In short, yes (at least in my opinion)!
After the Willian saga, Edu and Arteta Co. decided to move to a Dortmund model aka Project Youth where you buy young, talented players and develop them into world class players. In last transfer window, we got 6 first teamers costing around 150m in total – Ramsdale (GK), Tomiyasu (RB), Tavares (LB backup), Sambi (MF understudy), Ben White (CB) and Odegaard (CAM). Four of these players were starters in last season for a good number of games.
We are in another transfer window of Project Youth and so far has bought Matt Turner (GK backup, Leno’s replacement), Marquinhos (RW / LW), Jesus (CF), Vieira (MF). We have shown interest in Tielemans, Raphinha, and Lisandro Martinez, all of which fits the youth project.
Bar Jesus, it can be said that we are accumulating cheap and young players whom we believe have chances to come up good. Jesus is a proven winner but is still only 25 years old so you can count him too if you want.
We have some of our own young guns showing their worth on the biggest stage – Saka, ESR, Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes, Eddie N.
There are three possible reasons why we can end up a situation where we would have to sell.
- Return on investment – Kroenke’s are funding these transfers, there’s no doubt about it. We used to sit on a pile of cash but we have been in loss from quite some time now. 150+ millions last season and almost 80m till now this transfer window? It’s not free money and club would have to repay it to KSE. We have been losing out of Champions League from 6 years, haven’t won much which in return affects the sponsorship deals and merchandise sales. Josh Kroenke talks ambitious and has backed up his ambition with these funding but at some point he would expect it back. It’s a business for Americans.
- An offer we can’t refuse – Similar to the Coutinho situation at Liverpool. Someone comes to the club with ridiculous money for one of the players and we feel we can achieve a replacement in less or use it for a rebuild / cover other areas of the pitch.
- Player’s ambition – More like the situation at Manchester City. Young players have ambitions, they want to win things on one hand and earn a big fat contract on the other. Some just get bored at one place and need a change to keep themselves happy. Some of them wants to be a regular and makes their own legacy. Gabriel Jesus has won 4 Premier League titles in his 5 years at City at the age of 25, he can spend another 5 years accumulating some more trophies under Pep but he wants to be ‘the’ guy at Arsenal than ‘one of the’ guy at Manchester City. Sterling will probably move to Chelsea with similar reasons. Money is involved without saying. This can, and will happen at Arsenal in couple of years.
All of these are genuine reasons! We have to find a way to minimize the effect it can have on our team structure and the club.
Investment in young players comes with a risk. Some of them won’t cut it. The clubs needs to be smarter and identify them in order to make a sale. We were getting 20 odd million for AMN last year and we didn’t encash it, that was foolish. I don’t think he is going to get any important game time and no one is coming with 20m again for him. It’s too early to judge Lokonga and Tavares but we will know how successful they can be this season. Cut out the losses or make whatever profit you can make on players you think won’t be a part of playing XI.
At some point, we will be made an offer for one of our stars. Someone at the club would have to decide which is more beneficial, to keep the player or replace and use the rest of money to strengthen other area of pitch. Similar to Coutinho situation, if we happen to buy a Salah, Mane or a VVD with that money, it’s a fair deal.
For players who shows ambitions which do not fall in line to the club’s interest, we need to let them go at the right time for right money. Lets not make it a Koscielny (remember him?) situation.
We are emotional beings. All of this reasons sounds fair and selling out (of other clubs) sounds good in hindsight but when the time comes, we would be angry.
I would be more angry if we manage to create another Guendouzi, Mavropanos or Maitland-Niles scenario.
I would love to read your opinion in comment section. I know it’s a controversial topic and I would get some flak but hey London is Red respects every opinion!
Yep, could be because of the big egos he stepped down at the end. It’s a mess, they needed Conte more than Spu*s, he would have cleaned the old dross and created fresh mess lol
What’s up with these Odegaard fans everywhere on Twitter? Is it only because Arteta trusts him?
How is he playing ahead of ESR in no #10 role when ESR is a much bigger goal threat and we couldn’t score when our life depends on it, will remain a mystery to me. I understand ESR was injured but then he was scoring as a sub and should have got back in playing XI.
