"The journey continues" - Mikel signs extension until 2025: Page 34 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

"The journey continues" - Mikel signs extension until 2025

Big Willie

RocktheCasbah wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:
Some people just hate him. Some extreme weirdos even hated him before he fell out with Arteta.

That's true. Even the season he won the Golden Boot, my mate Harry was - somewhat strangely - calling him a wanker and a bottler (presumably because of that missed penalty against Spurs three years back) and saying how he wasn't fit to wear the shirt.

So RtC's mate Harry is really Sicario.

Qwiss

jones wrote:
goon wrote:
I don't think it was a secret recording, but I think his explanation that feeling were still raw are fair enough.

You think he asked to be recorded?

Either way he's watched a full TV show with an episode dedicated to how he was the bad guy and didn't give any interviews, compared to how he probably feels those comments are harmless.

All in the past now, we're looking good without him and he'll hopefully leave Chelsea after a shit season

Yeah given the hit piece on Amazon its actually to his credit that he hasn't started a public feud with the club, very professional and respectful.

Clrnc

[Twitter]

3rd time lucky?

JazzG

Strangely enough both those Arsenal teams finished with 83 points, I'd be delighted with a similar number of points this season.

Qwiss

We were robbed in that 04-05 season as well, still unbeaten until Mike Reilly got involved. Without that call we'd have won it again.

goon

We should learn some lessons from the 07/08 season (and the tail end of last season) and do some recruiting in Jan. The more resilient we can make our squad the better.

Clrnc

goon wrote:
We should learn some lessons from the 07/08 season (and the tail end of last season) and do some recruiting in Jan. The more resilient we can make our squad the better.

Absolutely. We cannot take another gamble like last season.

If need be, overspend. We won't have another opportunity like this.

deardevil

goon wrote:
We should learn some lessons from the 07/08 season (and the tail end of last season) and do some recruiting in Jan. The more resilient we can make our squad the better.

I highly doubt we would or could sign anyone meaningful in January. I don't believe we have enough funds to purchase a season-altering player without a) eating into the summer's budget or b) prizing someone of the required quality mid-way through the season.

Our squad already consists of solid backups in every position and I think we will be making do for the rest of the season. We currently need alternatives to Elneny and Smith Rowe, but by the time January comes around, they will both be close to returning from injury.

It's such a tired argument that the club should buy in January just to solidify our prospects.

Claudius

I beg to differ. We have put ourselves in a position where we have shed the £350k of Aubameyang, £200k of Lacazette and soon the £140k of Pepe amongst others. This gives us immense freedom to pay a big deposit and sign a new CM or winger this winter.

I expect this winter will be a massive transfer window. We will still have most of the season left after the World Cup, players will be tired and teams will be willing to make some big bets. I can see Liverpool, United, Chelsea and Newcastle going bonkers to get Top 4.

Clrnc

Don't forget we had budget for a CM during deadline day but decided to wait till January.

And also another 60m in excess which we were prepared to splash for Raphinha. Definitely alot of money left.

deardevil

Claudius wrote:
I beg to differ. We have put ourselves in a position where we have shed the £350k of Aubameyang, £200k of Lacazette and soon the £140k of Pepe amongst others. This gives us immense freedom to pay a big deposit and sign a new CM or winger this winter.

I expect this winter will be a massive transfer window. We will still have most of the season left after the World Cup, players will be tired and teams will be willing to make some big bets. I can see Liverpool, United, Chelsea and Newcastle going bonkers to get Top 4.

I hope you're right. The past shows that we seldom spend in January and I don't think it's unwillingness as much as it's inability/not the right opportunities.

goon

deardevil wrote:
goon wrote:
We should learn some lessons from the 07/08 season (and the tail end of last season) and do some recruiting in Jan. The more resilient we can make our squad the better.

I highly doubt we would or could sign anyone meaningful in January. I don't believe we have enough funds to purchase a season-altering player without a) eating into the summer's budget or b) prizing someone of the required quality mid-way through the season.

Our squad already consists of solid backups in every position and I think we will be making do for the rest of the season. We currently need alternatives to Elneny and Smith Rowe, but by the time January comes around, they will both be close to returning from injury.

It's such a tired argument that the club should buy in January just to solidify our prospects.

I'm not saying it's easy but we should do everything we can. Arteta clearly wanted a winger (even with ESR fit) and/or a CM in the summer and for one reason or another it couldn't happen.

