Good to see the younger players have a go at it, and doing well. Kudos Arteta!

We must hang on to Saka. He will be targeted by top teams soon.

Although I’ve been to Bournemouth before for weekend breaks, that was my first away game there so another to add to the list. I was only able to get a ticket because of the increased allocation for cup games. I can’t for league games.

Hope Mustafi’s injury isn’t too bad as he had such a good game. Saka was also excellent but Guendouzi gets my man of the match. From the kick off to the end he barely put a foot wrong and in effect ran the game. Xhaka and Willock are worth a mention, and Belllerin. Shame Bournemouth got a late consolation but no real harm done. Hope they go down with such a small ground, and I fully expect them to.

It won’t happen but I’ve seen some suggest he could be a wildcard for the England squad for the euros. Chilwell is the first choice left back, there is shaw and rose neither of whom are playing well. I think it is too early and it is better for him not to be thrust in to that spotlight just yet.

Makes are rumoured pursuit of Kurazawa from PSG all the more strange. In terms of building a squad for next year I would still want 2 left backs and have Saka available in emergencies or cup games because he deserves games in his natural left wing position.

The formation Arteta is playing suits him at left back though, Martinelli to take defenders inside, Xhaka behind for cover. It works

Most of them generally slipping under the radar given our poor season. The press only really latched on to Martinelli after his goal against Chelsea, his 10th of the season. Right now no-one outside Arsenal is talking about Saka and as much as you want him to get the plaudits it is much better this way.

We really need to resurrect the Mari deal, we’re running short on CB at the moment. The commentator last might said Arsenal CB seem to rotate injury problems, it certainly feels like that.
Depending how long Mustafi is out for we’re down to 2 and a half as Holding works his way back from injury.

Hi g7,

There was definitely a youthful exhuberance to our play last night.

Saka has wonderful attributes going forward and is learning the defensive side very quickly. He's a very intelligent kid who seems to absorb information quickly and implement it in his game.

Willock has that ability to make long lungbursting runs with and without the ball. If Arteta can fine tune the other more rough edges to his game he could become quite the player.

Guendouzi played with a swagger although I'm not sure that always being the pantomime villain is necessarily a good thing.

Bellerin has done ok since his return but I think AMN is a little unlucky to find himself out of the side.

Martinelli didn't have his best match last night but it seems in every appearance you see another facet to his game, that deft little flick pass with the outside of his foot, the backheel and the 30 yard crossfield pass he hit for example. He seems to be able to do so much, scores all sorts of goals, has superb movement and an amazing work ethic to go with it.

Gosh ...Gee whizz thanks for the Willock praise Ex ... means a lot

Re Daz ...The All Blacks losing 60 - 0 to Wales might bring the little psuedo Chilean back , he always comes flying out of the woodwork every time NZ has a sporting malfunction .

Having said that I miss the little worm , some of his verbal stouches have been highly entertaining .

The name on the shirt .... that's a toughie , myself being a bit to ancient for that sort of schoolboy type adulation plus I don't really like anyone of the current squad that much .... except the kids ; Saka my favourite

Pushed I'd probably go retro .... Pires

I agree Rich. I think it’s good that Saka is largely falling under the radar. I also hope he doesn’t get into the England set up before the Euro thingy coming up. I doubt he will either. From the days when I recall genuinely great players like Simpson and Armstrong never winning a cap it now seems they’re handed out like confetti to Barnet Sunday League players who managed to string three simple ten yard sideways passes direct to a teammate in a row.

I don’t think Saka has yet done enough to make an international breakthrough. He still has so much to do. Hence I’m happy for him to remain unnoticed outside Arsenal fans seeing him as highly promising.

I’ve only ever put a player’s name on the back of a shirt once. It was the burgundy one from the final season at Highbury. No it wasn’t a retro name like Williams. It was Henry.

Possibly but I think southgate needs to cap him sooner rather than later, the lad has Nigerian heritage and despite being born in England that won't put off Nigeria going after him like Iwobi if he gets ignored initially.

He's the perfect foil for Martinelli who wants to cut inside and try to score allowing Saka to overlap with seemingly unlimited energy. Its our strongest left flank combination currently out of the players we have available.

