Klaus wrote:

Quincy, how good is Erling Håland? I keep seing him linked to a lot of big clubs.

Big strong lad for his age, any age really. Quick, decent eye for a pass and a great holder-upper. Consistently gets into good positions and finishes well. Technically good, but not fantastic. Kind of like Giroud in some ways, but more mobile. Also reminds me of Carew, but better technically. He has a bit of that weird explosiveness of someone so big. I think he could do well as a target man for any team just below the top echelon. I hope he is even better than that, of course, being Norwegian. 

I have to say, his start to the season in Austria is extremely promising. I don't know much about the level of that league, but it's surely a few steps up from the terrible Norwegian league, and he's racking up the goals (9 in 5 games) and assists having just arrived and at only just turned 19. Will be fun to follow as a Norwegian. 

Gazza M wrote:

St etienne sauces reckon its done. 5 year deal + 1 year loan.

29m + 7m in add-ons and 20% sell on

Hefty fee but if he is a deligt level thoroughbred for the next 5-6 years it will be worth it

St. Etienne clearly haven't been watching us trying to sell players. Might as well have taken a 5m add-on for him winning the golden boot. 

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Spurs confirm Aurier

Good signing

Meanwhile back at the Emirates Wengs is bigging up Elneny

Yup, U-turning on his previous denial of Elneny as a central defender. Now he's saying: [font=ff-meta-web-pro, sans-serif]“I will use him as a central defender in a three or in midfield." 
[/font]

Jed wrote:

JazzG wrote:

Liverpool & Ox's agent have played us a bit here. I think they felt we wouldn't entertain any bid from Liverpool, so he got one from Chelsea. Once we agree in principle that we will sell, he rejects them and out of the blue Liverpool com in. With a day left there isn't much time for arguing over things.

For someone like Gibbs I don't mind, guy has been here since he was a kid and it hasn't worked out. The problem is our transfer strategy is general is a complete and utter fucking shambles. To think we pay dickheads millions every year to be in charge and this happens every year. Absolute fucking shambles.

Surely the worst run club in the league? Who else comes close?

Newcastle and West Ham, at least. But the point of a league system is that the worst run clubs are relegated, so you would expect the really shoddily run clubs to dissappear, ie. Leeds, Aston Villa, Blackburn, Bolton, to name but a few. 

I am worried that this activity reflects a fear about the ownership that I've had for a while. With the increase in relative revenue of the Premier League TV money as opposed to the CL money, top 4 becomes less important. In the past it was more important, financially, to participate in the CL, at least in the short term, than it is now. Furthermore, this has also inflated the transfer market for all clubs, particularly towards the top end. If Kroenke is all about that cash, then finishing 6th-17th with a low net spent is much more attractive than fourth with a high net spend, and much more so than what was the case before the latest PL TV deal.

I just don't know if I can see Wenger signing on for that kind of strategy. I hope not.

Difficult to answer, of course, as no change happens in a vacuum, and other teams' performances will determine a large part of the answer. Given a change of manager and no new signings, I would bet us falling out of the top 4 next season. I think our squad is comparable to Liverpool, United and Spurs, probably slightly better, but they will have had managers that have moulded their teams to their styles.

Clrnc wrote:

The last time we bought a player from non league it worked out well for us isn't it.

Who? Miyaichi? Can't think of anyone we've signed at an advanced age from the actual non-league in England.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:

Who?

Kevin Kampl...

Nice to see one of our former players taking down Spurs...

flobaba wrote:

The finish was as intentional as Theo's control.

As in he meant to do it, but it would go wrong 9 out of 10 times?

I think he was playing the odds on the finish. If he strikes that straight and high, aiming for the top corner, he's less likely to score than if he overcompensates on forcing his shot down. So easy to sky that volley, even for players of his calibre. Always a bit of luck that it actually goes in like that, though.

USArsenal wrote:

jones wrote:

his flapping on the corner for Sampdoria's second. Again though, was one of Szczesny's better games, made a couple of terrific saves too.

This pretty much sums up Wojech..   a bit flappy at points, a moment of loss of concentration (or two), but still able to make a few tremendous saves.. 

was hoping his loan spells would up his consistency, but maybe he will never actually have it

He's still fairly young for a goalkeeper. But maybe. Some keepers never eradicate that erraticity, and some, like Casillas, get worse with time.  

Does anyone know what would happen if she dropped out due to medical issues? Would Kaine move up to become the main candidate for the democrats, or is it too late to register for the election?

Meatwad wrote:

i have very little respect for the quality of the premier league these days and the quality of talent that is brought in, so in my mind there is no reason we can't win this shit show. if we don't it's because wenger is a shitty manager.

If City don't win, is it because Peps a shitty manager? Or what about Conte or Mourinho? All managers with pedigrees up to their ears and expensively assembled squads. 

arsedoc md wrote:

https://twitter.com/politico/status/773863947636203520

enjoy

That's gonna win him votes though, right? First off he's getting massive coverage over it, extending his profile equal to ad money he hasn't got. Secondly, I think lots of Americans don't know what Aleppo is, and will find the outrage towards Johnson provocative and typical of the mainstream media. 

Meatwad wrote:

the u23 game maybe.

Yup, you're right.

http://http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1617/post/under-21/u-23s-arsenal-1-3-liverpool-report

I saw something the other day, can't remember what, that made me think he's getting converted into a full-back. I don't really know whether this is a good move for him, or us, but my feeling is that it's easier to get into our squad in that area rather than as a forward/winger/midfielder.

Gunner89 wrote:

Giroud's probably a 20m striker in this market. 30m if he was younger like 26.

I think he's probably more like a 30m striker. I agree age does impact his price significantly, but he's a much better striker than some of you give him credit for. Just look at the prices some inferior forwards have been going for this summer. 

Benteke: 32m
Bolasie: 28m
Mane: 36m
Janssen: 19m
Ayew: 21m

A 24 year old Giroud would be a 40-50m player in this market. And he's never been about pace, so he'll be good for another few years, I'm sure. 

He's just worried Tennyson will write a scathing review of his managerial decisions.

Noble 600.

Maybe Neymar is sick of playing second fiddle to Messi,and tired of the Spanish demanding that he pay his taxes?