Fixtures Saturday February 15th - Leicester City - King Power Stadium - 12:30 Pm

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Post #398521  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:15 am 
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kiwipete wrote:
Rich wrote:
.

People say Haaland’s goal sparked a change in attitude but it was really the Partey goal


Yes but you are compelled to come with that arse backwards theory ... BECAUSE if you accept it was the Haarland goal that was the catalyst for us changing our game
.. you would in effect be agreeing with Gary Neville's take on things ; and you would rather have three wisdom teeth removed before doing that :1laughter:

It was 30 seconds between Haaland’s goal and Partey’s goal, we literally had one attack. If that 30 seconds was enough for everyone to declare a fundamental tactical shift in Arsenal compared to the previous 55 minutes then fair enough, but I’d say we had plenty of similar ‘attacks’ in the preceding 55 minutes that just didn’t end up in a goal. Given that we have to judge 30 seconds of play against the remaining 30 minutes of play before and after Partey’s goal I’d say the more logical conclusion is Partey’s goal triggered us to feel more bold and aggressive rather than Haaland’s.
And you’re quite right, having listened to most things Neville has said about Arsenal in the last 4 years I find his views totally twisted by narrative, bias and without any substance to back up his claims. Ironically he was far more measured and fair in his Arsenal commentary in the late Wenger days when he was one of the few to realise the unique job Wenger had done in keeping us in the CL whilst having to make a profit in the market every year


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Post #398522  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:28 am 
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Rich wrote:
Gunfire wrote:

Do you? Care to quote these fans?

Do you know how ironic it is that whenever I suggest Arsenal are disliked in any way by rival fans or the media you ask me to show you the evidence but yet after months and months of me asking you to provide a shred of evidence that we are NOT referees differently you still fail to even attempt to answer that question.

Literally go on any social media platform or rival fan forum. Liverpool fans are out there defending City and vice versa!

At this point I’m in Ash’s camp on not understanding why you engage in this nonsense.

It’s like you’re trying to explain classical music to a Goldfish.

Dude wtf, ignore it. Don’t bother.


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Post #398523  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:42 am 
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Draytonkid wrote:
Just wondering if Ethan could play no 9 just to give Havertz a break, him and Saka in the team together wow.

Possibly he or Martinelli could employed if we are defending a lead or under the cosh. They can carry the ball and launch counters. However, I don't know if they would be effective when we are trying to dismantle a low block.

Trossard can be decent in that false nine/ ten position. He's got a passable skillset, an attacking mentality, and reads play very well.

Declan could do an emergency CF job, if Havertz and Trossard are not available, and we at least have decent cover for him in midfield.

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Post #398524  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:48 am 
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Well I can’t believe that Arsenal were unable to find a striker on loan from Europe. I think it’s a dereliction of duty from the club. It’s an almighty gamble that our one and only erratic striker can stay fit enough to play every game of the season. If Arteta can pull this off and win the title or CL then documentaries and statues will be made about this season. But if we lose out because we lack firepower, blame will be squarely on the club.


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Post #398525  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:50 am 
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TOP GUN wrote:
It’s like you’re trying to explain classical music to a Goldfish.

Goldfishes rule these day. For example, 45% of Americans know what a tariff is. 22% (including Trump) think they do but are completely wrong, and 33% replied 'whot?'

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Post #398526  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 7:56 am 
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Bored wrote:
Well I can’t believe that Arsenal were unable to find a striker on loan from Europe. I think it’s a dereliction of duty from the club. It’s an almighty gamble that our one and only erratic striker can stay fit enough to play every game of the season. If Arteta can pull this off and win the title or CL then documentaries and statues will be made about this season. But if we lose out because we lack firepower, blame will be squarely on the club.

why didn’t we look at Kolo Muani. seems an obvious stop gap.

we seem to be far far too particular about recruiting Forwards.

Season is over. You can’t be this erratic in front of goal and whilst we will have our moments this isn’t a recipe for success at the highest level.


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Post #398527  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:22 am 
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Decaf wrote:
Draytonkid wrote:
Just wondering if Ethan could play no 9 just to give Havertz a break, him and Saka in the team together wow.

