mdgoonah41 wrote:

Diaby KungFu wrote:

If Wenger is seriously genuine about only signing 1 or 2 players this summer, then I don't see how that's unrealistic at all.

the player would need to want to come here. monaco is in a better situation right now than arsenal. why would he move to a new league now moving to a club in a rough place when he can stay in monaco and wait for madrid or barcelona to come for him?

I'm not saying M'bappe is going to be an Arsenal player next year. I'm saying the idea that we will/have already made a world record bid doesn't seem far-fetched to me.

He'd be mad to stay at Monaco. They'll have nobody of quality left come September. Say what you want about Wenger and the usual stuff about how crap we are, but the truth is we are thought of very highly by most people that know their football.

If we really are in for Mbappé, and I can't think why we wouldn't be, I reckon we'd have a good shot at getting him.

this will be the transfer campaign to end all campaigns. extremely unlikely but you have to shoot for the stars

another lequipe journo has said

Guillaume Duffy from l'equpe has stated a few things
Mbappe could be interested in the fact that Arsenal would build a team around him
Arsene Wenger is gonna go all in these 2 years
Mbappe is gonna wait and see what happens transfer wise with fellow team mates
Vincent Duluc who is also very reliable usually states
Mbappe loves Arsenal, and almost joined last summer
Edit: They're stating that we could actually have a good chance to land him with Arsene/London/Building team around him being a big attraction to him

Spending that sort of money on Mbappe doesn't just make sense from a sporting standpoint, it makes a lot of sense from every angle. For one thing, the guy is 18, that means either 100m spread over 12 years he is here or we get it all back if we're to sell him at any point before that. Then you take into account the commercial possibilities, getting fans back on board and making us competitive on the pitch again... it really is a no brainier. The hard part isn't deciding whether or not we should go in for him it's whether or not we can sell it too him. Fortunately he sounds like he's a smart kid who's not taken in by the glamour, hence turning both us and Madrid down last year, so maybe we have a small chance if we go all out.

Gazza M wrote:

this will be the transfer campaign to end all campaigns. extremely unlikely but you have to shoot for the stars

another lequipe journo has said

Guillaume Duffy from l'equpe has stated a few things
Mbappe could be interested in the fact that Arsenal would build a team around him
Arsene Wenger is gonna go all in these 2 years
Mbappe is gonna wait and see what happens transfer wise with fellow team mates
Vincent Duluc who is also very reliable usually states
Mbappe loves Arsenal, and almost joined last summer
Edit: They're stating that we could actually have a good chance to land him with Arsene/London/Building team around him being a big attraction to him

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

Ok hypothetically we sign him - what position does he play?

I presume that this is also supposed to entice Sanchez & Ozil to stay,
do we then move Sanchez to CF & play Mbappe in Sanchez' position next to Ozil?

Mbappé would be the striker playing ahead of Sanchez and Ozil. He's a Number 9. He has such ridiculous skills that he can terrorise fullbacks in a similar way to someone like Neymar, but you don't waste goalscoring ability like he has out on the flanks or in a deeper position.

Think Thierry Henry, Anzac, that's the sort of style and quality you're dealing with.

L'Equipe also running with a story in tomorrow's edition about us trying to sign Thomas Lemar too.

He'd be perfect in this new system we're playing as a left midfielder/wingback. Wouldn't fancy him as Number 10 as I have seen a few of you wish listing him - he doesn't have enough there for me - further back though he could really be something special.

Yeah, definitely a striker. His movement is top notch as well, the kid is very clever.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Mbappé would be the striker playing ahead of Sanchez and Ozil. He's a Number 9. He has such ridiculous skills that he can terrorise fullbacks in a similar way to someone like Neymar, but you don't waste goalscoring ability like he has out on the flanks.

Think Thierry Henry, Anzac, that's the sort of style and quality you're dealing with.

