Pepe’s free transfer move to Turkey means that Arteta is now working with none of the players who started the 2020 FA Cup Final.
Tierney is hanging on by a thread, still officially employed by Arsenal, but aware that his loan to Spain might not be designed as a way to prove his manager is wrong.
When you dissect the 11 who last won us a trophy it highlights Arteta’s regularity in giving up on talent who don’t suit his ethos, to the point we have lost serious money on assets.
I maintain the Kroenke’s should have made it part of the job specification that a new boss gets the best out of resources he inherits.
Isn’t that what a coach is meant to do?
Arteta has spent his manager career thinking it’s okay to wash your hands of players.
Even if you agree that they were not good enough to wear the shirt, I refuse to believe that in an inflated market we couldn’t get more money back?
At the end of the day, these are the names who won Arteta his only trophy so far, if you don’t include Community Shields ……..
Martinez – GK (20 million)
One of the stories of the Cup Final was a tearful Martinez revealing a promise he made his father.
One day he would return to South America with a winners medal.
On this day, that vow came true.
The Argentine started the Community Shield as well even though Leno was now fit, indicating Arteta was willing to start the season with him as his number 1.
Our manager’s desire was to have two goalies competing with each other, believing competition would bring out the best in both.
The keeper though, wanted guarantees before he would extend his contract, assurances his boss wasn’t willing to give.
If the future World Cup Winner backed his own ability, he probably would still be at the Emirates today?
By giving the club an ultimatum, they had zero choice but to accept Aston Villa’s 20-million-pound offer.
Maitland Niles – LB (free transfer)
Man Of the Match at Wembley, this is what was frustrating about Nile’s Arsenal career.
Three full time managers deemed his strengths suitable to be a full back, yet before and after this final he publicly made it clear he didn’t want to play in that position.
So many from the youth set up would have bitten off your hand for the opportunities the 26-year-old has had.
There’s nothing wrong with having faith in your own ability, but you equally have to trust those in charge of your development.
August 2020 would be as good as it would get for Niles who would win his only England cap, again though at left back.
It’s believed Wolves were willing to give us 20 million for the academy graduate. A lot of money for someone who 6 months later would be sent out on loan to West Brom, then Roma, then Southampton till his contract expired.
At none of those clubs did he come close to being the midfielder that only exists in his imagination.
Now at Lyon..
Bellerin – RB (contract ripped up)
Already injury prone when Arteta was Bellerin’s captain, it was feared that when the Spaniard ruptured his cruciate ligament, he had the lost the pace which had been his biggest asset.
To be fair his manager gave him a length of time to prove he could return to previous levels, patience not always given by Arteta.
Once deemed past his best though, his boss washed his hands of his former teammate.
A loan to Real Betis was intended to get him off the wage bill, not to earn his place back in the team.
If it was, he had done well enough in La Liga (winning the Copa Del Rey) to be ahead of the likes of Cedric in the pecking order.
By last summer clubs knew the Gunners willingness to release players if it meant slashing the wage bill.
After over a decade in London where he had been since a teenager, 239 appearances and 3 FA Cup medals, he deserved to leave with more fanfare than having his contract ripped up.
Tierney – CB (loan)
Back then, Tierney was being predicted as a future Arsenal captain for stories such as carrying his boots to training in a Tesco carrier bag.
The players issue was that since moving to England he’s never really had a season where he didn’t have a spell on the sidelines, which means he could no longer be viewed as reliable.
As demonstrated at Wembley, he has the versatility to start in the middle and plan when to switch to the left.
Yet Arteta now wants his left back to also be able to time when to link up with midfield, crucial to our tactics.
In some ways that makes Tierney’s qualities old fashioned.
Defensively though, you could argue he’s still the best option we have.
Letting him go to Real Sociedad could yet come back and haunt Arteta.
If the Gunners had rejected a substantial sum for a squad player, Gooners might have understood.
In reality we accepted a loan for a 26-year-old who’s never let us down, and at the very least could help us close out a game.
All to get him off the wage bill.
Luiz – CB (free transfer)
his two years at Arsenal were not as bad as some Gooners make out.
His best displays for us were in the FA Cup Semi Final and Final. Contributing to one of our 14 FA Cups is something you can’t take away from him.
Several youngsters have been thankful to the leadership he gave them, while he was the only centre back we had at the time who could pick a pass, crucial to our tactics.
He holds the record for the number of penalties conceded by a single player in one season.
Yet a winners medal and helping the development of youth.
Signed at the age of 32 as a stop gap, we couldn’t ask for much more.
Neither party had interest in his stay being any longer
Holding – CB (4 million)
You could argue that Rob Holding’s two best performances for Arsenal came in FA Cup Finals?
With Arteta ‘s strengths at the Etihad being coaching talent on a 1 to 1 basis, I truly thought he could teach Holding new skills.
That seemed to the case when the defender extended his contract and played 30 League games in Arteta’s first full season (the most in his career).
Signings of White and then Saliba no longer being loaned out, pushed Holding back down the pecking order.
With attackers pressing, defenders needing to be comfortable in possession and even able to build attacks, Holding’s skills make him old school.
Given our history of selling players on the fringes, Palace understandably waited for the 11th hour of the market and were willing to get a quality defender still at his peak for just 4 million!
Ceballos – CM (return to parent club)
Performance during COVID convinced Arsenal to extend the Spaniard’s loan for a second season.
Some Gooners made the midfielder sound better than he was, and our insistence not to have any obligations on a permanent deal was more of us finding a way to fill a space in the squad on the cheap, not that we actually rated the player.
Still at Real Madrid.
Xhaka – CM (17 million)
Lifted the FA Cup in the same season where he responded to being jeered at the Emirates, by throwing down the captain’s armband.
Refusal to apologise as Emery had asked led to many (including the player) to believe he would never play for us again.
He won respect of many fans though by sticking by his convictions and detailing the length of abuse he was receiving.
Pushing him forward was a tactical master class and led to Xhaka’s best football for us.
The Amazon Documentary put over how he was one of the few leaders we had in the dressing room.
Sold for 17 million, many Gooners would rather he had stayed to offer experience.
Aubameyang – LF (contract ripped up)
It’s strange to think that before, during and after the Cup Final, all the attention was on everyone at Arsenal (including Arteta) willing Auba to sign a new contract.
We never learnt from the Ozil saga, allowing our best player to run down his deal so we had to pay over the odds for someone in his thirties with zero re-sale value.
Due to poor time keeping and not adhering to his manager’s ‘non-negotiable’ principles those in power quickly regretted the salary they were paying to their captain and (like Ozil) did everything in their power to make their skipper so miserable he would be willing to rip up his deal.
Having set a precedent with Ozil, Barcelona knew that if they called our bluff, we would eventually not demand any fee.
We essentially gave away our best striker without getting a replacement, costing us a place in the top 4.
Long term though it sent a message to the dressing room that the Kroenke Family would back their manager over any player.
Lacazette – CF (free transfer)
While Arsenal were desperate for Auba to extend his deal, his best mate Laca was allowed to run down his contract which both parties seemed content with?
