• Reasonable_Driver_63@alien.topOPB
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    10 months ago

    Bit about Arsenal from the article: "At Arsenal, Telegraph Sport understands, there is no appetite to spend vast amounts on a new centre-forward this winter. The pot of money is far from full after their summer investments (a combined £200 million on Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber), and it is worth remembering that their deal to sign David Raya, from Brentford, is an initial loan with an option to buy of around £30 million.

    It was for financial reasons that the Raya deal was structured in such a way, with the payments for the goalkeeper effectively starting next summer. How could Arsenal strike this type of agreement with Brentford and then, five months later, go back to them with a mega-money offer for Toney? Clearly, it would not be a good look.

    Strategically, Arsenal do not view January as a good time to do business. The club have splashed around £600 million on transfer fees since Mikel Arteta’s appointment in 2019, but only around £60 million of that has been spent in winter windows.

    Last year, when Arsenal were pushing hard for the league title, was an exception to the usual rule — Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior arrived for a combined cost of around £50 million. Arsenal were actually willing to spend even more that month, having made huge offers for both Mykhailo Mudryk and Caicedo.

    This season, however, the feeling at Arsenal is that their squad will be in a good place once their injured players return. There is certainly no sense of urgency when it comes to strengthening the frontline, as Arteta and sporting director Edu are pleased with the performances of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard in that position.

    Telegraph Sport understands it would therefore take an unexpected opportunity, or a drastic change in circumstances, for Arsenal to invest heavily in another striker this winter.

    A more immediate area of concern is in midfield, where there is uncertainty over the futures of Thomas Partey and Jorginho. Partey’s fitness issues have restricted him to only four starts this season, and his contract expires in the summer of 2025. It would not be a surprise if he left before then.

    Jorginho’s deal, meanwhile, expires at the end of this season, although there is an option to extend it for another year. Another holding midfielder, Mohamed Elneny, is also out of contact at the end of the current campaign. In the medium to long-term, this is an area that Arsenal will need to address."

    • i_like_cakess@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      Fully agree with everything in the article. We have a new 6 in Rice, so probably we should go for a good left 8 now and some cover at 6/8

      • teoWEBR@alien.topB
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        10 months ago

        I doubt another 8 will come in with MØ, Vieira, Havertz, ESR already here. Plus Rice. And Zinchenko in an emergency.

        Only signing we can probably justify is a 6 that can play with Rice and instead of Rice. Maybe Locatelli or someone similar.

        • i_like_cakess@alien.topB
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          10 months ago

          Unfortunately Viera and Havertz are flops and are not good enough at left 8 and Smith-Rowe is always injured. That’s why we had to move Rice there even though it’s not his preferred position.

          Havertz at right 8 looked a little bit better, maybe if he improved there and Odegaard would be fine with moving to left 8? If not then we’re left with a big hole in left 8 and Arteta needs to swallow his pride, admit that Havertz and Viera are flops and bring in someone who can actually do the job

          • YCJamzy@alien.topB
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            10 months ago

            He’s not even had half a season yet you’re ludicrous thinking that makes him a flop

            • i_like_cakess@alien.topB
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              10 months ago

              He said it himself in an interview he prefers to play at 6 and you can see in his game he’s a natural destroyer and his attacking side is not as strong

          • teoWEBR@alien.topB
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            10 months ago

            Lmfao. Havertz a flop after 17 games. You’re out of touch.

            I get where you’re coming from though. We definitely need more from the left 8 position. It’ll have to be an internal solution though. We’ve invested in Havertz, ESR and Vieira. You should support them…since they play for us.

            • i_like_cakess@alien.topB
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              10 months ago

              When Odegaard comes back Havertz goes back on the bench, because Arteta has enough of his bullshit. You spent £65m on a bench player, and you don’t think this transfer is a flop?

              • teoWEBR@alien.topB
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                10 months ago

                If he played at this level for 100 games he would definitely be a flop, but not after 20 games.

                Hopefully he finds his confidence and can contribute more on offense. We will have a monster player in this case.

                • Houssem-Aouar@alien.topB
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                  10 months ago

                  Just to let you know, he has played at this shit level for around 150 games since leaving Leverkusen. This is no longer a confidence issue, he’s just bad.