Do Arsenal need a complete clear-out in the January window?

WHAT DO TEAMS DO WITH TRANSFERS? ARSENAL SHOULD REALIZE by Nick

What do PSG, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich have in common? When it comes to the transfer market, these are the guys that will pay huge monies for all manner of talent available across the planet. It is what Arsenal have had ambitions to do but have been unable to reach these heights.

But others have been quietly using the transfer windows to build their sides to have the capability to challenge for top honours. Tottenham sold Luca Modric and Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. Liverpool sold Luis Suarez and Phillipe Coutinho to Barcelona. Manchester United sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real. Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski moved to Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund. Borussia also sold Ousmane Dembele to Barcelona.

Barcelona too have sold Neymar to PSG. Today, Hazard is the best player Chelsea have and he might just be sold…
At Arsenal the plan has been that the player wants to move or sign an extension of their contract but Arsenal somehow waited until the last moment to try and convince the player to stay and often have had to sell huge talents at throw away prices. Prices that would not help develop the squad at all. Sometimes, a messy negotiation for extension of contract should signify that the player is about to evolve into a problem for the squad and can be sold at much higher profits. What if Ramsey was on a contact right now and Arsenal opted to sell, he would be going for 50million. How about Ozil right now? He is ever ‘mysteriously ‘sick and perhaps the best is to look for a team that can accommodate his huge wages right now and sell while he still has value through the years in his contract.

Liverpool and Tottenham are right now challenging for the league with Liverpool looking the real deal. As a result of selling the best assets to reinvest the money to build at the most important areas in the squad. Liverpool look a well-balanced team that Unai Emery believe can match Invincible Arsenal. Liverpool reinvested their Coutinho windfall in Virgil van Dijk for 75M. Clearly, Arsenal can sacrifice some players with high talent right now in this window to reinvest in the right areas – selling Ramsey, Ozil, Koscielny, Mustafi, Elneny, Monreal, Welbeck and Kolasinac may be considered some clear out of sorts, but for me it’s a necessary and if done now will help the team settle for a successful summer window. With those wages freed, inconsistent performances gotten rid of and getting players with playing styles suited for the system, is useful to build up towards being able to challenge as soon as possible.

All Arsenal need to do is to find a link player to replace the creativity of Ozil and Ramsey. Someone that can bring into play both Lacazette and Aubameyang into the game; two quality centre back defenders and a left wing defender/attacker. These players are there and Sven Mislintat and Raul Sanllehi will have a good idea where to find them and how to recruit them, even through the winter window. After all, Sven Mislintat was part of the engine room that has kept Borussia Dortmund operating optimally despite losing their best players frequently.

Nicholas Oyoo

78 Comments

  1. Realize that Klopp didnt build that team with huge money in the beginning.

    Mane 35m
    Wijnaldum 25m
    Karius 6m
    Klavan 6m
    Matip FREE

    70m spent. Karius obliviously didnt work but after this season they got back in CL i think.

    After back in CL, they got in summer 2017:
    OX 35m
    Salah 35m
    Robertson 8m

    First big big buy was Van Dijk, January 2018.

    See they spent, but wisely. They tried cheap,GK but it didnt work so they spent on Alisson. Im afraid Emery made that mistake as well with Leno, though spending 3 Times more than Klopp on Karius.

    1. Mclovin, everything you say is correct, but what was the common denominator to all of this?
      Champions League Football, along of course with top 4 finishes and fa cup wins,we did so much more than the pool over any time period, except the last two years.
      We had that investment for twenty of the last twenty two years.
      Pool owners invested in players by giving Klopp the money he requested.
      Kronkie decided what UE and AW could spend and that meant they had to cut their cloth and hope to find bargains, that’s the difference I’m afraid.
      Where that CL money has gone too, only one can guess.
      One can spend wisely at any level, but if you have a ceiling of investment that is it.
      Fans say that Kronkie has put money into the club and quote Aba and Lacs, but the year we signed them, the outgoing transfer fees meant that kronkie only put in approx. £11,000,000.
      Very shrewd on his part, but let’s be clear on what goes on.
      The “lower” the player skill level, the more the gamble becomes and Aw certainly got some of his buys wrong, just as UE already has.
      Not a gamble when buying Ronaldo, but it is when buying Elneny for example.

