They won’t survive it either, likely. Large rosters but so many specialised positions and you’re generally not allowed to do the equivalent of playing a striker at CB to make up the numbers, IIRC. Though as you say the regular season is coming to a close so they might just make it, what will happen to the postseason is anyone’s guess though.
There were also plenty of rival fans raising their eyebrows as they couldn't quite get their head around the idea of what DL has basically said with regards to giving a 31 year old striker a massive pay rise when history suggests that players of that age and style (reliant on pace and quick movement) generally begin to decline at around that stage. He isn't built for longevity like Lewandowski, Zlatan, Benzema etc. He'd likely already given his very best years to Arsenal and yet his new contract would imply he'd maintain or improve on that level and realistically that was just highly unlikely to happen. I didn't envisage him being this bad nor so unprofessional, though the latter is what's exacerbating the former but I think Arsenal's board, not for the first time in recent years, made an irresponsible/ high risk financial decision that hasn't paid off and it felt quite preventable, certainly from my viewpoint anyway. Give the guy a new contract but not one of that size.
But I’m not disputing what you’re saying here (for the most part). It’s a fair point of view to have. My point is that this wasn’t what most people were saying at the time. Whether you think people were being reactionary or impulsive is another matter entirely. And even though you may think otherwise, the reality of the situation is that your view wasn’t a mainstream one. Certainly not in the eyes of the media. I don’t see why this is a particularly contentious point because it really isn’t.
DL, respectfully, you haven’t really addressed my points. Your view on him is your own personal view of him. If you think he’s a flat track bully, that’s your prerogative. And if you saw this decline coming from a mile off, then fair play. But I’m sorry, a lot of what I am reading on the whole is hindsight analysis. To reiterate - I’m not saying you or DH or anyone in particular have changed their tune from when Auba signed that mega contract - but the prevailing perspective in the media currently about Auba isn’t what was reflected in those same mouthpieces back then. In fact, many of these voices were convinced he would leave us and that Barcelona would snap him up from us.
Interestingly, Moyes said “it was probably the right decision” and didn’t grumble about it. Which I was very surprised at. I didn’t think it was a penalty at all, and would have been upset if the shoe was on the other foot, so I was a bit surprised Moyes didn’t fuss about it.
Watching Lacazette's reaction, I can only assume he'll now need a prosthetic leg. Thoughts and prayers.
Genuinely thought it was a bollocks decision but once the ref made it I guessed VAR would back him up. No point in Moyes ranting tbf...ain't gonna do anything other than get him fined.
Hats off to the medical staff who aided Lacazette recover from his horrific double leg break to then get off the floor to miss the penalty
The Spanners seem to be falling away from the PL top 4 fight. Could just be a 'concertina effect' (their fixture block has tough opponents while their rivals far less so) , but we will know for certain come Jan 1.
Echoes of Paul Tierney and Son in that snowy Rochdale FA Cup game. I'd love to know what the divide is for these officials. They need to reclarify that law. I'd also like to know whether the keeper being off his line matters, like he is here.
Remember when Turkish fans would have disemboweled the ref on the spot for doing that? They've gone soft, man...
The media's job is to sell copy. Nothing more and nothing less. At which point everything in a story is dialled up to 11 to wring out any potential drama. It's extremely unlikely that many hacks would present a balanced debate over whether giving a 31 year old 'flyer', who has a history of disciplinary issues, a £350k, 3 year contract was in the club's best interests. His potential departure was presented as the end of days and to be prevented at almost any cost. Clubs in decline come under this pressure, especially when income streams are under real pressure. Had Arsenal qualified for the CL for the following season, things might have been very different. Just a few weeks later, the signing of Willian, a 32 year old, on another 3 year contract, was presented as a major success by the very same media. Arsenal had secured a major 'victory' over Spurs, who refused to contemplate giving a player of his age, a contract like Arsenal handed out. The majority of the media and fans want transfer stories and signings. The bigger the better. Balanced debate doesn't have a part to play. Everything's a victory...until it isn't anymore, when it's a calamity. Most of it's absolute raging bollocks, but that's what consumers have come to expect. It is the modern way. I don't have any social media interaction, as most of it's even worse. In truth, given their ages and skill sets, both the Willian and Aubameyang deals were a year too long and about £100k a week too much. Given his performance in the previous season, the Aubameyang deal was the more understandable. I never understood the clamour to sign Willian, from us or Arsenal. He looked done to me, as I said on here at the time.
Oh I’m completely with you on Willian. I never, ever, ever wanted him. I wasn’t that convinced by him at Chelsea even during his peak years and felt he was a very streaky player. Chelsea fans told me the same. He wasn’t the right character or profile of player we needed. It was obvious to anyone with an ounce of footballing know how. Which is what makes it all the more frustrating that we got him. I was fuming when we signed him and I was proven correct. What I will say is that, whilst it is extremely early days and I’m certainly not one to count my chickens, we don’t seem to be heading in that particular direction anymore. That can’t have been demonstrated any more than our recent transfer activity. There has been a clear target of acquiring young, hungrier players who seem to have a higher ceiling of potential. All our transfer activity in Summer was centred around players aged 24 or under. And although I am yet to be convinced by Arteta’s aptitude for management, I do have more belief that the majority of players we have that are 25 or under have room for improvement, irrespective of who the manager is. Granted, I could be biased and it is my own personal view, but on an individual level, I do quite like a lot of our newer signings and youth academy products.
Followed his career since he was at St Etienne, it was the same back then. He has a big problem performing when it matters most and that is evidenced by his track record in big games. Most transfer rumours are done as leverage to coerce clubs into pinning down players on large contracts - Arsenal gambled and lost whereas with Henry's departure it was the opposite. Aubameyang isn't and was never a good enough player to justify having any club by the short and curlies IMO - you guys should move on from him ASAP - not only is he toxic but he's a terrible leader.
