The commentators' attempts to pretend that this is anything other than a pre-season friendly are quite funny.

Guendouzi starts again and has impressed.

Good to see a manager prowling the touchline barking instructions.

Watching in the two Singapore games he looks a player Bernard. Very composed, and with an excellent range of passing. He's only just 19 (April) as well which is quite amazing.

Needs work on the defensive side of his game and obviously he lacks a bit physically as he's still a kid but he looks a steal at £8m.

He looks to have a personality. If we still had Vieira and Petit in our midfield alongside him, it wouldn't shock me if he demanded the ball from them.

He looks like a proper footballer, doesn't he? We've had loads of kids impress in pre-season before but it's usually due to speed, and bits of skilful dribbling. With this kid it's the authority with which he tackles and a good range of passing. It's far far too early to draw any conclusions but the signs are very good.

Well that was fun. Well played to all the young lads, Smith-Rowe looked excellent again and I love Nketiah. To balance that I'm not entirely convinced with our central defensive options.

Indeed. Clearly it was a very youthful PSG but he was pulling the strings. His range of passing was great and I liked the way he often went for the more expansive pass than the safe option.

Nketiah is also one to watch. Good skills and a real nose for goal.

Infact, we've got some great kids coming through.

Agree with earlier comments regarding the CBs. Not sure about Sokratis at all and we look very vulnerable in that area without Kos. I'd have loved us to sign a top CB but I guess they are not exactly easy to find. Sven diamond eyes needs to get to work. If Guendouzi is the type of player he can find for £8m then find us a young CB as well.

Would like to see a bit more of AMN in central midfield as well.

Watching Clare v Galway. *%^@ me. What a match. What a game!!! Skill strength speed and courage.

Actually, add ‘amazing’ to all those adjectives.

Yes. But in classic GAA fashion, they have extra time to finish it on the day but the ref plays an extra minute onto the allotted injury time to give the chance of an equaliser, so they get another payday.

Hope Galway win the replay

So it finished in draw Dec?

I had to leave it after 5 mins of extra time - taxi waiting. I found it utterly riveting. Never watched more than 2 mins of hurling before. Amazing stuff.

Introduce Neymar to that game.

Hurling is a brilliant game. This year has been a cracker. Loads of really close games.

Well Bernard & Bubble, Bloomberg shows Gazidis could be an AC Milan CEO in Sept 2018, according to his profile. Maybe or maybe not. No, not PSG. Josh K to be Arse CEO possibly if this Gazidis appointment is true at AC Milan.

Ramsey to Chelsea

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... amsey.html

Yes, my mistake. I knew it was showing Gazidis as Milan's CEO from September. I was just watching the game against PSG when writing the post, and carelessly wrote PSG instead of Milan because they were obviously in my mind. I didn't realise I had until I read your post just now. I thought I'd put Milan. Apologies.

Seemingly doing what all players do delaying any talks as a power play. The longer it goes on it’s just more win-win for Ramsey. Hoping for Özil-type money from Arsenal or payday with a move. I’d bite Chelsea’s hand off for £30 tbh. Has he been more than a bit part over the last 3 years really?

Also was Guendouzi really 8m? I’m so used to us getting French kids for just hundreds of thousands I assumed he was like a tribunal fee or something. Suddenly I’m seeing him as a squad player rather than going straight into the u-23s. It’s weird how much it colours how you rate a player by how much you’ve paid.

Big mistake for Ramsey if he leaves a developing team for a yoyo team.

Looks like fake news to me...............

I’d suggest 30 isn’t enough by Ramsey.

The irony of Ramsey stringing this out was that he was the one complaining about Sanchez antics in the last year of his contract.

Surely with these situations now the club has to start saying “look we need you to have agreed a new contract by date X otherwise we have to assume you no longer want to be here and will be put on the transfer list” if we sold him now there’s little time to secure a replacement although it would explain why we keep getting linked to midfielders ev n though we are well stocked in that position

The commentator on yesterday's game said it was £8m, as did the Express who called it 'around' £8m. The Mirror, Metro and Sun all said Arsenal paid £7m for Guendouzi, whereas the Star gave the transfer fee in Euros (8m) and Pound Sterlng (7.1m).

I see Jose is getting all his excuses and moaning in already. He’s talking about work cup players being away, and saying he hasn’t got any of his transfer targets and doesn’t expect to.

