Arsenal banter 5

02 Sep 2026 18:03:05
John - I take your point but as paying fans we have every right to dissect the transfer window, I get reviewed at work so why shouldn't we review the latest window?

Sussex, not sure I agree, you can't just look at the PL and say it's 38 games, we have European football starting next week and we have a tough set of fixtures, my dismay with the window is purely because I expected to go to the next level and take the CL by the scruff of the neck, without threatening forward line that might be a struggle.



Ok that's my last word on the window. You will all be pleased to hear.

Chelsea this weekend, surely he has to give Vic a run out, what has gone on there?

02 Sep 2026 19:08:17
Hi Banbury, mate, I don't question fans' right to dissect the transfer window, but I do question the benefit of doing so now the window is closed.

In my opinion, our reliving of what should have happened, but didn't, in the window will only promote negativity at a time when we should all be feeling extremely positive about this wonderful period in our club's history.

We have waited an awful long time to get back among the game's elite teams, and it would be such a shame if we wasted it complaining about what isn't quite perfect, rather than allowing ourselves to really enjoy what is, really, really good right now.

02 Sep 2026 22:56:33
I prefer the more powerful lyrics.

"I bully myself 'cause I make me do what I put my mind to."

Or

"You done it for a year, but that ain't impressive / I give a f*** about success if it ain't successive."

I don't do very well at the things you do. I win, I celebrate for a minute and then try to figure out how I'm gonna best that next time.



It serves me very well. Adds stress, impacts sleep, probably, but gets my family things that sets them up. That's how I'm wired, & I need people, (good people) , like you to remind me to celebrate that moment, because not everyone is wired that way & they need / want to celebrate. I enjoy the celebrating, but love the win & the next win.

Thank you sir.

02 Sep 2026 14:58:18
So now the window has closed for 4 months, we have what we have.

Again as I have said the main concern is in the attacking 1/3, we have lost Jesus, Trossard and Martinelli who between them contributed 25 goals. Just where are we getting those from?

Vic had a decent season scoring 22.

He will do well to get to 30 and that still leaves us well short.

I fear for us in the attacking sense but not in the defence or midfiield.

And I don't think City or Chelsea will ever worry about balancing the books, by the time City have the 115 charges looked at we will all have left this planet. :)

02 Sep 2026 16:09:18
In the immediacy, it is the 7 goals in 38 games in the Prem. I feel we need to cover. We keep banging on about the squad depth, which I feel will cope in the domestic cups (neither of which we won, by the way) , and I have confidence in the LW cover to help get us a long way again in Europe.

But, I am also confident Eze, Noni and Tsolis will cover the 7 goals in the league, and, if, as you say, Viktor improves, that covers the 7 goals on his own. COYG.

02 Sep 2026 17:22:07
Good or bad, the summer window has been and gone now, and I genuinely don't see the benefit in us keep looking to find fault with our own team/squad, not when there are so many more reasons to feel positive about them, our manager and our club.



Let's give what we've got a go and wait until something actually goes wrong on the pitch before we start picking faults with our team/squad/ manager/club. 👍

02 Sep 2026 17:42:34
Well said, John.

I believe we have the strongest squad in Europe.

I'm also sure that if a player becomes available in January, we will do our utmost to sign them if they improve what we have.

02 Sep 2026 19:20:11
Hi Mark, mate, our squad is definitely second to none.

I'm not thinking about the January window at all right now. I'm more interested in looking forward to Sunday's game and all the other games between now and Christmas. I'll worry about January when it gets here, mate.

Up The Arsenal. 👍👏👏👏👏

02 Sep 2026 19:41:19
Real, PSG? We don't have the best starting 11 or attack. We have a strong squad & plenty defensive cover, but seriously lack attacking prowess.

Come on, lads.

Eze has done zip, no reason to believe he will suddenly change and be the great hope.

Nothing wrong with saying it's a bang average window that started strong & ended very poorly.

We flirted with CF and LW, but again failed to act like an ambitious big club. Total crap saying nothing available - go look at Chelsea, Spurs, City, etc. etc. - plenty available in key positions.