Possibly he or Martinelli could employed if we are defending a lead or under the cosh. They can carry the ball and launch counters. However, I don't know if they would be effective when we are trying to dismantle a low block.

Trossard can be decent in that false nine/ ten position. He's got a passable skillset, an attacking mentality, and reads play very well.

Declan could do an emergency CF job, if Havertz and Trossard are not available, and we at least have decent cover for him in midfield.

Sterling played quite a few games as a false 9 for City at one stage.


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Post #398528  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:32 am 
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TOP GUN wrote:
Gaz from Oz wrote:
See Orstein saying Villa wanted 60 and we offered 40 for Watkins. Can’t blame Edu this time.

I saw that. I have to say Ornstein comes across as quite surprised we didn’t meet the price of 60. I would have been tempted too. Need to wrap Trossard and Havertz in cotton wool for the rest of the season now.

The Jesus injury has caused problems for us. We are stuck with him and a large wage bill. I had hoped we would offload him last window and then of course we keep him and he has a significant injury. I suppose if Watkins wasn’t really what we wanted and we couldn’t afford to have him on the books long term. But now in the next window we must find the player we want and it will cost us big time as clubs will know we are desperate.

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Post #398529  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:53 am 
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Rich wrote:
Gunfire wrote:

Do you? Care to quote these fans?

Do you know how ironic it is that whenever I suggest Arsenal are disliked in any way by rival fans or the media you ask me to show you the evidence but yet after months and months of me asking you to provide a shred of evidence that we are NOT referees differently you still fail to even attempt to answer that question.

Literally go on any social media platform or rival fan forum. Liverpool fans are out there defending City and vice versa!


Hang on. Remember Hitchin’s razor. That which is proposed without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. You said it you prove it. Furthermore if you go to a Manu, Liverpool or Man City website at the start of the season they frequently ask the question who would you rather win the league if we don't. On Shankly gates and Red Cafe they ALWAYS say Arsenal.

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Post #398530  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:54 am 
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TOP GUN wrote:
Bored wrote:
Well I can’t believe that Arsenal were unable to find a striker on loan from Europe. I think it’s a dereliction of duty from the club. It’s an almighty gamble that our one and only erratic striker can stay fit enough to play every game of the season. If Arteta can pull this off and win the title or CL then documentaries and statues will be made about this season. But if we lose out because we lack firepower, blame will be squarely on the club.

why didn’t we look at Kolo Muani. seems an obvious stop gap.

we seem to be far far too particular about recruiting Forwards.

Season is over. You can’t be this erratic in front of goal and whilst we will have our moments this isn’t a recipe for success at the highest level.


Got to agree very disappointing. Muani, Vlahovic there are strikers who could do a short term job. That 5-1 might have sealed the no deal.

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Post #398531  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:01 am 
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Not a very eventful window, losing another youngster to United was about the only thing of note.

Disappointing really given the precipitous situation we find ourselves in injury-wise.

Are we just pretty crap at this buying and selling lark?

I get the bit where main targets were not available but when was the last time we bought a wonder kid in their late teens? Someone on the starting blocks of a big career. Would it be Marquinhos, who was not really in this category, more of a cheap gamble on some glimmers of potential.

I read that we did a lot of groundwork on Estavao, then Brazilian kid but Chelsea came in late and snatched him. Same for Reis, the brazilian kid that City have just bought.

It feels like we are not decisive enough, just like the Wenger days when constant dithering cost us a fair few targets.


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Post #398532  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:06 am 
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TOP GUN wrote:
Rich wrote:
Do you know how ironic it is that whenever I suggest Arsenal are disliked in any way by rival fans or the media you ask me to show you the evidence but yet after months and months of me asking you to provide a shred of evidence that we are NOT referees differently you still fail to even attempt to answer that question.

Literally go on any social media platform or rival fan forum. Liverpool fans are out there defending City and vice versa!

At this point I’m in Ash’s camp on not understanding why you engage in this nonsense.

It’s like you’re trying to explain classical music to a Goldfish.

Dude wtf, ignore it. Don’t bother.
Water Music is lovely...

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Post #398533  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:17 am 
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socrates wrote:
Not a very eventful window, losing another youngster to United was about the only thing of note.

