Swale_Gooner1985 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 11, 2019 10:23 am
Morning, hope you're all still miserable sods? Given how the season panned out I'd imagine so.
Anyway, it's that time to start thinking about who might go and where we need to strengthen...it actually feels like a bigger and harder job than last year for Emery. It's a window where he needs to be brave and possible trust some youth going into the new season.
I can't see any big names coming in, maybe a few around the £20m mark like we got with Torreira and Sokratis, if he manages to find two that are decent like they are then that won't be a bad start will it?
So who's out...We already know Welbeck, Ramsey, Lichtsteiner and Cech are out. A back up right back would be a nice addition although with Bellerin coming back and Maitland Niles an able back up it probably won't be the priority.
I really hope he throws 3 or 4 of the young lads in and gives them a proper go because they look on the cusp of being ready to kick on. Niles, Nelson, Smith-Rowe and Willock I can see making some impact and being hungry to push for a place in the 16.
Who could we get rid of? Ospina will go surely? Chambers too I'd imagine and he's someone we could get a bit of money for...maybe £15M...Mustafi clearly hasn't improved and if we could get a similar fee for him then I'd out him too. Holding to come back in is a positive but with Koscielny and Monreal seemingly on the way out then I'd say at least two more defenders are needed. Torreira, Guendouzi and Xhaka id be happy to see stay in the midfield but with Ramsey going a really good player to add in there is vital...Willock may step up but I feel that's a position we need someone...especially with Ozil so hit and miss. If someone we could ship Ozil off to China it must be done. Then reinvest in some quality in the wide areas as we are desperate for quality there. Iwobi and Mhki aren't up to it and some quality out wide will allow Auba and Laca to concentrate on being forwards rather than having to split to wider areas and be made to put a shift in.
So....Ospina, Elneny, Chambers, Koscielny, Monreal, Ozil, Mhki can all go if possible and promote Nelson, Smith-Rowe and Willock plus add 2x CB, 2 wide players, a back up keeper and a back up forward...flogging that list could raise about £100 maybe...very Ozil dependant though and it seems unlikely he will go anywhere this summer. A decent rebuild could be done with £140M....Especially for the aim of reaching the top 4....obviously to hit the heights of City and Liverpool much more time and investment is needed but if Unai has a good summer, outs the clear deadwood, uses some youth and hits two or three good signings we have a chance of competing for the top four.
Spurs and Chelsea also have massive jobs next season and I can see one of them struggling....along with Man United so it's wide open for me. Spurs and Chelsea both have question marks over the manager, and what with the stadium spend (Spurs) and the transfer ban (Chelsea) it's unlikely they will be able to improve their squads. With Hazard gone and Eriksen looking likely to leave that will hit them hard in terms of creation. Several spurs players have also seemingly got fed up and look ready for a new challenge.
It's not just Arsenal with an uncertain summer ahead lads and it's going to be really interesting. Unai got business done quickly last summer so imexpecting some early movement in terms of transfers.
Two weeks ago it looked hard to get excited after such a poor end to the season and that shocking performance in the final but we all come back and do it again don't we...it's within us and that wont change!! COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!