Rice, Rice Baby and Eight Arsenal Questions

TotalArsenal

The season is over and what a season it was. I look forward to rewatching the games over the summer and just admire again the way Mikel set up the teams and strategies to totally dominate a game for at least 45 minutes. This sort of dominance is something we have not had since the good Wenger years, and we need to build on it.

We need to build on it because Arteta’s team did sometimes struggle to keep up the intensity for 90 minutes, and we lost, unnecessarily, quite a few points as a result of this. Seeing out games needs stamina but also experience, and it is fair to say that we came short on the pitch, and maybe also a bit off the pitch. The former and latter are understandable: the team is young and so is the manager. On top of that, we were missing exactly this sort of strength of depth in the team.

Look at Man City: no De Bruine? They have two experienced creative midfielders to replace him; and this goes for most of the positions at the blue oil company. It all remains to be seen whether we can really compete with them, but it looks like Edu and Mikel are doing absolutely everything to keep us in the top four and maybe, just maybe, pip Pep’s men to the biggest silverware in the coming seasons.

We need winners in midfield. Men who care, have tons of talent and a Vieira-esque personality. Natural born winners. But, as Kev pointed out recently, they also need to have bones of steel and muscle made of graphene. I so hope we keep Granit for another year and add Rice to the team. I also hope we keep Partey but we certainly need the sort out back up midfielder on the right who can fill this position with ease.

I think Rice remains a strong possibility and this would of course been a huge coup by Mikel. But what about the rumour that Havertz will be joining us? Could he play in the hole behind GJ9, or in a two behind the CF? I have seen his shoulders drop too many times at Chelsea to get really excited, but if Arteta believes in him then so would I. Goals from players behind the three attackers are absolutely necessary, and a player of Havertz quality will certainly be able to make us stronger from there.

It is all good news coming from the club, and let’s see who Arteta and Edu can get over the line in the end.

Now, to have a bit of discussion on the blog, here are eight questions for you:

  1. Jesus or Eddie up-front, or do we need to get a beast of a CF instead?
  2. Balogun: sell, loan or play at Arsenal this season?
  3. What to do with Holdingho?
  4. Kieran Tierney desperately keep or should we let him go?
  5. Which three players have surprised you most this season?
  6. What three things could Arsenal/Arteta improve on next season?
  7. After Rice has been signed, who would you really want to come and strengthen our squad (realistically available)?
  8. What has been your favourite Arsenal song last season?

By TotalArsenal.

74 thoughts on “Rice, Rice Baby and Eight Arsenal Questions”

  • I really hope we land Rice, he is just the sort of player we need. He’s young, has a very professional approach (like another Ode) and is a top-notch defensive midfielder who can turn defence into attack and has plenty of goals in him. I do worry about his price though, even if he’s already proven himself in the PL. His attitude and performances in a West Ham team that looked like it was heading for relegation at one point were exemplary and in contrast with what I’ve seen of Havertz. I hope that we don’t get ourselves another Willian.

    1. We need someone else up front and I think that they need to offer something different to Jesus and Eddie. Balogun would be my choice if his head is in the right place but see 2.
    2. If Balogun wants guarantees of regular starts then unless Mikel can do this (unlikely) we should sell. There’s little point in another loan. Flo will rightly think that he’s already proved himself and won’t be happy with it. If we do sell, Edu needs to get a good price for him. There’s more than a suspicion that we’ve been an easy touch recently.
    3. I like Holdingho but, I think it would probably be best for both parties if was sold.
    4. I couldn’t understand why we didn’t use KT more at the end of the season when Zinchenko appeared to be struggling. He’s also struggled with injuries so I would be inclined to sell him if (as appears) the manager doesn’t trust him or feels that he can’t fit into his system. Maybe a positional change or tweak could work though. Look how Xhaka was transformed this season.
    5. (1) Eddie who slotted in seamlessly when Jesus was injured. (2 and 3) Leandro and Jorginho. Both impressed me more than I hoped/expected and I think that Jorginho deserved to play more than he did.
    6. (1) We need to rotate better and more frequently to do that we need a stronger squad and we also need to give more opportunities for academy players to play for the senior team. These should help us to (2) finish the season more strongly than in recent seasons. (3) Be more ruthless when we are in winning positions whether that’s by scoring more goals or by achieving more clean sheets.
    7. I hope that Balogun will stay with us and that the reports about him are untrue. He would add something different to our forward line and, Like Saliba this season, be like a new signing.
    8. Saliba (Tequila)

