Will zero transfers come back to haunt us? I hope not!
So, my fellow Gooners, it’s been a while and I hope everyone is having a happy new year so far, but thankfully we have finally reached the end of January, a time to get rid of the blues and look forward to a positive future. Yet it remains to be seen if that will be true for Arsenal.
Now I say that because, although I am not surprised, I am disappointed in the lack of business Arsenal have done or not done in this instance in the January transfer window. Given that the window closes today I would be shocked if we have a last minute swoop for anyone.
Now FFP rules have been chucked around for the reasoning that our window is so quiet this month yet there is no doubt we are/were in need of a couple of reinforcements, and I am sure there was ways around getting them. Then again I wouldn’t want Arsenal to buy players and then be investigated in the future but I am sure there was some room for improvement somewhere along the line.
Although I do agree that if there isn’t a player out there that fits the mould then there is no point buying him just to fit the empty space.
But we do have a thin squad compared to the likes of Liverpool and even Manchester City and I struggle to see us win the league with the players that we have this season.
However, I do like nothing more than to be proven wrong though, so maybe this team will do well from now until the end of the season. Maybe we can expect some serious title contending transfer business to happen in the summer transfer window after we have won the league this season😜 we can but hope!
For now I guess we don’t need to worry too much, but come the summer if we have nothing added to our ranks then that is when we need to worry. I guess now we have to learn to play with what is at our disposal and having faith and positivity in our club and our team can sometimes go further to help then win trophies, than adding numerous players in one transfer window.
So although it’s hard to watch other teams add players to their ranks, maybe they need it more than we do and maybe we have more strength and character than we currently believe.
I guess all that’s left to say is; onwards and upwards we go Gooners, hopefully towards a strong title run, in the remaining few months! Here’s hoping hey!
Shenel Osman
@sh3n3l_
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It’s the lack of sales, extending contracts of players that should be sold, signing players we don’t need, signing poor players, refusal to sell because our (overly inflated) valuation isn’t met, letting contracts run down and ripping up contracts that’s coming back to haunt us.
Ultimately a lack of planning and forward thinking
WTF. Four years ago we had a mediocre squad with players with little release value on huge contracts. Yet our transfer policy enabled us to develop a great starting 11, despite only having CL this year, meaning until last summer we could not compete for top, proven talent. We had some bad transfers during that time, but you don’t judge a transfer policy by a few bad examples. Otherwise, almost any team failed. You judge it according to whether it improved your squad over time. And our strategy has.
Just like many fans as I mentioned, very little forward thinking with a short term mind.
Exactly what you are talking about is what’s caused issues now!! Not difficult to understand really.
After the money we’ve spent and the talent we have in the academy we should have a lot better that just a starting 11 don’t you think??
Fans like you have no concept of trying to work towards a sustainable model which is needed especially for FFP nowadays. You seem happy that we’ve wasted many chances to sell players surplus to requirements and gather some cash and you call that a transfer strategy??? 🤣
Pj
.most times what you write in past is usually constructive
The above comment is only fit for chip paper
Take a deep breath and cast your mind back to a few seasons back when our squad was pretty woeful
We don’t have the finished squad but it’s competitive now
We are not going to get evey transfer correct as proven by all clubs so we are where we are with some players
You should be happy silent stan is still happy funding the project
10 years back he had a combination lock on his cheque book
Onwards a d upwards
Kroenke didn’t spend because they didn’t own arsenal 100%, he had a beef with Usmonov and didn’t want to commit 100% to the club, his approach changed when he took full ownership, but I understand your love for arteta that you want to credit everything good to him and defend him when he makes so many errors of judgement
The lack of cognitive thought in your comment is truly amazing! In fact, you’ve completed distorted history to create this bizarre false narrative.
I’ll just crush you with one very simple fact on the ripping up of contracts and letting them run down.
MA and Edu inherited so many bang average players on huge wages that it was next to impossible to sell them. Man that was easy.
Yes he did inherit bang average players on insane wages. After ripping their contacts, what did he do? He was repeating the same mistake: KH on around 300/week, Nketia on 100/week, Nelson on 100/week, and Jesus? I think he’s overhyped and shouldn’t be leading the line.