      1. I think buying a great player for a great price Is too much a gamble…elneny Is a mediocre player, but has somebody critices wenger for him? No, because was a minor gamble and de can sell him to a lower team and even get money from him…then, buying auba Is a gamble, because of his high fee.. it works so we are ok, buying ozil was a gamble, and even if it didnt work un my opinion, nobody said nothing because that was a first sign of ambition…renew ozils contract was an awefull peace of business, not even a gamble…not selling Alexis when it was pretty obviuos he didn’t want to be here was unclever too and we lose q Lot of money

        1. Elneny can be sold for profit, and I knew he was going to be average. Horrible purchase tbh.

          Diadie Semassekou from Salzburg would be a,bargain for 15 millions. I have no idea how our scouts are not aware of him. He has recorded more tackles and interceptions than anyone else in Europe (or at least close).

          Remember that Torreira had great tackle and interception stats as well.

  2. I totally agree with the above get rid of all the deadwood and get players that are willing to die for the shirt Stan should put his hand in his pocket for once and help us

      1. he was a shrewd investment i’m sure he’s worth more today then when we bought him and will command a larger fee when he’s sold eventually

  3. With Scrooge Kroenke as owner, the Arsenal “Trinity” of Sven, Raul and Unai will have to perform a miracle to equal the loaves and fishes to rebuild Arsenal.

  4. We got Aubameyang last January, so I’m optimistic we’ll do some decent business. Shipping out Ozil, and Ramsey is an absolute must though.

  5. We need a bloody miracle….. I thought our gutless performances were long gone… how could I have been so stupid??
    As much as I love my team… I’m so pi**ed off with being a laughing stock!! Already this morning, the hospital where i work, I’ve had the p**s ripped out of me from one of the patient’s… what I’d give to be able to give some back!! Going to be YEARS before we go to Anfield & get a result…and trust me I can’t wait for that day…… sigh

        1. We have Fulham coming on Tuesday if it make you feel better Sue. Another goal fest. Anyway, you seem like a really cool person Sue and I’d like us to be friends, get to know ourselves better if you don’t mind.

            1. Phil, I reckon Sue could speak for herself if she wishes! I have as litle time for the child TH14 as you do though.

    1. It taken Klopp three solid seasons to reach where they are right now, so it might be a bit long coming…

    2. Completely agreed , i’m looking for the day we are a team that is able to beat other ‘top 6’ teams at their own stadium .

    3. It could be possible that players are aware of certain transfers that are about to happen such as ozil and ramsey and this could be what has unsettled the team . Other than the obvious injury disruption to the back line creating instability the readied transfers could also be creating the change we’ve seen since the very controlled first unbeaten run. Give emery a chance. Pretty sure he knows what he is doing. We knew he had to change certain players and that might cause the road to be bumpy . I think we will def see new players coming in to further strengthen his style of play

  6. I really don’t get all this “Scrooge Kroenke “ mentality on here.
    I think there will be a surprise coming our way in a January …….

    1. Why do you say that Declan then? Who do you think we could have bought instead of Sokratis or worse still, by far, Lichtensteiner, if Santa KROENKE WERE NOT SO OBVIOUSLY “GENEROUS” as it appears you think he is! I found your post incredibly wrong , frankly! And anyway it is not “a” surprise we need in JANUARY. We clearly need at least half a dozen astounding shocks from Santa Kroenke. There are many lists of wanted players floating around this forum and all are fantasies as to us actually getting them in, while KROENKE STAYS!

      1. Last 5 seasons of EPL spending:

        Liverpool: £-211.89m
        Arsenal: £-252.97m
        Chelsea: £-147.29m
        Spuds: £-33.07m

        City: £-581.33m
        UTD (Owned by greedy americans as well): £-495.08m

        Not everything you disagree with is a fantasy. Silent Stan has allowed Arsenal to spend what we made and we have outspent some of our rivals (in total). Due to a poor CEO we have foolishly wasted large volumes of money and we now need to deal with those consequences as a club.