  • Stu, I was also there that day, I’ve got quite a good record at the Bridge but the Kanu hat-Trick is pretty much up there with my favourite away days.

    If I recall the following season we came from behind again and gained a draw when Silvinho belted home from the edge of the box, that was my last visit to that toilet.

  • Yeh, mate. I didn’t do too many away days as I was playing in the Hertfordshire League during my years in England. Only got to the Bridge, the Lane and Vicarage Rd. Kanu’s heroics was certs my favourite away game. Can you remember where you stood? I was up behind the goal with the away fans in the Shed End.

    Total.
    1. How many “beasts” are out there? I’d be happy with Havertz to strengthen what we have.
    2. If we can get 40+k sell Folarin.
    3. If Rob is happy with being a 5th choice CB, keep him. He’s a fine squad member. I suspect he will go, and the 20+k will be handy.
    4. KT? A very handy LB or LCB. I’d keep him if he is committed. Otherwise the 40+k will be useful.
    5. 3 surprises? Bukayu for his sheer durability. He has played so much football over the past year and yet has been consistently brilliant, despite some pretty rugged treatment. KT. I thought he would be used a lot more. Jesus, that he went thru that barren spell.
    6. 3 improvements? The management has been superb with huge improvements right across the club. I can offer only one. Game management: throwing away all those leads and points could have been avoided with earlier subs and tactical tweaks.
    7. Caicedo. A midfield triumvirate of Rice, Caicedo and Oedergard would be beautiful to behold.
    8. Song: The Angel (Norf Lunnen foreva). A paen of praise, hymn like in its association with people, place and The Eternal. It’s the anthem I’ve waited decades for.

  • We (my son and I) were along the side, the same side from which Kanu scored his third goal Stu.

  • All fun to think about, T.
    I’m a big yes on both Rice and Havertz. At first I was outraged about the link, but after doing some research, I really want him. I’m hoping the plan is to have him in midfield as he excelled in Germany.
    Rice is a no Brainer. Loads of stats show what we don’t always notice when watching boring, boring West Ham.

  • OX, all good responses and little to argue with. I really liked the Tequila song too – so energetic and positive and boy did we miss him when he got injured. Yes I like Balogun too and I reckon he has the capability to displace both Jesus and Eddie. But the PL is a step up from the French league, as we know all to well from Pepe’s struggles on Rule Britannia soil.

  • Yes Stuart that is goosebumps song – I love it. Like you and Ox, I am also a bit surprised by the lack of KT action. Zinch is clearly the better player in Mikel’s system but also not the best defender when we are pushed back into our own half. KT can do a job then. I hope we will keep him.

    Yes Saka was just amazing, and so was Odegaard and Martinelli. Thre young talents ready to conquer the world with Arsenal.

  • 1. I think we need more striking options but don’t ask me who?
    2. Sell for £45m
    3. Upgrade, Robs style leaves him vulnerable.
    4. He’s homesick, sell him for £40m
    5. Saliba, White at right-back and Xhaka
    6. Rotation, Substituting and giving youngsters a chance – if they’re up to it?
    7. Caicedo, but Brighton’s demands are unrealistic so Havertz.
    8. Tottenham get battered everywhere they go, everywhere they go…..

