leffe186

Somebody said Walcott was captain. Can that possibly be true?

They spent an absolute s***-ton this summer on Xhaka, Mustafi & Perez. Their wage bill is very similar to the clubs you mention. Spending the money is really not their problem any more, it's the decision-making both behind the scenes and in the dugout. The number of players they have going out of contract soon is frightening. Something very weird has been going on. One summer doesn't make up for all of the summers where they didn't spend, they had to spend that sort of money last summer as they will have to this summer as this is where the bar has now been set. Out of the 3 signings you mention only Mustafi appears not to be a mistake with the other two being questionable at best. Clearly many things are wrong at Arsenal but I don't think it's all down to Wenger personally. But then again everyone at Arsenal are far too scared to come out and tell the fans hey we are actually perfectly happy with getting in the champions league and actually have no intentions of spending the required funds to compete for the league. Arsenal haven't been the same since David Dein left. Absolutely, and there is clearly trouble behind the scenes. Their youth program has had issues and (like everyone) has been overwhelmed by Man City and Chelsea buying everyone. Their choice of incoming players has been erratic. And yet, they have maintained an extremely high wage bill and a net transfer spend that is (I believe) behind only Man U & Man C. It's not all down to Wenger, but it's also not all down to not spending money.

They spent an absolute shit-ton this summer on Xhaka, Mustafi & Perez. Their wage bill is very similar to the clubs you mention. Spending the money is really not their problem any more, it's the decision-making both behind the scenes and in the dugout. The number of players they have going out of contract soon is frightening. Something very weird has been going on.

Naah. They still generate tons of cash. All they need is a decent new manager and a year or two rebuilding.

My biggest worry is that it's games like this that make it more likely that Wenger will go. I was hoping that they'd paper over the cracks a bit before the end of the season. Mind you, I hope they play like this against us. I still fully expect them to win that game.

Just because...a couple of pre-match comments from the Arse: But on the other hand:

Hasn't he already signed one for next year? Genuine question.

That Arsenal team really isn't great (daring statement I know).

Yes and no. Sissoko was a bizarre decision (still wondering if it was to do with taxes given our huge profit this year) but Wanyama has been a massive success. I genuinely believe that Janssen has the potential to be an excellent buy - the guy is only 22. GKN is younger still, but hasn't really shown a lot. I suppose the concern with Zaha is workrate, but there's an argument that he's exactly the kind of player we are missing. The trouble is - as always - that we can't even come close to matching the wages that the big guys dole out. I believe Ashley Young is being paid more than any Spurs player, and nearly double the wages of most of our first team, let alone our squad players. I would argue that Alexis Sanchez would score 30 goals a season in our team - he's just about perfect for us - but we simply can't afford the wages for players like that. We end up taking punts on players like N'jie, N'Koudou, Chadli, Son etc etc and just have to hope that enough of them work out. Next season will be interesting. A few of your players initially started slow and are now mainstays in the team. For instance, Dembele. He came in with a lot of hype as he was really good with Fulham but IMO failed to deliver in his first few seasons. And a lot of Spurs players regard him as the best player in the team on a technical level. Now look at him, he's a key part of the team. I really like Pochettino because he persists with his players. Hell, even Sissoko could step up next season. The Mail tried to stir it up at one point: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3279002/Mousa-Dembele-wants-talks-Mauricio-Pochettino-Tottenham-role-man-match-display-against-Liverpool.html Poch has a bit of previous with this - he's not afraid to call out a player from time to time in what is clearly a deliberate approach. