If we get him that would be two players now that AW could have got more cheaply if he waited until next summer. Someone pinch me this isn't the Arsene I know!

Klaus wrote:

I really don't want this guy.

I'm not convinced either. We should be aiming higher.

Would suit a counter attacking style, so not averse to this.

I'm not all that keen either but I wouldn't say no. Admittedly my aversion is based almost entirely on what I saw of him prior to last season.

Did AFCamden actually tweet that?

I like Mkhitaryan. He's skilful, yet efficient. Doesn't waste time and energy on the ball with loads of pointless tricks.

Shady wrote:
Klaus wrote:

I really don't want this guy.

I'm not convinced either. We should be aiming higher.

Agreed. I didn't watch a lot of Dortmund last season to be fair, but the bloke has always struck me as a bit of a phony with a frustrating first touch and the type of skillset that on the outset makes you think he's a top dribbler, but really, it's just one or two simple changes of direction - usually to bring the ball into the field - which are then followed up with a pass or an optimistic shot. It's definitely not the Bundesliga winger I'd go for if Mario Götze is on the market.

I'm sure we're interested though. We wanted to sign him a year or two before he went to Dortmund and his stock hasn't exactly fallen since. Wenger has made a bit of a habit of picking up these long-time targets. Who knows, maybe he's right about this one. Mkhitaryan's stats this season are really good and the praise he's been getting suggests some serious improvement.

It would appear we're looking for 'value' deals so we can fill more positions. Vardy, mkhitaryan, rodriguez - all are around the 20m mark or less

Klaus wrote:

I really don't want this guy.

Would be quite underwhelming. Can't see where he'd fit in.

I assume he'd fit in where Ox, Joel and Theo have been taking up game time this season.

The other, more blunt point about Mkhitaryan is that he'll definitely be our last signing of note.

If we finish up Vardy then that leaves us room for maybe one more signing somewhere in the £30 million region, probably subject to an attacking player or two finding a new home (I'm looking at you, Joel Campbell and Theo Walcott). I don't want to sign a bloke whose biggest point is his versatility. I want a marquee signing; someone top level or at least a world class talent. Someone who's capable of taking the team up a notch. Can anyone honestly say they think Mkhitaryan is that guy?

You reckon any of those three are on their way out?

I don't think it will be easy to shift Theo given his wages, and Ox is crocked. It would be very much unlike Wenger to replace a squad player like Campbell with a 20m+ starter from a big club.

I like Mkhitaryan a lot. Always seems energetic and makes things happen whenever I've seen him, but given we have Alexis and now Vardy, perhaps we should focus on a craftier player - Mahrez, Gotze, Insigne please

I actually like him a lot too, he's not elite but he's consistent and dependable in a way someone like Goetze isn't.

However, a front line of Sanchez-Vardy-Mkhitaryan is very direct, I might say too direct.

If we move for him, though, someone must be sold, possibly two players. Otherwise there'll be a logjam on the wings, particularly given AW's propensity for playing Ramsey/Wilshere there.

est wrote:

You reckon any of those three are on their way out?

I don't think it will be easy to shift Theo given his wages, and Ox is crocked. It would be very much unlike Wenger to replace a squad player like Campbell with a 20m+ starter from a big club.

Come's down to quality, those guys are not delivering. It'd be a pleasant surprise if Wenger took such a ruthless attitude but there's definitely room for another quality attacker.

Mkhitaryan's a decent player but I really hope this isn't true. And it's for the same reasons as Klaus; we've got room for one more top forward and we need to get the best we can get and not settle for a good-ish player that can cover a couple of positions. Go for someone really special!

Mkhitaryan is quality, not as talented as that cunt Götze but he's a proven performer coming off an unreal season. He "feels" more like a CAM but his best performances by far have come playing on the wing

Could be fun again finally playing Arsenal on FIFA, someone to spam through balls to in Vardy, Alexis and Mhitaryan to score screamers from 30+ yards out. Bar Podolski I don't think we've had many if any players with a harder shot on them than him

Quite a few lazy/outdated views of him in this thread imo, he's absolutely nothing like the player of 2014, much closer to the guy who was banging them in for Shakhtar if anything

He's almost as comfortable with both feet as Cazorla which is very rare in our squad. Don't see many wingers around I'd have ahead of him and Ramsey is certainly not one of them

As a sidenote he'd raise our average team IQ a good few points, bloke speaks like seven languages and is an avid chess player, what's not to like

Senderos spoke like 12 languages and had degrees in literature. I still wanted to punch him in the mouth.

Seriously though, if Mkhitaryan signs I'll give him every benefit of doubt. This transfer window will feel a bit wasted until proven otherwise though.

Yeah but you also were full of praise for Götze because of his supposed academic background Klaus, you don't get to have it both ways.