Douglas Luiz will have just a few months left on his deal in Jan and has only been a bit part player for Villa, so they may well be willing to re-consider in Jan. Danilo was supposedly unavailable in the summer might be available. Maybe the Shaktar winger will be available.

If we can't make it happen so be it, but I'd wager Arteta will be pushing the likes of Edu and Josh hard to try and make something happen.

Sicario

Disagree Daredevil.

Jan is imperative if we god forbid want to go on a title charge.

1) In 2003/2004, signing Reyes was a major reason we won the title.

2) In 2007/2008, a major reason we didn’t win the title was because we didn’t sign anyone in Jan.

3) 2008/2009 - without Arshavin in Jan we wouldn’t have got top 4

4) 2015/2016 - see point 2

Forget Eleney, we need to replace him. Signing a DM (Danilo) is a minimum.

Sicario

goon wrote:
deardevil wrote:
I highly doubt we would or could sign anyone meaningful in January. I don't believe we have enough funds to purchase a season-altering player without a) eating into the summer's budget or b) prizing someone of the required quality mid-way through the season.

Our squad already consists of solid backups in every position and I think we will be making do for the rest of the season. We currently need alternatives to Elneny and Smith Rowe, but by the time January comes around, they will both be close to returning from injury.

It's such a tired argument that the club should buy in January just to solidify our prospects.

I'm not saying it's easy but we should do everything we can. Arteta clearly wanted a winger (even with ESR fit) and/or a CM in the summer and for one reason or another it couldn't happen.

Douglas Luiz will have just a few months left on his deal in Jan and has only been a bit part player for Villa, so they may well be willing to re-consider in Jan. Danilo was supposedly unavailable in the summer might be available. Maybe the Shaktar winger will be available.

If we can't make it happen so be it, but I'd wager Arteta will be pushing the likes of Edu and Josh hard to try and make something happen.

If it’s Douglas Luiz we might as well keep Elneny.

Luiz doesn’t move the needle at all.

Rohit

We would have won the title without Reyes but the buzz his signing brought to the Club probably allowed us to go unbeaten. If we are locked in a battle with City in January we really should spend.

goon

Sicario wrote:
If it’s Douglas Luiz we might as well keep Elneny.

Luiz doesn’t move the needle at all.

Not a huge fan either but if we were willing to pay £20m odd in the summer I'd imagine we'd be willing to pay £10m odd in Jan. Worst case you'd probably make a profit on him in the summer if you were so inclined.

Elneny is out until Jan at the earliest, then has to get up to speed etc. and he's not exactly much of an athlete to begin with.

JazzG

goon wrote:
We should learn some lessons from the 07/08 season (and the tail end of last season) and do some recruiting in Jan. The more resilient we can make our squad the better.

Absolutely, need to be aiming for a CM and wide player in the window. Will give the whole squad a lift. I still believe to this day that signing Reyes in January helped push us to the title in 03/04. We had such a buzz that window and the whole fanbase was excited to see him.

Sicario wrote:
If it’s Douglas Luiz we might as well keep Elneny.

Luiz doesn’t move the needle at all.

I don't agree with that, Luiz isn't going to replace Partey but he will give us much needed backup option. Elneny needs to be moved on soon so we need to have backup options who can defend.

Our priority should be signing someone who can eventually replace Partey, if we can't then we need to have a plan B which is a backup player. If Partey gets injured or his legal issues mean he can't play we don't have another CM in the squad who can actually defend competently.

Clrnc

goon wrote:
Sicario wrote:
If it’s Douglas Luiz we might as well keep Elneny.

Luiz doesn’t move the needle at all.

Not a huge fan either but if we were willing to pay £20m odd in the summer I'd imagine we'd be willing to pay £10m odd in Jan. Worst case you'd probably make a profit on him in the summer if you were so inclined.

Elneny is out until Jan at the earliest, then has to get up to speed etc. and he's not exactly much of an athlete to begin with.

Elneny has no place in this team anymore. Not the required quality definitely.

Watching Luiz now vs Forest he really is distinctly average. We need to avoid signing such players and clog up the squad. Danilo is something else in comparison so we have to go all in for him. I remember City used to have 2 Brazilian pivots, Douglas Luiz is like Fernando, Danilo will be a Fernandinho level player.

Burnwinter

Danilo's Brazil highlights are pretty epic, very very mobile, hard-running player which is exciting. I find it impossible to judge how guys are going to land in the Premier League based on those reels though.

banduan

Bruno Guimaraes was the big miss last season. We clearly weren't bothered enough to sign him and that was the mistake.

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