nice to see gazidis rolling with a deeper, younger squad

dick law, bless his heart, seemed a bit long in the tooth for the wiles of modern football

Didn't know Bellerin made music.

Kicker saying that Giroud will go the other way on a 6-month loan

That's not a good deal for us. We will need Giroud.

Don't allow Giroud to go. You need a target man.

I agree. Otherwise, Welbeck will move up the CF pecking order

Giroud barely got to play without Aubameyang. If we sign him, I don't think we need Giroud, though I like him a lot.

If we have Aubameyang and Lacazette then Giroud needs to leave. I'd be sad to see him go but I don't want to see him rot on the bench either.

Keeping Giroud as 3rd choice would be daft. Playing 20 mins each month is a role reserved for kids like Nketiah, not for an international looking to start for France at the world cup in the summer.

Besides, his level has dropped significantly since taking the bit part role. He'll be of no use to us.

Honestly, the only reason Giroud would need to go was to guarantee a spot on the French national team for this summer, which I actually don't think is something he really needs to worry about regardless what people say. He will be in the squad as long as he's fit. I would prefer it if he didn't leave, since he's still our plan B, even if Aub comes (IMO)

Don't get me started on the concept of a plan b! The idea that you need one is one of the biggest myths perpetuated in football imo.

If Giroud is going, then it surely means that we won't play two upfront? If so, Laca is going to be benched or played as winger which is... ahem... not ideal.

Who says we need to play the same way no matter who are available? We should be flexible.

Klaus wrote:

This is the best transfer thread we've had in years.

All we need now is a pic of Gazidis and Aubameyang in a rollercoaster...

Reminds me of the Arshavin deal.

Really would love getting him, been awhile since I got excited by who we signed.

Sorry boys I'm out of the photoshop business.

I've long thought Alexis' role should be more like a forward/striker anyway. So what would start out as a 4-2-3-1 should evolve into a 4-2-2-2 when we have the ball.

goon wrote:

Don't get me started on the concept of a plan b! The idea that you need one is one of the biggest myths perpetuated in football imo.

oh, i dont know about that.  considering the amount of goals Giroud has scored after coming on as a sub in the past season and a half, i would say its not exactly a myth..  maybe if you consider it a tactical switch for a large target man who can score goals in and around the box, that's reason enough IMO to keep him

Circumstantial evidence in my opinion, who's to say it's not just because we brought on a good striker? We and plenty of other teams have scored late goals without changing style.

I feel like if you think you need a plan b then what you really need is to improve plan a. Nobody ever says the very best teams need a plan b.

I like having a plan B. If you've played 70 minutes of ball on the floor and can't break through throwing on a big man and getting the ball into the box at head height is a great option.

We have Welbeck as plan B. He can surprise the opposition and has a history of incredible assists.

PEA can play on the floor or in the air. Can change to plan B without subbing the striker.I

Honestly between having this guy or Sanchez, I'd take Aubameyang.

Not much of a link man though, which is one area in which Giroud is massively better than him and probably Lacazette too.

that is gold

jesus.

can sven hire a new quality control officer for the club?

Dortmund want €70 million apparently, we only want to pay €50 million.

Maybe it's just a byproduct of having seen how Arsenal have handled the last ₃₀ transfer windows, but I have a feeling that this will run down to the final hour on January 31st, and when we won't be able to lowball them we'll just forget about it altogether.

Main source of confidence is that Gazidis and his party posse are in Dortmund to negotiate face to face, but who knows what they'll do. This is not a club that has ever paid a cent more than they thought a player was worth.

Yeah, share the sentiments. Don't think we will get him.

everyone thinks PEA was in the studio getting ready to record his own welcome video. i think this is still 70/30 it happens. i think wenger has lost most of his power at the club and hes been the one to kill so many of our potential deals

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

—�—�—�Wilshere—Xhaka
—Ozil—�—�Ramsey—Mkhitaryan
—�—�—�—Aubameyang

That’s pretty tasty

Wilshere RM? Swap Jack and Ramsey.

Talkshite reporting this is as good as done, just formalities to sort out.

Arsene Wenger confirms Arsenal are in talks with Borussia Dortmund over deal to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. #SSN

Klaus wrote:

Dortmund want €70 million apparently, we only want to pay €50 million.

Maybe it's just a byproduct of having seen how Arsenal have handled the last ₃₀ transfer windows, but I have a feeling that this will run down to the final hour on January 31st, and when we won't be able to lowball them we'll just forget about it altogether.

Main source of confidence is that Gazidis and his party posse are in Dortmund to negotiate face to face, but who knows what they'll do. This is not a club that has ever paid a cent more than they thought a player was worth.

It will be some effort from us if we fuck this up, what with the bloke virtually being on strike

Just pay the money for once