The cruel irony was the saga involving Aubameyang finally gave Lacazette what he wanted, a consistent run in the first team as our main striker.
The only issue being was that this came with just months left on the players deal.
No one can doubt the Frenchman’s work ethic, but it seemed odd to trust a player to fire us into the top 4 when he knew he would be playing elsewhere.
Since Auba’s last game for us, Lacazette managed just one penalty.
The decision to trust him and Eddie Nketiah to replace Auba and not bring in a replacement cost us a place in the Champions League.
Pepe– RF (Arsenal have confirmed he has had his contract ripped up)
It’s worth stressing Pepe did assist our winner at Wembley.
In many ways his case highlights the issue once Arteta thinks you don’t suit his ethos.
After his first full season in charge our manager was either unable or unwilling to improve the attacker’s confidence and seemed to have given up on him?
Even when he gave Auba away and Laca and Eddie were struggling, he refused to give Pepe a chance.
Bizarrely, Pepe as a sub scored and assisted against Wolves but still couldn’t get a start.
While long proving he wasn’t worth 72 million, 6 goals in 19 league games for Nice surely warranted more than a free transfer.
Again, Trabzonspor knew, based on history, that Arsenal’s priority was just to get him off the wage bill and not get a decent fee.
Based on these transfer figures, Arsenal recouped less than 50 million from selling a whole team of FA Cup winners!
Dan
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It’s hard to believe an astute businessman like Kroenke would accept such huge financial losses
I bet there were some performance, appearance and achievement clauses to prevent the full payments, because Kroenke can’t throw a lot of money away as much as the UAE and Saudi Arabian consortiums did in England
In the end, the massive spending would be justified if we win EPL, UCL or EL with Arteta and Edu
Sacking Arteta when we finished outside UCL zone would’ve been a much cheaper decision for Kroenke, than replacing the whole squad. But Kroenke chose the manager, so I’m curious to hear about the financial reasons behind the decision from an Arsenal staff
GAI just to add on your point,there have been reports that Arsenal is in a healthy financial situation compared to most of our rivals. I’m not a financial expert,but this tells me that there’s something they are getting right.
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, the big clubs never revealed their payment details, so the fans just guessed about their expensive mistakes based on the news and rumors
Your first line is the logical truth.
And that is why, the bigger picture shows something else.
I hope the transfers will be worth it. Otherwise, Kroenke would be the biggest loser, not the fans
It’s so unbelievable incompetence that we have to make ourselves believe it’s not as bad as it looks.
IT’S THAT BAD! REFUSING REALITY WON’T CHANGE IT!
Your not going to let that drop are you 😂
Give the man his apology HH ,put us all out of our misery.
He just have to show me where I said that. I said he is putting Arteta before the club with his constant uncalled and unnecessarily apology but he has twisted it to taint my name.
I demand justice from miss victim accusations 😂😂😂!
You have got it just from Jon or have they emailed you privately? I smell defamation here Pat! Where is justice?
How many of those players hold a standard to be part of a PL winning team?
Hardly anyone.
Artet has restored us to a contender for the PL title by rebuilding the whole squad and created a new, young and talented ream.
It has cost money for sure.
But the fact is, the money has been well invested and today, we have a squad which only by a margin is worth less than Man C.
So in fact, Arteta has made Arsenal a ton of money.
But the truth is, Arteta do not have the authorization to buy and sell players for millions. Those decisions are made and sanctioned by the owners. They are shrewd business people, and they can see Arteta delivering.
There is no way, they would allow a manager to impose million pound losses.
The big picture tells the story.
Currently none of our players can hold a standard to be part of a Pl winning team ?
Look at it another way
Imagine he got rid of same players but got more money in then we could be even further along ?
Your article will go up in the Morning Anders. You make the point very clearly despite some players leaving cheaply
People should read Anders post… makes a lot of sense and shows what has actually happened lat few years… well written article Anders
Correct in my book
AndersS post makes a lot of sense but some people are overly invested in trying to belittle the progress that has been made in improving the squad.
Theoretically, it was possible that some of those players could have been gone for higher transfer fees.
But most of those arguing about the transfer fees have made little attempt to consider the opportunity costs of keeping those players or giving them more opportunities: Risk of disharmony in the squad; unsuitable players taking up a spot on the roster(which restricts your transfer options) risks of ongoing poor performances etc.
Poor argument! Even relegated clubs get fees for their outgoings.
Surely it’s not the manager who sets the price of players to be sold, isn’t that down to someone else?
It’s the manager who leaves them out of squad or loans them out
Really good article Dan, interesting and detailed.
Now that The Arsenal have confirned that Pepe was allowed to leave for nothing, am I right in saying that the only first team squad transfer fees we have received is the reported £4 million for Holding and the £30 million for Balogun since those players you have listed?
I guess it also confirms HH’s point that you can’t sell a player once their contract has expired and I would have thought that was pretty obvious anyway?!
So, to date, we have torn up the contracts of four players and, in all of these cases, it cost the club money to do it!!
Of those four players, three are STILL playing football, so what does it mean?
1. Mr Kronkie has / is going to back MA to the hilt – not only with nigh on £800,000,000 in transfer fees, but also in allowing players to leave and losing a fortune to facilitate said actions.
MA is THE luckiest manager around today in having that support, so what has Mr Kronkie gained from all the above?
1 First and foremost, he has seen the revenue improve in regards to PL positions.
2. He will see the enormous amount of money that CL football will bring into the club.
3. The way MA has brought the club and it’s supporters together has taken any pressure away from him as the owner.
4. He know has the second most valuable squad in europe (reportedly).
5. Players want to come to the club once again and contracts seem to be no issue whatsoever.
So, while I agree 100% with all you say in your article, the bigger picture has now to be observed and there is no longer a case for saying that MA is a novice or that he has to get rid of any *deadwood”.
The fanbase expects success and, I assume, so does Mr Kronkie.
Ken
Most reasonable people would say the “process” is at an end, the “project” is bearing fruit, so now it’s time for Arteta and Edu to deliver.
Ownership has given them the greenlight to revamp the entire squad
1. Sell unwanted players
2. Rip up contracts
3. Bench/loan those not fit for system
4. Spend half a billion to build his team
Hopefully this is the year Arteta’s chosen squad delivers trophies. Simply no room for excuses now, we have quality, depth, experience in his system, it’s time to deliver.
I believe this team is fit and primed, it’s just a mental hurdle now IMO. That is the last obstacle, showing the will and mentality of Champions. It’s that confidence, not arrogance, that they need and we occasionally see glimpses of; final minutes vs Utd is a perfect example.
Trophies on the way dawg and i don’t mean Emirates Cup or Community Shield.
Agree 100 % Durand, but what IS the success that Mr Kronkie will be happy with?
It certainly wasn’t top four and / or fa cups, achieved without the enormous expenditure both in and out.
So what is it?
Only the club knows Ken. After Wenger left and Emery was sacked the club has ceased stating their goals and “non-negotiables.”
Top 4 used to be a non-negotiable, but that has gone away, is it still a standard for the club?
