The funny dynamics of a transfer by Jonbo
What’s always funny with transfers, or even just rumours in today’s tech age, is that so many of us Arsenal fans act as if each player was the answer to all our problems, and that we’re an authority on that player. Even a player from a foreign league that we’ve barely seen kick a ball, many of us have the self-confidence to say that we know this player. We know how he plays. He’s definitely the one to save us!
In all honesty, the vast majority of us only have YouTube compilation clips to go on when looking at players from a foreign league. Which is the worst possible source of information you could ask for, given how easy it is to make a player look world class or look like a donkey. One could easily make a player like Carl Jenkinson look better than Cafu!
The problem with this approach, is that when a move breaks down, or our club doesn’t even go for said player, many of us seem to lose the plot. It’s as if we’ve become emotionally attached to that player before they’ve even joined us. Worse than that, we then have a go at the club even if it was a player they didn’t even bid for.
Raphinha and Bissouma are perfect examples. The reaction from some Arsenal fans to these players has been both hilarious and pathetic at the same time. Hilarious seeing the negative reaction, and meltdowns, and pathetic in the sense that it’s used as another excuse to beat down the club with.
Where’s the common sense, perspective, and realistic expectations about how transfers work?
What some forgot was before Vieira signed, our main priorities were: LB; DM/CM and a ST before any winger, but once Vieira (who can play out wide) had joined us, and even Jesus who can also go wide, another winger was even less of a priority. Especially with the fee being quoted going up all the time.
Arsenal do not have unlimited funds like some other clubs. So, what we do have, we should invest in our weakest areas. It was looking more and more likely the Raphinha fee might have an effect on the rest of our transfers for this window, so the club needs to act smart.
The other main issue that some Arsenal snowflakes seem to be forgetting, is that we have Saka who plays in the same position. Without him, maybe I could understand the anger at losing out on Raphinha, but Saka is already the better player, 4 or 5 years younger, far more potential, and one of our own.
Then we have the Bissouma reaction, which was even more embarrassing to see. A player the club didn’t even bid for, yet somehow are to blame because he’s now a Spurs player. This is the problem when you build something up so much in your head that is imaginary, that it’s so easy to overreact when it doesn’t come true, and then blame it on others.
And the transfer window doesn’t even close for another 8 weeks! Yes, I would like all business done before preseason starts, but we have to be realistic that some deals won’t go through until late August as a default. So, if we are going to have a meltdown, would it not be best saved until the window closes when a full review can be conducted?
I have no issue with people being unhappy about transfers, or criticising the club, but it’s constantly so over the top, out of context, and sometimes about a player the club weren’t even looking at!
I guess it’s just part of the social media age we live in, but it’s not good how people, especially children, are interacting with each other. It seems to be getting worse almost on a daily basis, and not just in the world of football, but in all aspects of life. Things are so bad now, that you cannot even publicly say that a man is not a woman, without a global meltdown!
So, if you find your stress levels reaching boiling point again over a transfer, just remember that at some point, ALL clubs get gazumped at the last minute. ALL clubs do not get their first-choice targets. ALL clubs avoid players the fans want.
It’s also wrong to keep hearing “same old Arsenal”, in regard to incomings, because things have changed massively since the AW/IG days. A slight improvement under Raul and Sven, but a huge step up under MA/EDU, and I think the Jesus signing proves that. We still have two months to sign players, yet we’ve made great progress already. We should be very positive as fans so far, not negative.
So, let’s take a chill pill, stop making out we’re experts on players (especially from foreign leagues) and wait until the window closes before having that nervous breakdown.
Jonbo
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Raphinha is delaying his approval on the contract from Chelsea. He’s obviously waiting for Barcelona (and maybe Arsenal?) to match Chelsea’s offer
There are some talented free agents as well, such as Belotti, Grillitsch, Zagadou and Romagnoli. Maybe we’ll sign one of those players
He’s been reported as waiting to see if Barcelona meake an offer.
But they’re just reports, they’re worth what you paid for them. 🙂
I think most Arsenal people realise that he’s too expensive, his salary weill be too high and he doesn;t want to come to Arsenal. Presumably (hopefully) the transfer team see it the same way and have passed on such a liability.