I think the present administration is not doing any better than the previous in terms of man and personnel management, yes , there’s improvements
Lol, you do realize the following which puts a massive hole in your SIMPLE FACT.
MA gave Auba the huge contract and then let him go. MA gave Willan a huge contract and ripped it up.
Bang average players he inherited also won MA his knly trophy.
If Arteta ends up playing ESR and Partey regularly, Zinchenko a little less for him to understand he’s a defender before anything else, then we won’t really feel we are missing anyone we’ve never had. Hopefully we’ll get to see Timber, Nwaneri, Cozier-Duberry and Chido Obi-Martin before season end.
Signing players isn’t always the answer.
Having the mental strength to achieve what you want is more important and regardless of what comes out of MA’s media releases I don’t think we have that.
we have no money under FFP
end of
get over it
not like anyone else is spending
the rules are starting to bite for once, which as a proper self sustaining well run club we should celebrate
but in the meantime, it is not a missed opportunity if no opportunity in the first place
what planet are you on?
Bradley for Liverpool is such a quality youngster, Klopp is great at coaching and giving GENUINE chances to the youngsters that earn it and are chosen on FORM.
Not talking about the age of a squad either, I’m talking about actually being able to earn chances.
And he is only the latest of several Klopp will trust . When will we give our kids a chance ?
When Arteta leaves
Of course PJ, the young players being lauded (quite rightly of course) were ALL given their chances by Unai Emery.
Saka, Martinelli and ESR – while Saliba was brought in during the said UE’s time as a coach.
I can’t think of any young player breaking through from Hales End since then, can you?
As for bang average players, I see that fans are now saying they want Arteta’s deadwood to be cleared out, as it’s stopping us buying players!!
The problem is, the high salaries they are on (Nketiah and Nelson for example) means we can’t sell them anyway – I think that happened after UE left the club of course.
You couldn’t make it up if you tried and, man, that was SO easy to point out one wonders what the fuss is all about!
Yes, Bradley had a strong season last year with Bolton, in the League 1. We have our own Norton-Cuffy having a strong season at Millwall in the Championship. It will be interesting to see if he’s given a chance next season. Same goes with Patino.
MA/Edu is repeating same mistakes with the squad that lead us into the mess we were at with Emery and end of Wenger’s era.
Haverz 280k a week
Jesus 265k a week
Zinchenko 150k a week
White 120k a week
These are players who are doing fine but by all means, are not unexpendable. And now there’s talk of renewing Zinchenko’s and White’s contracts. No offence but if we give these 2 a pay raise, who will buy them? NO ONE. We will be stuck with them for 4-5 years and God forbid, if they injure themselves seriously or their performances lower, they will be expensive deadwood.
In my opinion, at the moment there are few untouchables on the team, who I wouldn’t consider selling at any price: Rice, Saka, Saliba and Odegaard. Others I would consider selling if there’s a HUGE offer incoming.
Point being, I think players should be sold when they are doing well and not when they are obvious, expensive deadwood. And also think before selling; if we sell this player, can we do better?
White is going nowhere because Brighton have a clause in his contract if Arsenal wee to sell him, they would be owed 30 million, so unless he goes for above 90 million which won’t happen, he will be staying. I may be wrong on that, if I am please do correct me, but I do remember reading an article that had the information
It doesn’t take much to open old wounds and in some cases to attempt to rewrite history
Sue,
Let’s look at the current situation.
Arteta is the man who bought Havertz!
For the $60m spent on Kai, surely we could have got a much better player.
I think it might just be a good thing that Arteta does not try to buy a cheap and cheerful striker just because everybody says we must.
With the struggle to score goals this season, it has led to some extreme views to develop and one of these is throwing in the kids in the place of players perceived to be struggling like Zinchenko, White and Jesus.
Fans have criticized the gaffer and there is a growing view that he has an aversion to the idea of giving the youth a chance
This, when looked into more is a massive misconception.
Please tell us, now that you’ve really looked into in, how many games/minutes our academy players have played this season for the first team?
