Your right about fans moaning about good players lord knows football fans are shortsighted sometimes.

But how many times was Vieira booed off the pitch by his own fans? Or Cesc ? Or petit ? That is unique territory for a footballer and in no way can be dismissed when trying to evaluate a players quality.

Next time Kante plays watch how his energy invigorates his team, how he offers Pogba a platform to do his thing. Arsenal just haven’t had that for years. Anyway I’ve said enough on the topic

So folks are allowed to make things up and misquote me are they.

Disappointing comment I’m afraid

Reminds me of this sketch:

And now in exiled Royals style we have the ‘I’m the victim’ post. Please finish your homework, have a hot chocolate, quick pee and go to bed, as any other 12 year old would.

Hardly! do I come across as someone who needs or garners acceptance.

You perform Erotic asphyxiation everytime Arsenal lose a game. Sort yourself out.

More than enough. But arguments are not won by wordcount, or by exiting stage left.

I seem to remember Petit stinking the place out towards the end of his time at Arsenal. The final against Galatassary is case in point. People on this forum moaned a great deal about Cesc at times too.

Every single player has his ups and down. Your blessed Kante was off form for much of last season. Even Messi gets stick from the more Trumpish of the Barca fans sometimes.

I simply wanted to point out Bernard was misquoting me not start another pointless debate on it which has been done to death so I’m not exiting anything.

I enjoyed that. Thanks for posting that Decaf.

No, it doesn't.

Hilarious

Just read that Gina Coladangelo is the niece of Bob Wilson. Remarkable connection.

You’re still trying to draw comparisons with Kante. Arguably the best midfielder in England over the last five or six years despite some Chelsea fans slagging him off because he slipped over to concede a goal. Now you’re saying Vieira, Petit and Fabregas were never booed at Arsenal. I would have a central midfield of Vieira and Petit in my best ever Arsenal team (from those I’ve seen anyway). I have little or no doubt Fabregas would get in many younger (or should I say less old) fans’ teams as the creative midfielder, although I would personally go for Brady as unlike Fabregas he could run with the ball as well as doing everything with the ball in terms of creative passing and control that Fabregas could. In other words, you’re drawing comparisons with three of Arsenal’s best ever midfielders, as well as arguably the best in the country in recent years.

Has anyone ever claimed Xhaka is at that level? Not that I’m aware of, so it’s a meaningless comparison. What I will say is that Xhaka has made meaningful contributions to two FA Cup final wins. He wasn’t the best player in either game (Mertesacker in 2017 and possibly Aubameyang in 2020). But he had fine games in both, and better than simply ‘fine’ in 2020. Overall he’s easily done enough to make a claim that he’s Arsenal’s worst ever player, whether qualifications like appearances or fees are used or not, laughably ridiculous.

As I said yesterday, I think DHD got it spot on quite recently. We can moan all we like about Xhaka’s shortcomings, perhaps most obviously a lack of pace. But as DHD said words to the effect of, we routinely look better with Xhaka in the team, or was it worse without him? Perhaps a worthwhile comparison is Jon Sammels. Before the time of most people here. But extremely unpopular with a fair number of Arsenal fans, far more so than Xhaka now. But ask OMOH. Way better than his critics made out, just like Xhaka is with you.

John Cleese's ability to portray these absurd characters and make them believable is utterly priceless.

The Ødegaard alternative

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... e-24406022

I'd never seen that before, Decaf. Just brilliant.

And he maintains a deadpan face so well

Hakimi has joined PSG from Inter for 60m euros plus 10m add ons. Must be a world record for a full back.
Inter are meant to be very keen on Bellerin. Handy for us that they are now flush with cash. I’m sure Bellerin will enjoy the scene in Milan as well.
Good move for all parties and no Arsenal fan should have a bad word to say about Bellerin really.

Watched an interview with Fabrizio Romano (has a lot of inside scoops on transfers) about Arsenal's business. A few things he said that I can remember.
One of Holding or Saliba could leave
If Willock goes it will be for a big fee £30m plus, otherwise Arsenal will keep him.
Real interest in Nketiah from Leverkusen and West Ham, Arsenal pushing for £20m but there is also a contract on the table for him to extend.
He said again Willian is 100% leaving
Guendouzi, Xhaka and torriera will all leave but agreements on fees with various clubs need to happen

Aouar is a non starter because he wants champions league
Camavinga is ‘very very difficult’ for Arsenal to do

I’ve always been impressed with Bellerin, both as a player and as a person. Top rate. I wish him well for the future.

So that's seven players out, none in. Sounds promising.

If Saliba leaves and does as well as we suspect, I'll be like that scene in The Godfather where Vito makes a deal with all the families "I'll blame some people in this room". Holding has done well. I've liked him ever since he played a blinder in the FA Cup final against Chelsea a few years back. I think he's best used as a good 3rd CB.

