Fa Cup Or Top Four

[garyinderry]

Who are the two already signed?

Who is the rest of them lined up.

I don't want to talk about Walcott. He is a complete waster, cannot be trusted. Has pace but little else, never picks the right options and shooting is abysmal. To think, city gave you 50 million for sterling. I'd happily take half that and run.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Who are the two already signed?

Who is the rest of them lined up.

I don't want to talk about Walcott. He is a complete waster, cannot be trusted. Has pace but little else, never picks the right options and shooting is abysmal. To think, city gave you 50 million for sterling. I'd happily take half that and run.

The CB Matip and CM Grujic ( more a Jan Signing )

GK - Karius
LB - hopefully Hector and one of Chilwell or Tierney or even a lump of wood will defend better than Moreno
CM - Zielinsk
AM - hopefully fingers crossed Gotze

Think there might be more as well - another CB with Subotic not needed at Dortmund.

Think Klopp will be very busy but not many "big buys as such"

Someone would still pay £20 mil for Walcott

 

[sawtooth]

Blimey clubs get linked to hundreds of players

Of all the areas that Arsenal need strengthening it doesnt seem a player that is filling one of the areas - he doesn't sit , doesn't score goals , not really a creator but can ping a pass and is like a "pendulum" type player who will always be involved in play , keeps the ball very well and certainly is mature for his age when playing. Maybe a bit like Alonso with a bit of strength on the ball but I can't see where he fits in the Arsenal team unless someone is leaving or he has had enough or Wilshire not being fit.

Xhaka is a tall, strong defensive midfielder with leadership qualities - captain of his current club at 23. Probably a bit more like Mascherano than Alonso from what I read about him.

It seems to satisfy exactly what the 'experts' have said Arsenal have been lacking for years, possibly since Viera left.

Maybe not quite that but he certainly doesn't appear to be a tippy tappy playmaker type that Wenger has been accused of buying all of the time.

Looking forward to watching him at the Euro's.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Xhaka is a tall, strong defensive midfielder with leadership qualities - captain of his current club at 23. Probably a bit more like Mascherano than Alonso from what I read about him.

It seems to satisfy exactly what the 'experts' have said Arsenal have been lacking for years, possibly since Viera left.

Maybe not quite that but he certainly doesn't appear to be a tippy tappy playmaker type that Wenger has been accused of buying all of the time.

Looking forward to watching him at the Euro's.

This report seems to suggest more a playmaker as opposed to a Defensive Mid -

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/who-granit-xhaka-arsenal-target-7662499

This compares more to Alonso as well but with a bit of bite

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features...-if-he-can-control-his-temper#:ZHZ-CfCftxn6KA

Don't get me wrong I think he is a very good player - he could be what I thought Matic would end up like. It will be interesting to see how he works out

 

[sawtooth]

he could be what I thought Matic would end up like. It will be interesting to see how he works out

An OK player Matic but I never thought he was top drawer and he flattered to deceive a bit when he looked good in Mourinhos title winning side. Fully expect Conte to ship him out this Summer.

Even with Granit Xhaka we would still be a couple down on numbers so room for 3-4 more but not all necessarily going to be filled from outside.

 

[jp5]

I've never counted top 4 finishes as trophies I have just argued a toss with people who say that it means nothing and that Wenger has achieved nothing when in reality he has achieved a great deal.

Not seen anyone on these boards say Wenger has achieved nothing. The top 4 stability he has brought is to be applauded.

What I have seen is people questioning whether he is the motivator, organiser, tactician etc. Arsenal need to start winning championships again.

Only time will tell, though not sure I've seen anything to give me great confidence it will happen. Especially up against the likes of Guardiola and Mourinho next season.

 

[sawtooth]

Not seen anyone on these boards say Wenger has achieved nothing. The top 4 stability he has brought is to be applauded.

What I have seen is people questioning whether he is the motivator, organiser, tactician etc. Arsenal need to start winning championships again.

Only time will tell, though not sure I've seen anything to give me great confidence it will happen. Especially up against the likes of Guardiola and Mourinho next season.

There will be a marked increase in squad investment this Summer. That should help restore a bit of confidence.

 

[Hobbit]

Not seen anyone on these boards say Wenger has achieved nothing. The top 4 stability he has brought is to be applauded.

What I have seen is people questioning whether he is the motivator, organiser, tactician etc. Arsenal need to start winning championships again.

Only time will tell, though not sure I've seen anything to give me great confidence it will happen. Especially up against the likes of Guardiola and Mourinho next season.

I might argue he is an excellent motivator, organiser and tactician. Some of the very average players he's bought and brought through the ranks have achieved wonders. He's achieved that with a financial arm tied behind his back.

Disappointed this season, when the other big boys have faltered, but the injury list + players who don't seem to cope with the rarefied atmosphere of top spot could explain it. For me, it's this coming season or go.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

There will be a marked increase in squad investment this Summer. That should help restore a bit of confidence.

Wasn't that increase supposed to happen last summer as well ?

After Cech was bought a striker was next etc but nothing happened - haven't their been reports of only £50 mil available as well?

Is Wenger really finally going to spend wants needed to get the top players

 

[sawtooth]

Wasn't that increase supposed to happen last summer as well ?

After Cech was bought a striker was next etc but nothing happened - haven't their been reports of only £50 mil available as well?

Is Wenger really finally going to spend wants needed to get the top players

Yeah but you can't buy what isn't available. I'm sure Klopp would love to bring all the players in that he wants but some won't be allowed to leave or don't want to leave.

You don't then want to splash the cash on someone you really didn't fancy, that's when you end up with Ballotelli or even Benteke. We've all done it, they just happen to be Liverpool examples.

Better to wait and buy what you really fancy even with all the internal and external pressure to buy.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Yeah but you can't buy what isn't available. I'm sure Klopp would love to bring all the players in that he wants but some won't be allowed to leave or don't want to leave.

You don't then want to splash the cash on someone you really didn't fancy, that's when you end up with Ballotelli or even Benteke. We've all done it, they just happen to be Liverpool examples.

Better to wait and buy what you really fancy even with all the internal and external pressure to buy.

Everyone is available for the right price

Martial was even offered to Arsenal and for less than what Man Utd paid and turned him down

All it takes is spending a little bit more to get the player you want

He wanted Suarez and prob would have got him by offering £60mil but attempted to get him on the cheap

Higuain is always there by offering a bit more money

Greizmann , Lacazette - there is an endless list of top quality strikers out there that Arsenal could have got by spending just a little bit more to ensure the man is got

Either that or Giroud really is his number one striker and the same with the CB's

 

[jp5]

I might argue he is an excellent motivator, organiser and tactician.

Honestly I don't think you'd have much basis for that argument!

A tale of shortcomings and what-ifs over the past decade with regards to winning the title, starting from a basis of one of the greatest footballing sides ever seen.

 

[jp5]

There will be a marked increase in squad investment this Summer. That should help restore a bit of confidence.

Hopefully so. Don't know much about Xhaka but looks the right sort of player we need.

Biggest priority has to be a goalscorer surely.

 

[garyinderry]

I don't think Liverpool would ever have sold Suarez to arsenal. What are they smoking??


At the time Liverpool were title contenders with Luis being the driving force. Pool fans would have caused a riot had they sold him to direct rivals.

The bite gave them a excuse for all parties to sanction the move to Barcelona.

 

[sawtooth]

Everyone is available for the right price

Martial was even offered to Arsenal and for less than what Man Utd paid and turned him down

All it takes is spending a little bit more to get the player you want

He wanted Suarez and prob would have got him by offering £60mil but attempted to get him on the cheap

Higuain is always there by offering a bit more money

Greizmann , Lacazette - there is an endless list of top quality strikers out there that Arsenal could have got by spending just a little bit more to ensure the man is got

Either that or Giroud really is his number one striker and the same with the CB's

Like I said earlier I don't expect Wenger to spend £60-80M on a player especially if he is getting on a bit.

You make assumptions about other players being available and wanting to come. Most of the time we don't hear about failed attempts, just politely told to go away and that's that.

Giroud is a great player but reinforcements are needed. We need a CB even though we have possibly a youngster coming though that can play there.

Looks like pretty soon we'll have a completely new spine to the team. (Cech and Xhaka already here)

 

[Tashyboy]

Top four deffo, don't want to miss emmerdale on a Thursday night.

 

[pbrown7582]

Or Ask Leeds fans (a team who chased top 4).
Examples can be made to fit both arguments. But if 50 years time. One club is still in the history books and this comes from a saints fan.

Clubs bs should want trophies first and foremost. The fact some prioritise 3 runner up is a sad state of affairs.

re Man Utd not entering, they did that with the fa's blessing as they thought it would help a World Cup bid.

United were persuaded to go to Rio for the 1st world club comp ( a great trip it was!)
By the FA as stated all to do with gaining FIFA favour over the doomed WC bid

 

[pbrown7582]

Everton. I know when we won the cup last, before that as well, and so on. I know we qualified for the CL under Moyes but I couldn't tell you the year. The year after it happened it became meaningless. Coming 4th doesn't put anything in the trophy cabinet. No parade for 4th.

Didn't you get knocked out in qualifying round too and not make comp proper....

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Yep. Dodgy decision by Collina cancelling out a Big Duncan goal. Yes, I and many others are still bitter about it 😢

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Didn't you get knocked out in qualifying round too and not make comp proper....

Ha Ha you getting all bitter because Jose is coming 😂😂😂😂