it all comes down to it in a match, he's not able to produce.

He'd be so much better if he had spent his career learning to just smash the ball low and hard like Vardy rather than this Henry/Bergkamp finish. It's a lot easier to replicate under pressure.

wandatowell

How did Iwobi get on last night?

Kinda forgot about him during the off season.

CatInABox

wandatowell wrote: »

How did Iwobi get on last night?

Kinda forgot about him during the off season.

Got on okay while he was on, but to be honest, by the time he came on, the number of subs meant that there wasn't much fluency to Arsenals game, so hard to tell much either way. Plenty of Arsenal possession, but not much happening with it until our goal.

Holding looks good, didn't seem phased by anything, hope he does well for us.

Granit is a real threat from outside the box, he's got some foot on him. Was only on a few minutes when he smashed the ball from outside the box. Keeper got both hands to it, but I'd say his hands were stinging him for a good ten minutes after.

Quazzie

x PyRo wrote: »

Mahrez. All day, every day. IMO, it's not even a question.

With Giroud we won't win the league. No matter who we buy for behind him, he won't get the extra goals required for us to make the next step. We need a striker who can score more than we need another attacking midfielder

AdamD

Quazzie wrote: »

With Giroud we won't win the league. No matter who we buy for behind him, he won't get the extra goals required for us to make the next step. We need a striker who can score more than we need another attacking midfielder

Mahrez getting 15 league goals rather than Ox getting 2 is another way of making up the difference.


@gosplan: would have thought a controlled finish is far easier to replicate than a smash.

AdamD

AdamD wrote: »

Mahrez getting 15 league goals rather than Ox getting 2 is another way of making up the difference.

Our conversion rate across the pitch was woeful last year. If we had the same number of shots this season as last, we would score 10-15 more goals.

Soups123

Theo needs to leave Arsenal for his own good he is void of all confidence you could see the players getting fcuked off with him last night too.

A change of club might get something going in him

KaiserGunner

Soups123 wrote: »

Theo needs to leave Arsenal for his own good he is void of all confidence you could see the players getting fcuked off with him last night too.

A change of club might get something going in him

Yeah I agree, I do think that his wages are a problem though. I don't think there are many clubs that would take him on without a pay decrease. It's hugely frustrating as he is taking up a squad place , that we could use for a new player.

gosplan

I think we got about 5 league goals from RW last season.

If Mahrez could reproduce his 17 goals and 11 assists for Leicester, I'm struggling to think of a striker that increase the overall team's productivity by the same amount.

Of course you're not guaranteed he'll reproduce that but then you've no guarantee about a player coming in from abroad either.

Soups123

KaiserGunner wrote: »

Yeah I agree, I do think that his wages are a problem though. I don't think there are many clubs that would take him on without a pay decrease. It's hugely frustrating as he is taking up a squad place , that we could use for a new player.

I think he would get close to what he has at a Leicester, West Ham or a Liverpool.

I like Theo as a guy, I would prefer to see him go elsewhere and realise some potential than sit here struggling

gosplan

Quazzie wrote: »

With Giroud we won't win the league. No matter who we buy for behind him, he won't get the extra goals required for us to make the next step. We need a striker who can score more than we need another attacking midfielder

I agree to a point.

I think the problem is that when people say 'we need a striker who can score' they're basically saying 'someone I like more than Giroud'.

Based purely on everyone's records last season, Higuain would have won us the league but not Lacazette.

emergingstar

gosplan wrote: »

Quazzie wrote: »

With Giroud we won't win the league. No matter who we buy for behind him, he won't get the extra goals required for us to make the next step. We need a striker who can score more than we need another attacking midfielder

I agree to a point.

I think the problem is that when people say 'we need a striker who can score' they're basically saying 'someone I like more than Giroud'.

Based purely on everyone's records last season, Higuain would have won us the league but not Lacazette.

And I think we will see Lacazette Come in and not maherz

With Wilshere, iwobi, ox, and Cazorla covering right wing

emergingstar

emergingstar wrote: »

And I think we will see Lacazette Come in and not maherz

With Wilshere, iwobi, ox, and Cazorla covering right wing

@arseblognews: New: Lyon not expecting another Lacazette bid from Arsenal p1r.es/2aBPrBG #arsenal #afc pic.twitter.com/5UaNFoztzV

https://twitter.com/arseblognews/status/758960573669179392

But yeah....i think we will go with one of them on the right. We need someone on that wing that can control the ball, and feed the ball into the middle. We don't want someone who will always lose the ball.

