Arsenal banter 7

29 Aug 2026 09:15:09
As I read the whole situation is understandably getting too much for Alvarez, and if that is the case, I reckon we should back off and let him recover.

29 Aug 2026 09:44:17
As much as I love, [Kai] Havertz and [Viktor] Gyokeres, we missed something special there, and he's that special, special player that might go and get us 25 to 30 goals a season.

"When Gyok came in last season, I did say, if he can get 10, 15 goals [that's] amazing. Do I think he can get more than that? I'm not sure. Does he give us that much to his feet? I'm not sure."

Couldn’t have said it better, & if you take a level view, you can’t disagree. Get a star. I thought Eze would do more, but he’s flopped due to style of play.

Vic has done as expected, & I know that’s what was expected from a few people connected from the outside.

Let’s get serious, & give Saka, Gabs, Rice and Raya the quality they expect & deserve in attack. Get your job done, Brian, & add some star quality. It’s a crazy market, but we are Champs, have ambition & money; use it! Perhaps sell better, & give more reasonable wages to reasonable players while only giving star money to stars.

29 Aug 2026 11:17:15
I got no sympathy at all for Alvarez.
He should stop playing the victim as a lot of footballers do.

29 Aug 2026 13:47:33
We need to stop messing around, and Brian needs to earn his corn.

We’ve wasted time, & not added again what we need - do your job, Brian. Give the boss the tools to perform at the highest level.

29 Aug 2026 13:50:33
Some people get very upset and take it very personally when they don't get all their own way, Bill, mate, while other people are better able to accept life doesn't revolve around them personally, and just get on with enjoying things as they currently are.



Alvarez might not be getting his dream move, but he still has a wonderful life and he would be far happier if he learned to appreciate all he does have rather than focusing on what he doesn't have.

29 Aug 2026 14:05:16
Hi 62, hope you are well. Fluffy stuff aside, football is about winning, & a multibillion dollar industry. You happy with us not getting the positions we need? It's not ruining my life, but I like winning, mate, & the club to show that. I'd argue we have too many people happy with whatever happens, & hope the player is happy in their 20m house on 7m pa.

No deal for Fabio Vieira or Jesus - that's negligent wage control. We've terminated Reiss Nelson's contract. That's terrible from the club. Sorry.
Then, departure of Leandro Trossard looks goddamn awful.



We napped on Rogers, got charmed by big names, & left with no star up front like a Henry. All the Kai is king and Vic rules despite just a dozen goals against poor sides. Shocking in the final - touch, hold up, pace, finishing, desire. There's a place for one or both, but not in a starting 11 for me. Emperor Kai gets my nod, so that tells you all you need to know there. Ex players are saying the same thing. I support the team, but reserve the right to complain and have a strong winning opinion.

Let's get some business done as it's a poor window.

29 Aug 2026 14:44:32
Sy mate, Guimares, Konsa and Quantum are not a poor window, plus Hincapie on a permanent contract. 👍👍
What I am struggling with is the Alvarez situation.
Jesus and Vieira are hard to move on because of their wages and contract, which were signed pre Brian, as you like to call him.
Martinelli and Tross were the right time to sell, imo.


Reiss Nelson was hard to sell because of his injury record and not really maturing as the talent we all thought he would be.
If we don't add to the squad, I will be OK with that, as I think it's good enough to retain prem title and go 1 better in CL.
Enjoy your weekend, Sy mate.

29 Aug 2026 15:45:58
If we don't get our superstar striker before the window closes it's not the end of the world.
It's only 4 months till the January window opens lol.

29 Aug 2026 15:51:03
Hi Sy, mate, my comment was about Alvarez not you. 😊😊😊

All the fluffy stuff aside, life is a wonderful experience to be enjoyed as much as humanly possible, while we still have the opportunity to do so. It really is something to constantly be looking to find fault with and reasons to be dissatisfied about, mate.