Disappointing really given the precipitous situation we find ourselves in injury-wise.

Are we just pretty crap at this buying and selling lark?

I get the bit where main targets were not available but when was the last time we bought a wonder kid in their late teens? Someone on the starting blocks of a big career. Would it be Marquinhos, who was not really in this category, more of a cheap gamble on some glimmers of potential.

I read that we did a lot of groundwork on Estavao, then Brazilian kid but Chelsea came in late and snatched him. Same for Reis, the brazilian kid that City have just bought.

It feels like we are not decisive enough, just like the Wenger days when constant dithering cost us a fair few targets.

I think recently we are getting better in the transfer market but simply don’t understand how to sign strikers.

Recruiting a striker is unlike recruiting for any other position on the pitch. It’s like finding and buying a rare piece of art. It involves writing large cheques and taking in some cases very large risks about what is being bought. You also need to speculate on potential talent at high costs something Arsenal just haven’t been willing to do. However like I said this summer you simply can’t opt out as every winning side needs firepower.

It feels like we are waiting to sign the sure thing at perfect price for us. We’ve been really poor in this area of recruitment.


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Post #398534  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:05 am 
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TOP GUN wrote:
socrates wrote:
Not a very eventful window, losing another youngster to United was about the only thing of note.

Disappointing really given the precipitous situation we find ourselves in injury-wise.

Are we just pretty crap at this buying and selling lark?

I get the bit where main targets were not available but when was the last time we bought a wonder kid in their late teens? Someone on the starting blocks of a big career. Would it be Marquinhos, who was not really in this category, more of a cheap gamble on some glimmers of potential.

I read that we did a lot of groundwork on Estavao, then Brazilian kid but Chelsea came in late and snatched him. Same for Reis, the brazilian kid that City have just bought.

It feels like we are not decisive enough, just like the Wenger days when constant dithering cost us a fair few targets.

I think recently we are getting better in the transfer market but simply don’t understand how to sign strikers.

Recruiting a striker is unlike recruiting for any other position on the pitch. It’s like finding and buying a rare piece of art. It involves writing large cheques and taking in some cases very large risks about what is being bought. You also need to speculate on potential talent at high costs something Arsenal just haven’t been willing to do. However like I said this summer you simply can’t opt out as every winning side needs firepower.

It feels like we are waiting to sign the sure thing at perfect price for us. We’ve been really poor in this area of recruitment.


:20hospitals:

Could be worse tbh, we could have spunked 100M on Zirkzee and Hojlund.

Guessing Trossard and Havertz will share CF. Next season Liverpool won’t have Salah. And we’ll presumably get someone high up our list in the summer.

Also really we should be signing michael Oliver.


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Post #398535  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:12 am 
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TOP GUN wrote:
Decaf wrote:
Possibly he or Martinelli could employed if we are defending a lead or under the cosh. They can carry the ball and launch counters. However, I don't know if they would be effective when we are trying to dismantle a low block.

Trossard can be decent in that false nine/ ten position. He's got a passable skillset, an attacking mentality, and reads play very well.

Declan could do an emergency CF job, if Havertz and Trossard are not available, and we at least have decent cover for him in midfield.

Sterling played quite a few games as a false 9 for City at one stage.

I'd forgotten him. Definitely an option.

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Post #398536  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:59 am 
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As unexciting, and perhaps surprising as it is not to have brought anybody in over this transfer period, it is most likely for realistic reasons. You can tell by the buzz of the manager and players after the City win that the club has not given up on winning a trophy this season, but honestly, who was actually available to make us significantly better over the next few months than we are right now? Watkins may have upgraded us, but were an aspirational Villa ever going to let him go after selling their younger, relatively unproven striker for silly money? They had no need to do so. All the other top names bandied about were wish-list rather than possibilities. Why would Leipzig, Sporting or Juventus sell their guys in January when they can do so in June?

It seems we have a great togetherness as a squad, so maybe the view is not to disrupt that, but go with that momentum and see just what they can achieve. Then add some real quality in the summer.

