The chasing part of it and the energy definitely, his finishing is highly regarded and I’m hopeful that will pick up with confidence and more chances, It would be his link up play that I’d question him being first choice in that position.

Willian played 90 minutes 21 times in the league and was subbed off 8 times in the 29 starts he made. I’d wager that is as good a 90 minute ratio of any winger at a top 6 club. Wingers being one of the most substituted players.

I posted a link to his stats on injuries before, one thing we don’t need to worry about is Willian’s fitness or injury record, he’s kept himself in top condition at 31. Similar to Aubameyang who barely misses a game and plays the 90 very often

If Daz is out there watching nervously in his Brentford shirt ...good luck
Another London derby next year no matter what

I’m not sure. I can’t see Arteta going into a new season with just Nketiah as his central striking role. If you look at firmino he has way more technical ability and excels at link up play. Nketiah seems to be a different type who wants to exist in and around the 6 yard box moving to receive the final ball. It would be such a massive leap of faith. How many great goals has he scored for us, he’s a real novice.

Nketiah isn’t scoring that goal against spurs Lacazette did. Lacazette might go but to go into a new season with Nketiah as first choice striker would be ridiculous

Thanks Rich,

Willian and Aubameyang are the same age. If Aubameyang says he wants a 3 year contract to stay, do we uphold the same criteria some on here applying to Willian?

For me, Effing brilliant. Fulham won 0-1 and they’ve always been my second favourite London club. Have family who support them. I’m so pleased. Fulham are miles below Bayern and Rangers in the correct order of my favourite clubs. But they are fourth following Arsenal, Bayern and Rangers.

Advice please from those that buy the shirts.

I’m getting a shirt for my nephew’s birthday, and instead of the usual bog standard £60 odd quid one, as he’s on a special birthday I’m wondering if it’s worth getting him the £100 odd quid one. (Especially given the 10% discount)

Is there a discernible difference in quality or fit?

Cheers

Sorry mate, I’ve. no idea. I’ve bought a few home shirts and got one away over the years. But beyond long or short sleeves that is as far as it goes for me.

No worries. Maybe someone else will know.

The price is putting me off but it’s become a tradition for me to buy him one for his birthday. And as he’s 21 I thought it might be good to get the posher one.

I wish I had you as an uncle growing up!

I probably have zero beneficial advice really what I would say is that the shirt situation is insane and I’d suggest getting him the 60 quid one and buying him something else because in 9 months time whatever shirt you will have bought gets chucked out anyway and a new one is issued.

I bought my son the yellow away kit 6 months ago which looks nice I thought. Que corona and the first team have barely worn it. Why on earth would any sane human being buy a third kit ?

I’m aware they change the kits every year now but it’s ludicrous really it’s exploiting parents

The new home shirt looks horrendous in my opinion.

It’s really simple. The perfect arsenal shirt is a replication or variation of the 89 shirt or the shirt the invincibles wore.

Thick whole white sleeves that haven’t been messed with and a red body in the right colour tone with minimal touches and flashy bits.

Right Hodd image rights. That wasn't factored in on that website. Let alone other fees. Just basics.

I wouldn't rate the 03/04 shirt too highly. Too much white on the shoulders. The simple shirt of the 70s was excellent but I think my favourite was 98. A superb kit.

My son bought the new shirt today using his own money. Crazy price, but the only consolation is that the things last forever. I have shirts from 20 years ago that look exactly.like they were when I bought them.

Cottagers return.
Suppose the boat rides to their stadium won't be happening for quite sometime.

It's a shame Brentford didn't make it. I'm sure Hodd is most disappointed. They are on the cusp of big things.

Maybe you could buy Özils shirt. He's not using it.

Thanks TG.

It was my Dad that did this until about 5 years ago. Since I’ve been looking after Dad I’ve sort of taken over. To be fair, my nephew usually wears the shirt every time he plays 5 a side, which up until recently was about 3 times a week.

Won’t be sweaty, that’s for sure.

Thanks Goonie. Nephew is definitely lean, if not a bit scrawny.

Given his 5 a side playing, it might be better for him.

