I was thinking 4 points from Man U away and Everton away would be a good return. Whatever we think we can get at Man U we really need to be looking at the Everton game as a game we should win. Everton are in awful form. 5 defeats and 2 draws from their last 7 and the Merseyside derby up next. I can't recall too many easy wins away to Everton but it is the sort of game that will show a lot about where we can hope to finish this season.

Apparently Arsenal had bid for Romanian youngster Ianis Stoica:
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/arsena ... ian-mbappe

A wonderkid eh? Is there any other sort?

If the offer is £6m, and they want £10 plus 20% of any future transfer, the key difference seems to be the 20% of any future transfer. I’ve never heard of him before reading your post, let alone seen him. Have you, because these ‘next Mbappe’ claims could be applied to any kid?

Doesn’t that show the Kroenke family are linked financially? Just like any married couple.

He's certainly lively.

I am always nervous us going to OT even when we were good. We really need Saka but we'll see if everyone steps up.

Really would like to see Rangnick in charge at OT Thursday. Mainly to see how up for it our young players will be, aside from a more motivated Aubameyang and new signings will be. Should be a huge incentive challenge to get stuck in. No capitulating defeat mentality if MU score a couple of goals. Happens too often players go into OT already mentally out of it.

Never heard of him and never seen him play. Agree the sell on fee is key considering such a reasonably low fee.

Saw this stat online: Tomiyasu took 37 touches in the attacking third against Newcastle, his most in an Arsenal shirt. Hector Bellerin took more than 37 touches in that area of the pitch only once last season

Nice to see that Tomiyasu is comfortable doing that because against teams who play so deep we need wide threat from both flanks.

I read Tomiyasu generally plays left centre-back for Japan so he provides some decent versatility and cover across defence.

It will be interesting if Ronaldo plays. He goes against everything Rangnick wants in his forwards and tactic. Part of me wants him to play as he offers so little defensive work and throws the balance of their team out. But if a chance drops in the box or someone is needed on the end of a cross there is no player I’d want it to drop to less!

At 17 million quid he looks an absolute steal of a signing when comparing him to other defenders fees

Likewise Tavares which for 8 million quid looks absolute robbery.

You can’t fault our recent transfer business. It’s impressive

Saka recently named Luiz as one of if not the most influential and helpful player he’s played with at Arsenal. Despite the bad reputation I think the media unfairly gave Luiz, and one that many Arsenal fans jumped on as well I think it is overlooked how much he did for the younger players behind the scenes. It may be popular opinion that Luiz was a reason for many of our problems over the past 2 seasons but perhaps in the wild ride of post wenger and changing managers, players and hierarchy as we struggled to establish a new identity Luiz was actually someone who was helping to hold things together in the dressing room.

Tavares at his price is incredible, mainly because of where you think he can get to. I heard someone compare him to when Toure joined, athletic and full of energy but young enough to be able to harness that and improve. The raw ingredients are there for him.

"What's going on with Viking ?! Brekalo attacks his own goalkeeper and is sent off in overtime. Incredible scenes."

One of the weirdest things I've seen in football. Bust-up between a keeper and his own defender. The defender shoves the keeper, who takes a dive and gets his own teammate sent off.

I’ve said it before but I think Luiz was a good signing. Apart from the dressing room stuff, which you rightly highlight as positive, I think his performances on the pitch were generally good. A few big mistakes. But generally a fine player with a good attitude. As I say, a good signing who I hope looks back on his time at Arsenal with happy memories.

Just saw an article that Edu admitted to talking to Wenger about a return. Hmm...I am curious to know how Arteta feels about it. It wouldn't be a surprise if he felt he was being underminded. He may welcome him but its tough to say.

Wenger would make a great sporting director. Or even another position.

I liked Luiz. Yeah, he was past it but he was a fighter and he played the ball at his feet as good as any CB out there. It's not a surprise he was good for the dressing room.

Even without Saka, if we come out like we did against Sperz, we can win this game. But I dare not even ask that of them, for fear of being greatly disappointed.

Luiz was okish and the best of the Chelsea pensioners we signed but my goodness I’d rather have Ben White who is something of an unsung hero in the side I feel. Very solid rarely gets praise thats currently lavished on ramsdale but always turns up.

