One year extension. Mari and Cédric Soares signing 4 year deals apparently.

Hi mate.

I find that totally shocking, or at least I would do if decisions like this weren't par for the course at Arsenal these days.

Frankly, I don't rate Luiz or Mari. I've no idea about Soares but do we really need to give him and Mari 4 year contracts?.

None of them would be anywhere near Liverpool or City.

It just seems we are going around signing mediocre players and the fact that Arteta actually rates them is a bigger worry than anything else.

It would not surprise me if Arteta is on the ropes by Christmas, bar some major investment in the summer. He talks a good talk but his team selections and tactics leave much to be desired.

That’s some big contracts handed out to a couple of players we’ve seen little of. Looks like we’re going cheap in defence again.
I read on twitter that there are rumours of offers for Sokratis and Holding.
Saliba, Mari, Luiz, Mustafi as CB
Bellerin, Cédric, Tierney, Kolasinac as full backs
That group is not getting top 4 and is conceding 45+ goals again next season.
Dominant leader at CB required preferably another left footer. Take the money raised by sales of holding, Sokratis and others like elneny and pump it all on a top class CB
Spend any of the budget that’s left on a dominant CM.
Feel like we’ve been saying this for years

A big problem at the moment is I don’t think we’d be interested in Luiz and Cédric if they had a different agent.
How is that allowed to dictate transfer business? Surely someone somewhere at Arsenal can put their head above the parapet and make a case for old fashioned scouting over any player attached to Raul’s flavour of the month super agent.
I fail to see what we get out of this relationship. If it is meant to be access to the top players who have the top agents we’ll our current standing in the game means that is pointless right now

Luiz, soares and Mari. 3 journeyman players. Doesn’t feel like the revolution we were hoping. We are at Hobson’s choice.

Don’t expect too much too soon.

Valid point. We are being linked strongly to Willian now because he’s the player of Kia Joorbachin.

Just like soares and Luiz. Seems crazy. Players of the wrong age group who have been exceptionally hit and miss on huge money. I’m not sure anything we do makes sense anymore it’s so illogical

I expect you are correct in that Arteta sanctioned it. I will be surprised if Arteta is still in a job at Arsenal by next Easter. I am calling him already. The Brighton game did my head in because it was obvious Arteta was happy to play for a 1-1 draw after we conceded. I repeat we see no style of play and the players he rates and plays have failed us before.

Evening socrates. As you say, it is par for the course these days. I know you tried to deflect the blame from Kroenke, but as the sole owner of the club I still say the buck stops with him. He employs every senior member of staff, and I bet he knows who they are far more than he’s aware who we’re playing on Thursday. Okay, he may not know anything about the standard of hot dogs served at the Emirates (when fans go to games), but the financial policy and the big staff, he will know and it’s for him to know enough to measure how they’re performing.

I’m not against Arteta yet as I think he has to be given some time. But I’m very much in two minds about his start. He still has it all to do in order to convince me. But whether me, you, or anyone else amongst the fan base likes or dislikes Arteta, Sanllehi and others in the club’s hierarchy or playing staff is approaching meaningless. It’s down to Stan whether they remain in post, and I don’t think Stan even cares what the fans think as long as enough continue to buy tickets, replica shirts and so on.

I think Rich said recently the fans can influence what players are bought and sold, when I argued about how irrelevant that was in comparison to Stan’s ownership. Apologies to Rich if he didn’t or I misunderstood him. But I thought he did. Us debating what players get new contracts or are bought and sold have close to zero influence. Stan’s tucked away in one of his huge ranches, pretty oblivious to what goes on at Arsenal on a day to day basis. He leaves it to Sanllehi, Arteta and others he employs.

Zed pointed out that it’s not just Arsenal, but his other American clubs. When Kroenke buys a sports club, the main thing their fans have to look forward to is long-term mediocrity. It’s the KSE way.

I think you’ve hit the proverbial nail on the head, Zed. I’ve no idea what Dangote would be like as an owner. But I’d welcome him buying the club with open arms because I can see what Kroenke is like as an owner.

Bugger me, I’m tempted to say I’d rather have serial killer Myra Hindley as the owner than Stan, and she’s bloody dead.

Hi Bern,
Edit: I meant Jeff Bezos. Mark is his brother.
I may have mentioned one time I'd take Al Capone even.Big Al wasn't only organised and authoritative, he was ruthless with swagger. You did mention Myra Hindley.

Do you know that Emery had thirteen Premier League games in charge this season from which we won eighteen points. Arteta has had twelve Premier League games in charge from which we’ve won seventeen points. If we draw at Southampton on Thursday, our points total from Arteta’s first thirteen league games will be exactly the same as the points total from Emery’s last thirteen league games, which had got him the sack.

