As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Mudryk may well have fucked his career! No CL for the Chavs next year, maybe not the year afterwards. If Mudryk doesn't perform they will just go out and buy someone else and he is stuck there for virtually his entire career because no-one else will pay his wages. They could end up with an underperforming squad all on 7-10 year contacts
We big 85m for him so that counts for something. There was genuine intent to sign him, just as there was intent to sign Vlahovic last season. I do hope Edu and Arteta have scouted alternatives. Thyy need to be good though and a fit for the club. No point signing a player and spending money simply to validate the expectation of signing someone. No point signing a player if they are shit.
Saliba: "The club is speaking with my agent and me. I am so happy here." | @Football_LDN
Saliba talks Arsenal future Admits NLD victory helps him decide Arsenal are focused on transfers at the moment, attention will return to contracts soon
Arsenal have made Declan Rice their top target this summer & are growing in confidence that they can beat Chelsea to his signature. Arsenal believe that their status as Premier League leaders puts them in a strong position. [@garyjacob, Times] #afc
Arsenal have made Declan Rice their top target this summer & are growing in confidence that they can beat Chelsea to his signature. Arsenal believe that their status as Premier League leaders puts them in a strong position. [@garyjacob, Times] #afc
Declan Rice would be a very good acquisition for us if we could pull it off (without the 3 month saga).
I might get shot down for this, but here's my thoughts on this window
Mudryk - would have been great to get him but could have caused massive problems. He didn't want to sit on the bench, if he was played ahead of Saka or Gaby, with both talking about new contracts, were could have fucked up massively.
I've been thinking about signings and basically, apart from center midfield, we need decent squad players not necessarily first choices. So my hope would be.....
Sign Savic from Lazio, loan with option to buy at 45m. I see him as a Xhaka replacement not backup to Partey. Can you imagine a Partey/Savic centre midfield? The new Vieira/Petit!
Offer 15m for Thuram at Moenchengladbach. Good backup for Jesus, may prove good enough as first choice. Only 25/26 so a sell on fee after 3/4 years is possible
Leandro Trossard - not that I rate him massively but his record is decent, premiership proven and his contract is up in the summer too so 12-15m might get him too. Good cover for Martinelli or Saka.
This would give us decent cover for striker, decent cover for wide left and right. Vieira is cover for Ode, Xhaka is cover for Savic or Partey. Right back we have Tomi and Benny Blanco, left back, Zinchenko and Tierney. CB we only have holding but Tomi or Benny could step in.
So we'd have decent cover everywhere for pretty much the layout we would have paid for Mudryk.
That would work for me and would give us a very decent second string to play Europa league games
If we want another winger then it’d have to be someone willing to rotate in the false 9 or play second fiddle to Martinelli and Saka. Maybe Hazard fits the bill for that? I haven’t seen anything of him since he left Chelsea, but I remember what a player he could be and he’s got experience as a false 9 too.
Trossard is alright from what I’ve seen, but aside from when we play them, I barely ever watch Brighton so could t really give an honest opinion.
Thuram and Savic are very good calls, TeeCee. I’d like us to swoop for Enzo Fernández. Chelsea really wanted him, before they spunked it all on Mudryk, and he’s an incredibly talented CM at just 21.
Ivan Fresneda is definitely on our radar apparently but surprise, surprise the Chavs are sniffing around all of a sudden.
Raphina and Torres have stated in Marca (I think) that they aren't looking to leave Barca any time soon.
Trossard a decent shout but maybe not within our age profile really. Milinkovic Savic also not quite the preferred age group but a loan with option to buy would be tempting.
If a wide player is high on our list I wouldn't mind a cheeky bid to Brighton for Kaoru Mitoma. He's been excellent this season imo.
Declan Rice is a definite yes from me. One of those players that I don't think you appreciate unless he plays for your own team.
Arsenal have been offered Brighton and Belgium winger Leandro Trossard, 28, who is set to leave the Seagulls this month. (Independent)
Arsenal have made contact with Barcelona to explore deals for Brazil winger Raphinha, 26, and Spain forward Ferran Torres, 22.
Arsenal are interested in signing Real Valladolid's Spanish right-back Ivan Fresneda, 18.
What is our obsession with wingers?? My wish is someone to replace Xhaka (an absolute pipe dream I know) and a CF who consistently scores 20+ goals per season. Imagine someone like van Persie, with Saka and Martinelli providing for him. We would be formidable.
I know everyone wants a 20+ goal scorer but scoring goals isn't really a problem amongst our players, we've scored 4 less than Shitty and they have an absolute goal machine, i wonder if having a target might hamper the others a bit
Still think the priorities should be Partey back up and a proper CM before a striker, probably another out and out CB too if i'm honest, there are those who can fill in but i'd still rather a full timer rather than using Holding or bringing in one of the RB/LBs. Striker should be a summer priority when there is more choice at better prices