Also bear in mind that Sanchez switched to the right towards the end of the season.

Ken Shamrock

What we need on the right is a winger, not a young unproven winger or a CM trying to play RW but an actual winger.

Mahrez would be fine but there are plenty of others too.

Scandalous if we don't buy a striker though.

greendom

emergingstar wrote: »

Wenger said we will sign 1 more offensive player

John Terry?

emergingstar

Ken Shamrock wrote: »

What we need on the right is a winger, not a young unproven winger or a CM trying to play RW but an actual winger.

Mahrez would be fine but there are plenty of others too.

Scandalous if we don't buy a striker though.

I think playing a CM there suits out style down to the ground, he can tuck inside and leave space for bellerin who plays like a RW anyway

gosplan

emergingstar wrote: »

And I think we will see Lacazette Come in and not maherz

With Wilshere, iwobi, ox, and Cazorla covering right wing

Wouldn't be too surprised either as we need an actual striker regardless of Giroud.

As mentioned Sanchez moved right so Sanchez right Caz/Wilshire left would probably be the best option.

Edit: And is it just me or do the Lyon statements regarding 'Arsenal's bid, we're not selling, Arsenal haven't bid again' not stink a bit of wanting to do a deal.

Quazzie

greendom wrote: »

John Terry?

That should be Post of the day.

Ken Shamrock

emergingstar wrote: »

I think playing a CM there suits out style down to the ground, he can tuck inside and leave space for bellerin who plays like a RW anyway

Unfortunately the proof is in the pudding. This style doesn't work for us, how many goals came from the RW last year? Giroud feeding off scraps from the right and despite having a CM out there we still get caught out defensively because Bellerin travels far up the right on a regular basis.

tayto lover

Ken Shamrock wrote: »

Unfortunately the proof is in the pudding. This style doesn't work for us, how many goals came from the RW last year? Giroud feeding off scraps from the right and despite having a CM out there we still get caught out defensively because Bellerin travels far up the right on a regular basis.

You could play two dedicated DM's for some games and allow Bellerin charge forward.
This would mean Cazorla only getting an odd game though.

bad2dabone

There's a Swedish tradition to let famous Swedes do radio essays on public radio. Earlier this week, Arsenal Ex-Loanee Kim Källström did one. Here's a few interesting quotes re:Arsenal. Nota bene: I did quick translations, but I didn't check them twice.

"I look like a boy as I walk across the grass, with the ball under my arm. Well-groomed side-parting, a clean red shirt, white sleeves, and a golden cannon on my breast. I'm a man past thirty years of age, in a boy's dream. It's the semifinal of the English FA cup, against Wigan, with 82,000 people on the stands of Wembley Stadium, among which 50,000 root for us. They are loud and starving fans that hunger for a title. They haven't won anything for nine years, which is an eternity for a club that is considered one of the greatest in the World. They have the most loyal fans, gooners. By strange and unexpected detours, I've ended up at the top club Arsenal, in north London. With straight legs, I bend down and put the ball on the spot. I throw a quick glance at the keeper. I've already decided where to put. I try not to smile. The moment is here. I'm here - in the middle of the latin motto of the club: Victoria Concordia Crescit. Victory grows through harmony. I can't help myself but smile slightly. I haven't even played half an hour for Arsenal. I debuted against Swansea, for eleven minutes, and now I was substituted on in extra time when it was to be decided. Fifteen minutes of a footballer's life, that changed my story."

"I got a call from my agent, Roger Ljung [World Cup bronze medalist in '94]. 'Do you want to be loaned out to a club in the Premier League?" "No." "Do you want to be loaned out to Arsenal?" "YES!"

"It was transfer day and a rumour of a new player had leaked. The training facilities were filled with supporters, journalists and tv was transmitting live. When we arrived at Heathrow, we had to drive to a field and switch cars so that no one would recognise the vehicle. Everyone was nice to me, and I get training clothes and number 29. I was sent to a team physician for the obligatory medical exam. While the physician is going through the tests, I'm sitting in the cafeteria, drinking a cup of washy English coffee. I'm dressed in the club colours, in the civilian outfit of the professional football player, meaning a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Players pass by on the way to today's training. I knew a few of them, as they were French, and we small-talk a bit. The physician fetches me, and I'm driven quickly to a hospital for a X-ray exam. Something's wrong. We return to the training facilities. I'm put in a situation that reminds me of a talent show on tv. I'm standing in front of a jury, in Arsenal clothes, the cd with my X-ray images, and bad posture. In front of me sits the team physician, the sporting director, and the powerful manager Arsene Wenger, who has run the club with an iron fist and a low-key attitude for almost 20 years. The physician starts speaking. He understands that Arsenal is a big thing for me and that my hopes have been lit, but the back problem is too bad, and he's sorry. He lays down the facts. There are three cases of vertebral fractures, and I'm out for atleast 4-6 weeks. I'm shocked - disappointed, but I understood. Against the evidence of the X-ray images, neither boyhood dreams or arguments help. I understand. 'If you're injured, you're injured', I say, but in truth I was angry as hell. There's silence in the room. Wenger hasn't said anything. He hasn't even looked at his colleagues as they inform me of their logical verdicts. He thinks for himself. I wait for him to say something. He sighs, and says 'The transfer windows shuts in a few hours. It's impossible to find a replacement. Either I take you or no one.' Surprised, the others turn to the big boss. No one knows how he'll continue, but they know that his words are law. It's evident that he has not anchored his decision among the rest of the staff. Wenger decides. "You'll stay, heal, and train. I'll take you when you're fit."

"Now, the next circus starts. I could follow the events in real time, as the media started writing and friends contacted me. In spite of a time difference of four hours, and the Russian football association being closed, the transfer was done. The contract was signed in the last hour. I had left Spartak Moscow when everyone was asleep; I was just gone the next morning. I got a few good luck texts, but other than that, Russia was over for this time."

"I train like a mad man in England. I'm good at that. One day at the gym, Wenger stops by. When he enters a room, everybody sort of stops, as if they're waiting for a signal. He has that effect on people. I keep peddling on the exercise bike, as I'm trying to beat a certain time. Wenger is watching with his French, slightly casual, yet serious, gaze. We small-talk and we're on the right track. I felt like I was building confidence with the leader, without having kicked a ball yet. After five weeks of hard rehab, and the uncertainty whether my back would be restored, I'm suddenly back on the pitch. It was a long time since the club had won anything, and the British capitol is boiling, with the tabloids as directors. We're favourites against Wigan in the semi-finals, but we only manage to achieve a draw at full-time. The clock ticks, without anyone ending it. I'm sitting on the bench without any personal expectation. There's seven minutes left and I'm suddenly substituted for an exhausted Aaron Ramsey. The ref blows the whistle. Now, one of the finalists must be decided by a penalty shootout. A simple and brutal way to end things. Now, understanding of the game, tactics, and physical prowess are meaningless. Now, there is only a confused mess of nerves and chance. Penalty shoot-outs in football crowns kings, and always a scapegoat. You must score. All the pressure is on the taker. I hear Wenger shouting in French: "Kim, do you take penalties?" "Yeah, I'd be glad to take one." "Good. You're second." I decide early where to shoot it. When I walk alone to the spot, in a stadium with three times as many spectators as there are inhabitants of my hometown, Sandviken, I must suppress my smile. It's a long way to walk across the pitch. I'm relaxed - perhaps happy. I put the ball on the spot. Now, I just have to back up and find the right distance to the ball, run up, and strike the ball hard and high to the left. Just do what I usually do, what I know, and always have done. I've done it a thousand times before, and there's no nervousness. The keeper goes early, in the opposite direction of where I had decided to put it. When I watch the penalty on Youtube, the feelings return. The calm and the joy, but I'm surprised where the ball ended up. The ball ended up in the lower left corner, opposite of how I remembered it. I had decided to put it high to the left, but I remembered it as I actually put it low to the right. I'm confused, but the ball ended up in the net. We won the final and we're praised by over 200,000 supporters on the streets of London. Although my contribution was small in the 120-year history of the club, it was a highlight for me. The greatest fifteen minutes of my life, and it turns out I don't remember what happened. Where was I in that deciding moment? Trance, shock, delirium, coma, nervous breakdown, call it whatever you want. The only thing I know for sure is that sports and football are incomprehensible. That's why we love it. As long as that penalty continues to end up in the net, my experience is true. I'm sure of it."

