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We welcomed Sheffield United to the Grove this afternoon eager to regain league momentum after Monday’s setback at Anfield. Our team selection was a slight surprise. Granit Xhaka who quite undeservedly receives dogs abuse from some posters (😃) was left out and Nketiah replaced Lacazette upfront in the centre.  It looked as if we were playing four at the back in something close to a 4-2-3-1 but the switching of Tierney and Saka made it hard to determine this. Sheffield United’s new signing from Liverpool, Rhian Brewster was not signed in time to play.

The game kicked off in a drizzle that created a midwinter scene and the pitch was clearly sodden. This created the first incident when Gabriel arguably underhit a ball back to Luiz and Burke robbed the dilatory Luiz who was slow to react and tugged the striker’s shirt. Leno had a superb starting position and sorted out the problem with a clearance and may have diverted attention away from greater scrutiny on Luiz. Certainly his slowness to react put one in mind of the disastrous Kola passback at the Lane which he failed to deal with. Luiz was lucky and his first half performance was riddled with casual body language and slowness to react to danger.

Most of Arsenal’s dangerous moments (and there were precious few in the first half) came down the left where Tierney and Saka combined well and the Scot was always keen to swing in a cross. Aubameyang played a delicious pass to Nketiah after five minutes but the young striker’s control was disappointing and the chance passed.

Sheffield United are not easy on the eye but grew into the game largely because Arsenal did not impose themselves at all. We moved the ball slowly in midfield almost as if it was a homage to Xhaka (who may after all be acting under orders!)   We have added the long throw to our armoury (at least from the left) where young Tierney hurled in a couple of dangerous balls and this was our primary attacking move in the first thirty minutes.

Sky graphics showed a very left-sided bias in our build-up and although we saw a couple of relatively timid efforts by Nketiah we weren’t building any pressure and although the Blades were just as stilted in their build-up Leno flapped unimpressively at a left-wing cross under pressure and was in this old-timer’s view lucky to see a Sheffield United player penalised.

The highlight of a horrendous first period was Aubameyang pouncing on a poor Ramsdale clearance and firing a great shot which the keeper just tipped over. A scissor kick from Auba aside the half spluttered to an end with Sheffield United much the happier side.

Half Time — Arsenal 0 Sheffield United 0

The second half opened in much the same way as the first ended but on 53 minutes an incisive pass from Ceballos in the inside left channel just evaded Aubameyang .Whether that galvanised Arsenal or whether it was the introduction of Pepe for the subdued Nketiah on 57 minutes we saw a complete and decisive change in the game.

On 60 minutes Elneny broke forward for the first time and Aubameyang’s return pass was picked up and crossed by Bellerin for Saka at the far post. There was little pace on the cross but Saka produced an excellent and precise header into the top left-hand corner despite the cover on the line.

Arsenal 1 Sheffield United 0

Having waited an hour for some attacking quality we waited only three more minutes for some more. Pepe ran at the Sheffield defence from the right wing going past two defenders and at full speed placed a precise low drive in off the left-hand post.

Arsenal 2 Sheffield United 0

 It was exactly the sort of quality goal Arsenal signed him to produce and very good to see. Having played twice since Sheffield had last turned out the Gunners understandably took their foot off the gas but looked relatively comfortable as they passed the ball around in midfield and regularly turned it back to Leno in goal. I suspect Leno touched the ball as much as anyone in the Arsenal team.

Chris Wilder who had  brought on McBurnie for Burke went for broke and introduced Billy Sharp giving them effectively three big strikers supplemented by Fleck whose defelckted goal (geddit) had  brought them a lucky equaliser in January.

Their physicality and effort and Arsenal’s relatively defensive approach enabled them to apply some fairly unsophisticated pressure. McBurnie produced their first effort of the match , comfortably saved by Leno in the 77th minute but with around five minutes to go a determined run by Baldock allowed him to feed the ball to McGoldrick and he hit an excellent left-footed shot past Leno.

Arsenal 2 Sheffield United 1

That cued a degree of panic in this viewer especially as we had to endure a number of corners and long throws from the Blades but we managed to keep our goal intact despite Ramsdale coming up for the last couple of set pieces and the game ended with Arsenal breaking on a Sheffield goal without a keeper in place . Lee Mason, no fan of us in the past and exceptionally lenient in his treatment of the persistent fouling of McGoldrick pissed on our chips by blowing the whistle. The goal we may have scored could have given us the title at the end of the season!

So we go into the blessed interlull having secured 9 points from four games and this season have only lost once at Anfield on Monday against a brilliant Liverpool side. Satisfactory progress particularly as we have also eliminated Leicester and Liverpool on their own grounds from the Carabao Cup.

So are we happy? Are Arsenal fans ever completely happy? What happens in the transfer window before 11pm tomorrow will determine our mood. On the positive side we are much better organised and much harder to beat but we struggle against the low block at home and in four halves at home we have only played remotely well in one. Concern has been expressed about Arteta’s mindset accusing him of dull football and there is certainly a lot of handbrake being applied at the moment but I have enormous faith in the Spaniard tempered only by concern that Edu shows little sign of being able to sort out the balance and composition of the squad and we desperately lack creativity in our midfield.

But there are many plus points. Those who say that we are totally dependent on Aubameyang’s goals might care to note that he has only scored once so far and I will be calling him into my virtual  office tomorrow to discuss his continued presence in my Fantasy League team! We are sharing the goals around and we are much better organised in possession and defending set pieces. Gabriel is calmness personified and Tierney is, in my view, one of the very best left backs (wing or full) in the Premier League. Leno would not have been my choice as goalkeeper over Martinez but he is a fine keeper and Saka is a gem (albeit one who is still relatively unpolished)

If Thomas would come to the Partey tonight I would be much happier because our midfield is pedestrian and Willian has only impressed against Fulham but we have started soundly and as Arteta’s coaching impacts more on the team we should improve. But that improvement without better quality in midfield will have a ceiling that is probably below where we would expect it should be.

Football is changing this season. It is much more attacking, defensive mindsets are eschewed and games are much more open. Given this situation our better organisation should stand us in good stead but we may genuinely compare poorly to our rivals in terms of flair and attractiveness and we can expect that the hypocrites in the media who criticised us in the past for our fragility may soon be bemoaning our dullness. It is a price I am quite prepared to pay this season particularly as I have so little respect for the pundits!

308 Drinks to “Blades Blunted in Second-Half Purple Patch”

  1. 1
    bathgooner says:

    First! Now to read TTG’s purple prose.

  2. 2
    Pangloss says:

    Very speedily produced review, TTG. Congratulations.

    COYG

  3. 3
    Countryman100 says:

    Quite superb TTG. Auba awaits his summons (heh) to the Court of TTG. He will be kept waiting ten minutes, then invited in and, as he reaches for a chair, TTG will quietly say “and who said you could sit down Mr Aubameyang? Stay standing please. “ Auba will give that goofy grin. TTG will look sternly at him. “This is no laughing matter Mr Aubameyang. You have cost me many points in my Fantasy football league. What do you have to say for yourself?”. Auba shuffles his feet in his gold boots. “Sorry Boss. I will do better”. “ See that you do Mr Aubamayang. See that you do. “

  4. 4
    bathgooner says:

    An excellent match report TTG. I envy your concision and ability to distill the esence of a match. This report is like a fine malt distilled from a largely turgid mash sprinkled with a small amount of high quality ingredients. Nice one, sir.

    We are making slow progress in the right direction. I really hope MA8 can get the extra players he wants.

  5. 5
    BtM says:

    Very good summary, TTG (I hate to be a pedant but your spellchecker is a f*ck up – you don’t spell defelckted with a k 🙂 ).

    Nine points from a possible twelve with the only defeat coming at Anfield is a RESULT anyone with any sense would have taken at the start of the season.

    And yes, we live in times where the Ghost of George predominates over the Spirit of Arsene. This is the kind of game where we would have surrendered a two nil lead in days gone down. Stopping the opposition from running through us (a l’Emery) is, very correctly, being prioritised over swashbuckling forward in the style of Errol Flynn in Gone With The Wind.

    I have not yet given up hope that Partey will be a Gunner by Monday midnight. If he isn’t, we can’t afford the luxury of leaving Guendouzi and Ozil on the naughty step until the next window even if they’re only deployed to rest weary legs in times of hurt. Ozil wouldn’t have let us down today. (Ouch – who threw that brickbat!?)

    Pepe scored a good goal today. Keep doing that, son and stop tripping over your feet 🙂

    Keep winning, Arsenal. Play better. Sign Partey.

  6. 6
    bathgooner says:

    BtM, a word to the wise. When you are going to be ‘pedantic’ it’s terribly important not to leave a hostage to fortune. Errol Flynn did not even have a walk on part in Gone With the Wind. You may have been thinking of the big fella (by reputation) in The Adventures of Robin Hood or Captain Blood. Clark Gable the leading man in GWTW was no swashbuckler.

  7. 7
    ATG says:

    My bad proof reading BtM all fixed now…

  8. 8
    BtM says:

    That was a fly cast for someone, Bath and I think the first time I’ve hooked a big fella like you 🙂

    Errol, albeit in his later years, starred in the Fife Cinema remake of the first, flawed attempt. The remake, set on the rolling plains of the Howe against the majestic backcloth of the Lomond Hills, was by far the better of the two and it is to that one that I refer 🙂 Undeservdly, it was not award the Oscar it desrved.

    Meanwhile, Liverpoo are deservedly 2-0 down at Villa. Carragher – who is wearing his Liverpoo top, scarf and hat for his completely unbiased commentary, is currently sick as the proverbial parrot. Amusing to laugh at his attempts to sound unbiased. Worth a watch if you’re not tuned in.

    Brilliant save, Agent Emi. Keep that up! Another clean sheet please.

  9. 9
    BtM says:

    Sorry, Arthur, it was a deliberate typo by TTG – my sad attempt at humour. Apologies. Too much hooch been poured down my throat by Her Nellieness tonight.

  10. 10
    ATG says:

    @BtM

    Yep watching this one unfold I can just imagine Carragher changing to his normal clothes at half time 😀

  11. 11
    ksn says:

    Villa 2-1 Pool. Amazing that the so called lesser teams play with so much confidence and freedom against Pool when we were defensive and unconvincing last Monday. Something for Arteta to think about. This season will be really tough with so many sides playing so well. Even a West Ham who we beat have suddenly started showing form with their emphatic victories over Wolves and Leicester. Everton (a team against whom we have historically fancied ourselves) is another team which is producing amazing results. Unless we improve our team by getting in quality players by tomorrow we could again be wishing for a top six finish this season.

  12. 12
    ksn says:

    3-1 now for Villa!

  13. 13
    ATG says:

    3:1 now 😀

    ksn,

    I feel your pain this is why I though especially today we lacked the hunger I thought MA8 would infuse into our lot, not complaining but the less I think about that first half the better.