Surely you can’t believe the BS you are talking about this “misconception”
Exactly
Arteta could replace players in the first team roster.
Walters replaces Elneny
Patino can take Cedric’s spot
Neither Elneny nor Cedric play, and Walters and Patino can develop in Arteta’s system without having a negative impact on spots or transfers.
Unfortunately, over 4 years we are learning Arteta is a checkbook manager and nothing like a developer of young talent, what happened to the rumors of him developing City’s youth?
People may say Saka and Martinelli, but both were established and performing under Emery already.
A disappointment for me so far on developing youth and getting chances at Arsenal. Is Patino really so far behind Vieira for example?
WHAT! 2 minutes for Nawaneri.
How is that a misconception.
Why dont you look at facts before you write and make baseless statements.
In what sense is it a misconception? Extended contracts to Cedric, Elneny and Nketian? The signings of the likes of Jorghino and Trossard with their limited long term use by dates?, the piling up of six centre halves to cover back four positions? and the wasted money spent on the likes of Tavares and that Belgian midfielder? Plus who are the youngsters that have been given opportunities and nurtured under Arteta?
In an ideal world, Arteta wouldn’t make any mistakes and nor would the executives upstairs
Whilst I can’t remember the names, several from the business side of the club have moved on. They weren’t particularly successful at contracts – for example, Cedric and Mari. There were dealings that we are yet to recover from.
The Nketiah and Reiss Nelson scenario is one that confuses me. They go on a free so we get no fee or we give them more money to in turn get a transfer fee later on. Don’t all clubs do this? I question the ridiculous amount they are now being paid but not the principle.
I’m less concerned about the signing of Havertz who has copped a lot of complaints from the majority. For me, bringing in Vieira, Sambi and Tavares who are definitely not “oven ready “ has been a failing.
I don’t care either who brought through Saka or Martinelli. They were good enough and got their chances. Are these Hale End youngsters waiting for an opportunity ready to be tried out in the heat of our upcoming vital match or in matches where we were struggling recently? I don’t know the answer but for my two bob’s worth – unless a match is all but won, or there is an injury list that’s so long that throwing on a youngster is the only option, I’d be leaving the decision to the manager to make the right decision for the player. He and the coaching staff see them regularly, have meetings about their development and so on. So far, how many of the youngsters have ripped up the league after moving on? I’m tempted to wonder if our coaching in the early year group is good enough or our scouts are not picking up the promising ones.
What is clear to me is Arteta isn’t Klopp or Pep. He may reach those giddy heights but what did we really expect from a new coach? At least we avoided the Lampard and Gerrard scenario
As for signing anyone- that looked very unlikely.
A successful career as a player playing under great managers and given leadership responsibilities.
3 years assistant to the best manager in the world at the best club in the world coaching best players in the world.
4 years full manager at one of the biggest and richest clubs in the world with all its resources under his disposal.
Always lauded for his vision and football intelligence.
Under no circumstances whatsoever does words “Inexperienced” and “new” apply to him.
We’ve had this conversation before HH and we couldn’t agree then.
I’m unlikely to change my opinion based on his career as a player or working as an assistant to Pep.
I mentioned Gerrard and Lampard because they both played to a high level and for top clubs. It didn’t make them good managers
I don’t blame the clubs for employing them but I wouldn’t in a million years consider them in Arteta’s league
If 4 years on job is still inexperience, when or at what point does a manager considered experienced?
After how many years will you consider Arteta experienced? I remember to have asked you this in the past.
Good question and I don’t have an exact answer although by the end of next season – if he is still at the club – would become the tipping point for me. And then there would have to be considerations made. What about you then HH?
However, there are stacks of managers who’ve had donkey’s years of experience, been sacked and appointed elsewhere countless times, who are nowhere near at Arteta’s level. Steve Bruce springs to mind. Now there was a top player in a top club who I wouldn’t have touched with a barge pole if I owned a club. And it isn’t just about the funds for transfers.
