The Official Arsenal - 14 x FA Cup winners thread - Vol 4

[aeropilot]

RacingPete said:

Lacazette an Arsenal player - good signing I think. Need a few more still though.

Have to say, I really wasn't expecting a big signing despite all the bluster.

Interesting.

[Cheib]

Interesting times....we've actually signed a major player who can take a full part in pre-season! I actually can't remember the last time that happened.

Quite a bit of other stuff going on too.

Jens Lehmann coming back as Goalkeeping Coach and with wider responsibilities working alongside Bould with the first team. You'd hope a man with his strength of character might stand up to Wenger and say it how it is. As much as you would think Bould would do that he seemingly doesn't.

Bellerin apparently asked to leave for Barca but has been told "non"...he's on a very long contract. Be gutted if he left.

Bad news about Santi...possibly out for all of next season! That would be a crying shame and means we need another CM.

All that remains now is to ship out the half a dozen plus players that need to go. Debuchy, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Perez, Ospina (I'd like Scezzer to stay). I'd also say Walcott and Wilshere are possible leavers.

Oh and then they need to sort Ozil, Sanchez and The Ox.

Busiest summer in years. Mind that's what happens when you allow mediocrity to be become the acceptable standard.

[aeropilot]

Cheib said:

Bad news about Santi...possibly out for all of next season! That would be a crying shame and means we need another CM.

Has a player of his age ever come back to the top flight from 2 full seasons away from playing....?

That's got to be a tall order.

What a shame.

[Glassman]

Wenger is still eager to bring in Mbappe alongside Lacazette up front.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/07/04/arsene-wenger-still-...

[Squirrelofwoe]

Glassman said:

Wenger is still eager to bring in Mbappe alongside Lacazette up front.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/07/04/arsene-wenger-still-...

I can't see it personally.

Even if it was somehow doable, it's a lot of money to spend (even in the current climate) for a player who I think is ultimately destined for Madrid next summer if not this.

Best case scenario he lives up to his hype, has a storming season, and he offs to Spain next summer leaving another huge gap in the team to fill.

Worse case scenario he fails to live up to the standards of last season (as an 18yr old in a new league it's entirely possible) and Arsenal have spent £100m+ on 'potential', who will get snapped up by a bigger (Spanish) fish when/if that potential is finally realised, or will take a huge hit on him if he turns out to be just another super-hyped teenager who fails to develop along the same trajectory...

I know it's not quite the same situation but it all smacks of another James Rodríguez to me.

But I will still be pretty excited if they somehow get it done

[Cheib]

Squirrelofwoe said:

Glassman said:

Wenger is still eager to bring in Mbappe alongside Lacazette up front.

Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/07/04/arsene-wenger-still-...

I can't see it personally.

Even if it was somehow doable, it's a lot of money to spend (even in the current climate) for a player who I think is ultimately destined for Madrid next summer if not this.

Best case scenario he lives up to his hype, has a storming season, and he offs to Spain next summer leaving another huge gap in the team to fill.

Worse case scenario he fails to live up to the standards of last season (as an 18yr old in a new league it's entirely possible) and Arsenal have spent £100m+ on 'potential', who will get snapped up by a bigger (Spanish) fish when/if that potential is finally realised, or will take a huge hit on him if he turns out to be just another super-hyped teenager who fails to develop along the same trajectory...

I know it's not quite the same situation but it all smacks of another James Rodríguez to me.

But I will still be pretty excited if they somehow get it done

Surely the only way Mbappe is even possible is if Sanchez leaves ? Arsenal's wage budget is not limitless....it's constrained through Premier League rules as to how much it can increase each year (to avoid all the TV money being spunked on player wages)....because Arsenal's commercial department is so st (we make much less in commercial revenue than all our peers) it impacts us much more than other clubs. Although you could chop £300k a week off Arsneal's wage bill without much trouble!

From what I've read (which clearly could all be total and utter bks) Mbappe's dream move is Real Madrid but he's concerned about not getting a regular starting slot....so keen to avoid the fate of James Rodriguez. If that is true you have to say that unusually for a footballer he seems to be getting good advice.

Still what we desperately need is a new CM especially if this Santi news is true.

[m3sye]

Squirrelofwoe said:

I can't see it personally.

Even if it was somehow doable, it's a lot of money to spend (even in the current climate) for a player who I think is ultimately destined for Madrid next summer if not this.

Best case scenario he lives up to his hype, has a storming season, and he offs to Spain next summer leaving another huge gap in the team to fill.