  14. 14
    TTG says:

    That C100 has second sight. That’s exactly how my conversation with Auba will go but I will get the lad to loan me his ostentatiously wrapped Ferrari for a trip to the fish and chip shop with my wag, Mrs TTG . And he can pay for the petrol .
    As for Btm I thought the ‘ defleckted ‘ joke was not bad for a goal scored by Fleck. You’re not going to get my best material if you treat it like this 😃. And fancy not knowing Errol Flynn wasn’t Scarlett O’Hara. More Jamie O’ Hara .
    Finally I think I can get the Times to publish Pangloss’s review of Le Prof in daily instalments and we are talking serious cash . I just hope you can afford it PG !

  15. 15
    ksn says:

    4-1 for Villa now. Unbelievable.

  16. 16
    ATG says:

    make that 4:1

    Can you image Carragher now?

  17. 17
    ATG says:

    I have put it back TTG

  18. 18
    ATG says:

    Good save Emi

  19. 19
    bathgooner says:

    A remake of GWTW in Fife starring Errol Flynn? I never heard of that one, BtM. Did you play Scarlett O’Hara or Melanie Wilkes?

  20. 20
    bt8 says:

    TTG, man of many talents. 🤣🤣

  21. 21
    ATG says:

    5:1 to Villa bloody hell…..

  22. 22
    ksn says:

    5-1 to Villa. It was Citeh last week and it is Pool today who are at the receiving end of a five goal onslaught. Can happen to anyone ( as Manure realised today conceding six) in this league.

  23. 23
    TTG says:

    Bt8
    None of them remotely useful or monetisable

    Expect the press to discover multiple Covid infection in the Liverpool squad tomorrow.
    Actually Villa, Everton and West Ham all look decent sides . This could be an interesting season . And no Invincibles !

  24. 24
    Countryman100 says:

    Everton still have a shot TTG!

  25. 25
    ATG says:

    6:2 😀

  26. 26
    ksn says:

    Arteta says he has 100% backing of the owners which means nothing if they don’t give him the cash to get at least one of Aouar or Partey in during this window.

    6-2 now. Villa keep scoring. They have been lucky with two deflections going in but the way they have played they deserve the goals.

  27. 27
    BtM says:

    Entire report had me smiling, TTG – please keep your best stuff coming. (I’m saving mine for our next tete-a-tete over a pizza 🙂 )

    The Dippers are nothing without Straight Forearm Smasher Mane. Barkley should have scored four. 8-2 would be a fairer reflection of this game.

    6-2 now. Carragher has taken a happy pill, he’s giving Villa some credit rather than blaming Liverpoo mistakes for every goal Villa score.

  28. 28
    ksn says:

    The score at Villa Park says something about Mane too. He makes such a huge contribution to their game (though he was so aggressive against us that he looked like he was high on something).

  29. 29
    Countryman100 says:

    Poor old Spurs. You put six past Man Utd at Old Trafford and you’re still not first on MOTD.

  30. 30
    BtM says:

    Arteta is suffering from the profligacy of the previous regime, ksn, not the paucity of support from the owners.

    Go back and tally up how much the owners have allowed to be spent (and how much of that has been recouped) in pursuit of last season’s heady eight place finish. No one from Fife would have sanctioned all of that and all Fifers would be hanging on to every bawbee now 🙂

    Having said that, it is extremely frustrating to find ourselves in a position where we have to sell the second best keeper in the League in the hope of buying a new midfielder – potentially to no avail. 🙁

  31. 31
    Countryman100 says:

  32. 32
    ksn says:

    7-2. Cop that.
    Grealish is some talent.

  33. 33
    Countryman100 says:

    We are above Liverpool on goal difference.

  34. 34
    bathgooner says:

    Carragher squeezing out the positives now. “Liverpool have scored two goals away from home. That should be enough to get you three points!”

    Moron. Villa have scored 7 and spurned 5 nailed on chances.

  35. 35
    Countryman100 says:

    Proper club Villa. Pleased for them.

  36. 36
    ksn says:

    Pool got kicked in the balls and Klopp’s face shows the pain.

  37. 37
    ksn says:

    Bathgooner @ 34- ha, ha.

  38. 38
    bathgooner says:

    Agreed CM1100. Always liked Villa and Villans.

  39. 39
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Great report TTG! And produced with impressive alacrity.

    Not much to add. I share your admiration and vote of confidence for Arteta’s pragmatism. That doesn’t preclude the attacking fluency, not at all, but it ensures that in those days when the inspiration deserts us the points will not.

    Mikel is his post-match interview stressed how him, Edu, board and the owners are all working in unison. More fascinating was him talking about Bellerin getting over self-doubt about his role at Arsenal.

  40. 40
    Goonersince54 says:

    Superb very succinct post match report TTG,
    My thoughts are that the first half was a very cagey affair, directly correlated to the 2 long trips up North during the week, with the team not getting back to London till early hours of Friday morning, and Mikel’s team selection predicated on what the medical and fitness staff have assessed re players close to the red zone on the fatigue side re muscular issues etc.
    The heavy pitch didn’t help some already tired limbs, and lack of mental sharpness from the battering we took at Anfield on Monday night particularly.
    Utd sitting very very deep didn’t make things easy either, but once we introduced the much maligned Pepe early in the 2nd half, they couldn’t cope with our change in tempo.
    2 excellent goals followed, and despite a late goal from Utd, there was only going to be one winner.
    Full credit to Mikel, who since our silly home defeat to Chelsea back in December, has made us very hard to beat at home in the league.
    He has also made incremental improvements on our pretty abysmal away record, and if we want to challenge for the top 4,then that has to continue to improve.
    Credit to the Manager and the players, after a very tough week, that started very poorly, we have come out smiling at the other end tucked in the the top 4 leading into the Int’l break.
    We have much to look forward to, and whether we manage to bring any new blood in before the close of transfer window or not, we are going to need every one of our squad to step up, because excluding the Oct/Nov Int’l breaks, it is 3 games a week right through to the New Year.
    So strap yourselves in, it’s going to be a very hectic 3 months ahead.

  41. 41
    TTG says:

    What a day of extraordinary football !
    Last year’s top three have all taken a stuffing already and only two clubs are unbeaten after four games( Villa 3) . Leicester losing heavily at home to West Ham was a big shock too.Nice evening in the bar too. We do schadenfreude well ( no typo there ) and there’s plenty of opportunity to do it this season .
    As a pragmatist I’m relishing our return to turgid, narrow victories . That Wenger bloke completely ruined our brand with all that expansive , glorious football and we need to rid the place of his influence . It’s about time we stopped not enjoying our football again .

  42. 42
    Uplympian says:

    Excellent & speedy match report TTG. It was a cagey first half against well organised albeit limited opposition. We had to grind out that result which was encouraging considering the arduous week we had already endured. I hope Edu can pull a rabbit out of the hat and give our wonderful manager the tools to match his ambition for the club – he deserves nothing less.

  43. 43
    Osakamatt says:

    Flecking hell TTG, that was quick
    and a fair reflection of the game.
    It was good to stick the knife into
    the Blades especially as their
    obvious singling out of Saka
    annoyed me. Mason let us off early
    with the Luiz incident and then
    seemed to spend the rest of the
    game evening things up.
    Am I a happy gooner as you ask?
    After the defeat at Liverpoo I wanted
    a decent performance in the League Cup,
    a kind draw in the Ropey League, three
    points against Sheff Utd, space
    cleared in the squad, and CM
    reinforcements brought in. Not much
    to ask 😄
    Three deliveries so far, let’s see what
    happens today

  44. 44
    Osakamatt says:

    We need to get Guen, LT and
    Papa on their way as MA clearly
    doesn’t need them. Bring in at
    least one at CM not named
    Jorginho.
    6 shots yesterday was woeful to
    be honest as was 28 minutes
    for our first. It is too simplistic
    to only put that down to the
    CMs but equally we can’t pretend
    that Elneny is suddenly good
    enough to be playing CM for
    The Arsenal – we knew he wasn’t
    2 seasons ago, honest lad that
    he is.

  45. 45
    Osakamatt says:

    Liverpoo and Manure – thank you
    for making me laugh out loud on
    a Monday morning.

  46. 46
    Trev says:

    Good stuff, TTG, with a sound conclusion.

    A difficult, awkward game against a team that look very much like Pulis’ Stoke. Their fouling of Saka was pretty distasteful but it was good to see that their wannabe Rory Delap had no success with his towel assisted long throw routine – we are much better organised these days.

    Wilder’s body language has changed this season. He seems to know they are not very good and the carping about Luiz’s non-red card was pathetic considering his own player escaped a red for a flying two footed lunge into Aubameyang.

    Burke and Basham are most appropriately named, while McBurnie sounds like an overdone something in a bun from under the Golden Arches.

    Good start to the season though with three wins out of four. Some toughies coming up after the Interlull though.

  47. 47
    Osakamatt says:

    Guen to Hertha Berlin on loan
    according to reports.
    No loan fee and no option to
    buy. Not quite the PSG or a
    big club that Guen might have
    had in mind – I hope he will
    work hard and rebuild his
    career for his sake

  48. 48
    Cynic says:

    Didn’t really see the game as I was out and recordings are crap to watch. Good goals, not great defending on the one we let in, The End.

    In other news

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eji_ZcxWoAArRoV?format=jpg&name=small

  49. 49
    ksn says:

    After Manure’s 1-6 loss to the Totts, Souness sat in the studio with a smile while Gary Neville was being interviewed. After Pool’s 2-7 loss to Villa, Souness’s sad face was worth watching. So we had Souness, Carragher, Evra and Neville all looking miserable which was immensely satisfying. They have all laughed at us in the past and karma was catching up.

  50. 50
    ATG says:

    Have we bought anyone yet?

  51. 51
    Countryman100 says:

    No, but Gunnersaurus has been laid off according to Arseblog news

  52. 52
    ATG says:

    That is sad C100 🙁

  53. 53
    Osakamatt says:

    @52
    Sad, yes ATG but I guess he just
    couldn’t adapt to the new environment

  54. 54
    Pangloss says:

    Boo at OM@53

  55. 55
    Osakamatt says:

    Pangloss,
    I apologise to dinosaurs everywhere
    for my allusion to the tragic events
    of 65 million years ago🙏

    Actually I do apologise to Jerry as
    I’m sure it’s not at all amusing for
    him

  56. 56
    Countryman100 says:

    My earliest pictures of my kids at the Arsenal are of them being cuddled by Gunnersaurus in the old family enclosure by the pitch at Highbury.

  57. 57
    Countryman100 says:

    . Here’s my thoughts on transfers. If indeed we are not getting anyone in, I would prefer that to bringing in, in desperation, some over paid and under achieving ageing superstar on big wages that we will struggle to shift. Work with Saka and Pepe to make them better (good signs already). Maybe pick up somebody from a lower league who has great potential (window with EFL remains open until Oct 16). Then go again in January.