Yeah, I’d rather Arsenal signed Zinchenko or Martinez
Unless they found an exceptional winger who can always dribble past players, such as the prime Messi, Sanchez or Neymar. Raphinha isn’t on that level yet
But why us Edu going for Martinez who plays (primarily) as a centre back? I don’t get it can’t we just go for a real DM?
Probably because Martinez is left-footed, versatile, a great passer, a ball winner and good at intercepting
And that is all you need in a prolific footballer.
Nice one jonbo, a very well written and put together article. I enjoyed reading it, wishing it didn’t end, U touch almost all aspects of our dilution when it comes to transfer. Out of all Dat u mentioned, the one that annoyed me more is when we pick a player for the club to sign and then blame the club for losing the player to another club.
Relax …peeps. Plenty of time to sign a Nicholas Bendtner or such.
Even Edu and MA don’t know what they are doing! The universe will make it just so.
#worldsgreateststriker
And what’s wrong with Sir Duke Nicholas Bendtner? 🤣
Nothing at all! 🤣
Worlds greatest striker ever in fact!!! (By his own words;)
Nervous breakdowns, satisfaction and dissatisfaction, analysing, praising the acquisition of a player we have barely seen play, criticising a signing who have yet to kick the ball for us.
It’s all part of the experience. Part of the enjoyment.
Very sensible article .
Bissouma was a concern because he went to Tottenham and most fans ( including me ) prefer him to Xhaka. But generally transfers are complicated andcwe don’t know all the circumstances
Most fans prefer xhaka mate.Its about time you dropped this whole xhaka aint good theory that some supporters have just because he told you to f off.Xhaka is superior in terms of passing , both short and long range, shooting and carrying the ball forward.Plus he doesn’t have a sexual scandal over his head as well so that helps.
Lol, Great article, voice of reason.
The transfer market is usually the least of my worries now when it comes to Arsenal.
Losing out on Raphinha is a bit disappointing, would’ve been great to have him as he’ll prove a better competition for Saka.
Saka seems to be the only one in that team without good competition.
The boy played all games last season and the season before that, including the Euros and suffered burnout as his performance later dwindled.
Yet I saw and I still see comments that RW isn’t an important position for us to strengthen or prioritize and I’m left in shock that fans are actually against getting a quality player because of price and because they want him to be backup so bad just so their favorite player don’t lose a spot.
Hell I even saw a comment that said he was happy no one will be taking Saka’s place.
We’ll obviously get someone in, whoever we get in. I hope it’ll be someone tough enough to prove a great competition for Saka and not just a backup.
Could it be Gnabry?
I’ll love Gnabry, but honestly? That’s a pipe dream, as he’s way out of reach. Fans are only linking him with a return to us because of nostalgia and his good relationship with the fanbase.
If he’ll prefer to come back and how us back up, that’ll be great, fabulous.
If not, still no problem. Let’s just get another quality player for the RW too and I’m sure Edu’s got a plan.
We can’t be complaining about not having squad depth for years and then we starr complaining about spending once it threatens the position of our favorite players. The money ain’t from my pocket.
I’ll wait till the transfer window shuts before I can make my complete judgement.
We should be going all out for Declan rice or a player of that ilk and tielemans.
Its the defensive and central midfield that concerns me most.
Even left back I am not that concerned about, as we have Tierney and Tomiyasu who can cover that. However, that said Brandon Williams for £10m would not be a bad signing.
With respect , I am not imagining that Bissouma is a fine player .He is in fact a very fine player and is exactly what we need to improve our midfield.
But arsenal clearly felt they didn’t need him that’s the point is making.
Grandad…… “Exactly what we need” how do you know that? Are u the coach?
You do not need to be a coach to know that he is exactly what we need as a world class manager as just signed him .
Grandad
Bissouma would have slotted in to our team BUT and please some one correct me if I have it wrong
Doesnt he still have a court case hanging over his head for sexual harassment or something along those lines or was it dropped?
Yep, that’s the point. Signing him is a risk.
Not only that he gets convicted, imprisoned, status revoked etc, but also the distraction it must be for a player trying to focus on football when you have that hanging over your head.
Most clubs shied away from signing him for that reason.
He wants Barca.