wonga77

Great piece
Just for the record

x PyRo

Quazzie wrote: »

With Giroud we won't win the league. No matter who we buy for behind him, he won't get the extra goals required for us to make the next step. We need a striker who can score more than we need another attacking midfielder

Don't disagree but the question was Lacazette or Mahrez. The former is not the man to get us more goals than Giroud, regardless of what anyone says. Mahrez will increase the output from the wings (which, bar Sanchez, is utterly rubbish) and get more out of the others around him as well. Of the two, he's the superior option by a country mile.

If we had aspirations to win the league, we'd buy both as we need a winger and a CF.

keano_afc

To be honest the main thing I took from that was the embarrassing manner that the transfer was conducted. Wenger's statement about how the window was closing and there was no time to find a replacement speaks volumes. "Its you or nobody". Pathetic.

MonsterCookie

keano_afc wrote: »

To be honest the main thing I took from that was the embarrassing manner that the transfer was conducted. Wenger's statement about how the window was closing and there was no time to find a replacement speaks volumes. "Its you or nobody". Pathetic.

But we kind of knew it was all very last minute already so nothin new there. I was surprised AW had to ask him if he takes penalties (unless something was lost in translation).

https://twitter.com/mertesacker/status/759027393457745920

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000

Basil3 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/mertesacker/status/759027393457745920

**** sake, coq as CD and now Mert as GK.

L'prof

The Honey Monster wrote: »

**** sake, coq as CD and now Mert as GK.

Striker he said. We could do with a fox in the box!

greendom

L'prof wrote: »

Striker he said. We could do with a fox in the box!

make a great partnership with Ospina !

gosplan

L'prof wrote: »

Striker he said. We could do with a fox in the box!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp30gh1ns

Mad skills

tayto lover

Enjoying the Invincibles again on SS5. We'll never see their likes again.

Gringo180

tayto lover wrote: »

Enjoying the Invincibles again on SS5. We'll never see their likes again.

At times I feel we should of never left Highbury. What a fortress that place was. Best years of my life watching our sides from 98 to 2005. Best side to never win a European cup.

greendom

Gringo180 wrote: »

At times I feel we should of never left Highbury. What a fortress that place was. Best years of my life watching our sides from 98 to 2005. Best side to never win a European cup.

Until recently I wouldn't have agreed with you believing in the Emirates project and that it was necessary to compete. But the rubbish that Gazidis has come out with recently I'm really beginning to wonder.

TheGunns

Would've been smart of Gazidis to tell everyone we had bags of money to spend resulting in massively overpaying already inflated prices.

greendom

TheGunns wrote: »

Would've been smart of Gazidis to tell everyone we had bags of money to spend resulting in massively overpaying already inflated prices.

Wiser still just to say nothing. Why rile up supporters just to get a bit of leverage in the transfer market?

greendom

greendom wrote: »

Wiser still just to say nothing. Why rile up supporters just to get a bit of leverage in the transfer market?

Was he being asked direct questions about transfers and spending though?

greendom

Basil3 wrote: »

Was he being asked direct questions about transfers and spending though?

Not sure

Just saw his quotes. Not the full interview

emergingstar

Maherz signs a new deal wit Leicester

Ol' Donie

emergingstar wrote: »

Maherz signs a new deal wit Leicester

? Link?

emergingstar

Ol' Donie wrote: »

? Link?

Will break in a few mins when the embargo is up in papers

tayto lover

emergingstar wrote: »

Maherz signs a new deal wit Leicester

Says a lot about our current standing in football if two Leicester players turn us down.

tayto lover

tayto lover wrote: »

Says a lot about our current standing in football if two Leicester players turn us down.

I only know of an offer for Vardy.... who is the other one?

wonga77

disappointing but for some reason I didnt think it would ever happen, need to focus on the German cb now and hopefully bring in some sort of a striker. Not too confident of more signings but theres still time I guess