If we win at Southampton Arteta’s points per game will be a bit better, and if we lose it will be a bit worse. But whatever happens the difference isn’t that big or noticeable. The biggest managerial plonker at Arsenal this season was Ljungberg. We got five points from his five games.

I realise it’s not a perfect measure, mainly because it takes no account of the opposition in their fixtures. From memory Arteta had both our games against Chelsea but Emery had games against Liverpool and Tottenham, which Arteta hasn’t yet. They’ve both had one each against both of the Manchester clubs. So again, not that different. Indeed, Emery had a game against Leicester, which Arteta hasn’t.

I know I am harsh but just not seeing anything to brighten the horizon. The players he seems to favour are just not good enough or he has not been able to improve them. Luiz - what can I say. Ceballos - a nothing player who will cost us. His Martenelli stance - not just now. And I can go on. Tactically I have seen nothing. But he is looking like Emery II. The players he is bringing in for the defence are ordinary and we are signing them to long contracts but have not got Saka in contract.

I had no idea the beloved Philly mob boss the late Angelo Bruno had ties to the Krays and Wilf Pine.

I know this is a bit of a questionable source but it may have some legs. Reported Arteta will move on Guendouzi.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... y-22242351

I agree with most of this. But tactically I did like the simple move to have Xhaka sit in at left third CB to cover Saka when he bombed forward from left back. It was only simple but did seem to be a thoughtful solution and a cut above what Emery was capable of.
And might be a role that Luiz can fill, as a temporary left CM who can sit in as a third CB to cover an attacking LB. Though overall I wish he had not extended his contract.

Did we really have a choice but to extend Luiz's contract and offer Mari one? Without either next season and very few other options, and no from what I read we are not close to any significant central defense signings, we had no choice.

I don't like it but when you don't make buying good if not great central defenders a priority and keep having your head turned by any available somewhat inexpensive attacker on the market you get this.

We should have hung on to Kos, in hindsight, he's miles better than what we have even though he wasn't as good as he once was.

If I'm not correct, didn't we pay the most for a defender in Mustafi? Whoever scouted him should be shot. 36 od million quid for that. We haven't spent big on defenders in years. We have always bought stop gaps. Sol came to us, and he was on a free. Since the back line retired, we haven't bought a well established top defender since Gallas and his best years had passed by and he only came because of other factors. We have bought 'promise' or disgards from other clubs (Sylvestre). Saliba is highly rated but young. We keep rolling the dice, hoping to get lucky like we did with Kolo. We need to stop BSing and spend 40 mil on a defender or more like we do for attacking and creative players.

Özil offered new 4 year contract

Doubling his salary to £700k a week and with the option of playing and training "only when he feels like it".

I do have a tiny bit of sympathy with our transfer policy last summer, we went big on Pépé who looked like he might be a worldbeater. If he had been he might have had a Gareth Bale effect and propelled us into the CL spots. Sadly, it hasn't worked out.....yet.

We bought a very highly regarded LB and brought in on loan a young highly regarded midfielder who should have given us energy and skill in abundance. Neither have worked out for differing reasons.

Luiz was supposedly just a one year stop-gap.

However, the recent signings and contract extensions just look like unambitious moves of a club who are settling for midtable mediocrity.

One factor is Emery had 3 transfer windows spending £195m on 11 players (not counting Saliba). He bought and shaped half the current squad (or at least had some say in it). Arteta has had 2 January loans when no money was available and walked in to a squad with far more on and off field problems than Emery started with. No Ramsey, Player Contract issues, the Xhaka problem, morale at an all time low.

I'm not saying Arteta will fair any better than Emery but he needs more time and at least the same backing in the market to shape his squad

Again to be fair to Arteta I don't think the Saka contract is his role. He's played the guy a lot and I can't believe he's saying anything other than give this kid a long deal to the club

Yes, we were all fairly positive in the summer (I certainly was). Emery wanted Zaha rather than Pépé - similar money but I still think Pépé was the right move of the two if not the best way to spread £70m amongst the squad.
Tierney has been unfortunate, Ceballos for whatever reason hasn't clicked. I had plenty of opposition fans think Luiz was a smart move at the time.
In reality a £70m defender and a stop gap winger would have been the better way.
We're pinning a lot of hopes on Saliba

One-year deal for @DavidLuiz
Long-term deal for @PabloMV5
Long-term deal for @OficialCedric
Loan extension for @DaniCeballos46

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1275693011863777281

Not really a fair comparison given Emery had a full season previously.

I know I am going thru a negative stage In life but there is not one positive in any of those deals. Long term deals for an injured player, an unproven player, extending the deal on 2 players who have been failures. One of which was reportable earning 10mil per year. I could accept a short deal with option on Mari and Soares until we know if they are good enough.

