Definitely need another midifelder, or at least a formation change. It’s weird because Wenger clearly loves Xhaka, Wilshere and Ramsey, but he plays a formation that isn’t suited to any of them.

I’m just hoping the new signings help our stale offense a bit. Might at least make the remaining games this season more enjoyable to watch.

Continuing on that thread, I wonder what Wenger sees as our best eleven now. Clearly nothing has changed in defense and goal, so it's probably Čech, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Bellerin and Kolasinac. In midfield I think he'd go for Xhaka and Ramsey (Wilshere has looked great, but there's no bigger Ramsey admirer than Wenger).

Then there's some interesting options up front - don't think he's ready to drop Lacazette, but I can definitely see Wenger push Aubameyang to a wide position. Özil doesn't get dropped. So that leaves players like Wilshere and Mkhitaryan on the bench possibly?

Sounds great - a cup of tea is always a good idea. As is putting the Mrs. first. Keep on chooglin.

As horrible as Mourinho is (Allardyce is nowhere nears as awful) you must try to get over the focus on managers. Looks like it could be good business for all concerned. We move on one player who doesn't want to be here and another who has done his time, in return for hopefully a couple of guys who can lift us. If the Gabon guy comes and hits his straps then we surely have lost nothing in the deal?

But omoh its to a club that we need to get past to be in the CL possibly. A direct rival. Never a good thing that your best player goes to Man Utd. Even the 6th place Man Utd, never, ever, ever!!

..fat Sam is as bad or worse than Mourinho...to me at least. He loathes Wenger. Mourinho, its partly an act for mind games purposes. fat Sam hates him for real.

I actually agree with this. Sanchez has been here four years but it's time to move on for all concerned, couldn't really care less where he goes. Not over-excited with touted new signings but it will be more interesting than what has gone on so far this season with an out-of-sorts star bashing his head against an out-of-sorts team run by an unlovable wanker of a manager who probably only owns two of those v-necks, one goes to the dry cleaners on match days. There, Hoy, we are in total agreement aren't we?

Yes, the notion that selling Walcott to Everton is somehow bad beause Sam Allerdyce apparently hates Wenger (which in itself is probably a ridiculous notion) is up there with AGs sillier ideas. We're getting good money for a player we have zero need for anymore, and Walcott gets a chance to shine at a really good club more suited to his current level. On paper that's a win-win.

With Sanchez, selling one of your best players to a club you're aiming to compete with is never good, but with the way the situation has developed it had to be done. We desperately need a fresh start, building around players who actually wants to be here.

If you're right about Allardyce hating Wenger, and I'm not sure you are, that makes him okay by me. I firmly believe Wenger is inflicting damage on a club I've supported for what's now over fifty years. So why should I be bothered by anyone who dislikes him? At least for that reason. I'd say the same about Mourinho.

Seems appropriate to dust off this classic Wenger headline
http://www.football365.com/news/wenger- ... and-sanogo

Agree with this. £20m rising to £25m is exactly the right deal we should have done. Walcott hasn't been used this season. Use the £25m to reinvest and bring in a player who can contribute

Also on Sanchez, horrible situation to have got ourselves in to but however far we've gone there is always the chance to reassess and make the best decision at that time.
Should have tied him down to a contract - fail
should have sold him last summer for £60m - fail
sell him now for £10m plus a player? when the next option is a sulky player contributing less nothing and destablising any team morale we have left leaving for free at the end of the season.....

If you say so, AG. Sam, on the other hand, says: "I've had some good fun with Arsene. I got under his skin but those were the early days. Our meetings have been much more amicable since, on and off the field.

"I've always had a huge amount of respect for him. Winding-up was just a procedure we used as and when it was necessary."

Who is telling the truth? Given Wenger's decade long empty promises, and gibberish press conferences, I don't think Ade was far from the truth.

http://www.espnfcasia.com/english-premi ... -city-move

I love Adebayor.

Because he is the Platonic ideal type of a PL footballer.

A lying, greedy, mad, narcissistic, mercenary who Wenger quite correctly knew had to be got rid of quick smart (I believe that's the expression, mcQ?).

Nothing he says about anything on any level at all can be believed - in fact if you want to know the truth: "what Adebayor says except the opposite" would probably be a decent starting point.

Also because the row over his dad's profession between babu and chocolate gooner was one of the funniest things I've seen on here. Dunno why he's blaming us for it either - it was the Tottenham fans who came up with it.