Our transfer business this summer was exceptional. It’s 150 million which is a lot but my goodness did we stretch that budget far.

Get the impression it would be something Arteta would despise through gritted teeth then smile and say he thinks it’s a great idea.

I’d be really shocked if he supported it despite saying the polar opposite

Rangnick if not mistaken, had played a part in Carrick's team set up for the Chelsea game, as Ronaldo was benched. Curious as to how MU team selection will be Thursday.

He won't be. He's waiting for his visa. They haven't beat us since 2018 so they are due a win. I think Carrick will have then set up to counter as he did against Chelsea.

Thanks Gunfire. News came in Rangnick will possibly miss the Crystal Palace match as well. Also he has to have Covid clearance.

RIP Ray Kennedy

Yes, such a fine young striker for us and later a top midfielder at Liverpool. Life gave him a lot early on but took a lot back later on.

Ah man.....that really saddens me. What a player and what a man.....him...a 19 year old.... and Big Raddy upfront for us in our 70/71 double year Scoring at WHL to win us the title and then being an integral part of one of Liverpool's best ever midfields.....travel well Ray.....one of the greatest Gunners ever.

I'm a bit vague on this story but while at Liverpool Ray was getting stick from some quarters and Charlie George called him and said "show em your medals, Ray"

If anyone can tell it better than me please do so.

That’s so sad. I didn’t know he’d passed away until reading your post just now. I always felt Radford was the more important of the two strikers but Kennedy was still a fine player.

It came as no surprise to me that he probably showed his best form in midfield for Liverpool. He played for Arsenal in a five a side tournament that they used to hold at Wembley. He was brilliant with a great touch and passing ability. I felt he had ‘I am a midfielder’ written all over him.

John Sillett has died. No links to Arsenal, but was Coventry’s manager when they won the FA Cup in 1986, beating Tottenham in the final.

Twelve players who I’ve seen play for the club in a competitive first team fixture have now passed away. They are:

George Armstrong (56), Alan Ball (61), Geoff Barnett (74), Tommy Caton (30), Ray Kennedy (70), Paul Mariner (68), Alan Miller (51), Jose Antonio Reyes (35), John Roberts (69), David Rocastle (33), Kevin Stead (57), Paul Vaessen (39).

I’ve put the ages they were when they died after their names.

RIP Ray Kennedy

Lol that's hilarious. Don't need a translator to hear the commentators saying "Idiot".

He also scored our goal in the away 1970 Fairs Cup (now called the Europa League) first leg final at Anderlecht. We lost the game 3-1 so that made the 3-0 home win enough to win it.

And he did that having come on as a very late sub when we were 3-0 down and seemingly doomed.

Shades of Kolasinac (and Özil) here. https://www.news18.com/news/football/wa ... 05912.html

Could have ended really badly. Happened in August so he seems fine after the event.

Yes, I loved watching him and Big John terrorise defenders with their strength, ball-holding ability and great heading skills. One of our greatest forward combinations.

A while ago I wrote this of Ray Kennedy, which may be of interest:

"In his touching book Ray of Hope: The Ray Kennedy Story, Andrew Lees recounts how the strapping forward was born with his umbilical cord knotted around his neck. It seems that right from the start he was used to extricating himself from awkward situations, though as I write fate the mighty has him in the unremitting clasp of Parkinson’s Disease. As a striker at Arsenal he became renowned for his ability to escape close marking and his phlegmatic bearing of the marks of his violators. McLintock called him ‘Concrete Legs’ and coach Steve Burtenshaw recalled ‘defenders behind him could not even see the ball half the time, he was so powerful.’ Ray came from a working-class mining background in Northumberland and was drawn into football through the influence of his father Martin and his mother Veronica. There is the lovely anecdote how when Ray scored a goal he would say, ‘That’s one for me Mam.’ The one he scored in Belgium in April 1970 was shared with delight by millions of Arsenal fans, as was the fearsome header he netted a year later at White Hart Lane to secure the League title for The Gunners. That goal ensured that even when Ray moved on to experience many great days at Liverpool, his reputation remained unblemished at Arsenal."

Interesting how he was loved by both clubs. Being a big part of a double will do that I suppose.