Grillitsch wouldn’t be a bad gamble on a free
Missing out on Raphinha was a bit of a disappointment but why not look at Emmanuel Dennis or Ismaili Sarr from our next door neighbors, Watford, who got relegated therefore we can get them for half the price Raphinha would have cost us, leaving enough funds for Central Midfield and Leftback acquisitions.
Haha it would be frowned upon signing someone from Watford by some fans. Yet I would have players you mention
Agree with the author. It would be good if more people could take a rational view of things.
I was holding my breath Jonbo, thinking that, at last, you could write an article without knocking AW.
Got to the penultimate paragraph, but then you sneak it in once again.
So tell me, how have things improved?
Wenger got slated for only signing one player in a transfer window and, it was claimed, lost us the title.
Arteta didn’t sign a single player in the January window and, it is claimed, cost us CL qualification.
Wenger was crucified for the Ozil contract and the club lost money.
Arteta did exactly the same thing with Aubemeyang, contract wise, not having learnt the expensive lesson
Wenger was accused of saying he would only buy players who would improve the squad and was derided for it.
Arteta has said exactly the same thing.
Wenger was accused of naming players he wanted, but had no chance of signing.
Arteta spent the whole of the January window supposedly chasing a player who had publicly said he didn’t want to join us.
Wenger has been accused of giving to lucrative contracts to players who hadn’t proven their worth.
Arteta has just given a five year £100,000 a week contract to Nketiah.
Arteta and Edu have given ludicrously low buy on clauses to loaned out players.
So where signing Jesus shows a huge step up in our transfer activities is a mystery to me and don’t forget, it’s not actually official yet.
Apart from your normal obsession with AW and what I’ve said above, I agree with your thoughts about not getting carried away.
To date, I believe we have been linked with over forty players, missed out on about ten and “nearly completed” signings on another eight or thereabouts.
I don’t know if other clubs have this kind of hysterical rumour mill, but I’m like you, I take a chill pill and await the signings of Mikel and Edu with a relaxed air of “been here, done that and got the T shirt.
Well said Ken
We all know that every article written by Thirdman -sorry jonbo will have that little dig at Wenger .
He suggested in his last article that we do not want to go back to the days where we played attacking football and competed in the CL because now the new management have a plan and finishing 5th and playing boring football is the way to go .
Touché Ken! Nice comments and overall a great article Jonbo.
The only spanner, as HH states is that deep down we all probably know that you’re right, but we need our close season adrenalin rush. We LIKE lusting after every player in the EPL, having sleepless nights imagining them in Arsenal shirts, being every prospect’s boyhood favourite club, and having to say “he had big ears, anyway” when they sign for spuds!
👍👍 to both of you.
How I wish we could just judge Mikel on his record and not keep harping back as TMJW /
Jonbo feels the need to do.
It’s as if he needs an escape route in case Mikel fails for any reason and AW is that route.
It’s four years ago for heavens sake!!!!
Still, whatever floats one’s boat as they say – I’ll just keep on rectifying the fiction into fact.
I don’t care about the Raphina transfer. But if manure outbid Arsenal for Lisandro, I’m pretty sure we can collectivelly kiss the top 4 and/or winning the EL goodbye.
What?? How did your reasoning reach there pls I want to onow
Striker, DM, and B2B were positions that needed filling with the right players.
Is Jesus the striker we desperately need? Will he be the 20 PL goal threat leading the line?
Fabio seems like a creator, but we already have 2 in Odegaard and ESR and Patino in the wings.
If Fabio plays on the wings, why not Gakpo? Can Fabio be impactful in a 4-3-3?
Until we sign a true DM and CM, our weak midfield limits what we may be capable of achieving.
Martinez seems to be a DM option, and Zinchenko would be a good option at CM.
Also need a plan B striker. If we get that, add Martinez and Zinchenko, (with Fabio) we are ready to fight for top 4.
Apparently such reasoned reasonable and spot on argument is tantamount to a nervous breakdown … just a stab in the dark but guessing mr Jonbo is not a medical man !!