Wenger was hinting that Sanchez could be involved v palace as the deal wasn’t done today. Absolute madness, and haven’t we been here before with ox. He might as well just field 10 men. What if Sanchez gets a bad injury?!

Wenger now saying our future transfer policy will be to go for up and coming younger players because we can’t compete with the biggest sides. This is some back track from the promises we were sold with the move to the emirates. Granted we wouldn’t have known about the oligarchs coming in but there is only 3 of them. Weren’t we sold competing with Bayern and that there were only 10 or so players in the world out of our reach?

Honestly I thought being able to go up against the richest 5-6 clubs in the world, and those same clubs with rich histories, was always going to be difficult if not impossible. But fans haven’t ever asked for that, all we’ve asked for is for us to improve the teams with the resources we have (and certainly to be able to compete financially with or over Liverpool and spurs!

However, the idea that we need to bring in younger players (who still cost a lot) does make sense - the Dortmund, athletico, Monaco, spurs (!) model is where we are at.

It's that wisdom and forward thinking that got us where we are today.

Allardyce ..... as a player he came from a bygone gladatorial era where centre forwards and centre halves , kicked , elbowed each other each giving no quarter .
They didn't fall in a big agonised heap holding their face when someone brushed their sock . He gave it and took it no complaints .

So he wound Arsene up , had his players get among our players ......how awful ...... he was at a p***sy little unfashionable club who couldn't dream of league titles , Euro glory like us , their main object every year was Premier League survival .

They weren't breaking any rules , I find it quite irrtating this constant whine about "FAT" Sam . [ epecially from the Yankee half wit ]

Rather than crying and blubbing about the Kevins Davies / Nolan we should have taken measures to combat it .

Thrown into stop gap situations he's pulled off some amazing turn arounds with clubs seemingly doomed to relegation [ things seem to go a bit pear shaped later ]

Big Sam's a survivor , I like the bloke .

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42752098 ...Walcott sounding all focused but then he was always rabbiting about wake up calls , turning the corner etc

Rooney surplying Walcott finishing ... could work well , added spice for our next clash with Everton .

A fired up Walcott against our Maginot line ..... hmmmm

Thanks for clearing that up

.
Agents fee mentioned for the Mykhitaryan deal ...10 million pounds

...Jesus wept ...... how sickening world football has become ...... players , agents , some clubs , FIFA officials and other fat cats all lining their pockets at the expense of the fans .

Got a book from the Op Shop the other day , might be a good read "FOUL" by Andrew Jennings ..The secret world of FIFA : Bribes Vote rigging and ticket sandals

I am pretty sure that Theo will start chasing back or defending better or Sam will make him more aware of his responsibilities.

I will look on with interest to see if he develops as I am with ox.

A lot of the Sam loathing stems from that game in 2003 where we lost the title, when 3 of our players had to go off injured due to bad challenges. He did an amazing job with Bolton, but at times they crossed the line against us. That period of injuring our players and then chumming up with Fergie tainted him and his teams a lot in the eyes of many fans. I primarily don't like him because the boorish, boastful and thin end of the wedge behaviour that got him sacked for England has been going on behind the scenes for years, which is why so many where shocked when he got sacked for it, because lots of people knew that was what he had been like for years.

We would have our own oligarch if Kroenke wasn't blocking him, you better get used to us being mediocre because with him around it is inevitable - he's a collector of mediocre sporting franchises of which we are now one, boycott is the only way but our fans are too caught up in all the bs to realise this, sorry if that offends anyone but the truth hurts..

Those other teams you mention are either fan owned or have owners that give a toss about actual on the field performance rather than just the bottom line, we have to hope Gazidis can work miracles to get us to compete in spite of the wiggy mute.

For which we should be grateful.

The journey has not ended, more to come .............. try to "enjoy" the ride

This is going to sound crazy but City lost so I'm okay for the rest of the season. Of course I want us to get top 4. Of course I want us to win the Europa cup. Both of those goals were iffy at best. If we don't get them, it wouldn't surprise anyone. City making history worried me to no end. They may eventually go undefeated. They will likely end the season with the mos points ever in the EPL. It wouldn't surprise me. But they lost and so I'm happy.

It will be interesting how we do without Sanchez. Players will have to step up if we want to have any chance of top 4. I wonder if the deal depends on us getting a replacement player such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan or somene else. One thing I know is that Wenger is known as a good negotiator according to Ferguson.