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Post #398537  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:07 am 
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old man of hoy wrote:
As unexciting, and perhaps surprising as it is not to have brought anybody in over this transfer period, it is most likely for realistic reasons. You can tell by the buzz of the manager and players after the City win that the club has not given up on winning a trophy this season, but honestly, who was actually available to make us significantly better over the next few months than we are right now? Watkins may have upgraded us, but were an aspirational Villa ever going to let him go after selling their younger, relatively unproven striker for silly money? They had no need to do so. All the other top names bandied about were wish-list rather than possibilities. Why would Leipzig, Sporting or Juventus sell their guys in January when they can do so in June?

It seems we have a great togetherness as a squad, so maybe the view is not to disrupt that, but go with that momentum and see just what they can achieve. Then add some real quality in the summer.

I think that is a fair summary. Barring a bad collapse leading us not qualifying for the Champions League, there shouldn't be too many serious complaints (notwithstanding the usual twitter and youtube hysteria). A couple of good signings in the summer and the future is looking very exciting. 2004/5 feels like a dress reheasal rather than the opening night.

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Post #398538  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:10 am 
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Rich wrote:
...Pundits in this country massively over rate Zola. Obviously a good player but his goals and assists record is quite poor... Many put Zola in lists of top prem players ever - not a chance he even makes the top 50 or maybe even 100 for me
I can't agree with that! Whatever the data says, even in a Chelsea shirt Zola was a beautiful presence on a football field. The type of player you pay your money to see. As for not in the top 100, it reminds me of that recent Rolling Stone list of Top 250 guitarists, which somehow concluded that there were 152 better players than Rory Gallagher!!

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Post #398539  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:14 am 
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I'm glad we didn't go big for Watkins, 29yo, would be huge outlay for a player who isn't good enough for us medium term - I've heard several Villa fans saying this too, they think he's good but not good enough for Arsenal


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Post #398540  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:45 am 
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1979gooner wrote:
I'm glad we didn't go big for Watkins, 29yo, would be huge outlay for a player who isn't good enough for us medium term - I've heard several Villa fans saying this too, they think he's good but not good enough for Arsenal

Ok I’ll bite on this one.

Whilst you can have a debate about the fee and if he is worth it in my opinion you can’t question his ability.

Only 3 players have scored more premier league goals over the last 3 seasons. (Haaland, Salah, Isak) that’s a fact. He’s better than what we have. There’s no way he’s missing that chance Havertz fluffed.

Arsenal simply don’t have any strikers who want to play on the on the shoulder of defenders and run in behind. I genuinely think it’s this that has cost us the title twice now. Really it can’t go on it’s cost us dearly.

I’m absolutely dumbfounded that any of our fans wouldn’t want him and if I’m honest I would have done the deal with them at 60 million. Anything could happen this summer in the transfer market saying let’s wait for Sesko or Isak seems risky I genuinely don’t think it’s that easy.


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Post #398541  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 12:48 pm 
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Spurs paying Bayern €10m for 4 months of Mathys Tel - plus his wages. If they want him permanently that’s another €60m on top of the 10 spent on his loan….and Tel can obviously still veto the deal


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Post #398542  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:20 pm 
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TOP GUN wrote:
Ok I’ll bite on this one. Whilst you can have a debate about the fee and if he is worth it in my opinion you can’t question his ability.

Only 3 players have scored more premier league goals over the last 3 seasons. (Haaland, Salah, Isak) that’s a fact. He’s better than what we have. There’s no way he’s missing that chance Havertz fluffed. Arsenal simply don’t have any strikers who want to play on the on the shoulder of defenders and run in behind. I genuinely think it’s this that has cost us the title twice now. Really it can’t go on it’s cost us dearly.

I’m absolutely dumbfounded that any of our fans wouldn’t want him and if I’m honest I would have done the deal with them at 60 million. Anything could happen this summer in the transfer market saying let’s wait for Sesko or Isak seems risky I genuinely don’t think it’s that easy.
He is a very good player and certainly wouldn't have hindered us for the rest of this season, but was he really available after Villa had offloaded Dhuran? Why would Villa want to weaken themselves when they still have a lot to play for? I think too much is being made about our striking weakness - domestically we are ahead of all but Liverpool when it comes to scoring goals, and in Europe we have scored at two a game - not exactly powderpuff.

