Arsenal transfer game! by Dan Smith
There seems to be a change in how Gooners think. Those who verbally abused the greatest manager we ever had are now asking for patience. Those who were perhaps too loyal now know what proven signings can make an instant impact. I upset a lot of readers with my criticism of the capture of Torreira. The fact that he only came on as late sub for Uraguay vs Eygypt confirms my feeling that we have prioritised finding value in the market over ambition to create a title challenging squad. But instead of arguing with each other, let’s express our opinions through my version of fantasy football.
Rules are you can only spend the reported 50 million so have to find bargains. You are allowed to raise funds by suggesting who you sell ano how much for.
Have fun, here’s my example. No right and wrong……
Keepers, Ospina out , Butland in
As our cup keeper Ospina has actually played lots for someone not first choice, but 10- 15 million should be used to raise funds for a new number 1. Cech should stay as he’s one of the few leaders we have. I would be tempted to take advantage of Stoke’s relegation. There were not a club who would have prepared for relegation so suddenly need to slash their wage bill. Jack Butland is their valuable asset who they would want a bidding war for but if heard he had a chance to come to Arsenal he would push for it to happen.
Defenders out – Mustafi, In- Evans, Zouma. These deals help me raise funds. We tried to get clubs to pay 30 million for the German last summer. No one did and certainly won’t now. Maybe though I can get 15 million for him. West Brom have let the world know that Evans has a release clause of 3 million and this is the type of deal we need to look at. Likes to defend which our team needs. I would ask Chelsea if we could take Zouma on loan. Before his injury big things were expected. That covers Koscielny injury for 6 months. I would make an effort to start the young defenders each week to finally see who could sink or swim.
Free transfer Fellaini replaces Wilshire. i don’t want this to happen but you get the impression that if super Jack was going to sign a new deal, he would have by now. Take the salary you were going to give to him and give it to Fellaini. Not ideal but we have to look at bargains due to our criteria.
Wellbeck out, Sturridge loan. Are they any different? In fact one is a better finisher. For the sake of raising 15-20 million its worth gambling on who is our 3rd choice striker.
If calculator is correct I brought in another 50 million and only spent 33. With the original 50 million I had, that leaves me with 63 million to get a realistic marquee signing. Crystal Palace have put a 40 million price tag on Zaha to put everyone off, which is in fact telling the world how much you sell him for. That would excite fans and be worth the other bargain based buys. I then give Villa 20 plus for Grealish to be a squad player.
See Arsenal, it’s easy ….
Dan Smith
Xhaka signed a long term deal with Arsenal wtf!
I’m confused af
Perhaps Emery sees something in him we don’t.
Dan Smith
I have to say that is the worse transfer “fantasy” window iv ever seen lol
Jonny evens lol he’s already been signed!
Fellani, Sturridge and butland now that’s some mid table team at best! Welbeck is better than sturridge at everything but finishing! And butland would cost stupid money, and just coz the bold guy on espn says he’s better than leno don’t mean squat! Then Fellani could be an asset if used properly but not at the expense of a real player lol
Seri is not coming to arsenal if the media is correct and I don’t think we have £35mil for a CM bcoz we need a CB more urgently but he would be great to replace wilshere plus he plays forward passes which we need!
Why ffs awful players probably the worst midfielder we’ve ever had
No that was Denilson.
If we’re being honest, Arteta in his last couple of seasons was just as bad if not worse
Arteta is a player who has no defensive abilities and didn’t even have strength and build of Xhaka yet he was tasked by Wenger to be a DM at times in 12/13 and 13/14 and at times did brilliantly using his tactical intelligence.Playing Arteta at DM is like playing Xavi at DM.Laughable really.
Xhaka has not had any season to me which is better than Arteta’s season apart from his last season where his legs were gone.We have an average player on our hands.
The painful thing is seeing Xhaka start over Niles who by now must be feeling hungry to show what he can do.
