Look, I like Zaha. I've always wanted him at Arsenal, and I'd be pretty disappointed if he wasn't playing for us next season. I'm also a closet Palace fan, to some extent, and I'm happy that he's there.

However, no matter what the heart says, Pepe is by far and away a better signing to make for the money. He's got so much upside, can perform a similar role, and could go for 200 million if we develop him properly and if he keeps his head and doesn't hit a wall in his development. He can score, dribble, win penalties, make incisive passes through the lines, and he provides that excitement factor that will see shirts fly off shelves.

If Raul can pull this off, I'll be firmly in the all-out optimism camp.

If he buys Pepe and sells Mustafi, I think I might laugh-cry myself to death.

I think our name is being used to get napoli to cough up the fee pepes handlers want

It does feel like that. Helps that it might force Palace's hand as well.

Tough to know who to prefer between Pepe and Zaha

Pepe is physical, younger and carries a big goal threat

Zaha is accomplished in the Premiership and seems more rounded as a player.
Probably more powerful and the better dribbler

Would be over the moon with either

Omg we are really signing Pepe. Romano and many others confirms. In advanced talks left final details to sort out in contract. Fees all agreed 72m pound and 10m bonuses.

Clrnc wrote:

Omg we are really signing Pepe. Romano and many others confirms. In advanced talks left final details to sort out in contract. Fees all agreed 72m pound and 10m bonuses.

Clrnc, it’s early in the morning. Please be serious. I might have a heart attack. This would be the biggest thing we’ve done since Ozil/Sanchez.

I'm already having a heart attack. The balls we shown since the letter to Kroenke is unbelievable.

Napoli bid blown out of the water by fucking Arsenal lmao

I’m reading that a decision is still a few days away. Still a few days for corrupt forces to sabotage us. Pray to all your gods, new and old.

Either Raul’s contact with Mendes gets this done, or the agents are using Arsenals name to get more commission from Napoli. Strange to think under Wenger we would never have the advantage of dealing with these agents to get players like Pepe.l

Pepe is lower risk in terms of a financial investment- he’s likely to gain in value if anything

Exciting times

If only we could shift Mkhitaryan and Mustafi so we could get a good cb and maybe Everton too!

————-Lacazette
Auba ————————Pepe

That’s flames my Gs

Ray wrote:

Either Raul’s contact with Mendes gets this done, or the agents are using Arsenals name to get more commission from Napoli. Strange to think under Wenger we would never have the advantage of dealing with these agents to get players like Pepe.l

Romano is like Ornstein. He wont report anything that is not close to being done. We might still get hijack by some mega bid, but my gut feeling is that if those big clubs wanted him they would have gotten him by now. 

If we are in advanced talk it means we are confident enough to get him here ahead of the rest. The figures being talked about in bonuses and contract most italian journalists say Napoli could never match.

Santa maria, this one has legs chaps

Rumours we've aligned with mendes to grease the wheels on this as well. The times, they are a-changing

Santa maria indeed!

Unbelievable stuff from the club if they manage to pull this one off.

If we get this done and Tierney in, wow.
A few weeks ago I was really worried that this was going to be the season I gave up.

Holy shit. Its happening?

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

What the fuck, where did we get money from?

Vinai said he doesn’t recognize the 45m pound number. Basically said ‘recognize deez nuts’