There is still nothing on Arsenal.com about Trossard deal. Until I see that he could end up anywhere including Chelsea.

Didn't see lots of replays so must have missed the toe. Having done a bit more research it appears the decision was denied as there wasn't a 'clear and obvious error'. A rule that I think just allows subjectivity.

Richarlison got away with an outstretched arm for Totts which seemed a bit dodgy. So could have been 5-2.

4 year deal for a 28 year old seems a bit out of the youth mould but he's a handy player who can cover multiple positions so will be a good squad addition. Especially for Jan and giving us some options to the end of this season. Only reservation I have is that De Zerbi publicly called out his work rate as the issue that led to him not being selected and then falling out which Arteta wouldn't tolerate either. https://www.espn.com.au/football/soccer ... rd-sources

How's things going up your way Gaz? did that predicated 1m of rain materialise?

Agreed, they're a very average team with a good front 3. Both Son and Kane have rescued them on countless occasions and seem to be performing well below where they were even 6 months ago. Kane leaves and Son doesn't get those through balls or link up play anymore because they don't have any creativity in midfield to provide it. I can also see Conte throwing a Mourinho and moving to the exit if they don't make top 4.

The media love in for Tottenham and Conte also seems to be on a rapid nosedive.... https://www.espn.com.au/video/clip?id=4856248

Your wish is answered

I'm good at these .

Italian accent ... "" okay I donna like eet dat you score two goals .... we helping the Arrsseneeel to win the titell .
So ...let Manchester score a four goals in dis half .... okay ""....... ...claps his hands , gives everyone a little pat on the bum

The Irish Bic Lighter

Paddy and Sean were fishing on the Irish shoreline when Paddy pulled out a cigar.

Finding he had no matches, he asked Sean for a light.

'Ya, shure, I haff a lighter,' Sean said with an Irish accent, before reaching into his tackle box & pulling out a Bic lighter, 10 inches long.

'My God, man!' exclaimed Paddy, taking the huge Bic Lighter in his hands. 

'Where'd yew git dat monster?'

'Well,' replied Sean, 'I got it from my Genie.'

'You haff a fecking Genie?' Paddy asked.

'Ya, shure. He’s right here in my tackle Box,' says Sean.

'Could I see him?'

Sean opens his tackle box & sure enough, out pops the Genie.

Addressing the Genie, Paddy says: 'Hey dere! I'm a good pal of your master. Will you grant me one wish?'

'Yes, I will.' says the Genie.

So Paddy asks the Genie for a million bucks.

The Genie disappears back into the tackle box leaving Bob sitting there waiting for his million bucks.

Shortly, the Irish sky darkens & is filled with the sound of a million ducks ...... flying directly overhead.

Over the roar of the million ducks Paddy yells at Sean: 'What the hell? I asked for a million bucks, not a million ducks!'

Sean answers: 'Ya, I forgot to tell yew dat da Genie is a wee bit hard of hearing. Do yew really tink I asked for a 10 inch Bic?

I honestly prefer Trossard to Mudryk ... the latter is all pace and smash , the former has far better close control and can unlock Newcastle park the bus type defences . He already knows the league no adjustment needed .

I'm also very impressed by our negotiating team in that they have not sat around weeping bucket loads of tears over opportunities lost , on to Plan B grabbed a very good player for modest money .

Your reservation I don't see as an issue Trossard is only a young bloke he'd make mistakes maybe not handle himself as well as he could have ; but I see that as a positive he is far more likely to knuckle down and prove the doubters wrong

Take the example of Aussie rugby league player Matt Lodge ...... all sorts of strive at the Broncos , then issues at the Warriors , gets another chance at the Roosters grabs it with both hands and is now probably one of the best props in Australia , should have gone to the World Cup

Townsville was pretty good. I think we had 325mm in 3 days and then about another 70 in the next 2 days. Nothing to worry about but dam is full now and the city wouldn’t need another inundation. I had some surgery on a melanoma and BCC this week so I don’t actually want too many dramas as I have limited movement.

But all is good, we are top of the table, playing well and no doctor has recommended any of your old man’s remedies for my sun cancers.

Presumably he was talking about needing sperz to take points off us when we were competing for the title, but I recall Roy Keane once said something to the effect 'You can always count on Tottenham to lose when you don't want them to'.

