Arsenal Banter Archive May 12 2016

12 May 2016 16:40:30
I don't think it would be horrible if Sanchez does go this summer as long as we replace him with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Alexis takes too long on the ball most of the time (this past year) .

Not too sure about Theo's and Ramsey's contribution to the team.

12 May 2016 17:28:50
I think he's mint mate but I believe that he is best in the possition currently occupied by ozil, I know he has played on the wings and as a second striker! Could he play deeper in the cazorla role? He works hard and gets around the field . There are a few players I'd take from Dortmund.

12 May 2016 22:40:39
Mkhitaryan is a quality player.

We should not be replacing quality players with likewise, but adding quality to the squad we already have.

12 May 2016 15:40:54
Ed,

Any chance we'll go for Goetze now that he's available?

{Ed002's Note - I am not getting involved in providing any transfer information in detail, sorry.}

12 May 2016 12:58:04
I am sure this gets abuse but is Xhaka TOP priority.

He is class, don't get me wrong, but 40mln on him OR 40mln on Higuain / Icardi / Rues / etc.

Of course BOTH is everyone's answer, but assumnig we can't outlay that much on 2 players. I want the big signing to be a ST.

12 May 2016 17:12:49
Obviously I'd prefer a striker at the moment but add xhaka to it could be our best window since along time.

12 May 2016 10:35:38
so another year goes by and now we are linked with about 60 odd players and then somehow Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern end up buying these players, its as if they use arsenal fans as their research for recruitment. hahah.

ok i'm aware that the eds are not going to give any transfer details for arsenal, but skipping the details, are arsenal atleast actively looking to sort out the squad deficiencies and strengthen or will it be another year of will he won't he.

{Ed002's Note - Yes, Arsenal do have a number of players they are looking at for the first team squad - some of which are high profile and some of which are not. More impressive is the extensive list of young players that Arsenal have been scouting recently. I understand from talking with someone involved with the process of identifying potential young targets for Arsenal that the club will be actively trying to recruit from this long list of young players from mainland Europe that they are looking at - and any young English player with expectations growing is always going to be of interest.}

12 May 2016 10:55:28
appreciate the response.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}

12 May 2016 15:49:22
Thanks ed002.

12 May 2016 11:08:54
That was a nice little treat there ed! Thank you.

12 May 2016 11:09:15
Thanks for the info ed002, the media is getting predictable with football rumours in general and it's good to hear a different view .

12 May 2016 12:55:14
Hi Ed!

I was noticing this as well, we are picking quite a few players and seem to be aggressively scouting U21s and U17s.

12 May 2016 12:56:13
Ed002,

Thank you very much for your response.

Appreciated by all of us on here.

{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}

12 May 2016 13:04:18
Ed, do you think Arsenal will look to sign Ousamane Dembele as you mentioned the extensive scouting of young players in mainland Europe?

{Ed002's Note - No, he has already agreed a move elsewhere.}

12 May 2016 16:13:51
PeterC I believe he's going Dortmund.

{Ed023's Note - Correct - the deal is done}

12 May 2016 07:59:03
The summer window will be interesting:
Goalkeeper: Will Ospina stay on and accept being number 2. If not, will we bring Szczesny back into the squad, perhaps he has finally matured.
Full backs: Debuchy is unlikely to stay, Chambers appears to be more suited to centre back, than right back. Gibbs appears to want out, after playing second fiddle to Monreal. So we need two full backs.
Central Defence: We only have one top player, Kosciielny. Gabriel has been disappointing and needs to improve, whilst Mertesacker was never suited to playing in a team that uses a high defensive line. I would give Chambers some more time at CB, but I am not at all convinced by him, he appears to have gone backwards since we signed him and he could benefit from a season long loan to a team where he would play regularly. So we need at least one CB, if not to two.
Defensive midfield: we have 2 true DM, but Wenger tends to use the likes of Ramsey and Cazorla as alternative options. I personally prefer these two players in more offensive positions, but Wenger has too many central attacking midfield players, for the one such role and therefore accommodates offensive midfield players in the defensive midfield roles. However, strong rumours that we will sign Xhaka, who plays DM. I believe this would be a fine signing, adding height and power to the DM. Alongside the excellent Elneny, they would be a formidable pairing, with Coquelin as decent back-up.
Wide attacking roles: We have Sanchez, Iwobi, Walcott and Oxlade, so we don't really need to sign anyone, unless we sell any of these. When he returns from injury, Welbeck can also play wide. Expect the superb youngster Reinne-Adelaide to play more next season, as well as Willock.
Central attacking midfield role: We have Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla and Wilshere that can all play here, so no signings are needed, unless anyone departs.
Central striker, we only have Giroud, unti Welbeck returns from injury. We can play Walcott, but he hasn't proved a great success, so expect a signing and possibly Akpom, to return as cover.
So we appear to need to sign: a Striker, a pair of Full Backs and a Centre Back. Assuming there are no unexpected departures. Will Wenger sign at least 4 players?

12 May 2016 08:35:43
CB: varane, kouliabily, rugani, de vrij, monalos
Lb: corchia, aurier, florenzi
Rb: betrand, rodrigueZ, Kongolo, layun
Dm: xhaka, kante, casemiro, Martinez, drinkwater
St: zlatan, barshyuai, lacaZette, icardi, benzema

My picks

Rugani-chambers
Corchia-debuchy
Rodriguez-gibbs
Kante-flamini
Kouliabily-per
Benzema.