Like you I am curious what are the goals and expectations, I would appreciate if anyone can point me to a direct quote from Arteta or ownership.
I have only heard “competitive,” whatever context it applies to. 8th while rebuilding?
5th after lowering wage bill in January 2 years ago?
Perhaps best club has been silent on expectations, because it’s easy to claim success when you constantly move the goalposts.
2nd last year is an improvement, but expect a bit more teophy-wise when given everything; over half a billion spent, 2nd most valuable squad in the world, and Edu and Arteta having complete control over players; loans, benching, sales, and even ripping up contracts.
Don’t expect a PL and CL trophy, but a statement on expectations and minimum achievements would be nice.
PL and CL trophy this year I should have said to be clear, I’m not expecting everything now.
However, a statement like fighting for the title until the end, quarter finals of CL, semi finals of FA Cup, goals like that. Is it too much at this point? Do we need to spend another 200 million before making bold statements?
I must concur with everything ken and Durand have said about Arsenal’s performances in the transfer market under Arteta’s and Edu’s stewardship. Given the nett spend, Arsenal cannot afford more seasons without trophies. This period is now the longest in the history of this Club, in which Arsenal has not won the League. Other managers haven’t been as lucky to receive the patience and support that Mikel Arteta has. How long can it last?
All the said players above had at one point a sale value. The question is why were they not sold, before or when it was obvious they were not in the managers thoughts. They were kept on, slowly or quickly, in some cases cast aside to the bench and contracts allowed to run down, without hardly any input from them. I think we all owe Mr Kronke a massive debt of gratitude and if i was him, i would be expecting a pay back in a major trophy, that elevates Arsenal back in the big time. And ultimately increase the Value of our squad and ultimately sales.
I also think a failure in all the cup competitions, where some of these players COULD have been played if picked, in the last 3 years is also a massive reason why our fringe and out of favour players COULD have played and showcased themselves. But many were not trusted and we haven’t progressed too far recently to play some. Our cup runs have to be better.
@Reggie
Realness 👍🏾
👍👍 Reggie.
Ken, Willock might be included as one sold since the cup final side.
Fair point, so let’s knock his transfer money off the £80,000,000 and I’m still peeling onions!!!
Arsenal have become another Chelsea; with owners pouring money into the club to buy top players. There is nothing wrong with that; except when both management and fans direct unwarranted criticism toward very good players.
Arsenal has become a galaticos squad. Arsenal fans have begged for this since Arsenal’s last title when Arsene Wenger was forced to sell his best players to balance the books. Arteta has no such pressure (obviously).
The sad part is, Nicolas Pepe scored 10 goals and tallied an assist in the only season he was given a real chance. 6 goals in 19 games for Arsenal signed the inferior Trossard and the under performing Havertz; giving both ample opportunities to prove they belong. The team also retained Reiss Nelson and not played him either. During the loan at Nice Pepe showed he could play, but rather than give him a shot Arteta signed Havertz who never scored more than 8 goals at Chelsea, despite averaging over 2,000 minutes per season. Trossard at least was a relative bargain, but the money spent on Pepe, €72 million, was already gone. The only way to get even some of it back was to show he could play.
The suddenly spend-thrift Kroenkes were willing to give away €100 million in talent when only a handful of years earlier, they were forcing their manager to let his best players leave rather than pay competitive wages.
This has to be the influence of Josh Kroenke who clearly values prestige and winning over the bottom line; because claims that Arsenal are in good shape financially are hard to believe given the net spend in the last five years. The same club that could not afford to pay 20+ goal scorer Robin van Persie 200,000 per week is now making Kai Havertz 280,000 per week. Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, and Declan Rice earn as much or more than United paid for van Persie.
Pepe?? What do you think this new arsenal is about to suggest a player like Pepe be brought to the squad? just forget about him he is NOT what we need.
i guess KAI is what we need
Sure.
Regulsar reader of a DANS articles will be well aware how extremely rarely Dan eve rpraises MA.
And they will be equally awarehow regularly Dan slates MA for his judgement, as he does in this piece too.
NO SURPRISE TO ME THEN.
But even though DANS facts are, when baldly stated and without proper context, largely true, taken overall, the aim was I believe to again make out a case against MA NOT having done, what I see as a magnificant wholesale and extremely necessary, total reconstruction of a then failed squad, full of holes, of slackers, players coasting while on huge unearned contracts
And what we have HERE AND NOW, which to we realists is what MATTERS, is a far stronger al lround squad, all pulling together and enthused, hungry and harmonious.
And it is the fiercely drivenArteta, aided by Edu and KSEs money that has brought that abouit
I suggest that what I say in the previous paragraph is far nearer the mark then DANS unsurprising negative view.
I AM CONTENT that sensible and thinking Gooners will be with me and my views and far fewer with Dan and his way outdated negative slant.
I remind us all that cleverly using cherry picked stats and avoiding important context,and ignoring the many obvious positive new additions, can in skilfully cunning hands, paint a very wrong and misleading picture.
Jon can I ask was there not a way to do both ?
As in get rid of players but get decent prices for them ?
Dan Just so that we understnd each other, let me say this, nothing to do with the direct debate either.
I have the utmost respect for your writing abilities, for your passion, for your hard work in running your prediction comp , which I realise often gives you unfair griief and for being a mainstay of this site.
I know I have often slated what I see as your MA negativity, but I realise you are not going to change and neither , my friend will I .
So that is where we both are on comments by me to your pieces. Nothing will change and we will not fall out- certainly I wont.
Always in life Dan, WHEN I have something to say, I say it clearly , sometimes often ,even boringly often,esp WHEN I deem it necessary to speak that truth that is always of overriding importance to me.
Other fans have varous ways of reaction, not surprising as we are all individuals with diverse characters and personalities.
I also know I annoy folk Always I hope that I wont, but it is vital to me , to speak plainly and then when the debate if finshed, to move on and not hold grudges.
Though I do not hold grudges, I of course do make opinIons about people.. All I asK is that we are both honest and as I HAVE TO ACCEPT YOU ARE HONEST IN WHAT I see as your relentless negativity to MA, than that will stay the case.
All that being said though, I will continue to state my opinion and will also not lack any respect for the abilities of a person such as you, as you are a deep thinker and you are entitled to be as you are. All the above alters nothing but I WANTED YOU TO KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU.
I constantly hope you will use more BALANCE in your MA articles, but I ALMOST CERTAINLY HOPE IN VAIN . As I said, nothing changes. So there we are. my friend.
Finally DAN, on your question, yes I do KNOW(rather than merely think we HAVE wasted huge money on poor or even non exisent fees for outgoers. That is foolish.
But the more imporant part in the debate by far, to me, is has it worked in our favour, taken as a whole, or has it not!
And a balanced view DAN , is surely that the squad we have today, compared to when MA arrived, is hugely better, more motivated, more hungry , still young and it looks an exciting time ahead.
I ONLY WISH YOU WOULD, AT LEAST SOMETIMES, STATE THAT PUBLICLY. Just for balance, as I assume that you DO believe in all important balance?