Arteta was a way better than ever given credit in that role he was a poor mans Alsonso but that is saying something. It’s nots a coincedence we dropped out the top 4 after arteta left… contray to popular opinion he was leader and we suffered without him city money/pep (his friend) meant we couldnt keep him one but we offered him 1st team coaching that is public. Per is academy and Freddie is youth. Henry was youth before he decides sky meant more than arsenal (and that is real no matter how much you love henry.) Arteta was 1st team. Slate him and I assume you understand nothing frankly
He was trash, we dropped out of top without carzola not Arteta! He retired ages ago
Arteta was dlp, not a dm
He playing a side flamini and song later
Andre Santos was pretty crap too
Santos was a left back
People talk like Unai Emery is some sort of magician who has never had any player regress under his leadership.
We’ll be the judge of that when we have seen his influence in the players. Give peace (and Emery) a chance man!
What I’m saying is people shouldn’t expect Unai Emery to magically turn every player’s fortune around.The painful thing is that he’d be blamed for it.The EPL is not an easy league at all.You should try to minimise your risks as possible.
Arsenal fans these days don’t have patience and I hope he’s able to cope with the pressure when it comes because should he fail as a result of some of these average players he’d have and wanting to give them chances he’d have no one to defend him.
You should stick to that stuff more Kev, you’re actually a very bright lad.
xhaka> wilshere.
This is clearly not true.Many people here are judging Wilshere unfairly.I can’t see how anyone sees Wilshere at his best and tells me Xhaka’s better.
This season when Wilshere was good he was far better than Xhaka and many here were even saying Xhaka improved because Wilshere has improved tactical awareness than Ramsey thereby not leaving him exposed in midfield.We are going to regret having Xhaka and more so at the expense of Niles who deserves to be a starter next season because he’s more than good enough.
Terrible management from Arsenal.One step forward two steps backward.
not true wilshere leaving give niles his chance too what are you arguing?
I actually believe in Xhaka, Mustafi, Bellerin and Iwobi. Even coquelin was wasted potential in a pure DM role. The first 4 played really well when they started to play for us. But sometime under Wenger and they all regressed. He simply wasn’t playing to their strengths and there was no guidance and you can see that after a while under Wenger they started to look lost and that increased overtime under his guidance. Remember Bellerin the season he was promoted? He was regarded as one of the best RB in the world then he became average. Walcott, chamberlain, Arshavin all suffered the same exact way and now the same is happening with xhaka and the rest and its no coincidence. Look at coquelin as another example when he recalled him that January. He was playing as a pure DM with no offensive responsibilities and he excelled at that role with cazorla being the link that starts our attack from the back. Next season comes, cazorla injured and we see coquelin bursting forward a lot trying to shoot trying to dribble while he was playing as a DM and thats obvious that the manager asked him to do this as his role and instructions were obviously changed even though he lacks the offensive abilities which made us vulnerable in the back and exposed and lacking in attack when he’s on the ball. Lets judge our current players under Emery’s guidance and instructions and we’ll see how they perform.
Can I ask an honest question?Why do people want Mustafi sold but want Xhaka to stay?This really is terrible management.I just can’t get my head around such an undeserved contract extension.I don’t hate him but the player will be a liability tactically in a two man midfield.
Someone please explain to me what he’s going to be doing a three man midfield and also explain on the basis of last season why Niles should not start over him I even feel Wilshere on top form is twice the player he is and Wilshere at top form isn’t even rated.Unai Emery cannot change everything.He’s not a magician.He can’t tell me no player has ever regressed under his management.
Wilshire is very fragile and cannot be relied on.Sometimes he tends to loose the ball while trying the impossible moves.
I’m not denying your point but some are making it look like Xhaka is far far far better than Wilshere which is truly laughable.There was a time period in the season where Wilshere and Ozil were our best players and I remember Wilshere delivering some fantastic performances and then becoming terrible later in the season leading people to deceive themselves that Xhaka is better than Wilshere.