I would assume Saliba would be the one being sold. Makes sense. Holding has proven himself, ,Saliba hasn't (seemingly to no fault of his own).

We come out of all this with a quality, top 6 or preferably top 4 quality CB and a decent quarterback in front of Partey and I'll be satisfied. Not happy but I'll at least go into the season with a semblance of confidence we have a decent run at top 6 and with some luck top 4.

I am expecting Tottenham to be weaker. I don't see Man Utd doing well with OGS despite the away unbeaten record. He's way too inconsistent. Chelsea? They have a better manager. They'll be as good or better. Leicester has proven they belong. Liverpool will be back, they may not recover enough to be champions but I can easily see them top 3. City should win it again.

...but you know some will. haha

Couldn’t agree more. A good player and very likeable person.

I watched Austria vs Italy yesterday
Thought Lainer would be a good replacement for Hector if as seems likely he’s off. Schlager and Interiger caught my eye too
Hlozek from Czech Rep can play also. Had a good game today.

Sneaky bid for Schick anyone?

If this is anything to go by from Arteta. Rennes want £86M, yet elsewhere said £43M for him. Probably doubtful if happening.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.sports ... 52799.html

Just had a look at the draw in England’s half of the Euros. The winner of the England vs Germany last sixteen match at Wembley (I expect England to win) on Tuesday will play Sweden or the Ukraine in Rome in the quarter final. The winner of that game will play either Denmark or the Czech Republic at Wembley in the semi final.

I think it was socrates who recently said that if England do beat Germany, which I certainly expect them to, then on paper they look firm favourites to reach the final. I know football is mostly played on grass not paper, but I will be surprised if England don’t reach the final.

With England playing all their games apart from the quarter final (against Sweden or the Ukraine) at Wembley, however far they get including the final, this looks a really good opportunity to win a major tournament.

A team in the prem will buy a player off the back of a good euros and they will flop badly. Seen a few people online who think Schick could be that player.

Not impressed by Belgium. Always seem less than the sum of their parts and have a few ageing players now.

Pretty lucky to get past Portugal who I thought were the better side and were unfortunate to hit the post as well as going close with some other chances.

Italy were average last night despite being the so-say form team of the group stages.

No real outstanding team so far, mainly just teams with a few individual matchwinners who can produce a moment of magic.

It looks like almost any team in the last 16 are capable of beating each other on any given day. Very little between any of them.

Denmark and the Czechs are probably the best actual teams in terms of all the players playing close to their best levels but perhaps lack the individual quality to go all the way.

England, despite not being great so far, have every chance if they get past Germany, who themselves are a shadow of previous German teams.

That’s how I see things socrates. As everyone here knows, I’m a sporting Kim Philby and I’m really fearful that England are going to end up winning it.

I never back against Germany or Italy, but I do fancy Croatia to get to the final. The defeat against England has them as dark horses, but it was close, and they have experience and quality.

I did my normal routine (the only games I have watched in full are Germany’s three) of watching small bits of the other matches, more to keep up with the score than anything.

But I do watch the highlights programmes they show in the evening, and I’ve just watched the Belgium vs Portugal highlights on BBC1. I didn’t realise until I saw it that both De Bruyne and Eden Hazard got injuries. Looks like they could both be serious. If they’re both out, that severely compromises Belgium’s chances.

Strong links to Nuno Tavares- left back from Benfica today. 21, 6ft tall, lots of pace - has had a few controversial off the pitch moments apparently. Fee could be anywhere from £7-15m depending what report you read

£15m seems a lot to spend on a reserve left back who will only play in the League Cup and early rounds of the FA Cup, or when Tierney is injured or suspended. If the rumour is true, which it probably isn’t, then £7m would seem more like it.

Lots of reports the transfer of Lokonga from Anderlecht to Arsenal is very closes. Should be our first summer signing

The rumours are about this guy are mad.

He’s got a tattoo of benficas biggest rivals despite playing for them. There’s some video of him making out with a dog on the internet or something.

He’s gone to the top of my transfer wish list even above White, Maddison and Ødegaard.

Villa make a 2nd bid for Emile Smith Rowe at £30m - immediately rejected. I find this slightly baffling. It is no secret that we need to sell some players but bidding £30m for a 20 year old academy player who we're looking to build our team around is so far of the mark. Villa would have to get up close to £80-£100m for there to even be a conversation in my mind. people may think that is a ridiculous price but why shouldn't we put ridiculous prices on the heads of players we have no intention of selling. Ask man U what price they'd put on Mason Greenwood if anyone wanted to buy him?

Hi Rich.

It is quite odd, unless they have been given some kind of encouragement.

My guess is that they would see him as a natural replacement for Grealish, albeit an inexperienced one.

Can't see them going higher than £30m and can't see us really being interested in a deal at less than £50m.