As much as I hated him for going to Man Utd, I'd take him back as a bench player.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42750791

Crouch to Chelsea? Really? Are they that far in the sunken place?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42754801

A player of Walcott's quality, England international should carry a premium that English internationals do when transferred within the league. I just didn't want it to be for fat Sam. When they beat us fairly badly last season, he was openly gloating. No respect at all. He branded Wenger a bad loser, arrogant and how much he loved winding him up in his book. It was personal for him.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42750333

Hoy is grateful that we instead have an American multi-billionaire owner who doesn't only donate a million dollars to Donald Trump, but the only trophy hunting he really appears interested in was intending to glorify the killing of wildlife including endangered species on his TV channel when he thought it would make him money. At least he doesn't seem so concerned about the English football club he owns winning trophies. Oh how grateful we should be, according to OMOH.

Quite right.

Also don't understand why people who have no idea how American sports work feel the need to talk so much about what kind of owner Kroenke is with regards to his American teams (several of whom have won championships or been otherwise successful during his time as owner).

I am not sure that this alone will make you 'okay for the rest of the season.' I am pretty sure that we will be in for many more surprises before this season ends.

Well said Bernard. Kroenke is a revolting character whatever way you look at it. And whatever you think about Usmanov.

Saw some interesting with/without Ramsey stats for Lacazette.
All his returns drop when Ramsey is not in the team, goals, shots, touches etc.
Lacazette needs players making runs beyond him in to the box to take away defenders and give him more space. Simple really, any striker would benefit from not being he only player defenders have to mark in the box.

Ramsey is back fit but Wilshere has been our best player recently. Don’t think Wenger has ever solved getting them both in to the same team.
4-1-2-1-2 with a diamond midfield 4 of Xhaka at the base, Wilshere left, Ramsey right, Özil at the top could do it but that relies on the full backs giving the width and we’ve been caught out too often playing a back 4 with both full backs bombing on

The Telegraph is saying we've dropped our interest in signing Malcolm due to focussing on getting Aubama... (the bloke from Dortmund) and Mkhit... (the bloke in the swap deal with Manchester United for Sanchez) in. They say Tottenham are now favourites for Malcolm.

Make of that what you will, although the Telegraph may have a bit more credibility in its transfer gossip than the Sun and such like.

I’ve never understood the notion that Arsenal can’t work on two transfers at the same time?! If we want Aubameyang and Malcom then just split your time and negotiation, we surely don’t need to be sat round a table 24 hours a day with Aubameyang and his representatives

Ramsey has been our best attacking player this season. Half the fanbase can't stand him for some reason. Very good player if used correctly.

Couple of vodkas in ... let's dismantle this load of paper mache ......

Yes of course Lom but you like Rich have a habit of only screaming foul when it goes against us , they injured our players okay but Patrick Vieira wasn't slow in sorting people or Ray Parlour , Bergkamp , Winterburn , Adams , Keown ...

" chumming up with Fergie " what does that mean ......... ? or have anything to do with ......er ahhmm well anything really
...."Tainted him with many fans" yeah the few Arsenal soft cock poofters ...the rest of the country would be loving it .
So you don't have a drink with the greatest manager ever because you might upset Arsene Wenger .

Boastful , boorish thin end of the wedge behaviour '.... ..you mean like why they didn't get Brian Clough and Harry Redknapp when they seemed the most logical candidates ......but opted for safe goody two shoes options like Ron Greenwood and Roy Hodgson .

Agree with you but why is noone considering Ramsey playing instead of the off form Welbeck?

Small factor you might have missed here Bernhard ...while you attempt to flog Hoy

... Hair piece Stan would have probably chucked TWO million dollars in Hillary's direction because he thought like the rest of the universe [ and Daz ] she would win

...... most American donors go for each way bets ...so you get what you want later , whoever gets in .

Arsenal v Palace is the live 3pm Sky Ireland game today.
A) I don't expect Arsenal to win
B) I don't actually give a *%^@ if they do or not.

I don't know which is the saddest A) or B).

and Johnny Boy ......... who looks likely to win the 2018 lolly scramble with hockey sticks .... my money's on Limerick .

Oh for bejasus sake I know how you Irish work John ...you don't give a continental about the result .... I've watched the Commitments , The Snapper , The Van ...Colm Meaney etc etc ..... bit of an expert you might say

You're all down the pub ; the Guiness is flowing ... they show a clip of Roy Keane , David O Leary ..you all break into raptuous applause ...then it's for feck sake Shamus it's your round .... meanwhile throwing a side long lecherous glance and a wink at big mamamaried Catriona playing darts in the corner ...am I right or am I right ...?