        I would love Silent Stan to come in and go “Here is a 1 billion loan, interest free” but he isn’t and we do not need it, Liverpool are top and they have spent less than us in total over the past 5 years.

        1. While agreeing with Midkemma’s statement of financial facts, the naming of Stan Kroenke as “scrooge” results from knowledge of Durand, ksgunner, myself and others of the performance Kroenke’s US sporting franchises.
          However Kroenke as Scrooge in Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” may have been visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and things may change.

      2. Jon, calm down, I said I “think” there will be a surprise, meaning I have a feeling some new decent players may be arriving. Like you I have no certain knowledge of anything he plans to do or not do but I’m hopeful that now he has total ownership of the club he will invest in success as he has done successfully with I think, the Nuggets (?).
        I don’t want to criticise Emery as I believe he needs a decent amount of time to turn the sh1tshow Wenger left us with around but was given £70 million apparently and spent it on Sokratis, Lichsteiner, Guendouzi, Leno and Torreira. Torreira was a steal, as too will be Guendouzi. I think the jury is still out on Leno but Sokratis should be a WWE wrestler and Lichtsteiner WTF (what the F?).
        I was not happy when David Dein introduced Kroenke to the board but am willing to give him a chance in this window. Let’s not forget he sanctioned the purchases of Ozil and Aubameyang !

        1. Declan, Thanks for clearing that up. Agree precisely on all five new buys too. Disagree firmly on your hope that now Kroenke has 100% shares(well almost!) that he will start spending more . I SEE NO EVIDENCE AND DO NOT SEE WHAT CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE HAVING 100% MAKES FROM WHEN HE MERELY HAD MAJORITY CONTROL. He could already hire , fire and control all policy he wished so nothing has changed in that respect. I also do not think it a proper comparison with us, as to what and why he does with his USA clubs in other sports. I admire your hope but feel it”s unfounded in reality. It is not as if he is new here; he has a decade of evidence behind him here as to how he works. But anyway you never know for certain, I suppose (or rather, I hope). And yes, he did sanction the Auba and Ozil buys but we now need far more expensive in total then those two and all right now. Just don’t see it happening. Wish I could!

          1. Declan, you are right in that the Denver Nuggets top their division in the NBA at the moment, which is positive.

    2. I can only guess it is people who need a sole entity to blame, people who can’t comprehend that many aspects come into play, it is afterall easier to just blame Silent Stan for it all.

      We have outspent Liverpool over the past 5 years (in total) yet people will claim Silent Stan will not allow us to spend…

      1. I do not think you have taken properly into account the vast sums Liverpool were able to get in from outgoing sales , whereas WE have just let our player assets decline to nothing or very little , thanks to our policy!! (What policy?) of running down contracts to the last year/ months fiasco and the sheer incompetence of our CEO compared with theirs. Our previous manager stood idly by and acquiesced, instead of standing up to Gazidis. Wenger had his own huge salary and long lasting position to protect, I cannot help noticing! I do not just blame KROENKE. Others may do and I DO NOT SPEAK FOR THEM ,JUST FOR MYSELF. Gazidis, the board, Wenger and KROENKE ARE ALL CULPABLE . But the buck stops with the owner of ANY business, in the real world. If he/she lets someone else misspend or underinvest when their business and its future value cries out for investment then he/ she is culpable. Do you disagree on THAT specific point midkemma?

  7. No need just spend cheap.
    We have mavropanos and Rowe back from injury
    Those are great future prospects in addition to medley Niles and nketiah.
    Ship out ozil Ramsey koscienly monreal and elneny
    Buy fornals pepe and banega.
    Then aim higher in the summer

  8. Come to think of it, newly promoted Wolves from the Championship has played 7 matches against the top 6 with the record 2 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses (Yet to lose an away game against a top 6 side). We on the other hand have played the top 6 sides 5 times with the record 1 win, 2 draws, 3 losses (Have lost all but 1 away match against top 6 sides). Apparently Wolves have a better record than us against the top sides. On a lighter note, shouldn’t we have gone for the Wolves Manager? At least his team knows how to defend properly.

