03 Oct 2020 12:30:12
I'm not knocking Arteta here. I actually admire the fact that he has taken on some difficult attitudes (Mesut, Guendouzi etc) along with some bang average players (Elneny, Sokratis, Kolasinic) and come up with a system to at least get the best out of what we have.
I will however be disappointed in him if he has been spinning us bull in an effort to protect the owners and board.
Only 2.5 days left so let's see what happens but to be honest I think we'll be luck if we get one of Auaur or Partey. Players like Jorginho aren't really going to propel us to the next level.
Squeeky bum time!
03 Oct 2020 13:00:59
If chelsea get partey abd we get jorginho shows how bad our club is.
03 Oct 2020 15:02:02
I do not think Arteta will protect stan kroenke and this board. He strikes me as an ambitious guy. i do not see him throwing a fuss but see him leaving at the end of his contract-to greener pastures. arteta will probably join city to replace pep.
03 Oct 2020 17:07:34
Last summer we signed Pepe Luis Ceballos Martinelli and Tierney and everyone was buzzing with the big debate on this page being whether 4th place would be good enough from Emery given our new squad strength, yet we struggled to get top 8 in the end.
Since 2013 we've signed loads of players from Ozil to Gabriel and 100s of millions worth of talent in between but we've not improved in the slightest in those 7 seasons. Let's wait and see what happens between now and the start of November at the very least before throwing in the towel on this season completely.
03 Oct 2020 18:37:47
Completely agree G62. We all would love to find a solution to the midfield and who knows we might do. But we have to accept that we need to move players on unfortunately the players we want to move are all on high wages and the clubs that want them are not in a position to pay those kinds of wages. So we can either try and get our preferred option or spend for the sake of spending and end up with an average player - which we have done far too often.
That does mean Arteta will have to bring Ozil and Geuendozi out of the cold if we can’t sign who we want. Not ideal but it’s a test of his managerial ability and he will have to rise to that.
{Ed047's Note - Guendouzi, Ozil, Mustafi and Chambers all training with the 1st team today, only Torriera missing that I could see, Saliba was out there too.
03 Oct 2020 19:18:52
That’s interesting Ed. If we don’t sign anyone, do you reckon Arteta will give Ozil and Guendouzi another chance? I don’t think he has any other option.
{Ed047's Note - to be fair Ozil has always been training, Guendouzi just maybe the last 2 weeks, Mustafi and Chambers first day back.
I think it would be madness not to use them if they do stay which in more than likely I would say.
03 Oct 2020 19:51:13
Hi Renegade mate, I totally agree that if nothing happens between now and Monday evening then all our players need to be included on a equal footing. Guendozi is young and he's not seen the interest in himself he may have expected from others clubs and Arteta is a very young inexperienced managr who obviously hasn't yet earned an international reputation that makes top players want to work with him. Both MEN should sit down and put the past behind them in my opinion because both could have big futures in thier respective careers or could both disappear off the radar if they don't learn and grow into their professions. The Ozil situation is a club problem in my opinion, Mesut has stood his ground and refused to be bullied by the club Emery or Arteta and it's time to end this childish freezing him out because simply because the club regrets offering Mesut such a ridiculous contract in the first place.
Let the past go and move forward as a united unit is the only way in my opinion.
03 Oct 2020 23:17:39
I have to agree with that G62, no point paying players and not using them. Yes, I would prefer them to go, but ultimately that doesn’t look possible. I have been incredibly critical of Guendouzi, and I still think his behaviour in that Brighton game was disgusting. However, he is young, and show me any youngster who hasn’t made mistakes. So yes, if he accepts his error and is willing to learn and improve, them I would 100% like him to stay. Mustafi has been poor, yet was an international when he joined us, and finally, played his best football by far in the recent post CV period, so maybe we are finally getting the Mustafi we wanted. Would I offer him another contract, no, but perhaps he can finally start paying us back for the previous years of dross for the remainder of his contract. Finally Ozil. He remains by far our most skilful player, who should be sitting in the Number 10 position pulling the strings for Aubameyang and Lacazette, and yet all he gets is grief for not defending. Would I start him away at Liverpool, maybe not, but would I start him at home, versus a lower team, where we will dominate possession, absolutely yes. Rather than writing these players off, maybe with a manager willing to play to their strengths rather than forcing them to compromise, we might be pleasantly surprised what talent we actually have.