All interesting points Durand, and we appear to like the same players. I think Jesus may surprise us in a more central position. Zinchenko is a talent and underrated. Is Gakpo the unnamed plan B striker? I also see Martinez as a DM who can also cover Tierney. Vieira is going to be a big star, but I haven’t a clue in which AM/W position! I still don’t think Patino is ready – Norton-Cuffy and Hutchinson excite me more. And let’s not forget Lokonga, who may surprise us by coming back all bulked up!
Wise words Jonbo. But easier said than done… the only thing keeping me chilled is knowing that of the transfer market closed today we are in better shape than we were at the end of last season. But like everyone else, I want more!
I think we need more because we aren’t any better this season than last but spurs av utd will Chelsea will but arsenal won’t they av strengthen so 6 th 7 th then mikel as to go
I think we will only bring in one more player if the signing of Martinez pull through…
I think the reason why we are not even bringing any DM is because the apprentice thinks we have one of the best DM in Xhaka.
If xhaka is still considered among our first choice midfielder next season, we will need miracle to make top six.
Good article.
Beats me how we can “miss out” on player(s) that don’t even want to play for AFC (for a whole variety of reasons).
The players we have actually bought will have as much impact as Lokonga and Tavares did last season.
People forget we had 4 forwards at the beginning of last season and now we only have 2. So when we eventually announce Jesus and hopefully in this millennium we will still be one striker short.
It appears that Artedu’s idea of strengthening the first team is to actually buy and be linked to players that we have in abundance and not the bleedin’ obvious.
So I haven’t got carried away with any rumor as I would guarantee you, if you gave 7 billion pounds to Artedu to buy a boat, they would come back with a brick.
Edu: “Mikel, I keep hearing we need a dm, a couple of forwards and another winger?”
Arteta. “That we do, but how many defensive left sided players do we have?”
Edu: “Last count was 5, Holding also started on the left and if desperate we also have Xhaka and Saka. Which makes 8!.”
Artedu: “That’s decided then!! let’s buy another left sided defender.”
Edu: “OK, what about the DM, forwards and winger?”
Arteta: “How many goalkeepers do we have?”
So I’ve gone beyond caring about this transfer window as so far… as it has been a complete nonsense.
That is close to being the most ridiculous comment I’ve read today.
So with two months to go and four good signings already done, this transfer window is “complete nonsense”
troll alert methinks…
Lol Pat. 4 good signings?
Are you telling me that Viera, Turner and Marquinos have been purchased as first team starters to improve the train wreck end of last season? If so I think you need to get your head out of your proverbial and not be blinkered by the promises that Edu keeps spouting out on .com. as the players we have actually announced as of the 01/07/2022 will not be first team starters.
How much as you feel my comment as ‘ridiculous’ it is my opinion and I will still stand by my comment until I see clear upgrades to the first team for the 22/23 season. Not the 25/26 season.
Unfortunately, and as you know. The premiership is about immediate success/progression and if you are left behind then your pissing about mid table for the forseeable future. At this moment that is where I can see us heading, if we are not already there.
If that makes me a ‘Troll’ so be it, but this troll will still be following this disjointed dysfunctional mess of a team home, away and abroad as I have done for the last 30 years.
How can you suggest that anything NB as written Pat is trolling .
We all want this club to do well but every summer it’s the same sh1t and I see his post being on point once again .
His 3rd season and going by his transfer history we will be once again struggling .
By all means be optimistic but the gullibility comes into some fans posts ,let’s see how how our first half of the season goes before you start pointing fingers at fans for being trolls because they do not support the club the same way you do .
Thanks DK. I thought I’ve been dreaming the last 3 years. But Kate Bush is number 1 and there is another war with Russia and if Bobby Eweing gets out of my shower then I may have been dreaming the last 20 years.
You need to change your outlook. Being old and zen-like I have the philosophy is that if you think positive thoughts they are more likely to happen .
What happens if you postage opposite vibes.
There you go. A little insight into Admin Pat
I will keep my same outlook Pat because I do not get disappointed when it does not come to fruition as what as been proved right over the last 3 years .
Being middle aged and having a mind of my own my opinions usually happen .
There you go ,a little insight into Dan kit
Hopefully no offence taken but a reverse of what it’s like being on the opposite side of another fan’s opinion.
