The only reason all these players got paid off to leave is because their extortionately high wages meant no club was willing to pay us a transfer fee for them and meet those wages. I’m pretty sure the club would have tried to get fees for them but no one was interested. Also I’m not sure all the players who left didn’t get on with Arteta. I didn’t see any problems with Kolasinac and Mari for example. I don’t know what people expected with Aubameyang and Özil, poor discipline and lack of effort could be excused if you’re producing the goods on the pitch but they were both performing terribly and had both checked out of Arsenal they had to go.
Why should we just give Bellerin a free transfer because he’s been a good boy and loyal? That’s the kind of thing that fans would lambast the club for. Bellerin has done ok at Betis, negotiate a fee with them or any other club that wants him, it may be less than we want to sell him for but why just give him away for free?

What do you think his wage currently is? Lets call it 70k - do you not see the problem of what happened with Özil and Aubameyang. They were on higher wages but if you want out of the club you just need to say you had 'çhecked out' and you will have expectations. I am not suggesting Bellerin will do that but if I was his manager I would say just stay on 70k or you give me a free. We should have been lambasting the club for the Özil and Aubameyang deals. Make no mistake these deals will hurt us for a long time to come.

There is a big difference between trying to shift a 27 year old, consummate professional on £70k a week to trying to shift players age 30+, not known for their professionalism and workrate on £350k a week.
Perhaps no one wants to buy Bellerin but it will be a damn sight easier to get a fee, any fee, for him than Aubameyang and Özil. £70k a week is not a huge amount for a player like Bellerin, if no one wants to take him on those wages AND pay a transfer fee then so be it but why would the club ‘offer’ the free transfer out of loyalty?

Apparently Bellerin is on £58k a week at Betis whereas he was on £110k a week at Arsenal. Reports say his Arsenal contract expires in 2023 although the club has an option of extending it by a year, so to 2024.

If he was willing to practically halve his salary to play for his boyhood (as a fan) club, the question is if he returns to Arsenal would we be legally obliged to put him back on £110k a week. I’m certainly not suggesting we should. But my guess would be we’d have to.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/tbrfootbal ... xit/%3Famp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.footba ... 642874.amp

This article suggests we could see Bellerin back at Arsenal next season. As I said before, if we’re legally obliged to pay him £110k a week (his Arsenal salary), that could make it difficult to sell him if the only reason for him accepting £58k at Betis was being a lifelong fan.

https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/ ... dium=email

Yes, you have to pay him the contracted amount. over 5 million wages for the year. The other issue is, were we picking up the balance of his wages. I would not be surprised if we were as that is normal practice.

Perhaps I phrased the whole issue in a difficult way to understand. I was merely posing questions on people like Bellerin. I am not saying we must give him a free, but it is difficult to see why he should not ask. Its things like this that cause problems in the club when someone is no longer wanted. Look at it this way - if you were his manager what would you advise him to do, knowing you probably get a percentage of his wages.

If he only has a year to run I’d imagine Arsenal would be willing to selling him for a nominal fee like 5-8 million.

He never struck me as a type obsessed by money like an Özil. I would imagine he will go as it feels easier to reach a compromise as it’s not like he’s on 350k a week and won’t get half elsewhere.

Everything I’ve read says it was with Özil. He was on £350k a week at Arsenal. Up to the point his contact expired, we allegedly paid 90% of that whereas Fenerbahce paid him the other 10%.

So his move apparently saved Arsenal £35k a week for six months. Big deal. The saving was peanuts.

Quite a lot of money to save if the player isn’t involved at all. Better off keeping 35k than nothing

New kits out. Don’t really like it

Martinelli wears 11 next year.

Great gesture of the club to give 5 pounds to charity for every shirt sold.

However The cost of the shirt is 100 quid. Just the shirt. 100 quid.

Allegedly our third kit will be pink with black trim.

How times change.

And we seem to take every opportunity not to play in red.

Wouldn’t call it quite a lot of money to save. Better than nothing is what I’d call it.

£100 is a disgrace TG.

Football was once as a working class game, a game for the people. Now imagine a one parent family or a family close to the breadline (as many are now) and how are they supposed to buy their kid(s) an Arsenal shirt.

How can it cost that much? What’s it made out of princess Dianas minge or something ?

Buy yourself a Versace bathrobe instead.

Actually I’ll offer my middle child that instead. He may well bite knowing him.