    Great risk here of course is injuries in the coming weeks. But plenty of scope for playing younger players (Willock, Smith-Rowe) in the Europa games.

    I’m not saying it’s perfect, but if that’s where we end up it’s not the end of the world.

  58. 58
    TTG says:

    Typical good sense C100.
    We already have enough unsaleable dross on our books at ridiculous wages.
    But—-Not impressed with Edu.
    We’ve brought in either Joorabchian clients , other Brazilians and I’m certain Rúnarsson wasn’t meant to be no. 2 keeper . The unpopular Raul at least got decent deals for the people we deemed surplus to requirements . We can’t sell anyone to anyone other than Emi who might be one of the best goalies in the PL .

  59. 59
    bathgooner says:

    I couldn’t agree more C100. It’s a very long time since The Arsenal picked up emerging talent from the lower reaches (if you exclude Celtic). It’s still there, for sure.

  60. 60
    Steve T says:

    Nice report TTG. 3 points is 3 points. Positives and negatives from that display on a day of bonkers results.

    Have we bought anyone yet??? 12 hours to go.

    I must say that I very much agree with the above from C100 and TTG. We will not know for sure until later but it all seems a bit of a shambles. Here’s hoping that something happens between now and the deadline. Like many though, I won’t be holding my breath.

  61. 61
    ksn says:

    Absolutely agree with you, C100. Either we get someone really good like Aouar, Partey etc., or continue developing our youngsters. No point buying a player like Willian who could well turn out to be the new Ozil in two years time.
    Really sorry about the laying off of Gunnersaurus. I don’t know how much they save by laying him off, but they definitely get bad press and bad feeling all around. Totally avoidable.
    Just heard the post match interview of Chris Wilder the Sheffield United manager and he was going on and on about Luiz not being red carded. Sour loser.

  62. 62
    Countryman100 says:

    Cynic @ 48. For an Arsenal fan you don’t half miss a lot of games mate.

  63. 63
    Countryman100 says:

  64. 64
    TTG says:

    Last season we had in central midfield – Xhaka , Ceballos, Guendouzi , Torreira , Willock , AMN and Ozil ( counting AMN in a role he can play);
    This season we appear to be ending up with – Xhaka, Ceballos, Willock, Elneny , AMN and Willian The season is more compressed than last season yet we have dropped a midfielder. Presumably we could use Chambers at a pinch when he is fit but he isn’t the answer to a maiden’s prayer in terms of creativity and whereas Ozil played last season he doesn’t appear likely to figure at all this season being parked as he is on the naughty step .
    That doesn’t sound like a plan to me . A few weeks ago I and a number of Arsenal fans and journalists much better connected than me were spun a line that Edu and Arteta had a major falling out and were not communicating . I dismissed it as the sort of rubbish some Twitter users habitually post and so did everyone else who saw it.
    I was told by someone who knows the club well yesterday that tension inside the club has made the window more problematic . If we don’t sign a decent midfield option ( but note C100’s comments, it must be a worthwhile option ) we have wasted a big opportunity to compete more effectively this season . I just can’t see our current midfield options getting us into the Champions League .

  65. 65
    Osakamatt says:

    Apparently Gunnersaurus will be
    back when the fans are back and
    Jerry is actually retiring so I don’t
    need to apologise and instead
    wish him well.

    Same for Daniel Ballard who is off
    to the seaside at Blackpool.

  66. 66
    Countryman100 says:

    If Ozil will take a pay cut, there’s his future career all wrapped up.

    Matt if what you say is true, the comms team at Arsenal need their arses kicking for the way they allowed the story to come out. So easy to have phrased this in a warm and positive way.

  67. 67
    Osakamatt says:

    Just watched Lyon vs Marseille
    highlights. Aouar scored from the
    spot – though not as cool as AMN –
    and missed a presentable chance.

    Payet scored for Marseille and was
    then sent off for a challenge very
    similar to the one on Auba yesterday.
    First he was given a yellow but Le VAR
    advised the ref to check and she then
    red carded the portly-looking Payet.

  68. 68
    Osakamatt says:

    C100,
    I read it in The Grauniad……
    so I can’t say for sure.
    It’s in the transfer deadline
    blog at 9.51.

    Although it must be a slow day
    if Gunnersaurus hibernating is
    transfer news

  69. 69
    TTG says:

    Charles Watts a very ITK Arsenal journalist has tweeted that we have made a move for Partey . As it’s either we pay the release or we don’t AM have no say in whether he moves if we pay the fee. Would be nice to stuff them late on

  70. 70
    Countryman100 says:

    I’d like to believe this TTG but it sounds a bit Suarez at Liverpool ish …

  71. 71
    TTG says:

    I think Watts is credible
    He says the legal team at Colney are working to trigger the clause having decided to pay the amount required . All over Twitter

  72. 72
    Countryman100 says:

    Ornstein backs up Watts

  73. 73
    Steve T says:

    If any potential signings are dependent on players leaving then it beggars the question as to why the departures were not sorted months ago??? There really can’t be any excuses?

  74. 74
    TTG says:

    Ornstein has just retweeted the story

  75. 75
    bathgooner says:

    The Partey noise is growing. We have apparently told La Big that we are meeting the release clause and a medical is being arranged in Madrid according to Blogs’ Live blog:

    https://arseblog.live/liveblog/5f7a417a3ce22e005fe8de8a

  76. 76
    bathgooner says:

    La Liga not La Big

  77. 77
    Pangloss says:

    Thanks for the clarification Bath@76. I was wondering whether this was some kind of French (hadn’t considered Spanish) nickname that I hadn’t come across.

  78. 78
    North Bank Ned says:

    Excellent match report, TTG. As said above, you distilled the essence of the game to perfection.
    Being hard to beat may not be such a bad attribute to have in this season when it looks that anyone can beat anyone else.
    In terms of league goals conceded this season, we rank third behind Villa and West Ham. Liverpool are joint 17th with Man U and Fulham.
    Agree 100% with C100 that we don’t want a trolley dash today. If we can’t make signings that structurally improve the team, then don’t make signings.

  79. 79
    Countryman100 says:

    If this happens let’s give some credit to Kroenke for making the cash available (which is clearly beyond our current cash balances).

  80. 80
    Countryman100 says:

  81. 81
    bathgooner says:

    We are apparently buying an 18 year old Norwegian striker called Nikolaj Moller from Malmo for £400k.

  82. 82
    Countryman100 says:

    To quote Arseblog, a teenage Scandinavian striker called Nic. What could possibly go wrong?

  83. 83
    bathgooner says:

    A very credible case for Partey releasing our endogenous creative elements, notably Saka:

    Saka to be the Alternative Internal Creative Solution to Houssem Aouar

  84. 84
    Osakamatt says:

    @82
    That is quite witty of Blogs
    😃

    There are several doubters on
    Partey but let’s see first if we can
    get it done

  85. 85
    bathgooner says:

    The biggest doubt I currently have is going into the rest of this season without adding a quality player to that midfield.

  86. 86
    bt8 says:

    Re: The Saka solution suggested above by Seagar and linked by Bath: Fitting the pieces together in a very attractive way. A story I could follow with great interest over the long term if it works out. 🤞

  87. 87
    Countryman100 says:

    To my mind, finding a skilled DM is more important than a creative midfielder. If we get Partey over the line I will be very happy. Saka’s time is now and this will free him up to go central.

  88. 88
    TTG says:

    C100
    Spot-on , we need a much stronger midfield presence . I thought we struggled to keep the ball in the last ten minutes yesterday when Ceballos went off and we don’t get forward quickly enough or often enough . Partey is much more dynamic than anyone we have at present and is an all-round player . He is very similar to Fernandes at United ( except he doesn’t get fifteen penalties to take a year) in terms of his all-round game. If anyone has the time look how he played at Anfield in the Champions League .

  89. 89
    North Bank Ned says:

    ESR is also a wildcard for that role, albeit one about whose spots we know little given his run of injuries.

  90. 90
    North Bank Ned says:

    The Saka role that is, not as DM.

  91. 91
    TTG says:

    Ah the joy of shafting those who sought to shaft you .
    We are threatening to withdraw the Torreira loan deal unless Atletico agree to revised terms- effectively paying us a slug of the fee we’ve paid them back .
    Edu is going up in my estimation

  92. 92
    Osakamatt says:

    We are basically swapping midfield
    players with Atletico it seems.
    Hopefully Partey will be more suited
    physically to the PL than Torreira.

  93. 93
    Osakamatt says:

    off to bed as it’s 1AM here, hopefully
    to wake to news of our shiny new
    midfield

  94. 94
    scruzgooner says:

    great stuff ttg. read like an nketiah flick (or fleck, if you prefer).

    partey? yes please.

    bottles on the bar for all.

  95. 95
    North Bank Ned says:

    We’ll need them, scruz…

  96. 96
    North Bank Ned says:

    One distantly Arsenal-related transfer is a done deal. Ashley Nathaniel-George, who played for us as a schoolboy but didn’t make it to the Academy, has joined Southend from Crawly United, having made League Two football via the non-league pyramid including a spell at Clive’s old stomping ground, Hendon, when they were still in the Isthmian League.

  97. 97
    North Bank Ned says:

    BBC listing Guedouzi season-long loan to Hertha Berlin as a done deal.

    Afterwards, will he be allowed to come in from the cold?

  98. 98
    North Bank Ned says:

    We are reportedly getting a loan fee of 4 million euros for Guendouzi.

    With that, a bit more for LT and Stan scratching down the back of his sofa for any loose change and we might be able to afford Partey…

  99. 99
    Countryman100 says:

    Kroenke has made this happen by guaranteeing the cash today. No instalments. We often hammer him, but this time, well done Stan and Josh.

  100. 100
    Countryman100 says:

    Nips in for a crafty ton!

  101. 101
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Good luck to Matteo! If he can ever sort his attitude out he may become a very good player. In his two year spell with us his appearance tally is a remarkable 82.

  102. 102
    Countryman100 says:

    He is an excellent player and I had high hopes of him in his first season. Unfortunately his immaturity sends him to Hertha Berlin now for a year. The players are learning that you don’t mess with Arteta. He could have learned so much from Mikel who was an excellent 10 for Everton and an excellent 8 for us.

  103. 103
    ksn says:

    We are reportedly going to pay £250000 a week to Partey, which is too much. Something closer to £150000 a week would be justified. We claim to be short of money but overpay almost every player we sign. Poor management.

  104. 104
    Countryman100 says:

    Not if he gets us CL ksn. We’ll see if he delivers. The fact that Simeone is gutted and wouldn’t have sold if he wasn’t forced to is telling. He evidently had a new contract offer on the table at AM. We probably had to beat that by a couple of mil to get him. It’s a great signing. All credit to Edu, Mikel, Vinai and the Kronkes.