We’ve just given a slightly better if not equal version of Denilson a new and improved contract.I hope you’ve not forgotten Denilson had a rocket of a shot though a bit less powerful than Xhaka’s but far more accurate?
1st Xhaka was better than Wilshere last year… not up for debate unless your lost. Xhaka was also one of our worst 1st team players (behind Bellerin/Cech) but still. Doesn’t change the fact Wilshere was worse. Say whatever Xhaka has talent at his age that give his deflated value right now is worth exploring by any measure unless your clueless and i’d be diplomatic sometimes but so many on here are missing the picture full stop never mind any nuances after the picture
Are you just angry that your prediction of him being told to look for a club is not gonna happen?
That’s a really good point Kev it’s debatable who’s worse mustafi or Xhaka
He’s so average and should be sold
Wow
You lot think Xhaka could be worse than Mustafi??? Lol Mustafi is weak, short and lacks consentration!
Xhaka made mistakes and is slow on the turn but has stamina, passing, interceptions, long shots, leadership and character at 25 he just needs the right midfielders around him with better CB’s behind him! If he can cut out the mistakes from now on which he did in the second half of the season then he’s good to go!
Do we have a better molfieder than him?
José Geminez is the kind center back arsenal should be looking at,Socratis is below average imo
i bet you have never even watched sokratis play.
even james rodrigez shone at the world cup but flopped terribly at real madrid.
Sokratis @ his peak is a below average defender, let alone now his 30 years, the few success bvb enjoyed in recent times was subotic/hummels combo, sokratis is an erratic average defender, who is never better koscienly, Mustafi and even chambers, we r watching!
Is it because he scored a goal?
We have many average players extending contracts with the club.Holdings, Xhaxa,Elneny,Wilshere,Chambers simply this club still lacks ambition.We should be trying to add as many world class or top level players as possible that’s why we may never win the title for decades,deluded management
Still a long way to go in the transfer window Counsel. The players you mention have had good games as well as bad, but I really can’t wait to see Emery’s ideas on the pitch… this is the start of a new era & I am very excited…. COYG
Agree Sue and also Council, Wiltshire hasn’t signed anything and if Emery rates Xhaka let’s perhap trust his judgment.
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Douglas costa signed perminent contract with juve £35mil
Elneny signed new deal last jan
OUT -Welbeck , Mustafi , Ospina , Elneny = 70 mill
Loan -Iwobi , Rob holding , Nketiah
IN- Torreira , Socrates, Soyuncu, Lichsteiner, Leno= 70 mill
Leaves with 50 mill for a Marquee signing- Draxler / Zaha or try our luck with Mahrez or Douglas Costa
@ Unai Emery you are overrated, this seat will be hot for you, the first signs are not encouraging.
He’s not even managed a game yet and you’re already saying stuff like that. Pfft.
Yes Counsel, Unai, Sven and Raul are all mugs and that’s based on what?
The transfer window isn’t over and Arsenal haven’t kicked a ball in season 2018/19.
Based on his record, under Unai Emery Arsenal the team, will be better than the sum of its parts.
Counsel… today a patient at the hospital where i work said to me Arsenal fans are only happy when they’re moaning & whingeing, they have nothing better to do!! I’m sorry to say but you’re proving him right!!
@ Sue Arsenal fans are the most patient, we go through tough times we are the definition of perseverance
Tell me about it ?
Yes Sue, Counsel supported Arsene Wenger to the bitter end, yet has decided Unai Emery’s fate before a ball is kicked!
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@counsel My dear friend, watch me deliver from the dug out…. We are in the glory days
dan smith just because torreira didn’t start for his country it doesn’t mean he isn’t good.
according to you then people like leroy sane,radja naingolaan,cesc fabregas,mauro icardi,alexandre lacazette,anthony martial are all useless because they were never picked.
national team coaches pick players who can fit their system the best.
Yeah mate but those players are names I heard of who have proven they be worth buying
I would try Mustafi under Emery coaching him up before selling for paltry £15 million.
We’ve lost so much already on poor resale.
Coq for £10 million is pretty close, but gabriel for £10 million very poor business. Debuchy terminated contract I think, got nothing.
Sanchez very very poor business; oh what that £60 million from City could have done for us. Mhki is good, but rather have the £60 million to throw at Leon Bailey, Draxler, Brandt, Fekir, etc…
I’d sell Ramsey and Xhaka and use for a top CM to boss midfield. Still have Elneny, AMN, and Torreira if rumors true. Plenty for a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1.
Hopefully sentimentality and emotional attachment don’t interfere with shipping out dead weight.
Lot of talk about youth development and first team chances. We’ll see this season. Welbeck or Reiss Nelson coming on in last 10 minutes will show intention. Or Elneny or AMN coming on, just a couple examples.
Lastly, if Torreira rumors true, and Arsenal paying £30 not the clause is interesting. Was Wenger really to blame for penny pinching? Interesting to know how backroom works, how the sausage is made so to speak.
you can forget about xhaka being sold now mate.
Durand
You would sell Ramsey and Xhaka and leave us with elneny and AMN as our only prem experienced midfielders well that’s suicide!
Wengers penny pinching was more like sign one player and turn down chances to buy and players we actually bcoz he wants wilshere or Chambers to have a chance to make it!
I can’t believe the negative comments I’m reading today! It’s just sell the whole team or we haven’t brought good enough players etc then the moaning about Torreira bcoz he’s 5’6 (3cm taller than veratti) but still wish we got Kante or wished cazorla never got injured lol
A lot arsenal fans like players as long as they play for a different team coz as soon a we sign them there not good enough apparently!
Emery is building a new defence bcoz kos n Mustafi are rubbish, he’s got lichtsteiner for a year then he’ll probs get klostermann next season when money is Available mean while mavropanos Chambers and hopefully Soyuncu work towards being mature CBs then he’s got 2 midfielders Xhaka n Torreira age 22 n 25 along with AMN 20 and hopefully adli 18 then in a couple of years we can buy Forwards that are 24/25 and a team is built!
He can only hope that nketiah, Nelson iwobi make the grade
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For goodness sake how does Xhaka secure a new contract?! Just based on what exactly did they renew it? Effing joke is what this club is!
Maybe Unai and Sven see something in Xhaka (a Swiss International player) that you do not?
They are being paid the big pounds to make such decisions and their reputations depend on making the right ones.
I for one completely trust unai emery.
he is capable of making some underperforming players such as xhaka and mustafi perfom better.
the problem is now players like wilshere…there is no helping them,they should just leave.
no more tikitaka wenger nonsense.
apart from passing around the box like a headless chicken what else is wilshere good at.
How many underperorming players did emry made perform better @ psg?
Xhaka has signed a new deal along with Maitland Niles… Emery likes this sort of player who can spray passes & open up games from the middle working alongside a defensive workhorse…. Torreira. Niles & Elneny also on new long term deals. If Ramsey leaves that’s the only way i see another midfielder coming or if we can grab Fellani or William Carvalho in a free.
£50m game plus add ons from sales.
Sales;
Welbeck £10m
Mustafi £18m
Campbell £4m
Ospina £5m
Perez £9m = £36m
Incoming (£86m)
Leno £22m
Sokratis £16m
Torreira £13m (26m total in installments)
Leichsteiner £0
Soyuncu £30m (Installemnts possible)
Martins £0 (willing to pay £26m)
Carvalho £0 (contract cancelled) or Fellani £0
£81m Spent.