We refused to pay going rates, so no guarantee we do the business if a player pops up.

We actually weakened our attack.

Nothing wrong challenging the status quo, and it's far, far healthier to challenge than to sit there & say all us rosey.

It's like saying glad we tried - what a load of rubbish. Winning is about being uncomfortable and asking difficult questions, just like we are at work every day. Doesn't mean we don't support the club.

Brian failed us this window.

Please don't go on about Chelsea spending crazy - they had a negative spend & pulled the band aid off a team to drive change quicker. Bought & sold aggressively.

A poor window in terms of addressing the needs of the starting 11, but good by upgrading the midfield. Stupidity selling Martinelli, who scored 6 goals in Europe & gave us pace. Your new lad on wing has not proven anything yet, and struggled in first game against st a decent team.

Enough said - poor window & there's nothing wrong with saying so.

Drop it now & move on.

02 Sep 2026 20:01:40
Sy, mate, you seem very determined to put our club down at every opportunity, and in virtually every comment you post, mate. Why? Where is the benefit in your doing this for yourself or anyone else on this page, or anyone who loves Arsenal?

Surely it's time to accept you didn't get what you wanted in the window, shrug your shoulders, and allow yourself to simply enjoy the season anyway.

02 Sep 2026 21:06:46
Saying it's a poor window, of course that's fine, just like it's fine having the opposite opinion! Surely we agree on that? If we don't agree on that, and can't at least look at the alternative view, then being on here really becomes pointless and a short step from shouty posting in capitals COYG (yep I know capitals) .

02 Sep 2026 21:42:20
Agreed bud - I ended it "Drop it now & move on." - should have said "I've moved on".

We are a big club & should act that way - winning ain't easy, & difficult questions that ruffle feathers should be asked.

It can't be the window Arteta wanted as he's been after Vini, Alv, etc, nor is Bert the Don.

We sold poor, sold foolishly and didn't strengthen in a key area. Why should I be happy with that? That's not a winning mentality in my book, mate. I'm fine, happy and enjoying life. I have very high standards & this window was poor.



I can't believe we have people happy with the window.

I also do post some positive stuff.

I will enjoy the season as long as we start passing forward & attacking, mate.

Do you truly believe our best 11 is better than PSG's, or that you were truly happy with our attack? Do you think our attack is top notch? It's fine to say something negative - Arteta won't hunt you down. If you think the starting 11 plus subs is in-upgradable, then fine.

Over it, but still a poor window, and there are plenty of people saying that too.

02 Sep 2026 21:44:58
On a better note - great seeing you back. Hope you are well, bud, & that you obviously are a lovely, kind, half full type of a guy. Almost as nice as Sally. I applaud you both.

02 Sep 2026 21:50:18
When it gets to that stage, Essex, it's then surely time to walk away. I just can't see the benefit in looking for problems that don't yet exist. If we fail to beat Chelsea on Sunday because we fail to score, then let the negativity and moaning commence, but let's at least fail first.



Where is the benefit in living tragedies before they actually happen? Surely there will be time enough for that if and when they do actually take place.

02 Sep 2026 22:36:40
Hi SY, mate, I just think we should enjoy our good fortune more while we are lucky enough to actually have it.

In the words of the song 🎶 "There maybe trouble ahead, but while there's moonlight and music, love and romance, lets face the music and dance". 🎶 ❤️👍👍👍

02 Sep 2026 12:32:24
Hey Gooners,
Cheer up, we are in a better place because we are discussing defending the title rather than worrying if we will ever win it. We still have the core of players we had last season.
We will also have a new striker on the pitch when Viktor gets some minutes 😀 I assume we didn’t play him so that he is available for any last minute deal to swap with Alvarez!
We can reassess the situation in January when we will have money to spend while the likes of Chelsea and City will be trying to balance their books.


I am saving my rants and displeasure for the upcoming loooongggg international break!