Jon I always say Arteta did a great job last season
I just think some get carried away
Of course but transfer fees are down to Edu and the club – has nothing to do with Arteta
Jon there are other realists, thinkers and sensible Gooners who hold a not so “rose tinted glasses” attitude to Mikel and recognise his shortcomings as well as his successes – least of which are his own “deadwood” players, insane contracts and square pegs in round holes.
I believe you also said the same positive things about Unai Emery and I’m sure Phil or DK will give you your exact quote – so please let’s not try to start another them and us situation, as we all want MA to succeed.
What Dan has written is factual, along with his opinions… simple really.
Well said ken!!!!!
YES Ken . As I said in my post it IS factula but it is also misleding and lacks context and esp BALANCE.
I ask you to read my long reply above to DAN , explaining how I see things , while using BALANCE and seeing and stating the wider, less one sided picture. Of course MA, Emery too, made mistakes But I see no use in dwelling on them- yes mention thrm buit also mention the many good positive improvents TOO, in our present squad compared with when MA arrived.
No sensible person, least of all myself, deny we HAVE SOLD VERY POORLY AND WASTED HUGE MONEY.
BUT IT COMES DOWN TO ARE YOU KEEN ON BEING NEGATIVE OR DO YOU PREFER POSITIVITY.
You know MY answer to that. Sometimes I feel less sure about your view Ken.
Jon
I apologize for butting in to a debate that does not relate to me, but I think it is worth the point I make.
Dan has his opinion, and we would all agree any individual is entitled to that. It is not his responsibility to have “balance” with his opinion, but rather “honesty” in supplying facts to support it. I appreciate his factual basis over an emotional one, though both are rightfully opinions; factual being more reasoned and logical over a purely emotional one.
Dan tends towards the “criticism” side of Arteta, (as is his right) but he has the decency and integrity to apply facts to his opinion.
Again I apologize to both you Jon and Dan for butting in, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Durand how wonderfully humble and polite you are. No need to be. Always glad to read your posts at any time. Thanks a lot for making the effort. And you were in no way butting in as all debate on here are open to all, surely?!
Jon
Thank you for your sincere compliment.
I always read your comments, and though I may disagree on rare occasions, you always give me a reason to pause, reflect, and consider my original thoughts.
To me that is the essence of a true discussion, to consider a compelling argument contrary to your own, and think upon the points presented.
Unfortunately that is amiss in today’s world where feelings hold sway over logic, reason, and open-mindedness in far too many discussions in general.
Always enjoy your posts, and look forward to many more on future topics.
Durand From the time i first read your posts,I have always regarded you as one of JA’s real thinkers, a bright intellect, not given to hasty overreactions and ALWAYS worth reading.
Yes, we do at times disagree. Personally, I never rmind disagreeing when I VALUE THE OTHER PERSON AS A THINKER.
It is when I see the non thinkers we have on here – most of whom have never even offered an article to Pat, which does not surprise me one bit, as thinkers can develop a theme but non thinkers can only write hasty and often spiteful criticism – that I despair.
Give me a discussion with a person of INTELLECT, every time!
ken, too bad Unai Emery wasn’t given the same financial or managerial support as Mikel Arteta. We will never know where Arsenal would be now, if an experienced manager in Emery had been retained and supported to the same degree as Arteta.
Some Arsenal supporters have denigrated the appointment of Ange Postecoglou by Spurs, when like Arteta he had not managed in a “so called” major European League.
Having followed Ange’s career he has led teams to multiple titles in Australia, managed his club and country in multi national competitions, including the World Cup, against some of the best football coaches and managers in the game.
After winning the Japanese League with unfashionable Yokohama, he won the League in Scotland, with Celtic overturning a 29 point deficit from the previous season. 5 trophies from the 6 available, including a treble in his second season, says it all.
How do other managers CV’s stack up?
Absolutely agree OG _and to my shame, I was one of those who wanted Unai replaced – I really hope he succeeds at Villa.
Why?
I hope you consider this to be a fair point
Was the question to me or OG and what is “the fair point” you elude to, if it is directed to me?
Ken1945
Why do you wish Emery does a good job at Villa? I, like you wanted him gone from Arsenal and I don’t really want him to be a roaring success elsewhere. In our league That is not very nice of me obviously and I’m still not sure if Emery will do a great job at AV in the longer term. I didn’t think he could turn it around so wanted him gone particularly as he joined us with a good reputation. Weirdly, I did think Arteta could, so time will tell if my support during the wobbly patches pays dividends
Simply because he was a scapegoat for Gazidis and his ilk to hide behind.
I have no ties with Villa, but recognise UE was treated badly by the club and the fans.
I suppose it’s because I feel uncomfortable at my reactions, as I did with Ebuoe (?).
That’s why I never refer to any player as deadwood or dross.
As for MA, I wouldn’t change him for UE, but he needs to start being successful as UE has been before his time at The Arsenal.
When Arsenal ditched Aubameyang, Edu made the point that we may be losing money on that deal but the important matter was to focus on the players at the club. He has been proven right both on and off the pitch. We have a team that is competing and by some estimates the most valuable squad in world football. We lost money on some players but we have developed others into assets worth over £100m – Saka and Odegaard are easily on that bracket, Martinelli and Saliba not far behind. .Nearly ever player we have bought has increased in value.
And they will increase even more, if we win the league or CL. If we get top 4 again, their values will generally not go up. If we do t get top 4, their values will generally drop. But spending 800 mil on players, you would expect and hope our squad has an higher value. Its what happens in the future that will dictate that. Top players on top money, will only go to top clubs that can afford them. Players paid too much money who are not performing or playing, will not be attractive to top clubs and lesser clubs cant afford their wages. So thats when the value of your club plummets. Success is the only guarantee to keep top values and going a long way in cup competitions as well.
Nothing to worry about with our current player values cos they are not for sale. They are our trophy and money making machines.
Cheers bruv!! I see their rid as investment we’ll surely recoup a whole lot more after each season with our current squad.no use working with a non effective tools all in the name of transfer fees which in turn ruin our plans. Trust the process!!!
I think you will find, the process is over. Its time to deliver. If it is delivered there will be no worries. Simples!!!!
Thank you Pat,
This used to be a good blog and occasionally, you still post some interesting stuff, but lately you mostly recycle news we’ve already read and cautiously try to raise some controversial questions. There will be always people who just wait for the Manager or the team to fail in order to be proven right. The blog seems more negative now than positively supporting Arsenal FC, which isnt right.
As for the players you mentioned, let’s have a look what they have achieved after they left us:
–Martinez – part of a World cup winning tem, but he’s not even in the top 5 keepers in the PL. And you call £20M peantus for a GK, 3 years ago? Both Aaron and Raya are better than him.
— AMN – Did he go to Southampton? Haven’t heard much of him.
— Bellerin – Timber is a huge upgrade, so is Tomi and Ben White.
— Pepe wasn’t a disaster for us, contributed to goal every third game, but we need better players than that. Then ask Nice what they think of him, they may disagree.
– Laca – I think everyone was happy when he left, he was spent here. Scored many goals for Lyon after that, but as a team they don’t do well.
Auba – we all know what happened.
Tierney – sadly doesn’t suit our new system.