Saka was at a South London school and a few weeks ago, I met his former PE teacher. He spoke in the most glowing terms about Saka - had nothing but praise for him as a student and as a lad. He said he was as pleasant and genuine a lad as anyone in the school had ever taught and he was extremely popular with his peer group. Apparently he visits the school regularly and keeps in regular touch with teachers and old schoolmates alike.

Good to hear.

Sanelhi needs to sign up Saka and Martinelli to long term deals

If he doesn’t in the next 12 months he doesn’t deserve his job.

Every major top European club must be looking at Martinelli right now. It’s staggering to think he’s only 18, he hasn’t even finished growing yet.

That is good to hear. A little humility is a positive characteristic for people to have, in careers other than football as well.

That's a bit nasty. I hope they stay up. It is nice to see small teams make it.

Just want to get transfers out of the way, no last minute deals. I had hoped we had got rid of some (Mustafi, the guy has 9 lives) and have a couple of players by now.

Very good of the lad, stay humble and true.

The road back to competitiveness isn't that far away. We have a decent group of people to work with. We just need to cut the fat from non producers and bring in some new players for the needed positions, central defense being the no brainer.

Özil, Xhaka and Mustafi

We need to move those 3 on before we truly progress. Their fees and wages have stifled our progress over the last few years and until we get the albatross that is them off our shoulders I can’t see us being competitive again.

Their weekly cost is close to 600k a week, is the output of their performances justifying that cost.

Not on your nelly

With current state of affairs in America resembling a 3rd world Junta regime. This is what the first hand witness account is probably going to sound like if it ever happens.

"a loss, a loss, my kingdom for a Liverpool loss"
If Richard III was a gooner.

Cruising around the news outlets before I adjourn to the shed and create some engineering masterpiece .

85% of all Everton revenue goes on salaries ...how gross ...no wonder so many clubs are struggling to make ends meet .

Oxford University has banned clapping because it could cause anxiety

........ any applause must be made by sign language " Jazz hands " ...can't wait for that to arrive at the Emirates

To be honest my anxiety levels go up seeing these two when I make a post.

I'll be the biggest 'appy 'Ammer supporter for one day.

Hopefully the first of at least 2 or 3 signings this window. One can hope.
https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/29/arsenal- ... wsnow-feed

You have your head up your ass as usual.

All three are assets and have greatly improved under Arteta. We need them now and need to replace them before talking about getting rid

Wtf is wrong with you, Muppet?

Oh don't think I can't see through your sneaky plan Brom ....... you and G7 are trying to push my anxiety levels off the scale so I quit the forum .

Seriously mate. It’s not even fun anymore, it’s like tormenting a toddler or kitten or something

Mustafi, remains a liability and is gifting goals all over the place. Where the *%^@ is your brain

Özil as far as I’m aware still hasnt created or contributed a single goal or assist since Arteta joined. It was refreshing to watch willock try to run at that opposing box on Monday, something Özil doesn’t do.

Xhaka, Arteta has improved Xhaka by telling him he’s not allowed in the final third because he’s too much of a liability. You won’t get anywhere near a title winning side with a bog average player like that in your squad. End of.


Anyway nevermind all that! managed to get all the foreigners out of the country yet ? how’s that going for you ?

You're embarrassing yourself.

Hardly, If i did I’d only be enjoying your esteemed company then also

Today in 1983 Match gave you the chance to win a week of training with Uncle Bob.

https://www.arsenal.com/

We finally get a CB in this window .......... about time too

Best of luck to Pablo Mari.

yess get in

Just ordered my new Pablo Mari away shirt to go along with my Denis Suarez and Dani Ceballos ones.

I see Suarez is at Celta Vigo now. I was wondering what had happened to him after he left us.

Loan with an option to buy for £8m - looks like Raul and Edu got their way.

Aren’t they running the place? I would have thought the reason they are employed is to get their way? Who’s way is the alternative?

I would think a lot of our transfer future rides on the success of Pépé. If he bombs good luck convincing anyone to spend big for quite a while and loan to buy punts will be the preferred option for the next few windows.

To add to your prized collection of Xhaka, Özil & Mustafi?

i'm a bit optimistic about this transfer because Arteta has a wee bit of history with the player when Arteta was at City. Plus we are desperate.

How Mustafi is still an Arsenal player is astounding. His injury saved him. The guy has 9 lives.

I think had Ramsey still been with us he'd shine under Arteta's system. Too bad.