02 Sep 2026 17:27:56
Good post, Highbury mate. Fans of other clubs must sometimes feel like they've slipped into an alternative Universe when they read our posts, a Universe where we are still a 4th place, trophy-chasing club rather than Premier League champions and very serious Champions League contenders.

We shouldn't need cheering up, we should be trying to contain our excitement for the season ahead. 👏👏👏👏👏

02 Sep 2026 11:09:12
We are in rarefied company when discussing transfers and players who will improve us. I got caught up ridiculously in what we were doing but am now trying to reflect on it sanely. Were we looking at LW with red tinted specs? Tsolis has been seen as an upgrade on Tross so the real issue is covering Martinelli, which I called a dereliction of duty if we didn't replace. What? One goal in Prem over 30 appearances. We have players to cover RW and LW - Eze Saka, Max, Tsolis, Noni - Five players for 2 starting places. Weakest link there is Noni but I'm sure he can score more than one goal in 30 appearances at LW. I get the we need an elite CF but none available realistically. We did quite well with Kai and Viktor last season and Kai was injured for most of it! One season in Viktor has to (I think he will) improve.

Our quality and strength in depth for midfield and defence is outstanding - think Timber and Saliba (2 of our very best) to come back too! My laboured waffly point being is I think the mentioned Eze Noni and Tsolis can cover the one goal (7 if you include Tross' goals) Martinelli scored with the added bonus Max can get more minutes covering Saka. Get the youngsters working ;) Other teams have improved but it is hard to win the Prem as everyone kept telling us but we know how to do it! For those worrying about LW maybe we are waiting on Yildiz / Kroupi in January. Who knows but nailing my colours to the mast I'm relaxed / confident we will be there or there abouts again in Prem and CL. That may not be good enough for some but winning the Prem or CL is pretty hard to do COYG.

02 Sep 2026 12:37:11
Excellent post, Sussex.
Absolutely agree with you, Yildiz or Kroupi in January if they recover from their injuries.

02 Sep 2026 07:39:15
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 2 - Quick Round Up

02 Sep 2026 00:22:10
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 2 - Quick Round Up

01 Sep 2026 20:21:52
Nwaneri off on loan as well, I am baffled by this window, if I am honest, it's the biggest let down for years, loads of money in the bank, got rid of dead wood but haven't got that star signing in.

Don't call me negative. Something odd in the camp, Big Vic not even had a kick.



Unless we are going to pull a rabbit out of the hat, then this will go down as a stinker of a window.

IMO, we will struggle on the goal front, I might be wrong, but the front line won't scare anyone.

Premier League champions and Champions League runners-up last season, mate. I think Arteta has earned the right for us to think he knows what he's doing. Obviously, if things actually start going wrong on the pitch, we can all justifiably start doubting his judgement, but as things stand we currently have the best squad we've had in more than two decades, and, in my opinion, Arteta is currently very worthy of the benefit of any doubts anyone might have.

01 Sep 2026 21:04:15
Banbury, it does seem quite an odd window. Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus and Nwaneri out when the area of the pitch we've struggled with is attack.

I guess we'll see where the chips lie soon enough. Can't say I'm wholly confident though.

COYG!!

01 Sep 2026 21:23:41
I doubt Arteta can be pleased with the way we look offensively, and 62, please don't tell me we are stronger up front than we have been for years. Not a chance, mate. Look who we have got rid of on the left and who we have signed; we are weaker up front and no one can argue against that. As I said earlier, defence is strong and the midfield is strong, upfront we wouldn't scare a top top team.



Only those with rose tinted glasses will say we are stronger. We aren't, by stronger I mean in every department. Now if Mbappe signed, it's a different matter, lol.

