We also have a lot of "dead money" tied up with players who contribute little or nothing to the squad, not always their own fault in many cases but business is business right?.

Walcott £120K
Wilshere £90K
Perez £70K
Campbell £70K
Debuchy £70K
Ospina £60K
Elneny or Gabriel £50K*
Gibbs £50K
Jenkinson £40K

A staggering £620,000 a week there in wages! (or just over £32M a year).

Not to mention Santi who has got to be on around £90K I would imagine and probably won't play at all next season.

I would put Elneny and Gabriel as one and the same and I think either could probably do a similar job, both somewhat limited defensive minded players, i.e. Elneny could probably play in a back 3 during an injury crisis, so little point having both of them.

Lacazette for £50m or Lukaku for £75m?

In our team lacazette is a much better buy. Also I don't think lukaku will give Man U close to what Ibrahimovic gave them last year

True but Arsenal's problem has largely been a lack of clinical finishing, particularly wasting Özil's best work. in 15-16, when Özil had about 15 assists by Xmas, he was still creating chances, but our strikers lost the ability to hit a cow's rear with a banjo. Lacazette isn't perfect, but his shots on target and shots to goals ratio is a lot better than anyone we've had since RVP.

The info is accurate, but it fails to mention that the only sanction for not meeting this at this stage would be a fine. The sanctions get tougher in future years, but of course they would be based on % increases from each year, so this is a good time to break this rule!

Buying Lukaku shows that Jose wants to go back to counter-attacking football with a target man. Lacazette is a better fit for us. Not as powerful or strong in the air, but much more subtle

Vieira played. Starting line-ups that day:

Manninger; Dixon; Adams; Keown; Winterburn; Paddy; Petit; Parlour; Overmars; Dennis and Wreh.

Schmeichel; Irwin; Berg; Johnsen; Gary Neville; Curtis; Phil Neville; Scholes; Beckham; Sheringham and Cole.

I'd take Lacazette in a heartbeat over Lukaku. I like Lukaku very much because of his physicality and raw power but the criticism about his touch is accurate.

I think Mourinho is looking for another 'bully' like Costa. I mean that in terms of power (and not his attitude). Both players 'bully' their way into the box at times, if that makes sense.

Now if the offer was Lacazette or Martial, I'd re-think that.

You were doing quite well till you mentioned Martial.

Lukaku is a lazy bugga compared to Costa and Ibrahimovic and I cannot understand why Mourinho or Conte would even consider him.

Lacazette will do wonders for us, just wait and see.

Yeah, I don't expect this to be an actual problem for us, but since we probably have big offers extended to both Sanchez and Özil it does limit us temporarily, since a lot of what we need to do depends on whether they sign on or not.

Fair enough. In that case it was still Petit who dominated.

Apparently we are now at our maximum quota of non-homegrown players..

So we might have to keep Walcott

Keep Szczesny?

I don't know why we are even considering selling him when it seems like Ospina is off as well, makes most sense to sell Ospina and keep him yes.

We do have several expendable non-hg players though - Perez or Giroud, Elneny or Gabriel and most obviously Debuchy.

Players U21 don't count so that possibly makes Mahrez less likely than someone younger.

Well I couldn't drill down to that detail in the site I had. I take it you have confidence that he will go well in the EPL. If Alexis leaves and we don't replace him he will have a lot of pressure on him. The whole squad will have a lot of expectations placed on them this year.

Given we don't have CL we really can sideline a group of players to the UEFA Cup and then the others must put in a challenge for the EPL. There would be absolutely no excuses for not challenging.

Too right, his best was a long time ago now. How long has it been now since Moyes and then Van Gaal took over? because he's been largely shite for all of that period.

Walcott is on his way.

I hope to catch up with Theo personally and give him some feedback on his performances. Box of tissues on the desk and a glass of water for him.

Looking at Lacazette's highlights package he seems to thrive on giving and receiving fast accurate passes .
Özil will be on the same wavelength for sure but Ramsay and Chamberlains overhit specials might cause the new guy some frustration .

I could see Alexandre and Walcott combining well if Theo had the wherewithal to apply himself . Perez also if given the chance .

He seems an angry little bee type player .... could be a key to unlocking park the bus defences that have frustrated us in the past

yeah , yeah I can see it now ; Mr Hardarse Redneck Townsville Boy all primed for action ., waiting outside the ground , Arsenal team coach rolls in .

.... deep breath .. " Okay here we go , I'll tell this little pr*ck what I think of him .....useless t***ser "

. er ahhmmm yes ....... ahmmm . " Theo , Theo .... any chance of an autograph mate .....? "



" Glad you signed the new contract Arsene "

*%^@ you nailed me straight away. Am I that transparent. In all seriousness do you believe Theo has a place in the team if we play 3 at the back?

Just spent a couple of hours at the V8's practice sessions. Only about 27 degress outside but jeez the humidity is about 70-80% which for winter is not the usual.

