Ah, but you're already under the genjutsu even without knowing it. Wenger is a high level sharingan user.

At least Kakashi level.

Claudius wrote:

goon wrote:

If Wenger and Gazidis can pull this off they'll most likely get their clean slate.

Take your pick. This is 
a) Media smut, click bait 
b) Leaks by Arsenal to entice Ozil and Sanchez 
c) Another half-hearted attempt by a gang that can't shoot straight 

Mbappe! LOL.

:hat:

http://www.football365.com/news/wenger-reveals-how-many-signings-he-plans-to-make

“I would say maximum three,” he replied when asked how many signings fans should expect, before making a point about what constitutes a “big” purchase.

“So the quality is most of the time linked with the amount of money, especially when the player is over 20, but sometimes it’s not necessarily always linked only with the money.”

So 2-3 signings, but not necessarily of top value?
Caveat being that one or both Sanchez & Ozil remain?

Presumably the 2-3 positions being CF & LM/WB as directly addressing obvious issues, and the 3rd position as CM? or even "subject to departures from starting players" (Ox?, Bellerin?), or the fitness issues with the likes of Cazorla, Kos & BFG.

CF - Mbappe
LM/WB - Kolasinac

I suspect the likes of Lemar, Turan & Mahrez are only "if needs be" cover for possible departure by either Sanchez or Ozil, unless AW intends to change formation to play 2 wide positions on the flanks in either a 4231 or 442.

With talk of both Kos and BFG unable to play more than 1 game a week do we need another CB?

Anzac wrote:

With talk of both Kos and BFG unable to play more than 1 game a week do we need another CB?

If we manage their health wisely, then probably not. We have Mustafi, Holding, Gabriel and Monreal/Kolasinac can step in if need be.

We have one important game a week next season until Feb. we will be fine with our defenders.

I suppose it depends if we lose any like Monreal, Gabriel.

est wrote:

Anzac wrote:

With talk of both Kos and BFG unable to play more than 1 game a week do we need another CB?

If we manage their health wisely, then probably not. We have Mustafi, Holding, Gabriel and Monreal/Kolasinac can step in if need be.

And Chambers.

If he's only signing 3 players (net new), hope 2 are forwards. We need top quality there more than anywhere else. A tier-1/1.5 striker and a young high quality wide forward (Fekir / Lemar?). That's what we need and I'm even willing to stick with our current MF options for a year if we get this.

Yeah we need firepower more than anything. If we can get ahead in games we will concede less because we wont have to open up chasing the game.

I think our biggest issue is central midfield, we don't have someone in there who is confident with the ball, which always ends up in the team passing back. We have Wilshere and Cazorla but they're permanently crocked.

Also one quality player for the front 3 and Kolasinac.

That should be enough to finish 4th because the title isn't happening under Wenger.

Would Turan be able to fill the Cazorla role in our team? In that context his signing could be pretty good.

I don't think so.

We're not signing a central midfielder. It'll be Kolasinac and a center forward if Ozil and Sanchez stay or Kolasinac, a center forward and a creative player like Lemar or Mahrez if one or both of Ozil and Sanchez leave.

We don't really need a Cazorla role in a 343 anyway. Good to have, but not critical unlike the past 3 seasons with a 4231.

We may not need a Cazorla role in that formation but Xhaka's becomes key. Any injury, loss of form or suspension and I don't think we have a suitable alternative. Elneny may substitute ably enough for Ramsey but even then we have seen Wenger prefer Coquelin, which I don't understand myself but Xhaka's range and passing between the lines will be very important.

finding a replacement for cazorla should be one of our 3 signings this summer. the other 2 should be a GK and a ST. we need to clear out so much garbage too. going to be a busy summer.

Guardian journo saying we've held talks with Jean Seri's agent last week

Maybe that's the real reason they're in Nice!

He's supposed to be great, has been linked with Barca and PSG among others.

I like the look of him, would be a good option.

