Captain wrote:
Tambourine Man wrote:

I just hope beyond hope that Arteta does actually turn out to be some sort of a genius and this Frankenstein squad he is assembling comes together and makes us competitive again. But I can't see it and it is more likely that this time next summer the new DoF and manager are left disassembling the mess Edu and Arteta have created. Hope I'm wrong.

Why is it a Frankenstein squad?

Seems to have two players in all of the normal positions - pretty standard really.

At a glance, we have 3 RB's (potentially 4 if you count AMN) all of whom have been deemed to be not good enough. Potentially 5 CB's now if you include Tomiyasu whilst our best prospect is out on loan. 3 LB's. That's 12 senior players (one on loan) for 4 positions in the squad when we have no Europe. If we play 5 at the back, we then have only one spot for ESR/Odegaard who are arguably two of the best attackers in the squad. We have one reliable CM and he's always injured. Our big money attackers have phoned it in. The squad is a mish mash of nothingness. Just random parts put together with seemingly very little thought or structure. 

Edu and Arteta could have done a much better job with the resources available to them and focused their spending on key areas instead of blowing close to 100m on defenders and a keeper. It just does not make sense. 

I don't see it that way to be honest. We have surplus players, but we have 22 that basically align with Arteta's favoured systems.

Fair enough but how do you see our first XI and second XI? Are there areas in your view that are clearly weaker than others in the squad? If so why have those areas not been prioritised? And why have we not utilised the resources available to us in our squad building - guys like AMN, Saliba etc. could have allowed us to focus our spending in different areas of the squad.

Sky Sport News:

  • Nelson having a medical with Feyenoord after final agreement reached on his loan move from Arsenal.
    Arsenal will extend his contract until 2023.

  • Bellerin to have a medical in Seville ahead of a move to Betis. Betis have agreed a loan with an option to buy

Tambourine Man wrote:

Fair enough but how do you see our first XI and second XI? Are there areas in your view that are clearly weaker than others in the squad? If so why have those areas not been prioritised? And why have we not utilised the resources available to us in our squad building - guys like AMN, Saliba etc. could have allowed us to focus our spending in different areas of the squad.

Centre-mid is the obvious area. I would personally suggest that is a problem area for many clubs though - Chelsea for example are still wrangling for a loan move there, United left it, Tottenham have churned through quite a few options without finding a solution.

I can't really be bothered to type out squad lists, but I do think there is a competent no.1 and no.2 in basically every position now (assuming we sign a right back today) for 343 or 433 which is basically it as far as Arteta goes.

Since Arteta came to Arsenal, he bought:

Mari (£10m)
Cedric (Free)
Willian (Free)
Gabriel (£23m)
Runarsson (£2m)
Partey (£45m)
Tavares (£10m)
Lokonga (£16m)
White (£50m)
Ramsdale (£30m)
Odegaard (£30m)

7 defenders/GK out of 11 😆 and soon to add one more.

Aside from Cedric, Willian and Runnerson I'm find with those deals. The biggest issue is 100% not signing a top class replacement for Xhaka.

goon wrote:

Aside from Cedric, Willian and Runnerson I'm find with those deals. The biggest issue is 100% not signing a top class replacement for Xhaka.

By next summer whoever the manager is, we will still be finding a specialist RB, a starting CM and a striker. Before this summer these are the key areas the desperately need resolving and we have done nothing at all. Tomiyasu is a CB so under a proper manager he will be playing CB again in no time. 2 of Holding, Chambers, Mari will have no future here soon.


Japanese papers are much quicker. Should be done soon.

Done deal. Welcome!

Should have just got this lad instead of White. Really fucking hope the club knows what they are doing.

I can't remember seeing Takehiro myself, but he's got a good reputation in Italy. Could be a good signing perhaps. What's he like Clrnc? I've gotten the impression that he's a pretty tough player?

Never mind, I just saw the description on the previous page.

I hope we get this bloke.

Come on Arsenal, one more panic buy. Please.

Yup, tough cookie and a proper unit. Not a surprise his all time idol is Mascherano 😆 Bologna fans are upset he is leaving.

20m euros is a bargain for him. For once we have done a good deal.

One more thing I will add is that he is one rare defender that is comfortable with both feet. Not Cazorla level of craziness but he often shoot with his weaker foot.