Xhaka – wanted to leave and we got good money for him.
Ceballos was only on loan with us if I’m not mistaken?
Holding cost us £2m, we got 4m. Decent defender but coudn’t replace Saliba and he cost us.
You could also add Mustafi, Sokratis and all that lot who couldn’t get game time when they went to their new clubs – and Shalke 04 got relegated with those 2.
I wasn’t a fan of Kroenke at all, but lately he started paying more attention to Arsenal and if you look at the track record of the American clubs he owns, you can’t deny that he brings success to struggling teams. The man knows what he is doing.
Don’t forget that our sqaud value has probably tripled since he took over, under Arteta and the shares in the club have gone up too respectively. So, losing £100m- £300m may seem a lot, but in the grand scheme of things, the club makes much more money now.
All the best.
👍
@HH it’s unthinking to compare an ambitous top club who keeps it’s best players who can fetch double or triple if they decide to sell and a relegated team whom lack of ambition and investments means their best players leave upon being offered a better wage and project not that they have choice which same can’t be said in our case as we only sell underperformers for whatever we can get and do the profitable recoup with the top ones we’ve got, unfortunately your agenda ridden views makes it quite difficult for you to understand what’s going on.
The subject is about letting players leave for nothing. So when a person replying saying the said players weren’t of title winning standard anyway does it mean that it justifies ripping off their contracts?
Hence my question what about relegated, mid table, championship and the remaining 16 clubs who didn’t win the league, do they rip off their players contracts too? Or do they buy and sale their players as usual?
If a relegated club can get a transfer fee why can’t a giant like Arsenal with the FA Cup winning team fail to do so?
Where is my agenda in that?
Wasn’t there an agent who has said Arsenal is the joke in their circle? Does he have an agenda too?
Honestly who really does have an agenda here? The fans who are pained to see Arsenal throwing Arsenal valuable assets or those who defend it?
Would you have agreed to it if it was your money?
If it was my money, I would be fine as the totally value of the squad has increased massively.
You do not have to win every individual deal, that is the Daniel Levy approach.
Arsenal have looked at the big picture, got rid of dead wood and created an environment where talent can flourish and it has paid off.
Not hard to figure out @Nabilo, just going on about their usual agenda ridden posts.
Nabilo, but what has Tottenham Hotspur won under Daniel Levy?
Ange Postecoglou works with what he has, improves players he is given, but will walk if he is not supported by Levy.
It will be interesting to see if Levy reinvests the Harry Kane money into players or his new adjacent hotel development?
Agreed! Its called seeing the bigger picture and not th narrow one which so many seem limited to seeing.
Lets ne honest, ALL social media attracts negative types.
JA is no different , so perhaps we ought not to expect it to be, sad though that makes we bigger picture thinkers.
Letting players go for ‘nothing’ needs to be considered in the broader context of what the club is trying to achieve and the value of that contract to the club and the player at the time.
Those who are complaining generally have a very narrow view of what constitutes value to the club or have an agenda.
Sometimes a club (and this applies to any serious business) has to cut its losses in some areas in order to achieve its goals and realise value in other ways.
Yeah an investment is all pepe’s release literally is if brains prevail over the hearts of the anti MA goons.
So, what did we get in return for the crime scene littered with the bodies of the 2020 FA cup winners? Top 4. UCL spot.
Just trying to see the big picture here.
This all started under the Wenger reign, with Alexis swap deal being the most laughable of them all!
As laughable as giving Auba to Barcelona just …..because ?
You’re kidding right? Auba had been terrible for about a year and half prior to leaving, whereas Alexis was our best player by a country mile.
Wenger decided to turn down 60 million to then swap him only 6 months later for Utd’s worst player! 😂
Such short memories.
Sanchez was awful in his last six months.
He was offered and accepted a new Arsenal deal that was verbally agreed over the phone and, if one cares to check it out, it is there for all to see and read
However, before the contract could be signed (Sanchez was abroad at the time) manchester united offered him a reported £500,000 a week deal and a derisory £60,000,000 to The Arsenal as a transfer fee.
Arsene did not want him to go and tried to persuade him to sign the agreed contract and kept refusing to let him go.
Sanchez then dropped his performance levels akin to Aubameyang ‘s and let Arsene, the fans and the club down by forcing the club to accept united’s offer – although they did get Mkhitaryan as part of the deal…. I have no idea if he was their worst player, as I have no interest in the club!!
Of course and although Arsene tried to keep Sanchez, the decisions regarding transfers had been taken away from him and it was Gazidis who had taken over the role the season before.
I can’t remember who it was who tied up the verbally agreed contract that Sanchez renaged on, but I’m sure anyone who wants to check this out can Google the precise and confirmed details on what actually happened.
In fact, prior to Unai Emery, Gazidis and his crew had signed eight new players, Mavropanos, Aubameyang, Lichtsteiner, Leno, Torreria, Sokratis, Guendouzi and Myk – it’s all in the 2018 /2019 handbook for anyone who wants to check their facts.
What was such poetic justice of course, was that Sanchez, after one training session at united asked if he could reverse his decision and return to The Arsenal – plus he never regained his form (probably because he was playing the fool in his last six months at The Arsenal) missed more games than he played through injuries and bad form that cost united millions.
All the above is quite easily verified, it just needs fans to check things before putting pen to paper so to speak.
Actually Ken you are factually wrong about Alexis’s final six months.
Yes his performances were not at the level they were before, and he was sulking (unsurprisingly after how he got treated), but just prove how good he was compared to everyone else in our team – a poor Alexis in that final 6 months, was still our top scorer, and second or top on assists as well, if my memory serves me right for that season at the time of him leaving.
And I am not only blaming Wenger for the Alexis debacle, as Arteta should not get all the blame as well for his transfers as the likes of Edu and Gazidis plus others play their roles as well.
However what a I would say on Wenger, is that he yielded far more power and influence than anyone at the club for a long time, and we seemed to have this crazy policy of allowing our best players to consistently run their contracts down, whereas now we consistently extending our best players contracts early.
👍Jen
How was he treated badly?
He was offered a contract that he accepted and the club began to plan accordingly… only for the player to then turn round and renage on the agreed deal.
Arsene tried to persuade him to stay, but he stopped trying and went through the motions ask he held the club to ransom.
I’m not arguing that he wasn’t our best player and he and Ozil were excellent together… our two best players at the time.
But, as you admit, his performances dropped and that was down to him, again as you admit.
I encourage anyone who thinks that Sanchez was treated unfairly to Google “What happened to the Sanchez contract at Arsenal” and you can read the facts.
I also agree that AW had to much power, the same power that MA has to date… but with the financial backing that Arsene never had.
I also agree that our contract policy is much better, but you forget that both Nketiah and Nelson had entered their final year of their contracts, so the supposed consistency still needs further improvement, as does the, seemingly, solution of tearing up contracts and giving golden handshakes to players who don’t fit into MA’s plans.
MA has got to deliver this season and I support him, but not through rose tinted glasses – he’s a big boy now and needs to be judged by his actions and not let his mistakes be blamed on others.