He's roughly the same height as Kante/Verrati etc

He's the guy that says he can't play or train in cold weather because he has ingrown toenails.

[Twitter]

Not much of a link but I reckon there's an interest there. We've got to be in for someone with Szczesny as good as gone and Ospina heavily rumoured to be on his way to Fenerbache.

I'd take a punt at Fraser Forster maybe if Southampton don't ask for too much money. Maybe he wouldn't want to sit on the bench, but goalkeeper careers are long. If he were to leave again in 2-3 seasons he wouldn't have any trouble finding another Premier League club.

I don't think a new goalkeeper is a priority if Ospina leaves, though. Just let Martinez cover for Cech, and put Cech in goal in both Premier League and Europa League.

Does anyone want him? There's been more links (and Lacazette saying that he doesn't mind joining a club that's not in the CL) : 

hes not ronaldo or messi, but he is very quick and agile, and i think we would do well to have a player like that in our system, especially if we're going to counter attack more.

replacement for mesut?

Unless we go for a front three of:

Ozil-James
-Sanchez-

Assuming we've given up on Mbappe. That or we're going back to 4231 and sign both.

Sanchez-Ozil-James
------Mbappe------

Haha would be intense. Just want the summer to be over really. Hate all the speculation and building of optimism only to be let down.

Maybe we are memeing it up and going to use James as the CF.

On Lacazzete, I think there'd be a lot more hype for him amongst Arsenal fans if he wasn't a midget. Worried he'd just be an upgraded Walcott in the team, able to only do it on the counter.

per 90s

Lacazette has had his best season yet and his normal seasons are pretty good. He's scoring at the sort of rate Ibra (bar his insane last season) did in Ligue 1. Sure we'd all rather get Mbappe but we are in the Europa league and pay second tier wages and fees. Lacazette would be a very good signing.

I was coming around to Lacazette and decided to watch a compilation of his goals, I swear more than half of them were penalties ffs

There's some decent finishes in there but I have to say the difference between his comp and Mbappe's are like night and day. Beggars can't be choosers I guess but he's a last resort for me. We need to move fast on our main targets so that he's at least still available if they all fall through.

Lacazette is a pretty deadly counter attacking striker. That is his forte and with our formation it will suit him well.

i'm coming around to lacazette but the thing that gives me pause is that lately wenger doesn't really make players more than what they are. i don't mind getting in guys like mahrez and lacazette but i don't have faith in wenger putting them in a position to thrive

My concern atm is the difference in determination and appetite for change we see between AFC and Milan, who are also in the EUROPA next season.

Milan have just announced their 3rd signing for the summer (Kessie, Musacchio & Rodriguez). They have also reportedly agreed terms with Lazio for both Kieta and Biglia, and have supposedly made a bid for Belotti, and are supposedly looking to make Costa a priority as he is likely to cost less.
That's 6 new signings with at least 4 being starting quality, which is a definite statement of intent.

By contrast we have secured a free agent for a position that was not a priority for the summer.
Whilst I'm pleased to be 'linked' to Mbappe I'd prefer for us to either get it done or move on. I do not see any point in haggling fees once you get to that level where an extra 5-10m means frakk all in a 50m+ fee, as opposed to that same amount in a 20-30m fee.

If we are really prepared to stump up 80m+ for Mbappe then we need to ensure we are also in for other elite CF/ ST like Aubameyang, Griezmann etc who are likely to cost less if signed before Mbappe eventually breaks the record.

More than anything AW needs to change his policy of not making an offer for players unless their club says that are for sale. Because there is no margin for error in the PL he needs to identify his targets and make their clubs a market value offer, as opposed to making an offer below their release clause - particularly if the player is not previously on the market. AW needs to apply the same rationale as he does re the likes of his own key players, in that whilst he may not want or intend to sell, he will consider it if a sizeable offer is made and the player indicates they would subsequently be interested to go = do unto others as they do to you.

Think you need to note the difference between the level of squads too. Milan's squad is shambolic quality, easy to find upgrades.