  9. Let us resign to the fact that barring a miraculous turn of form we might just miss top 4 this season. January is too soon to rebuild coz we don’t want to end up where quick-fix Man United are now…
    Summer Window
    OUT
    Monreal, Mustafi, Ramsey, Ozil, Xhaka, Mkhi, Kos, Jenkinson, Chambers, (Sokratis & Litch should do the right thing and retire)
    IN
    CB x2, LB, RB, CM, CAM, LW, RW

  10. Liverpool 1st season for klopp 8th then 2 4ths and this season 1 or 2. I’d take that progression any day.
    But he knew he needed a gk and a cb to complete his side so went and spent 130/140m on 2 players would we ever do that? I think not.

    Anyway I like him but lichsteiner is finished in the pl. Also we must not bear ourselves up too much about the pool result a wounded side in there first season against a high flying side who were in the cl final last year.
    Emery said himself that the lack of 3 points wasn’t good but in some ways the result was, that made me think that by talking s hiding he may be able to leverage more funds for players.
    I think both psg and Seville will be getting shopped from he needs some trusted able bodies and we do need a good workmanlike 10 though ozil ain’t going nowhere soon, would you he’s laughing collecting his pay slip each week.
    Ozil staying could easily block new bodies we need.
    I say look at Wolves I love what they did getting the likes of patrico and moutinho neves, traore etx.
    All because the manager was portugese and used his sporting Lisbon connections.
    We also could do with getting smart and set up some feeder clubs like Chelsea do in Holland mainly. Could it be hoffenheim?

    1. klopp came in with a clear football philosophy and style … i keep asking what is emery’s? genuinely dont know after 6 months of ad hocery and tinkering … happy to give him til end of season but if we finish outside top 4 i really dont think the man is for us

      1. But it didn’t work for three seasons did it?
        I can clearly see what UE’s style of play is…a high pressing out from the back type of football.
        One season under the iron fist of kronkie?
        Give him TIME with fair expectations why not the two years of his contract at the very least?

        1. you have better eyessight than me …. a high pressing!!!! we dont press anywhere on the pitch … and least of all in the final third …. there is no creativity in the middle of park let alone pressing and we dont have skillful enough players at back to play out comfortably … dont think emery will last more than 2 seasons if hes lucky

  11. we nedd to do some good transfer in this coming window, sell Ramsey and sign H Herrera, swap ozil with little magician isco, give Napoli mustaphi+40£m and gate khaloubaly, sign hakim ziyerch for just 25m£, with these 4 transfer hopely we will finish top 4 , then in the summer sell mikittaryeng£25m, go for Wilfred Zaha£50m, sell kolasinac£20m, sign Alex telles£20m sell eleny15£m, Thomas party release Czech, sign navas.with these two windows market we will be title contender s. this my 2019/20 line up. SHIRTS PANTS
    leno 19 khalubaly 26 sakratics 5 Alex telles 3 Bellerin2 Torreira 4 H herera 8 ZAHA11 Ziyerch 7 isco 10 Aubamiyerng14

  12. What’s killed us yesterday is that normally we’d be able to rotate a little better but with all the injuries we’ve had yo play back up players who don’t have match fitness like the others and out of position.
    Bearing that in mind we should have maybe gone there and parked the bus and camped in our half trying to get a point or win on the counter.

    4 games in quick succession with an injury ravaged squad has us doomed. Yesterday out players looked tired and slow. On the flip side klopp had rotated from fabinho keita Henderson wilnaldum lallana etx. They’re sqaud is bigger better and more expensive is value than ours simples!

  13. I wanted klopp as our manager long before he went to Liverpool you didn’t need to be a mastermind to work out he had everything in his locker to be a top top manager and would have been a great replacement for Wenger if only the arsenal board had the ball to make the change years ago we would have continued to challenge for titles and trophies under klopp will regret that now as tittles and trophies seem far far away with these weak pathetic spineless players we have playing now!!

    1. Yes Dan, due to timing Arsenal missed out on Klopp and Guardiola; however Unai Emery has an excellent reputation among his peers and I am perplexed as to why so many on here are giving up on him in his first season.

