Arsenal banter 7

26 Aug 2026 16:48:19
Afternoon all Ed's and fellow gunners hope alls good what's you guys thoughts on Alvarez possibly to the Arsenal.? . I personally think we shouldn't bother. he's set on going to Barcelona let the little so so go there, why should we bother with someone who's not really interested in joining us. and in 12 months time could simply rock the boat big time to get his so called dream move to barca.

(jog on mate) . we are the Arsenal. if we are going for someone for the here and now to try and retain the Premier League, surely we should be looking at someone like Ollie Watkins reports are he wants out of Villa, prem ready would cost a fraction of Alvarez. and most importantly he's a massive Arsenal fan and would definitely bust a gut for us. COYG/VTH 🔴⚪️❤️.

26 Aug 2026 17:48:40
Perhaps it's his wife who isn't keen on coming back to England. That can be a tricky one to navigate as it's easy to forget players have families to consider.

If he does come, I hope all these shenanigans can be forgotten.

26 Aug 2026 18:16:34
You make a very good point, Sally. Players have wives, children, and sometimes extended family members to consider when it comes to moving clubs; locations and counties.

For some players and their families, language differences can be an issue, as it must be lonely living in a country where you don't understand what people are saying in public places.

Players are sometimes thought of as commodities where it's only a case of how much you offer them that counts, but of course in reality, away from the hype and publicity, they are just regular human beings with all the same feelings as everyone else.

26 Aug 2026 18:33:09
Hello Gabi, Sally, and John, hope you are all good. I just don't get it at all. Why are we chasing a player who, even with less than a week to go in the transfer window, is still hoping that he gets his wish of a move to Barcelona.


He left City because his family could not settle in Manchester or England. I know there's a lot of rumours from different outlets, but apparently Barca still think they will get their man.

26 Aug 2026 18:46:11
Good point, Sal. But if he really wants Barca, then we should move on. The window shuts soon, & we could definitely do with a left attacker at least, and if Jesus goes to Napoli then I'd say another centre forward as well. The clock is ticking, and we need to be on the move. ✌🏻 & 🫶🏻 To you, Sal.

26 Aug 2026 19:14:42
Hi Bill, mate, I'm not at all fussed about us signing him, and I hope he gets his dream move to Barca, as that's clearly what he wants. I think Sally makes an important point about his wife and family.



I love reading about players and people in other walks of life who put their own and their family's happiness ahead of money, as it shows they haven't lost touch with what's really important in life.

27 Aug 2026 08:39:16
It's nothing to do with his wife that he doesn't want to come; it's his family members, some of whom can't get visas to come to the UK. There was big talk yesterday that he's warming to the idea of joining Arsenal, because Madrid have said there is zero chance he joins Barca! That's the President of Madrid that said that.

Now he's missed training and said he wants time alone, no family, no agents, to make his mind up.

27 Aug 2026 10:18:33
Watkins or Rashford, or both. They'd cost the same as Alvarez? Ish. Ollie could be a class act with the right players behind him. Rashford can play wide or up front, and can step up in the big moments.

27 Aug 2026 11:02:36
Exactly, Kernow.

27 Aug 2026 11:25:12
Agree, Kernow. 👍🏻

27 Aug 2026 13:08:34
In my mind Tzolis starts as does Saka and one of Kai/Viktor. Rashford comes with attitude baggage and Watkins ( and I think I'm correct) tops the most chances needed to score a goal in top 5 leagues - think it was E001 who stated this and apologies Ed001 if I'm wrong, Watkins is also about to be a gazillionaire in Saudi, generational money. Wouldn't want either. If MA and Mr Berta want Alvarez who are we to argue but I'm more than happy with Kai/Vik and thankfully the Osimhen ship has sailed.

Selling Gabi and not replacing is a dereliction of duty though in my opinion. In my 'cut my nose off to spite my face' mode I'd tell Alvarez to do one too. I want players who want to come to our beloved club and improve it - We are and never will be second choice to any club in my mind! Naive but it's the truth at least in mine and hopefully all Gooners' hearts COYG / VTH

{Ed001's Note - yes mate, in at least one season he was lowest in chance conversion. I remember it particularly because Darwin Nunez was being crucified over missed chances in the media, but he sat in the middle ranks of chances converted, while Watkins was being talked of as a great striker but was missing something like twice as many chances!}

26 Aug 2026 08:37:32
How did Chelsea get 45mill for Delap?
He is toilet.

26 Aug 2026 12:05:40
Marinakis laundering.

26 Aug 2026 14:05:20
I think he is decent and could have developed at Ipswich. Chelsea move was wrong for him.

26 Aug 2026 07:39:15
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 1 - Quick Round Up

25 Aug 2026 22:58:08
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 1 - Quick Round Up

26 Aug 2026 05:24:43
I'm giving you extra points for "vociferous". 😂

25 Aug 2026 21:39:46
In selling Martinelli are we being left short at LW or are we upgrading? If upgrading who is this Scarlet Pimpernel? COYG.

26 Aug 2026 08:05:14.
I will be gutted when Gabi leaves, even if it's probably the right call football-wise. We now have 3 rw players for 1 spot, so my guess is Eze is first-choice backup for Tzolis and Mo at both lw and cam.

Can Dowman play lw? Surely Madueke can.