All opinions of course, but it's not the window of champions looking to win the Champions League. imo of course. :)

01 Sep 2026 21:40:15
Hi Banbury, of course it's all opinions, mate. None of us really know what the future holds, mate. 🤔

Personally, my money is on Arteta joining Furguson, Mourinho and Gardiola in the elite group of managers who retained a Premier League title rather than joining Slot and Ranieri, but I admit I've been wrong before, 1963, I think it was. 😊😊😊😊

01 Sep 2026 21:44:51
Very odd to make us weaker in attack, although this will hopefully see Dowman getting more minutes this season.
I think our people in charge need to understand that although Roger's and Barcola's fees might have been excessive, all fees in football are excessive, and none of them are worth what they're paid or how much clubs pay for them.

01 Sep 2026 21:50:57
Glenn, there's excessive and then there's "excessive". It's all going a little crazy.

01 Sep 2026 22:07:07
City and Chelsea have definitely gone speeding crazy this summer, but they don't have Mourinho and Guardiola to make it all come together on the pitch. Will Alonso or Maresca turn all that spending into a title-winning spend? I'm not sure either of them will. And if neither Chelsea nor City are able to take our title off us, then who is going to?

01 Sep 2026 22:26:27
Gunner62, I admire your optimism, mate, but I wouldn't sleep on City or Chelsea. City have the most elite striker on the planet in Haaland (plus some considerable weapons in Foden and Cherki - that new Rat to replace Bernardo Silva) , and Alonso actually went undefeated in a league that normally kowtows to Bayern Munich.

Two weeks ago I was confident Arsenal would walk away with the league. Not as much now.

01 Sep 2026 23:02:38
Hi dk, mate, I'm more than happy to hold my hands up and admit I underestimated Chelsea, City or any one else who is better than us over 38 games, mate, if the season pans out that way come May. But, my opinion at this time is very much that we have the best squad in the league, and the only manager in the league that has actually won the Premier League title before.

If my optimism is proven wrong come May, then I will freely admit I was wrong, mate. As always, time will tell. 🤔

01 Sep 2026 23:16:26
Will gladly see your optimism proven correct when Arsenal lift title #15. :)

02 Sep 2026 00:04:43
62, you're not alone. I'm backing us all the way, and if somebody is better, hats off.

02 Sep 2026 08:19:45
I'm very happy with this window to be honest. Appreciate that some aren't.

The important thing for me is getting Eze more minutes and I think he'll get that on the left side.

He does need to up his game, though. Bundles of talent, but too often gets caught on the ball, giving sloppy possession away. Tracking back needs working on, but I'm hoping more game time rectifies that, as he's scored some great goals cutting in from the left. Well, let's be honest, he has the ability to do that from anywhere.

I really like all the signings, but Bruno makes any injury, or simply a rest for Declan, much less of a worry.

He's progressive too. Playing the two together with Odegaard on a regular basis will be good to see.

If I had a concern, it would be Noni. End product and decision-making is lacking, but resting Saka when the opposition suits is another bonus.

It would be great to get Timber and Saliba back. We really do have an immense squad, our bench is impressive to say the least.

Sales were good, we brought in some decent money in total and saved on wages. Could make January interesting.

Only odd thing for me was that we brought in Meslier when we kept Kepa.

01 Sep 2026 17:51:10
Not looking like anyone joining now does it.

01 Sep 2026 11:29:25
Fofana going to Sunderland.
Fabrizio and Ornstein got that one wrong.

{Ed025's Note - you need at least 1 forward maybe 2 for me Bill, i just hope you dont sink the ship for a half penny of tar mate, the rest of the side is excellent..

01 Sep 2026 11:44:17
It's baffling. Looks like we are banking on Merino to provide striker backup, and Eze and/or Dowman for left wing.

{Ed025's Note - it must be a worry for all of you Highbury mate..

01 Sep 2026 11:46:12
Hello Ed hope you are good.
Well with the outgoings we do look light up front.
Alvarez Just cannot see it happening but according to reports we still think we are in with a chance.
I thought it might have been Ndiaye but he has gone to City.

{Ed025's Note - hi Bill, i think you are 90% there mate and what i have seen up to now are more expansive and entertaining mate, you just need that final piece in the jigsaw and i believe you will be unstoppable, im good thanks and hope you are too my friend..