If it’s really 50m then
Out: ospina-5m, mustafi-17m, perez-10m, welbeck-10m, iwobi-loan, Wilshere-free, holding-loan, jenkinson-3m
Leaves me with 95m
Butland-10m or Patricio-free, Gimenez-25m (contract expires 12months), sokratis-17m, torriera-30m, Fellaini-free (for the height), shaqiri-10m or martin’s-free, would also keep Campbell and look for an ozil-martial swap if possible
Gimenez signed new contract with AM few days ago, but yes he is exactly the type of defender we should be looking for. Regarding Shaqiri, I really hope we don’t go for him, he is average at best. He is a player for smaller clubs because he can’t perform if he is not the main guy, the go to player in every action, and he clearly doesn’t have the quality for that role in big club
I also agree with people that think Xhaka can turn everything around under Emery. There is a very good player in xhaka, he was just used extremeky poorly last season. if you tell Nemanja Matic to play the role Xhaka was playing without support then you’d see him struggle too, even our best defender Koscielny was looking like a clown last season and that speaks volumes. If xhaka is allowed to shoot from distancs, sit back, read the play and spray the ball around (be a deep lying playmaker) whilst Ramsey is pushed up the pitch (thanks to torreira signing) than I see him fulfilling the initial investment spent on him. Even mustafi was a quality international and was fantastic for us in his first season, this is a new regime and thus we need to turn a new leaf, clean slate for all our players. It’s fair to say Arsene failed alot of these guys.
Well said, if people want more proof, I request them to watch his performances with national team. He runs the show there.
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Great comments. The optimist in me sees Xhaka and Torreira and thinks Ballack/Makele or Matic/Kante
Obviously not the same level yet but I can see the thinking
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Nacho starts for Spain.
Oops my bad, wrong Nacho! ?
Ooh get you GB… with your ‘oops my bad’ nice one ??
Xhaka had a good end of season, he is not my idea of a DM because of his mobility, but is a very good passer of the ball and would be interesting under Emery
We are wary of Loser Stan.
Right now, with the arrogant Professor no more, we will be able to see who is holding the team from reinforcement.
That Loser be warned, if he think he can milk fans while having minimal investment in the club, he will be dead wrong.
The large bank balance in our bank account makes me wonder if there is some links between the funding of investment of that Loser and those cash balance.
Arsenal under wenger has the 2nd most win in epl, they have a better head to head count over every team in epl bar man u, only man u lost less matches than arsenal under wenger, the only gold trophy in arsenal cabinet hall was under wenger, the only arsenal coach in history, that has bn crowned world best coach, onze d’or record times (4 times) and world best coach for 10 years, till date the invincibles is still rated the best assembled team in epl history, the 17 trophies he gave us in his 22 years here remains the best 22 years in the history of afc, u can insult him till high heavens, it can only be a dream to achieve what wenger achieved, Very very soon the castle u r building on air will burst and u will realize how great wenger is as a person and as a coach!!!!!how we still talk trash against wenger every day here is beyond me, if emry can even achieve one fifth of what wenger the press will label it as success
Sell: Loan Out:
Ospina – 5M Lucas Perez- To PL Clubs (to give one last chance)
Jenkinson – 5M AMN, Akpom, Adelaide, Bielik, Nketiah, Zelalem – To Championship Clubs
Ozil – 35M
Income: 45M
Buy:
Bernd Leno – 22M Stephan Lichtsteiner – Free
Sokratis – 17M William Carvalho – Free
Caglar Soyuncu – 35M Gelson Martins – Free
Lucas Torreira – 26M
Expenditure: 90M Net Expenditure: 45M
Squad:
Petr Čech, Bernd Leno, Emiliano Martínez, Shkodran Mustafi, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Callum Chambers, Sokratis, Caglar Soyuncu, Rob Holding, Héctor Bellerín, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolašinac, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, William Carvalho, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Joel Campbell, Yacine Adli, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Gelson Martins, Alex Iwobi, Alexandre Lacazette. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Danny Welbeck
Homegrown: 8; Non-Homegrown: 17; U21: 2
Apologies for the formatting.
Sell:
Ospina – 5M
Jenkinson – 5M
Ozil – 35M
Loan Out:
Lucas Perez- To PL Clubs (to give one last chance)
AMN, Akpom, Adelaide, Bielik, Nketiah, Zelalem – To Championship Clubs
Income: 45M