  14. We’ve had defensive problems for the past 5 years and nobody has done anything about it. AW was blinkered when it came to it and since he has gone we have signed Lichtsteiner, Sokratis and Leno. Any wonder we are struggling right now?

    Come on Sven live up to your nickname ‘diamond eye’ and get the defence sorted in January. There is still a chance we can get into the top 4 but not with the current shambles we call a defence which is quite embarrassing to watch. It’s so bad that even having Senderos back would be an upgrade. Another thought, how about swapping Bouldy for Tony Adams?

    1. How about having both Bould and Adams in the team today, EVEN as they are now! My cat can defend better than virtually all our current lot! I had great hopes of Licht when he first came, given his pedigee at Juventus and even at his age. BOY, HOW WRONG CAN ANYONE BE!

      1. Juve letting a defender leave on a free should have been a warning. When have they ever let quality leave for free?

        Arsenal have bad habit of patchwork mentality. They paper over cracks continually rather than address the issue properly the first time.

        Whether Cech in goal, Lichtsteiner at RB, Elneny in midfield, Mhki in swap deal, list goes on and on. 10 years prove owner is cheap, and underspends bigtime based on club earnings.

        The stadium myth for not spending is a lie sold by Kronke. He CHOSE not to invest when he had opportunity to spend. Rams stadium cost around $6 BILLION! No “self-sustaining” nonsense for them. Why? Look at St. Louis; those fans refused to spend money on a garbage team like Kronke expected. He had to recalibrate, and moved to Los Angeles. Rams aren’t”self-sustaining” are they?

        Yet Arsenal expected to be, and fans tolerate it. Kronke will continue to milk this club with minimal investment until he’s gone. He has no appetite for titles, trophies, or glory. Years after stadium and Kronke claims frugality, bought out other shares, still claims frugality. Invested billions in Rams stadium, claims frugality.

        1. Kroenke has made a fortune in property deals associated with the contruction of the new stadium to house the Rams. The stadium itself is being funded by the taxpayers of Los Angeles, something the burgers of St Louis were not prepared to do. Kroenke had no qualms in leaving St Louis for LA; he didnt give a toss for the season ticket holders and long term supporters in St Louis.
          The Arsenal won’t be treated any better.

      2. Seriously Jon have you seen a worse defence in all your years as a supporter? I know I haven’t. It was for this reason alone that I favoured Allegri as head coach but we need to give Emery at least until the end of the season before making a judgement. Mind you if Kroenke doesn’t open his wallet in January, 6th place is the best we can hope for.

        1. Andrew, It is the worst defence since the last years of BERTIE MEE in 1973 -75. I am convinced that 6th is where we will now finish. I see Emery getting just two years and then out, sacked. But, in fairness, the reason he will probably be sacked is entirely down to Kroenkes meanness. Emery is a proven top manager and I hope he stays a long, long time. But I doubt he will. I think it totally wrong to expect anyone but JESUS CHRIST TO ACCOMPLISH THE MIRACLE IT WOULD NEED TO GET THESE JOKE PLAYERS TO DEFEND PROPERLY. THEY HAVE SIMPLY NOT GOT THE ABILITY TO DO SO, NO MATTER WHO IS COACHING THEM.

          1. Also Emery was ptepared to come to the Arsenal, make an effort to learn English, work under the management structure and within the prevailing funding constraints; Allegri was not.
            Allegri wanted supposedly a massive increase in his Juventus salary package plus a large guaranteed transfer budget to leave Juventus, plus he is reticent to learn another language.
            Currently Allegri is being touted as the next Real Madrid manager, but he has stated that he is happy to stay at Juventus and doesn’t want to learn a second language.
            If Allegri would not move to Real Madrid, why would he be attracted to Arsenal?
            Moreover being realistic, should Unai Emery leave who of the top well credentialed managers would want to take on management at Arsenal under the current conditions?