  105. 105
    ksn says:

    If he gets us to the top four, of corse, it is worth it, C100. I hope he lives up to all the hype surrounding him and has a great career at a Arsenal.
    Does this signing affect Xhaka or Elneny?

  106. 106
    Countryman100 says:

    Yup. Makes them no longer first choice. Maybe we would play Xhaka and Partey against top teams and play on counter attack. But against lesser teams no.

  107. 107
    bathgooner says:

    If we get Partey (🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻), I expect our default midfield to be a three of:

    Saka, Partey & Ceballos.

  108. 108
    ATG says:

    Gendouzi will mature no doubt, wasn’t he carrying the whole team on his shoulders at one stage? I think that was under Emery and was really unfair on him. Way too young to be doing that and expecting him do it in every game.

  109. 109
    Countryman100 says:

    Maybe so. Like I said, he’s a talented player. But he chose to play the twat and Arteta wasn’t having that. On your bike lad. No regrets.

  110. 110
    North Bank Ned says:

    Saka is younger than Guendouzi. What a difference an attitude makes.

  111. 111
    North Bank Ned says:

    Well in for the ton, C100. Very crafty.

  112. 112
    North Bank Ned says:

    A tidbit from the BBC:

    Analysts at Carteret advise a handul of Premier League clubs on how much a prospective signing would be worth to them, based on how much impact a player has on winning games of football. They’ve given us a look at how they rate all Premier League signings this summer….Southampton, Tottenham and Arsenal have had the best window so far, according to Carteret. All three of those club’s signings are considered to have a higher value than their transfer fees.

  113. 113
    bt8 says:

    Micah Richards quoted by the bbc:
    “ Partey signing would be a massive statement’

    Analysis by former Premier League defender Micah Richards

    Thomas Partey – what a signing. I cannot believe there are not more clubs lining up for him. He is so good. A lot of people just think about him defensively, but he has actually got quite a bit going forward. He has scored goals for the national team and a few for Atletico Madrid as well. If Arsenal can get him it would be a massive deal for them.”

  114. 114
    TTG says:

    C100 makes a good point about the Kroenkes and I’m delighted about Partey. Not sure Ksn’s point is right about the salary in his case but we do overpay having crucified Wenger for his socialist wage policy which saw us losing out on the best players for some time.
    Two worries – one is we will have to leave two players out of the squad we will probably have to keep paying. Edu should have sorted that . We shifted 23 players last year, possibly a quarter of that this year . We got fees for all sorts last year. Very few fees this year but this is largely due to the pandemic.
    Second concern is that it may be hard to find a first team place for Xhaka . I think he will push Ceballos forward into the no.10 role but I would give that to Saka. But a good day providing a Tottenham air traffic controller doesn’t put Partey in a holding pattern for four hours. I would guess he has already signed and us coming for the photos .

  115. 115
    Countryman100 says:

    Dave’s up there in heaven and following the Partey story closely. He’s had a couple of pints of Ambosia and fancies some music, like in the old days on the blog. He books the Celestial music room and this is first up.

  116. 116
    TTG says:

    The Grauniad have originated a story suggesting Partey will cost us £45 million because of VAT. When I last did an overseas transaction VAT did not apply and even if it did we could reclaim it. Not very good journalism and redolent of anti- Arsenal sentiment .

  117. 117
    Goonersince54 says:

    If the Partey deal is confirmed, which i will believe when it is posted on the official Arsenal website, then his longtime admirer BTM will be doing cartwheels, albeit very very creaky ones. !!
    Given the Club are constantly slagged off for poor dealings in the transfer market, it is worth giving them credit when they get it right.
    The injury prone hardly played OX to Pool for 40 odd mill,
    Wally [ now on loan at Saints ] to Everton for not far short of similar amount along with 3o odd mill for Iwobi, and 20 mill for a keeper who cost us nothing, are 4 that add up to a substantial amount.
    Yes our Achilles heel at the moment is the wages some of the deadwood are on, which is clearly hampering our attempts to offload them, but the Covid crisis hasn’t helped either, given interested Clubs have no revenue coming in, so i think like all clubs trying to offload players, we are going to have to accept that we are going to have a few players that are going to get very little if any game time this season.

  118. 118
    bathgooner says:

    52 minutes to the deadline. Why? Oh, why do we so frequently leave everything to the very last minute?

  119. 119
    Countryman100 says:

    Bath is chilling

  120. 120
    Countryman100 says:

    A Partey over here,
    A Partey over there
    Put your hands in the air
    Shake your derrière

    Oh yes. Great window. Great window. Seriously excited! Play that tune Dave!

  121. 121
    Cynic says:

    The Partey noise is growing.

    Bang on the wall with your sweeping up brush. Works for me.

    Don’t know the fella, never recall seeing him play as since La Liga went off Sky, I’ve paid zero attention to it. Not really interested until he pulls on the red and white shirt anyway. Ours I mean. Then his career starts, for me.

    Or the white shirt with bloodstains on it.

  122. 122
    TTG says:

    GSD
    Very good points. We mugged Everton twice on those deals and given Ox’s injury record that deal was a good one for us. Last season we got £8m for Bielik , £3m for Thompson who played one game for Brentford and moved on 23 players .We look like we may have surplus players this year for the squad. Chambers and Mustafi are injured and I believe Mustafi may have a future with us but I hoped we could lose Sokratis and Kolasinac at least.
    I thought this season would see four at the back with Gabriel and Saliba but Saliba is clearly not ready .
    No bids received for Ozil apparently. That speaks volume about a man who is a pariah now.I hope he enjoys putting the cones out at training.It will be interesting to see if Arteta decides if he can use him. It is such a waste to see talent like his wasted .
    Not a bad window all things considered but the incompetence of Gazidis has come back to bite us hard in the bum .

  123. 123
    TTG says:

    Cynic
    Plenty of him on You Tube .
    Your mate Theo has gone back to his roots .Awful waste of money for Everton

  124. 124
    Countryman100 says:

    Great inside track on the Partey transfer.

    Paywalled. Pay the money. Best writing on Arsenal is in the Athletic (no connection).

    https://theathletic.com/2116973/2020/10/05/thomas-partey-arsenal-atletico/?source=user_shared_article

  125. 125
    Countryman100 says:

    Cynic @121. When he plays for us will you watch him? Or will you be “out”?

  126. 126
    ATG says:

    Partey time

  127. 127
    North Bank Ned says:

    A lack of interest in Ozil probably speaks most to the size of his pay packet.

    If I were him, I would be tempted to take his not inconsiderable money for a year and have a year’s recuperation for a body that could probably do with it at this point to prolong his playing days when he emerges from under the red umbrella again.

    Good news on Partey, not least because it will let Arteta start playing the formation he wants, even if there are more pieces to be acquired yet before it is complete.

  128. 128
    North Bank Ned says:

    Plus we didn’t sign Jorginho from Chelsea. That’s a twofer, in my book.

  129. 129
    North Bank Ned says:

    TTG@114: Xhaka’s future role may be to quarterback us to Europa League success. He is more suited to European football than the Premier League.

  130. 130
    Pangloss says:

    I notice that Manchester Rowdies signed four players today. I notice no references to a “trolley dash”. How different, how get different…

    And lest anyone doubt it, I am delighted that we signed a new number 18.

    COYG

  131. 131
    TTG says:

    Pangloss
    The sickening amount of uncritical focus on ManUre on Sky was annoying in the extreme .
    Cavani cost a fortune at age 33 the day after they lost 6-1 at home . Will he even play?
    Club is a basket case .

    One fact I gleaned about Partey is that he speaks excellent English and this is a very big help in settling into a club .

  132. 132
    Osakamatt says:

    So a shiny new midfield maestro
    with my morning coffee ☕️ 😃
    Welcome to Thomas Partey and
    also to Nikolaj Moller. All in all it
    seems a good window on the surface
    (as always we’ll need a couple of
    seasons to actually know) with only
    minor unfinished business – we’ve got
    too many average CBs on the books
    especially if the arrival of Partey is
    really a precursor to a switch to a
    back four. Well done to the transfer
    team.

  133. 133
    Osakamatt says:

    Best of luck to Guen and LT – it’s
    entirely in The Arsenal’s best
    interests that they have great
    seasons with their new clubs and
    I wish them well.
    Also the best of luck to two
    players once of this parish –
    LJW and Feo – been a difficult
    couple of years for both and I
    wish them well too.

  134. 134
    Osakamatt says:

    Also glad you’re still here to
    Laca, Hector, AMN who we might
    have had to let go but didn’t.

    Almost forgot – we should probably
    look into a No 2 keeper but first
    I’d like to actually see Runarsson
    play! Europa League seems to
    offer a couple of chances.

  135. 135
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Fascinating article in The Athletic — Countryman already posted the link — about our long term interest in Partey, and equally Partey’s interest in playing for us.

    Kudos to the club hierarchy for pulling off a very effective transformation to the squad in this transfer window. Strength in all key positions, a balanced combination of experience and youth, and a few versatile players giving us tactical flexibility. Arteta will have you decide to exclude two of the existing non home grown players from the squad in Europe. Probably Sokratis and Ozil? Or Sokratis and Mustafi and then trying to sell/loan them off in January?

    Feel more optimistic about the top four now.

  136. 136
    Doctor Faustus says:

    I meant “Arteta will have to decide to…”

  137. 137
    bt8 says:

    c100. You finally convinced me to pay to get past The Athletic’s paywall, and I am very glad I did. Great article you mentioned @124 on the Partey transfer, also an excellent article by James McNicholas on our options at right back.

  138. 138
    ksn says:

    During Wenger’s time we were never sure about getting in anyone but under Arteta things look a lot more positive as far as transfers are concerned.
    Regarding NBN’s point @128, we could still get Jorginho as the market for domestic transfers is open till the 16th. Though I hope we don’t sign him.
    Very happy with Partey’s signing.

  139. 139
    Osakamatt says:

    ksn,
    The domestic market is open
    except for PL to PL club transfers
    so Jorginho is off the radar for
    now.

  140. 140
    ksn says:

    Thanks OM, didn’t know that. Glad Jorginho won’t be coming to us.

  141. 141
    ecg says:

    OM – Does this mean we can still loan Ozil to Stoke?

  142. 142
    North Bank Ned says:

    OM@139: Thank you for clarifying that to ksn on my behalf.

    ecg@141: That is why Ozil has been spending so much time under his red umbrella. Practicing for all those cold, rainy nights to come.

  143. 143
    Osakamatt says:

    ksn, I share the joy at no Jorginho. If it’s true
    as I read that fat Frank said no then he’s finally
    done us a favour.

    ecg,
    🤔😃

  144. 144
    Osakamatt says:

    idle thumbs Ned
    We might see a few more loans
    to non-PL clubs. On another
    note I was wondering what
    happened with Saliba though
    I’m happy with keeping him
    around until January then a
    loan

  145. 145
    ksn says:

    OM @143, I can’t understand why Jorginho is so popular with Pep, Arteta, Sarri etc. They know so much more about football than we do, so maybe we are missing something. My view is that he is less effective in the EPL than in the Italian league where he has more time on the ball. He hasn’t been very effective for Chelsea either as he is generally marked out of games.
    I think Saliba must be given a few chances to show what he can do before being sent on loan in January if he is still found wanting.