I can see even more throwing his players under the bus, added pressure from a vibrant Liverpool, having to defend his awful stable of football and eventually the final grand fall out and he’s sacked. A standard José 3 year cycle is complete

Ah, ok thanks for the info. That’s encouraging tbh, they were after the lad from PSG who hadn’t signed a contract yet beforehand, that’s probably why I mixed up the fees. They moved for Guendouzi immediately after first player was a no go and payed a fair bit for a completely unknown youngster - bodes well for his standing at the club if they’ve invested that much of a relatively small transfer budget.

Yeah, 30m isn’t his top whack but with only a year left? Maybe ‘bit part’ was a touch harsh, and he potentially would be missed, and if Emery could get the best out of him he showed in his purple patch his best is pretty effervescent.

I think what you’re describing is called playing hardball, I think most everybody wants to enter negotiations like that, but it becomes apparent pretty quickly if you know what you’re doing who has all the power. I’m not sure the club want to be seen as being ruthless with players either. But yes Ramsey entering his last year and leaving on a Bosman, horrendous, hence why I’d take 30m even from Chelsea - I don’t think that will happen.

Incidentally did you read the comments under the article? No Chelsea fans seemed to rate him at all.

In my opinion the club must play hardball - sign before the window ends - or leave, early enough for more cover to be bought. I'd personally prefer it if he signed. If he refuses to do either, bench him and sell in January if possible.
He's a quality player but his best position imo is number 10, and Özil and Mkhitaryan can both play there.
We can't be dìctated to by the player, given the Sanchez mess from last year.

Just read on my news feed Chelsea is making a 30 mil bid for Ramsey. This means they have already tapped him up and he's agreed to go.
Disgusted. One of my favorite players. Selling us out if true. And I have little doubt it isn't.

In January he can sign pre contract agreement with overseas clubs. I wonder what the wage figure is that Ramsey wants? Özil is on £300k (good grief) is he after that? I don’t know what he actually earns. With Theo they bit the bullet and paid him 120k was it? Let’s say he signs a 5yr contract - unless he goes to China, this is probably his last big - peak of his career earnings - deal.

According to this https://www.totalsportek.com/money/arse ... -salaries/ he’s on £110k a year and Aubameyang is on £180k. Is he Aubameyang money worthy? I can’t see the club going higher than that albeit I haven’t got a real clue about how any of this works. I’m going to nail my colours to the mast and say I think a deal will be struck because, much like Özil, I don’t think he’s easily going to get a club that’s a step up from arsenal. The Chelsea stuff is nonsensical, they’ve just spent 50m on jorginho and have a packed midfield.

If I could only keep one I would keep Ramsey over Özil. I'd prefer both but if a gun was head to my head.

Edit: a week not 110k a year. Imagine him struggling by on that paltry amount..

indeed, the poor soul, that would be terrible.

Speaking of Welshmen, congratulations to Geraint Thomas for a superb achievement in winning the Tour de France.

Yes. Brilliant performance by G. Comes across as a really nice person.

And an absolute legend in terms of what he has won in his career.

Also Ramsey is reportedly being offered 200k a week by us for his new contract which is as much as Hazard is on there. I think you might be right and that it’s an Özil type scenario where he wouldn’t get what he wants elsewhere. 30million fee and 200 a week is a big commitment and only a huge club can stretch to that.

The boys are home, after two very interesting games, Chelsea next.
There's still 6 players to report back,Torreria, Lichsteiner, Campbell, Xhaka, Welbeck and Montreal, that's a huge squad, some will have to go.
Also arnt there 2 young french lads that's supposed to be spoken too this week, a winger and a defender.

If it really is 200k he’s delusional. Where else does he think he’s going to earn 200k? I’m all over the place with Ramsey, is he vital and worth the big bucks, or an undisciplined big time Charlie and not worth the hassle?

I suppose if he goes on a bosman you take into account the no fee and he get’s a big bump in wages. Which is bizarre that that’s encouraged in players signed by clubs with a reward like that, and then vilified if they’re doing it TO the club.

little doubt it isn't? ????

Why not block the pesky news feed regardless of doubt or triple negatives? You'll be much happier that way.

"Our doubts are traitors".

Good one!

Very pertinent point Bernard. Personality has been missing from our team for a while. He does look a very promising player.

Btw, Geraint Thomas is a Gooner.

I heard the offer is even higher than that.

Now I'm a big fan of Ramsey. He's given us the two best moments of our recent history with his FA Cup Final winners. Not too many players can say they've done that twice. But if he's been offered £200k+ a week and is still stalling then there's the door Aaron.