  15. we nedd to do some good transfer in this coming window, sell Ramsey and sign H Herrera, swap ozil with little magician isco, give Napoli mustaphi+40£m and gate khaloubaly, sign hakim ziyerch for just 25m£, with these 4 transfer hopely we will finish top 4 , then in the summer sell mikittaryeng£25m, go for Wilfred Zaha£50m, sell kolasinac£20m, sign Alex telles£20m sell eleny15£m, Thomas party release Czech, sign navas.with these two windows market we will be title contender s. this my 2019/20 line up. SHIRTS PANTS
    leno 19 khalubaly 26 sakratics 5 Alex telles 3 Bellerin2 Torreira 4 H herera 8 ZAHA11 Ziyerch 7 isco 10 Aubamiyerng14

  16. Rome wasn’t built in a day but the foundations need to be laid soon before we slide down to mid table mediocrity.Other than Holding ,Bellerin and hopefully young Mav our defenders are without doubt the poorest collective unit in the Premier League.The fact that we are 5th in the League is remarkable given the inadequate bunch at the back which includes Socratis and Kolasinac.Without a solid defence, which Liverpool now have, real success will continue to elude Arsenal.There are literally dozens of better defenders in the Championship than those who played against Liverpool.Because of their lower league status they will not cost a lot but they will most certainly be an upgrade on those who failed to perform yesterday and do so on a regular basis.

  17. would prefer to get someone from a newly-promoted side, or a lesser league, as they’re not likely to cost a lot, plus they already have all the basics covered

  18. You’ll comparing arsenal to Liverpool’s three years transition as if it’s some blue print to success Emery was signed to coach our players now he’s lost the dressing room because he is clueless it’s now safe to say he makes a mistake every single game by starting the wrong lineup then insults a player by taking him off at the 45. He’s got no system and no distinctive style of play Arsenal is doomed under Unai Emery the players aren’t playing for him anymore cause he’s a clown # EMERY OUT !!!!!!;

  19. Need to buy a young versatile defender who can play both as a right back and central defender we also need a left back ,another central defender and a gud play maker like Houssem Aouar

  20. Look at our players yesterday I beg you to look at their goal celebration look at Emery him self look at Auba coming off for lacazette. The only good thing about Emery is he doesn’t criticize his players publicly. The guy as already lost the dressing room. I say no signings for Emery he will make defenders worse then cry about the balance Emery is a clown
    # Emery out!!!!!!

    1. You clearly and OBVIOUSLY know all there is to know about CLOWNS. From the inside of the circus ! Watch out for all those custard pies in your face!

      1. Jah son, I would be interested to know how much sport you have played and at what level when you state that Emery has lost his players? How can a manager lose a dressing room full of walking wounded?
        Some Arsenal players need to take a good hard look at themselves.

  21. Thought Emery was here to get this squad of players up and gunning and make necessary changes.
    Now we have fans calling for a new squad of players while our defenders get worse Emery took away our beautiful football at least WENGER had a system of play where is Unai’s

  22. This Emery out tosh is non sense.
    The guy means business and takes no prisoners I like that.
    He needs funds and time and a few big his own men brought in. A defensive coach who knows what they’re talking about wouldn’t hurt either, what exactly is Steve bound doing there still??

  23. So is Unai Emery now finding out that defenders need coaching so we have another reactive one not been proactive at all we’re now paying for his mistakes already

    1. All the Wenger Out brigade said they would be happy to go through several years of rebuilding pain just to get rid of him. Your wish has been granted!

      1. Here is another and more truthful summation of those who wanted Wenger out- a huge and overwhelming majority by the time it happened. Any huge group of people will have many various reasons for wanting the same outcome. THAT IS HOW LIFE WORKS AND THERE IS NEVER JUST ONE EASY ANSWER. 17. 4 milion people voted Brexit but there were many reasons given. Equally, over 16 million voted Remain , again for varied reasons. Many of those reasons both Leave and Remain had in common with others in their respective group BUT far from all. THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID FIRSTLY. I wanted Wenger out as the club was regressing year upon year and any real hope of title challenges and CL winning challenges had dried up to nothing. Almost any other manager was better than him. IT WAS OF COURSE IMPORTANT THAT WE GOT A PROPER MAN IN WITH EXPERIENCE AND A TRACK RECORD AND , AFTER A FEW SCARES ABOUT ARTETA COMING, WE APPOINTED A FINE MANAGER. However, the huge problem of KROENKE OWNING THE CLUB REMAINS BEHIND. We who craved Wengers exit knew this full well before hand and still craved Wengers exit,which FINALLY , years too late , happened. As you say, our wish has been granted and if you think for a millisecond that I regret it, you are living in cloud cuckoo land!