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Post #398543  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:53 pm 
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TOP GUN wrote:
1979gooner wrote:
I'm glad we didn't go big for Watkins, 29yo, would be huge outlay for a player who isn't good enough for us medium term - I've heard several Villa fans saying this too, they think he's good but not good enough for Arsenal

Ok I’ll bite on this one.

Whilst you can have a debate about the fee and if he is worth it in my opinion you can’t question his ability.

Only 3 players have scored more premier league goals over the last 3 seasons. (Haaland, Salah, Isak) that’s a fact. He’s better than what we have. There’s no way he’s missing that chance Havertz fluffed.

Arsenal simply don’t have any strikers who want to play on the on the shoulder of defenders and run in behind. I genuinely think it’s this that has cost us the title twice now. Really it can’t go on it’s cost us dearly.

I’m absolutely dumbfounded that any of our fans wouldn’t want him and if I’m honest I would have done the deal with them at 60 million. Anything could happen this summer in the transfer market saying let’s wait for Sesko or Isak seems risky I genuinely don’t think it’s that easy.

Just to play devils advocate didn't Watkins miss exactly the chance that Havertz missed when we played them early on this season at Villa Park?
I think its clear that Watkins would improve us for the here and now. Weighing that up against missing out on a long term target in the summer is difficult and will come down to the money spent. £60m is a lot but only £20m more than we were willing to go to - so £20m outlay for the rest of the season doesn't feel like much when you're willing to commit £40m. To think if we'd got Omari Hutchinson a proper loan deal and then sold him to Ipswich for £20m that extra £20m for Watkins is paid for - Chelsea took him from us, gave him a loan and sold him - they did nothing difficult at all


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Post #398544  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:55 pm 
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I disagree re Watkins. This season even his goal scoring record is pretty much the same as Havertz in the league (Watkins has 10 in 23, Havertz has 9 in 21).

in terms of all round game, work rate and general menace - Havertz is a far better player too.

Signing Watkins now for outlay of around 100-150 mill which is what it would have been, at age 29, would be a bad move. It would hugely limit us bringing in better players in the summer, there are real consequences to every bit of spending now with PSR, as someone has remarked, signing Tel on loan is over 10mill outlay! Crazy.


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Post #398545  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:07 pm 
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Rich wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
Ok I’ll bite on this one.

Whilst you can have a debate about the fee and if he is worth it in my opinion you can’t question his ability.

Only 3 players have scored more premier league goals over the last 3 seasons. (Haaland, Salah, Isak) that’s a fact. He’s better than what we have. There’s no way he’s missing that chance Havertz fluffed.

Arsenal simply don’t have any strikers who want to play on the on the shoulder of defenders and run in behind. I genuinely think it’s this that has cost us the title twice now. Really it can’t go on it’s cost us dearly.

I’m absolutely dumbfounded that any of our fans wouldn’t want him and if I’m honest I would have done the deal with them at 60 million. Anything could happen this summer in the transfer market saying let’s wait for Sesko or Isak seems risky I genuinely don’t think it’s that easy.

Just to play devils advocate didn't Watkins miss exactly the chance that Havertz missed when we played them early on this season at Villa Park?
I think its clear that Watkins would improve us for the here and now. Weighing that up against missing out on a long term target in the summer is difficult and will come down to the money spent. £60m is a lot but only £20m more than we were willing to go to - so £20m outlay for the rest of the season doesn't feel like much when you're willing to commit £40m. To think if we'd got Omari Hutchinson a proper loan deal and then sold him to Ipswich for £20m that extra £20m for Watkins is paid for - Chelsea took him from us, gave him a loan and sold him - they did nothing difficult at all

I mean precisely. We are paying Zinchenko 7.8 million a year to sit on the bench and do nothing. Is another 20 million worth breaking Kai Havertz for.

You can say he misses chances but like I said hes finished in the top 4 scorers for the last 3 season. He’s better.