  146. 146
    BtM says:

    On the eve of writing the Midfield Squad Review in our August edition, I was deep in the rough with a very well connected Arsenal ITK (no names, no pack drill) – looking for a ball, his not mine, (mine was a foot from the hole).

    “Arteta has decided he wants Partey and the club will make it happen. Torreira and Guendouzi will leave to fund it. Arteta thinks he’ll transform the team in attack and defence. He wants him to help bring on Saka and Willock and he thinks he might be able to ride shotgun for Ozil in the way that Khedira used to do”.

    I was surprised that it took so long – a function of Atletico’s unwillingness to lose their best player – but I am absolutely delighted it has happened, even although the funding route wasn’t the one Arsenal planned.

    Partey’s signing is right up there with Auba ‘signing da ting’ and the capture of Gabriel in terms of its impact in this excellent window. New readers may wish to scan this earlier ‘Goonerholicsforever’ piece which addresses the criticality of improving the weakest part of the current squad.

    A HUGE ‘well done’ to everyone at The Arsenal who made this happen.

    Squad review 3 – Midfield

  147. 147
    TTG says:

    Btm
    I share your joy !
    There are genuinely people in the Goonersphere who really do have an inside track on the club , in fact the club actively use them to brief on things before they break formally.
    We had a widespread discussion on this when Sanllehi left .
    I literally checked Twitter ( which I eschew ) about 30 seconds before Charles Watts first broke the story about triggering the release clause . As it was him and he is not a bullshitter and he would be concerned about his future credibility if he was wrong I knew it was extremely likely to be true . How did he find out? He has friends within the club. The club wanted a fractious fanbase to know what was happening but couldn’t announce it publicly .
    Some ITK journos get it wrong – Romano claimed Partey was flying to London last night – a big risk when it could all be done remotely . Arsenal had set up the medical in Madrid beforehand and everything else could be done through various media . He had claimed beforehand that Atletico knew nothing of the deal and was trying to get back ahead of the story .
    Earlier in the window I was tipped off by friends at the Gooner that Coutinho’s people had been at Colney en masse. He was playing in the CL that night but I believe he got involved on Zoom. Our friend Cynic pooh-poohed the story but it was genuine . There are very few secrets in football nowadays and clubs actually want it that way.
    Arsenal’s PR was badly off with the trivial Gunnersaurus story though. If they’d spun it that a long-serving much-loved character was retiring and Gunnersaurus was taking a short break it would have saved all the nasty comments that come out of the woodwork when Arsenal are involved

  148. 148
    Countryman100 says:

    Nice piece in the Guardian (so no paywall and you can all read it – yay!) on our new central midfielder.

    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/06/thomas-partey-made-at-atletico-and-now-ready-to-break-free-at-arsenal

  149. 149
    Countryman100 says:

  150. 150
    Cynic says:

    When he plays for us will you watch him? Or will you be “out”?

    Depends on the day we play and the time of the kick off. Some of us have things to do sometimes that don’t involve watching football and these things often clash with it.

  151. 151
    Osakamatt says:

    @145 ksn

    Turns out there was a plan for
    Saliba to return to St.Etienne
    on loan but the paperwork was
    not completed in time.
    St.Etienne have issued a statement
    laying the blame squarely on us
    as you’d expect from them.
    As you say we can find a few chances
    for him to play though it’s going to
    be tricky with Calum, Mari and
    Mus all coming back.

  152. 152
    Cynic says:

    If my memory of the Coutinho thing is correct, which it is, it was said by those who supposedly know that Coutinho himself had been at the training ground on that day with, I believe, Joorabchian and others.

    Which he plainly wasn’t.

  153. 153
    Cynic says:

    As the training photos proved.

    The Zoom thing, and today is the first I’ve heard of it, was arse covering. Those in the know generally don’t.

    Anyway, have fun reinventing the past I have things to do. Again. Horrible actually having a life…

  154. 154
    bathgooner says:

    Huge congratulations to MA8 or his focused approach to our transfer dealings (unlike others I could name), to Edu and the transfer team for delivering the coup of the day at the eleventh hour and to Stan who will, without doubt, have had to sanction the piles of used Euros delivered to La Liga headquarters yesterday afternoon. Our failure to offload the unwanted will have put a serious dent in the financial equation that was worked out earlier this year and someone in the organisation has sanctioned the outlay whether from reserves, loan or gift.

    Without doubt the addition of Thomas Partey will be a step-change in the way this Arsenal team will play. I expect us to progress to a back four though probably not immediately given the next opponent and play a more balanced and more offensive three man midfield. I look forward to Partey being a veritable rock both screening the defence and upon which our creative midfielder(s) will build our attack.

    We have much to look forward to and to be thankful for.

    Forward Arsenal.

  155. 155
    Esso says:

    Cheers TTG!

  156. 156
    Goonersince54 says:

    TTG@122
    My learned friend,
    I would appreciate it if you didn’t attribute my post @117 to that nutter who jumps out of planes for charity.
    Apparently he also does a bit of cooking now and then.
    💚💛💜
    Cheers

  157. 157
    TTG says:

    Clive
    Profuse apologies, I was at a Partey last night 😃

    Cynic
    Firstly we all have lives but most of us are more invested into Arsenal than you and actually watch matches live if we can . That’s what ‘ supporters ‘ do.
    Secondly the fact is that Arsenal looked seriously at signing Coutinho but the deal didn’t proceed.
    It must be disappointing for you when Arsenal do something exciting like yesterday but you never know your luck it could go wrong and cheer you up

  158. 158
    North Bank Ned says:

    What of GSD now there is no G to SD?

  159. 159
    North Bank Ned says:

    BTM@146: The most intriguing part of your post is that Partey offers Ozil a return to favour. Will he take it?

  160. 160
    TTG says:

    Ned
    Two huge ( and equally important ) points !
    We look as if we will have to effectively put a couple of players into cold storage until at least January . It seems Saliba may be loaned out to a Championship club. I think we should have either sent him back to France if homesickness is an issue or loaned him to someone like Fulham or West Ham where he can experience Premier League football. So we must stand down two of Ozil , Sokratis and Kolasinac unless we pay up their contracts . I think Hell will freeze over before they do that with Ozil so we may have two highly paid players kicking their heels .Interesting choice. They have to try and get a tune out of Ozil somehow. Presumably you can play in Europe even if you are not PL registered?

    Re GSD he must be contemplating the future with uncertainty. Does he apply to be his successor or not?

  161. 161
    Osakamatt says:

    An interesting article about the
    actual cost of a transfer. The PL
    trouser 4% so about 2m from the
    Partey deal. Nice work if you can
    get it.
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/06/manchester-united-abandoned-jadon-sancho-after-calculating-cost-at-almost-250m-dortmund-player-agent

  162. 162
    Osakamatt says:

    Even if we had loaned out Sokratis
    we would still be one player over
    for the homegrown rule.
    Based on who has been playing I’d
    assume it is he and Ozil who will
    be left out. But I don’t know what’s
    in MA’s mind. Or whether we still
    want a back up keeper.

  163. 163
    Countryman100 says:

    TTG refers above to the dreadful PR error concerning Gunnersaurus. Ozil has now evidently got involved. Gosh what a good guy or shameless pursuit of making him look good and the club look bad?

  164. 164
    Countryman100 says:

  165. 165
    Countryman100 says:

    So clever. He’s now got Arsenal between a rock and a hard place.

  166. 166
    Pangloss says:

    C100@165. In an alternative reality, Jerry Quy comes out and says he’s retiring rather than being fired (and lets face it, his role is genuinely redundant since there are no crowds to entertain) and large numbers of people are left with egg on their faces.

    I agree that the club has handled this worse than they could (and should) have, but let’s not use it as a stick to beat Ozil with.

    COYG

  167. 167
    Countryman100 says:

    Pangloss. With respect, Ozil is massively playing games to make the Club look bad. It’s the. Lub’s fault, but Ozil has grabbed this populist opportunity with both hands. Neither side looks good to me here.

  168. 168
    TTG says:

    Brilliant and highly devious PR from Ozil.
    I’m torn as an ex-marketing man between my admiration for his opportunism and my realisation as an Arsenal fan that’s he’s playing us like a violin

  169. 169
    bathgooner says:

    That’s Özil’s second public act of defiance against the club. Last night he tweeted his support for “bebee” Guendouzi with no mention of the Arsenal. Frankly I never want to see him wear the Arsenal shirt again.

  170. 170
    bathgooner says:

    Meanwhile back in Madrid, there’s some wailing and gnashing of teeth…

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54436768

  171. 171
    Osakamatt says:

    @166
    That was my understanding too Pangloss.
    And I read that he was retiring in The
    Guardian. Didn’t stop some of their other
    journalists taking sly digs at the club later
    of course. It’s nice that The Torygraph
    understands the importance of standing up
    for the little guy. Like TTG @168 I am torn,
    in this case between my admiration for their
    opportunism and the realisation that they are
    disgusting hypocrites.
    As for Ozil, it’s a free country. The club
    should have answered his questions about
    the requested pay cut rather than grass
    him to the press for asking.

  172. 172
    Countryman100 says:

    Very interesting Bath. So he was on $32k per week. They offered to double that to $68k per week, but then withdrew that offer.

  173. 173
    Countryman100 says:

    Matt. Maybe I’m misunderstanding. Ozil tweeted that he had offered to pay Jerry’s wages. So how did the club grass him up?

  174. 174
    Countryman100 says:

  175. 175
    bathgooner says:

    Arsenal made to look bad by a middle manager deciding to make a 68 year old part-time employee redundant and issuing a very poor press release allowing a disaffected employee with a very well rewarded and expert PR operation to throw himself back into the spotlight when he’s practically been forgotten as a result of an exciting new signing and the club is looking forward to a promising future without the said disaffected employee.

    Passive agression in overdrive.

    My thoughts are with the 68 year old.

    To put this in perspective, one day of the disaffected employee’s salary will pay the 68 year old’s entire salary. Such a generous, warm-hearted act!

  176. 176
    Osakamatt says:

    @173 C100

    Probably my point wasn’t clear – I was referring to
    Ozil questioning the 12.5% pay cut and then seeing
    his name in the newspapers for it.
    If that had been handled professionally I don’t
    think this latest incident with Ozil would have
    happened.

