Chaaay AFC

Love to know why Chambers wasn't used yesterday, he isn't injured is he? I actually think he is better than Holding & Gabriel, it would be a shame to lose him. Interesting to see what happens the rest of the window, we do need a serious clear out.

I don't actually think he believes this team is no good when he said this current squad only needs 3 signings to compete for a title. Although I firmly believe signings are not the most important factor to improving a squad, it's clear this team needed a bit of a freshen up. Honestly I believe this would have been the the perfect time to hit the reset button, but we didn't and now we find ourselves in such a weak bargaining position. I think Wenger and the club is actually going to risk a lot of these players on one year deals because they're desperate. Fair enough risking Ozil and Alexis, but players like Ox, Ospina & Gibbs should be binned off.

I don't understand why he has come out with this when he still hasn't signed a deal which has been on the table for months. Obviously it's for PR but he should've just kept his mouth shut. All in all we are currently a mess. Only one player who has a year left on his deal has been sorted and that was Szczesny who has been sold to a better team... I can honestly say we are being terribly managed on all fronts. We are 20 days away from the new season and we have no clue what is going to happen with most of these players.

Probably, the way we're run is a joke. Wenger has far too much power over the club and it will continue to hold us back until he is gone, or someone has the courage to take it away from him.

That's more on the players then Wenger, he would sign the majority with a year left if he could persuade them to.

To a degree yes, some players have been royally fucked with like Ramsey who was being shafted all over the place. I think Wenger's biggest problem though has always been his faith in players. This leads to big contracts and us being unable to offload them ,so they are here to the bitter end.

We have a lot of dross in out squad. Ospina, Debuchy, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Elneny, Coquelin, Campbell, Gabriel and also Perez should all be sold. We pretty much have all them positions covered apart from RWB and we'd need another midfielder which we can easily attain. If Chamberlain keeps up this contract bullshit he can be binned off too, been nothing but average if you look at his overall time here. We have persisted with bang average for too long, Elneny the prime example. Just a complete average player who is hyped up because he does everything simple.

I said they had similar qualities as in they are both small and pacy, at no point did is say they were the same. I'm only querying why Mbappe can get into the team when he isn't a 6"4 target man? Surely he wouldnt fit their system?

Not sure I buy into the whole he doesn't fit their system. Mbappe has similar qualities and he has gone straight into their first team squad. Does Lacazette even get into their international squads?

Giroud starts over him every time for France. Wouldn't say downgrade but I wouldn't class him as an upgrade. We will have to see how he does though, I do think the fee is very steep though.

Great news if true, it's a first-tram coach position so it won't solely be a goalkeeping coach role. I just hope he doesn't become another Wenger yes man, although knowing what Jens' like I have high hopes. I'm not sure mate another meh signing from us. Would happily be proved wrong but Mahrez seemed to get found out last season.

Interested to know why we have signed him now when he has been there for the last two seasons. I genuinely think the club and Wenger are scrambling now, just getting anyone they can who has a name. I just don't think he is a £55m player, we will probably get less for Alexis if he goes. Hope he proves me wrong and I hope he is worthy of the price-tag. I'd rather see us invest smartly then go for the typical. Smart investment is imperative in our current situation.

To be honest he isn't even in upgrade on Giroud. I'd say they're the same calibre of player. If we do lose Alexis it would be a mistake to let Giroud go as well. I fully believe Lacazette will be our big signing to combat the loss of Sanchez.

Some bad new here. Chris Willock has left us on a free and signed for Benfica. Really believed he had the ability to go all the way here, very talented lad. Wish him all the best at Benfica.

Very underwhelming in my opinion, we could've easily brought him in the last two seasons and didn't so why the change now? Especially with all the talk Sanchez is going, this would be a poor replacement.

Totally with you mate. It's clear out current structure isn't working so why do we keep continuing with it? An FA Cup win shouldn't cover for our shite league campaign and embarrassing European exit. Ivan Gazidis looks a fool now after he claimed this summer would be a catalyst for change after our poor season. Obviously there is no change and we will find ourselves in the same shit situation in 2 years with everyone claiming we can't let Wenger go because we have nothing in place to replace him.

The Times have reported that talks of Wenger having to replace some of his backroom staff have ended. Apparently it was part if his new deal that he needed to freshen his backroom team up, but Wenger stood firm and the club have backed down. How utterly pathetic if true. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/victory-for-wenger-as-his-staff-get-new-deals-3qtsl9sf7

So is Mourinho looking to buy his way to 5th this season?

I'd imagine we will want to sell, I expect us to clear quite a few out this summer and I highly doubt we will send any first-teamers out on loan. Debuchy actually started quite well for us, but then he got quite a serious injury and then Bellerin emerged out of nowhere. No matter how unlucky he was, he has had a pretty stinking attitude and I think he will finally be rid of this summer.

Yeah I've also heard you are quite interested in Gibbs. That is a bit pricey for him, but if you can get him a bit cheaper he will be well worth it. I actually really like him and I think he would be a great signing for any mid-table team.

Sead Kolasanic has officially signed for us on a free from Schalke. Never seen him personally, but I have heard a lot of positive views on him. I assume this will be then end of Gibbs' time at Arsenal unfortunately, but it probably best for both sides now.

Lots if reports yesterday saying Per Mertesacker will retire from football this summer. Quite shocked by this considering what he did in the Cup Final and especially with us going for a back 3. I'd imagine with his lack of game time this season has pushed that decision, he has been fit since January and only made 2 appearances. It was his dream to play for Arsenal and I imagine he wants to go out on top. Talk if him getting a role at the club though. Would not be against that he was very good for us considering he was left totally exposed at times. Wish him all the best.

Put it this way as of right now he earn 2.5x more than Allegri apparently, double what Pochettino & Simeone earn and has just taken over Ancelotti for 3rd highest paid manager in the world.

@SirBalon, apparently Wenger has been given a pay-rise as well.

Van Gaal finished 5th and won the FA Cup, he got sacked. Difference is Man Utd want more than just okay. He has not competed for the title whatsoever in these past three seasons, although he said he would when he signed his last deal. Since his last contract he has been knocked out of Europe in the last 16 everytime and has been knocked out at that stage 7 times in a row. Now we are no longer in that competition whilst the rest of our rivals are. Now we find ourselves on the verge of losing our two best players because of their contracts, whilst given a bunch of other players like Chamberlain leverage because of his contact and so how are going to attract better players? We couldn't even get Jamie Vardy to sign here with Champions League football. I see the point you're trying to make, but we're a big club who is not acting like one. Wenger would have been turfed out of any other top European team years ago.