Sicario2 - Tier 1 The league title challenge died tonight.

My point was that whether or not the team wins does not affect whether or not any of the fans is a "winner" or anything. They just don't play for the team. It's weird to personalize things like that.

For what it's worth, by baseline expectation for the season is that we will have one of the best teams (if not the best team) in the history of Arsenal FC and probably not win the PL or CL. Being an Arsenal fan is not the same as being a Real Madrid fan. Unclear where some of these expectations are coming from.

      Sicario2 - Tier 1 Mate sorry but you are not a winner though and are happy with second place and finishing trophyless year after year. So there is no jeopardy with you. You would keep Artera for ten years if he didn’t win anything.

      I've said none of these things. I'm just being pragmatic.

      I'm disappointed with this window but what's the point in getting exorcised about it?

        DiabyKungFu

        We are the 3rd biggest club in England. We have spent a shit loads of money. Majority of our core players are in the peak of their conditions and age. Stop making excuses man.

        We should be using these momentum to increase our chances not decrease.

        You will remember what I said when you’re heartbroken again in Spring.

        Good luck.

            Sicario2 - Tier 1 We are the 3rd biggest club in England.

            And we're probably going to finish 2nd.

            Sicario2 - Tier 1 You will remember what I said when you’re heartbroken again in Spring.

            I wasn't heartbroken last spring. Last season was awesome. Have you really been actively upset at 95% of all Arsenal seasons? If so, what is the point of this hobby for you?

                daredevil defense was a big problem area worth sinking another 40m into?

                even the most balanced non-hysteric arsenal figures online are calling this window a bag fumble. it's OK to call a spade a spade and admit we got our calculus wrong this window

                and to those saying we have it good compared to past years - yeah, that's exactly the point. times like these come along every 20 years or so for our club, and before you know it they're gone again, and you're sat there all misty eyed for another 20 years wondering about what could have been.

                    Gazza M

                    LB was. People spent all of last season moaning about Zinchenko.

                    Likewise, LCM was a huge hole with Havertz not seizing the role and people flip flopping between whether Rice should stay there or move back to DM.

                    These two areas were far bigger problems than 17 goals Trossard, who showed just last week that he is the man. It astounds me that I am in the minority in having complete confidence in him being one of our main attackers. There's even people talking about selling him ffs, that's mental stuff.

                        daredevil timber and kiwior would've been fine covering LB and LCB. there was no pressing need to dump 40m into that position

                        and I don't see many people saying trossard isn't good or advocating for selling him, that's a strawman argument.

                            Gazza M

                            Calafiore is an upgrade on both as a LB, and Timber should play on the right imo.

                            The point about Trossard is more that people want someone else in his position, as many have been clamouring for a new left winger for a long time now. I'm very happy with him and Martinelli rotating or coming off the bench which allows him time to recapture his old form which I'm confident will happen with Merino in the team.

                            Personally, the left winger position has been one of the most competitive and healthiest roles we've had in the past year and half since Trossard arrived. I don't share the desperation for a new player there.

                              Defence was a bit of an issue in both games against Spurs, Fulham, Villa, two of the three games with West Ham, against Chelsea, against Liverpool, against Lens, against Bayern... yeah. I don't really get people complaining about us signing Calafiori.

                              Where you spend money on the team is not a simple calculus of where the squad is weakest (though I'd argue LB was a pretty significant weakness last season). Who is available, how they compare to the existing players etc should all factor in.

                                Sicario2 - Tier 1 The league title challenge died tonight.

                                Didn't it already die the moment City signed Gündogan?

                                  Pepe LeFrits I don't mind us signing Calafiori since he's also a CB, but not sure why people talk about last season's LB situation and ignore that our first choice was out all of it. It's not like if we didn't sign Calafiori then the situation would be the same as last season.

                                      Glass half full view.

                                      Calafiori: looks a player, will resolve some issues we've had with defensive fragility versus ability.

                                      Merino: sucks he's injured but that's why we signed him. When he's back he'll give us the opportunity to protect our old men in midfield, and with any luck he'll do it before they get crocked themselves.

                                      Sterling: if he's confirmed, he's a past matchwinner in this league and he's not ancient yet. He'll be motivated initially by the return to a competent club and might even recover great form here. If it's a loan it leaves us well placed for the further search.

                                      Smith Rowe, Ramsdale, Nketiah: if all three transfers are confirmed that's £75m plus add-ons coming to the kitty which is a huge step forward.

                                      Edit: glad to see Nketiah's exit confirmed.

                                      RocktheCasbah

                                      Bro that guy trolled me twice. First one in the deadloan thread which I ignored but couldn’t ignore the 2nd one. He deserved it.

                                      Anyway, with Sterling the window is just about ok, I can live with it. Was seriously pissed off before when I thought we were done.

                                      COYG