2022-2023 Arsenal kit.

Middle one seems cool though.

How many bags of sand is that one.

Honestly for 42 million we should tell them to do one but this one doesn’t seem to be going away.

Also being offered a couple of less than impressive players in return doesn’t appeal at all.

https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/19/arsenal- ... 5zhpy96w9t

Super. We’ve started a build process so let’s remove one of the key components.

I can’t believe the club would want to sell. He’s a major component of our side looking more compact.

I could understand why he might want to play there but a fee of 42 million would be ridiculous. He’s only 24 so he’s not even in his prime yet and has 3 years on his contract to run. We would be *%^@*** stupid to sell for such a small fee. No offer less than the Pépé fee should be even considered

The only way we sell Gabriel is if Arteta and the club have identified someone they feel is significantly better and, more to the point, can get him.

I think it's possible to upgrade on Gabriel but very difficult without CL football as part of the attraction. It would probably have to be some emerging kid from Portugal or South America who we have identified as a future superstar but, let's be honest, it's easier said than done.

That said, I am not yet convinced that Gabriel and White will be our longterm CB partnership.

You are probably right about this.

Similar to Leno - Ramsdale scenario where you have a perfectly adequate player but visualise a massive upgrade and a risk worth taking.

Must admit I really like the home shirt. But why would it be £100? That can’t be right.

It’s probably made in some Far East sweatshop for a pittance.

That said I love the retro shirts.

The Merch stand has a centenary yellow shirt from the 80s that I see when I leave the ground. Not a fan of wearing colours but I may have to splurge

When my boys were much younger they just loved the cheap black T shirts for sale on Gillespie Road. Stuff like The Flying Dutchman etc.

You could get a lot of those for the cost of the upcoming home shirt.

Perhaps the signing of Jesus is going to be more complicated than some people may have thought? The Metro says Arsenal may consider alternatives in light of City’s £55m asking price.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.u ... 73358/amp/

Cogmans law of negotiating

They start high you start low and you meet in the middle after a compromise

https://www.football365.com/news/arsena ... -e30m-star

Looks like the Melo deal could be back on......

Doesn’t strike me as the transformational midfielder we need

If he came alongside another tier 1 midfield baller to add variety. Fine

On his own would be a bit meh

In a swap for Gabriel… well I’d be positively livid. *%^@ that regime change etc etc

Seasons over so my end of season forum awards

Interesting Footballing poster of the year: Rich

Most missed poster : 1) mee by a mile 2) exiled 3) cannon

Dear god this blokes beyond mental award: American gooner

Proper old skool Arsenal award : DHD

I’m wrong but I won’t admit it award: 1) Bernard 2) Bernard 3) Bernard 4) Bernard 5) Bernard 6) Bernard

Were a bit neurotic but believe in the cause probably because we’re scarred by our Arsenal past1) Top Gun 2) Darren 3) TopGun 4) Top Gun 5) Top Gun

My posts are driven by anger award 1) Socrates 2) Top gun 3) Socrates 4) Top Gun 5) Socrates 6) Top Gun

The I rarely post but when I do I nail it award 1) Pompey 2) Andy green

Our posts are interesting and observational but it’s lost on you lot award 1) haz 2) Decaf




Like I said it’s done. Enjoy Sundays game. Have an extensive pre match lunch and drinks, don’t focus on the game. Pre match beers on me in block 133 (if I’m there in time) for those in Ireland and Australia please imagine it virtually.

How bizarre
Villa and Burnley played each other 12 days ago.
Now they are playing their 2nd league game tonight.
Has that ever happened that 2 teams have played both their fixtures against each other so close together in the same month???
Anyone know why?
It's not like any of them have been involved in Europe or gone that far in Cup competitions.

I sit in 133. Wonder if we’ve seen each other without knowing?

Likely , although my arrival time is varied.

If I think about it I’ve probably met a few Forumites down the years without knowing. Been to European finals, away games, home games I’ve even been to after speaking events. Bit weird really

It's only last season (I think) that a standard fan equivalent shirt was abouit £65, and a 'matchday' shirt, apparently 'as worn by the players' was the one that was £100.

Still, I guess we all want better players and we have (somehow) to pay for that.

And it's plastic.

What about us in Liverpool? (There's more than me - I think!! :) )

Long sleeves. For me that's proper Arsenal. Also what happened to the good old blue and gold as a 2nd away kit?