Whenever we sign anyone these days you get a bunch of people performing a financial ROI on the fee and wages. This is football you need to chuck that out the window. None of the figures ever make sense

If Ferguson had listened to these people he wouldn’t have signed 29 year old van persie and then not won his last title


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Post #398546  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:13 pm 
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Ash wrote:
TOP GUN wrote:
I think recently we are getting better in the transfer market but simply don’t understand how to sign strikers.

Recruiting a striker is unlike recruiting for any other position on the pitch. It’s like finding and buying a rare piece of art. It involves writing large cheques and taking in some cases very large risks about what is being bought. You also need to speculate on potential talent at high costs something Arsenal just haven’t been willing to do. However like I said this summer you simply can’t opt out as every winning side needs firepower.

It feels like we are waiting to sign the sure thing at perfect price for us. We’ve been really poor in this area of recruitment.


:20hospitals:

Could be worse tbh, we could have spunked 100M on Zirkzee and Hojlund.

Guessing Trossard and Havertz will share CF. Next season Liverpool won’t have Salah. And we’ll presumably get someone high up our list in the summer.

Also really we should be signing michael Oliver.


:42laughter: where did I hear that one before? :1laughter:

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Post #398547  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:13 pm 
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TOP GUN wrote:
Rich wrote:
Just to play devils advocate didn't Watkins miss exactly the chance that Havertz missed when we played them early on this season at Villa Park?
I think its clear that Watkins would improve us for the here and now. Weighing that up against missing out on a long term target in the summer is difficult and will come down to the money spent. £60m is a lot but only £20m more than we were willing to go to - so £20m outlay for the rest of the season doesn't feel like much when you're willing to commit £40m. To think if we'd got Omari Hutchinson a proper loan deal and then sold him to Ipswich for £20m that extra £20m for Watkins is paid for - Chelsea took him from us, gave him a loan and sold him - they did nothing difficult at all

I mean precisely. We are paying Zinchenko 7.8 million a year to sit on the bench and do nothing. Is another 20 million worth breaking Kai Havertz for.

You can say he misses chances but like I said hes finished in the top 4 scorers for the last 3 season. He’s better.

Whenever we sign anyone these days you get a bunch of people performing a financial ROI on the fee and wages. This is football you need to chuck that out the window. None of the figures ever make sense

If Ferguson had listened to these people he wouldn’t have signed 29 year old van persie and then not won his last title



Fair. Personally I don't rate Watkins as highly as some. Good player and good goal scoring record, but he won't take us up a level at all imho.


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Post #398548  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:45 pm 
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This seems an interesting insight that seems to be in the loop

https://x.com/nigel_b_golf/status/18867 ... 2SVs7ar8TQ


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Post #398549  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 4:01 pm 
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More info on an upgrade. Interesting video.


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Post #398550  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:33 pm 
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warrior wrote:


More info on an upgrade. Interesting video.

It'd be interesting to see the plans when/if they come out. Iirc correctly we were constrained by planning from increasing the height of the stadium.

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Post #398551  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 5:40 pm 
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warrior wrote:


More info on an upgrade. Interesting video.


Bit light on detail, isn't it?


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Post #398552  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 8:11 pm 
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https://x.com/footyaccums/status/188682 ... -j6VVZXEoA

Has any pundit had the take to you know, maybe criticise the team who got trounced 5-1, the team who can’t run, the team who can’t stand intensity rather than focus on a celebration of an 18 year old.

I remember when Rooney burst on the scene and was quite wild with his temper and tackles everyone said it’s his personality you can’t take that away from him because it’s what makes him him.


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Post #398553  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:03 pm 
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DHD wrote:
Two things that stood out for me yesterday:

1. Just how mediocre is Foden? What on earth is there to justify the hype?
.

Can't agree with that , Foden's pass to Partey was top draw


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Post #398554  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:47 pm 
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Gaz from Oz wrote:
kiwipete wrote:

I'm hoping those two ; Nwaneri Skelley will lead the way to more forward thinking .

I am with you on this. The last 30 minutes reminded me of some of our great Wenger teams, not Arteta style. I hope he can give a bit more trust to some of our players and reduce the rigidity which appears the norm.


Hmmm ... bit of a toss up , was the four goal blitz a result of Mikel's magic or did things just fortuitously unfold .

