This rumour is an insult to Smith Rowe.

Smith Rowe is one of my favorite prospects at Arsenal of all time, and I hope he becomes a star for us, but he's accomplished absolutely nothing, has everything to prove, and is only one (1) guy. It's very strange that some folks have adopted Wenger's nonsense notion of "killing" young players with proper senior signings.

Sure, don't sign Coutinho to drain his minutes, but every position needs competition and backup in the squad. Not to mention how well he's played off the wings at times. There'll be plenty of minutes for him, even if we have one more AM in the team.

Think we've gotten used to having Odegaard around, and are acting like he'll still be here. That's a hole in this squad that needs to be addressed.

Even though we aren't in Europe we need more than 3 good players for the 3 positions behind the striker. Moreover, ESR and Saka are young, ESR is also an injury risk, Pepe can have dips in his overall play and the other two themselves are kids for us to expect a full season of top level play. We definitely need another good player to compete with the rest, get the best out of each other and also give us what we lack. There is an argument for Maddison not being that player but we surely need another option.

I like having these 4 for the 3 AM roles (Maddison, Saka, Pépé, ESR). And Balo and Marti can fight to the death for Auba successor

JazzG wrote:

ohboy!!! wrote:

My problem with this is the fee.

Maddison came off a so so season, where effectively Leicester can feel like he is not a nailed on starter.

Yet here we are with £60mil

For that money you get Aouar and Tchouaméni. Or Locatelli and one of them for around 10-15mil more.

That is real value and how we should be moving in the market.

Tchouaméni is a defensive player so not sure about that comparison. Aouar looks a talent but even he'd be like £35m+ and you're signing a player imo who is behind in his development and then there is the question of him adapting and settling into this league. As Pepe has shown that isn't always a given and can take longer than you'd like. Maddison you get someone who is proven in the league and counts as home grown, I don't agree with it but you pay a premium for that. A premium the likes of Alex Ferguson was always happy to pay, his core was built around homegrown or players he bought from this league.

Maddison's previous season down to injuries rather than quality, that would be my big concern with him.

You are correct, a player already adapted is certainly worth a premium.

I am just uncomfortable with Maddison being that player. If you said Grealish, I would have been jumping up and down.

Maybe in a settled line up week in and week out, with Saka and ESR, Partey etc will bring out another couple of levels.

Same. I don’t like Grealish, and his arrogant low socking Alice hair banding self. But that’s a player worth paying a premium for if there ever was any. He is an almost automatic mismatch, who plays like he knows he is better than the opponent whoever that is. It’s similar to wotzisname who was twerking for us back then. You want multiple players like that in your team. I listened to that Freddie’s Ted talk where he goes on about the invincibles constantly trying to advance the ball quickly into scenarios where you can have a one v one situation because they were more often than not going to win the duel and create a good chance from there. The only player who does that for us right now is Pepe. You add a Grealish type and you have a very strong forward line capable of drawing attention and creating space for the likes of Auba and the rest to do their thing.

Not convinced Maddison has the same quality.

flobaba wrote:

Same. I don’t like Grealish, and his arrogant low socking Alice hair banding self. But that’s a player worth paying a premium for if there ever was any. He is an almost automatic mismatch, who plays like he knows he is better than the opponent whoever that is. It’s similar to wotzisname who was twerking for us back then. You want multiple players like that in your team. I listened to that Freddie’s Ted talk where he goes on about the invincibles constantly trying to advance the ball quickly into scenarios where you can have a one v one situation because they were more often than not going to win the duel and create a good chance from there. The only player who does that for us right now is Pepe. You add a Grealish type and you have a very strong forward line capable of drawing attention and creating space for the likes of Auba and the rest to do their thing.

Not convinced Maddison has the same quality.

Who's this twerker you speak of?

flobaba wrote:

Same. I don’t like Grealish, and his arrogant low socking Alice hair banding self. But that’s a player worth paying a premium for if there ever was any. He is an almost automatic mismatch, who plays like he knows he is better than the opponent whoever that is. It’s similar to wotzisname who was twerking for us back then. You want multiple players like that in your team. I listened to that Freddie’s Ted talk where he goes on about the invincibles constantly trying to advance the ball quickly into scenarios where you can have a one v one situation because they were more often than not going to win the duel and create a good chance from there. The only player who does that for us right now is Pepe. You add a Grealish type and you have a very strong forward line capable of drawing attention and creating space for the likes of Auba and the rest to do their thing.

Not convinced Maddison has the same quality.

Spot on.

Grealish would free up so much space for everyone else.

Tierney on the overlap :drool:

Big Willie wrote:

flobaba wrote:

Same. I don’t like Grealish, and his arrogant low socking Alice hair banding self. But that’s a player worth paying a premium for if there ever was any. He is an almost automatic mismatch, who plays like he knows he is better than the opponent whoever that is. It’s similar to wotzisname who was twerking for us back then. You want multiple players like that in your team. I listened to that Freddie’s Ted talk where he goes on about the invincibles constantly trying to advance the ball quickly into scenarios where you can have a one v one situation because they were more often than not going to win the duel and create a good chance from there. The only player who does that for us right now is Pepe. You add a Grealish type and you have a very strong forward line capable of drawing attention and creating space for the likes of Auba and the rest to do their thing.

Not convinced Maddison has the same quality.

Who's this twerker you speak of?

Winnie. Winnie Zaha.

I'd fecking love Maddison at Arsenal - have no idea what some of you are on about

flobaba wrote:

Big Willie wrote:

Who's this twerker you speak of?

Winnie. Winnie Zaha.

Ah,yes. Zaha had that ability to just keep taking his man on again and again and again.

Pepe has that. Arteta hates it.

spaceman spiff wrote:

I'd fecking love Maddison at Arsenal - have no idea what some of you are on about

Genuinely surprised too, it’s not even one of those players who’s quality is really subtle.

I think Maddison is clearly underrated, and Grealish has become a little overrated, and I really like the latter.

Why do you think that happens?

Claudius wrote:

We should also be comfortable with the idea that this team is too damaged to solve in one summer. If we sign 3 good players, it might be unfair to go crazy at Edu for not getting a new right back or goalie etc

IMO this should be determined by the clubs' objectives for next season.  IMO if we are looking to take the opportunity of no UEFA comp mid-week and regain top4 (which is my choice), then I don't think we can afford to leave any gaps and the team priority must be about being for for purpose in terms of the objectives.  I would not support spending big on any player if it means we are unable to complete any rebuild in order to meet those objectives.
However if the objective is only to regain UEFA qualification/top6, then we can probably carry some gaps in the rebuild if the quality has been improved. 

Qwiss! wrote:

Pepe has that. Arteta hates it.

what makes you even think this.

banduan wrote:

Qwiss! wrote:

Pepe has that. Arteta hates it.

what makes you even think this.

He's just being his usual, tiresome self.

Grealish is amazing but out of our league.

I'd definitely take zaha.