Seriously though he's quality and would immediately improve us while Götze is a dickhead and would rather remain on Bayern's bench even when the club and Ancelotti have told him to fuck off. Vieira, Bergkamp and co had their careers revived with us but that's because they wanted it to happen, smeary Götze on the other hand tries to stay at a club where the CEO publicly told him to fuck off.

Just wait and see. He'll leave to join us, and it will be glorious.

Right now there is no comparison between Gotze and Mkhitaryan. One is full of potential and the other productivity. The choice is easy for me.

If he comes he might teach Paulista how to read. The play.

He's available reportedly according to kicker for a fee similar to what Dortmund paid for him.

Fair price. I'd take him.

Mkhitaryan is quality. He would be an absolutely fantastic signing.

He played all season on right for Dortmund and ended up with 11 goals / 15 assists ... what's not to like?

Claudius wrote:

Right now there is no comparison between Gotze and Mkhitaryan. One is full of potential and the other productivity. The choice is easy for me.

i'd take either. gotze might still turn into a world beater, it's not too late for him. mkhi has improved a lot and would help make us even more direct and industrious up front

If we really get Mkhitaryan, then Dortmund has been absolutely raped this summer. Imagine being Aubameyang and wanting to stick around after this.

Interesting, some people are dismissing Mkhitaryan for not being top quality but are very much in favour of us signing Vardy. ...

He's a very good footballer but I prefer Mahrez. We already lacked enough players who are comfortable in confined spaces, adding Vardy AND Mkhitaryan to our squad is only going to make things worse in that department.

How so? We were fielding Ox and Theo on the right. They are useless.

Klaus wrote:

The other, more blunt point about Mkhitaryan is that he'll definitely be our last signing of note.

If we finish up Vardy then that leaves us room for maybe one more signing somewhere in the £30 million region, probably subject to an attacking player or two finding a new home (I'm looking at you, Joel Campbell and Theo Walcott). I don't want to sign a bloke whose biggest point is his versatility. I want a marquee signing; someone top level or at least a world class talent. Someone who's capable of taking the team up a notch. Can anyone honestly say they think Mkhitaryan is that guy?

Name a couple of potential buys around the £30m mark (which you quoted) that we could buy that would take us up a level?

@Marv

And Ramsey, Wilshere, Alexis (Iwobi playing on the left). our options there are not more underwhelming than our options upfront IMO

The thing is we will probably have enough quality to beat the smaller sides who defend deep and compact regardless of whether or not our players are more suited to quick, direct, counter attack football. We will be much better equipped against mid-top of the table sides though and especially the CL.

The way I see it, we don't have enough technicians in our side and that should be an absolute priority this summer IMO. We are generally very good against bottom half teams, it is mostly against top half of the table sides that are organised, disciplined (with very little space for us to play) that we struggle against. We need more technicians or should become a very dangerous set piece team (not gonna happen under Wenger)

jones wrote:

Quite a few lazy/outdated views of him in this thread imo, he's absolutely nothing like the player of 2014, much closer to the guy who was banging them in for Shakhtar if anything

He's almost as comfortable with both feet as Cazorla which is very rare in our squad. Don't see many wingers around I'd have ahead of him and Ramsey is certainly not one of them

As a sidenote he'd raise our average team IQ a good few points, bloke speaks like seven languages and is an avid chess player, what's not to like

Agreed. Have people in this thread even watched him play? He's a very smart and unselfish player. Great vision and close control, can make runs on and off the ball and can shoot the ball. What's not to like?

Vardy
Sanchez - Ozil - Mahrez
Xhaka - Mkhitaryan
Rodrigues - Kos - Koulibaly - Bellerin
Cech

Some of Heno's goals there are quite impressive.

No, Miki doesnt play this deep. He is a second striker / attacking midfielder / winger.

Anzac wrote:

Vardy
Sanchez - Ozil - Mahrez
Xhaka - Mkhitaryan
Rodrigues - Kos - Koulibaly - Bellerin
Cech

Looks good, albeit Mkhi placed in the wrong position. Wenger won't make that many changes in one summer. 6 first teamers? Max 3. Vardy/Xhaka + one more.

jones wrote:

Quite a few lazy/outdated views of him in this thread imo, he's absolutely nothing like the player of 2014, much closer to the guy who was banging them in for Shakhtar if anything

He's almost as comfortable with both feet as Cazorla which is very rare in our squad. Don't see many wingers around I'd have ahead of him and Ramsey is certainly not one of them

As a sidenote he'd raise our average team IQ a good few points, bloke speaks like seven languages and is an avid chess player, what's not to like

I could be guilty of this because I saw very little Bundesliga last season. I didn't like him as a player in the ones before though, found him frustrating to watch. The ability was there but he was so inefficient and wasteful. Just something about his game that wasn't top class, despite his obvious techncial ability.

To be fair, if he's available for £20m them he's a complete bargain. Without question. Even if I don't think he's anywhere near the best in his position, he's two-footedness, decent speed and good all-round techncial ability mean he can play right across attacking midfield for us.