Ambarish
Arteta paid £35 million for Ode – he can’t be wrong. That’s why the signing of Jesus worries me he turns out to not be the central striker we need (you know doesn’t do much with the 39 crosses we put in to the box during several matches) and he won’t be dropped he’ll be moved wide in with ESR / Martinelli paying the price.
ManuRe got good players. Last year been noticing they lost out because of poor trapping of passes, and no dynamic movement. But from what heard, Ten Hag is a no nonsense boss and if he manages to instill discipline 2,3,4 will be among Liverpool, ManUre, Chelsea with rotten Spuds the oddballs. Newcastle and Arsenal should slog for the next positions.
So things looking positively shit with our aereal bombardment Don Mikel Quixote establishing his arseholery
The only way I can see for us to get CL next season is to win the games that we were expected to win like against Brentford, BHA, Southampton and Newcastle in other words mid table teams. Draw or loose against top 6 is OK as long as we win the games against teams below us.
That however is the job of the MIT setting up proper formation and tactics like PV4 and Eddie Howe did against us, plus getting the best performance out of the existing squad. However therein lies the dilemma since we have a MIT and not one with pedigree. Resign to the fact of more hurt and disappointment next season, at least we can say “Told you so and Nailed It” to the LG crowd.
Killroy
Your theory makes sense till you look at last season – the Spud’s changed manager halfway through the season and massively upgraded, ManU will have a much better manager next season as well.
Simple fact is even if Arteta does make a sizeable step forward it’s just as likely so will those two clubs.
I get what you are saying and expect that both the Sp*ds and United will improve this coming season and I do expect losses or draws against them. If the other clubs like Leicester, CP, Wolves, WHam and Newcastle also have a better season than the last one we are in deep shit.
I do expect that PV4 will improve CP massively this season and so will Eddie Howe, Conte is a proven manager so the Sp*ds will definitely improve as they are very active in the TW. I don’t expect more then 2 wins against the other 5 rivals for top 4, hopefully a couple of draws but we don’t have the luxury to start like last season, hope for purple patches and do not decisively beat mid table teams.
The problem is no one fears Arsenal anymore and the lower table teams fancy taken points from us even at home as they did last season. Don’t think anything has changed as the project seems to be “Failure is an Option”.
Killroy
I can see Vieira improving Palace through coaching (if we were on LeBullshit you’d have to explain what that means) Newcastle I can just see spending.
Looking towards next season, the Artetapologists will blame any setbacks on the extra scheduling as a result of EL qualification, e. g. ‘The only reason we got humped last week by Southampton was because the lads had to fly to Greece to play FC Xenofobicos in the second leg three day’s earlier blah blah’ . You can just hear it can’t you.
Yet none of them were prepared to recognise that no euro footie last year should have given us a serious competitive advantage and made 4th place even more straight forward.
I see UK viewers will have to pay 6 quid to Arsenal to watch the game against Nurnberg. They can fucking stick it! I’ll get it on YT a few hours afterwards.
Eddie Howe owned Arteta when we lost because of the way he set up his team and tactics, so there is something there, to what degree he will have success against other teams has to be seen. Hopefully it will be against those competing for top 4.
Just don’t have that warm and fuzzy feeling going into this season but that is mainly down to us having a MIT who doesn’t know what his left hand is doing from his right.
Killroy
I do agree with your CL argument, as I believe that we will continue to struggle against the “better” clubs so long as we remain overly reliant upon the sloth-like stylings of Xhaka and continue to deploy a largely negative tactical script…as such, any cock-ups against those who finished below us in the standings could prove incredibly problematic in the race for a top 4 position…of course, the notion of us finding a way to properly navigate our way through a gauntlet of better “managed” teams, the likes of Brighton, CP, United etc…seems like a bridge too far
I would suspect that if we don’t hit the ground running, we could be in for a shitload of borefest game-scripts, as MA doesn’t appear to have either the tactical acumen or onions to get shit done in the PL, especially when expectations for results will be at an all-time high…he’s going to be able to crack chestnuts with his ass cheeks by week 3
I have this gut feeling that perhaps KSE will stick with Arteta as manager until an obvious upgrade with proven record comes along. This would show intent on their part to give AFC trophies like their beloved Rams have.
