To be fair to Josh Kroenke. He said something like "we can't buy the best players in the world, but we are trying to bring in the players that are going to be the best players in the world."

Pépé is exactly that for me.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Yep, didn't last long. 😆

[Twitter]

Arsenal shutting it down so quickly is an attempt to manage supporter's expectations. It's better than letting fans think it's possible I suppose.

Sounds like Ornstein has been played like a fiddle this month.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert wrote:

Elephant in the room - Auba will still be wide (although he's pretty good on the right, that's Pepe's position.)

For now. Get another winger next summer and play with 1 striker

Can't help but feel that this also probably means there's a couple of players about to leave too. Whatever the spin about how much money we actually have, I find it difficult to believe the Kroenkes don't have a plan to balance the books.

Shady wrote:
Ricky1985 wrote:

Yep, didn't last long. 😆

[Twitter]

Arsenal shutting it down so quickly is an attempt to manage supporter's expectations. It's better than letting fans think it's possible I suppose.

Sounds like Ornstein has been played like a fiddle this month.

Yeah come to think of it dont think Orny has ever shut down a rumour straight away so quickly. Arsenal was worried.

He's not anymore. Almost certain of it.

Clrnc wrote:
Segway wrote:

Crystal Palace wouldn't accept the payment to be made in installments. 

They would. Every transfer in the world is paid by installments. Big difference paying 80m in installments and 40m in installments.

Suppose you're right. It's confusing to keep track of all the rumours. 

Clrnc wrote:
jones wrote:

Where's the "here we go" fucking thing

Fair play by the way, you are one of the only few who believed we could lure a player like him here. 

jones wrote:

That no sources having Bert from sesame street lookalike Ornstein can go fuck himself. I'm staying put on this train

Pepe 2019

Cheers man, I almost forgot about this post myself. I always said the wages excuses don't fly with me, if we ever had a 40m limit it was self imposed and not because we really can't afford more.

We beat Bayern Liverpool United Napoli and God knows who else for the hottest player on the market in Europe. We're Arsenal fucking Football Club no barren spells or dry patches will see some shithouse club down the road on some powershift delusion surpass us. We're still the fucking Arsenal.

Wonder if this means Lacazette is on his way out or we feel confident of shifting 2-3 other players for a reasonable fee like Chambers and maybe Kolasinac. With Inter and Juventus fighting over Lukaku, maybe it's a good time to ship Laca to one of them.

Ricky1985 wrote:

To be fair to Josh Kroenke. He said something like "we can't buy the best players in the world, but we are trying to bring in the players that are going to be the best players in the world."

Pépé is exactly that for me.

Yes, Ricky Yes! This is a player I can get behind us splashing the dosh for.

Well done Arsenal! Got us a wing merlin!

Ricky1985 wrote:

To be fair to Josh Kroenke. He said something like "we can't buy the best players in the world, but we are trying to bring in the players that are going to be the best players in the world."

Pépé is exactly that for me.

Come on Kroenke Sr or Jr both have nothing to do with it, this transfer is most likely down to Raul and Raul alone, a player this well known and we pulled it off means a couple of agent palms were greased most likely.

Also Pepe dragged Lille to 2nd last season mostly by himself, 22 goals and 11 assists in the league alone is very much top shelf already to me even if he still has another gear or two in him

Rohit wrote:
Gunner89 wrote:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49137976

Arsenal offered £40m for Crystal Palace's Ivory Coast winger Wilfried Zaha earlier this month, but their Premier League rivals value the player at about £80m.

So we were happy to pay £80 Mn but not for Zaha. 

Pepe was the best player in Ligue 1 outside PSG. He typically plays right wing. Left dominant with many special attributes that will serve us well. 

  • He brings the dribbling ability we sorely lack. Very high dribbles per match, attracts about 3 fouls per match so will bring us good dead-ball opportunities. 

  • He's a double-threat to defenders with a goal or assist every game on average. Because of his dribbles (2 per game) he can get past defenders to score, but he also creates a lot of chances (2 key passes and 30 passes per game). Just gives us a fluidity we are lacking up top 

  • Excellent shooter. Opens his body up like Theo from the top of the box 

  • Incredibly fast. Paired with his dribbling it means he can just blow past a couple of defenders in a second. Hopefully, Xhaka and Ceballos can set him up quickly and he gallop with Aubemayang

  • Look for him to cut in from the right often, pull out out defenders and create space for the strikers/AMs. Also look for him cutting in to meet Ozil/Ceballos through-balls 

  • Only obvious area for improvement is that he is really takes responsibility and in so doing loses the ball a fair amount. Will need to cede control to Ozil etc more. 