  • I think that he’s a single guy and shares digs with one of the Arsenal chefs who is also Scottish. Interestingly there’s a report that Arsenal are negotiating with Kieran to extend his contract and that Arteta wants him to stay at Arsenal…

    I see that Fabio Vieira is injured and will miss the U21 tournament due this summer.
    To me it poses a question, it is how many of you think that if Arsenal were offered the £34m they paid him, would think yes, take the money?

    I’m kinda leaning in that direction…

  • I think if we are getting Kai, and ESR stays in the mix, how much game time would Fabio get? Another year of toughening up may get him up to speed, a lot of players don’t hit the ground running in the EPL.
    I hope we keep KT, one of the best left backs around. If Zinchenko is going to play a more midfield role, KT’s minutes on the pitch will improve. Then again, if Cancelo is in the equation…

  • Fabio has the talent and needs to settle into the PL. Will he do so? Only time will tell. Maybe a loan to Sheffield United or Forest would do him good.

  • Three excellent, high-quality goals with Declan Rice smiling broadly after every one as they celebrated together – The Shape of Things to Come?

  • Timber…… He’s a lumberjack and he’s ok, he sleeps all night and he works all day?

    With the Internationals finally over the longest season in history comes finally to its conclusion. Now we might finally see the completion of all those carefully constructed deals Edu has been working on since last month and before?

  • Thomas Partey is being strongly linked to a move to the Saudi League, still in his prime at 30, so Arsenal might get a decent fee and it’ll lessen the spotlight on the prospective inflated transfer fees paid by the Saudis to Chelsea for four of it’s deadwood players to subsidise the Saudi backed Chavs in their efforts to satisfy FFP regulations, regulations that in truth have become laughable…

  • Looks as if the Kai Havertz Transfer is coming to a conclusion with his medical due within the next 48 hours or so…

    Arteta seems really keen and whilst in general I’ve been underwhelmied by the German, I trust in Mikel’s judgement. Some say he doesn’t score enough goals and that probably true but the same people said that Odegaard didn’t score enough goals!

    Just goes to show what some proper coaching can achieve if the player is open to suggestions…

  • Pingback: ≫ Rice, Rice Baby y ocho preguntas del Arsenal - Bergkampesque

  • €40m from the Saudi League for Thomas Partey is being suggested in the media, now that would be a very nice sum and would pretty much pay for Timber…

  • It’s rather heartening that people inside the game can see the quality of Arteta and the benefits to themselves by working with him TA, unfortunately many dumb-arses online can’t see any further than their own bigotry…

  • Reading Mikel’s back story reveals a dedicated, focused, grounded and personable young man. He could well become one of Arsenals all time greatest managers.
    Kai enthuses me greatly, we have a history of signing technicians of calibre and this wunderkind, only the twelfth German to play for our club, will extend Arsene’s greatest legacy to us; playing the beautiful game beautifully.

  • It would be nice to finally see a picture on Arsenal.com of Kai Havertz in an Arsenal shirt just to change the negative media-driven narrative around Arsenal.

  • Stuart, you’ll be pleased to know that Charles Watt the sportswriter and Arsenal fan has written a book on Arteta including and up the end of last season.

  • August 31st is publishing date, Kev. Tho’ it takes an age to get down here to far flung NZ. “Last, loveliest, loneliest” as Rudyard put it. I trust it will be a better read than DB10’s and Arsene’s books. Best footie books I’ve ever read: The End: “80 years of life on Arsenal’s North Bank” by Tom Watt
    (wonder if he is Charles Dad?), “Damned United” by David Peace, “A season with Verona” by Tim Parks, “The Football Man” by Arthur Hopcraft, and , of course, “Fever Pitch” by Nick Hornby.
    Best podcast: “Handbrake off”. Well a laugh.

    I share your hope to read GN5 on this blog again, soon.

    “Keyboard farts, people just let rip”. 😁. Should have had you writing Denis’s biography, Total…

  • Tom Watt and Charles Watt aren’t related as far as I know Stu, Tom Watt used to be an actor and a radio broadcaster but he’s been low profile for a long time.

