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.
()Arsenal have reportedly made Federico Chiesa their priority transfer target, for the remainder of the window @CMercatoWeb
While that would be something; we don’t need another winger, Italians usually bitch out of leaving Italy, and I can’t see us spunking the money on him, especially when we need a cm.
I’d view this as more likely a smokescreen to send people on a wild goose chase, while we quietly get on with our real target.
By the way we h a e been linked with Brighton’s Caicedo
We can’t / won’t sign him and Rice too, so it may well be a case of we get one and Chelsea get the other
I don’t watch much of other teams, so do all the knowledgeable folk on here have a preference and why ?
Times like this is when properly run big clubs stand out from the pack and act like they should, but it wont happen for us I'm afraid
Instead of wasting time fcuking about chasing second rate talent (rice and everton guy) or trying to negotiate with a club like brighton who are excellent at squeezing every last penny from desperate buying clubs, we should imo go in balls deep for Camavinga - reality is that madrid are gonna make huge effort to sign Bellingham in summer and Camavinga who is getting fcuk all game time now, will get even less then. Rumours today suggest that madrid are gonna offer Camavinga in the deal to sign Bellingham, so imo we should either (a) try to sign Camavinga on loan now with obligation to buy outright in the summer or (b) look under the cushions in the boardroom and scrap the money together to sign him fully now.
There are signings and there are signings that can define your club and where it is going, and for me Camavinga is a massive game changing signing - I know mudryk looked impressive in his 20 min cameo against the victims, but Camavinga would be a far better signing for AFC and if we were willing to spend 80m+ on a winger, then we shouldnt hesitate to spend it on one of the best young midfielders in world football right now. To drop our gaze from a player like him to a second rate rice would be heartbreaking - the price tags might be similar but that is where the similarities end, and no way would rice be referred to as anything above 40m if he was welsh or scottish (or if he was still Irish )
Said this on here a few days ago. Rice isn't a bad palyer, but he's a big fish in a very small pond and 40 million is more than enough for him, even in today's mad market. Plenty out there who I'm sure we could get for 40 mill who would be better and as for the 80+ million mentioned for Rice, it would be nuts. We could get a world class player for that price. The Hammers will want a fortune for Rice, so let Chelsea pay it.
As for Camavinga, I don't know enough to comment, but if he's as good as Augie says, then I agree with pushing the boat out to get him now. If we can't then Caciedo looks useful, but again, that's an awful lot of money for him. If we could pick up Onana from the Toffees in this window for a reasonable sum, then I'd do so. It wouldn't prevent us going after a top name in the Summer. However, with a handful of days left in the window to find a replacement, I can't see that Everton are in a position to sell anyone.
80million for Rice would be idiocy. He's a good player but certainly not a great player. 30 to 40million I'd say yeah take a punt. But 80? Please do off and fuck.
80million for Rice would be idiocy. He's a good player but certainly not a great player. 30 to 40million I'd say yeah take a punt. But 80? Please do off and fuck.
Another over rated Ingerlish/Oirish player
We've seen it all before Wileshite, Grealish, can't be bothered to think of the names of the hundreds that have gone before!
Add to that he is an arsehole?
Please no, we don't need this dud!
If we get Rice this is a player who would stay 5 years.
Locotelli is a player who would want to leave after one or two seasons. Zubimendi will attract Real Madrid/Barcelona interest eventually.
I can see Rice as a genuine target. Recall Patino, sell Lokonga and next season we could have Partey, Xhaka, Rice, Patino as midfield options among the 6 & 8 roles.
Would we be overpaying due to the English tax, yes. But we cant avoid it. Its not just about ability and quality, its also about if they are a fit for the team. Rice could also play the more advanced Xhaka role and single pivot Partey.
If we added him to our midfield rivals should shit
Genuinely don't think we've seen half of what Declan Rice is capable of, especially this season when he's been left isolated as the sole DM. If we do get him for anything less than £80m then we've done well. I like this player and been suggesting he'd be ideal for our midfield for a couple of seasons.
The caveat i'd put on Rice is that he is not worth £80M under Moyes, however he could be under a better Manager and i get the feeling Arteta potentially could get much more out of him, additionally think of the players around him currently compared to those he'd be playing with
As with most players it would be a gamble and there are better players out there however how available they are and whether they'd be in our price range or not i dont know. Personally i think Camavinga would be unobtainable for various reasons although i'd probably prefer him, as for Onana i've not seen enough to make a fair assessment however with the position his team are in although he might be cheap he at least is partially responsible for where they are
On a side note the whole thing with Chelsea is interesting, if i were the Kroenkes i'd be playing games with Boehly, rich American businessmen are often known for their attempts at oneupmanship and if the Kroenkes could put their egos to one side they could devastate Chavski's finances
Rice is the best proper DM in the PL. He's everywhere and simply a monster in defence. Always gives 120%. I'd love us to get him.
70-80m for Caceido? I've never seen him have a good game
Over 60m for a 30yo Casemiro? No thanks
Camavinga,? Great player, albeit inconsistent, would cost over 80m and would want to leave in 2 years.