I take it that now you don’t expect Arteta to win anything this season, you are jumping on his back or just sitting on the fence until you get a clearer picture
Steve Bruce wasn’t given 700 million to spend on top of kicking out the whole squad of players he didn’t want.
The resources, confidence and patience given to Arteta is unprecedented. It’s such a shame he doesn’t have anything to show for it up to now.
I don’t like Arteta for a simple reason that his way of management is beneficial to him but harming the club in the long run.
Contrary to what some think that he has put the club in a good position for his successor, the opposite is actually true.
I knew that would be your response HH regarding Steve Bruce. Funny really. The reality is that if he had been any good, he would have had better jobs, wouldn’t he?
It has always been clear that you don’t like Arteta, but please elaborate on how he has been harming the club
He has spent a lot of money on average players who are on inflated wages. Adding 336 loss he made us in outgoings that’s 1 billion under him and nothing to show for it.
If he fail to win titles (most likely based on 4 years worth of data) they will for sure show him the door.
Now will the Kroenkes spent another billion with the new manager? No. Most likely he will be told to get the best out of Arteta mediocre players.
I see
Ok then, you have to think about who would succeed Arteta. Who would come without a decent level of investment?
Neither do I consider our first 11 to be mediocre at all. Some are better than others but mediocre they are not. Another manager who you expect to be better than Arteta should be able to get a song out of all of them
“The Nketiah and Reiss Nelson scenario is one that confuses me. They go on a free so we get no fee or we give them more money to in turn get a transfer fee later on. Don’t all clubs do this? I question the ridiculous amount they are now being paid but not the principle”
This would make sense except the amount we pay them incentivises them to see out their contract, as they’re unlikely to get better elsewhere, and makes them extremely difficult to sell for a fee, because other clubs are unlikely to match their wages. We’re not protecting their value, we’re setting ourselves up to lose them for free later, after already over spending for (what appear to be) no more than squad players. The justification is that it would cost more to buy squad players from elsewhere, rather than give existing players inflated contracts, but I really feel uneasy with that kind of approach, as they are now free to do the minimum, if they felt so inclined, and there’s not much we could do about it until their contracts expired. Thankfully they don’t seem the types to take advantage like that but who knows in the future.
It would also make sense if we believed these players would justify their wages by becoming regular starters in the near future, but they’re not playing much at all.
I couldn’t agree more Davi. The salaries given were beyond my comprehension
And, they are not being utilised like you say, especially not with RN. Yet, these are former youth players who have been part of the main squad, and are really not good enough on a regular basis. If that is the case with them, I wonder about what is coming through behind them
I’m quite sure at this point that nketiah isn’t going to become our main striker, so long as we remain a top level said at least, but I’m genuinely not sure about Nelson and I’m curious to find out – he seems to give at least a decent account of himself every time he plays, even when the rest of the side is playing poorly, so I’m not confident saying he’s not capable of being good enough on a regular basis – I just don’t know enough yet.
I’m not an anti arteta person, but it really does appear he struggles with rotating and giving opportunities to players who haven’t proven themselves and that does concern me wrt the youth players. I hope not, but it seemed like playing nwaneri for a game last season could have been a cynical move to convince him to stay on, but is he going to get a chance to break through?
I think buying Havertz and Raya last summer instead of a CF is what will haunt us
Its haunting me. Woeful buys.
The same strategies would be seen as very smart business if we were to win the title but very poor if we lose, that’s sports.
I like to be pragmatic. I was really against Arteta and became Arteta out, for reasons that meant something to me. As we started to play some good football last season, I forgot about his character flaws and started enjoying our football. This season with the idiotic Kai Havertz signing…. for 65 million…. and the weird positions at the beginning of the season……and worse still the new slow, sleepy, boring football I am cynical once again. Arteta cannot win the league…..he is flawed and it hits the team when it matters.
He has also f***** up Hale End. Why is Charlie Patino on the bench every game, why is Ethan Nwaneri not given a few minutes? Where is Amario Cozier-Duberry? WTF!!!!! Where are our kids. Arteta has truly derailed Hale End. So I’m back to hoping he will not get a chance to make bizarre signings in the summer.