We can’t sell our duff players though. Little Josh Kroenke said in his PR interview yesterday that we are working on things for now and for the future also clearly a reference to saliba

I get that though I’d rather see Chambers, if he is going to stay, as Torreira’s back-up in central midfield than central defence.

I suspect Goonie could be right and in many games we’ll see a back three of Sokratis, Mustafi and Holding.

At the risk of picking at the scab of an old wound. Basically, Man Utd paid 24 million for a title. Fairly cheap I'd say.

https://talksport.com/football/572308/w ... 1563005477

'JUST TOO GOOD TO TURN DOWN' Why Arsenal HAD to sell captain Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United in 2012

The Netherlands international had finished the previous season as the top scorer in the Premier League and looked like he had finally overcome his injury problems.

At the age of 29, Van Persie then made a stunning move to Old Trafford in a deal worth £24million.

The striker enjoyed a sensational debut campaign with the Red Devils, scoring 26 goals to fire United to a record 20th league title.

“He changed their situation, he was the difference between them and us,” former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said at the end of the season.

After scoring 10 minutes into his first start against Fulham, Van Persie went on a run of scoring a total of 18 goals in his next 22 Premier League games.

This included a hat-trick and a last-minute winner in a 3-2 triumph at Southampton, converting a late penalty to win 2-1 at Liverpool, a winner in an incredible 4-3 victory at Reading and a crucial goal against Chelsea in a 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge.

And Arsenal’s former transfer negotiator Dick Law has revealed the offer was just too good for the club to turn down.

“We did everything we could to keep Robin,” said Law told Goal.

“He was 29 when he moved; he had a year left and wanted to do his very best in arguably his next-to-last contact – or even his last contract.

“In every case where we attempted in good faith to negotiate with players, we just couldn’t control all the factors.

“We knew how it looked selling to rivals but getting £24m for a 29-year-old was an important piece of business, it set us both up.

“It let Robin pursue a dream that he wanted and he was right, by going to United he won the title that season – but I think by the end of the next season, Sir Alex had left and that was the end of Robin at United.

“You would have to ask him if his calculation worked out. Financially, it worked out for sure, but he ended up moving to Turkey and then back to Feyenoord.

“If he had stayed at Arsenal I’m reasonably sure he would have gone down in history as one of the greats.”

We're *%^@** then. Mustafi is a dead man walking at Arsenal. His confidence is shot to pieces and the first (inevitable) error he makes he will be destroyed by fans who can't wait to see the back of him.

I'd rather take a massive financial hit than have him in the team.

I just can't see a way out. Mustafi will never get as much money(wages) as he does at the moment. Has a couple of more years on the contract. Just no way he would move. Even if he only plays Europa and the fans are giving him pelters, the pay cheque will keep him and the missus very happy. Would you ask for a move? See out the contract and move on a free.

Blame those that recruited him and offered him such a good package. The club is littered with overpaid underperformers.

This whole scenario across the club has got 3 years written all over it. Of course the problem can be that being money restricted we cannot buy quality players and we end up buying more players who don't measure up and we can't get rid of. If you want some examples look at Everton, who do not pay as much but do you think their fans are happy with Theo or some of the others they have purchased.

We have to be smarter than that but it is not easy. I am hoping that Edu might be able to get us some real gems from Brazil.

On Saliba it’s rumoured the deal is close but a varied price being quoted of between 30 - 40 million euros with potentially a 20% sell on clause.

I know nothing about the player but my goodness that’s huge money for an 18 year old.

Wasn’t he supposed to be joining Tottenham last week?

I’d much rather take a financial hit and get rid of Koscielny. As lomekian said, who I think summed up Mustafi quite well, most of the time he’s all right. The problem is there’s always a big mistake that’s possible.

I have to say also that of those who go it’s a minority of fans who refuse to see any good in him at all. There was a game last season when the effort he was putting in was made particularly noticeable by a particular incident and it almost seemed like he was receiving cult hero status. Think it was Rennes at home.

This!!

[quote="TOP GUN"]On Saliba it’s rumoured the deal is close but a varied price being quoted of between 30 - 40 million euros with potentially a 20% sell on clause.

I know nothing about the player but my goodness that’s huge money for an 18 year old.[/quote]
Wasn’t he supposed to be joining Tottenham last week?[/quote]
Have yet to see an announcement.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.u ... 86052/amp/

One really good thing about Mustafi is that he urinates off our friend from across the Atlantic. Means our dodgy defender isn’t all bad.

I'm still waiting for him to use his deep knowledge of the 'conference' to suggest a few replacements.

A mate of mine attended a friendly yesterday to watch his team play against a lower league side away in a kind of training type exhibition game. His team plays in the championship. I won’t mention the other team involved for a certain reason but let’s say they would expect attendances of less than 500 and play in the southern league.