  177. 177
    TTG says:

    I suspect all of us have been involved in business negotiations some of which might have been quite large and which got very fractious . It’s not Arsenal style to shaft AM as they did ( the shafting being the lack of notification that they were activating the release clause not the actual activation of the clause which is how you do the deal) . There is a story in Forward Arsenal which celebrates the fact that Herbert Chapman slipped a barman to keep giving a club chairman he was negotiating with double G& Ts while seeing him tonic water! The very pissed fellow ended up letting Chapman buy a player for a fraction of his true price !
    This is a bit more heavy duty than this but it’s not sharp practice and I’m sure lots of other clubs wouldn’t tell AM either . Yesterday and today with the wildly overblown Gunnersaurus story reminds us there is a strong media agenda against Arsenal.
    I find it strongest on the BBC . Pangloss pointed out yesterday they hadn’t a word of criticism for United’s car crash of a window whereas they murdered us in 2013 ( with some reason ) . I’m not sure if PG gets Sky but they did give United dogs abuse there but the point remains the media like to slate Arsenal . I think that’s what keeps Untold Arsenal going !

  178. 178
    Pangloss says:

    C100@167, TTG@168. Your interpretation of what’s going on may well be correct. I have no inside knowledge. Lacking that, I make deductions from what I see without any prejudices about Ozil.

    I too would prefer that he was on the pitch making a contribution to the Arsenal’s efforts. I don’t understand why he isn’t. I imagine that it is because there has been a disagreement between him and someone else, probably Arteta. I trust Arteta and if I knew the basis of the disagreement I would very likely side with Arteta. I don’t know the basis and in my experience it’s very rare that fault lies exclusively on one side.

    Your mileage may vary; indeed, it seems that it does.

    COYG

  179. 179
    Countryman100 says:

    Matt at 176. Oh I see. Good point.

  180. 180
    Osakamatt says:

    Thanks for the link @170 Bath.
    An interesting read and I did
    wonder if Atletico’s reaction was
    basically aimed at placating their
    own fans because they must know
    a player isn’t going to give up 10m
    a year more for four years when he
    is 27 years old.

  181. 181
    North Bank Ned says:

    TTG@160: By my count we have 20 registered players left who are neither ‘home/locally’ grown or under 21. Thus three will have to be cut for the PL squad and three for the Europa League squad to meet the 17 limit. It does not have to be the same three. We can adjust our PL list after the January pre-season window but the EL list looks set for the competition once named.

    Thus it would make sense for the PL list to omit the longer term injured (Mari and Mustafi) in the hope that others leaving in the January window will make room for their return. That would leave one more sacrificial victim to find (Sokratis?). Chambers, Martinelli and Smith Rowe are out of the equation as they don’t count for the 17.

    Trickier call for the Europa League, as it will have to be the three least likely to play. The deadline for naming the squad list is today (Oct 6) so we should know shortly who really is surplus to requirements.

  182. 182
    Esso says:

    Just don’t see a role for Ozil in current team. Or at least in the current team Arteta seems to be constructing. Where does a luxury player who simply does not either track back or press, fit in? Not sure. And he’s a professional so he should understand that. Means he’s simply content to sit in the stiffs and pick up his money instead of looking for a genuine challenge elsewhere? How it seems to me at any rate and have little respect for him now.

  183. 183
    Countryman100 says:

    Interesting list of free agents

  184. 184
    TTG says:

    C100
    I saw that list this morning. The one that interests me is Kagawa if you are looking for a no.10 . Gotze is a busted flush. Mandzukic might do someone for a season. If I were Fulham I’d give LJW a pay if you play deal and might go for Sturridge. Most of them have regular injury issues though

  185. 185
    TTG says:

    Ned
    Thanks for that background. Mari is due back after the interlull so I would put him in the PL squad . Its not looking good for Sokratis is it !

  186. 186
    Countryman100 says:

    TTG. It seems Gotze just signed for PSV Eindhoven

  187. 187
    Countryman100 says:

    Ah, I can hear this on the North Bank

  188. 188
    Doctor Faustus says:

    A detailed and comprehensive statistical breakdown of Partey’s performance especially in comparison to Xhaka and Dani.

    Thomas Partey: By the numbers

    An eye catching observation from these stats to me was how good Dani actually is. And Partey will complement him well. His numbers seem to indicate he is not at the world class level in any aspects of the midfield but good in all aspects. A genuine all rounder of a midfield player. I think with Partey to help out with the transitions and ball retention we will see more of the attacking skills from Dani that has started to become more noticeable.

    Partey – Dani – Saka/Willian I think will be a tactically robust and also creative midfield.

  189. 189
    scruzgooner says:

    eddie van halen has joined the choir invisible. they might have trouble following him.

    https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/eddie-van-halen-dies-65-193805148.html

  190. 190
    bathgooner says:

    Dr F @188, thanks for sharing that interesting if slightly disappointing analysis. It pretty much confirms what 7am said his numbers suggested. In essence, he observed that the numbers show that Thomas is neither a great tackler nor a great assist maker, and that the thing he seems to be good at and that he brings that we don’t have, is that he’s a good dribbler through midfield. However as Tim observed this week, stats don’t tell you everything and his mere physique added to these good if not exceptional numbers do suggest to me that he will add significantly to this Arsenal team’s efficiency both in and out of possession and I am sure that MA8 has a plan for him and that his influence will add value.

  191. 191
    bathgooner says:

    Esso @182, I agree 10%.

  192. 192
    Goonersince54 says:

    Re Partey
    As i understand it, a deal was agreed to buy him back in April 2019, when he and his advisers were entertained at the Emirates.. ??
    We could have bought him that same summer, but we chose to go all in on Pepe instead.
    So for 17 months the Club had an agreement in place on personal terms, wages/etc, and the only bone of contention was the fee.
    And not a whisper of this ever escaped the inner circle of those who knew. ??
    The mind boggles.

  193. 193
    bathgooner says:

    Esso, @191 was meant to be 100%! Sorry for the fat thumbs.

  194. 194
    Goonersince54 says:

    Bath @190
    I wouldn’t be at all phased by those stats linked by DR F.
    He played in a very rigid structure under Simeone, and always felt he was under utilized.
    Those that know, say he is as good as Michael Essien, his fellow Ghanaian and former Chelsea colossus who he has modelled his game on.
    Just wait till Mikel gets him under his wing and sets him free.
    We have bought ourselves a diamond.
    Our best defensive midfielder since the mighty Gilberto, who we have tried and failed to replace since he retired. !!
    The revolution is underway, and when you think what Mikel has achieved in his as yet short tenure, the true believers among us who have stayed the course through the past ultimately very frustrating years since the Invincibles bestrode the playing fields across the Country back in the day, can look forward in the very near future to dining at the top table where we belong.

  195. 195
    TTG says:

    I also heard that the thing that broke the Aouar transfer was a demand from his agent for an obscene commission .
    Re Partey I think we have to factor in the fact that he was playing in a very structured system for a defensive manager in Simeone. I was immensely impressed by his performance at Anfield in March and I think the highlights are on You Tube. He is ( huge hostage to fortune ) the nearest that I have seen to Patrick Vieira and if you knew how highly I rated Patrick , my praise couldn’t be much higher . His main strengths appear to me to be reading the game , and high mobility . so that he can transition from defence to attack very quickly. We haven’t got that sort of player at the moment . Elneny and Xhaka are generally lateral and Ceballos links play up well but doesn’t seem to have a surge.So getting forward is an intricate process. It’s led to some lovely team goals but it has also led us to be quite slow to build

  196. 196
    TTG says:

    I’m hearing Mari and Soares are notbgoing to make the PL squad. With Mari it’s due to a flare-up of his injury

  197. 197
    Countryman100 says:

    Nice little double hundred up for grabs if the American based lads are up for it or Japan has woken up.

  198. 198
    Pangloss says:

    To follow up mine@130. This https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/06/manchester-united-transfers-the-15-windows-of-ed-woodward article in the Grauniad is less than wholeheartedly supportive of Manchester Rowdies’ efforts in the transfer market.

    COYG

  199. 199
    Pangloss says:

    Is there a lurker in the house?

  200. 200
    Osakamatt says:

    Positive stuff @194 Clive.
    I 10% hope you’re right 😃

  201. 201
    Countryman100 says:

    Bang!

  202. 202
    Countryman100 says:

    Damn.well in and Good morning Matt.

  203. 203
    Osakamatt says:

    sorry Bath, @191 made me
    guffaw when I first read it

  204. 204
    Osakamatt says:

    hohoho impeccable lurking!
    sorry C100 but them’s the
    breaks in the poaching game
    😄

  205. 205
    Goonersince54 says:

    Thnks Matt
    There is a really good comprehensive article on the Sky football site about Partey by Nick Wright.
    Much more informative than mere stats.
    if you can post the link to this site, it would be appreciated.
    cheers

  206. 206
    Osakamatt says:

    Thanks for the list of free agents
    C100 – I was surprised Welbz
    hasn’t found a club, I saw him in
    a couple of games for Watford and
    he looked ok.

  207. 207
  208. 208
    Osakamatt says:

    Ned,
    You mentioned 20 non home grown
    so three have to be cut – but on Blogs
    News he lists 19. I have been wracking
    my brain for the extra one but……
    Could you rack the monks for the list
    of 20?
    Also it’s annoying that KT is included
    in non home grown as last I heard
    Scotland was still part of the UK
    (completely off the point and just
    moaning there)

  209. 209
    bt8 says:

    Re: The Sky story about Partey, and his emulation of Essien mentioned elsewhere. Very interesting stuff, brings to mind the connection between his calling himself “no fiesta” and the bruises dished out by the tree-like legs of the ex Chelsea man from Ghana. Must say Partey’s physical stature by comparison is nothing if not more imposing than Essien’s. Someone to give oppo bruisers a run for their money. If he is anywhere near Essien as a player we have a diamond.

  210. 210
    bt8 says:

    Just for the sake of comparison I looked up the heights of the two players:

    Essien: 1.78 m (5′ 10″), now a player/assistant coach at FC Nordsjælland in Denmark.
    Partey: 1.85 m (6′ 1″), beats his older compatriot by a margin of 3 inches, or to put it more plainly, 1/4 of a foot.

  211. 211
    bt8 says:

    Hero of arena rock, RIP EVH.

  212. 212
    bt8 says:

    Not the blond guy, the one with the guitar. For you non-ITKs.

  213. 213
    bt8 says:

    RIP Johnny Nash. Very sorry to hear the news of his passing at the age of 80, but a wonderful voice from a long time ago.

  214. 214
    bt8 says:

    All these old guys used to look young, curiously enough.

  215. 215
    bt8 says:

    James McNicholas writing in The Athletic: “Partey is someone who brings you massive defensive stability,” says one Premier League scout. “Not particularly because he’s big, not because he’s strong, not because he’s especially quick — he can do that stuff, but it’s because of how he understands space.”

  216. 216
    TTG says:

    From Miguel Delaney

    Am also told Kroenke approved the Partey purchase on request of Arteta (who clearly sees the transfer as crucial to his team), and underwrote transfers/losses due to Covid

  217. 217
  218. 218
    BtM says:

    @194 : Classic Clive. Here’s to all of that.