Just looked it up again and it was Dick Law who gave the lowdown – PLEASE READ IT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PLAYER DID!!
Ken, Emery became the Head Coach on the 23/5/18. Lichtsteiner and Leno both signed on the 1/7/18. Sokratis on the 2/7/18. Torreira on the 10/7/18 and Guendouzi on the 11/7/18.
Exactly HD – Unai didn’t sign anyone, it was in the hands of Gazidis and his henchmen and I’m sure you’ll remember Gazidis announcing that he and his henchmen were taking over the buying, selling and contract agreement from Arsene Wenger the previous summer?
Ken, look at the dates that I posted. Those players signed after Emery was appointed Head Coach, not prior as you said.
As for Gazidis, Wenger himself said in 2017 “Ivan has nothing to do with buying players.”
Sorry, I misunderstood what you were getting at.
Emery was appointed for the 2018 season and he was presented to the fans, along with the new signings for that season.
The word “prior” was a mistake on my part.
As for what Arsene said, in 2017, one either believes him or Gazidis and the club… what followed leads me to believe that he had no idea what Gazidis and Kronkie were planning…. just my personal opinion and I’m sure you will differ.
Auba went on to score more at Barca then Eddie and Lacca combined for rest of that season
Not exactly difficult scoring for Barcelona. Remind me, how many did Auba score once he was playing in the EPL again?
Remind me how much Barca received when Aubameyang was transferred to Chelsea Jen and then remind me what The Arsenal got (and paid out) when we have him to Barca?
Remind me Ken which club’s were willing to pay us for Aubameyang ?
No one had to pay for Aubameyang, they knew MA wanted him out and they would get it golden boot winner for nowt!
Of course, the salary that he was on also put clubs off and I surely don’t have to remind you who sanctioned that deal?
So The Arsenal were stuffed then. Either let the player go for zilch and pay a small % of his remaining wages, or keep him and have him continually flouting the club rules, which then makes for a bad atmosphere in the squad.
Remind me why they had to let him go for zilch, while paying part of his salary and what % do you think they were paying?
Who sanctioned the deal again?
Rock and a hard place? Indeed it was, but hadn’t he broken the rules before he was awarded his new contract?
I
Well Ken, no one was willing to pay a single penny for him. Iirc, we paid 25% of what was remaining on his contract, which he had signed in September 2020. His club rule breaking started in February of that same season.
Arteta, Edu, and Lewis would be the answer to who sanctioned the deal.
And what does 25% of his salary equate to?
He started breaking the rules in February, when was he awarded the new contract and made captain?
Why do you include Edu as part of the contract?
Of course no one was willing to pay a penny for him, as everyone knew MA and him were unable to work together.
Why was that situation not handled in house?
He was paid £7m, as I’m sure you well know.
As I posted, he signed his new contract in September 2020, and he started his breaking of the clubs rules in February of the same season, which was the 20/21 season.
That is a really weak statement
We can’t get fees for players who are not wanted by other clubs who can at leart afford them forget about those who can’t afford them so it’s best we let them leave by all means. With the players we have i bet they will take us places and increase in revenue therefore as evident over the past couple of years under MA. The rants towards this very promising and ever uprising process all in the name of being “pained” of riping up contracts and not receiving fees on unwanted by us and of course lesser ambitous teams only reeks of agenda to me cos we are healthy and self sufficient as a club financially, not sure where the waste of kroenke’s money is coming from, oh! Chill a sec….
Reply to HH
Well said Vamos!
People forget that moving the rubbish players on quickly has allowed us to build the squad we have now.
Unfortunately I think some on here would prefer us to still have the likes of: Ozil, Auba, Mustafi, Kolasinac, etc 😂😂😂
Yup
I think they would.. sadly
Agreed. AND they would rather have kept a certain Arsene Wenger, who was here for a decade of steady drift from the top level, after his glory decade. They need to move on, as we realists have done. .
You haven’t made a convincing argument. You have to prove that it is not you who have an agenda.
We can’t get fee for player’s who are not wanted by other clubs, fair enough that is a fact.
But why only when they are Arsenal players? Why the clubs that they end up going get a fee for them?
Why does this happen only to Arsenal in a large number of player’s?
One might say previous regime players only but what about we failed to sell Tavares, Cedric & Lokonga yet we managed Holding, Balogun & Xhaka?
For whatever reasons clubs don’t agree with our valuation but getting rid of them and replacing them with better players has made us the club we are today and we’ll only get better with time, as for the agenda talks care to read my reply to you above again? And carefully this time.
And FYI Tavarez and Lokonga are on loan, if they pull trees we either keep or comfortably sell for top dollars. cedric is a typical example of our over the top emphasized “crisis”
I wish to ask a general question. (To anyone).
1. Does previous manager signings equate to deadwood/unwanted player/ doesn’t fit system player or it could be used as a scapegoat to devalue and send away the player for free or for peanuts? Eg Pepe /Tierney (loan)
2. Do current manager signings equate to excellent first team player with no faults whatsoever and deserve maximum support and encouragement? Eg Harvertz / Rice
But why are they not wanted? That is the whole crux of the matter. Because they were put out to grass early and not sold at the right time. The only reason our squad is worth significantly more now is because SIGNIFICANTLY more money has been spent.
We have spent 800 mil and the squad is now worth 200 mil more give or take. Its not rocket science to see why. If we are successful this season it will increase. If we are not, it will go down. For me the pressure is on now and it is delivery time.
No! Our improvements in the standings had boosted our squad value not amount spent to assemble the squad, your logic indicates chelsea and utd should be ahead of us in squad worth which is wrong.
No, the squad has to be worth more because we have spent more. If we hadn’t spent, it would be worth less. Logic really!!!!!!
I think that with Holding now gone, Elneny is the only pre-Arteta player at the club. How long will he last?
Strangely enough, both of those players were awarded new contracts by MA, as was Aubameyang and Balogun.
Meanwhile, AMN and Tierney were told that they were part of phases 1,2,3,4 and 5, what happened there?
As for “moving the rubbish on quickly” that’s part of Dan’s message I think – since moving these fa cup winners on by giving them away, or collecting peanuts for them, we have spent nigh on £800,000,000 replacing them and have won WHAT exactly?
NOTHING is the factual answer
Blown the PL title after finishing 8th,8th and 5th the previous seasons, knocked out of the fa cup (won, of course as Dan points out, by the rubbish players, who finished 6th in the PL the same season) in the 3rd and 4th rounds, knocked out of european football for the first time in over two decades – yet when one tries to discuss the above facts rationally, one suddenly becomes disloyal to the club and are accused of wanting ex players back!!
What a feeble argument to counter with 😂😂😂
Now, like all true supporters I want MA to succeed and I believe he will, but not because he has performed some kind of unheard of miracle – he’s been given the time and money to do that and, like all previous managers, has made many mistakes along the way.
For every Ozil, Aubameyang, Mustafi and Kolasinac there’s a Willian, Cedric, Lokonga, Tavares, Runnalson(?) and Wenger had nothing to do with that load of “rubbish” as far as I can remember, surely it was Arteta? 🤔🤔🤔 But don’t point these facts out, otherwise one is branded as disloyal!!
