Arsenal Banter Archive July 22 2017

22 Jul 2017 22:26:08
Friendly or not. As Wenger basically said before the game this friendly ain't no friendly. I know it's early days but come on so far what I've seen of Al Lacca isn't filling me with excitement.

Before anyone starts moaning you've got to admit he's been pretty absent so far. He's going to have to make some rapid improvements in the next few weeks. Maitland- Niles passing has been shocking I'll leave it at that with him.
We look very poor bordering on putting in performances that wouldn't be out of place in the Championship league or even league 1. We were given a real right roasting today.

I wonder what Sanchez was thinking? Actually it's sickening to look at our squad.
How are we supposed to convince any World class players to transfer over?
Our squad is pathetic. The transfer window closes in 5 and a half weeks. Christ we've got our work cut out!

{Ed033's Note - Don't panic, Don't panic. They don't like it up 'em!

22 Jul 2017 23:21:46
I get a bit of stick about my thoughts on arsenal fc but even I can't have opinions on pre season friendlies, I have my opinions when it's more serious. They are getting fit and that is all.

22 Jul 2017 23:33:58
Posted something similar during the game - that performance wasn't going to convince anyone to stay or join. Yes we had kids but no shape in defence and no idea up front. It's going to be a long season unless we sort the spine of the side out.

22 Jul 2017 23:04:23
The sickness bug through the camp didn't affect the players at all I guess then, we beat Bayern Munich and you say nothing we lose to Chelsea and then you comment! Lol.

23 Jul 2017 06:44:18
F#ck me. Give the guy a chance. AL had some poor touches, but you can't criticise him when he had no supply. Like them all be was sloppy/ rusty generally, but i didn't see him get a decent pass/ chance. He's getting used to the used to the team and working hard. Seen some nice skill in tight situations against bvb.

As for our squad being pathetic Lanesra. Fans are also called supporters for a reason! Do you think Huddersfield fans are slagging their own team off before the session starts? The fans played a big part in arsenal not getting the most out of games over the past couple of seasons.

We're still doing my single biggest hate - getting to the edge of opposition box then slowing down and passing around the box. Fine sometimes but i thought they had learnt to mix it up playing quick balls in to the box regardless of there but being the perfect pass on. Too predictable. Essential we mix it up or bus-parkers and to teams will find it too easy to hit us on the counter.

I wasn't impressed at all with the team for most of the game. All basically too sloppy with their first touch and not chasing down quickly enough. Time and again the receiver lost the ball. Hoping it's preseason rustiness and I'd rather it was now than start of the season, but don't know why Chelsea n looked so much sharper?

I thought coq and a couple of the young guys did well late in the second half though.

Giroud had a few very good chances, some he created to be fair - showing the frustration with him as he missed then all.

Still very early, and as always, Sanchez would have given the energy/ drive catalyst we need to even start to look dangerous, but back 4 with wide players crossing more often really might be with trying more often. If not, wing backs have got to not fanny around and put the f*cking ball in the box.

23 Jul 2017 06:52:04
Oh yea. Thought Ramsey was showing the drive to get in the box that could mean he is really important to us this season to give us another route into the box and gets on to double digits again, or that we're exposed at the back and hit on the counter. Not totally dependent on him off course. Really hope it's the former.

23 Jul 2017 07:02:09
Gunnerbod. Sorry mate maybe I should have explained myself more clearly. I thought I would wait until the END of
the friendlies until I had an opinion of what I have seen so far. That's WHY I didn't state MY opinion otherwise there wasn't a lot of point. You can't have an opinion after the first friendly game can you? or maybe you can anyway,
From what 'I ' have seen so far and in MY opinion we ain't going to be no Champions League position contenders unless a miracle happens in the next 5 and a half weeks.
I'm sure behind the scenes at Arsenal they are frantically working away on ideas on who to buy etc. etc.
Friendlies ARE as quite rightly said by 62 about getting fit and trying out players. But you must remember we are trying out the players for our team selections for next season we are NOT trying out players we are never going to play. So on that basis and in MY opinion we are pretty weak all over the pitch. As it is so far we have signed one marquee player that's it! maybe we lose Sanchez, probably will. So we are back to square one again.
If Arsenal are not careful we will end up with Lacazette being in the Sanchez situation where everyone will be putting all their faith in him to work miracles on the pitch and the rest of them are just there for the ride.
I'm a 55 year Arsenal supporter mate. Don't you think I want to see them do great things? of course I do.
I've spent 1000's watching and supporting them I lived a 20 minute walk to the ground. As a kid in the early 70s we use to WALK into the ground on a Sunday morning and sit on the bench when they were training after the Saturday game and speak to the players. YES you read right. we use to walk through the gate at Highbury on Sunday morning and sit in the dug out and nobody use to bat an eyelid. As we got older we use to go to a pub in Southgate and have a drink with them. Where I lived in Islington Arsenal was like a big family to all us kids. So when it's suggested I'm having a moan YES too right I'm having an effing moan. I'm entitled too.