Worse case scenario he fails to live up to the standards of last season (as an 18yr old in a new league it's entirely possible) and Arsenal have spent £100m+ on 'potential', who will get snapped up by a bigger (Spanish) fish when/if that potential is finally realised, or will take a huge hit on him if he turns out to be just another super-hyped teenager who fails to develop along the same trajectory...

I know it's not quite the same situation but it all smacks of another James Rodríguez to me.

But I will still be pretty excited if they somehow get it done

James did it for 4 games in a world cup
He has done a full season in his league and champions league, slightly different

[Alfahorn]

Cheib said:

Still what we desperately need is a new CM especially if this Santi news is true.

This.

With the additions of Kolasinac & Lacazette we need to address the centre mid position alongside Xhaka. If we can get that position filled I'm very happy to go with what we've got.

Still some talk of Mahrez and Lemar, however we'll have an abundance of options in the attacking areas unless we lose Ozil and or Sanchez.

I don't want quantity, I want quality. Get a top quality CM in and consider the window done for us.

[aeropilot]

I see there is persistant rumours of Giroud leaving with the arrival of Lacazette.

Rumours suggest him going to Everton for 20m........

[mylesmcd]

Alfahorn said:

Cheib said:

Still what we desperately need is a new CM especially if this Santi news is true.

This.

With the additions of Kolasinac & Lacazette we need to address the centre mid position alongside Xhaka. If we can get that position filled I'm very happy to go with what we've got.

Still some talk of Mahrez and Lemar, however we'll have an abundance of options in the attacking areas unless we lose Ozil and or Sanchez.

I don't want quantity, I want quality. Get a top quality CM in and consider the window done for us.

Santi is the reason for our terrible season last year - he is the only attacking, competent player we have. We need an inspired signing here - (that kid from real Betis maybe?) - not another Eleny....

[Alfahorn]

mylesmcd said:

Santi is the reason for our terrible season last year - he is the only attacking, competent player we have. We need an inspired signing here - (that kid from real Betis maybe?) - not another Eleny....

I don't think we lack creativity. The issue has been largely our pedestrian play.

When we move and pass at pace we create plenty of opportunities. I also think we are going to see more from Xhaka this year. When he gets in to his stride he has a range of passing, he can tackle, score goals and is generally a very dynamic player.

If we are playing 3 at the back they will need to be protected in the middle as the wing backs are also bombing on.

[Alfahorn]

CONFIRMED

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40496970

[Alfahorn]

[Allyc85]

Bloody hell, two very good bits of business before mid July! Am I dreaming this?

[Glassman]

Text doing the rounds about a £170m double-swoop for Lemar and Mbappe. Very un-Arsenal like, but I'll be doing cartwheels if there's anything in this.

[Chuck328]

Glassman said:

Text doing the rounds about a £170m double-swoop for Lemar and Mbappe. Very un-Arsenal like, but I'll be doing cartwheels if there's anything in this.

When I read that Lacazette had been for his medical I knew this was in the bag. Good signing.

170 million? ( for two) No, never. For a brief while I thought Wengers influence might just sway the youngster, but increasingly now, I see him staying, PSG or RM.

[aka_kerrly]

Talk of Arsenal's wage bill above and the rules regarding wage expenditure makes it seem more unlikely that Arsenal will be agreeing to Sanchez (no doubt influenced by his agent) demand of £400,000 per week.

[Cheib]

aka_kerrly said:

Talk of Arsenal's wage bill above and the rules regarding wage expenditure makes it seem more unlikely that Arsenal will be agreeing to Sanchez (no doubt influenced by his agent) demand of £400,000 per week.

Not sure I believe that £400k....that's just nonsense.

Arsenal can shed a huge amount off their wage bill.



Ospina and or Scezzer £80k/£160k a week (rumours Martinez is getting the No 2 Spot)
Debuchy £80k
Jenkinson £50k
Chambers £50k (hope not)
Gibbs £80k
Wilshere £80k (hope not but probably should)
Lucas £80k
Campbell £50k
Giroud £120k..sounds like he's going

There's £500k to £600k a week of wages they need to lose right there! You could give Sanchez and Ozil the pay raises they want and buy another play or two out of that little lot!

I am sure Walmart can sign a ludicrous sponsorship of the training ground for £30mil a year if Stan wants to sort it anyway....a la Man City and all their dodgy/off market sponsorship deals.

[Glassman]

Reports emerging that Lemar has agreed terms...

[aeropilot]

Glassman said:

Reports emerging that Lemar has agreed terms...

Reports are that we'll have to up our offer for a 3rd time to get him though....£45m is the rumour, after a first bid of £30m and then another of £40m having already been rejected.