There are some sobering figures in this report regarding Santi's contribution compared to others at the club who might fill his position. None of the others have the same overall abilities. Simply I think we have to replace Santi and this will cost a mint.

http://eplindex.com/80317/arsenals-opti ... njury.html

But do we want a like for like player to replace him? Let's be brutally frank, we didn't look like winning the title even when he used to play, however fine a player he was. So might it be better to replace him with a different type of player? I know Xhaka is a big bloke, but I wouldn't mind someone with more physical presence than Cazorla being brought in to replace him and that's why I wasn't upset when I saw Carvalho being rumoured as a target. He's okay with the ball, but I'd describe him as efficient in possession rather than brilliant and I wouldn't lose any sleep with the idea of Xhaka and Carvalho (or someone like him) playing alongside each other. He certainly doesn't have the skill of Cazorla. But there again with Özil, and if we do sign Mahrez, isn't that all the creativity we'll be likely to need rather than someone who might just do the same, even if it's to the same standard, as Cazorla?

We saw a difference when the three at the back was introduced. Perhaps what Arsenal need most is another change further up the pitch, rather than trying to find someone with "the same overall abilities" which, as you suggest, may "cost a mint."

I have trouble identifying someone currently at the club who can play near the Santi position and give the forward passes and the killer ball that opens up defences. I had hopes of Campbell but obviously Wenger did not see the same positives. Too many current players who spend most of the game with safe sideways or backward passes and often whilst they do this the opposing defence pours back. Maybe as you speculate playing with the back 3 may change a few things. Players will need to perform this year because I think all goodwill has been used up with a large number of the supporter base.

We need at least one more key player in. This one to replace the creativity we have been missing since Santi got injured. Come on Wenger, close this one out fast.

Has Campbell definitely moved on? We waited years before he finally got his work permit. He was fairly consistent for us, and even showed better penetration than Walcott. Just too bad he isn't French or British. Wenger does favour his French players too much.

https://www.arsenal.com/news/mertesacke ... al-academy

excellent news. Per is a great person to keep around the club.
And with Jens joining the backroom staff excellent news too.
Important to keep these characters/leaders as part of the backroom team and overseeing other roles.

indeed David, brilliant news, BFG is a total legend, good to have mad Jens on board as well, maybe Wenger has been listening after all....

1st time AW has been directly involved in a major decision around the academy........

And Keane was out injured for that game (and most of the season--after the infamous Håland tackle). Just saying ...

Is that a good thing Hodd?

No comment.... my new, very much improved, contract says I can't

Fair enough - congrats on the new contract.

I haven't seen him play much, so I wouldn't say I'm that confident, more hopeful. There's a lot about Lacazette that makes me think he'll be a big improvement on what we have. And I do like both Giroud and Welbeck, so it's not just that I'd see anyone rather than them.

[a] Yes .....

[b] Yes again ...... there is a tendency to say when Theo's playing it was like our ten against their eleven but don't forget other teams have their "passengers" as well .... Rooney for starters .
I like the old Tommy Docherty philosophy , have plenty of quality attackers on the field so the other team is full bore on defence and our three men don't have much to worry about .

[c] Good stuff .... the daughter and I went to the last Hamilton 400 ... we had a brilliant spot on Empire Street ... the cars appeared around this slight curve then turned a 90 degree and thundered off ... the sound of them changing down and booting it ; a beautiful thunderous cacophony of noise that Beethoven would have struggled to match and what disappoints me it never comes thjrough on the television . Might write to Neil Compton suggesting they put a a mike near the tailpipe because inside or out there is never a V8 sound .
The humidity ..... My son and I were more comfortable working in Blackwater at 42 degrees than at Gove in 31 .. because of the humidity .. 30 % versus 95 % .
The latter , change your shirt five times a day ... pants soaked .... one thing I don't miss about Oz is that stinking ever present heat .

Mahrez looks like a non event which I think is a good thing at the prices currently being quoted.Give them 10mil + Theo.

Ooooooh you little temptress ... like Marlene Dietrich whispering from behind a sheer curtain .

Arsene .... " ahhh Lauren , Steve , Ivan , Stan could you guys grab a cup of coffee , I want to ask Hodd for his thoughts on Lacazette "

Would Walcott want to go to Leicester . After their brief nova of success , Leicester seems likely to settle back into obscurity from whence they came ; not much of an attraction .

Hasn't Theo just signed a new contract , he'll be with us for another couple of years then probably do a stint with Southampton .

Both with a ton of pace I've got hopes he and Lacazette might combine well .

Who is the only player in English football to captain a title winning side in 3 different decades?

Hmm....not liking how this is looking.

http://dailycannon.com/2017/07/chelsea- ... oyed-them/
Chelsea could turn to Alexis Sanchez to replace Diego Costa if they miss out on Romelu Lukaku, according to reports.

I like that Mahrez is keen to join us.

http://metro.co.uk/2017/07/07/arsenal-t ... y-6763535/