I talked about the clearance sale last week and was wondering about the incomings. Well, there wasn’t any incomings this transfer window and we managed to let Aubameyang go to Barcelona on a free transfer.
At the start of this season (2021 – 22), we had registered 3 GK, 10 defenders, 7 midfielders, 7 forwards in the team.
Goalkeepers: Leno, Ramsdale, Arthur Okonkwo
Defenders: Cedric, Tierney, Kolasinac, Tavares, Gabriel, Holding, Chambers, Pablo Mari, Ben White, Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Elneny, Thomas Partey, Maitland-Niles, Lokonga, Granit Xhaka, Emile Smith-Rowe, Odegaard
Forwards: Saka, Pepe, Martinelli, Aubameyang, Balogun, Nketiah, Lacazette
One in red are permanent transfers out of the club. Kolasinac contract was terminated and Chambers was sold to Aston Villa. Auba has moved to Barcelona on a free transfer on the deadline day. Blue ones are sent on loan – Mari to Udinesse, Maitland-Niles is playing for Roma for rest of the season and Balogun has been sent on a 6-month loan to develop.
Frankly speaking, we will not miss the players we have shifted. Kola, Chambers and Mari weren’t getting game time; Partey, Xhaka and Lokonga are ahead of Maitland-Niles in midfield and Balogun was raw. Auba was a regular starter before the bust up with Arteta but we all know he is in decline or at least not suited for Arteta-ball. It’s good that we have shifted some more deadwood, and made our team a bit more compact.
As far as shifting these players is a good step for the club, no incomings mean we are really out of depth in midfield and CF. We needed an upgrade to Xhaka and Auba for the fight for champions league! Supporters like me are not really pissed with the outgoings, but our lack of effort in fixing the two spots we needed an upgrade to be in mix of top 4. It’s a strange season, we have not been good but neither the other teams. However, this has kept the fight open and I would have loved to see us playing in Champions League.
Xhaka has been slow and poor and Lokonga is still not mature enough in midfield. Up top, Laca is a work force but he has scored less goals than ESR, Saka, Martinelli and Odegaard; which pretty much sums up why we need a striker. Club knows this and went after Vlaholivic who decided against joining Arsenal, I’m not sure if we had a back up plan but if there was, we failed to execute it!
Is there still a chance?
Yes. With a bit of heart from our youngsters and some luck, we can still make it. We would be lucky if Xhaka do not receive any other red card, squad remains Covid free, no injuries and other teams keep struggling.
If Partey shows up like he did against City for rest of the season, Saka & ESR magic continues, Martinelli keep his hunger and Odegaard his individual brilliance, we would make it.
If we don’t, it would be a failure for the club and more so, for Arteta.
There’s still 10 days of boredom before football restarts and we play against Wolves. We have some relatively easy games for second half of season and we keep the City’s first half performance, it would be a joyful ride. See you in the comments.
First time poster.
Can’t see us making top 4
Hi Henry14,
Unfortunately we are in a difficult situation. Couple of additions would have made it easier but I’m still holding my breath.
Other teams are sh*t and we have easy games coming up. Let’s hope we do.
Good to see you here!
It’s a shame we paid 7 million pounds for Auba to leave!
Thing that kills me mb is the idea that Artedu have achieved something in reducing the squad. They literally didn’t even manage to give the players away as in several cases we continued to pay wages or pay offs to be rid. How can this be dressed up as an achievement? Anyone could have done that,literally anyone. And then as a result of the give away we have no money to upgrade our squad. And we are being asked to not only praise this but accept that it took us two years to achieve? I’m baffled by that perspective truly. It’s one argument to suggest that Artedu were dealt a poor hand on first arriving,but quite another one to suggest that their squad management has been worth of praise. Bizarrely amateur is how I see it.
Regardless of Auba’s shortcomings over the last season or so, and I think Arteta’s uninspiring football played it’s part, he was still our best striker on paper.
Leaving our options up front short because of a petty falling out is just bad management.
It only creates problems for the summer window. I don’t think Arteta’s fire sale is going to inspire current players or potential targets.
If Klopp or even Steven Gérard comes calling for Martinelli in summer I doubt he’ll need to call twice.
I’m reminded of the fans at Stoke (?) train station telling Joel Campbell to ‘get out while he can’.
Regardless of Auba’s shortcomings over the last season or so, and I think Arteta’s uninspiring football played it’s part, he was still our best striker on paper.
Leaving our options up front short because of a petty falling out is just bad management.
It only creates problems for the summer window. I don’t think Arteta’s fire sale is going to inspire current players or potential targets.
If Klopp or even Steven Gérard comes calling for Martinelli in summer I doubt he’ll need to call twice.
I’m reminded of the fans at Stoke (?) train station telling Joel Campbell to ‘get out while he can’
Good to see you again 🙂
Yep, I’m not sure why we are crediting Arteta and Edu for shifting out deadwood by ‘buying’ their contracts? Ozil, Kolasinac, Mustafi and probably Auba now if you go by the news.
Losing out any of the Saka, ESR and Martinelli can’t be justified. Auba is a decent player, he was winning golden boot couple seasons back. It’s probably a combination of Arteta’s system which is not suited to his positives and a bit of lacking in confidence.
If you think it this way, it makes it even worse – we let our captain go on a free transfer, who will straightway start in Barcelona.