It looks like that elusive ‘first signing’ of the Unai Emery era at Arsenal is finally close to completion, as the Evening Standard reported last night…..
The father of Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos says his son will complete a move to Arsenal on Tuesday.
Papastathopoulos has been in talks with the Gunners over a £16million move to north London for the last month as the north London club plot an overhaul of their defence that will also include the addition of soon-to-be free agent Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Standard Sport understands that Arsenal do not currently expect a deal to be done and dusted within the next 24 hours but progress has been swift and there is cause for optimism that Papastathopoulos will soon be an Arsenal player.
“He is happy, he is in England at the moment, and tomorrow everything will be done,” he said.
“The English league is the highest [level] in the world, the most competitive, and I believe he will do well.”
He also claimed that his son had received interest from Manchester United but had opted to make the switch to the Emirates Stadium, where he will link up with former Dortmund team-mates Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, as well as the one-time chief scout at the Westphalenstadion, Sven Mislintat.
It certainly looks like Mislintat is trying to round up as many former Dortmund players as possible to kickstart the Arsenal revival, and the aim is definitely to bring in experienced players that know the meaning of success in their careers, but there is the worry that some may be approaching the end of their careers, like Lichsteiner.
We all know defenders can usually extend their careers long beyond 30 years of age so it makes sense if they have retained their fitness and ability. So do you think this is a god move by the Gunners?
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Provided it is part of a carefully thought out plan to create stability while encouraging the introduction of younger players what’s not to like?
The rebuild will undoubtedly take time – Why worry at this extremely early stage when it is known that an entirely new infrastructure is being operated after over 20 years of one-man total control?
The plan I think is to pair him with a young player like Pavard or Soyuncu(likely).Then next season or two Mavropanos would come into the picture.I also think Mustafi will be sold because it’s unlikely you’d pair Mustafi and Sokratis together due to their style of play.
Also Mustafi plays RCB like Sokratis so might struggle playing LCB if he’s to stay tbh.
Sokratis will be unveiled as an Arsenal player today at 11am.
We are also interested in inter left back Dahlbert.Player would prefer us over Monaco though due to Emery.
Lol “Mr know it all” wrong again. Everyone knows sokratis is coming so you’re saying some rubbish about unveiling to get attention again. Any insider news about our new gk Rico or leno.
it’s way past 11am
Lol, The way some folks talk here often get me laughing out loud. I often feel some here are footballers agents trying to market their players. They’ll just mention some players and propose a combination of players making them look like world class. Most of these players are often one match wonders. I bet Mustafi had some matches were he’d looked talented. Please just stop proposing these unproven/untested players for Christ sake. It makes you look stupid
He’s plain average just about to turn 30.
Bad signing for that amount of money.
Sorry to say that before he’s even joined us but its true.. he’s got heart and passion, but he’s not very good on the ball..
1.welcome sokratis.
2.looks like cech will be number 1 again new goalkeeping coach maybe he won’t make so many of those mistakes again.
2.sign a younger cb too all these good young kids are interested in joining us so that’s good.
3.we been linked to too many players 30 and older.
4.let’s not believe everything we read.
5.GET A DM.
6.coyg
Another “first signing” article 😀 😀 but at least this has more information. Welcome to Emirates Papapapaoososktholps.. 😐 😐 😐
The signing dosnt excite me average player slow a slightly younger version of BFG!! The players we are looking to recruit is a absoulute joke it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if we don’t even finish in the top 6!!!
He’s not slow
…it’s just an impediment.
We have lots of moaners on this site don’t see?
every body is entitle to their opinion the board know what they are doing they own the club they are not foolish let stay positive and encourage the players it not easy to a professional player
They are not foolish? Okay.
I look at Mustafi.
The only step down from him is a traffic cone.
So anything or anyone is an improvement.
But to be honest I was hoping we would be signing talented younger players and not journeymen looking for a bumper pay packet – that was part of the original problem as we saw in Cech etc. – players looking for one last deal…
Why are you so horrible to traffic cones. They have a purpose, whereas Mustafi………..! To be serious, I rate Mustafi with such duds as Cygan, Schillaci and Ponderous, sorry Senderous!
I’m so excited I cannot wait to pay over £200 per match to see Arsenal this season
This all makes it worth while. I love Stan
Crikey where do u sit? I pay £38 a match and feel ripped off.
For £200 I would want a seat on the bench and a bj from Holly willoughby.
LMAOOOOOOOO wait till he joins up with Maroune fellaini. These guys really are modern day crooks
These news reporters are linking us to every player coz we got a new head coach! Don’t believe everything u read! They just want their rubbish to sell
We’re not exactly looking to scoop up some of the games best or most promising by the looks of this one. Mislintat is trying to make the place feel more cosy. He’s likely replacing Mert, am guessing some people would have liked this while Mert was still playing. But what about the Koscielny situation, are we gonna keep him around and let this lad fill in in meantime. Or is this lad Koscielny replacement or upgrade, but then what about Mustafi situation. If we had of gotten a top draw CB I wouldn’t be thinking like this. Admittedly I don’t know the defender all too well, seen him a bit, but it’s Dortmund’s defending that has my mind half made up.
“We don’t buy stars we make them”.
Well that’s what it says on
the outside wall of the Emirates.
Why don’t we just not buy anyone for the next 5 years.
Just use the academy players at Arsenal.
If the manager is as good as he claims to be he will turn
Chambers Holding Mavropanos Bielik + Bola into super star centre backs.
Barryglik please quote me where Unai Emery has claimed how good he is?
To achieve at anything in life you have to have confidence in your own ability. From what I have read or heard Unai Emery is quite modest given his achievements.
Why are we stay talking about young players. When Arsene Wenger was buying young players we complained of he not signing experience players and now the club is in the right direction.
you just spoke my mind, i doubt if some people that claim to be arsenal fans are really
I assume Mustafi will be moved on to cover the cost of buying Sokratis who is a solid centre back who will provide experience for our young CB,s.By the way he is a good bit quicker than Mert,Mustafi and Chambers.
Oh please let Mustafi be “moved on.” This stumbling . sliding, mistake on legs should never have been within a million miles of our club. I doubt Leyton Orient would even want him. I don’t anyway!
I’ll take any signing right now… Our team is shit
Fellaini in pls…we are a Europa league team…lower your expectations
Sokratis is actually an excellent defender. I read a rumour about Alturo Vidal and that got me excited. Apparently he’s cheap would definitely think he’d be great for AMN to learn from
Lichtsteiner-free
Sokratis-16mill
Vidal-17m
Factoring Player sales, we should have 50 million left over
We should splash for Lafont and Koulibaly imo
I don’t think we would get Vidal… Why he would join Europa Cup Team??