23 Jul 2017 07:12:37
Jim mate, Jim mate you are missing my point. Do you know what sometimes it's an effing waste of time trying to have an opinion on here seriously. 👎👎👎👎.

23 Jul 2017 08:52:29
Yeah especially really rubbish one at that 🤐.

23 Jul 2017 08:52:35
Every opinion is valid mate. Mine is that we should try and be realistic and constructive or we give players a hard time unfairly and it's not enjoyable for anyone. I agree we looked shoddy compared to Chelsea, i just don't think it is fair to say AL isn't looking good when he's had about 180 minutes of game time, scored a goal and had virtually no service in the Chelsea game.

Honestly, i thought we were rubbish, and was just hoping it didn't knock the players confidence for the start of the season or sew any doubts.

23 Jul 2017 09:09:13
Sanogo you were spot on with the 06 although today it appears different. 🤔.

23 Jul 2017 10:20:49
So in short -, it's a friendly. Chelsea looked like title contenders especially as they played a proper side. We however played kids and showed very little to get excited about. In fact showed all the weaknesses we have shown over the past 10 years. So, we need to get that catalyst of change ignited as the season starts soon and we don't look ready yet.
To sort - organise bloody defence ( noted we only played 1 real CB at a time against CFC) , sort entire midfield out so we win possession more effectively and move the ball firward quicker. Attack AL needs time and service. Need to return to the fast attacks we used to do with Pires, Henry and Freddie! Shot and move to create space - don't give the opposition time to get 8 behind the ball.
Lots to do and short time to do it.

23 Jul 2017 10:34:39
Well thankyou for your time today Mr 4. Your analysis and input has proved most insightful.

I'm pleased to tell you that you've got the job.

😁.

23 Jul 2017 11:16:18
Depends on what the opinions about stoner . If it's about football then your allowed to have a different opinion but if it's about doctors then your a waste of space for having a different opinion. It changes depending on the tampon mate.

23 Jul 2017 11:32:55
Steve, you don't get stick for your posts i agree with most of your posts it's your replies to other members that gets you stick. Do you purposely disagree?

23 Jul 2017 11:50:01
Sanogo mate. Give it a rest. The doctor shipped sailed ages ago. It's getting a bit boring now seriously.

23 Jul 2017 13:45:17
For you maybe. I still find it quite funny. But I did forget that you make all the rules 😢

Seriously 😂.

22 Jul 2017 19:09:12
Guys just to put your minds at rest re Sanchez, that's If you are still holding out hope that he will stay, here's a little reminder from previous windows and the strong, not weak, statements made by Wenger, remembering this summer he has said about Sanchez, "The decision is NOT to sell. "

June 13th 2007, "Thierry Henry will be here next year, can I guarantee that? Yes of course I can"
June 25th, sold to Barcelona for £16 million

July 3rd 2009, "If Adebayor doesn't want to be here, he will leave. But I think he will still be here this season. "
July 18th, sold to Man City for £25 million

July 11th 2011, "Samir Nasri's situation is clear, he stays, we are in a position where we can say NO and we will. "
August 24th, sold to Man City for £24 million.

July 12th 2011, "I'll be clear about this, Fabregas is with Arsenal for a long time and he will stay with Arsenal. "
August 15th, sold to Barcelona for £35 million.

March 8th 2012, "Our plan is to keep Van Persie, Robin is the leader of our club and is under contract until 2013."

August 17th, sold to Man Utd for £22 million.

So there you go absolutely nothing to worry about. 😁.

