Great addition
Well isn’t this one of the most frustrating, infuriating transfer windows we’ve ever had. The club has done good business up to now. Signing Willian on a free was a shrewd move. He still has a lot to offer and the fact Chelsea didn’t want to lose him says a lot. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about Gabriel but from what I’ve read and heard he could be another excellent signing. Mikel Arteta rates him highly and that’s good enough for me. We also have William Saliba available to play for us this season and I’m sure we’re all looking forward hopefully to eventually seeing him and Gabriel becoming our long-term centre back partnership. Arteta seems certain that Aubameyang is going to extend with Arsenal and that will be another key player tied down.
However, as it stands, to really push on I think we need to strengthen our midfield. We know Arteta is very keen on adding Thomas Partey and Houssem Aouar and those two players would transform our team and make our squad look a lot more formidable.
Want to push forThomas Partey
This is the frustrating part. Arsenal must offload at least three non-home-grown players to sign these two. We currently have 18, those two signings would take us to 20 and we are only allowed 17. The other problem is we need to sell players to raise the money to buy Partey and Aouar. Apart from the usual suspects like Manchester City, Chelsea, PSG etc most other clubs are in the same boat as us financially in the current economic climate due to Covid.
We’ve tried swapping Guendouzi for both Partey and Aouar but their clubs aren’t interested. PSG wouldn’t pay the asking price for Bellerin and there are rumours of them wanting to include Julian Draxler in a swap deal but personally I don’t think he is what we need at the moment.
Julian Draxler – Not what we need
Barcelona are allegedly also interested in our Spanish right back but again they want to include one of their players in the deal. Torreira has been linked with a couple of Italian clubs but they want to loan him with an option to buy and that’s not ideal for us as we need the cash like everybody else. There is genuine interest in Sokratis, and I think he’ll go but doubt we’d get a fee, although it would take his £85k a week wages off the wage bill and free up another non-home-grown place in the squad. Martinez looks like he’s going to Aston Villa if they stump up £20m and we will try and replace him with Raya from Brentford for £10m. So that could be £10m in the pot towards landing Partey or Aouar. Arsenal are trying hard to offload Kolasinac to raise funds but again the clubs that fancy him don’t want to meet the asking price. Ozil won’t move so we’re stuck with him and his 300k plus a week wage.
Off the wage bill
So, it seems we’re in limbo trying to move players on before bringing anyone in. Something must give and as always, the nearer it gets to the window closing the more desperate clubs become to get deals done and things suddenly click into place. Hopefully our transfer conundrum will sort itself out. If he had to, I feel that Arteta would sacrifice Lacazette to bring in some much-needed money. But there is no reason with the relaxation of FFP rules that Stan Kroenke for once in his life couldn’t ease the burden and invest some of his own money in to buy the two players Arteta wants. He can be paid back eventually when the deadwood is eventually moved on.
Anyway, enjoy the new season everyone and let’s hope The Arsenal get off to a flyer at Fulham. Come on you Gunners!
Started going to Highbury in ’66. Season ticket holder since ’76. Love The Arsenal. Need I say more?
After the Fulham match, Gabriel has cemented a CB position and with his link up with Holding and Tierney, we have a good defence as we are. If we get Partey, I would play Tierney where he belongs i.e left back, and play ANM at right back. That defence is tight and is easily varied for either 3 or 4 at the back. We have an abundance of forwards who will have to play for their places and I trust Arteta to pick them to suit whatever plans he has.