word is we're going back to september 1st being the summer deadline instead of the first game of the season, and the big 6 clubs pushed for it. i can see it from the english clubs point of view, with it being a disadvantage if other major european keagues don't abide by the same schedule

They hoped the other leagues would follow last season as it would be better for everyone than what we'll have now, but it didn't happen. A prisoner's dilemma if I've ever seen one, and too bad it didn't work out.

unless we pull a europa league win out of the bag, we'll most likely have to sell to buy. laca, ozil, mustafi, xhaka all should be names on 'the list', and potentially auba if he doesn't renew

saw an article that arteta wants things done before the euros. easier said than done of-course, especially with the amount of work we need to do

Shit papers linking a Wenger to arsenal return in a senior role.

I'd give him a try. Him and Pepe on opposing wings would be devastating

Sounds really good.
Behind that we should get Aouar. The guy’s skill is incredible. Can sprint with the ball, and change directions in traffic. He can cover ground like Ramsey but with even better footwork. Good through balls as well. Speed, skill and strength like we haven’t had in a decade in midfield.

Claudius wrote:

Sounds really good.
Behind that we should get Aouar. The guy’s skill is incredible. Can sprint with the ball, and change directions in traffic. He can cover ground like Ramsey but with even better footwork. Good through balls as well. Speed, skill and strength like we haven’t had in a decade in midfield.

He's an incredible player and ever since he broke through 3 years ago he just get better and better. The time to get him should have been 2 years ago, now his stock is far too high and I don't think we can afford him. Cherki was pretty interesting yesterday against PSG, we should not miss out on the next Lyon superstar. 

While watching these Lyon talents, Di Maria shone once again with an incredible game. Whoever who said Di Maria wasn't fit to lace Ozil boots and we got the right player from Madrid last time around is having a laugh. Even at his current age he is unplayable. 

The smartest buy I think that we can make this summer is Fekir. Storming game yesterday against Barca and wouldn't cost a lot.

Only chance we'd have is if Betis made a deal with Fekir to let him go cheaply if a top club came calling. Fekir himself would probably be open to a move since he's an Arsenal fan. Other than that I don't see why they would let him go for a small fee when they got their money for Lo Celso or Lopez last summer

Watched part of the Betis game. He looked really good. He’s been a real upgrade on Lo Celso. I do wonder if he’s what we want up front through. Once upon a time he and Lacazette combined white well, so maybe there is scope to re-animate our fallen striker.

On Di Maria, I think he’s a bit hot and cold. But he’s quality. His negative reputation is possibly a result of Messi/Barcelona fans blaming all Argentina failures on Di Maria and Higuain. Some even tall like Messi has basically been playing on the Sweden squad for the past decade

Messi has been basically playing with Sweden for the past decade. Di Maria was definitely one of the better performers for Argentina though, I guess you're thinking of Agüero who usually stinks the place up on NT duty.

Yeah, was about to same the same thing. Haven't seen anyone blaming Di Maria for anything. The times Messi didn't step up in the WC run in 2014 it was Di Maria who did.

Di Maria is probably the player that drives me mad more than any other. He's simultaneously one of the best and worst players in the world! If he played for Arsenal, boy, I'd have higher blood pressure.

I have never seen another player with so much technical quality miss so many easy chances, take so many terrible touches, botch or fail to see so many easy passes, and then put a freekick in the top corner from 35 yards or dance through 5 players. He's like an extreme version of Mkhitaryan.

I think the thing that links them is that despite their excellent technique, world class in Di Maria's case, and good physical qualities, they're both, in my opinion, thick as a brick in terms of awareness and decision making.

To be fair consistency is probably the most difficult thing to achieve. Messi Neymar and Lewandowski are the only players to produce world class performances consistently for more than a year, even Cristiano has slowed down before his recent resurgence. Guys like Hazard Bale Salah Sterling Suarez or Di Maria have always had hot streaks with dry spells every now and then with minor differences in their duration.

Ricky1985 wrote:

Di Maria is probably the player that drives me mad more than any other. He's simultaneously one of the best and worst players in the world! If he played for Arsenal, boy, I'd have higher blood pressure.

I have never seen another player with so much technical quality miss so many easy chances, take so many terrible touches, botch or fail to see so many easy passes, and then put a freekick in the top corner from 35 yards or dance through 5 players. He's like an extreme version of Mkhitaryan.

I think the thing that links them is that despite their excellent technique, world class in Di Maria's case, and good physical qualities, they're both, in my opinion, thick as a brick in terms of awareness and decision making.

You rather that or see our playmaker pass it sideways consistently without having any impact whatsoever in the game?  ;D 2 assists in 2 years or something, no shots attempted at all and 0 goals for god knows how long. 

One thing you have to give it to Di Maria is that no matter which positions he plays he works very hard and influence the game. 

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Looks like a powerful and dominant midfielder in the making. Although, from that limited viewing, he looks a little slow on the turn and maybe a little heavy with his touch. Loves a switch of play with that left foot though.

This. This I like.

He looks class.

This is the kind of smart signing we need and we have got an extremely good record from Ligue 2 purchases

Wow that's a good comp. But also looks like he's got Pepe/Wilsh's ability to get absolutely cleaned out by some idiot.

He'd need to be paired with someone comfortable on the ball. He's not great under pressure or technically strong based a tifo scouting report i read a few days ago

Chelsea have agreed a deal to take Ziyech in the summer.

Good signing that. Replaces Willian.

Still bewildered nobody activated that 25m clause in the summer.

This is such good value. Could’ve been one of the 2 behind Aubameyang for us. Ah, well.

Arsenal could still go for him surely, as he's a fan of the club. Do what Willian did to Spurs. What we cannot allow to happen is letting Dayot go to Bayern. We have got to follow through on our targets.

Of all the Premier League clubs we should have been first in line for Ziyech. Disappointed he's going to Chelsea

No disrespect to Ziyech because I think he is a very good player, but this is the type of signing I expect to see from Chelsea from now on. Not Maddison or Sancho, where everyone wants them and the wages, especially in the latter's case will be astronomical, but experienced players arriving for reasonable fees and wages. I don't think they have the pull they once did and, more importantly, I think Abramovich won't cough up like he used to.

Clrnc wrote:

That's a little deceptive. It doesn't show the couple of unnecessary fouls he gave away; one, in particular, on Muller which was downright stupid. It also doesn't show any of the headers he lost to Lewandowski from goal kicks or long balls. And there were a few. But, most importantly, it doesn't show the penalty kick he gave away that was overturned by VAR because there was an offside in the build-up; Lewandowski did a little Cruyff-turn and Upemecano swiped his legs away like he was a Gabriel or Mustafi superfan performing the ultimate tribute.

He also did some very good things throughout, as the video shows; passed well, carried it well, stood strong physically, and had some vital blocks and interceptions, even if some of them were a little chaotic. On the subject of Upemcano:

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I think he has some work to do in order to become a top player, but he has strength, speed, athleticism, technical quality, and a lot of fight and confidence, even when up against Lewandowski and the like. Could become some player in the right environment.

Yep I agree, he reminds me of a very raw Sol Campbell. Not that Sol was particularly polished but yeah