22 Jul 2017 19:45:01
That's put my mind to rest, I thought he was leaving but now I know he is. I think it may come back and bite him in the bum after last season. If you sell your best player there is no hiding place. It will be a big call. Especially as he and kronke have allowed so many contracts to run down.

22 Jul 2017 19:53:57
Good post Stoner mate.
Arsene always always talks positive when talking about Arsenal even when he later admits he didn't mean it when he said it.
I think a lot of the time he just says what he thinks the fans want him to say rather than upset them with what he actually feels.
Sometimes he doesn't do himself any favours in the long run.

22 Jul 2017 20:22:22
Or subsequently say the player is for sale and sell him for less than what we may get if we play hard ball.

22 Jul 2017 18:37:10
Ozil about to sign a new deal I wanted him gone but don't think no one wants him he's the main reason we finished 5th.

22 Jul 2017 18:51:40
"He's the main reason we finished 5th".

Biggest load of she*p I've ever read on here.

22 Jul 2017 19:06:52
I'm glad Mesut looks like staying he is a quality player, but it's true his options haven't looked as good as we might have all thought they might have been.

22 Jul 2017 19:47:12
The reason he is staying is he hasn't had the offers you would expect, so we will give him what others won't.

22 Jul 2017 20:41:31
Some of the comments on here are ridiculous. Ozil is a good quality player. We're lucky he's staying.

22 Jul 2017 20:48:29
Ozil is good player but has his performances merited a pay rise and new contract.

22 Jul 2017 20:55:08
D its not ridiculous, if ozil had had a better offer, he would be offski. 280,000 is way more than is contribution of last season deserves, he's robbed us. Smacks of a few more arsenal players who Rob is as well. Galatasary didn't offer him the deal he wanted.

23 Jul 2017 22:49:47
280,000 is too much for him. 200k maximum.

22 Jul 2017 16:02:48
You the boss, welcome back ed02.

22 Jul 2017 12:41:09
It will be interesting to see how Maitland-Nles plays as he could become cover for Bellerin if Ox moves on. Anyone know why Reine-Adelaide hasn't been taken on tour? He looks a good prospect, but needs to up his game.

22 Jul 2017 13:27:23
Why on earth Maitland-Niles is playing as one of the three CB's is beyond me, he looks terrible and Bramall is awful. Neither of these players impress me at all.

22 Jul 2017 13:34:29
It's a pre season game. About getting fitness up chill out lol. They're young lads Getting experience under their belts.

22 Jul 2017 13:41:20
Nah Maitland-Miles is never a defender in this 3 CB system. The pitch is awful mind so that is not helping the football. Mert looks knackered aswell. It's only pre season mind so no drama really.

22 Jul 2017 13:54:33
D16, yes, but there is absolutely nothing about these players whatsoever. Even at 16 Fabreagas looked class.

22 Jul 2017 14:04:03
Well hopefully Sanchez isn't looking at this friendly to see if we have leant anything from las two seasons and in with a shout!

Caught one at the back, time and time again plus slow attacks. Yes it's a friendly and yes it's warm but Chelsea are coasting it and look miles ahead. Long season ahead.

22 Jul 2017 14:07:20
But have you actually made this assumption with 45mins of football. Niles looked impressive in u21 tournament.

22 Jul 2017 14:25:55
You can't get anything from these friendlys. They have no bearing whatsoever.

22 Jul 2017 14:45:01
At 16 Theo looked world class certain while at 16 Jamie Vardy Peter Beardsley Ricky Lambert Grant Holt and others were advised to get a job because they weren't going to be good enough to make a living from football.
Some show great potential and fail to be able to deliver on it while others take more time to develop.
3 seasons back Harry Kane couldn't make the Norwich bench and I'm sure pre Poch a million quid would have been enough for Spurs to let him go.
Chill out it's a preseason after all and one are or should be at their best at this point in the football calendar.

23 Jul 2017 06:01:23
Pre season or not, the only young players that have excited are Donyel Malen, Willock and Nketiah.
Niles should really have performed better as he has more first team exposure than the players mentioned above. He was straight up shocking.

22 Jul 2017 11:45:10
Ed. Why are we rejecting decent bids for players like Gibbs and Chambers, surely it's better to get something for them than price our self our of money and keeping players deemed surplus to requirements on the payroll?