    Best Arsenal books: Cliff Bastin Remembers by Cliff Bastin, Arsenal From the Heart by Bernard Joy, Addicted by Tony Adams, Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby (all his books are good), Bertie Mee’s biography (a brilliant read) and half-a-dozen more whose titles escape me – funnily enough not many of the modern ones especially during Wenger’s time, I found them all a bit too bland and safe, as if the Press dept at Arsenal had checked them out first.

  • Sir Air, by Leo Mckinstry is a brilliant read about Sir Alf Ramsey, Ramsey was part of the first ever Tottenham team to win the league in 1950/51 using a style called push and run under the famous Tottenham manager Arthur Rowe and then he went into management he used tactics to turn a very average Ipswich Town team into league champions in 1961/62 so it isn’t just about his career as an England manager it’s a fascinating look at a period when football changed from what was basically a pre-war game into the type of football we see now and Ramsey was right in the middle of it.

  • You’re right about the bland brigade, mate. I will seek out Mee’s and Ramsey’s books. I love that Bertie Mee era. It was the time I discovered and became devoted to Arsenal. Loved his journey from physio to manager. From that era I have Bob Wilson’s, Peter Storey’s and Terry Neill’s bio’s, all good reads. I also have first editions of Alex James and Tommy Lawton’s books. Alex’s book has some laugh out loud stories about the creative accountancy methods used to pay footballers in those days.

  • I love football, I love books, but the two mix badly in my view. A great article is still my preferred form of reading about football. Short, to the point, every line of interest. Books just don’t do it for me; they spread one or two good articles over hundreds of pages. Let the ball and pitch, and those 44 pencils, do the writing. 🙂

  • Ah, Total, you haven’t read Tom Watt’s, “The End, 80 years of life on the North Bank”. War and peace, it isn’t, but for a evocative, emotive, generational love affair, you won’t find a better read. Some of the stories will swell your heart. Some of the photographs will stop your heart.

  • Hi Guy’s. I still recuperating at home. I’m feeling a lot better but not back to my old self yet. I’ve hardly been on the computer hence my absence. I will be back when I feel up to it. But no worries at the moment as my major health scares appear to be behind me.

  • TA,

    Balogun has to go. Wrong attitude and will lose value rapidly the moment the transfer window shuts.
    Eddie, who I like a lot, I would sell. My striker options would be mostly false 9s. Trossard first, then Jesus, then Martinelli, then Havertz. We could use the money and Eddie deserves to play.

    Tierney also needs to go or will depreciate more. If we get Timber, Tomi becomes left back cover with Kiwior behind Zinchenko.

    Arteta will not rotate enough for all those players even without Tierney. He’ll even rotate defenders less than forwards, which is already not enough.

    Kiwior is wanted by European clubs, including Napoli, and Dortmund were after him. He can’t rot on the bench unhappily as his value drops.

    Holding should go and have a very nice career at another club.

    Song. I wanted Arsenal to come out to Du Hast (Mich).
    The symbolism is perfect. When we come to power, they will hate us more. Media, league, pundits, refs, rivals and their fans.

  • Stu, I delved into the dark recesses of my wardrobe and found this info:

    Bertie Mee ‘Arsenal’s Office and Gentleman’ by David Tossell.

    Alex James ‘Life of a Football Legend’ by John Harding.

    An an obscure but I find interesting book about the clubs’ origins :

    The Real Arsenal Story ‘In the Days of Gog’ by Alan Roper.

    I hope you find them interesting…

  • Arteta knows how to play the game Johnno, so he uses the media and tells everyone who’ll listen that he wants to keep Tierney and Balogun and maybe he’ll end up keeping one or both but basically Mikel is saying ‘If you want my players you’ll have to pay serious coin for them’ no more ‘freebies’ – and I’m fine with that, not everything he says is kosher, it’s code, he sending out a message to those parties who are interested.

    It’s like Juventus, so what if they’ve agreed terms with Partey, that’s even if that is true, it’s going to cost more than £17m, as it should….

