ALL Transfer talk - merged thread

[A11M11]

We have had many problems but they all come back to the midfield . An effective one supports it's forwards and protects it's defence . A good one makes it's defenders look betterand allows it's forwards to be just that , making runs up front rather than coming back looking for the ball.
Sort that first and the improvement of players that we complain about will follow.

[DB10GOONER]

We have had many problems but they all come back to the midfield . An effective one supports it's forwards and protects it's defence . A good one makes it's defenders look betterand allows it's forwards to be just that , making runs up front rather than coming back looking for the ball.
Sort that first and the improvement of players that we complain about will follow.

Except for Xhakatard obviously. Let's not get carried away.

But I agree. With Ozil in semi-retirement we have no one that can create in that midfield and with Xhakatard as the nominal DM we have no one that can defend in midfield. We need to fix both those positions as a priority.

[A11M11]

Well Xhaka is a key element in the problem , he's not suited to the job that he has been handed and therefor is at best average at it. When he plays for Switzerland he is a different player but then he has Mehmedi a forward thinking player alongside him who is more box to box and chips in with a few goals too.
I was more thinking of the back four that gets little or no protection . A bit of height and aggression in the midfield and then the Holdings , Luiz and even Mustfi's would not get so exposed and get into last ditch reaction positions .
Forward wise Lacazette is always back looking for the ball because it doesn't come quick enough for his poacher style , quick turn and shoot , Eddie often makes unseen runs with no support coming behind him and gets isolated and we fall back on Auba to be Auba.
It all stems from Midfield and that is where we need to strengthen.

[StuartL]

Signing Aoaur ahead of Partey would be a mistake IMO.

The CDM position has been a weak point of our team for years, now we have two decent prospects at CB, they deserve the defensive shield they need to thrive and prosper under the new regime. If we sort out the spine this year then I expect an improved league position, fewer goals conceded and more scored.

I agree that the CDM position is the key one to successfully fill - but from all the talk we are confident that Partey will come, once we pay his release clause (some reports state personal terms were all agreed a while back and he would reject other clubs to come here)

IF that is true (notice the big IF ) then it kind of makes sense to attempt to land Aouar before someone else does, as Partey is as good as ours ! (Famous last words eh )

[mcdowell42]

Emiliano Martinez is having his medical at #avfc this afternoon. Deal worth around £20m agreed with Arsenal. Martinez set to start Premier League opener against Sheff Utd #afc

[goonersid]

Emiliano Martinez is having his medical at #avfc this afternoon. Deal worth around £20m agreed with Arsenal. Martinez set to start Premier League opener against Sheff Utd #afc

It’s a shame, he has had a glorious last few months at the club.
Doubt there is a better keeper in the league at collecting high balls into his area.
I wonder if empty stadiums have helped him?
Well at least when fans are allowed back, we will for the first time in ages, have a former player we can applaud when he lines up in the oppostion.

[mcdowell42]

BREAKING: Arsenal have accepted an offer from Aston Villa for goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.


Sky sports

[IW8Goalmachine]

He has no fight in him so he can fuck right off

[shu]

He has no fight in him so he can fuck right off

Stupid comment

Didn't Arteta say he was going from 20k per week to 75k per week !

You want to turn that down ? I would rather have had him as number 1

[IW8Goalmachine]

He has no fight in him so he can fuck right off

Stupid comment

Didn't Arteta say he was going from 20k per week to 75k per week !

You want to turn that down ? I would rather have had him as number 1

He has a few good games and there are people calling for him to be number 1 over a keeper who was one of our best players last season.

Crazy stuff

[mcdowell42]

Sky Sports report #Arsenal have accepted a £16m offer from Aston Villa for Emi Martinez. The fee could rise to £20m with add ons, with the 28-year-old Argentine due to undergo a medical at Villa Park this weekend & discuss personal terms. https://t.co/WzUM2BABGo

[GoonerMuzz]

I think we may regret that but only time will tell. Good luck to Emi though, he seriously stepped up when required and you cant ask more than that

[TeeCee]

He has a few good games and there are people calling for him to be number 1 over a keeper who was one of our best players last season.

Crazy stuff

Spot on mate. Martinez has looked good for 6 months in a 10 year playing career! Yet some people would say he's suddenly one of the best keepers in the PL. Bizarre. Leno has been excellent for us and did nothing to deserve to be dropped. Martinez has found his level at Villa to be honest. He struggled in the championship for years!!

[nut flush gooner]

He has a few good games and there are people calling for him to be number 1 over a keeper who was one of our best players last season.

Crazy stuff

Spot on mate. Martinez has looked good for 6 months in a 10 year playing career! Yet some people would say he's suddenly one of the best keepers in the PL. Bizarre. Leno has been excellent for us and did nothing to deserve to be dropped. Martinez has found his level at Villa to be honest. He struggled in the championship for years!!

Leno was nowhere near being our best player last season. The facts are that Auba excelled everyone else underperformed.

Not sure why anyone is putting him on a pedestal he's not even world-class. Surely one of Germany's worst international goalkeepers in a while. WIth regards to Martinez, it looks like we are potentially signing Raya from Brentford. Well there goes £10m of the money that should have been earmarked for Partey and no sign of any departures. Laca doesn't want to leave, nor does Bellerin by the sounds of it.

[augie]

He has a few good games and there are people calling for him to be number 1 over a keeper who was one of our best players last season.

Crazy stuff

Spot on mate. Martinez has looked good for 6 months in a 10 year playing career! Yet some people would say he's suddenly one of the best keepers in the PL. Bizarre. Leno has been excellent for us and did nothing to deserve to be dropped. Martinez has found his level at Villa to be honest. He struggled in the championship for years!!

Leno was nowhere near being our best player last season. The facts are that Auba excelled everyone else underperformed.

Not sure why anyone is putting him on a pedestal he's not even world-class. Surely one of Germany's worst international goalkeepers in a while. WIth regards to Martinez, it looks like we are potentially signing Raya from Brentford. Well there goes £10m of the money that should have been earmarked for Partey and no sign of any departures. Laca doesn't want to leave, nor does Bellerin by the sounds of it.

Seriously ?? Argentina havent had 1 quality keeper in well over a decade and yet your man martinez was never even suggested until 2 months ago If we sold martinez 6 months ago we would have been lucky to get a mars bar and a packet of crisps and a lot of fans would have been wondering who he was, and now after 15 games we have fans labelling him as top class I understand some fans disappointment at the sale of martinez but I cannot understand the outrage at the decision - dress it up any way you like, martinez is a 27 year old keeper who has had 15 good games in 10 years at the club, and most managers will look at the situation and see Leno as the safer choice