{Ed002's Note - Right now with more than a month before the end of the window the clubs will be wanting to ensure they have players in as much as they can before letting others leave.}

22 Jul 2017 12:36:28
Paul, its a negotiation that's why we haven't accepted the initial offers. Both players are sought-after young internationals and outside the top clubs, there will be interest in them. In respect of Gibbs it's reported that WBA have bid £10m and we want £13m, whilst Palace are after Chambers and have offered £16m, whilst we want £20m. If we are successful that's an additional £7m, which can't be sniffed at. Both players are clearly not good enough for us and in Gibbs case, Kolasinac has been signed as a replacement and CHambers wasn't at the club last season and we have 5 CB's, all better than him. We have already sold Szczesny for approx £13m, rising to £15m, Hinds £2m and Crowley (undiscosed) . I believe we will also sell/ release; Debuchy, Jenkinson, Perez, Wilshere and Campbell. Other possible departures; Sanchez, Ox, Giroud. We also agreed to sell Elneny to Leicester for £10m, but he refused the move. Lots will happen this break for sure.

22 Jul 2017 13:19:39
Totally get your spot on reply RG, just hope we don't put too much on those extra millions.

22 Jul 2017 15:07:25
16Milllion seem a pretty fair to me for Chambers I would have accepted that tbh. Especially going forward with this back 3 Chambers he is well down the pecking order and will hardly get any game time. The 16Million will help a lot. Gibbs I would like to keep as competition with Kolasinic for the that LWB role as he plays well in that position really.

Dubuchy needs to be released really as with Jenkinson as Ox and Bellerin will fight for the RWB role. We also have a too many strikers now so need as much as we can for Perez and Campbell. not sure why Arsenal are ok to let Elneney go I think he should be kept as I can't really see Wilshire getting back in and Carzorla Arsenal career looks to be over really. Need fitter players to stay.

22 Jul 2017 15:22:47
£33m for those two would be very good business in my opinion. Add the funds from Szsezeny and we got close to £50m. That would get us a top CB and enable Holding to go out on loan and get some valuable experience.

Van Dijk anyone?

22 Jul 2017 20:01:44
33 mil very good business in todays terms for a young england full international and a promising young player we paid 16 mil for two years ago. How do you work that out. The guy alone who chambers outshone next too him last season and is older is valued on his own at 30 mil.

22 Jul 2017 11:30:06
{Ed's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, Southampton Season Review

22 Jul 2017
The real time live chat page is open for today's Arsenal match at the below link for you to talk to each other during the match
Arsenal Live Chat page

22 Jul 2017 08:41:30
If reports are correct both Oxlade and Sanzhez want to leave. There is a report that PSG will pay £70m for Sanchez, which is an astonishing amount for a player entering the final year of his contract. What hasn't been explained is why Sanchez was signed for a fee in excess of £30m, with only a 4 year deal, when 5 years would have been far more sensible. It also has to be explained why both players contracts were allowed to run down to the final year.
Assuming they both depart as seems likely, contrary to what Wenger is saying, which is presumably a negotiating ploy to increase the amount clubs will pay for these players, we now have to buy top quality replacements. Lemar looks a decent shout as a replacement for Sanchez and togther with Lacazette may cooensate for the loss of Sanchez. Oxlade will be difficult to replace as he has the ability to play both wide and centrally. Also, any player coming n as a RWB must realise that that Bellerin is currently first choice and is very young, so will be hard to displace in the near future.
The quality of the replacements for these two players will, in my opinion define our season. I would also like to see a top midfield player signed, an imposing player with character.

22 Jul 2017 09:22:14
Niether player wants to be here next season which should make us ask two questions?
1 why do some not want to be here ?
2 why are the others happy to stay?
If we dare to be honest rather than simply Paint some as vilians for leaving and others as hero's for staying then we might be able to stop this happening in the future, because we are a different club to be at.

