Arsenal Banter Archive July 15 2016

15 Jul 2016 23:36:14
Steve r! You have had it with Wenger because he won't sign Kante. I think we have way to many cm already.

15 Jul 2016 23:58:29
Dont disagree but not of kantes quality. My opinion is he and a striker should have been our priority. he's the best of his type in the prem and arguably europe.

16 Jul 2016 00:25:26
We don't have one anywhere near as good at the job as Kante, we haven't had a real world class dm since Gilberto left.

16 Jul 2016 08:15:27
I love the way you lot are writing off a very experienced £30m quality player, who hasn't even kicked a ball for us yet (Xhaka) .

16 Jul 2016 08:23:59
Kante had a cracking season and thoroughly deserved all the credit he received at the end of it.

However, I'm not too fussed about not 'going for' him.
First of all, it's his first season in a top league, he could cry well be a one season wonder.
Secondly, his passing accuracy was average last season, around the low 80% area, which would never appeal to Arsene.
Thirdly, we already have a small defensive midfielder.
I'm not suggesting Coquelin is/ was as good as Kante, (though when he's in form, he's pretty bloody good) but for seasons, even longer than we've lacked a top striker now, we've lacked a big midfield presence, they're all short or of thin build and can for the most part - not including Ramsey or Coquelin - can be bullied off the ball.
Xhaka gives us a midfielder with real strength and size and whilst he may not be a true defensive midfielder, he's probably the best we're going to get under Arsene, the man loves players who can pass and distribute play and that's what Granit does.

16 Jul 2016 09:56:12
Totally agree with you dags.

{Ed041's Note - why would you ever admit that?

16 Jul 2016 10:24:50
I think xhaka will do well. He's grown up watching and loving Arsenal he will know what to do.

16 Jul 2016 12:18:28
None of us know what xhaka will do, don't hang your hat on a player who has never performed in the prem. Kante for the same price is someone we could of got yhat isn't pie in the sky. What I've seen of xhaka, he's neat and tidy but too slow. What I've seen of kante, he's powerful, explosive and energy to burn. I just can't
help but see the slow pass pass pass
pass pass pass this season. i'm not a fan of wenger his style of football and his attitude towards the way the game is played and he's doing nothing to change that. Its all very predictable.

16 Jul 2016 12:54:00
Well said dags, they are all slating a player who hasn't kicked a ball for us! Shocking support, in Wenger we trust!

15 Jul 2016 23:30:14
Looking very much like we will have to rely early on with walcott, wilshire, mert and gabriel. Funny that none of them could get a start the end of last season. Still there is still time to sign aubamayang. All gone quiet on that one.

16 Jul 2016 08:16:18
We wish Steve.

Quality striker.

15 Jul 2016 21:34:56
It's still early days lads arsenal never really buy until the end of the window I think two more players to come in then that's it the rest will be people leaving but in all honesty who is there that is available to improve our CB and St I ain't seen and other clubs are not buying strikers to start the ball rolling really so give it time people I have faith.

{Ed041's Note - Maybe Arsenal could start the ball rolling for once? Ideally clubs like to get there business done early to integrate them in the team.

15 Jul 2016 23:27:39
But then they have to pay thier wages all summer Ed041 and that just wouldn't be very Arsenal like, sign them on deadline day and save that million quid.

{Ed041's Note - you have cracked it gunner

15 Jul 2016 23:36:52
Benatia has gone to Juve would have been a great addition imo.

{Ed041's Note - where would he play in midfield?

16 Jul 2016 00:08:32
Along side Kante Le coq Elneny Xhaka Caz Ramsey and co of course in our new 1 10 0 formation.

16 Jul 2016 06:18:58
Yer they could Ed but no player seems to want to come to us that I'm aware of.

15 Jul 2016 19:30:34
Is it me or are the transfer windows getting more depressing each time.

15 Jul 2016 20:26:44
Any excuse for a drink Sags? :-)

15 Jul 2016 20:50:00
No it isn't just you and they are. Same old bs every summer.

15 Jul 2016 13:39:32
Is it true Kante is basically now going to be a Chelsea player Ed.

15 Jul 2016 17:55:12
Unless we're selling Xhaka Le Coq or Elneny where would we put him? I know we're desperate for a striker but I don't think Kante is the answer Mesut:-)

{Ed041's Note - Maybe Mata is?

15 Jul 2016 19:00:47
Yep

Terms have been agreed.

15 Jul 2016 19:21:13
We brought xhaka. Get over it.

15 jul 2016 19:50:22
why on earth would we ever want another midfielder.

15 Jul 2016 20:31:58
Kante is the difference between winning the league or not, xhaka isnt, no contest. We have bought the wrong player for 30 big ones.

15 Jul 2016 21:12:28
He's not Steve, it's a striker we want mate.

15 Jul 2016 21:37:34
In our midfield he would have been banners, the striker is the other issue where we will get the " bargain"of the summer but not the quality.

15 Jul 2016 12:11:19
Just seen hig wants to go juventus so who is our next target.

15 Jul 2016 18:01:25
No one

Don't be fooled.

15 Jul 2016 10:20:49
just reading on sky sports that draxler is not for sale with the club quoting "Wolfsburg's director of sport Klaus Allofs has ruled out Julian Draxler leaving the club this summer" no surprise there then another dead end for Arsenal if you believe the reports of our interest.

15 Jul 2016 11:14:31
Not suggesting draxler is going anywhere but clubs always say that a player is not for sale then gets sold. It happens more often than not. And I don't believe the reports.