  24. Coaching? No coach on the planet could improve the likes of Lichsteiner, Mustafi, Socratis and Kolacinac.

  25. Slighty OT
    I remember when we’d send a team up to anfield and it was their support rather than ours that feared getting turned over – how the pendulum has swung.

    iv said it countless times on this thread (Just Arsenal), that to be counted as title contenders our team must be confident and possessed of the quality players and tact to go to the likes of old trafford, anfield, etihad, king power, wherever spuds are based?), and put the jitters up their fans as well as their entire team – fearless attitude needs to be restored just like how our invincible arsenal were shown to be irrepressible and bold.

    ..we’re missing character and if there are players that don’t have pride when representing arsenal, akin to the fans, then they need to step aside (or be sacrificed) and allow players who do perceive what it means to be a gunner come emirates and express themselves.
    ……….

  26. I’ve said it before, if we can get maguire from Leicester as the defender to build the back from which will create a solide foundation for the next five years and Zaha to give natural width and a player that will run at defenders creating space for our excellent front two. Yes sell Ramsey for something now and clear a bit of deadwood plus iwobi and Ozil but I’d keep Kolasinac for sure

  27. I do not believe we will need a total clear out as too many signings can unsettle a team, it will be hard to push for top 4 unless we turn our performances/results around, I would hope we do not introduce half a new team and that then cause us to do worse. 3 new signings for me.

    OUT:
    Ramsey (Aim to do in swap deal for Rabiot)
    ElNeny (Around £10 million, we should get this figure)
    Iwobi (Around £25 million, in between Theo and Ox fee, not unrealistic if we can find a buyer)
    Emi Martinez (Around £10 million)
    Xhaka (£25 million?)

    IN:
    1: Fernando Calero
    This young lad is only 23 and stands at 6ft tall, he appears a confident ball playing CB who can put in a well timed tackle, he also looks like he has some pace. Rumor is he has a £10 million release fee in his contract.

    2: Rabiot
    I do not think we need to say anything about this lad, we have all heard of him throughout the years and now could be the time, we will not get a record fee for Ramsey but this could be an ideal swap for them, I feel this swap would be perfect for both clubs.

    3. Nabil Fekir
    Yes, this one will cost a bit but any decent left footed creative player who can score will cost a tidy sum. Capable of playing in the number 10 role to offer a real alternative to Ozil while at the same time he is a more than capable ball carrier who could play as a right inside forward. Not to mention he is Lacas friend and Liverpool appear to have turned their attention to Pulisic.

    1. dont like the three of them mid, especially the two french one’s, Rabiot bad attitude not good for Matteo in the long term, and the other i just don’t rate him not stats or anything just gut feeling that fekir wouldn’t make it in the PL. The defender i haven’t seen enough of him to know how good he is and from what i have seen we got mustafi he is at least more proven at 6 foot…a monster in defence is what i want MidK, a 6 3 plus monster with pace and good passing range

      1. Fair play Sal.

        It looks like Barca will be getting Rabiot, Barca will sort that attitude out if he has one, like we could. No one seems to say no to Dembele due to attitude and Barca are having issues with him. Lastly for Rabiot, he has said he wouldn’t move to Spurs as they are a small club… C’mon… With a slap against the spuds like that, how can we not want him XD lol
        Plus I think Rabiot has some skill which Guendouzi could learn from, apart from hair styling 🙂

        Fekir would make it in some ways easier than Laca has, no one questions his skill but what Emery is doing to him… With any player who hasn’t played in the EPL, it comes with risks. He has demonstrated what he can do against City when Lyon beat them, he is used to working with Laca and they both had a productive period when Fekir was feeding him.

        The CB is kinda unknown and I know YouTube can make anyone look good but the lad has a good YouTube without having to repeat the same tackle for 5 mins in slow motion to add time to the vid XD
        He looks to have very good timing and steps into challenges with confidence, he looks really skinny but then he shows strength which is kinda surprising for his frame. He looks a confident ball player and one which might suit Emery highline.