  • Yeh J, I can see Rambo banging to a bit of Ramstein.

    Kev, your wardrobe sounds an interesting place. “The days of Gog”? Who or what was Gog? Other than Ezekiel’s Prince of Magog, of course…

  • OX10 tha5 was a funny read and actually so was the book by Perry Groves.

    Gog, if I recall was the name of a boat/barge that did some kind of work, I can’t recall, in the Woolwich area in he late 1800’s close to the Royal Arsenal.

    Yes Stu, my wardrobe is full of many fascinating trinkets, programmes, stamps, CD’s and a few clothes…

  • Arsenal 2023/24 fixture list.

    Nottingham H
    Crystal Palace A
    Fulham H
    Man United H
    Everton A
    Tottenham H
    Bournemouth A
    Man City H
    Chelsea A
    Sheffield United H
    Newcastle A
    Burnley H
    Brentford A
    Wolves H
    Luton A
    Aston Villa A
    Brighton H
    Liverpool A
    West Ham H
    Fulham A
    Crystal Palace H
    Nottingham A
    Liverpool H
    West Ham A
    Burnley A
    Newcastle H
    Sheffield United A
    Brentford H
    Chelsea H
    Man City A
    Luton H
    Brighton A
    Aston Villa H
    Wolves A
    Tottenham A
    Bournemouth H
    Man United A
    Everton H

  • A lot to look forward to, GN5.
    Do you think you could get tickets for the game at Bramall Lane, Total?

  • Exciting times at Arsenal. Theres is no club in the world better positioned for growth and success, or with a brighter future.. We deserve it.

  • Willkommen Kai Havertz!

    Kai played as a striker for Chelsea last season but has always performed best as an attacking midfielder which is no doubt why he looked a little forlorn at times. Midfield is naturally where Mikel has already said he will play him.

  • Exciting times indeed…

    Not sure what to make of the Tierney on loan to Celtic rumour, I mean why should we do them a favour after the way they rinsed us for the whole £25m fee up front and a sell-on clause?

  • Arteta and Edu turning rumours into reality, slowly but surely. Who else recalls how our fans had to endure painful waits as rumour after rumour of targets start and end with us losing out and only going for the back-up target? Our deals usually getting done towards or on deadline day. Well, looks like those days are gone and we are now able to zero in on ‘our man’ earlier, even besting Man City in a “bidding war”.

    After Havertz and Rice, I imagine we go for Romeo Lavia and Timber; then, go on a selling spree. Xhaka, Holding, Balogun, Tavares and even Tierney, if he isn’t going to get reasonable playing time. I love him too much to see him as second (or third) best in his favoured left back position.

    Exciting times, indeed.

  • Footie books? I was heavy on soccer comics growing up, though and that’s where it is for me. However, I did read Arsene Wenger’s “My life in Red and White” and found it enjoyable. But, that’s down to the regard and love I have for the man, himself…..I imagine,

  • Kev I didn’t hear that Tierney loan rumour. No way. No loans without obligation.
    Same with Lokonga, Kompany needs to buy him or loan with obligation. I’d take a small loss on Sambi even, just to be rid of him.

  • Ethan Nwaneri has signed on to a scholarship deal, and professional terms when he turns 17. That’s Arsenal still flexing its muscles and remaining an attractive prospect for footballers, all round.

    From what I have read (even seen), the Timber deal may top all the others in terms of value for money.

    Let’s see if we can get all our targets in, in time for pre-season.

  • Stu, thanks for sharing that link. It was fascinating to hear Cesc talk us through the way Arsene developed him and how he changed his tactics over the years. Listening to him, I couldn’t help but think that the tactics that Arsene employed during 2005/6 which took us to the CL final could work so well with the squad that Mikel is assembling with Flo or Eddie up front.

    Flo and Eddie – where have I heard that before?

