Saw the highlights. I'm not going to make more or less out of it than what it was. Simply a preseason match to get us ready for the season ahead.

The Metro is about as reliable as the Sun, but is Pépé as definite as some have been assuming?

https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/31/10497336-10497336/

I mean, there are pictures of him outside the Arsenal training ground, and also in an Arsenal shirt during a photoshoot just like the ones we're doing with all new signings. Emery probably just don't want to say it's done before it's officially announced.

Could the photos have been done before the contract was signed, and it then fell through for one reason or another? If it isn’t confirmed on Arsenal.com today, my doubts will grow considerably.

Look, let me apologise for my negativity. I hope it does happen. But I don’t trust the Kroenke regime at all.

I doubt all the paperwork has been 100% done and registered with the FA (whatever that process looks like) when they do the interview, photoshoot etc. But if the deal had fallen through, surely somebody would've picked up on it?

Arsenal just seem notoriously slow with these things, you even had the Lille president confirming the deal on French radio yesterday.

I really hope you’re right. If it isn’t confirmed today, will your confidence that it soon will happen remain as certain, or will it fall?

I accept I have this mental block with the Kroenke regime. I don’t trust them at all so am willing to see anything negative as feasible. Bloody hell, I’d probably believe Boris or Jeremy (to cover both sides of the political spectrum) before I’ll trust Stan, whether that’s fair or not.

It will remain the same. There would have to be some sort of info from credible sources about the deal going bad to change that.

And I don't think it has much to do with Kroenke (well, I guess he would’ve been involved in hiring some of the people in the new regime). It just seems we have good football people at the club now working behind the scenes with a clear plan of how they want to build this team.

Suppose it depends what makes a credible source. Is Ornstein as credible as he used to be? I once heard his primary source was Gazidis. If that was the case, Ivan is obviously no longer around at the club. So are Ornstein’s contacts as trustworthy as they once used to be?

A Sky report from two hours ago reports that Emery “is optimistic of keeping Koscielny” and that “Pépé is a possibility but he is one that we are following”.

Watch this space then.

The Lille president seems sure but I can't understand what the delay is. I suspect everything has to go thru Stan.

Bad news about Koscielny, if true. Just as as bad as Mustafi now, arguably even worse.

Why would we want to keep him now anyway, when it appears he clearly wants out.

Doesn’t make sense to me. He’s hardly going to be motivated is he, making him being a past it has been even worse.

Because talks can happen and contracts can be adjusted and people can back down, and no matter how much you bang the drum Bernard I just don’t think Mustafi and Koscielny are equally bad. His first few performances when he came back from his Achilles injury were streets ahead of Mustafi, which I was very surprised by. His issue was he couldn’t keep up with the schedule. If he plays no more than one game a week I’d MUCH rather have a motivated Kos for a year than Mustafi. And I’m guessing you think the opposite and that’s fine.

So, the most expensive player in the history of Derby County will be some geezer from the Arsenal reserves? Yep, there's nothing mental at all about football in 2019:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/20 ... -arsenals/

If Kos leaves and we don't sign another quality CB I'd try and coax Mertesacker out of retirement.

http://www.arsenal.com

The eagle has landed.

Considerably free of drama then when compared to the Ashavin saga. Live footage of him pacing around outside his hotel as the deadline passed. Those were the days.

Mustafi played very well during our winning run. I think way beyond Koscielny’s level when he came back with the single exception of Chelsea home, when he had a fine match. Face it, there’s as much chance of Koscielny being motivated next season as there is of you or me wanting Tottenham to win the title. Get rid of both but if one has to be kept, I’d sooner see the back of Koscielny. Shame because he once once a very good player, but age and injuries have sadly not just caught up with him, but overtaken him.

That's a relief! Now let's hope the player can deliver and justify his fee. Great work Arsenal, now let's see some defenders.

Fab news.

Now, if we can just get the Neymar deal over the line it will have been a goodish window.

Can Neymar play as centre half?

I must admit, when we missed out on CL football I thought players like Pépé were out of our reach, for many reasons.

Yep, its the only logical place to play him.

No. But maybe this is the Pépé we got.....

Actually, I'd take him.

Seems to me Soc, the importance of playing in the CL is vastly over-rated by the media. It never seems to bother Man U's targets. Doesn't seem to bother Zaha whose reason for leaving Palace is apparently his burning desire to play in the CL.

Most players change clubs for money.

Simple.

Perhaps, but stranger things have happened. Kos was just back from a long term injury and put in some decent performances. That bodes well for his form - but yes my preference is that we have some other CBs that render them both second choice or gone.

I’m really struggling to think of many decent games, outside the Chelsea one which was better than decent. I think people are forgetting Mustafi’s form during the winning run.

Also, with the way the Premier League is shaping up it seems hasty to base such an important decision on who happens to play in the CL that particular year. Chelsea and Tottenham are in it this season, but there's certainly no guarantee they'll be there next year. Three years ago we came off a season where Liverpool finished in 8th place, now they're the reigning CL champions.

It was just a matter of time to wait for it to be official, but it is crazy how the Pépé deal only seemed to break in the media less than a week ago. Yes we were linked at the back end of last season but I think every Arsenal fan probably already thought his performances and price had taken him out of our reach.
So great to see such a clear plan, long term plan for improving the squad. 2 18 year olds, a 22 year old and a 24 year old. And possibly another 22 year old in Tierney to come.

If we can get Tierney and a CB over the line then it has been a great window

Yes you can put his ego at the CH position and that willl block most teams and then he plays where he demands to play on any given day. Great news that something has happened.

Do I want to see Kos again - no never. He has been directly responsible for costing us one trophy and partly responsible for another. He made his bed. He must go. Captain and refused to board the flight. What sort of example would that set.

I can guarantee we’ll hear the standard two classic lines from rival fans about the Pépé signing...
1. That’s a helluva lot of money
2. You’ve still got a rubbish defence

Both true, but it won’t and can’t take any excitement of the Pépé signing. Without doubt he is a player that every single one of the other top 6 teams would have in the team, including City. It is not often we sign a player that we can say that for. I would say the same about Saliba as well

I am starting to think that the owners have done irreparable damage to the club. A signing as good as Pépé would have meant the forum was inundated with hopeful supporters looking forward to the new season. Instead a few comments is all we get. The drawn out process where it appeared he was signed ages ago and the late announcement do not help.

Maybe people see that our defence was something that needed to be addressed; therefore being reluctant to get excited.

Make no mistake I love the Pépé deal and the fact that we are buying quality who really could be desired by Man City, Barca or RM in the future.

Wonderful news, welcome Pépé!

I fully agree that if we get Tierney (I’m showing my enthusiasm by not mentioning his injury record ... I’ll leave that to Gaz though it has to be a concern), it’ll be a great window.

The Pépé signing has properly ballsed up the #wecaredoyou campaign our “influencers” were running.

I mean one moment they were getting tons of attention they sought next moment it’s been completely forgotten under an avalanche of positivity.

If we sign Tierney even they couldn’t argue it’s been a good summer.

Actually, thinking things through a bit more we urgently need a central defender (ideally two but let’s show a bit of realism). I hope both Koscielny and Mustafi go, which increases the urgency because if they do go, who is there until Holding gets fit? Sokratis, the kid Medley who nobody seems to think is ready, and Mavropanos who gave no impression last season he’s anywhere near good enough (I read Emery said something similar, although he tarted his comment up to be polite). Jenkinson isn’t an option, surely?

My guess would be Sokratis and Chambers starting against Newcastle.