Granted City turned it on but still. It's embarrassing. I wonder how much longer Conte has?

trossard vs us

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/11d1 ... 6c3a0125e3

Interesting read about Arsenal and Man U and specifically that the big 6 ‘can’t fail’, as in no matter how bad they are there is an easy fix that takes them back up winning things again.
I think that certainly applies to Man U, City, Chelsea because of the money they can spend and in particular the money they can throw at quickly tidying up their mistakes never having to suffer the consequence (Lukaku a £100m signing out on loan after 1 poor season!!) but for Arsenal, we suffered some poor seasons but have pulled ourselves out of it by astute signings on a budget, a very good academy and hiring a fantastic forward thinking modern coach (and background team) who have transformed everything about us in the last 3 years. To mark that process as seemingly inevitable simply because we’re a top 6 club is doing a huge disservice to us

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/noni-ma ... ler/503987

Madueke to chelsea looks likely, this is his recent injury record. It is a risk

Trossard at Colney already, Arsenal pushing to get this done before the 12pm deadline so he can be in the squad to face Man U. Surely the thought of him coming off the bench to score a last minute winner is too much to ask right?

Arteta’s assistant Albert Stuivenberg coached Trossard when he was the manager of Genk in 2017

Wacthing clips of Trossard the first thing that strikes me is how two footed he is. If he has an opportunity he just takes it no matter which foot it is on. Nothing more infuriating than a professional footballer passing up a strike at goal with their weaker foot in order to slowly manipulate it on to their stronger side.

Martinelli and Saka also both happy going on the outside to their weaker side

A winner of any sort and from any source will do me. Anything else is gravy!

Trossard will be Arteta's 8th signing from another premier league club. As many as we made in the 11 years previous. There is a slight premium to buy within the prem league but the oven ready player helps massively

He looked decent at the WC, and his highlight reel does look good, even by the standards of highlight reels. Slippery, technically excellent and with good awareness.

Hi AG,

Trossard is not the most exciting signing we've ever made but he's one of the most sensible. PL proven at the peak of his career and possessing the technical skill necessary to play the way we do and at a reasonable price.

Hi Rich,

One thing fascinates me. How are Chelsea going to get all these unwanted players on big wages out the door. We did it by basically giving players away, will they have to do the same?

There is not much money in europe. PSG, Real and Bayern are still able to spend big but they probably wont want any of Chelsea's cast-offs. That leaves selling to teams in the PL and even they might not be able to pay the wages the players want.

Not looking good for Reiss Nelson, is it?

Chelsea's policy of hoovering up all the best young talent around is interesting. How are they able to do it when other clubs are unable to. Aren't our owners richer than Chelsea's for example?

We only have to look at Zinchenko. Football wise he's a very unsexy signing but he's turned out to be an absoloute master stroke.

And I don’t think that Pépé will be back at any point.

There was an extreme example of ‘not ready for the Premier League’. The big surprise to me was that he never adapted at all. Just shows the risks involved.

Trossard is a very good dribbler and the type of player that seems a fit. Dare I say a bit of Jesus about him. They don't seem too dissimilar.

Remains to be seen but its a big boost on the face of it.

Not looking good for him but also if Trossard is predominately left sided I can see him evolving into an able deputy for martinelli so where does Emile Smith Rowe get minutes ?

Now we are signing Jakub Kiwior

Polish centre back. Don’t know the slightest thing about him.

Arteta likes collecting defenders like George did.

Wow we’ve wrapped that up quick. 20 million and flying in this weekend. I do honestly wonder if that money would have been better served on a midfielder like Tielemans

40 million spent in January then.

5 good players who can play at centre back and desperate for a midfielder ! Let’s sign a centre back!

That’s the Arsenal way.

Wow, where did that one come from. Never even heard of him.

Quite odd in that it seems to be a position where we are relatively OK at the moment.

Maybe we thought it was now or never if other clubs were sniffing around.

I wonder if this would have been done had we got Mudryk.

I expect Chelsea are preparing a last ditch bid even though they've no idea who he is either.

A new centre back was always on the cards at some point.

Apparently Arteta hates the concept of a right footed LCB play out from the back with his right.

Just feels weird because we need midfield cover

It worked with Colin Pates. Trust the process.

Jakub Kiwior Polish CB from Spezia - reports are we're closing in on him, 20m euros, he's 20, left footed and seems flexible in being able to play left back as well
https://www.football365.com/news/arsena ... diaby-list


Edit: Romano says it is a done deal
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/stat ... gr%5Etweet

may be the end for Holding - and almost certainly allows Cédric to join Fulham this window

Apparently EDU went to Poland and wrapped it up.

Since the mudryk transfer debacle EDU paid to attend one of Andrew Tates hustlers university online courses and feels more masculine and decisive which helped get this one done.

Fresneda is another to keep an eye on, 18 year old right back - in the £18m range. A few teams interested, not least Newcastle.

Feels like Holding and Tierney could be off in the summer. I'd be reluctant to release them without a clear plan but they don't seem to fit in the Arteta's style of play. We should be able to get £15m for Holding and £30m at least for Tierney