Spot on. I used to be one of those who would worry about the figures being mentioned when we signed players. As I've got older, I couldn't care less. As you say, these are numbers we can obviously afford. There are many things in life to lose sleep over, the alleged pay packet and transfer fee of a striker from Serie A isn't one.

If Stan or Josh are prepared to fund what seem like daft outlays, I say good on 'em. Bring it on. Thank you.

Exactly. People, me most definitely being one of quite a number, were moaning when KSE weren’t spending money. Now they apparently are and some are still moaning.

Overall, and particularly when the 'cheaper' signings are taken into account, our recruitment strategy has improved dramatically.

So what? It’s Stan’s money as Arsenal is his club. Those figures will surely represent a tiny fraction of the Kroenke’s fortune and I’m not going to lose any sleep about it. Many used to moan about KSE’s ownership because money was so tight. If that’s no longer the case, good it my reaction.

Happy to accept any additional funding KSE are prepared to put in and don’t really care if it goes “tits up” for them but I do care what steps KSE might take to recover their money. They might not take any action at all but if they are so inclined they could for instance insist on us selling our best players or selling of our training ground and leasing it back again or something similar.

No doubt I am being a bit over the top on this but unfortunately I do not have much faith in the Kronkes. I sincerely hope I have nothing to worry about.

Balogun on loan to Middlesbrough has been officially announced. It's always tricky with these Championship clubs, because of how vital promotion to the PL is they're not going to play someone based on potential. Hope he gets a chance to show what he can do, regular playing time in a competitive environment could be vital for his development.

I'd just add that if the financial constraints have indeed been relaxed, as seems evident, and the Kroenke empire is in an expansionist frame of mind, as may be possible, then Haaland would be the ultimate transformational investment; it might just appeal. Mighty long shot but I wouldn't entirely rule it out.

They'd be ridiculous numbers but there'd undoubtedly be a sound business case to be made - if he'd come. Notwithstanding the eye-watering financial package, which is still probably affordable to the KSE multi-national multi-billion conglomerate, that last bit would be the problem. Get on the blower to your mate, Martin.

I also think it's dawning on them that in this country, the Club needs to succeed to protect their investment; they need to improve, compete and move forward. In the USA, because there's no relegation, it's an acceptable business model to tread water for decades. That puts a different spin on how the UK and USA businesses are run.

On the flip side, since he's just 21, Vlahovic would be a lot easier to get rid of if he doesn't pan out. Very few teams will go near an underperforming 32-year old on monster wages, but a 23/24-year old who has shown a lot of promise in the past would have more teams willing to take a chance.

Back in 2007 we couldn’t afford £15m apparently. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-sh ... 1bc7de9c43

Dr Crippen lived in Hilldrop Crescent, Islington. So close to Arsenal’s ground when the club moved there and I think where our former poster Harlow was brought up. Went to have a look at his house years ago but sadly it was bombed in the war and a block of flats has replaced it.

Interestingly, the remains in the cellar that were thought to be his wife and got him convicted and eventually hanged had DNA tests performed on them when forensic science had advanced sufficiently to enable this. They were actually from a male body, so weren’t his wife. But despite that it’s still recognised that he had to be guilty of the murder of his wife so it hopefully, and probably, wasn’t a miscarriage of justice.

Arthur Melo links increasing. There is definite contact but Juve only want to let him go if they can get a replacement. I hope we don’t drag it out until the end of January as we need a CM now.

I haven't really seen Arthur at Juve but when he was at Barca I thought he was skilful but very lightweight. Not really what we need.

I also think it's dawning on them that in this country, the Club needs to succeed to protect their investment; they need to improve, compete and move forward. In the USA, because there's no relegation, it's an acceptable business model to tread water for decades. That puts a different spin on how the UK and USA businesses are run.

I haven't really seen Arthur at Juve but when he was at Barca I thought he was skilful but very lightweight. Not really what we need.

Morning Az - good to see you around these parts again.



I also think it's dawning on them that in this country, the Club needs to succeed to protect their investment; they need to improve, compete and move forward. In the USA, because there's no relegation, it's an acceptable business model to tread water for decades. That puts a different spin on how the UK and USA businesses are run.

I was impressed by Josh, I like the noises coming out of the Club and I'm more hopeful for the future.

What can go wrong, eh?

Stylistically I would compare him to midfielders like Thiago or Cazorla - small and not a ball winner, but excellent technique, good at beating the press and working in tight areas. Think a player like that could really work well in our team.

True Dec .... we should be searching for Vieira M k 2 .............not Torriera M k 2 ......... note the rhyming there , very lyrical

Put like that ; sounds like we should be searching the second hand car yards

Gidday Azinoz

[1] .... "other clubs in for" ..... I've seen a report saying Man City are interested in him or Kane to sharpen there attack

[2] we've already stepped into that territory with idiot high wages to Özil and Aubameyang ..... Saka and Smith Rowe are still at the club , no sign of turmoil

[3] I can see them taking a punt of that magnitude ..... given our very credible display v Man City before the Xhaka / Gabriel Extravaganza opened it's doors
I could see our management team thinking all we need now is a decent 20 plus goals a season striker to complete the the equation .

If he cemented us Champions league Football football ; that revenue would pay his wages and prove a gamble worth taking ...... especially if we could offset the cost with a clear out of any of Aubameyang , Lacazette , Pépé .

He's defensively worse than Xhaka though. I could see teams just ploughing through our midfield.

Spurs had 2 penalties and a goal overturned by VAR tonight. All correct overturns by the VAR ref though.
One of the penalties awarded by Marriner was an awful decision.

I forgot Crippen was an actually American ; born in Michigan .

On the DNA ......surprised the book "Thunderstruck" by Erik Larsen which was written relatively recently 2006 didn't mention that .

and if the remains weren't the wife ...... why wasn't Crippin protesting his innocence ...in all his questioning by investigating detectives in court ,
faced with the gallows he was a model of composure .

His wife was an absolute horror anyway .

If Larsen’s book was published in 2006, he was a year early as the Guardian report below is from 2007. The Sun report publicising the research finding the remains were that of a male was even later, 2020. I’ve seen it in documentaries too.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.thegua ... me.science

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun ... anted/amp/

It will be an interesting line-up against Pool today. I fear for the worst with our current midfield options.