  219. 219
    Countryman100 says:

    Mari I understand, it’s injury related. But no Cedric? So AMN is the official right back option to Hector. I really like AMN but right back is his weakest position.

  220. 220
    Goonersince54 says:

    @218
    Cheers my friend.
    After TP signing, i expect you’ll be skipping round the golf course on cloud nine. !!

  221. 221
    TTG says:

    C100
    We do have Chambers of course . But they turned down a bud for Sokratis and just gave Cedric a four year contract . Not quite sure what that’s all about

  222. 222
    North Bank Ned says:

    OM@208:
    Leno
    Runnarsson
    Gabriel
    Mustafi
    Sokratis
    David Luiz
    Mari
    Tierney
    Kolasinac
    Soares
    Partey
    Xhaka
    Elneny
    Ceballos
    Ozil
    Pepe
    Lacazette
    Aubameyang
    Lacazette
    Willian

  223. 223
    North Bank Ned says:

    Home Grown:

    Macey
    Bellerin
    Holding
    ANM
    Chambers

    U-21:

    Martinelli
    Nelson
    Nketiah
    Saka
    Saliba
    Smith Rowe
    Willock

  224. 224
    North Bank Ned says:

    So Laca double counted. The total of the first list should be 19.
    I’ve got to get the monks in hand…

  225. 225
    North Bank Ned says:

    And well poached for the double ton.

  226. 226
    North Bank Ned says:

    This is the corrected list of 19. All still listed on the PL site at this point, although Matt Macey has been put in the slot where the No 2 keeper is customarily listed with Runnarsson in the 3rd keeper’s spot.

    Leno
    Runnarsson
    Gabriel
    Mustafi
    Sokratis
    David Luiz
    Mari
    Tierney
    Kolasinac
    Soares
    Partey
    Xhaka
    Elneny
    Ceballos
    Ozil
    Pepe
    Lacazette
    Aubameyang
    Willian

  227. 227
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Bath@190: Partey’s numbers should probably be analyzed through the structural rigidity of Simeone’s tactical set-up where the roles are strictly identified. What I guess appealed most about him to Arteta is the versatility and intelligence. Partey will add the verticality in the midfield in three complementary ways: beating the press and moving forward with the ball, accurate long pass, covering intelligently for fullbacks to help protect against transitions. If we have one midfielder doing all these three seamlessly we can then afford a third midfielder (the second one providing additional defensive security) to be more progressive and play a 4-3-3 even without the ball. I think playing Willian or Saka as the third midfielder and having both Auba and Pepe on the frontline will see us have much more shots on target especially against the teams with low blocks.

    Will read this analysis at the Athletic later but sharing it here …
    https://theathletic.com/2119422/2020/10/07/thomas-partey-arsenal-cinco/?source=user_shared_article

  228. 228
    bathgooner says:

    Dr F, agreed. I have always been sceptical about how well the stats now generated for footballers and matches actually capture the complete contributions of the former and the essence of the latter. I do think Thomas is going to take this Arsenal team up a level and hope I am not letting my desire overpower my analysis.

  229. 229
    Osakamatt says:

    Thanks Ned!

    Some adjusting will need to be done in
    January methinks.

  230. 230
    TTG says:

    I’ve thought about the two players we must cut and can’t believe that we would choose players we are trying to jettison ( Kolasinac/ Sokratis) over players we have just signed like Cedric and Mari . The only issue could be injuries. Cedric looked ok at Anfield and played 90 minutes .Mari was due back after the interlull.
    Chambers must be due back later than Mari

  231. 231
    bathgooner says:

    There’s no doubt that the substitution of Pepe for Lacazette enhanced our attack against the Blades. This is an excellent analysis of how having Aubameyang in the central attacking position contributed hugely to those goals despite him not scoring himself and may be an indication of how things may develop when we move to a 4-3-3:

    Tactics Column: Aubameyang makes his case to be Arsenal’s middle man

  232. 232
    bt8 says:

    Laca double counted. Does Castle Ned have VAR then?

  233. 233
    Countryman100 says:

    Nice piece in The Athletic by Gunnerblog about the financials. Confirmed that the re structuring of the bonds to a loan from Stan and Josh freed up £36m of cash, but that a substantial cash injection was also required due to working capital needs and lowered revenues. At last we have owners that put their hands in their pockets. Clearly CL revenues are critical to the business model, and as quickly as possible. An investment was needed and they came through.

  234. 234
    Doctor Faustus says:

    In a progressive — and thankfully expressed in understated manner — gesture the club is now including goals scored by our fantastic ladies’ team in the goal of the month competition. Kudos!

  235. 235
    Doctor Faustus says:

    KT now needs to self isolate for 14 days as one of his Scottish teammates tested positive. That rules him out for Man City.

    I maintain that attempting international football in the year of pandemic is ridiculous and senseless.

  236. 236
    TTG says:

    Don’t know if everyone has seen the article on how Partey’s release clause was funded

    https://theathletic.com/2121450/2020/10/07/kroenkes-arsenal-transfer-partey-atletico-release-clause/

    Bit short on detail. Was it a loan or a cash injection

  237. 237
    Countryman100 says:

    Frankly TTG, does it matter?

  238. 238
    BtM says:

    @237 – Well that depends, C100.

    After years (I’ve lost count) of being pilloried (how many times have I read that the fish rots from the head etc etc) for only allowing those responsible for managing the Arsenal’s cash to spend every single penny earned but not a single one more, I think TTG’s comment is aimed at shining some light in the darkness. 🙂

    His next article in here will be entitled “Rock Cod Stan Comes Good – A Fishy Tail”

  239. 239
    Countryman100 says:

    Rock and chips. A London fish supper classic.

  240. 240
    bathgooner says:

    C100 @239

    Not a patch on deep fried scallops and chips. A Frankie’s of Shetland fish supper classic.

    Worth the journey for that alone.

  241. 241
    Countryman100 says:

    Sometimes Bath, you can tell you’re not a working class Londoner. We’ll be onto Pie, mash and liquor in a minute (now we’re talking).

  242. 242
    bt8 says:

    Giroud turns in Aouar’s rebounded shot for France to make it 3-0. My time perception getting a bit confused at that one.

  243. 243
    bt8 says:

    Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey broke the women’s 5,000m world record, beating the previous best by more than four seconds. New record: 14 minutes 6.62 seconds. Was just thinking I might be able to get out of bed in that time. No, not the four seconds. 😉

    Congratulations and well done.

  244. 244
    bathgooner says:

    C100, everyone cannot have your advantages of birth, C100. 😉

    Believe it or not, I’ve never tasted pie and mash though Dave was going to introduce me to it one of these days. Maizel’s at Kings Cross, I think. I understand there are only half a dozen of the genuine old places left. I must confess I’m not encouraged by geen liquor though.

  245. 245
    bathgooner says:

    A very good article on our bright young talent. Lovely fella too, I understand.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/10/07/arsenals-perfect-pupil-bukayo-saka-rose-top-class

  246. 246
    Countryman100 says:

    Ambrosia Bath, Ambrosia. My favourite was in Shepherds Bush (where I lived for 18 months).

    As Tracy Ullmann said, you broke my heart, in seventeen places, Shepherd’s Bush was only be.

  247. 247
    North Bank Ned says:

    Clive@192: If a deal with Partey was agreed in April 2019, that would have been in the Unai Emery era. If that is so, what does it say about the notion that Arteta pushed so hard to sign Partey as he had identified him as key to rebuilding the team. Did Emery have a similar blueprint before he was sacked? No reason that both Arteta and Emery couldn’t see the potential in the same player, of course, or that he was the solution to the same problem that both of them had. But I feel we don’t know the rest of the story here.

  248. 248
    Countryman100 says:

    I think the pie and mash shop Dave was talking about was Manze’s in Chapel market, Angel, not Kings Cross. I remember him writing about it. Sadly it has gone.

    https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/m-manze-pie-and-mash-shop-in-chapel-market-closes-1-6025404

  249. 249
    Countryman100 says:

    The green liquor is a parsley sauce, or the liquor the eels are cooked in. Don’t be such a Jessie!

  250. 250
    North Bank Ned says:

    C100: There was a great pie and mash shop in Royal College Street in Camden, Castle’s, just down from The Old Eagle pub, if either of them are still there.

  251. 251
    Goonersince54 says:

    @235
    Well that’s a bummer if KT can’t play at Man City,
    Totally unbalances the team.
    Having to self isolate, means no training with the squad, so will lack match fitness for the Leicester game the following week as well.
    Ned,
    apparently the only reason we didn’t sign Partey in the summer of ’19,was because Emery wanted an attacking player as his first objective, hence the signing of Pepe.
    We obviously couldn’t afford both.
    So the agreed deal with TP was still in place, we just had to wait the extra season to get him.

  252. 252
    bathgooner says:

    I’m up for a pre- or post-match expedition to a well-regarded pie and mash shop once we have recovered from the pandemic to the point that the club is still selling tickets to silver members.

  253. 253
    Countryman100 says:

    Bath @ 244

    Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
    That I love London so
    Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
    That I think of her
    Wherever I go
    I get a funny feeling inside of me
    Just walking up and down
    Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner
    That I love London Town

    Get off me barrow

    That I love London Town

    Get off me sister

    That I love London Town!!!

  254. 254
    Countryman100 says:

    Bath @ 252 Great idea!

  255. 255
    bathgooner says:

    Clive, I understand that KT has preserved social distance at all times from Armstrong, is testing negative at this time and has antibodies to the virus (i.e. he is immune therefore has been exposed to the virus and mounted an immune response) and the club are exploring the possibility that he can return to Arsenal and if he continues to be negative for virus on repeated testing, play v shitteh.

  256. 256
    bathgooner says:

    I should have included the term, ‘previously’ exposed. It takes 7-10 days to mount a detectable primary immune response to a new virus.

  257. 257
    bathgooner says:

    Ozil and Sokratis have been omited from the Europa League squad.

    Hale End has been closed due to a positive test in a staff member who returned from abroad.

    Nice lesson for UEFA.

  258. 258
    Goonersince54 says:

    Cheers Bath, fingers crossed.
    Very late hat trick there i see.

  259. 259
    Osakamatt says:

    Not sure KT has to follow that
    self-isolation guidance and the
    club are seeking clarification.
    It seems very silly to be playing
    international games just now but
    I am wearing my Arsenal hat as
    I say that.

