Saw a headline saying we're linked with Rabiot on loan, fantastic blend of physicality and technical quality. Think he'd be great in the prem.

Dembele of lyon linked as an auba/laca replacement. I know he was prolific for celtic. Seems to have flown under the radar a bit at lyon

Irish gunner wrote:

Saw a headline saying we're linked with Rabiot on loan, fantastic blend of physicality and technical quality. Think he'd be great in the prem.

Doesn't seem like a player who'd buy into what Mikel is selling though.

Gazza M wrote:

Dembele of lyon linked as an auba/laca replacement. I know he was prolific for celtic. Seems to have flown under the radar a bit at lyon

Don't think he's good enough yet for us for the price he commands. 

Klaus wrote:
Anzac wrote:

Reports we've supposedly made a 10m offer for Mertens.
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1220350/Arsenal-transfer-news-Dries-Mertens-Manchester-United

I'd take Mertens just so I can get his name on a shirt. I think the bloke is brilliant. Not sure about the sanity of signing a 32 year old dwarf striker who's slowing down on scoring goals though.

I wonder if he's being looked at to provide cover across the attack, or if he is being viewed to convert to playing from CM to provide the creativity if we sell/loan Xhaka & Ozil?
Also think he could be a player to help put Arteta's vision into place.

Report that Arteta wants a #6 and 2x CBs as his priority in Jan - no names mentioned just the positions
https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/three-players-mikel-arteta-wants-17471310

Edit - if he's looking for a #6 to replace Xhaka I wonder if he'd want Fernandinho in Jan for a nominal offer much like Mertens, and use them both to help translate his vision to the players? I think Emery had an issue in that he didn't have anyone able to do so.

from the behind the scenes video..i dont understand the numbers, but why is there bennacers name? could there be sth in it? would take him in a heartbeat...(maybe a swap with torreira or xhaka? )

Think you're reading too much into it. Suspect it was a list of all the players to play for us (or something similar) and the number indicates when they made their debut (ie. Arteta was the 794th player to play for us).

Gazza M wrote:

Dembele of lyon linked as an auba/laca replacement. I know he was prolific for celtic. Seems to have flown under the radar a bit at lyon

Would rather give those minutes to Martinelli/Nketiah

Gazza M wrote:

Dembele of lyon linked as an auba/laca replacement. I know he was prolific for celtic. Seems to have flown under the radar a bit at lyon

He has been linked to MU after Rashford was 'linked' to RM as alternative to PEA.

Don't think Lyon will be letting him go in Jan, but he makes sense in that he is familiar with the British game from his time at Celtic with BR.
For the same reasons the likes of Depay and Maylen are also worth considering as potential mid-season signings.

It makes sense because he's played in a league that's geographically close to England? That's a stretch imo.

Don Pacifico wrote:

Think you're reading too much into it. Suspect it was a list of all the players to play for us (or something similar) and the number indicates when they made their debut (ie. Arteta was the 794th player to play for us).

Yep, that's exactly what it was.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

It makes sense because he's played in a league that's geographically close to England? That's a stretch imo.

Was thinking in terms of adaptation. 

Anzac wrote:
Quincy Abeyie wrote:

It makes sense because he's played in a league that's geographically close to England? That's a stretch imo.

Was thinking in terms of adaptation. 

I know, but it's not the same league. That there's a collective term for the countries doesn't change that. 

Quincy Abeyie wrote:
Anzac wrote:

Was thinking in terms of adaptation. 

I know, but it's not the same league. That there's a collective term for the countries doesn't change that. 

Agreed, but I still think there are more similarities in terms of physical demands and style than most of the other UEFA top5 domestic leagues other than the BL.

Claudius wrote:

Ho, ho, ho. Santa Claude is here with goodies
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-contact-napoli-over-kalidou-21160462

It’s Daily Star but it’s better than nothing 😆

I can sort of believe it based on Napoli's current situation. I think they're fucked. The team is underperforming like Arsenal, manager's been sacked, half of the squad is getting assaulted by ultras and the club president is a bona fide dictator. No players want to extend their contracts. Mertens and Allan are running their deals down and even Insigne is rumoured to leave.

At some point it becomes more attractive to Napoli to sell a player like Koulibaly abroad for good money rather than having Inter or Juve turn his head domestically. A bunch of cash and a player in-between might do the trick, especially if they're planning a rebuild.

They’re in a tough situation. What you omitted from your dark scenario is that for most Serie A clubs, Champions League is their everything unlike the Premier League teams and maybe 4 or 5 other European clubs at best. So failure to qualify this year would be financially ruinous.

A really big deal could work. Options for someone like Kola, Torreira or Xhaka are unlikely but could help get it over the line. The nice thing about Koulibaly is he’s mature and can be a tutor for Saliba and Holding. We can still wring 4-5 years out of him.