Pat, sod Zen off, you need to be diagonal to the door for Feng Shui. You may just see what we see. 😘
Admin Pat
That is not Zen philosophy. Zen Buddhism is Mahayana Buddhism…..look up Bodhicitta….that is the the aspiration of all Zen Buddhists.
“So, what we do have, we should invest in our weakest areas. It was looking more and more likely the Raphinha fee might have an effect on the rest of our transfers for this window”
Well yeah, so they were seemingly willing to throw money at a player they don’t really need, leaving less, potentially very little, money to focus on the needs. It doesnt exactly make me confident that they will address the right areas, it suggests they want another winger.
The fact we’re consistently linked with yet another (expensive) CB is another example. Despite a fair number of positives last season, there were glaring weaknesses in midfield (yet again) that the management seem completely blind to – it’s looking like this is not a priority for the management; that’s the concern.
“because things have changed massively since the AW/IG days. A slight improvement under Raul and Sven, but a huge step up under MA/EDU, and I think the Jesus signing proves that”
Lmao
So even in wengers worst years when he was signing Sanchez Ozil Auba ,all of a sudden Jesus is a better signing
Let’s see if he out scores Auba and Sanchez in his first 12 months .
Funny old thing being an Arsenal fan when you have a massive agenda against a former manager .
And so say all of us.👍🏻
Do you think we seem to be battling a never ending battle? I feel I just keep writing the same thing over and over again but with different words and emojis?
Actually NB and DK, it’s TMJW / Jonbo who keeps writing the same thing over and over again – we just feel the need to reply 🙄🙄
👍🏻
Too many articles attacking the supporters for this or that. Discuss football.
Our midfield was poor at the end of last season and if we get an injury to Partey or Viera we will be poor again. We need a quality midfield player. Martinez looks like he is going to Man Ure, so let’s hope we get a quality midfield player because of so many competitions to compete in. Hopefully a striker too.
From the top-five European Leagues of: EPL, La liga, Seriea A, Ligue 1 and the Bundelisga. Including others such as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tiers Leagues in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe.
Us watch players from those Leagues playing across the world live physically, or on the TV screen as they play in football Stadia.
But not just watch their recorded actions on you-tube Vedio channel to assess them. It is not as if to say, it’s only on the U-Tube video platform that us use and rely on to watch them and assess their performances of the new players who Arsenal have bidded for to sign in a transfer window. But us rely on our physical live watching them. And watching them on live TV match telecast broadcasts. And also sometimes on video recordings playback to pass our judgements on them.
So therefore, when what look like the majorly of Gooners commenting on JA voiced out their voices repeatedly without number which dates back from last season, to say that Arsenal shouldn sign Bissouma excluding me. I assumed they know what they’re saying because they’ve severally and carefully watched him and assessed him before they wanted Arsenal to sign him.
But I am not saying Arsenal should have signed him this summer at the expense of their not signing Fabio Vieira who they’ve signed this summer.
Because this is the decision of Arteta and Edu. And I respect it.
Nevertheless, I implore the Arsenal Board vis Stan Kroenke the Arsenal football club owner to earnestly approve and financially back Arteta and Edu with signing fees in their quests to get Lisandro Martinez, Gianluca Samacca or Victor Osimhen signed for Arsenal this summer window.
And as Arsenal haven missed out on signing Raphinha this summer, but could still want to do another new top caliber rightwinger signing this summer, say for instance, Segie Gnabry. The Arsenal FC owner should please back Arteta and Edu with the necessary money to do this signing. But if the transfer cost price to do the new RW signing is not at the exploitative enslavement cost price to financially enslaved Arsenal. Just like it was in the recent abortive Raphinha’s transfer case to Arsenal. Which could turn out to be the that Arsenal hadn’t narrowly escaped the Leeds Utd’s about to be fired bullet to not hit them when fired.
From the top-five European Leagues of: EPL, La liga, Seriea A, Ligue 1 and the Bundelisga. Including others such as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tiers Leagues in Africa, Latin America, Asia and Europe.
Us watch players from those Leagues playing across the world live physically, or on the TV screen as they play in football Stadia.
But not just watch their recorded actions on you-tube Vedio channel to assess them. It is not as if to say, it’s only on the U-Tube video platform that us use and rely on to watch them and assess their performances of the new players who Arsenal have bidded for to sign in a transfer window. But us rely on our physical live watching them. And watching them on live TV match telecast broadcasts. And also sometimes on video recordings playback to pass our judgements on them.