ATM I have difficulties identifying who could replace Arteta without making too big of a splash and creating uncertainties among the already divided supporters, after all we don’t have an RA owning the club who would fire managers and DOFs without blinking an eyelid.
the toughest pill to swallow is the fact that many viewed MA as a logical candidate due in large part to the financial parameters of our self-sustaining business model, as it was difficult to fathom someone of significance coming without “backing” assurances…of course, no one could have foreseen that he was going to be given the largest transfer kitty ever, over a two year period, especially after shitting the proverbial bed in his first full season…just imagine what a “real” manager might have done with our talented kids and a projected 300M to spend
All’s well in the world. The sun is out in Wales, Bojo has resigned, the beers are already flowing (plus I found a bottle of Pimms of all things in the bottom of a cupboard so Ms Kroenkephobe and I will be caning that later while some dogshit tennis tournament or other is on the box).
But what’s this?..?..? A Swiss court has just acquitted Blatter and Platini of football corruption charges. Un-fucking-believable.
Half-time. Nurnberg 2 Arteta’s Arsenal 0. Second best in every way. I suspect none of them give a fuck. But I’m just a bedwetter who ought to know preseason shitshows are positive for the team. I predicted we’d face a trial in Nurnberg.
Arteta out! First and not the last time those two words will feature together this season.
https://www.twitch.tv/arsenalpresser
Here’s the link if anyone wants to ruin the rest of their Friday.
Jesus the saviour, Elneny with his rocket. Only managed to watch some 15min in second half and half of the team was unrecognisable. Arteta trying to show his project youth and keeping the best for PL games – THE XHAKA.
Hi Ambarish
Your comment about Xhaka is probably true. And very scary. That goal by Elneny wasn’t bad, was it?
Honest to God if we buy a new CM and the rumours / stories aren’t about Partey what odds would you give on our most often played first choice midfield in the PL next season being Partey or New Guy + Xhaka?
It’s like Arteta’s taking the piss on purpose.
KP
Really early here but another lovely Saturday filled with 4 Rugby matches watching Wallabies v England. Saturday set for me.
Killroy
Great minds and all that… Came on to ask if you were watching the game. England have started like a train and put their chance(s) away. Unlike last weekend. Kiwis – Ireland series now well poised for next week.
Really spiky game. Makes me wish I’d played even more rugby when I was a kid. 🏉
What part of the US are you in? West Coast it’s the middle of the night no?
East Coast near Washington DC with Fiber to the home and High speed Internet access couldn’t be in a better situation after I paid my dues to society.
Waiting to download the NZL v IRE game and will watch live the other two but the Kiwi’s game is just too early for me.
Aha. Not too madly early then. I lived in Bethesda then Georgetown for about 5 years. That aussie try was gifted by the ref. The penalty should have gone the other way in my view. I won’t say anything else about the NZ Ireland game given you’ve taped it. 🤥
47’000 in Suncorp stadium what an atmosphere. Funny to hear the Aussie commentators of course that was not a knock down and a yellow card.
Killroy
I think the ref was poor. England deserved the win but they can’t keep a lead that easily can they? Nicely set up for next week anyway. I don’t think either of these two are WC contenders. Do you?
Meanwhile on LG, the confederacy of dunces are discussing legal issues with no reference to issues around sub judice nor what sexual assault means from a victim’s point of view. Pathetic bullshit spouted by middle aged, gammony white boys.
It exemplifies that old adage about opinions being like arseholes. Not a brain cell nor an ounce of legal knowledge among them but on they go.
More references to me and TRVL being as one. I’m happy to be compared to him but I’m no fan of wartime nostalgic singalongs… You’ve gotta laugh.
So we’re less than 4 weeks to the start of the season, a pre season tour has kicked off and we’ve filled one of the major first team places that needed addressing leaving what was at the end of last season a desperate need for a CM and either a back LB or a replacement for Tierney.
We’re now in a position where we could need two CM’s and even if the rumours against Partey turn out to be nothing there’s a decent charge he either won’t be played or for PR reason can’t be played during early season.
I appreciate that some deals take time to get over the line and sometimes you leave it late to get a good deal but our recent history does not feel you with confidence that the P.R.A.T.s have got their shit together.
