If we lose Jorginho but keep Partey and sign Zubi, why do we need anymore midfielders? We'd have Rice, Partey, Zubi, Merino, Zinchenko (if he stays), MLS (that's where he belongs). The only way i see us signing another midfielder after Zubi is if Zinchenko leaves. And even the it might be a left back instead so that MLS moves more permanently to midfield.
Yeah I keep changing my mind on this. On one hand with Xhaka in the side - we were better at passing through teams and played better football. On the other hand with Partey/Rice Odegaard we've had the best defensive record in Europe and we have not lost to another top side. Which makes a welcome change from those late Wenger years when he had players like Ozil who would crumble in the big games. Parteys weakness is he can be slow on the transition and gets caught out. Zubimendi would be much better in that regard - but he might struggle against the more physical high energy midfields like Villa.
I don't think we played better football because Xhaka was in the side. I think it just so happened that we were allowed to play better football in 22/23 because we were 'new' at being good (having previously been gash and not even making top 4 in 21/22) and no-one really expected us to be quite that good. Zinchenko and Jesus took us up a notch. But it was mainly Zinchenko that took us up a level though just because of the first proper full-back inversion into DM next to Partey. But barely anyone did low blocks against us that year because they didn't know what we were about. Now we get low and mid blocks more often than not. Xhaka wouldn't be so good now against what we face now. If we had Rice in 22/23 we would have been even better.
To be fair I don't mean he loses possession just he gets caught napping by a press and normally has to recovery by passing backwards. There are players who need less time to receive turn and pass.
https://metro.co.uk/2025/05/04/arsenal-make-shock-enquiry-to-sign-85m-real-madrid-star-23022369/ Exactly what we need IMO. Another wide player capable of 20+ a Season.
Rodrigo, Gyokeres, Zubimendi, Garcia. -----------------------------Raya--------------------------------- -----------------------------Garcia-------------------------------- Timber----------Saliba---------Gabriel---------------MLS (White)---------(Tomiyasu)-------(Kiwior)--------(Calafiori) --------Odegaard------Zubimendi--------Rice-------------- --------(Nwaneri)----------(Rice)----------(Merino)----------- -Saka-------------------Gyokeres---------------Rodrygo (Jesus)------------------(Havertz)--------------(Martinelli)
Pff. Martinelli has 13 league goals in 65 league games the last two seasons. Rodrygo has 16 in 64. He’s hardly what we need. He’s more of what we already have. We need a 1 in 2 or 3 man to get high teen numbers of league goals. We already have a 1 in 4 or 5 man and he needs to be replaced. Trossard has 20 in 69 and he should also be nowhere near the starting XI. Rodrygo is older, has played for Real for longer, and has scored less league goals than Martinelli. He’s not what we need. left forward is tough as I don’t know who we’d get that is an upgrade. The best ones in the world aren’t coming. The gettable ones I’m not convinced are all that. Doue and Barcola I’d take but I can’t see either leaving. Barcola maybe if he keeps being benched. He might end up a goal machine perhaps. I’d take Sane on the cheapish
LOL Rodrygo's stats are better than Sane's. (particularly in the UCL) All comps: Rodrygo: 24/25: 13 goals 10 assists 24/23 18 goals 9 assists 23/22 19 goals 11 assist Sane: 24/25: 13 goals 5 assist 24/23 10 goals 13 assists 23/22 14 goals 10 assists Bear in mind Rodrygo is 24 and Sane is 30. Martinelli is decent - but with the positions he regularly gets into he should score a lot more than he does. I'd quite like Barcola at Arsenal but I don't think he's quite as good as Rodrygo either. You know who I would take at Arsenal though .. Cole Palmer LOL
Well yes but Rodrygo will be £80m+ whereas Sane might be about £20m. I'd actually take Rashford over any names mentioned. He can be as dangerous as anyone on the left. £30m and £200k wages. Done.
https://www.footballtransfers.com/e...ws-morgan-rogers-aston-villa-summer-steve-kay Morgan Rogers. Wouldn't say no.
He's the exact profile we lack right now. Good acceleration, running power, breaks lines through central areas and a serious goal threat. Can also play in a front 3 or in midfield. He'd be a very good signing for us, but feel like Villa will demand a fortune.
Some information from Sami Mokbel on the BBC today: - Alexander Isak is Arsenal's 'ideal' signing, but Liverpool also want him. The main issue is cost. And if Newcastle get CL football, as well as the fact his contract still has 3 years left, it is highly unlikely this deal comes to fruition (for anyone). - Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are genuine alternatives to Isak. Sesko had been the #1 option, but with Berta's arrival, Gyokeres is now more of a priority - despite a lot of groundwork being done for Sesko. Apparently, Gyokeres is the most 'economical' option of the two. - Nico Williams is still a genuine target, but there are concerns about his wages. Jamie Gittens is also an option we are exploring. - Martin Zubimendi is still expected to join the club in the Summer as a lot of legwork has been done. Whether we sign another midfielder depends on what happens with Thomas Partey. - We are working on securing new contracts for CB pairing Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba. Saliba, as we know, has genuine interest from Real Madrid, whereas Gabriel has interest from Saudi Arabia. - We have also held talks with Espanyol's goalkeeper Joan Garcia. - New bumper contracts for Myles-Lewis Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri and Bukayo Saka are all at the top of the agenda for Arsenal's hierarchy - Berta taking the lead on this. - Trossard, Jorginho, Zinchenko, Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Fabio Vieira and Sambi Lokonga are all concrete candidates to be leaving the club this Summer. Some will be free transfers, some will go permanently and some may be on loan. Jesus was also under consideration to be sold prior to his knee injury keeping him out until the end of the year.
Gyokeres and Garcia rumours building up massively today. Garcia I like. Gyokeres should fix our goals for the next 4-5 years.
I'll be surprised off we get Garcia. Arguably the best GK in Spain this year. United and Bournemouth want him as their new first choice keeper.
Meanwhile, apparently this source is usually pretty reliable... Have to be honest, I'm not 100% sold on Leao. I think he's useful off the bench and is definitely very capable of moments of magic/dazzle, but he doesn't seem to be the best OOP. Tracking back and pressing seem to be prerequisites for Arteta, and this isn't something that comes to Leao naturally. I'd be surprised if we go ahead with this tbh.