So therefore, when what look like the majorly of Gooners commenting on JA voiced out their voices repeatedly without number which dates back from last season, to say that Arsenal shouldn sign Bissouma excluding me. I assumed they know what they’re saying because they’ve severally and carefully watched him and assessed him before they wanted Arsenal to sign him.
But I am not saying Arsenal should have signed him this summer at the expense of their not signing Fabio Vieira who they’ve signed this summer.
Because this is the decision of Arteta and Edu. And I respect it.
Nevertheless, I implore the Arsenal Board vis Stan Kroenke the Arsenal football club owner to earnestly approve and financially back Arteta and Edu with signing fees in their quests to get Lisandro Martinez, Gianluca Samacca or Victor Osimhen signed for Arsenal this summer window.
And as Arsenal haven missed out on signing Raphinha this summer, but could still want to do another new top caliber rightwinger signing this summer, say for instance, Segie Gnabry. The Arsenal FC owner should please back Arteta and Edu with the necessary money to do this signing. But if the transfer cost price to do the new RW signing is not at the exploitative enslavement cost price to financially enslaved Arsenal. Just like it was in the recent abortive Raphinha’s transfer case to Arsenal. Which could turn out to be the that Arsenal had narrowly escaped the Leeds Utd’s about to be fired bullet to not hit them when fired.
Current players as it stands. My Arteta predicted FIRST 11 –
Jesus*
Martinelli. Odegaard. Saka.
Xhaka. Partey.
Tierney. Gabriel. White. Tomiyasu.
Ramsdale.
SECOND 11 –
Nketiah.
Smith. Fabio. Marquinhos.
Lokonga. Elneny.
Tavares. Holding. Saliba. Cedric.
Turner.
With this logic of the Arteta’s first and second 11 with the players at present now, how confident are you that we can finish in the top 4??
Well, from my view, until we sign a good CM and LB we are not ready for any trophy or the top 4.
A strong, fast, and technical player who can dribble in tight spaces in the middle and push the ball forward is very much needed for the success of any team.
All the best teams in the world have at least one good CM.
Kroos, DeJong, Gundogan, Alcantra, Goretzka, Jorginho*, Bentancur, Xhaka??!!!
A left back who can deputies well for Tierney is also a must.
I strongly believe the CM, and LB positions are our weakest positions right now and it should be filled up well
While liking the thrust of this article, my MAIN POINT is how some like Ken 1945( who at his age OUGHTto know better and of others too) are so sure that Jonbo is TMJW (as once was).
I have no idea whether or not this is true.
But unlike some on here I do NOT believe indispensing instant judgement on other fans who are probably not-though may be, just “may be”, remember- the one due to be criticised.
If you are going to “hang” someone, then at least have the decency to “hang” the one whom you KNOW FOR CERTAIN to be the correct man “hanged”.
False and unproven accusations against the wrong person are the product of COWARDS!
@Jon
I have often assured people that these are two separate people and I am sure that Jonbo would have no idea what they are talking about.
I had extensive emails with TMJW and with Jonbo. They are from different generations and are not even on the same continent.
I am told because ONE LINE of one of Jonbo’s early articles reminded them of TMJW and they have taken it as read ever since….
OK Pat, that settles it for me but I have to say their usage of the english language, coupled with their endless and pointless digs at previous managers / coaches seems remarkable similar.
As for the remark that comparing the two is “cowardly”, I have to say that after the drivel put out by JF regarding some of our players, it is rather rich, but in the spirit of the new JA, I will leave it at that.
What happened to TMJW?
He was banned for his aggressive conspiracy rumours that had nothing to do with football or Arsenal…
And as an aside Ken. I am sitting beside my missus who has every symptom and a positive test yesterday, but it’s definitely not Covid!₩
I would suggest that the end of the Transfer window is just a little TOO LATE for us to start having conniptions about the wondrous “up and coming” players Edu will have brought in.
But I am sure there will be articles written here about each one, detailing how great they will be in a couple of seasons!
My predicted finish for this up-coming season, a strong FIFTH again.