In other news, Arsenal under Arteta shot 5 past Nuremberg says Le Mouthpiece Motor.
Unsaid is Nuremberg is 2nd Division team in Germany. Tierney retired with injury at half way.
Dunno about confidence ,but good forPR
https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/09/agent-of-forgotten-arsenal-star-confirms-mikel-arteta-has-performed-huge-u-turn-16971218/
With Partey ??? and threadbare in the middle Don Mikel Quixote is showing love for Torreira. From what I recall , Toreira was pretty good in first year , then fell off qualitatively when moved upstream. Last 3 years Torreira was an untouchable. From current affection, it appears Arteta was the cause of conflict all along with welcome to the team like a faucet which can be turned on or off. The statements of Torreira seemed to indicate that it was he who did not want to ever play at Arsenal
“middle aged, gammony white boys”
Oh SNAP nailed it. I though think that many are not in the UK as some of them post when it is midnight here in the US, they are either West Coast or Asia. But the usual suspects are definitely fitting your excellent description.
In any occasion I will reserve any opinions on Arsenal after the CP game to see what Bumteta has done with the squad. What might save his ass is the terrible shape United is in but early estimation of mine is 5th or 6th again next season as I can’t see Pool, City, Chavs & Sp*ds not taking the top 4 with the business they are doing this TW.
Totally agree with the Wallabies v England Test match neither one is I think a force in the RWC, Semi Final perhaps for either one. Do think though that France (at home) will be a force to be reckoned with as the crowds may sway refs decisions. ABs, Boks and Ireland are for me the top 4.
I’m hopelessly biased Killroy but I can’t help thinking that to varying degrees, L’pool, Chelsea and Spurs will be lesser forces this year. If Kane or Son pick up injuries (and they’re both fast approaching the optimum age bracket for injuries) then it ought to play into our hands. But that calls for a decent manager of course. Top 4 in this order. City (by a long chalk) Liverpool, us and Chelsea.
Nurse! Bring me another jug of special Kool Aid and valium please! It’s no indicator of the entire season but we really ought to be in the top 3 by the end of September given our fixtures.
Killroy
I wouldn’t write Hag off too soon – he’s a good coach and ManU haven’t had one of those since Fergie left.
Torreira was very good in his first half season for us and was looking like an absolute bargin with what we paid for him.
He then faded off – not really a surprise he’d gone to the Qtr Finals of the World Cup (and if memory serves me correctly played just about every minute for Uruguay) as well as moving from a 50mph league to a 100mph league.
It’s just another case of Arteta not being able to man manage a squad – you’re either a favourite or nothing which is where these players values end up.
Hag is an excellent coach it is the culture at the club and the players he has to work with. Many of the present players would never be at United when they were in peak form. It will take Hag a few years to rebuild that team. That is the only consolation I have there rebuild is bigger then ours. While the management team may be excellent the support, upper execs and owners are the problem.
But I agree that for the 4th spot the competition will be fierce. Like the 2020/21 season our best hope for CL football is winning the EL, but then again as already mentioned it requires an elite manager which Arsenal is not having we have a MIT.
Kroenke
You need to remember that Kane was pretty shit for the first period of last season (sulking because he didn’t get a move or just a hang over from the Euro’s?) as well as the Spud’s having a manager that we completely unsuited to them.
The wheels will come off and the toy’s will be thrown out of the pram with Conte but we shouldn’t be relying on other teams being shitter than us in order for progress to happen.
Killroy
We could’ve got Hag and Overmars as a team – I’m now going to sit in a dark room and cry a little.
Totally agree I also was in the camp get Ten Hag and Overmars but it was not to be.
What a wonderful Saturday watched live Australia v England, now Boks v Wales with Pumas v Scotland to come in 4 hours. Now if the outcome of the scores is o my liking it will be a perfect Saturday.
we shouldn’t be relying on other teams being shitter than us in order for progress to happen.
Hi Marc
Yeah, I fully agree. I just think that when you’re as ordinary and unArsenal as we’ve been since late Wenger, the relative failure of others should be built into the equation if we are to achieve even the most fundamental of goals for a club like our’s, ie CL qualification. We are nowhere near being serious PL challengers, not least until Arteta has been shown the door.
NH =3 SH = 0 with Scotland to come in two hours