Arsenal banter 72486

29 Jul 2020 17:16:47
According to Sky Sports, Arsenal have apparently registered their interest in Jack Grealish but haven't since followed it up. I hope they weren't shocked to find out he was going to cost 80m and that 15m plus Wengers old coat wasn't acceptable 😂.

{Ed047's Note - I think the interest was just to see who was going to be mugged off for £80 million. 🤷‍♂️🤣

29 Jul 2020 17:39:15
Sky sports you say Glen? Well that's one less thing we need to think about then :-)

29 Jul 2020 18:08:19
Yeah mate exactly 😂 have you started the job yet bud?

29 Jul 2020 19:01:14
Not yet Glen mate but I had a face to face meeting today with my future boss which went brilliant and now it's just a case of the charity board of governors giving the thumbs about my DBS and my misspent youth. Obviously because the job involves working with potentially vulnerable people at times it's important they do things properly. My guess is the 17th of August start date which seems a long time from interview to starting but in the grand scheme of things it's just two more weeks :-) .
Thanks for asking mate, how's you new job going mate?

29 Jul 2020 17:37:55
Yeah that wouldn't surprise me 😂 what are you hoping we achieve from this transfer window Ed? Anyone you're hoping moves on/ comes in?

{Ed047's Note - crikey Glenn, put me on the spot why don’t you! Haha.

To see move on I think it has to be Ozil, sadly, Guendouzi who by all accounts wants to leave for bigger and better things and I’ve not seen him in the training photos for weeks.

Then it’s a pick and mix, I want Auba and Lacazette to stay, I want Balogun to sign up, not so bothered about Nketiah if I’m honest. Pepe won’t be going anywhere, Martinelli and Saka are definite keepers.

I still really like Torriera and think EMS will get a chance as will Nelson, Willock and AMN.

Defenders I think Mari, Saliba, Luiz, Mavropanos and Mustafi will stay and Papa, Chambers and Holding will go. Would like to see either Rugani or Upamecano came in to pair with Saliba but think Arteta will play Luiz next to Saliba.

Tierney, Bellerin and Cedric to stay and maybe Kolasinac to move on. Not sure about a LB as they are pretty scarce on the quality front in our meagre price range.

Think that’s covered everyone.

29 Jul 2020 20:45:47
Still got everything crossed for you Gunner mate! I'm sure you'll get your date soon you deserve it 👍🏻 going very well so far mate I think so hopefully it's a long and successful career 😁.

29 Jul 2020 20:43:47
Nice one Ed cheers mate. I still think we'll certainly bring in another central midfielder but and whether that's Partey or even keeping Ceballos on loan we'll just have to wait and see. Sokratis and Chambers have to go but it's finding takers for them which is the issue. I think Stuttgart want Sokratis which is ideal but getting substantial fees is unlikely.
A big one for us is getting Mhki off the books to on his 200k a week! That will free up the additional wages to hopefully keep Auba and if Ozil leaves then on the wage front we'll be looking a lot better off.
I'm hoping that Saliba and Mari pair up with Partey Xhaka and Ceballos in front of them allowing Dani to play higher up the pitch but signing DC and TP up is a rough ask.
As for EMS, I can't wait to see him get his shot 👌🏻.

{Ed047's Note - I knew I’d miss something and yes definitely a midfielder and Partey would be a good start.

Totally forgot about Mhki too and don’t we have Elneny on loan as well, but Mhki and Ozil off the wage bill will be huge.

Re the defence I just don’t see Arteta dropping Luiz next season.

Also forgot Ceballos🤦‍♂️ I’m liking him more because he works hard and gets all over the pitch but would like to see a lot more in the attacking 3rd but maybe that will come if we move him further up like you say.

29 Jul 2020 22:11:07
Thanks Glen mate, I'm glad it's all going well for you mate you deserve it too mate.

29 Jul 2020 23:41:00
Like the idea of Rugani, Saliba with Mari and Mavropanos as back up means we can play a more balanced 4 at the back with Cedric and Tierney as full backs

Cedric Saliba Rugani Tierney - like that

I would put Martinez in front of Leno

Midfield is interesting as Mikel really likes Xhaka so I guess Xhaka, Partey / Doucouré and Ceballos (still not a huge fan as a bit lightweight but with Partey or Doucouré that may allow a bit more creativity in there) . If we get midfield right, I’d rather have EMS than Ceballos so we can be more creative up front in final third or have Pepe more central or Laca and PEA down middle so neither is compromised. Go with Laca for goals and work rate

Nelson Xhaka Doucouré Saka

PEA and Laca

The right upgrades and then suddenly the bench AMN, Eddie, Martinelli, Bellerin, pepe, , Mari, Mavropanos, Luiz, Ceballos, Willock, kola - looks strong.

29 Jul 2020 23:48:24
Agree with your points Ed047, need to shift Chambers, Sokratis and Kolasinac which will he good for both us and them. Keep Holding as Mavropanos will be on loan to Stuttgart next season I believe and Mustafi won't be going anywhere with that injury.

As for midfield it's imperative that Özil, Guendouzi, Mkhi, Elneny all go and that we add both a promising creative mid and a strong DM. I like Torreira but if we can recoup his fee I won't be too fussed as Arteta doesn't seem to rate him. Xhaka I like more and more these days but similarly wouldn't mind if he went.

With the strikers I agree as well, Nketiah works hard and has a killer's finish but I think his ceiling is lower than Gabi and I'd rather give the latter the minutes.

All in all I'd be chuffed if we just sold as many as possible and freed up the wage bill for Auba so we could make 1 or 2 canny additions and give youth more games!

{Ed047's Note - yep agree with that too wire, Mavropanos has by all accounts been getting some good reviews back from his loan and extended his contract with us so be nice if he comes good.

30 Jul 2020 08:32:54
Morning Ed.
I am hopeful that the performances of Mari and Saliba will just be too good for MA to play Luiz. If they can show MA that he can put enough trust in them to play with a CB pairing rather than a 3, then I believe that Luiz will be used as a rotation player rather than first 11.
Losing Mhki and Ozil will be perfect for the wage issue and will certainly help.
As for Dani Ceballos, he wants to play higher up the pitch and has the vision and range of passing to make him integral in our attack but at the moment we need him to run the lines. Unfortunately he's just another player who is being expected to do more because we are lacking in quality. Parety would be a solid box to box player whilst bringing solidarity in front of our defence and Dani can work his magic in the no.10 with EMS for back up.
One day, I hope that we can be competent enough to play 4-1-2-3 but at the moment a solid 4-3-3/ 4-2-3-1 would be ideal. I'm certainly not a fan of the 3 or 5 at the back.

{Ed047's Note - that would be my ideal scenario at the back too Glenn and 433 is where it’s at for me.

I’d be happy with Partey, Xhaka and Ceballos in the middle and a firing Pepe, if there is such a player, Auba and Lacazette up front.

30 Jul 2020 11:19:25
Yeah same here mate. Partey, Xhaka and Ceballos would be the really good place for us to start next season.
One thing we do need for sure is a stable team that plays week in week out, with only a few changes made here and there purely for squad rotation.