Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Gabriel's sister started following Edu's daughter on Instagram, close the thread.

This reads as parody, but someone actually figured this out  :doh:

Why in the flying lemur pits of hell would you want to suffer constant racial abuse while playing for Genaro bloody Gattuso?

Lille president with new comments that he'll make his choice early this week

Hope its us. 2 skyscrapers playing at centre half for arsenal just feels right. Two tower defense, word to sauron and saruman

goon wrote:

Arseblog said we’re close to signing a left sided centre back. Must be Gabriel.

It's not like Arseblog to bullshit about stuff like that, so to me it seems like he'll pick Arsenal.

I don't see why Napoli would be the better choice either. If they were in the CL, sure, but they're not. They're doing the same thing as us in a weaker league and have probably offered a smaller salary.

I'd rather it wasn't us. Looks a red card machine to me. Rash as fuck as well and extremely one footed. Not in the slightest bit impressed despite some of the praise he's getting.

Big Willie wrote:

I'd rather it wasn't us. Looks a red card machine to me. Rash as fuck as well and extremely one footed. Not in the slightest bit impressed despite some of the praise he's getting.

Honest question, how many times have you seen him play?

Look at it this way Willie, we're going for potential in defense with at least the right physical attributes and raw ability, so that we can go big in midfield.

It was always going to be one or the other.

Coombs wrote:

Look at it this way Willie, we're going for potential in defense with at least the right physical attributes and raw ability, so that we can go big in midfield.

It was always going to be one or the other.

Can't teach height

Haven't seen him much, so I just have to hope for the best. He does go to ground too often for my liking, but some reports suggest that the manager at Lille tasks him and Fonte with being reactive/passive and proactive respectively, and that he goes to ground more than he'd ideally like due to this. A big strength of his seems to be his long balls, so the plan is probably to phase out Luiz without losing what he offers offensively.

Sicario wrote:
Big Willie wrote:

I'd rather it wasn't us. Looks a red card machine to me. Rash as fuck as well and extremely one footed. Not in the slightest bit impressed despite some of the praise he's getting.

Honest question, how many times have you seen him play?

Honestly, not much other than the comps and some touch vids when we were linked. I don't really watch links for people I don't know much about unless they're strongly linked to us so I was excited at the first links after hearing some of the praise sent his way. Once I watched a few vids I was a lot less impressed. Yeah, I know it's not a lot to go on but it's the impression I get. Him diving into tackles really scares me, especially with how refs treat us, calling bullshit freekicks and cards for the most minor things.

Coombs wrote:

Look at it this way Willie, we're going for potential in defense with at least the right physical attributes and raw ability, so that we can go big in midfield.

It was always going to be one or the other.

I understand that Coombs, and if we sign him, I'll be more than supportive and hoping he succeeds. I just feel goong for potential doesn't necessarily mean the player must have some glaring flaws. Saliba looked impressive from first viewing, I just don't get that kind of feeling from Gabriel.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Haven't seen him much, so I just have to hope for the best. He does go to ground too often for my liking, but some reports suggest that the manager at Lille tasks him and Fonte with being reactive/passive and proactive respectively, and that he goes to ground more than he'd ideally like due to this. A big strength of his seems to be his long balls, so the plan is probably to phase out Luiz without losing what he offers offensively.

I haven't seen these reports but if true then I'd be a lot less worried. Constantly going to ground full blood and thunder style was something you could get away with back in the day. Nowadays you're more likely to get left by the quick feet of the player you're defending or punished by the ref. Doubly so if you play for Arsenal.

I think we need to start with offense. When I go back to our games and see Holding and Kolasinac struggling to get the ball out of the back line, I am really desperate for a good ball playing defender. You saw how Upamecano was the hub for Leipzig’s offense the other night. His mate Konate’s also good on the ball. We need to go on that direction. Who can pass the ball out? Rotate with the DM to give us progression on the ball. These are the things that break presses and launch attacks. Those are the qualities we want from a defender.
And then we can see if he does the less important defending stuff 😆

No one has any concerns about having him and Saliba who, both despite their high ceilings, have never played in the Prem before. Remember it took Kos at least one year to get use to the pace and physicality. to have both of them learn seems like a recipe for disaster in the short term, no?

FEBravo wrote:

No one has any concerns about having him and Saliba who, both despite their high ceilings, have never played in the Prem before. Remember it took Kos at least one year to get use to the pace and physicality. to have both of them learn seems like a recipe for disaster in the short term, no?

That's exactly my concern too. Can't think of any examples where swapping both centrebacks for young blokes who are unfamiliar with the league and most likely also the language has ever been a success.

It's not like we're getting rid of all our defensive CB experience. Some of them will still be here and also be first choices if the new guys aren't up to it initially.

My expectation is that David Luiz will be the lead defender for at least the first few months no matter what happens in this window. And that’s fine. I think of how Klopp slowly introduced Fabinho. If you have a plan, there’s no need to rush things

I think Upamecano is way too expensive and out of our reach after that performance, and Gabriel really has huge potential given that he is already one of Ligue 1s best defender in his first season that's not even a full season.