26 Aug 2026 10:44:14
High Wire! We do seem to have excellent cover for defence and midfield, yet we are (end of window notwithstanding) weakening our attack if we sell Gabi. I'm sure Madueke and Eze can cover, but square pegs into round holes. I thought we had moved on from doing that. I appreciate we can't just spend, spend, spend, but I hope we aren't all in on Alvarez at the expense of the LW.

What if Tzolis gets injured? Down to a non-specific LW. Doesn't sound like a CL-winning attack, with one third a mishmash. I rate Eze, and maybe he's happy to embrace the role fully, means he plays more often, and maybe I'm being disingenuous saying he's a square peg/mishmash. Time will tell, I guess. Agree on Gabi - sad, but just hope we have a plan to upgrade him. COYG.

26 Aug 2026 11:18:50
Agreed, I'd have been more confident going into this season with no Alvarez and with Martinelli as our lw cover, but presumably the boss has a plan and within a few days we shall see what it is.

25 Aug 2026 21:28:14
How do Chelsea do it?

They spend 30 million on Delap last summer. Delap struggles to make the grade at Chelsea, yet they still manage to sell him at a 20 million profit. If Rogers fails to make the grade at Chelsea this season, should we expect them to sell him for a world record fee next summer? 🤔

25 Aug 2026 22:21:33
How do we do the opposite??

£4 m loss on Norgaard after just 12 months.

They didn't even need us to buy him to help them out. 😂 😂

26 Aug 2026 11:01:26
I prefer to focus on Saliba £26 mill, Gabriel £27 mill, Odegaard £35 mill, Raya £30 mil, Gabi £6 mill, plus Saka, MLS, Max, Nwaneri, costing nothing, all first teamers. I would wager all those players could be sold for at least double their cost, and title winners to boot. Even Dekkers, we got for half price. I know it was just Delap and Norgaard being focussed on, but citing Chelski as a beacon of light for anything transfer related is very micro, not macro.

Even those not very popular on here by some, Viktor and Kai would get back the majority of their fee if sold. Both under appreciated, in my opinion. Gabi, bought for £6 mill, sold for £50 mill, plus we had excellent service from him! Let's do it our way and pay everything above board too. COYG

26 Aug 2026 17:34:19
I agree, Cumbria, but I'm just puzzled how it is that most clubs understandably have to accept a loss on signings that don't work out on the pitch. Chelsea somehow seem to be able to turn their poor player investments into big profits. 🤔

26 Aug 2026 21:46:10
48 Check out the recent (last few years) deals between Villa and Chelsea, plus both selling women's teams, the odd hotel, Forest and Chelsea multiple ownership, Marinakis buying extreme numbers of players. Savvy business or a bit murky? Love a conspiracy theory COYG.

27 Aug 2026 12:46:17
In all honesty, who really knows the secret of the black magic box Oxfordshire?

I guess we have to accept the savvy business option in the absence of any genuine proof of the alternative. 🤔🤔🤔🤔

27 Aug 2026 13:28:19
Agree 74, to a certain extent, but it does seem to be the same teams involved, and some, e.g. Forest and Everton, get whacked immediately, yet C£ty and Chelski have punishments either dragged out or are more watered down than the bitter in the White Horse near me! Money talks, but it don't sing and dance, and it don't walk. Tangent taken. COYG.

25 Aug 2026 19:30:16
Hi Ed why can't ii get on the United page

Cheers.

{Ed033's Note - Are you seeing an Error 400 or something like that? If so you might need to delete your Cookies for the site.

25 Aug 2026 21:31:18
I'm sorry I don't know how to do that

{Ed033's Note - Have you ever heard of a web site called google.com? :)

26 Aug 2026 08:36:38
Thanks Ed I've done it

Cheers

{Ed033's Note - Excellent.

25 Aug 2026 13:50:25
I'm really not bothered if we make anymore signings.

Happy with what we've got.

Let's go.

25 Aug 2026 12:26:52
Ed033, could you set up a poll mate? Gyokeres or Alvarez? Cheers.

{Ed033's Note -


Gyokeres or Alvarez poll

26 Aug 2026 02:20:16
Interesting results and I agree. Alvarez has shown he will throw his toys out the pram.

What happens if, in a couple months, he goes full Lukaku at Chelsea and says, 'Nah, I don't want to be here and I only want Barca.' Who will inevitably go, 'We can only do a loan at this time, soz, maybe we can scrounge together 30 mil for you in a year or so.'

26 Aug 2026 05:11:01
"Alvarez has shown he will throw his toys out the pram."

Kinda like how Gyokeres did at Sporting? No one seems to care now. Point is, as fans, none of us are really certain what promises may or may not have been made between players and management.

Alvarez may have a legitimate grievance.

And as far as checking out in 2 months and demanding Barca. well, it's certainly possible. But I'd trust Arteta and Berta to have vetted the situation enough to be confident that wouldn't happen.

24 Aug 2026 21:39:57
No Alvarez, Barcola.
Get Rashford then go for Kroupi Jr in January if he comes back from injury. I got no issue with how Mikel is treating Gabi. Football ceased being nicey nicey along time ago especially concerning transfers.


The issue I got is that we are selling Gabi too cheap.
Anyway we are obviously divided on this page about Gabi, Alvarez etc, but whatever happens I hope it's the best for the club.
Take care all of you
COYG.

24 Aug 2026 15:20:55
Apparently one of our players is going the other way in the Alvarez deal. I hope it’s Martinelli as I want to keep they gyok.