But if moaning and being upset by anything and everything that doesn't go the way you want it to makes you happy, then please crack on, mate. It's your life, and how you choose to spend the time you have is entirely your choice, mate. 😊 👍👍👍👍

29 Aug 2026 16:24:36
It certainly wasn't the end of the world last season, Sally. 🤪🤪🤪

29 Aug 2026 21:44:36
Hi Bill, we had Hinch last season. We bought Xube last season, sold Trossard. So where's the great window, seriously? So was Xube a bad buy? We haven't added the two key positions we needed last season - Lw and Cf. How's that progress or good?

29 Aug 2026 07:39:18
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Newcastle United v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

29 Aug 2026 00:31:29
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Newcastle United v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

28 Aug 2026 12:30:24
Just a teeny bit political, and for which I apologise, but this made me, lol.


How about we rename Canada geese, Donald Ducks?

28 Aug 2026 14:47:23
They should show him a map of the Great Lakes and see if he can pick out the Lake of America.

28 Aug 2026 14:50:32
🤣 Was that yours? Because that's a good one!

28 Aug 2026 15:50:11
That is hilarious, so they have orange beaks?!

28 Aug 2026 17:16:29
Very good, Sally. 👍

28 Aug 2026 18:00:46
'Fraid not, can't take credit for it, Kernow.

28 Aug 2026 18:01:38
Naturally, Highbury, lol.

28 Aug 2026 07:39:16
{Ed's Note - DIE_4_WHUFC has posted a new article entitled, West Ham's Depth Worries Me in the Championship

27 Aug 2026 17:44:00
Best of luck Reiss Nelson at your new club.
Who will ever ever forget your very very late at home against Bournemouth.
❤️🫶.

27 Aug 2026 19:36:10
Hope he finds his forever home now, Bill.

27 Aug 2026 20:17:18
Let's hope so, Sally. 🤞🤞🤞

27 Aug 2026 12:50:40
Afternoon all. Hope you all have a cracking summer and ready for another rollercoaster of season.

I am looking forward to this season and hoping for more success this season than previous season.

We all have mixed feelings about this Alvarez deal. I personally am not a fan of him coming over after he himself has publicly stated that he wants Barcelona over us. Although I'm not the one in the know.



I will be gutted if we got rid of Martenelli but we have to balance the books and if Arteta thinks that he has achieved what he is capable of then my trust is with him.

Selling MLS and Nanweri is a big mistake at this early stage. I think both have huge potential and we should not sell or loan them out to get the playing time up, but don't sell them; they are our future.

It's good to be back. Come on Arsenal.

27 Aug 2026 14:51:12
Hi mate, hope all is well. Can you explain why you're gonna be gutted if we sell Martinelli? Personally, I think most Arsenal fans are too sentimental when it comes to players. We have to move on or get caught again and wait another 22 years for a title. If players aren't good enough to push us forward, they have to leave.

27 Aug 2026 18:38:29
Hi G4, mate, I'd like to see Martinelli stay too, if possible.

Obviously, if the club can bring in a superior upgrade, then that's the right thing to do, but as things stand, Tzolis is the upgrade on Trossard, and, despite his fantastic start with us, he can't replace 2 players and us retain our strength in depth.

27 Aug 2026 19:22:03
All good, DG. It's my personal opinion. I felt that he has more potential and will give a lot more in the coming years. I'm not a football genius, and I don't have inside workings of the club and the football market.

I do think we are in a better position than we were 22 years ago, and I don't think the decline over the 22 years was down to sentimental fans who wanted to stick with players past their prime. Cheer up, pal, they are all opinions.

27 Aug 2026 19:31:39
But, to get better you need better players. He hasn't got better, and probably won't get better than he is now. He's coming up to his prime years and scored one league goal last year! Yes, I know it's your opinion, and I was just asking a question. Don't get me wrong, if we don't have a replacement I'd keep him, but I wouldn't be "gutted" if we sold him and got someone better.

Poor buys and bad recruitment was the reason, and poor management. I'm always happy, I don't need cheering up, I support the champions lol. Just wanted to know the reason you are gutted, that's all.

28 Aug 2026 00:15:03
I would have kept Trossard over Martinelli as he's a more intelligent player & good off the bench.

We need to roll with the hard line that we need to act like a big, ambitious but also genuine club when it comes to players. We don't sell well, and we pay too high wages which makes players very sticky & hard to move on.