Yeah agreed re his attributes.
Was just thinking that at Monaco he plays as a SS behind Falcao - is he ready to lead the line rather than exploiting the space created behind the CF?
I'd be tempted to tell the STs to switch with each other during the game.

Ricky1985 wrote:

L'Equipe also running with a story in tomorrow's edition about us trying to sign Thomas Lemar too.

He'd be perfect in this new system we're playing as a left midfielder/wingback. Wouldn't fancy him as Number 10 as I have seen a few of you wish listing him - he doesn't have enough there for me - further back though he could really be something special.

If we're also in for Lemar does that mean Kolasinac is more likely to play LCB?

Falcao doesn't really lead the line but Mbappé does link well with him. I'm not sure how he would handle the physical side of things but his movement and link play is a sight to behold so I definitely think we could adapt to having less of a physical presence up there and come out functioning better for that adaptation.

goon wrote:

Gazza M wrote:

this will be the transfer campaign to end all campaigns. extremely unlikely but you have to shoot for the stars

another lequipe journo has said

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.

Anzac wrote:

Ricky1985 wrote:

L'Equipe also running with a story in tomorrow's edition about us trying to sign Thomas Lemar too.

He'd be perfect in this new system we're playing as a left midfielder/wingback. Wouldn't fancy him as Number 10 as I have seen a few of you wish listing him - he doesn't have enough there for me - further back though he could really be something special.

If we're also in for Lemar does that mean Kolasinac is more likely to play LCB?

I think he's adaptable, can play both positions. There's a chance Gibbs and Monreal are off so we need options.

Bellerin or Chamberlain on one side and Kolasinac or Lemar on the other would serve as stupendously good options. Especially as Chamberlain and Lemar could play numerous other positions.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Falcao doesn't really lead the line but Mbappé does link well with him. I'm not sure how he would handle the physical side of things but his movement and link play is a sight to behold so I definitely think we could adapt to having less of a physical presence up there and come out functioning better for that adaptation.

Was just imagining a 3412 with both Sanchez and Mbappe playing as twin false9's taking turns with 1 dropping deep alongside Ozil & the other drifting wide, and Ozil & Xhaka looking to provide the ball to their twin movement.

you'd surely think that IF AW was able to pull this off that the likes of Sanchez & Ozil would want to stay to play alongside the most exciting young ST in the game - that said gotta stop getting ahead of this.

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.

I recall reading something from that Monaco DoF/CEO that said that Mbappe DOES have a release clause and that they'd be willing to talk.
The 'proof' is in the pudding? 

Ricky1985 wrote:

L'Equipe also running with a story in tomorrow's edition about us trying to sign Thomas Lemar too.

He'd be perfect in this new system we're playing as a left midfielder/wingback. Wouldn't fancy him as Number 10 as I have seen a few of you wish listing him - he doesn't have enough there for me - further back though he could really be something special.

Our interests in both is very real and I don't doubt we will try our best to land Mbappe. I'd be very happy with both to be honest.

Huge bids nowadays are normal and isn't a huge risk anymore. 90% of big money signings who failed still recoup as much, if not profits in the market.

we know wenger has a relationship there, as he was at his house last year. might have set the groundwork for this, who knows?

Conveniently timed this. We won't be signing him or Lemar, though both would be perfect in this new system. One can dream I suppose.

---------------------Cech/Ospina---------------
---Mustafi/Gabriel-Kos/Merte-Holding/Kolasinac---
Ox/Bellers--------------------------Lemar/Monreal
---------Xhaka/Cazorla----Ramsey/Elneny---------
------Sanzhez/????--------Ozil/Iwobi-----------
-----------------Mbappe/Welbeck----------------

Get an extra body in AMC like Fornals or something. Someone cheap-ish with potential. That looks a good squad. We could get rid of Theo, Gibbs, Perez and Giroud as well without feeling too much of a pinch. Bring Chambers/Bielik back, we will need the extra bodies what with Europa and stuff. Ahhhh told myself I wouldn't do this to myself this summer because you just know you'll end up disappointed. .