Being linked to Benzema.. again.. Weird one this - I mean he's a great player so would happily take him at Arsenal.
Rumours gathering pace on Twitter that Southampton are negotiating with us to sign Walcott on a permanent deal. We would be stupid to sell him at this moment in time. Despite how frustrating Walcott can be, he offers us genuine pace, intelligent movement and is a decent finisher. He may not have progressed to the level we all hoped 11 years ago, but he is still a useful player. Selling him to accommodate Welbeck, Iwobi or any of the youth players - none of whom have hit anywhere near the numbers Walcott has in terms of goals + assists - would be a big mistake. Added to the fact that we are in 3 cup competitions, fighting for a top 4 spot & the realistic possibilities of Alexis/Ozil signing for any foreign club they want, we need to keep as many players as we can. I see no benefit in us getting rid of him in January. The best time to get rid if we want to get rid of him would be in the 2018 Summer transfer window.
He has not shown that much this season and has been as frustrating to watch as much as it mut be frustrating for him. I agree that, perhaps, it may not be beneficial for us to move him on, especially if, as far as I can see, we are not looking to bring anyone in. However, he needs to be playing regularly and that will only be achieved by a move away.
You can tell that Klopp is a decent manager because he is constantly looking to upgrade his side. Decent players like Can are seen as replaceable. I feel like well over half our squad: Walcott, Wellbeck, Giroud, Coquelin, Mustafi, Chambers, Elneny, Monreal.. are all replaceable and upgradable without breaking the bank. We have some real quality in this side its just about improving the players that dont make the grade. Personally If I was Wenger I would bring in at least one TOP centreback. A better DM and a quality Attacking mid. A replacement for Sanchez - if he wont sign a new deal. Dont **** around with this. It should be sign on or leave. Obviously you cant land all your targets but for me its worth constantly upgrading your squad. Homegrown players are always good to keep mind you. N'zonzi - Hardly a big name but he's looking for a move. A big upgrade on Coquelin he would give us a solid defensive option and some much needed size/physicality. Sell Coquelin buy N'zonzi. Koulibali - Expensive sure. Worth it?.. hell yes. He's an absolute monster physically and is still good on the ball. We could afford to play the likes of Mustafi and Kos alongside this guy. Replacement for Merts. Rafinha - Had injury issues at Barca but is fit again and still only 24. If he can have a run of games He will be a TOP class player. Would be available on a free as he has run down his contract. Sign Rafinha - sell Elneny Wellbeck - I like Welbz but he cant stay fit and doesn't score enough. Either Welbeck or Walcott should be sold IMO. Of the two I would keep Theo. If Sanchez is to move then a Top replacement needs to be acquired. Thomas Lemar is good option although not the finished deal yet. Bale, Griezmann, M'bappe should all be courted. If the Club wants to move forward it needs to make big moves. ----------------------------Cech-------------------------- -------Koscielny-----Koulibali-----Mustafi---------- Bellerin----------------N'Zonzi------------Kolasinac -----------Ozil----------Rafina--------Sanchez------- ------------------------Lacazette------------------------- Bench: Xhaka, Wilshere, Giroud, Holding, Walcott, Monreal, Ospina Ramsey, Wellbeck, Iwobi, Chambers. This was we bring in greater size/power and defensive skills with N'zonzi and Koulibali as well as a genuine creative threat with Rafinha.
He has 4 goals + 5 assists in 13 appearances this season, most of which he has not started and some have been 10 minute cameos. As frustrating as he may be, he is still a threat in the final-third. If we sell him in January, do you seriously think the likes of Welbeck, Nelson, Iwobi et al are going to replace his output? I somehow doubt it. And like I said, we are in 3 cup competitions, whilst also battling for a top 4 spot. There is also a possibilty of both Alexis and Ozil leaving because they can both sign for a foreign club tomorrow and we would be powerless to prevent them from doing so. This may not happen, but it is still a possibility and it is completely out of our hands. So really, we need to be keeping as many players as we can. Theo may not be the player we hoped, he may not be worth £140,000 per week, but he is a crucial squad player that we need for a heavily congested fixture list we've got coming up. It would be an extremely poor decision to sell him in January.
Theo was bought for £12 million and has scored over 100 goals for Arsenal. Think about that. He's done FAR more than many English players that get twice the praise. Under-rated totally. He never quite hit the 'World Class' calibre because he just didn't have that level of technique. He's a good player though with an unusual skillset. I often feel like we haven't taken advantage of his attributes well enough - but we should definitely keep hold of him. I would rather sell Wellbeck than Theo.
I agree and I'm not advocating selling him - or anyone - in January as we need the squad whilst we are battling on the four fronts. I feel sorry for him that he hasn't met his potential fully, but to do so would require more regular starts than Wenger seems prepared to give him and I don't see him as an impact sub as per Giroud. Selling him in the summer would be the best outcome for all. Happy New Year.
Looks like we are going to sign Kostas Mavropanos from PAS Giannina. That signing has Arsenal written all over it.
According to The Guardian, "Mavropanos is regarded as one of the best defenders to emerge in Greece in the past 10 years." So he's **** then.
Nothing to complain about here. It will be Minsilat's first signing and this is exactly what we need to compete with the elite Clubs. You can tell he's not a 'Wenger signing' because he's a centreback and he's taller than 6'0. (He's actually 6'5).
sky saying Aubameyang is our first choice in the event Sanchez leaves. http://www.skysports.com/football/n...senals-first-choice-to-replace-alexis-sanchez now he would be a great signing, although not sure he plays Sanchez's position?
We need two new QUALITY centre halves (if we stick to 3 at the back) and two QUALITY new centre midfielders. Honestly, what is the point in this young, bargain basement Greek guy when we already have Holding who was bargain basement and young and we're trying to develop? Just another Elneny/Xhaka/Paulista pointless signing. However, as has been said a million times before, the personnel at our club make very little difference. Spend £250m on four QUALITY players and the team would still be gash if you let them be steered by a decrepit fool.
Aubamayang and a DM - would be great. If the current rumours are true (Sanchez leaving - Auba and N'zonzi coming in) I would go. ---------------------------Cech------------------------- ---------Koscielny----Mustafi----Monreal---------- Bellerin-------Wilshere----N'zonzi-----Kolasinac ----------------------------Ozil---------------------------- ------------Lacazette---------Aubamayang--------- Bench: Giroud, Ramsey, Xhaka, Iwobi, Holding, Walcott, Ospina. That's a tasty lineup.
We need to keep planning for the future. He's going to be loaned out straight away. Our scouting team have a job to do. This guy might be special. I don't think signing young unknowns can ever be pointless. As it is not for the 1st team we should be cool with it.
I was thinking about the players but what about Wenger? Will he see out his contact? https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/4919880/arsenal-arsene-wenger-contract-plans-revealed/ "I have a two-year contract and will always try to (reach) the end of it. “But I always have the honesty to sit down with the board and to see where we go from there.” The penny has obviously dropped with the management as we've seen changes such as bringing in Raul Sanllehi. I haven't heard any rumours so far, but we've always been very secretive when it comes to these things. Can Wenger take another season without top 4 and more importantly, will the management give him another chance? This for me will be the biggest year for Arsenal FC in quite some time. Major changes could be coming if we don't finish off so well this season. For this reason, would it be wise to bring in new players? We're already half way through the season and i think we have good enough players to get something from this season. Also the new players coming in will be Wenger signings, shouldn't we keep this for the new manager?
If we finish outside of the top 4 this season then I think Wenger will go. The likely scenario is that we'd appoint a temporary manager, possibly a duo from within, until we can secure another manager.