Do you think he can be a bit of a Sanga type at right back Clrcn?

The comp Clrnc shared reminds me a bit of Vermaelen.

My very superficial research seems to suggest that some people see him as more of CB whilst others see him as more of a RB. Either way, you'd have to assume that he'll predominantly be playing RB for us...surely?

WTF, I sign on this morning and we're buying someone from Bologna? Lol. How many CB's can we buy while still not giving the biggest talent in CB that we have a chance? SMH

Asked some lads from football, short version he is a good player. Hopefully he can hit the ground running here because we need it.

For context, the reason I asked them is that I play for an Italian now.

goon wrote:

Do you think he can be a bit of a Sanga type at right back Clrcn?

Unlikely because while Sagna is a defensive FB he is very adept in running the flanks and going on the outside from crosses. Tomiyasu was only used as a right sided defender at Bologna by Milhajovic mostly when they play 3 at the back and while he goes up to support the wing backs it's not really the same as playing RB. He doesn't really do crosses as well like you will expect from most fullbacks.

For someone of his size his speed is really quick, but acceleration and turning you'd expect that he is not the most agile. He is more Chambers than Sagna at RB although 1v1 he is much better than Chambers.

Anyway rumours hotting up now that clubs are pushing to sign Elneny and we are trying to get Aouar to replace him.

“Ainsley you made me push through this deal. Sixth choice you are”

I recon we’ll get one more in. Possibly Aouar

There is a problem with the Bellerin deal to Betis. The salary limit/cap imposed by La Liga.

😆  this fucking guy

And Edu is mates with this prick.

Haha, well that clears up whether Kia was and Edu guy or a Raul guy I guess.

tomiyasu deal is done pending bellerin or AMN going through, per ornstein. still a chance it falls through if we don't sort the exits out by the sounds of it

goon wrote:

Haha, well that clears up whether Kia was and Edu guy or a Raul guy I guess.

Well they were both at his birthday party

Clrnc wrote:

He can play RB but that's not where he prefers. He did play RB at Truident and Bologna whenever necessary but not comfortable at it. It's like Mustafi and Sokratis can play RB in emergency situation. RCB would be perfect for him though in a 3 because he is good on the ball

I rate him as the best CB in Asia and he has been a revelation since breaking through 3 years ago. Very strong in the air, brave in challenges and calm under pressure on the ball. Passes well.

Could he be like Branislav Ivanovic, i.e. RB/CB hybrid?

Qwiss! wrote:
goon wrote:

Haha, well that clears up whether Kia was and Edu guy or a Raul guy I guess.

Well they were both at his birthday party

Yeah maybe, but I don't think you bite the hand that feeds you. 

Why the fuck are we signing yet another centre back 😆

Ornstien just reported that Bellerin deal has been agreed and medical teed up in London to finalise. Should mean we can get this Tomiyasu character through the door now.

Wonder if we will try to sneak another deal across the line and if so in which position? Aouar?

Tambourine Man wrote:

Ornstien just reported that Bellerin deal has been agreed and medical teed up in London to finalise. Should mean we can get this Tomiyasu character through the door now.

Wonder if we will try to sneak another deal across the line and if so in which position? Aouar?

Simple loan.

elneny out awar in might be the move. need more solid elneny exit sources though

Don't quite like the look of Tomiyasu for right back. I hope I am completely wrong but he just doesn't have traits of a full back. He looks to have more pace than Chambers but similar agility while being quite average on the ball. Hopefully he is a very strong defender and will shore up our defence. We are going to be so dull.

Clrnc might have seen him more but whenever I've seen him he looked like a centre back 100%.

Rohit wrote:

Don't quite like the look of Tomiyasu for right back. I hope I am completely wrong but he just doesn't have traits of a full back. He looks to have more pace than Chambers but similar agility while being quite average on the ball. Hopefully he is a very strong defender and will shore up our defence. We are going to be so dull.

yep, we're accentuating the already pretty heavy left side bias. feels like we're playing a titled snooker table the way the ball gravitates to the left

The Japanese guy looks good. Not sure what he'll being going forward at right back, but at least it spells the end of a the big pansy Callum Chambers playing for us. Maybe we'll even try and shift him out today?

jones wrote:

Why the fuck are we signing yet another centre back 😆

Just for laughs.