  • We certainly seem to be splashing the cash about at the moment and not (yet) shedding anyone. It’s great to see the Board backing Mikel. It’s also good to see new players coming in before pre-season but spending big doesn’t always bring the best results, e.g. Leandro vs Mudryk. I would love to hear PB’s thoughts on the way that the transfer window is panning out for us.

  • Johnno, the Tierney ‘loan’ rumour seemed to originate in Scotland, maybe Celtic were trying their luck?

    I see that Maitland Niles is being linked to Everton and West Ham and that Tavares is also being linked to West Ham – exciting times eh? 😉

  • Ha! They founded the Turtles back in the 60’s, Ox.
    I agree with Cesc that the best (tho’ not the winningest) football Arsenal played under Arsene was that team with him, Rosicky, Hleb, Van Persie with Flamini or Diaby tucked in behind them and Adi up top. They were a dream to watch. Maestro’s, Mozart’s, Magnificent.
    The link leads to a tactical chat from Freddie L about the Invincibles. Well worth a watch, too.

    Yeh, come on PB, we are missing your tones, mate. What do you think of the Hungarian lad Liverpool have signed?

    Off to play Madhatters this arvo in the Northland League. Heavy rain all night so likely be a combination of football and mud wrestling…

  • Guys, you are really sweet, and I appreciate it big time.
    But the truth is that in fact my tone is what you don’t miss. Or if you do, you really shouldn’t.

    For reasons – mostly outside football – I’m becoming more bitter and uncompassionate.
    Which so far does not prevent me from tolerating different opinions (do we need a GK upgrade over Turner? no; who is better RCB/RB, White or Timber? not sure, maybe Timber; shall we go after Lavia: HELL NO), however I draw a line where opinions are not simply different, but downright crazy – and I intentionally watered it down from synonyms of challenges to mental capacity – thus really difficult to appreciate even from a fellow Arsenal supporter. And you shouldn’t witness my intolerant side.

    Obviously, there are plenty of harmless topics concerning transfers and rumors:
    – Does Rice rally worth that much money? I think so. At least the ballpark is legit. TransferMarkt valued him at 90M long before the bidding war started. He is the (joint) highest rated DM. It wasn’t a signature Arsenal move to go for already established world class players, but I don’t mind it as long as it doesn’t become policy.
    – Did we need Kai Havertz at all? That’s complicated. If we keep playing in the boring yet mostly effective 4-2-3-1 then this 70M is money thrown out of the window. However if (or hopefully: when) we start experimenting with multiple formations and tactics, this could turn out to be the best signing of the summer. Havertz is a great player, and even at this price was underappreciated. He is the closest thing to Bergkamp (from skillset and tactical flexibility), and I worship the Dutchman beyond any football players ever, including Henry and maybe even Messi. He could lit up the 3-4-2-1 as well as the 4-1-4-1, not to mention the 4-4-1-1. I believe I was the first recommending him in this very blog somewhere around late 2019 so I have to stick with him. Plus he is called Kai, and my son already loves him for that (being a hardcore Ninjago fan). So the good signs outweigh the bad: e.g. we needed another AM like kangaroos need a bush-fire.
    – Did we miss out on Szoboszlai? Not at all. He is a really good player, young yet already clinical, but he is a card magnet and we are already stacked with AM. It will be a challenge for Klopp to include him, as there is no place for an attacking midfielder in Liverpool’s current 4-3-3, but maybe he’ll also have to reinvent the footballing philosophy like Mikel. I think both Odegaard and Havertz are clearly better than Szoboszlai, but even if they tie I’m still proud that we bought Martin for 35M, while Pool paid twice as much for Dominik. However I acknowledge that I belong to the minority in that regard, and mainstream prefers if we pay much more than market value…