  260. 260
    Osakamatt says:

    Oh, I see Bath has explained the
    KT situation far more clearly @255

  261. 261
    TTG says:

    Going back to the KSE intervention I don’t have a problem if it’s a loan. KSE is running a business not a charity and the willingness to restructure financially has freed up very useful funds . I’m just a nerd about these details and like to know partly because I’ve been involved at the insurance end of some transfer transactions .
    I think C100 and I are on the same page in that it reveals a willingness to flex the finances to support Arteta.
    What I am sensing is there is huge belief in Arteta at the club and KSE clearly rate him very highly . His imprimatur is huge given he has been in the job ten months
    Swiss Ramble suggests we have financial reserves in excess of £167 m apparently but these will be eaten up very quickly f we can’t bank gate receipts for a season . But an African friend tells me that Partey is huge in Africa ( as is Auba) and Arsenal could sell a huge number of shirts printed with his name in Ghana and beyond . That’s a very big chunk of the fee .

  262. 262
    TTG says:

    C100
    Call yerself a Cockney mate?
    It’s barrer not barrow! 😃

  263. 263
    Countryman100 says:

    TTG – how I write it and how I say it are two different things!

  264. 264
    North Bank Ned says:

    For anyone still struggling to master the differences between the Scottish and London vernaculars, this instantly constructed course in comparative linguistics may be of assistance:

  265. 265
    bathgooner says:

    Excellent stuff, Ned. Thae mongs, I mean monks, certainly hae a haunel on modern era multiculturalism. Diversity rools OK.

  266. 266
    Doctor Faustus says:

    Giroud takes over Platini as the all-time second highest France international scorer. Only 9 behind Henry now.
    Not in Platini or Henry class, but kudos to him. Testament to his ability to battle through rough patches, criticisms, and perform consistently at a high level for a long period of time. When he joined us most ruled him out as a potential long term player for us — he was being judged against the standards of RVP who had just left — but 100+ goals later for Arsenal, three FA cups with us and one with chavs, a World Cup … a great example to young footballers about the virtue of perseverance.

  267. 267
    BtM says:

    I was pleased when we signed Giroud, Dr F and rated him highly during his time with us. I’d have to add that there were several times in big games when great chances came his way but his speed just was’t up to conversion and failure was game changing. Of-course, his other attributes (scorpion kick champion of the world) made up for those misses in other situations.

    You’ll recall we bought both Ollie and Podolski to replace RvP. I had high hopes for Podolski but was very disappointed that he had virtually nothing to add other than an astonishingly explosive left foot. There was some speculation in those years that Aubamayang was a candidate for recruitment. I would have liked to see PEA play alongside the HFB.

  268. 268
    BtM says:

    Bit disappointed to see that my Rock Cod set up dissipated into a Pie and Mash fiesta (although I’ll be happy to join the jolly boys’ outing to some fine P&M establishment). Where’s Trev when you need him?

    ‘I thought Eddie Van Halibut was the Rock Cod’ was the very least I anticipated.

  269. 269
    TTG says:

    Btm
    I agree with your assessment of OG. My opinion of him could have been coloured by the bloke behind me in the Upper Tier who continually berated him. If you played to his strengths he was a very useful player . He did of course make both of Ramsey’s Cup Final winning goals and came on to nab a fourth in 2015 . And we sold him at a profit after many years of good service. He has had a fine career .

  270. 270
    bathgooner says:

    There’s no scientific basis to KT being confined to a 14 day quarantine. His exposure to the Coronavirus-positive Armstrong was no greater, in his own account, than yours and mine to any potentially Coronavirus-positive passing stranger/acquaintance from whom we have kept social distance or with whom we have shared a restaurant or office space.

    KT has also tested negative for virus. Moreover he has antibodies to the virus which means he has previously been exposed to it and has mounted a primary immune response. With circulating antibodies it is extremely unlikely that he will either become a carrier or succumb to a further infection. There are still uncertainties about the duration of immunity but the presence of neutralising antibodies is consistent with full immunity.

    A much more rational approach scientifically would be to test KT repeatedly for virus over the next ten days, have him train at Colney in isolation for the first few days and re-integrate him in the team training when the others return from international duty. If he remains negative before match day he should be allowed to play against Shitteh.

    There are too many bullshit unscientific decisions being made by ignorant bureaucrats about how best to survive this pandemic.

  271. 271
    bt8 says:

    Remiss of me, not yet commending TTG for the excellent double alliteration in the title of this piece. Blades blunted … purple patch. Quite excellent qommentary I must say. 🙂

  272. 272
    North Bank Ned says:

    No Ozil, Sokratis or Saliba in our Europa League squad:

    https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/clubs/52280–arsenal/squad/

    Five goalkeepers, however.

  273. 273
    North Bank Ned says:

    That list is the A list, so it doesn’t have the B list names, those born Born on or after January 1, 1999 so Saliba might be on that along with Martinelli, Nelson, Nketiah, Saka,, Smith Rowe and Willock.

  274. 274
    TTG says:

    Bt8
    I’m very grateful for your kind words . I’m hoping this sways the Pulitzer Prize judges but I’m not holding my breath.

  275. 275
    Countryman100 says:

    Saka starts for England tonight. So pleased for him.

  276. 276
    TTG says:

    C100
    I’m delighted for Young Saka and hope it is the first of many .
    But my mind always turns to players of yesteryear who were never capped – eg, Geordie Armstrong, Stan Simpson at our club who were worth many caps but played in an era where very few players we actually picked for England . There are others like Steve Bruce and Jimmy Greenhoff .
    And it always seem so unfair to me that Theo has about 40 caps and Geordie never got one and yet Geordie was more skilful, harder working, braver ( much) and two-footed . Timing is everything but good luck to young Buyako

  277. 277
    bathgooner says:

    What TTG @276 & C100 @275 said. Superb! This boy could have a superb international career. He is intelligent, has great vision and a sweet left foot. Hopefully he doesn’t become a target for and victim to opposition thugs.

    Sadly I won’t be watching as I will be watching the pointless Scottish game.

    TTG, cba sends warmest Celtic regards, 😉.

  278. 278
    Countryman100 says:

    Saka off after 75. Ainsley on.

  279. 279
    Countryman100 says:

    Scotland Israel looks a thriller Bath.

  280. 280
    bathgooner says:

    Absolutely dire. Someone tweeted that both nations should be banned from WC 2022 for putting us through that garbage. There was a severe deficiency of quality. Oh for a Xhaka, Ceballos or even an Elneny in midfield. To be fair they desperately missed the creativity of Christie and drive of KT. I thought Robertson had a poor game (I think we have the better Scottish LB) and you could see why Fraser struggled to find a club as a free agent. At least they got all their penalties on target. That might have to be their strategy for the next round away at Serbia.

  281. 281
    TTG says:

    I like watching penalty shootouts if Arsenal aren’t involved but we had three simultaneous ones on Sky. I watched Scotland . From what I saw they took decent penal5ies but otherwise were pretty poor.
    Sake grew into the game after a nervy start. AMN spent most of his ten minutes in the Wales area. Have to say Grealish is a helluva player- exactly what we need ….and only £80 mill. Please Uncle Stan !

  282. 282
    Osakamatt says:

    Nice for Scotland and NI to
    come through. Hopefully all
    the Arsenal lads are fine and
    KT stays negative

  283. 283
    North Bank Ned says:

    More loans for the youngsters. Left-back Bola to Rochdale and keeper Iliev to Shrewsbury.

  284. 284
    TTG says:

    Arsene is not the only man imminently releasing a book.
    Our greatest ever striker – Nicholas Bendtner ( TGSTEL) is also releasing one.
    That will make fascinating reading if you like that sort of thing . Not sure too many do

  285. 285
    Uplympian says:

    Morning TTG – it will be TGBTEW !

  286. 286
    bathgooner says:

    Uply, ICBATRASTCAEW

  287. 287
    Doctor Faustus says:

    I thought Arseblog summarised the Ozil situation succinctly and I see this more or less the same way.

    Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal career is heading for a sad end

    Whoever may be at the fault, or more at fault, the club doesn’t come out looking best to the outside world. As blog mentions a swift closure to this would serve us well.

    There’s a rumour going around about Arteta giving free agent Jack a chance to prove fitness and then playing time with pay-as-you-play? Surely a fantasy and it’s simply that he will be allowed to practice at Colney until he finds a club.

  288. 288
    bt8 says:

    Iliev to Shrewsbury. Sounds like something from Harry Potter actually, but good luck to the lad.

  289. 289
  290. 290
    bathgooner says:

    Dr F @287, there are stronger rumours about a deal with Rangers. I think that’s a better level for Jack if he couldn’t get in that Wet Spam midfield.

  291. 291
    Doctor Faustus says:

    bath@290: I guess you are right. He was also a vocal “fan” of Steve G. if I recall correctly.

    Hopefully he will have a wonderful few years in what will likely be the autumn of his career.

  292. 292
    TTG says:

    Uply,
    Hi, hope you are well.
    Indeed it will . That has a ring to it !😃
    Plb

  293. 293
    TTG says:

    Dr.F
    I hope LJW has a positive postscript to his career. Arsene has been heavily criticised by some for overplaying him as a lad but it is very hard to manage that process . It never harmed Cesc Fabregas! My Scottish sympathies lie much more with Celtic but I wish Jack well. I think the rumours linking him with us were wishful thinking.
    Arsene was at least right in not offering him another contract .
    I don’t want to comment at any length about Ozil. I would have given my eye teeth to play as a professional but it strikes me he has fallen out of love with the game . But he will still extract his full salary from the club rather than cash in early and get a new contract where he can play regularly . The fact that Stan Kroenke supports Arteta and is prepared to effectively write off £15 m plus says much about Arteta’s standing at the club and the general perception of Ozil

  294. 294
    bt8 says:

    And to think we were once impressed by Ozil’s umlaut.

  295. 295
    bt8 says:

    Speaking of Arseblog he has an interview with tgstel to lighten the interlull blahs. Or something. I haven’t listened to it, just to be clear.

  296. 296
    bathgooner says:

    bt8 @295, IWLTAIWTABGS

  297. 297
    bathgooner says:

    Curves a long ball down the right flank as a pre-pre-pre-assist.

  298. 298
    bt8 says:

    Collects calmly and pushes a short one inside to …

  299. 299
    Uplympian says:

    Slide rule pass across the box to…….

  300. 300
    bathgooner says:

    Wallop

  301. 301
    bt8 says:

    Rip it into the top corner!

  302. 302
    bathgooner says:

    Bows and offers Uply a fist pump for a perfectly timed assist.

  303. 303
    bt8 says:

    301 being a description of Bath’s triple ton effort. Well in.

  304. 304
    Uplympian says:

    Sublime finishing there Bath and a perfect Tabs bt8.

  305. 305
    bt8 says:

    Can’t score if you don’t shoot so two shooters better than none, Uply.

  306. 306
    Uplympian says:

    Bath @ 286 – far too complex for a mere sassenach. “ I cannae be arsed to read any shite
    that clown’s arse emits wantingly”🙄 Be so kind to put me out of my misery 🧐.

  307. 307
    bathgooner says:

    Very close. I can’t be arsed to read any shite that complete arsehole ever writes.

  308. 308
    scruzgooner says:

    a currently rare but hopefully soon to be common triple ton. well in, baff.

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>