In summary, if it happens, this is the biggest signing in the Premier League this summer. Bigger than Rodri. Bigger than Maguire and Ndombele. The £72m is the going rate for an elite AM which is what Pepe is becoming.

Really really like that we have two top tier strikers in the ranks; pretty much every title winning team in recent years has had that. Would be a shame if we sold Laca before a fire sale of the other players. I sense some truth to the Barcelona rumors.

It's definitely not a coincidence we speed up our transfers right after all the fans displeasure. We might have been working on it but so many pressure meant they gave the greenlight to spend that little bit more to get it over the line and not leave it to the last minute.

jones wrote:
Ricky1985 wrote:

To be fair to Josh Kroenke. He said something like "we can't buy the best players in the world, but we are trying to bring in the players that are going to be the best players in the world."

Pépé is exactly that for me.

Come on Kroenke Sr or Jr both have nothing to do with it, this transfer is most likely down to Raul and Raul alone, a player this well known and we pulled it off means a couple of agent palms were greased most likely.

Also Pepe dragged Lille to 2nd last season mostly by himself, 22 goals and 11 assists in the league alone is very much top shelf already to me even if he still has another gear or two in him

I watched him slay PSG

Come on Clrnc, I don't think the owners are that soft. It's just because we're getting closer to the end of the window.

jones wrote:
Ricky1985 wrote:

To be fair to Josh Kroenke. He said something like "we can't buy the best players in the world, but we are trying to bring in the players that are going to be the best players in the world."

Pépé is exactly that for me.

Come on Kroenke Sr or Jr both have nothing to do with it, this transfer is most likely down to Raul and Raul alone, a player this well known and we pulled it off means a couple of agent palms were greased most likely.

Also Pepe dragged Lille to 2nd last season mostly by himself, 22 goals and 11 assists in the league alone is very much top shelf already to me even if he still has another gear or two in him

Ricky is more likely to be right as Raul doesn't have the authority to spend £80 million of Kroenke's money like that.
If Gazidis is still chief executive, Stan is not loosening his pursestrings.

If this happens, it will be quite a big week (or so) for us. Ceballos (even if only a loan), Saliba and Pepe. Those are 3 pretty big deals to happen in such a short time period. Ideally we need another player or 2 (Tierney would be great, but doubt it happens now) or someone at CM.. But this kind of signing shows intent at least. That's something we just havent had in quite a while

Shame if Laca goes but even so we’d still have a far better balanced attack. Wouldn’t shock me if Laca goes we get big Wilf too

Bold Tone wrote:
jones wrote:

Come on Kroenke Sr or Jr both have nothing to do with it, this transfer is most likely down to Raul and Raul alone, a player this well known and we pulled it off means a couple of agent palms were greased most likely.

Also Pepe dragged Lille to 2nd last season mostly by himself, 22 goals and 11 assists in the league alone is very much top shelf already to me even if he still has another gear or two in him

Ricky is more likely to be right as Raul doesn't have the authority to spend £80 of Kroenke's money like that.
If Gazidis is still chief executive, Stan is not loosening his pursestrings.

Gazidis really was fucking useless.

Mirth wrote:
Bold Tone wrote:

Ricky is more likely to be right as Raul doesn't have the authority to spend £80 of Kroenke's money like that.
If Gazidis is still chief executive, Stan is not loosening his pursestrings.

Gazidis really was fucking useless.

Accountant mentality. Raul is a dreamer. 

The ball carrying ability of ceballos and pepe is such a game changer

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Shame if Laca goes but even so we’d still have a far better balanced attack. Wouldn’t shock me if Laca goes we get big Wilf too

To be honest, I don’t want to lose Lacazette.

If we get Zaha though, fuck me.

Zaha. Aubameyang Pepe

Proper width, proper pace, proper strength with the ability to beat the man all ends up.