    … to be continued

  • And there are more controversial topics, but probably still before the friendship-ending quarrels:
    – How could anybody ever believed that Man City will buy Rice? They were NEVER serious about him! You don’t need admission level proof, it is painfully obvious, and was obvious in May. They have Rodri, and regardless of the position no team should have the 2 best players in their squad, as City would not buy Mbappe next to Haaland even if they could afford him. Plus even with the Arsenal offer open in the press/tweets they didn’t submit a higher bid, and they backed off publicly about 3 days later. So why bid for Declan? I’m not sure about the motive, but it could be either to take a piss at Arsenal for Mikel contemplating to buy Cancelo, but turned towards Timber (resulting in a significant loss for Man City), however it very well could be a favor Arteta asked from Pep, so now we can show that even word class players chose Arsenal even if absolute top clubs bid for them.
    – By the way, Cancelo. He is a great player, and wouldn’t cost and arm and leg now, apart from his hefty salary. However assuming Arsenal manages to secure the services of Timber – who is 7 years younger than the Portuguese, almost as good, and versatile in a different way – going after Cancelo would be serious incompetence from Arteta and/Edu. Remember, this is a topic I didn’t nominate for friendship-ending. 🙂
    – There is a rumor that we might sell Tavares to West Ham for 8M. And even though I don’t think Nuno has a future at Arsenal that transaction would bring me shame. That West Ham manages to overcharge us by 15M on Rice and at the same time cutting 10M (60%) from Tavares. When there is a difference of 72M between the independent evaluation of the 2 players going in the opposite direction, I would love to pay only 50-60M surcharge, would still be fine with playing out 70-75M net, but if we really pay 98M plus Tavares than somebody needs to be fired with immediate effect.
    – I’m pleased that today Arsenal is the 2nd most valuable club in the world, I really am. But to be honest from the ways how we got here I prefer nurturing academy starlets (Saka, Smith-Rowe, Balogun, Nelson, Nketiah) and the smart purchases of talented future stars like Martinelli (7M), Odegaard (35M), Saliba (27M), Gabriel (25M), Jesus (45M) over playing inflated price for already established players like White (59M), Partey (50M), Havertz (70M), Rice (100M), and I’m not even mentioning Kiwior or Vieira. It’s fine when it happens from time to time, but it shouldn’t be the next business model. Oh, I really miss the Guendouzi, Mavropanos, Martinelli or even Cazorla, Giroud and Monreal type of transfers for less proven or locally underestimated players.
    – OX10 suspected it correctly, even though I support and appreciate the incomings I do think the current headcount of 32 – still without Rice, Timber and excluding Hein & Okonkwo (Mari and AMN are removed) – is pointlessly huge and not sustainable. And while we all know that the management doesn’t want to start the season with 35 lads, it seems that there is not enough focus to sell/loan the excess players. We don’t need 6 full backs and 6 wingers, but I don’t see the efforts on finding new clubs for Rúnarsson, Cedric, Elneny (!), Tavares, Pepe and Balogun, nor finding proper loan deals for Trusty, Lokonga, Vieira and Marquinhos. With 8 of these 10 players out and 2-3 new signings we could start the next season with a squad of 27 high quality players, which would still be too many in my book, but considering most fans demand 33 players, that could be a viable compromise.

    So basically I have withdrawn from the transfer discussions as an act of kindness or a matter of courtesy. 🙂 This way we can avoid debates on losing Xhaka, Partey and Tierney for a fraction of their value – and addressing the bull$hit explanations that serve only to reduce the cognitive dissonance; we don’t have to discuss the effects of the 200k+ salaries on the financial situation of the club as well as the dressing room morale, and you don’t have to remind me the humble pie when my predictions on Arteta’s utilization of the Academy prove to be accurate again. Furthermore I save you the dilemma, whether splashing hundreds of millions on new players in a single transfer window is universally immoral and unacceptable, or only if performed by Chelsea (Russian gas), Man City (UAE oil), Manchester United (US billionaire) and Newcastle (Saudi oil). And if anybody believes that Osimhen, Vlahovic, Martinez, David, Abraham, Ramos or Watkins would gladly join Arsenal to provide competition to Jesus, I’m no longer inclined to point out the absurdity – as well as in the case when somebody thinks we have a chance to sign the new Turkish wonderkid.