Halfway through the second half his son who is in his late teens went to the toilet and was unbeknownst followed by 2 men into the toilet and given a pretty savage beating by the 2 home fans as a third blocked the door. Seeing his son stagger out my friend who is in his 60s confronted them and was attacked and had his head split open.

No reason to mention this apart from saying Football is pretty unique in its ability to attract morons and knuckledraggers and football hooligans and firms are the biggest lying hypocritical scumbags in the world.

That's terrible. I hope they are ok.

If we get Saliba and Cabellos and spurs were genuinely in for both then that is quite a hammer blow to them. On paper they have more to offer (maybe apart from wages), but champions league, upward trajectory, new stadium, settled squad, settled manager.......but players still choose us...

You really never know with sperz. I always thought they respected our eye for talent and would sometimes be interested in a player because we seem to value them highly. These days they seem to be much better at picking quality bargain players for the most part. They haven't spent much and are still way ahead of us the last few years.

Game live now :

https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/video/2775 ... -Arsenal-v

Arsenal 2-1 Bayern
Own goal and Nketiah.

Stan Kroenke here, borrowing Bernard’s computer (saves me internet charges). So Arsenal are winning against Bayern. So what do I need to spend any money on team rebuilding for? Good news.

Never heard of Nketiah before, who is he? I’ll phone Josh. He’ll know who to ask to find out.

Just been told he’s a young lad who plays in the same position as two other players whose names are apparently Aubameyang and Lacazette. Excellent, we can sell them both and make do with Nketiah.

Nobody can accuse me of taking no interest in team rebuilding. The fans will now support KSE’s ownership totally.

Stan,
Thanks for making the time available. Its great of you to take time out of Trumpy's nazi (sorry campaign) rally to find time for the poor people. All good news today. Just to make sure you are under no misapprehension - Bayern are not in the EPL and this was not the start of our season.

And while we normally have a red on our shirt, in this game we were in the yellow shirt - I am sure you knew that. Anyway great to hear from you - say hello to Trumpy.

Arsenal 2 - Bayern Munich 1. This result means we're going to win the league!!

Forgot that Kroenke likes to spend his cash on funding fascists rather than arsenal

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foo ... 91536.html

Are there any more reasons to think of not to like Kroenke. We must be running out eh ?

Looking to wtch the Bayern game but got the Colorad game by mistake. Stuck with it and saw 2 first class opening goals with assists from Eddie and the new Brazilian boy. Magnificent third goal from Martinelli.

Ecellent play throughout with none of the monotonous side to side passing at the back.

Loved the performance.

Arsenal fans flipping off little Josh Kroenke just brilliant

https://twitter.com/ryanrundle1/status/ ... 70976?s=21

Hysteria much?

More hysteria.

Presumably the plod have been informed?

Yeah they saw the thugs again at the train station heading back and phoned them to report it. The police said they didn’t have anyone available to attend the scene. Not sure if anything can happen

https://open.spotify.com/show/26lUz3nA53o3vm3HRiCy56

Arsenal / Man Utd rivalry by fans.

Struggled in the Bayern game but we managed to beat a strong Bayern team and it could have been 3-1 near the end of the game.

Defended well in the first half few dodgy moments but with a few more players we could do well in the coming season.

This should cheer us all up.

Long season ahead.

Zaha has officially told Palace he wants to leave, not sure if that is the same thing as a proper transfer request....but it must surely only strengthen our position and weaken theirs.
I’d still be against spending any more than £40m plus some deadwood players we can’t shift otherwise.
If we keep going up, say something like £60m you’d have to feel the money would be better spent elsewhere more evenly across the squad. We do afterall have some very exciting young players who play wide.....we don’t have that luxury in defence

Do we?

Saka, Nelson.....is back Nketiah to do better in a wide right position in the first team than any youth team central defender would do as a CB in the first team. Only
My opinion but the young players we have that everyone is talking about are attacking players.
We don’t have youth team players of their quality in defence. Besides I think it is easier for a young player to make their mark in the first team in wide areas than central defence

I think, whilst that is true, Zaha hits the ground running. He’s premiership tried and tested and to a degree is battle hardened scrapping for a mid table team week in and week out. That’s worth over paying for in my opinion and especially for us and especially now - well last season would have been fine too. Whether we can get it over the line is another matter and it won’t happen. If Palace sell him now and then have to scramble to get a replacement in - they could go down they just won’t do it. Maybe two weeks ago if we had the money but not now, and I think it’s a shame.

I can see Aubameyang going and Zaha coming in.

I think if you sell high and buy a few players that’s one thing. Swapping Aubameyang for Zaha would be hard to work out if we’d be any better off and exactly how we’d do it