Who would buy Kai so we make a profit, & they can pay him at least 280k PW.

No one. So we can't recoup. Just like Jesus, Zinchenko, etc etc.

Hi, 4ever! If we get sentimental, we regress. If we act like a bad club, no one signs. Let's be honest - who wouldn't want to sign for PSG, Real or Barca before us? I'm sure many players play for clubs that weren't first choice.

28 Aug 2026 08:58:05
Granted, historically we haven't sold well. You mention Jesus and Zinchenko, and I can't disagree, but I would argue they were part of the successful process which has made us champions. We haven't sold well in recent years because we have bought well, and in a previous post I said that a vast number of our first team are worth twice as much at least as what we paid for them. This means we have bought extremely well, and the squad worth is excellent. Edu, MA and Mr Berta deserve massive credit for this. Say we bought Saliba at £26 mill, he stays with us until he's 32 and we sell him for £15 mill; is that a terrible sale considering he's helped us to multiple Prems? Let's use our considerable assets.

The point being we don't need to sell them or buy excessively because we bought well! In today's market I would wager Kai is worth £60 mill or close to it if he was put up for sale, although wages could be the issue in a sale, I agree. He's now fit and scoring regularly, but thank you for the daily Kai kicking, I didn't realise how much I'd missed it. ;) COYG
PS. Not so much gutted Martinelli is going but would be gutted if we sold him and didn't upgrade him, but as I say we are currently buying well so hopefully someone is incoming.

29 Aug 2026 11:03:20
Hi Sussex, even in the past few years, it's poor. Noni is a squad player & lacks end product, guess we bought Bruno to upgrade Zube. Viera, the Brentford lad, was poor, and Vic was average.

Did Arteta buy Saliba? Saka? I could spit Rice, let's be honest. The club have stepped up and progressively purchased better, but not great - no real start attackers. We buy players who play CB or fullback combined.

It's a journey, and we need to get better, acting faster, more decisively & in the bigger pond so it improves the starting 11, not just the squad.

The players I referenced are still decent but not top top whereas Rice, Saka, Gabs, Saliba are.

Funny, as they were signings from ages ago, but I think he has a good defensive eye. Not great attacking philosophy or delivery - perhaps why Ozil went, Aube went, Eze has flopped, etc.

We kissed a lot of frogs, but we have a great squad and some amazing players. I'm being hyper-critical, as we want to win the Champ league. That's another level.

27 Aug 2026 10:32:56
I don't see Alvarez as an improvement, leave him where he is and save the money.

27 Aug 2026 16:52:42
Bring him in, then sell him off to Barca.

27 Aug 2026 17:23:17
I have heard that being suggested, Davy. I reckon that will be the only way for him to get to Barcelona. I wonder why that club holds such fascination for him. I suppose he could go to a Saudi club for a couple of years, pocket lots of pennies, and then off to Barca, if they still want him.



Not Alvarez related, but I heard mention why players prefer London, and that is because they can be sort of anonymous, whereas at northern clubs they are in a goldfish bowl.

27 Aug 2026 07:39:25
{Ed's Note - Shappy has posted a new article entitled, A Clear Assessment of United's Squad

26 Aug 2026 11:22:26
I am glad we are playing Villa away now. They are our bogey team and it’s a good time to get this game done because they will only improve going forward. Although they may have a reaction to their last result and extra motivation to do it against us.

27 Aug 2026 12:40:08
I'd plan for the reaction option, and if it comes, you're ready for it. To plan for the alternative options would be asking for trouble.

27 Aug 2026 15:01:28
Absolutely, mate, just that we have been playing them when they are in form, and suffered as a result of that. This time is different, so good to get this game out of the way. No easy games in the PL!

26 Aug 2026 16:48:19
Afternoon all Ed's and fellow gunners hope alls good what's you guys thoughts on Alvarez possibly to the Arsenal.? . I personally think we shouldn't bother. he's set on going to Barcelona let the little so so go there, why should we bother with someone who's not really interested in joining us. and in 12 months time could simply rock the boat big time to get his so called dream move to barca.

