No, if they wish to it is for anybody to say what they feel about this issue. The very public act of knee-bending is played out on our screens to invite us to think, and speak about racism. It is a subject relevant to all. Like you I think the clenched fist was much more powerful, and inspirational, than the bended knee. Many working-class people I know, and I include myself in this, find the gesture subservient. Being on our knees may help when playing with kids or doing the garden - anti-racism needs us to stand up tall.

Even if we get Buendia, how confident are people that he’ll be better or represent an improvement on Ødegaard? Because I’m not. Signing Norwich’s best player, if we do, does less for me than signing an outstanding young prospect from Real Madrid who they rate highly enough to not give us an option to buy.

Some have found Ødegaard a little underwhelming. I haven’t. His performances against West Ham and Brighton, and he produced in other games too, convinced me he’s a special talent. Very special. Buendia has shone in the second tier of English club football. Sure, it’s a competitive league so I’m not going to write that off with ‘big deal’. But given the choice of either keeping Ødegaard or recruiting Buendia, my own personal decision would be to retain Ødegaard.

Also, Buendia has played first team football with three clubs. He had two seasons in the Getafe side, a small top tier outfit who have played in La Liga for only sixteen years of their existence and have never won the Spanish top tier league or cup. After that they sent him on loan to Cultural Leonesa, currently a third tier Spanish club. Then he was sold to Norwich. Certainly not the smallest club in England but miles away from what I think of a big club. I hope I’m wrong but I’m finding it hard to feel excited about him joining Arsenal.

To be honest socrates, you refer to us as a “so called big club”. Are we still? We’re now a KSE club, and have been for ten years. Sure, although it’s fallen over that time we’ve still a huge worldwide fan base and as a result can fill a big stadium. But the size of Arsenal has fallen under the Kroenke ownership regime, and I will be surprised if that decline doesn’t continue under Stan.

I think I’m more optimistic about the potential of Buendia in our team (should he sign) than others. I did like Ødegaard and I think if you were comparing them both Ødegaard’s ability would be more subtle. Signing a player from the championship or even a player from the prem is pretty rare for Arsenal. The things that stick out for me for Buendia is he is 2 footed, we’ve missed a genuine 2 footed player in central areas. I’m not even talking about goals scored with each foot, just basic passing and dribbling. Ødegaard was very one footed as was Özil. Buendia’s stats show a very high work rate and good in the high press and turnovers. Fans will instantly take to that as well.
Last time Buendia played in the prem he created more chances for his team mates than every player apart from de Bruyne and Trent. I think he only got 7 assists that season. Which I think is still more than any Arsenal player has managed in the past couple of seasons, and putting those chances on for Arsenal’s strikers rather than Norwich’s can up that assist total.

I understand Sergio Aguero gave gifts to support staff on his departure and also gave away his car. A nice gesture. I know people will say he can afford it etc etc; but how many players actually recognise people at their club when they leave.

Are we actually going to be beaten to Buendia by Aston *%^@*** villa.
Embarrassing.
Amateurish.

I know we’ve been *%^@ of late, but I honestly don’t believe a player would choose Villa over us even with us being in this state.

Martin Keown?

Are we actually going to be beaten to Buendia by Aston *%^@*** villa.
Embarrassing.
Amateurish.

Preferred Ødegaard anyway.

https://twitter.com/paddyjdavitt/status/1401213048044593156?s=21

Darren,
Have to see if Carlo actually changes his mind about retaining Ødegaard obviously.

This is it though, has he said anything or is it just rumour? I haven’t heard any direct quotes saying the player is staying at Madrid, just noise and rumour.

It fits the story to knock Arsenal over this Buendia deal but who knows if the interest was real?

Not sure we were ever serious. I doubt it would’ve been the money. Think Partey. Think Pépé.

We may moan about our spending policy but the evidence suggests we will pay what’s needed to secure our targets.

We have spent recently but not wisely. We seem to have bought players without enough consideration to the personality of the player and thought towards settling in to the league. We very, very rarely shop for English based players, there is a much greater certainty of those players being able to continue the form that sparked the interest in the first place.

Not sure we were ever serious. I doubt it would’ve been the money. Think Partey. Think Pépé.

We may moan about our spending policy but the evidence suggests we will pay what’s needed to secure our targets.

A Chelsea supporting friend of mine sent me this.

I know we’ve been *%^@ of late, but I honestly don’t believe a player would choose Villa over us even with us being in this state. Either, he’s not our first, primary target or we weren’t in seriously in for him. I get it may fit the narrative of how bad we are when it comes to transfers, but I tend to err on the side of this being b%*&s%*^. If we want him, I reckon we’d have signed him or will sign him.

Our targets must be elsewhere I’d have thought.

Wouldn’t go losing your *%^@ quite just yet.

I have found no official confirmation from AVilla that they have signed this bloke.

I would have liked to have seen Buendia arrive as he seems like a rare mix of goals and assists. However, I don’t know the extent of our interest in him so I can’t say whether we’ve screwed up or not.