Even fucking Nkitieh and John Jules could play in the middle of Zaha and Pepe.

What a shame we will have to wait until next season, when hopefully the CM/DM are done to see what this team will really look like.

goon wrote:

Raul will become a cult hero.

Did he actually say that? 😆

Fucking beggars are at the door again. 😆

USArsenal wrote:

If this happens, it will be quite a big week (or so) for us. Ceballos (even if only a loan), Saliba and Pepe. Those are 3 pretty big deals to happen in such a short time period. Ideally we need another player or 2 (Tierney would be great, but doubt it happens now) or someone at CM.. But this kind of signing shows intent at least. That's something we just havent had in quite a while

Makes up for Ceballos only being on loan as Willock/ESR could make the step up.
With Ozil, Mkhi and Mustafi leaving in 2021, we would be able to go again, Stan-willing of course.

He said stuff about Arsenal having a great history. Took a dig at City (I believe) by saying that some clubs are winning and spending big but their leaders say they would give everything to have our history.

We’re in danger of becoming such a fucking gloriously hip club 😆

Have anyone said that we've agreed something with Pepe or just the club? Last I heard three other clubs also had bids accepted.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Have anyone said that we've agreed something with Pepe or just the club? Last I heard three other clubs also had bids accepted.

His entourage only like what we're proposing.

Bold Tone wrote:
jones wrote:

Come on Kroenke Sr or Jr both have nothing to do with it, this transfer is most likely down to Raul and Raul alone, a player this well known and we pulled it off means a couple of agent palms were greased most likely.

Also Pepe dragged Lille to 2nd last season mostly by himself, 22 goals and 11 assists in the league alone is very much top shelf already to me even if he still has another gear or two in him

Ricky is more likely to be right as Raul doesn't have the authority to spend £80 million of Kroenke's money like that.
If Gazidis is still chief executive, Stan is not loosening his pursestrings.

It's not Stans money though is it

Either way today is not about him or his son

Pepe 2019

jones wrote:

Come on Kroenke Sr or Jr both have nothing to do with it, this transfer is most likely down to Raul and Raul alone, a player this well known and we pulled it off means a couple of agent palms were greased most likely.

That's a really narrow way to look at it, my friend.

I have no doubt it's Raul that has done all the leg work, sold us to Pépé, negotiated with Lille, brought in his old mate Jorge Mendes to push it all through in our favour ahead of some really big clubs, but KSE hired him for precisely this reason. They convinced him to leave Barca and pay him the big bucks to run the club because he's the man, and has been doing this shit for a very long time.

They also fired Gazidis (yes, I believe they did), precisely because he couldn't even dream of pulling off a summer like this. Sanllehi has had the clubs we're negotiating with heads spinning. He's had them on a string all summer.

Even after this, you wouldn't even be shocked if the guy got Zaha to do an interview to beg for a cut price move here the way this little Spaniard fella makes his moves. 😆

Klaus said something in another thread about organisations not being exceptional, but key individuals driving all the success. I could not agree more: Everything comes down to a brilliant individual ultimately. And Sanllehi is proving to be that ambitious, sharp-as-a-tack, ruthless and exceptional individual the club has badly needed, but that doesn't mean you don't give credit to the people smart enough to hire him. And credit to them for backing him too.

deardevil wrote:
goon wrote:

Raul will become a cult hero.

Did he actually say that? 😆

Fucking beggars are at the door again. 😆

Yes, he did say that. Word for word.

And, although you're only joking, it's comments like your second sentence that I hope are going to stop being made by Arsenal fans. It sums up where we have been for a while, no doubt, and it's part of the lack of pride and apathy that has plagued this club for too long.

But times they are a-changing; be proud to support Arsenal. Defend them when other fans slag us off. That's how the club will be reborn, that's when it will happen. And the fans are desperate for it, you could even see that with the Adidas kit launch that captured so perfectly what it means to be Arsenal and why we're such a big, fat stonking football club.

He has salahs control of his centre of gravity, nowhere near salahs speed but his trickery will certainly help unlock packed defenses.

He's quicker than Salah. Maybe not quite as quick off the mark because Salah is tiny and Pépé is 6' tall, but top speed Pépé would eat him alive.

Is it 100 per a done deal?

Still won’t believe until it’s on arsenal.com