15 Jul 2016 11:56:12
Not with Arsenal mate, Arsene looks the other way when he's told that rather than putting a tempting offer on the table.

15 Jul 2016 12:24:36
How do you know that?

15 Jul 2016 19:16:05
I know what you're saying Sanogo, just seems it happen to us every transfer window.

15 Jul 2016 07:07:07
Hi Eds, I won't pretend like I am in the know when it comes to how transfers play out. I just want your opinion on two things:

1. As a club, do we actually have a list of transfer targets or do we go into the market and see what is available for cheap?

2. Compared to other clubs, do our transfer negotiations drag on much longer compared to other clubs or we do business in "expected" time frames?

The reason I ask is because I never follow other clubs in the transfer market or who their targets are and how long it "seems" they negotiate for. I want to try and relax and not moan or bash Wenger unneccessarily. YET. lol.

{Ed001's Note - 1. The club has a list of targets it would like to sign. Usually there are about 5 to 6 possibles for each position, sometimes less sometimes more, but that is about average. There may be a player that unexpectedly becomes available, such as Ozil, that the club did not have in its target list, that they will then go and sign. That is highly unusual though. Usually it is a huge database of players that are whittled down gradually using stats and scouts to highlight players to target. They are then examined more closely, background and medical checks, to whittle it down to the best options. Then it will be decided, with Wenger's say so being final, which positions to prioritise and a value is assigned to the targets in those positions. Standard practice is to sound out through their agent which of those players would be interested in a move, though that step can sometimes be after speaking to the club to get an idea of willingness to sell and the sort of price they would be looking for.

2. Every transfer is different, and every fan moans about their club dragging its heels over them. In reality most of what you read in newspapers and online is nonsense. Arsenal are no different from anyone else, they are just shopping in a limited pool of targets with a very limited wage budget. While the club have an extremely high wage bill, that is mainly due to paying much higher wages than is usual to younger fringe players. Most are on first team wages. So negotiations are not usually even ongoing when reports claim they are. The only negotiation that was protracted, that I can think of, is Ozil. That was purely down to his reluctance to join Arsenal. He was not convinced it was the right choice after Real Madrid, as he was looking for an offer from a team that could off him trophies. Even then, it was not a long drawn out negotiation period, he was just taking his time over agreeing to join.}

15 Jul 2016 08:27:12
Thanks a lot for clearing that up Ed. Interesting about Ozil and him being reluctant to join us, I had no idea. The media blew it up in such a way that it seemed it like it happened in a few hours.

Really appreciate the detailed response. One thing I have learnt about Arsenal transfers though is never listen to media reports. Almost everything they spew is nonsense.

{Ed001's Note - the Ozil transfer was hanging on for ages, then went through, when he made his decision, in a few hours as it was all agreed and just waiting on him.}

15 Jul 2016 08:42:25
Great question and answer - thanks for the info!

{Ed001's Note - you are very welcome.}

15 Jul 2016 08:46:17
I have been skeptical about the media for a while Ed. I rarely read transfer rumours (except the ones on this page lol) so I am a little curious, in the past five seasons, do you know of any players that we almost signed but pulled out for whatever reason, that went on to become a hit elsewhere? Players that we were offered and refused or players that we went in for but balked for whatever reason?

In recent times the media linked us to Higuain, Morata, Benzema, Hazard, Gundogan, Draxler, Reus, Costa etc. Where we ever really in for any of these players or it's all been garbage journalism?

{Ed001's Note - off the top of my head Higuain was an option but Wenger decided against him, so he signed for Napoli. Draxler was trying to get a move to Arsenal for many years, Wenger has consistently had him watched, but never moved for him. Morata was just too expensive for Wenger. Benzema was at one time a player Wenger would have liked, but was never willing to pay the asking price, due to his off field issues. In recent years, the off field issues have got worse, so Wenger's value on him has lowered, meaning the chances of it happening have dropped. Reus is wanted out by Bayern but there is little interest in him at their asking price, hence his comments about staying and fighting for a place.}

15 Jul 2016 09:07:26
Wow, thanks a lot Ed. Once again, I really appreciate the info.

So to my fellow gooners, in summary, IT MIGHT SEEM BLEAK BUT IT'S TOO EARLY FOR US TO FORM AN OPINION ON THIS TRANSFER WINDOW. IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE TO BE FRUSTRATED AND NERVOUS (I KNOW I AM) BUT IT'S NOT TIME TO ATTACK THE MANAGER JUST YET :)

{Ed001's Note - they have all season to do that.....}

15 Jul 2016 09:18:39
Ed, that was a really great response and honestly, helped to cool my temper from yesterday*.

Thanks

* That and remembering their a bigger / more important / and often sadder things than anything that happens in football.

{Ed001's Note - you are welcome mate.}

15 Jul 2016 04:33:52
Im going to get a new aston martin today £150,00 but i'm only going to offer them 80,000. If they don't go for that i'm going for a jag at £70,000 but i'm only going up to 35,000. If they don't take it i'm going to get a vauxhall astra £20,000 but i'm only offering 12,000. If they don't take it I will wash my present car give it a clean inside and put up with it getting me from a to b even though its not really up to the job.

15 Jul 2016 07:54:35
Dags and g62 were organising a drink

But they couldn't organise a piszz up in a brewery.

15 Jul 2016 08:16:47
Steve,
Give Raver £500 for his Subaru :-)

15 Jul 2016 18:06:43
500 that's generous dags, just give me a ton before I set fire to the thing.