01 Sep 2026 14:53:40
It's a worry when you see what the other top clubs have done this window..

01 Sep 2026 15:03:49
It really is Sally, and I still can't get my head around how City can spend so much year after year. It's like the ongoing charges and financial rules are a joke.

01 Sep 2026 14:57:44
Spot on Ed - it's the one area we should have improved not weakened. There's been players we've just been too timid

{Ed025's Note - i agree SY, you may not want them but players like Haaland or Kane score over 30 goals in this Arsenal side mate at least, Ndiaye from Everton and Thiago from Brentford would have guaranteed you the league for me..

01 Sep 2026 17:17:44
It's such a terribly worrying time to be a gooner.

While fans of all the other 19 Premier League clubs get to sleep like babies from now till May, it's yet another season of nessun dorma for us poor Arsenal fans. 😢 😞 😔

01 Sep 2026 18:13:47
Looking on the bright side, think how much in wages we are saving. All the better for the January window. 😉

01 Sep 2026 18:27:07
Apparently 600,000 a week, Sally.

01 Sep 2026 18:30:24
Even bigger buses for even more trophy parades, Sally. It all comes at a cost. 👏👏👏👏

01 Sep 2026 19:14:46
30 million quid to spend on trophy parades then, Bill, mate? 14 million on each of the Champions League and Premier League parades, and a million a piece on the FA and League Cup parades. Sounds like forward planning to me, mate. 👍

01 Sep 2026 19:21:47
. 👌👌👌👌👌

01 Sep 2026 07:39:14
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Where Everton Stand Under Squad Cost Ratio

31 Aug 2026 22:33:50
Kai, Ode and Tzolis showing why we need to address the key positions we haven’t addressed for a number of windows. Viktor not even given the chance to shine. We didn’t really need Bruno (glad we got him) but we really needed a CF and LW but Agsin nothing except selling LWs and CF. Really odd strategy. Other teams acting with intent and ambition.

Come on Brian - others are getting attackers signed, why can’t you! Give us a cutting edge please.

City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Real etc getting deals done.

Well done Saka for goal today.

For all those say - here he moans again. I assume you are happy with our ineptness in sorting the attack and banking our entire left wing on Tzolis who has been in a poor league and will need time to/ rest etc.

31 Aug 2026 23:42:24
I think we need a lw with pace in behind. We really lacked that tonight.

01 Sep 2026 00:08:14
Now the two Gabis have gone. We need a left-sided attacker with pace to burn and a striker with an eye for goal, or it could come back and bite us on the backside later on in the season.

31 Aug 2026 23:48:01
Sy, lad we just won what was one of our banana skin games without playing at our best. Last year we signed one of the highest goal scorer's in Europe (I agree with you in the why isn't he starting or at least getting game time) maybe somethings in the works of a transfer (which I'd be disappointed with as he's had one season with us n helped us win the title.whether that goals against lesser teams or not it still contributed)
You keep crying about we need more than what we've got who's available to get SY? Who in the real world can we get up top or at LW? It's a small pool to pick from n the ones that are are already at the top teams in Europe.


You keep saying your pish winning is winning but did we not win the league after 22 years just? .did we not win our first two games of this defending our title season?
Lad give it a rest eh.

01 Sep 2026 07:25:23
Morning Jegooner, I'm sure plenty LWs & attackers have been secured this window.. I get your point. Yes, we won. Villa were depleted, but we won. Enjoy your week. Thanks for the reply.

01 Sep 2026 07:46:24
The really weird thing is Villa fans, neutrals, and pundits were all raving about how strong our squad is and the insane quality we had on our bench last night.

01 Sep 2026 09:06:34
It's a funny ol game, John, isn't it?

01 Sep 2026 10:14:33
It certainly is, Bill, mate. 😊

01 Sep 2026 14:44:07
Many are saying we need offensive additions & no question our depth is good, but we need better quality upfront. Villa aren't our yardstick either.

01 Sep 2026 17:53:58
We ain't getting no one, unless we do. It's been a bad window for me. Not got the players we needed at the start.