It’s all about the trophies now. by Konstantin Mitov
It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll! Well lovely Arsenal people, we’ve so far made 3 steps to the top, and the undoubted icing on the cake is the Rice pudding we’ve all been waiting for!
And while it did take some time for dessert to be served, for god knows what reason, he’s here and ready just before our US tour. We have spent 200+ million pounds and it’s mid July. Take a step back, swipe your eyes, it’s not a dream. Remember that summer we only signed Cech? I’d like to think that long gone are those days now.
We have no excuses. It’s time to bring the big prizes home now, not 5 years into the future when our project goes bang, we’re here people. We’ve splashed the cash, our manager has his own team, now it’s on him.
If I have to rate the transfer window at this current moment I’d say, so far so good. No other team has made 3 major signings this early, especially for the amount of money we have. Is the job done though? Far from it.
We have to ship out a lot of players. Holding, Elneny, Cedric, Pepe, Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, one of Eddie or Balogun or ideally both. Then there’s Smith Rowe. We spent 65 mills on Havertz. I just don’t see a reason to spend such money on a player we won’t play, so for me Emille is going to go. It’s him or Fabio Vieira, another player who hasn’t really impressed.
That’s about 8 to 10 players who could raise an extra 100 million pounds that can be put to good use. We now need a striker who can score 25-30 goals a season, cover for Saka, and another DM regardless of whether Partey leaves.
I’d like to give Edu and Arteta some credit, because as of this moment, we are an attractive proposition. We’re a destination football club, rather than a stepping stone one. We didn’t win the league last year, but the reaction from the club show’s we’re unhappy that we didn’t win it, so we’ll spend the money to bridge the gap and overtake Man City.
Declan Rice said “enjoy a few trophies together”. This is the mentality I’ve been crying about for years. It feels like it’s finally here and the fans need to adapt to it. Nothing but first is good anymore.
I remember Josh K saying “be excited”. That backfired, but now, you’ve given us Rice, Timber and Havertz and I’m actually excited. I can’t wait for the season to start. I’m eager for us to pump United in pre-season. When we whipped the floor with Chelsea last year, it was a sign of things to come.
If we bring in a striker, oh my god. A cheeky bid for Harry Kane to bring him back to his roots maybe? It’s a crazy idea, but which team in England right now is best poised to dethrone City? Chelsea in a huge mess ain’t it, United in a takeover uncertainty ain’t it. Tottenham is never it, and Liverpool in a rebuild is a wildcard.
We are the place to be. Villa are negotiating 35m deal for Diaby, why don’t we put 45 on the table and add proper cover for Saka? Go back with a cheeky 80 mil for Caicedo. Get Ivan Toney on the cheap and once his ban is up we’ll actually have a good backup striker, because Eddie ain’t it.
Anyway, I’m just happy where we are right now. My expectations for next season are really high. Either the Prem or the CL. One of the two major trophies, or second and both cups, not just one. We need to assert dominance.
Everyone is talking about us. Rivals are salty, and I love it! Cry me a river so I can swim in Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Spurs tears! We’re relevant again. Now to become a real force, one thing is left. The big trophies!
Konstantin
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still need to prove the mentality part
based on the title run in I don’t know how that can be said and Xakah going won’t help with that ?
Think Souness said once your only as good as your senior pros and I still think that’s where we struggle
I’m not sure that xhaka leaving is bad for our mentality in the run in. I’m not looking to bad mouth him at this point, but he was just as timid as everyone else 2 years ago at Newcastle, and he showed nerves in the run in last year (behaviour at anfield stands out). The fact he’s seen as a leader makes it worse because that sets the tone. You need calm heads in the run in, and he always had a tendancy to lose it.
I agree with your/souness’ point on “senior pros” and agree, that’s still a worry – it’s going to remain a concern until the players overcome it and stay solid at the end of a season.
Believe another scot once said
“You cant win anything with kids”
Not all pundits are correct on there opinions and its just an opinion
How often was that quote proven wrong over the years, though? Even if you accept the premise that they won the title with kids, it would still be an exception to a sound general rule imo.
Souness’ quote is harder to disprove – how can a team win the title without their “senior pros” at least doing very well that season? Even when Leicester win it, you can’t really say their most senior players, Morgan, say, weren’t excellent during that season – they had to be or they wouldn’t have won it.
Exception to the rule mate
Ans it was proven last season our kids need the help
Just think of leaders we had last time we won title
Squad players were parlour , edu , Keown
…..leaders
Dan, the mentality of that team to match Manchester United is softer forgotten. Similarly under George Graham to have to beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to win the League.
Job well done by the arsenal hierarchy, bring it on rivals!!!
Sell all those players and bring in a striker who can score 25-30 goals then de rest leave for us de fans to play our role
I mean sell those players u have mentioned above de likes of pepe, Eddie etc then bring in areal gud striker like oshiemen frm Napoli
There’s still a long way to go. If the new comers I don’t know much about Timber ( but can things get any worse than Viera), We’ll have to wait and see what Harvertz can do for Arsenal that he couldn’t consistently do at Chelsea and then there’s Rice. No he won’t bring the game changing dynamics of a Roy Keane or Steve Gerard but he will provide a steady consistency which was badly lacking at the end of last season. The big plus for Arsenal fans of course is that when these new comers are integrated with the likes of Saliba, Odegaard, Saka Martinelli, Zivchenko,Jesus and ESR there is a lot to feel excited about.
I think it would be too late to bring in a new CF, because there’s still no concrete offer for Nketiah and Balogun yet
What do you mean? The transfer window is closing on 1st September…we are only in July.