    If I can tackle my general laziness I plan to write a post on what do advanced statistics on event and performance data tell us about the past season? Which team had the best defense, offense, midfield, goalkeeper? While it would be generally about the application of those ugly stats in comparing/ordering of the teams based on the average of 38 PL games, I can put Arsenal in perspective. I thought it could be interesting to see data (interpreted) without the influence of the commentators or the bias of ourselves. It may show the usefulness of those stats or quite the contrary.

  • Peter, you got me out of hibernation. You write brilliantly and you have an incredible feel for the transfer market and Arsenal’s place in it. I for one would never dream of arguing with your knowledge – it’s quite the opposite in fact as I find your comments and posts among the most informative that I read – thank you for your input.

  • PB thank you, a lot to digest there and not a lot to argue with especially with regard to the squad size and wage bill even if we comply with FPP. I think that Edu now has to concentrate on trimming the squad size. I suspect that Mikel wants to keep Mo, especially if Partey is to leave. Getting full value for the rest may not be an easy task and we may have to rely on Pepe wanting to move to Saudi Arabia to find a suitable suitor for him.

  • The dam bursts. Good stuff, Peter, I got through an entire bowl of porridge whilst reading your thoughts, sweetened with local bush honey, apricots and banana, the porridge that is. Your thoughts: sweetened by the promised prospect of a forensic analysis of last season, and, of course the enjoyment of the Danube once again in spate.

    GN5, lovely to perceive you well enough to record your thoughts for us again. You still haven’t told us which player it was who ruffled your hair when, as a boy you sat beside the Laundry End corner flag at Highbury…

  • GN5, I’m honored by your words. And I’m really happy for your recovery as well!
    Yet, I still think that you will be better off if I focus on pre-season games and performance indicators than risking my mean SOB self to resurface in transfer debates. 🙂

    OX10 I agree about the trimming focus, but that was never Arsenal’s strong suit to begin with and Arteta further preferred the contract termination & cheap release solutions over a proper sale. Let’s hope it changes this time, but unless the Saudis knock on our door for Pepe, I think we’ll have serious difficulties getting rid of the Ivorian, as his salary is way too much for a mid-table French or Italian team and richer clubs are not interested in Nico’s services.
    I share your interpretation on Mikel preferring Elneny, I just can’t see a single justification if Xhaka and Partey are about to be released. (Well, literally they are rumored to be sold, but the price reminds me more of a gift, than an actual sales/purchase agreement in both cases.)

    If we add Rice and Timber to Havertz and the rest of the squad we are indeed about to have a strong enough team to challenge on all fronts. But we are not the only team making smart transfers. In fact I think Liverpool is doing exceptionally well (not only adding Mac Allister & Szoboszlai, but also getting rid of the deadwood and loaning out some young players) – they will be title contenders if Klopp hasn’t lost his edge, and has the balls to field 4 attacking players from the start. But that’s all; as of today I believe the PL will be fought among City, us and Pool, while the surprise 4th could be Tottenham. I don’t know much about the new manager, but they also made proper reinforcements, and if they manage to sign a quality CB (and clear some deadwood from the GK, LB and CM departments) they will have a very strong starting XI in the PL. And regardless of ten Hag’s heroics and Chelsea’s billions I think next season will be still about team and cohesion building (plus neither of them has a decent ST), and they will struggle due to their squad size (wage bill, locker room morale). Which I hope we will avoid, but that’s my mantra, as you know.

  • PB,

    You’re a brilliant analyst of football and Arsenal. As long as you can still enjoy the games, the silly transfer season doesn’t matter. I enjoy the hypotheticals that come about discussing new buys and how they’ll fit in, but it’s all guess work.

  • Granit Xhaka will be missed. If for nothing else, for his leadership qualities and the way he stands up for his teammates; and some of those shots he smashed past a hapless De Gea. He just loved scoring against the Spaniard, it would seem.

    Godspeed, Granit.

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