No guarantees with young players but I'd still rather see any of those 4 in the team rather than Xhaka and Mkhitaryan strolling around not giving a *%^@. Around £300k a week going out of the club to those two in wages. Laughable. Except it isn't.

Yep. But why isn't he in our squad. Can play defensive midfield or in defensive roles. He had a better season that Chambers so I would put him ahead of him.

Very limited appearances from all of them to judge whether I think they will make it. But, from what I have seen of Smith Rowe, he may be one of those players who is just in the right place at the right time. Maybe even right now, when there is no money in the transfer budget, he is in the right place to get game time. I don't know what it is with some players but they have the knack. At vital times even a deflection falls to them and it changes games. Time will tell but a lot will depend if they actually have the confidence in their abilities to play to the maximum. Whether they actually have the ability is a different question but if they have made the squad they should do.

However one area of concern is that having watched highlights of the Boreham Wood game, I didn't see much quality in the youth squads so these could be interesting times.

Whether fans will cut slack to young players I am not sure. You give them some lead in time but after that enough is enough. There are 2 players who really have had played get out of jail free card and need to deliver consistent performances this season- Iwobi and N-M.

If by N-M you mean Maitland-Niles, this kid has been played out of position for most of his first team career. Perhaps if he was played in his natural position of centre mid he would be able to show us if he is a player or not (which I personally think he is). And again I'd rather see him in there than Xhaka, all day long.

Second that, I have been impressed by him and I keep thinking he needs a consistent run of games and he'll shine. I felt the same about Gnabry before he was sold.

Amazing game of cricket at Old Trafford. Not many saw that coming!

Could be ANZAC Day at Lord's on Sunday.

Modern day contracts mean that if a manager makes a mistake that mistake can sit within plain sight for some time and thoughout his tenure. We could be stuck with Özil, mhikitaryan and Mustafi until their contracts end in 2021. It’s going to get so boring

The Guardian are reporting that a deal has almost been reached between Arsenal and St Etienne for Saliba. Apparently it wont affect this summers transfer budget because we are loaning him back for the season.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... st-etienne

It's been 'almost done' for about a week now, people leave but the same old cheapskate bs from Arsenal, no Wenger to blame anymore..

On the one hand, I am excited to see the younger players charge into the big stage. I am optimistic at least some will impress. On the other hand, disappointed the annual summer cycle of slow-mo transfer dealings is still a mainstay of the club. We are fundamentally out-of-joint as long as Stan is here.

Amazing game of cricket at Old Trafford. Not many saw that coming!

Could be ANZAC Day at Lord's on Sunday.

Things have gone very quiet on the Tierney move. If he is so good how is it that clubs are not queued up to sign him? Some story about Napoli interest but that is all.

It suggests to me that due diligence by others indicates there are too many risks with him for that amount of money.

I think we'll get dicked by whoever wins the other semi

On the one hand, I am excited to see the younger players charge into the big stage. I am optimistic at least some will impress. On the other hand, disappointed the annual summer cycle of slow-mo transfer dealings is still a mainstay of the club. We are fundamentally out-of-joint as long as Stan is here.

Even if it happens it’s going to have zero effect on improving our defence next season if he stays at St Etienne for a year. The only thing that will is getting new defenders who will play in 2019/20. Just getting rid of Mustafi won’t, even if we do, because that presumably still guarantees lots of games for Koscielny who at this point in his career is just as bad, and possibly even worse.

I get the impression many are trying to avoid moaning about Koscielny too much. I get showing respect for a once fine player. But I honestly think we’d have been better off with Mustafi than him in the Chelsea final and why should that change next season when he’ll be 34 in September?

Koscielny is a fine player who has performed admirably, coming back off what could have been a career ending injury now in the twilight of his career and understandably he looks mostly not up to scratch anymore. Mustafi is in his prime and cost us £30M and is a liability. Really are you wondering why people are moaning about him and not Kos??

Not sure we should put much credence into this but its news nonetheless.
https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/11/arsenal- ... -10172640/

Arsenal offer £40m plus three players for Wilfried Zaha

Arsenal have offered £40 million plus three players to Crystal Palace for Wilfried Zaha, according to reports. Unai Emery’s side have already seen their opening bid of £40m turned down by Palace, who are demanding £80m for their star attacker. The Gunners are restricted this summer with a £45m budget and Zaha’s valuation is well beyond their price range. But according to The Sun, Arsenal have attempted to bridge the gap by offering £40m plus Mohamed Elneny, Calum Chambers and Carl Jenkinson to Palace.

Koscielny was a fine player. At this moment in time, the best you can say is there’s not much difference between them. If I had to choose between one or the other playing an important game, I would see it as a very difficult choice because as Rich said recently, Mustafi does have some good games. We all want to show respect for Koscielny, as I said I understand that. But he’s now just as much a liability, and perhaps even more so.

Well according to the official website Kosielny has refused to travel to the USA. In other words he is on strike and probably trying to force a move he wants. Once was captain. The club is an embarrassment and turning us into a laughing stock.

Should be sacked immediately.

Absolute *%^@ show of a club. WTF has caused this to happen? Clearly the good ship Arsenal is not a happy craft. This cannot be allowed to happen. Fine him and put him on the transfer list. No one is bigger than the club

So do I, which is why I want Australia to win today. But whoever you play on Sunday, I will really want New Zealand to win.

If he wants a free transfer, give it to him. These days he’s rubbish anyway. Just don’t pay up the final year of his contract.

Absolute *%^@ show of a club.

Koscielny was a fine player. At this moment in time, the best you can say is there’s not much difference between them. If I had to choose between one or the other playing an important game, I would see it as a very difficult choice because as Rich said recently, Mustafi does have some good games. We all want to show respect for Koscielny, as I said I understand that. But he’s now just as much a liability, and perhaps even more so.