In 3 years time when we are trying to offload overpaid Mari & Soares who decide they will do an Özil we will look back

I cannot believe that clown Luiz has be given another year. Presumably Arteta must have had some input on that decision. If so you've got to wonder about him.

Maybe not but in Emery’s first season we finished fifth with 70 points. In the season before that we finished sixth on 63 points. It is possible to suggest we improved a bit in Emery’s first season. But regardless of that, my point was that Emery was sacked because of his record in his thirteen games this season and so far under Arteta there’s little sign of much change. If we draw at Southampton it will be exactly the same; if we win a bit better; if we lose a bit worse.

As I said before, I think Arteta needs more time and I don’t want to see him sacked. But I was hoping for a few more signs of improvement than we’ve seen so far. Apart from Manchester United at home, have there been many (or even any) really impressive performances, especially against good sides? Sure we had a good win against Newcastle at home, but how good a side were they at the time? Also, some people talk about wanting us to have a clear style of play. Perhaps I’m missing something but I haven’t noticed one.

So, same as the current contract then.

Even Pépé set the world alight, it wouldn't have been enough. You MUST have a defense to go with it. A good back line and/or a great team defense. We don't have the firepower to do it Kevin Keegan style.

It's criminal how much the defense has been neglected.

Hi Bernard - Do you think the lack of a really noticeable 'new manager bounce' (save for a decent performance against Man U) is more down to the players or Arteta?
I've seen a lot of pretty average managers get that bounce out of their players. A lot of those managers tend to be old fashioned throw the tea cups british managers so maybe players respond to that initially. I do find myself often quite exasperated with the players lack of motivation, desire, professionalism, energy. Is Arteta not instilling that in them, or does it take longer for players to unlearn their norm and get out of a funk that has hung over the club for far to long?

It could be either, or more likely a bit of both. Has Arteta failed to inspire them? My guess would be yes. To be fair the two players who have possibly improved the most, who has represented an Arteta bounce, is firstly Mustafi who our friend from across the Atlantic refuses to acknowledge, possibly because he’s his girlfriend’s bit on the side considering how he continues to go on and on about him. The other is Xhaka. Leno has been great all season (apart from the Chelsea at home howler), so has he improved? Probably not. I’d say the of Aubameyang as he was arguably as good under Emery as Arteta.

So is the lack of bounce down to the players generally, mostly Arteta or a bit of both of both? My guess would be a bit of both, but doesn’t that reflect as badly on Arteta as the players?

Agree that Mustafi and Xhaka are the two he certainly has improved the most - albeit the bar might have been set quite low.
There were lots of stories from his time at City about how he coached certain players almost 1 on 1, the best example being Sterling who went from a 10 goal a season winger in to a 20-25 goal a season winger under his tutelage.
Arteta firstly needs to get Arsenal performing greater than the sum of the parts with the parts he currently has, far too long we've been less than - but perhaps we need to re-evaluate how good the parts are? I would guess peoples estimations are getting lower by the day. Is that an Arsenal thing or is it a player thing. Probably a bit of both, Pépé and Özil being the examples that come in to my head at each end of the club v player scale.

Brilliant stuff - as usual.

Angry men ranting but generally, nail on head.

Don't really care whether we drop into the bottom half anymore. If the players aren't up to it in training or fitness then leave them out. Not sure how this season could be terminally damaged. It is already a terrible season but one that had Emery in charge for half of it. If Artera wants to try a few things in the remainder of the season and we lose then I don't really care. 10th or 14th makes little difference.

And it is the club making decisions like that which makes me care even less. Gutless management.

Luiz was described on Fox Sports over here as a "walking blooper reel". Hard to argue

I cannot believe that we have signed, on four year contracts no less, someone who has been injured for six months and not played for us, someone who has played a handful of games and is out injured for three months plus. And we have resigned on a 12 month deal an incredibly expensive accident waiting to happen. I hope he was resigned on reduced terms. He is an ageing clown who is not even Europa League standard anymore.
Jesus Christ we must be *%^@*** desperate.
In two years time no one will take Mari or Cédric off our hands as their wages will be too high. They will sit out their over paid contracts on the bench.
Mark my words neither will have any resale value as we will be paying them more than they will ever get at any other club

This is wonderfully depressing. If this is even half true we’re a *%^@*** shambles

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-news-mikel-arteta-sanllehi-mislintat-joorabchian-luiz-a9580756.html

We are absolutely desperate. We have the wrong profile of personnel in the wrong roles, who are incapable of doing what we need, both on and off the pitch.

Thanks for that. So well put and necessary.

Absolutely appalling.