I get many of the concerns and they are valid, but there's also a reason why many top clubs are after him.

We should always gamble on prospects like him that have massive upside.

Fair, I trust your perspectives on Ligue1 talent.

Klaus wrote:
FEBravo wrote:

No one has any concerns about having him and Saliba who, both despite their high ceilings, have never played in the Prem before. Remember it took Kos at least one year to get use to the pace and physicality. to have both of them learn seems like a recipe for disaster in the short term, no?

That's exactly my concern too. Can't think of any examples where swapping both centrebacks for young blokes who are unfamiliar with the league and most likely also the language has ever been a success.

I think they both speak English though I may be wrong. 

I doubt we'll see them play a lot together initially anyway though. I'd expect Luiz to start the season. 

Telegraph (Jason Burt) reporting that we are very close to signing Gabriel.

Negotiations were concluded by Raul with his close friend at Lille before he left.

Nice. We're building a really good core group of young players.

Gabriel, Pepe, Tierney, Leno, Torreira. We're really leaning on Napoli's scouting system.

Clrnc wrote:

Telegraph (Jason Burt) reporting that we are very close to signing Gabriel.

Negotiations were concluded by Raul with his close friend at Lille before he left.

Just waiting for Raul to revenge-stop this transfer. 

goon wrote:

Gabriel, Pepe, Tierney, Leno, Torreira. We're really leaning on Napoli's scouting system.

goon wrote:

Gabriel, Pepe, Tierney, Leno, Torreira. We're really leaning on Napoli's scouting system.

I swear Chelsea used to do this to us. Good that we are taking advantage of another club effectively outsourcing our scouting to Napoli :-)

He's a good passer of the ball when given space on his left I'll admit. He seems big, strong and fast and if he can manage to stay on his feet like Saliba instead of diving in then I reckon he can bully strikers all day.

Whether he can cut out the unnecessary rashness when going to ground is anotherremains to be seen. If he can do that then he can be a really tough defender to play against.

At least a decision is close. Curious to see which CB's we'll get rid off if he does end up picking us.

Sicario wrote:
goon wrote:

Gabriel, Pepe, Tierney, Leno, Torreira. We're really leaning on Napoli's scouting system.

I swear Chelsea used to do this to us. Good that we are taking advantage of another club effectively outsourcing our scouting to Napoli :-)

IIRC it used to be the standard at a number of clubs across UEFA at our peak = whomever AFC are looking at.

goon wrote:
Klaus wrote:

That's exactly my concern too. Can't think of any examples where swapping both centrebacks for young blokes who are unfamiliar with the league and most likely also the language has ever been a success.

I think they both speak English though I may be wrong. 

I doubt we'll see them play a lot together initially anyway though. I'd expect Luiz to start the season. 

Think Arteta will initially continue with 3ATB. Gabriel and Saliba either side of Luiz.

Jed wrote:
goon wrote:

I think they both speak English though I may be wrong. 

I doubt we'll see them play a lot together initially anyway though. I'd expect Luiz to start the season. 

Think Arteta will initially continue with 3ATB. Gabriel and Saliba either side of Luiz.

I think it depends if we can address the midfield & creative issues.

Wouldn't be surprised if we started the season that way, unless he can really get things moving in whatever preseason we'll get. What I don't want to see is a change to 4 and then a panicky reversion to 3 if things go wrong. Wenger and Emery both did it, and it never really works out. Whatever it is, we need to be committed to it. If it's a 4-into-3 type of things, I can get on board, or if we use different systems for different opponents, then fine, but there has to be commitment to it.

Agreed. I think it is likely we will start with 5atb and slowly transition to 4atb when Saliba and Gabriel come into their own a little more.

Coombs wrote:

Wouldn't be surprised if we started the season that way, unless he can really get things moving in whatever preseason we'll get. What I don't want to see is a change to 4 and then a panicky reversion to 3 if things go wrong. Wenger and Emery both did it, and it never really works out. Whatever it is, we need to be committed to it. If it's a 4-into-3 type of things, I can get on board, or if we use different systems for different opponents, then fine, but there has to be commitment to it.

I think he will start with the flexible 5. If you look at the cup final, Tierney’s heat map is that of a modern fullback. If he has Luiz + one of Gabriel/Saliba in the back with him, it gives much more license to be an overlapping center back, and for the fullback In front of him to tuck into midfield. If that is Saka, he becomes a combo 7/8.

This allows you to soft launch a back four. Also allows more in-game tactical flex.

Not done yet, United are back in.

At least the saga will be done by wednesday.

I don't think theyre back in. He's restating the news from 2-3 weeks ago that united have only talked to his agents but haven't actually lodged a bid with lille, which we apprently have. I don't think theyre close

His size and athleticism stand out.

Besides that he looks extremely raw.

What aspects do you think look raw?

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

I don’t think Saliba will start games initially

Been thinking the same recently. Mari and Mustafi's absence my fast track him in but I am assuming he'll be given any available courtesy to acclimate - then there to take the spot if proven.