(jog on mate) . we are the Arsenal. if we are going for someone for the here and now to try and retain the Premier League, surely we should be looking at someone like Ollie Watkins reports are he wants out of Villa, prem ready would cost a fraction of Alvarez. and most importantly he's a massive Arsenal fan and would definitely bust a gut for us. COYG/VTH 🔴⚪️❤️.

26 Aug 2026 17:48:40
Perhaps it's his wife who isn't keen on coming back to England. That can be a tricky one to navigate as it's easy to forget players have families to consider.

If he does come, I hope all these shenanigans can be forgotten.

26 Aug 2026 18:16:34
You make a very good point, Sally. Players have wives, children, and sometimes extended family members to consider when it comes to moving clubs; locations and counties.

For some players and their families, language differences can be an issue, as it must be lonely living in a country where you don't understand what people are saying in public places.

Players are sometimes thought of as commodities where it's only a case of how much you offer them that counts, but of course in reality, away from the hype and publicity, they are just regular human beings with all the same feelings as everyone else.

26 Aug 2026 18:33:09
Hello Gabi, Sally, and John, hope you are all good. I just don't get it at all. Why are we chasing a player who, even with less than a week to go in the transfer window, is still hoping that he gets his wish of a move to Barcelona.


He left City because his family could not settle in Manchester or England. I know there's a lot of rumours from different outlets, but apparently Barca still think they will get their man.

26 Aug 2026 18:46:11
Good point, Sal. But if he really wants Barca, then we should move on. The window shuts soon, & we could definitely do with a left attacker at least, and if Jesus goes to Napoli then I'd say another centre forward as well. The clock is ticking, and we need to be on the move. ✌🏻 & 🫶🏻 To you, Sal.

26 Aug 2026 19:14:42
Hi Bill, mate, I'm not at all fussed about us signing him, and I hope he gets his dream move to Barca, as that's clearly what he wants. I think Sally makes an important point about his wife and family.



I love reading about players and people in other walks of life who put their own and their family's happiness ahead of money, as it shows they haven't lost touch with what's really important in life.

27 Aug 2026 08:39:16
It's nothing to do with his wife that he doesn't want to come; it's his family members, some of whom can't get visas to come to the UK. There was big talk yesterday that he's warming to the idea of joining Arsenal, because Madrid have said there is zero chance he joins Barca! That's the President of Madrid that said that.

Now he's missed training and said he wants time alone, no family, no agents, to make his mind up.

27 Aug 2026 10:18:33
Watkins or Rashford, or both. They'd cost the same as Alvarez? Ish. Ollie could be a class act with the right players behind him. Rashford can play wide or up front, and can step up in the big moments.

27 Aug 2026 11:02:36
Exactly, Kernow.

27 Aug 2026 11:25:12
Agree, Kernow. 👍🏻

27 Aug 2026 13:08:34
In my mind Tzolis starts as does Saka and one of Kai/Viktor. Rashford comes with attitude baggage and Watkins ( and I think I'm correct) tops the most chances needed to score a goal in top 5 leagues - think it was E001 who stated this and apologies Ed001 if I'm wrong, Watkins is also about to be a gazillionaire in Saudi, generational money. Wouldn't want either. If MA and Mr Berta want Alvarez who are we to argue but I'm more than happy with Kai/Vik and thankfully the Osimhen ship has sailed.

Selling Gabi and not replacing is a dereliction of duty though in my opinion. In my 'cut my nose off to spite my face' mode I'd tell Alvarez to do one too. I want players who want to come to our beloved club and improve it - We are and never will be second choice to any club in my mind! Naive but it's the truth at least in mine and hopefully all Gooners' hearts COYG / VTH

{Ed001's Note - yes mate, in at least one season he was lowest in chance conversion. I remember it particularly because Darwin Nunez was being crucified over missed chances in the media, but he sat in the middle ranks of chances converted, while Watkins was being talked of as a great striker but was missing something like twice as many chances!}