What a load of hogwash 😂😂😂
Thats what US REALISTS are on about ken. People just dont get it. They are saying Arteta is working miracles. He hasn’t yet, with what has been put in. He HAS to this season. And we all hope he is up to it.
ken and Reggie, although we all have followed Arsenal through good times and bad, for longer than we can remember, apparently we are now “goons”. Personally I am partial to all the Goons, particularly Spile Milligan.
Couldn’t stand the Goon show OG, give me Only fools and horses anytime.
We HAVE lived through some desperate times following this great club and wouldn’t change a second of it and I know you wouldn’t either my friend.
You are vastly overstating, when you claim one is called disloyal. I dont agree with that phrase or remark at all, concerning what Gooners have called YOU, Ken.
Yes,it is certainly true that those who constantly criticise MA are often and rightly too, IMO, called out as being MA NON FANS, WHO HAVE SELDOM IF EVER, GIVEN HIM A CHANCE.
What disappoints me in your post ,as you are a thinker and not a hasty overrector, by nature, is that you fail to mention the vastly better, deeper, more hungry and motivated squad we have now, compared with when MA took over.
But you DO mention the league finishing positions and the early cup exits, WHILE he was getting the squad of his own choice together.. WRONG EMPHASIS IMO.
I regret to say you APPEAR to be firmly onboard with such as Reggie, Dan kit and DR8XT, all of whom I regard as active and relentless foes of MA. Not a single rational MA loyalist ever claims that he has NOT made many learning curve mistakes, I certainly never claim that.
But high opinions of our manager , which outside those foes on JA, is widespread, even among non Gooners who recognise a special quality manager, is sensible. , though sadly absent from the same old moaners and anti MA crowd. Some dont even WANTto learn sadly!
Jon, sadly there are fans on here who won’t admit that MA has made mistakes and continue to blame others – and I believe that Reggie, Dan kit and DR8XT continue to challenge such claims as BS.
“Foes” Jon? Come off it for heavens sake, they are ardent fans who have a point of view that, sometimes, differs from yours.
Likewise, you seem to want to score points by making false statements that I fail to mention any positives.
What about my constant reporting of the atmosphere MA has created both in the Emirate stadium and between the owner, club, players and fans?
What about my delight at our signings during the summer window, both this and last season?
What about my reporting the fact that, up until the last six games of last season, MA had produced a level of consistency akin to the Invincibles?
I don’t want to be regarded as a MA loyalist or a MA foe – I had enough of that childish name calling during Arsene’s last few years, but if you want to play toy soldiers please carry on.
I want MA to be our most successful manager and I support him 100% as I am certain the three guys you mentioned do as well, but the very fact that we annoy you by pointing out his mistakes, speaks volumes as to your own weakness, despite you protestations to the contrary.
As for the same old moaners, as you put it, cast your mind back, what, six or seven years ago and pray tell me who would fit into that descriptive analogy regarding the manager then?
It seems some don’t even want to remember SADLY
It’s undeniable that Arteta made mistakes. I’d have been amazed if he hadn’t.
What struck me then was that the players who left the club either on a free or for virtually nothing were senior players who in my opinion were not pulling their weight. It wasn’t just about the on field results but also the toxic nature of the dressing room. Both Ozil and Auba should, as examples of senior players, have set a better example. One was more keen on managing his social media following and the other showed no leadership at all even though he’d been given a bumper new contract and the captaincy Both thought they were bigger than the club.
What is noticeable now is that toxicity has been replaced by a much better sense of togetherness – in particular with Odegaard as captain but it’s clear to see and so welcome. No hand wringing or blaming of colleagues on the pitch. It’s a team effort
I agree that so far Tavares and Lokonga don’t look as though they’ve got it but at least Willian had the decency to realise that he had made a mistake. I thought at the time that it was worth the punt but it didn’t work. Cedric should have been just a short term loan signing which the discredited Sanhelli then gave a ridiculous contract to.
The club was in turmoil post Wenger- not least at the top of the pile. Sanhelli for example and the contracts team too. We also forget what a terrible time Covid lockdowns etc were and the effect that it had on all clubs but in Arsenal’s case, they had just appointed a new untested manager to take on the job. Clubs across Europe were not in a healthy financial position and we found it difficult to get any sort of fee if we wanted to move players on
Kroenke appears to have got the club back under much better control because it was flailing about previously
This curiosity should have been solved by the team’s performance for the past 2 seasons. The new curiosity starts of the fans who still thinks lowly of Mikel Arteta’s player management despite these results. Shockingly curious. Perhaps a plant by enemy club to destabilise our club. Just curious.
I just see these player clearouts as losing battles to win the war. When you are doing a stock clearance sale, you don’t have much bargaining advantage. Ever since Arteta came, every club, every media knows the squad clearout is on the cards, making it difficult to get good prices. And if you delay the process of clearout, you are delaying the rebuilding process as well, maybe Kroenkes did want to just get on with it, and build from scratch as much as possible, and the way they are supporting Arteta, it seems Arteta did a great job in their books. Otherwise, such huge losses, as mentioned in this article, must have disturbed the owners and Arteta would’ve felt the rage, but there is none. So, as fans, it’s better for me to just get behind the club and only really worry when the owners or the manager raise concerns about one another.
Love it!
Is Edu’s job to sell players not Arteta. When the team does well Edu’s bought journalists say its Edu, any problem with the team is Arteta.
We have a sporting director who can’t even convince the Saudis to buy our players.
It would be quite interesting to read what fans think Arteta should have done to increase these transfer fees. Does he get a modern day Ronnie and Reggie to go and sort out the owners of other clubs? Should he have played Holding more frequently? Would that increase or decrease his value? There wasnt a queue of teams after Bellerin. Pepe did OK on loan but not a single club from Europe’s top leagues wanted him even as a freebie. I think the only players from the cup team where we could have got more money from is AMN for a short window of time and also Auba. We got £20 million for Martinez who was worth next to nothing a few months earlier. £17 Million for Xhaka is also good given his age. Laca was earning too much to get a fee for him.
Well Jimmy one thing he shouldn’t have done, was to publicly humiliate them (Ozil being dropped from the fa cup final squad) rather than just putting the players up for sale, as other managers have done, saying that they didn’t fit into his vision of the future…. hiw does that sound?
Ken we would never have got a penny in transfer fee for Ozil whatever Arteta chose to do. With him. Ozil wasn’t the player he once was and by the time Arteta joined us., his transfer value was nothing. Wages too high, productivity too low. There was nowt Arteta could’ve done about that.
Yet Jimmy, he selected Ozil for every PL game, including the unbeaten run, right up until the coronavirus halted football.
Then, suddenly, he was demoted to gardening leave, left out of all the first team squads and was publicly humiliated in the process.
So I ask you this :
1. How did his footballing prowess drop during covid from being a first choice player?
2. Do you think he was treated properly by the club before, during and after covid?
Jimmy, You are wasting your time in trying topersuade Ken that OZIL was simply a washed up, bone idle relic of the player rhe had been at Real YEARS BEFORE.