Making an argument for the latter ...
.second goal ... Foden's pass really gave Partey no other option ; twenty yards out , having just gone behind , crowd screaming SHOOT
third goal .... result of Skelley's impetuousness
Fourth goal .... Havertz forced to atone for his unbelievable earlier miss
Fifth goal ... no explanation needed

The benefits for being more adventurous are obvious but on the evidence of that doldrum period before Haarland's equaliser the pessimist in me thinks that is the true Arteta .

I saw Thierry Henry in an after match summary saying

.... " Ahh wee go ahead early on ...and then what happeend ..Gallic shrug ...Je ne sai pas .... we deed nuthin , then when Haarland ..ah ...score ; we start ...ahhh playing different .


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Post #398555  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 10:17 pm 
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Burnley have conceded just 9 goals in 31 games in the championship, only scored 37. 2nd place with 10 x 0-0 draws this year, last 9 games conceded no goals in the league.


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Post #398556  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:08 pm 
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Rich wrote:
Burnley have conceded just 9 goals in 31 games in the championship, only scored 37. 2nd place with 10 x 0-0 draws this year, last 9 games conceded no goals in the league.

Yep..Truly awful. Football is meant to be fun.

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Post #398557  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:15 pm 
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kiwipete wrote:
Gaz from Oz wrote:
I am with you on this. The last 30 minutes reminded me of some of our great Wenger teams, not Arteta style. I hope he can give a bit more trust to some of our players and reduce the rigidity which appears the norm.


Hmmm ... bit of a toss up , was the four goal blitz a result of Mikel's magic or did things just fortuitously unfold .

Making an argument for the latter ...
.second goal ... Foden's pass really gave Partey no other option ; twenty yards out , having just gone behind , crowd screaming SHOOT
third goal .... result of Skelley's impetuousness
Fourth goal .... Havertz forced to atone for his unbelievable earlier miss
Fifth goal ... no explanation needed

The benefits for being more adventurous are obvious but on the evidence of that doldrum period before Haarland's equaliser the pessimist in me thinks that is the true Arteta .

I saw Thierry Henry in an after match summary saying

.... " Ahh wee go ahead early on ...and then what happeend ..Gallic shrug ...Je ne sai pas .... we deed nuthin , then when Haarland ..ah ...score ; we start ...ahhh playing different .

It's a bit more than good fortune when you win 5-1. We got lucky with Partey's goal and the timing couldn't have been better. After that though, we took over. Rice and Partey were dominant and City crumbled.

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Post #398558  Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 11:19 pm 
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https://x.com/muwenguweyoryry/status/18 ... -j6VVZXEoA

Look at these clips of Carragher and Neville revelling in the animosity between Arsenal and City after the game at the Etihad. ‘Can’t wait for the return fixture’

Now suddenly Arsenal are the victors and had a couple of incidents where we might have had a pop at City for revenge after what they did to us and their tune has changed completely.

These two and Sky in general drive the narrative around football so much. If all we here is classless Arsenal, dart arts Arsenal, unsportsmanlike Arsenal that feeds in to the every day fan - and let’s not kid ourselves that officials are the only ones who can turn a blind eye to the noise and media driven narrative


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Post #398559  Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 1:37 am 
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dec wrote:
kiwipete wrote:

Hmmm ... bit of a toss up , was the four goal blitz a result of Mikel's magic or did things just fortuitously unfold .
.

It's a bit more than good fortune when you win 5-1. We got lucky with Partey's goal and the timing couldn't have been better. After that though, we took over. Rice and Partey were dominant and City crumbled.


a perfect storm scenario ... All the planets magically align ...? I dunno ; hope you are right ; we'll see if lessons have been learnt tomorrow .

Anyway what's the story with this US Aid deal .....? $70 ,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland ........ did you or Gunfire see any of that ?

$47, 000 for a transgender opera in Columbia etc etc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdw31c6HPCI


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Post #398560  Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2025 3:19 am 
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I don't pay much attention to the pundits, especially ex-footballers, with their opinions. Expect them to be bias. Expect them to create their own narratives based on bias. Expect them to be like us. We do create our own narratives too. And there is one undisputable fact between us and them, we are Human!

As for bias referees officiating our games, that is a totally different matter.

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