Romano said PSG have already been contacting Juventus for Vlahovic. If Arsenal are also interested, they should make a move as soon as possible
GAI, agree but if PSG are interested, not much chance of beating their buying power. Still Arsenal should test PSG’s resolve re Vlahovic.
Just add something more in the number 6 position – and something more in the number 9 (like Tchouameni and Osimhen), then I think the club is ready for some football. And for god’s sake, keep Thomas Partey!!!
I would rather have Arteta decide about squad players, not someone who wishes for Christmas gift that never gonna come. Why are we still disrespecting our squad players while complaining lack of depth?
If Partey wants to go then Arteta can’t do much but Arsenal MUST go and get another top class DM if he leaves. Without Partey and an adequate replacement (NOT HAVERTZ), we will struggle so we can forget about title challenge. We saw earlier this year how we struggled when he lost form the last 6 weeks of last season. Xhaka and Partey leaving without adequate replacement is a disaster waiting to happen because as much as most fans are enthused with Rice’s signing, a midfield of Rice, Havertz and Odegard is much weaker. We have to remember also that Arsenal is also in the CL and we can’t play Madrid, Barca, Bayern with Elneny and Gorghino in midfield.
Am really excited about the upcoming season. Hope we keep Partey & Tierney. If we can manage that, I believe we will win the league or FA cup and reach Quarterfinals UCL. How we perform in the Community Shield will set the tone and I hope we start the season right.
I can’t tell if the rumours are true about Partey heading away. Arsenal have been tight lipped on all fronts apart from Rice and not just with Partey.
@Suep
🙅 Partey stays! He’s vital to our plans.
Parteys form in the last ten or so games was awful. Really like the player but that drop off has raised some questions if it’s a sign to come. Was it personal issues, injury niggles or January signings that disrupted his form?
Saka had same drop in similar games. Funny on Saka fans are asking for cover to rest him but for Partey people assume he is a robot and his drop in form means he cannot be relied on.
Funny though on vedios done mid to end March debate was & Arsenal fans opinion was Partey was better than Casemiro & only came second to Rodri in the league! –
👍 John, treatment of some players very inconsistent.
I agree that we are missing a prolific striker to make us complete at the moment we have no one that will score 25-30 prem league goals nowhere near that figure which again could end up costing us silverware! I
Arteta has said he is happy with the players we have upfront and that lots of players chip in with goals.
Of all the three signings, Havertz is the one that concerns me.
And with gaffer saying he’s not sure where to play him, makes me a little nervous, that statement does not inspire confidence.
Think the lad is a big gamble, his price tag and massive salary will dictates he has to starts game soon, but Havertz is a big game player.
And if the big German comes alive in an Arsenal shirt, the gaffer utterance of not knowing where to play him, was only a mine game.
I suspect arteta wants to try him in midfield, effectively replacing xhaka, but isn’t sure if it will work, and doesn’t want to commit. I don’t doubt it’s been thought through, but arteta is a gambler in my estimation – he won’t always get it right. The thing about havertz is that he is extremely talented, and does seem to have a positive attitude, so I think it will work out in the end. Worst case might be that he turns out a good player but perhaps an unnecessary signing imo.
I dont mind taking a risk on Havertz. What I do have a problem with is when a new signing is taking long to settle or isn’t doing as well but then they are played regardless….at the expense of players on the bench. We’ve seen it before!
If a player doesn’t hit the ground running that’s fine but then play them from the bench and start someone else that deserves a run. Simply play the players based on form which hasn’t always been the case in the past.
Yeah, that’s a worry. Arteta stuck with auba for six months when he was playing badly, twice, and willian, also for about six months. It could kill our season if something similar happened with havertz
Think it’s a delicate balance, you not only could destroy the player confidence but allowing the player to develop ring rust could complicate matters.
Hopefully the multiple competitors will minimize this poor practice.
👍
Looking forward to the season, we have more than enough players on AFCs books to deal with injuries and we’ve spent more than anyone in the past 3 years so we are well set up with the 2nd most valuable squad on the planet.
The strong mentality we’ve been promised will get through games with no excuses! COYGs
We’ve had a GREAT summer transfer window so far
I’m a bit greedy and wish we had a prolific striker but if we don’t get one I really think giving Balogun an opportunity is important. Jesus and Balogun would help with goals in the striker department in my opinion
Anyway, we have what it takes to compete because of our last two summer transfer windows
IM SO EXCITED I JUST CAN’T HIDE IT for the upcoming season
We have an awesome squad of players
COYG 💝
Goncalo Ramos is the best fit for a striker right now…
Very clinical
Smith Rowe should stay…
Vierra should be the one leaving
There’s a forgotten name Arsenal have been following for the past two years…
He’s Pedro Goncalves…
He can provide cover in the midfield and forward line…
He’s chipped in at least 10+ goals and assists each season since Fernandez left Sporting Lisbon for Manchester United…
He’s a €80m release clause
Won’t be a bad move as he can directly replace Xhaka
Check out the stats, it speaks for itself.
I like Cancalo Ramos, young , strong, tall and technical, it would be interesting to learn of his price tag.
Arsenal is stock with attacking midfielders it’s a defensive midfielder Arsenal now needs, with uncertainty surrounding Partey.
There’s no excuse for not competing for the league title and in Europe this season. Arteta has been given lots of time and money to build his own squad. He really needs to prove himself this year that Afc will be one of the top 3/5 elite teams in Europe like he had promised. Arsenal is one of the clubs that have invested so much in the past few seasons. One major trophy is the minimum.