Even from a financial standpoint it would be a horrible decision - Villa are reported to have bid £25m, and are now supposedly raising that to £30m. If Smith-Rowe continues on his current trajectory we could easily fetch twice as much in just a year or two. There's absolutely nothing to gain for Arsenal by selling.

Seems like some snails pace movements on some of the outgoings.
Xhaka to Roma has stalled. Two teams need to agree a fee

Torreira now seems happy to move to Lazio after saying he only wanted to go and play for Boca. Two teams need to agree a fee

Guendouzi now of interest to Marseille who want a loan with obligation to buy. The only reason for loans with obligation to buy is over the delay of the payment but if we can get the fee we want for Matteo (rumoured to be 20m euros) then I'd take the loan with obligation to buy.

Right now these seem to be the 3 closest to leaving.

Newcastle are interested on Willock obviously, there are a number of teams after AMN but nothing concrete and I've not heard a whisper about Nelson or Nketiah.

Arsenal would do well to try to get Nketiah in on any deal for White (or Bissouma) from Brighton. He'd be good at finishing all the chances they create.

I wouldn't do that. Counter intuitive, because we should not inject negative thoughts in the mind of Emile Smith Rowe

So true .... which is why I fear it is a matter of time before the top clubs start to bait him. Arsenal need to show ambition and progress on the field at a faster rate.

Hi David, I hate to agree with Top Gun, and will generally do whatever is required to avoid it. However, getting angry about something that hasn't even happened yet - i.e. Saliba maybe going out on loan next season - just doesn't seem like a very good use of your energy. If every 'strong rumour' turned out to be true, we'd have signed Higuain, Zaha, Aouar, Buendia, etc, etc...

If you remember correctly, which you obviously don’t, I did actually let you have the last post on our last disagreement. Zed, a poster I have respect for, had commented on it and although you had in your normal obsessive manner done the last post, for the sake of everyone else not getting bored, I left it at that.

So either you’re a blatant liar or you have a dreadful memory? I prefer to put it down to your memory.

Martinelli missed the final cut for the Brazil squad.

If England will play the runner up of Group F (France, Germany, Portugal and Hungary), am I right in thinking for England to get France in the next round (the last sixteen), Germany have to beat Hungary while France and Portugal have to draw their game? I think that would put Germany top of the group, France second, Portugal third and Hungary fourth.

He was wonderful.

Hi Haz,

Smith-Rowe won’t be going anywhere unless someone makes an offer to good to refuse and that won’t happen at this stage of his career because he hasn’t yet done enough to justify a monster offer.

A stellar next season and offers might begin to get tasty but not yet.

Couldn't say really.

I read somewhere that we'd refused permission for Brazil to pick Martinelli for the Olympics, as is our right apparently. I think Gab may be going though I'm not certain.

He is.

https://dailycannon.com/2021/06/gabriel ... -olympics/

Depressed market

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57588639

Well they bid over £90m last year sooo

In unrelated news I haven't had this covid thing yet, so I'm not sure why everyone keeps going on about a 'pandemic'. I'm perfectly healthy.

Good player= costs a ton of money
Bad player = depressed market

Indeed. A good point that is spoiled by the cheap and nasty joke at the expense not only of Pépé but on our other 'dunderhead' forwards.

No, the depressed market is a fact. But some clubs still have financial muscles to flex. It's really not that complicated.

There was a lot of snow here in Sweden in February. I therefore call nonsense on this whole climate change business.

Sweden finished top of their group, thereby proving once and for all that they are a thrilling and brilliant football team.

Good argument = priceless
Bad argument = rinse and repeat

It's all about what teams are interested in a certain player. Premier League teams generally have a lot more money to spend because of the amount of money that's in the league. That's why Nat Phillips is reported to be leaving Liverpool for about the same we're getting for Xhaka - and he's going to a side that was fighting relegation last season. Meanwhile Lazio are reported to be struggling scrounging together 15-20m euros for Torreira. And we're supposed to be selling Mavropanos after an impressive season in Bundesliga to Stuttgart for £7m.

This is nothing new, but has been amplified by the pandemic - we got Tierney for roughly the same fee as Sheffield United paid for Rhian Brewster.

Pogba is a different player entirely for France.

Expecting Germany to turn this around, but I've been well impressed with Hungary this tournament. They had an impossible task with that group, but they've given it everything they have.

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Wow. 2-1 Hungary.

Busy fella wasn’t he

10 minutes left for Germany to save themselves. One thing you can be sure of they’ll keep going to the end. Either way, an epic game and an epic performance by Hungary who as Haz said have done themselves proud.

Edit - and there it is Goretzka 2-2

Has to be seen as a failure on Man Utds part not getting more out of him. He's obviously not without fault there, but in terms of talent he's a top 3-5 midfielder in the world.

25 minutes away from advancing from that group, more than anyone could've asked of them.

Well as an Arsenal fan we know a fair bit about posturing bids. Suarez and Mbappe just off the top of my head.

Flicking back and forth between the two games and, good grief, what has happened to Leroy Sane since he left City. He looks complete garbage.

Germany bang average on tonight's performance. No out-and-out striker, very slow in their build-up, Hummels very slow on the turn. Just lacking quality really.

England have been pretty average too so it could be an interesting game. England must fancy theiur chances.

Yeh. Apparentntly wanted to avoid extradition to the US to face his crimes.

Will have to keep reminding TG he's a lying get as he appears to ignore postsc that challenge him directly on what he says and does.

I've not seen such a fantasist since I last read AG's earlier posts. Strange how he goes quiet for long periods then bounces back with more repetitive quotes than TG.

Hmm AG TG are they the Jekel and Hyde of this forum?

What are you harping on about now? ? Because I pointed out your covid denial nonsense. It’s clearly wound you up.

How many signatures you up to on your awesome petition ? You managed to reach the landmark figure of 2!

Spending your time creating the petitions and telling people it’s an over reaction. I’d suggest taking a long hard look at yourself.

However you did think the EU owned transport for London in a secret conspiracy so what do we expect ?

Southgate will be crazy not to play Saka againest Germany. His ability to win the ball in midfield and drive forward would be effective againest kroos and gundogan who are older legs.

It’s a massive call but he’s got to Drop Foden. I’m not expecting him to as the city contingent seem to have a massive sway over the national set up.

Strangely optimistic on the game, likely shortlived before an inevitable exit on penalties

I'm wondering whether conservative Southgate will go back to a back 5 with wing backs to match up with Germany.
I think it would be a mistake. I'd keep the same front 4, it seemed to have a nice balance of Kane as the primary striker - and make sure he doesn't drop too deep and gets in the box, grealish floating and committing defenders, saka picking it up and driving forward and sterling to add a pace threat on the shoulder.

I was disappointed, once we’d got it back to 2-2, that Germany didn’t go all out for the winner last night. Had we got it, that would have put England against France in the next round. Many people see France as the favourites and therefore would probably be more likely to knock England out than Germany are.

Sorry, but while I’m relatively patriotic when it comes to issues like politics and economics, I am another Kim Philby when it comes to sport. Particularly with football, but also cricket to a lesser extent.

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