22 Jul 2017 09:40:44
Hi Gunner62, In the modern game, players are represented by very shrewd agents who advise them in terms of finances and top players now realise what a strong position they are in as their contracts run down. To purchase either Oxlade or Sanchez if they had long contracts would cost far more than with a year to go or signing them on a free at the end of their deals. Therefore, they can benefit financially by moving now or at the end of their deals. Money clearly rules, if I were in Snchez's position and had the choice of £275,000 a week at Arsenal or £400,000 a week at PSG, it's a no-brainier. The same goes for Oxlade who will pick up a hefty signng on fee and no-doubt higher wages at Chelsea. Some players stay as they are inferior players on wages they couldn't get elsewhere, such as Debuchy, Sanogo, Bentner, etc. Other players are happy at the club, living in London and may stay for family reasons, kids at school, family, friends, etc. The main way to retain top players is to extend their deals at the appropriate time, pay top wages and compete for trophies. The overriding factor for the majority of players is the financial package. Offer Sanchez £500,000 a week and a £10m signing on fee and he will stay. The same goes for Oxlade, offer him £200,000 a week and a £5m signing on fee and he will stay. If we pay lower wages than say Chelsea or PSG, then irrelevant of the ability to compete for trophies the players will move on.

22 Jul 2017 10:31:01
Hi RG mate
I think it's all to easy to put everything down to money and write players off as moving for purely for financial reasons.
We know that City PSG and Bayern have all shown interest in Alexis and Liverpool and Chelsea have both shown interest in Ox.
Both players have good options to move to clubs who offer both champions league football and undoubted ambition.
It was very very quite on the Mesut front this summer so it's reasonable to assume his options weren't as plentiful as Sanchez and the same goes for Theo Aaron Danny and co as none of them have champions league clubs queuing up for them right now.
Those with good options are taking them and those with few if any options are staying.
We shouldn't simply comfort ourselves by writing Ox and Sanchez off as money grabbers because where has that got us with RVP and co in the past?
What's done is done but to simply continue to pretend that all is it should be at a club like Arsenal will only lead to more of the same groundhog seasons.
Let's accept and learn rather than continue to pretend and decline.

22 Jul 2017 07:32:52
I've always been very loyal for our players, supporting them and always hoping for them to play as well as they can. And i still am. What has changed, however, is that i wouldn't care if most of the first team players were sold.

I would keep the following players.
Cech
Koscielny
Özil
Alexis
And the new signings because it would be pointless to sell them already.

All the rest - if we receive a good offer for anyone and have a replacement waiting i wouldn't be against them going. Mustafi to Van Dijk? Xhaka to Carvalho? Ramsey to Brozovic or Matuidi? Ox to Mahrez? No problem.

The thing is some of these players don't need replacing. For example Ramsey could function very well in this new formation. Also Xhaka and Mustafi might improve as their first disappointing season is behind them. But most of the players can be replaced and even improved upon so for good money why not do it?

22 Jul 2017 08:08:57
I agree. Wenger always says 'we are looking for players to improve us', but he rarely improves the best 11, just improves the squad with 6.5/ 10 players.

22 Jul 2017 08:23:15
The problem is not so much the quality of the players but the collective mentality within the squad.
One player stands out who hasn't subconsciously slipped into top 4 is success mode and he's leaving.
So many players have been with us so long and they have without realising it lost that hunger to be the very best.
We are the only club in the last 10 seasons to have lead the table on new years day and not gone on to win the premier league that season and we've done it twice,
If we are near the top we subconsciously and collectively take our foot off the pedal when top 4 looks comfortable and if we are behind we always kick into fighting more and put a run together to make sure we get our target by the last day of the season, ok last season we got it wrong.
This has been the trend for over a decade now and it simply isn't coincidence is obviously the mentality running through the club.
I think it stems from paying for the stadium and everyone accepted top 4 was good enough for a while and that competing might be beyond us for a little while, the trouble is the vast majority of the club fans players and Arsene too just can't shake off that subconscious feeling of inferiority and reaching for the excuse book.

22 Jul 2017 08:58:29
Just to add, if buying player was our only problem why didn't getting Mesut Sanchez and Cech improve us rather than take us backwards?
It's not about yesterday and pointing fingers at individuals or groups it's about collectively coming together and accepting that the mentality running the club is a real problem and setting about changing it.
We need to set an ambitious target for the players and manager to achieve and get them to collectively accept as the required standard for a club like Arsenal to maintain their current positions within the club.
I'm sure this next bit would make the most of the squad, Arsene and many fans gulp :-) but here goes!
80 points next season or big changes in personel will follow and absolutely no one will be immune from accountability, no one.
If Spurs can get 86 points is 80 points really an unfair target to set for Arsenal to achieve?

22 Jul 2017 10:33:55
That's easy 62. It's because we buy a decent player and have F all round him to support him and expect him to work miracles.