Discount code runs out on Friday, so I’ll have to make a decision soon.

https://www.skysports.com/share/12042794

If it’s not safe to accept inbound travel by opponents then it’s going to be a mega challenge trying to persuade another ‘neutral’ country to take that same risk for both clubs involved. And arranging it would be a logistical nightmare. Next season’s European competitions could end up being a nonsense.

Yeh, but your first two yards are in your head.

The shirt looked really nice as we were lifting the cup with it on Saturday.

For me they are very different. One is our best player and it would take huge amounts of money to replace what he gives the team. The other is a nice to have player but not essential in the way a commanding CB and CM are.

If Arteta's criteria for a winger is one who can play both wings, has experience of the league, won't block the progress of Martinelli and Saka and who is cheap then you arrive at Willian.

https://theathletic.com/1875792/2020/06 ... ed_article

David Ornstein's article in The Athletic about Arteta's Arsenal - article is unlocked and free to read for 7 days

Very different players indeed, Aubameyang being the most imporant of the two. But they are both 31 and both can remain fairly healthy. Willian brings big game experience. I'd rather we spend that money on a top CB or even a class DM but we will be a better team with Willian.

I'm also obviously pointing out the debate about offering a 31 year old a 3 year contract makes it seem a wee bit hypocritical if we were to offer Aubameyang one. And I doubt fans would storm the gates if Aubameyang got it.

https://theathletic.com/1735166/2020/04 ... ed_article

Another interesting Athletic aritcle on Arsenal's head of scouting Cagigao

Spurs reserve Kyle Walker Peters close to signing for Southampton for £12m following a 6 month loan. If Arsenal wanted to move on some of our younger English players there is the bench mark in terms of fee, £12m for a player with only 6 months experience.

. A couple of players said they couldn’t make the conference call. Arteta was unimpressed. He sent an uncompromising WhatsApp voice message in return.



Let’s have a guess which 2 players did this ?

Hi John,

My young lad is 15 and very fit..plays football and is a black belt in Taekwondo so you can imagine the wirey type build. He got the Adult Small size yesterday, the regular type shirt and it is in no way baggy or loose on him. Obviously, your own call but as TG said I would go with the normal shirt and buy something else with the difference.

Thanks for that dec.

Along those lines, I myself got last season’s 3rd shirt from a friend who works at Sports Direct so got it cheap. He got me a large. It was too big, so he swapped it for a medium. At my age, I was well chuffed!

If everything was equal - which I realize it isn't - that should mean Chambers and Holding are worth at least 20m each, which is precisely why I'd be looking to sell them both. Both decent players, but to me their monetary worth trumps their worth to the team as players at this point. If we could get 40m combined for two back-ups, that's serious money to reinvest into the team.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/club-update-2020

Statement from Arsenal regarding Covid, fans in stadiums, 55 redundancies are more

Hi Rich,

I know that people will say the two areas are independent of each other but it is hard to expect us to be spending millions in the transfer window when 55 employees have lost their jobs, people far more reliant on those wages than any player at the club.

I suppose the argument is that there is simply no role for the 55 at the club under the cloud of Covid but it just seems so unfair.

The Kroenkes - don’t know how people like that sleep at night. The money it would cost just to keep those folk in work for a year would be a mere drop in the ocean from his own personal wealth. How much money does one person need?

And don’t tell me the club needs to pay its way; yes it does, but this is just so Kroenke the Cant reduces his own losses. Shameful.

Sometimes I wish there was a hell.

Especially the one Aubameyang was wearing when he dropped the trophy.

I don’t think you can attack arsenal for doing this. Kroenke doesn’t put his own money into the club. Every business up and down the country is having to adapt and Arsenal aren’t different.

Yes we have players earning large sums of money but the whole club exists around what’s on the pitch. Unfortunately you can’t just ignore the realities of Covid.

Just been sacked according to Arseblog

Who needs a scouting network when you have Raul's contact book.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sports- ... rater/4868
How many of these players will end up at Arsenal this summer? Must be millions of players worldwide but we shop in this pool of 7

Hi TG,

I understand that some of those positions probably no longer even exist until things get back to normal (if they ever do) but let's say for arguments sake that the average salary of those sacked is £25k a year. That's saving about £1.3m in salaries, about £25k a week, not even the salary of a good youth prospect.

Those savings are hardly going to give us greater leverage in the transfer market.