He was FINALLY and mercifully left out and got the message that all could see about him.
I say “all”, but there are anumber of fans on here who have always simply refused to see how his long lasting idleness was cheating the club. A club that had STUPIDLY agreed that ludicrous new contract that he never earned,and long after he had effectively “retired,” even while still wearing our shirt and “appearing” in matches.
I KNEW, simply by observing his constant idleness, WHICH DESPITE HIS FIRST TWO YEARS, was
blatantly apparent even then and became a sick joke in his last five years.
DEFINTELY our most disastrous purchase since I began attending , back in 1958.
SOME , including KEN HAVE NOT THE ABILITY TO OBSERVE IDLENESS AND CALL IT OUT.
Call me old fashione but I have always been under the impression that transfer contracts work BOTH WAYS. The club pays the player all his contract stipulates and in return the player undertakes to give his utmost effort regularly. Ozil broke that moral and legal contract for many cheating years.
I could not wait to see the back of him!
Jon, you do not have the ABILITY to answer a simple question it seems… but I’ll try again.
Why was Ozil part of MA ‘s team, including the 12 match unbeaten run, up and until the coronavirus stopped all football, but then became the bone idle shirker that you say he was?
That’s all I want an answer to and Jimmy and I were having a sensible debate until you stepped in, yer again, with your size 66 shoes, ranting and raving about how wonderful you are – give it a rest, as I’ve heard all your self praising going on for five years or more….. just answer the direct question!!
Ken, the mistake you keep making over and over again is to assume that I CARE to talk about Ozil with a short sighted manwho could never see his blatant idleness.
If you think I care to discus that cheat whose sham career at our club is now mercifully over, then you must fondly imagine I I enjoy reliving nightmares.
I DONT and care nothing about him and certainly have had more than enough of him. Seven years too much in total .
As you are not the Gestapo and I AM NOT TIED TO A CHAIR WITH A LIGHT SHINING IN MY EYES and a knife at my throat , I am happy to say., ” No, I couldn’t care less about your pointless and irrelevant question!!”
😇Jon, then why keep talking about him?
In other words, you can’t answer the simple question posed in response to your outburst about the player you claim you don’t want to talk about?!?!
Onwards and 😇upwards.
By the way my friend, have you noticed Sue is back? Just need Phil and Kenny to make a return and it would be like the good old days.
How did you know I wore glasses? 🤓
If only Emery was given the funds and backing of Kronke to buy decent players instead of a bunch of has beens left over from Wengers days. Emery has a track record Arteta doesn’t . Don’t expect trophies this season or next . Arteta will eventually have to go for Arsenal to win any major trophy . He thinks he knows but the man is a fool . Just mark my words ..
The bunch of “has beens” that got Emery to a European final?
He was also handed eight new players that Arsene had nothing to do with, so let’s get the record straight.
I do agree that Unai was in the wrong position at the wrong time and he put two fingers up, when he knocked us out of Europe.
Do you expect much from Emery this season?
I didn’t support his foray into the start of his second season at Arsenal and whatever he achieves at Villa isn’t relevant
He didn’t cut it at Arsenal with all the top 4 slots so recently achieved prior to his appointment or his Europa league successes with Sevilla
I don’t get the love in
I really don’t
Sue,
What lm getting at is Arteta has all the resources at his feet , money , players etc. Emery didn’t have that luxury. His coaching ability is experince more than Arteta .
It is I agree Anthony
I did expect better from a manager who’d had such success with Sevilla and had managed PSG
In the end he looked like a rabbit in the headlights and some of his senior players wouldn’t play for him
There’s no “love in” as you put it, but rather an understanding that UE took the backlash of the failures of Gazidis and his three musketeers, all of whom (bar one) have left the club.
I like to follow some of the people who have left the club and not been disrespectful to it – Unai Emery is one of them and I hope he ends up second to us in the PL, runner up to us in the fa cup and loses to us both home and away.
Perhaps MA will have learnt a couple of things when UE knocked us out of Europe?
If I had to choose between MA and UE, with the playing field level, it would be MA every time, but I can still appreciate a very successful manager in his own right – simple as that.
Sorry, didn’t say what I actually expected from Unai and Villa – expect them to be in the top six, do well in europe and the domestic cups – expect Mikel and The Arsenal to do better though.
Fair enough Ken
I’m not one to overly care once players or managers leave – unless of course they have served us well.
Not a nice trait of mine really
But that of a person who supports the club , first second and ALWAYS ABOVE any mere player. I identify with you COMPLETELY and have always been a supporter of thr club but the and the individuals , no matter who they be, far less.
Yawn Yawn Yawn Yawn Yawn Jon – don’t worry, I’ve put you forward for the sainthood you obviously believe you deserve.
And I hope you’re very wrong @anthony. I’m not even sure I’ve read a dumb reply as such as yours. When the squad improvement is obvious, you are here uttering rubbish.
Akay, instead of insulting me, just wait and see . I’ve been involved with football for over 60 years .
Arteta was lucky to have arrived when these new lads arrived ( Martinelli, Saka etc) They are the backbone of this team not Arteta. He has no idea of tactics, strategy, team selection. He and Edu are inexperienced and believe me in football,that counts .
I can see you are underestimating Mikel’s impact on those lads despite the fact that they’ve come out numerous times to reveal how he had changed their lives and football views for the better and will always prefer to have him as their manager all day anyday.
Anthony, Edu is hardly inexperienced, as he’s been a DOF for over a decade, firstly in his home country of Brazil and then we us.
As for Arteta being lucky with having players that were already here, same could be said about our previous manager. When he arrived in ’96 he inherited a much better backbone, the best defence this club has ever seen.
Yet it wasn’t until said previous manager changed them, that we became the Invincibles eh HD… and of course Tony and Co always said how that previous manage extended their playing careers.
True Ken, and one must thank Martin Keown, whose idea it was to play Kolo at CB and his coaching of that defence. Once he left the club, to carry on doing his coaching badges at Reading, we never won another League Title.
Glad to see we both agree on this one HD and, of course, after that previous manager left, we still haven’t won another league title… but at least we’re back in the CL.
CL, a competition I dislike. All about money. Came about because AC Milan and Real Madrid moaned that they kept getting knocked out in the early rounds of the European Cup. Gone are the days when teams like Malmo, Bruges and Steaua Bucharest get to the Final.
@Anthony, Mikel gets his backing based on previous season achievements which means the higher we’ve been ending our season the bigger the transfer kitty as evident each transfer window since he took over which same can’t be said for Unai who was first provided with set of players upon his arrival, not sure if those were his demands but the fact that he accepted it that way makes it his responsibility hence had to deal with it which he could’nt in the end, an incident that had them return to Mikel’s slow but steady idea they turned down earlier.
Regardless of whatever arguments, I currently support MA but he must win EPL title within these 2 seasons.
Else, he doesn’t JUSTIFY the money he spent. It will be almost 1 billion at the end of next 2 seasons and 6.5 years managing Arsenal. He also prove himself to be an average manager.
We can argue until cow come home, IN THE END, RESULT COUNTS.