        Leno
        Mustafi/Sokratis/Calero
        Bellerin/Rabiot/Torreira/Kola
        Fekir
        Laca/Auba

  28. We need to bin Koscielny, Mustafi, Xhaka, Lichtsteiner, Iwobi, Ozil, Ramsey, Elneny and any other deadwood from our squad. I know it will take some time but with shrewd investment, we can get better hardworking players. I’m tired of being humiliated time after time by the top 6 clubs. Our defending is atrocious & these guys are supposed to be professional footballers. We can no longer carry passengers, we need a squad that gives a 100% irregardless of who’s on the pitch. Emery has a difficult task ahead and I hope Kroenke will support him & the recruitment team.

    1. will try to make a short a buller point of it 🙁

      1) def: Koulibaly way to expensive if we are paying those prices i would rather we went for varane, milan, or even de ligt…Tah like alot of people have mentioned looks like a good move

      2) fullbacks: we need some and with the inflated market prices when it comes to good fullbacks the sooner we buy some the better, i personally like Henrichs from monaco and Lukas Klostermann from Redbull as they can play both rb/lb…tierney and the better version chillwell are great options at lb like some have mentioned

      3) midfield the only area where we have an ok depth untill ramsey and elneny eventually are gone so we can wait untill the summer to add reinforcements or another leverkusen product Kai just because this kid is Wow and would have him in our team in a heartbeat, they got a team Leverkusen have to admit it

      4) wingers: we need to buy one Asap Odoi looks the perfect fit with 18 months left on his contract and the german clubs seem to be bidding, i would go as far as 30 mil bid for this kid if we can get him based on the news today looks a bargain at that price why would he go to germany when we can offer him the stage he is looking for here in London, i would be livid if we didn’t if try to at least make a bid or an attempt to sign him. we also need another winger come summer a WC or about to be WC winger, and for me it’s bailey, have been watching him and this guy will light it up like sane direct and so good with the ball at his feet, electric

      5) forwards: we need a 3rd more different attacker than the two lethal ones we have, they are very similar and surprisingly it’s laca that is a more rounded and the better leader of the line than our top of the charts Auba!

      a striker with an ability to be good in the air and hold up the ball, bring players in using his feet or his head yes i said it a la giroud or a la Mandzukic if you hated the guy …not gonna dwell on the past as i know where i stood about the guy class act, and class when he left us!

      but he did offer something different that might have been the difference at a game like UTD or Wolves those two games where screaming for crosses in the box and a header at the end of it, especially that wolves game there where so many just waiting for someone to just make contact. so for my 3rd replacement for welbeck it would be : Dolberg, one of the two young Monaco strikers with the pietro being the perfect specimen Ibra in the making if he improves, Haller is having a great season, or the guy that reminds me abit of Kanu when he ran at defenders Odsonne Edouard, i don’t know what it is maybe it’s the league but when this guy runs at you defenders aren’t keen to put the tackle, it’s not like he’s technical or anything it’s just that drogba feeling if it makes sense you know? he’s there to hurt you and score, actually now that i’m typing this looks like a perfect chelsea signing who would hunt us like costa, drogba, or man u’s van nistelrooy ah good times 😉

      GK: summer when we replace Cech as the argentine is not a good no2… like the benfica keeper quick reaction it’s Svilla or Svillar maybe , and the kid at ajax looked decent aswell in the CL so far, but there are loads of talent in that area so we are sure to find a good one with our diamong eye

      can’t wait for the window to reopen, happy New Years to All You Gooners!!

      and no prob admin bulletpoints turned into a longer version of the original, happy new year 😉

      1. I feel the CM will be too light if we lose both Ramsey and Elneny.

        Emery has shown he does like a 433 from time to time and without the two mentioned then our CM would consist off:

        Torreira, Guendouzi, Xhaka and AMN.

        We could add in youth and I’m all for adding in youth, I feel it would be a bit risky though considering the average age of the CM already.

  29. Author spot on, get rid of those guys and reinvest in Key areas then you will see us up and running

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors