Arsenal

Frozen_Waffles said:

I think the wheels are going to come off (are coming off).

There was something off at the start of the season when the charity shield was like a league title win and then they followed with going crazy at games (especially Arteta).

They're burning out, I have a suspicion that they won't get top 4 this season.

Arteta is weird, Jesus is weird, their fans are weird, Martin Keown is weird, it's just a club of absoloute weirdos.

Also they must be close to breaching FFP by now, surely they must be on the edge.

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markt said:

Thing is he hasn't done a bad job on the whole, but his delusional comments and some shocking decisions such as bringing Havertz and Raya in seem to be coming back to bite him.

I think they were riding on last year's success (relatively speaking in terms of league position as they didn't win anything) and that showed in community shield, but they have now hit that rut and it looks like him and team feel the pressure.

They still have a team capable of top 4, but they could just as easily drop out and fans will likely fully turn on him then.

Rooney is looking for a job though, if Arteta does go.

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rossdapep said:

It does but I am not even sure if this is a cycle.

I Just dont think they are as good as they were cracked up to be.

They essentially had an outstanding few months from August-December 22.

Since then their form has been good but nothing to suggest they are a title winning team.

I agree about their signings.

This last window should have been about adding the quality that wins you games.

Arsenal's issue wasnt how they were playing so much, it was more down to not having a genuine goalscorer and an ability to lose their cool.

They needed a difference maker.

Rice was and never is a player you spend 100m on. He just isnt.

He is very good at what he does but theres plenty of midfielders in world football who offer more and cost for less.

You dont spend a significant amount of your transfer budget on a player like that.

You spend it on a striker like Osimhen or a midfielder who is effective in attack or a top level GK.

Last season was their chance. But I also feel last window was a huge chance to really get the next level players and build some serious dept.

Theyve added Havertz who is now an issue and they are still playing Nketiah and Nelson.

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markt said:

Thing is he hasn't done a bad job on the whole, but his delusional comments and some shocking decisions such as bringing Havertz and Raya in seem to be coming back to bite him.

I think they were riding on last year's success (relatively speaking in terms of league position as they didn't win anything) and that showed in community shield, but they have now hit that rut and it looks like him and team feel the pressure.

They still have a team capable of top 4, but they could just as easily drop out and fans will likely fully turn on him then.

Rooney is looking for a job though, if Arteta does go.

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muppetman said:

Havertz is what I worry Werner might be - decent movement, gets into decent positions, but just zero end product.

Obviously, trust in Ange and the scouting setup, but it's a concern.

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WiganSpur said:

Rice has been a good signing imo. Their problem has been buying shite like Havertz or more of the same like Kiwior, Timber etc when Tomiyasu and White are already at the club. I know Timber is injured but they didn't need him. They already had 5 CB options. They'd have been in a much better spot if they'd signed another winger and centre forward to replace Nketiah.

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rossdapep said:

Yeah but my point is he isnt 100m worth. You dont blow a huge part of your budget on a Dm/ball Carrier who isnt going to win you games.

He isnt much better, if at all, compared to dozens of players on the continent.

They could have spent 40m or so on an effective alternativa and then spent 60m on a winger, then 80m on a CF and sacked off Raya.

It would have been smarter

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dontcallme said:

He's in his 5th season now. He finished 8th twice, 5th then 2nd. So I agree overall he hasn't done a bad job, if anything there's been continuous improvement.

The 1st couple of seasons he was always going to have to do his best with some bad signings and wait for them to move on. But looking at their signings, notably the big ones, and I'm not convinced they're going to be at the level they need to challenge for titles.

They have spent around £300m on Rice, Havertz, Jesus and White in the last 3 seasons. To challenge for titles, you need to get the big signings right. They haven't and the others, Odegaard aside, in the last 3 seasons aren't looking great either.

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rossdapep said:

Saw it mentioned but this is a real fascinating point.

Arteta and Edu's transfers

White - PL based
Raya - PL based
Odegaard - La liga but loaned prior, so PL experience
Zinchenko - PL based
Rice - PL based
Jesus - PL based
Havertz - PL based
Trossard - PL based
Jorginho - PL based
Willian - PL based

That leaves Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Martinelli, Tavares, Partey and the Belgian kid

Saliba was prior to Arteta.

So it looks to me like their scouting has actually been pretty piss poor as most of the non-PL players flopped or have not been significant contributors.

Martinelli was a player Edu was already familiar with.

That then means that they seem to only really focus on PL players that are very well known already but come with a premium.

If Arteta fails, and FFP restricts them going forward then surely that has to be seen as a massive failure?

Think it also highlights how brilliant Paratici is as a scout

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rossdapep said:

Saw it mentioned but this is a real fascinating point.

Arteta and Edu's transfers

White - PL based
Raya - PL based
Odegaard - La liga but loaned prior, so PL experience
Zinchenko - PL based
Rice - PL based
Jesus - PL based
Havertz - PL based
Trossard - PL based
Jorginho - PL based
Willian - PL based

That leaves Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Martinelli, Tavares, Partey and the Belgian kid

Saliba was prior to Arteta.

So it looks to me like their scouting has actually been pretty piss poor as most of the non-PL players flopped or have not been significant contributors.

Martinelli was a player Edu was already familiar with.

That then means that they seem to only really focus on PL players that are very well known already but come with a premium.

If Arteta fails, and FFP restricts them going forward then surely that has to be seen as a massive failure?

Think it also highlights how brilliant Paratici is as a scout

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rossdapep said:

Yeah but my point is he isnt 100m worth. You dont blow a huge part of your budget on a Dm/ball Carrier who isnt going to win you games.

He isnt much better, if at all, compared to dozens of players on the continent.

They could have spent 40m or so on an effective alternativa and then spent 60m on a winger, then 80m on a CF and sacked off Raya.

It would have been smarter

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markt said:

Yup but the danger for him is they go backwards.

In a lot of ways last season was a huge overachievement. Coming 2nd had raised expectations, if they go backwards as other posters alluded to, more fans will turn against him and likes of Saliba I can imagine will be tempted when the likes of Madrid come calling.

I think their poor form and growing unrest amongst their fans is great though.

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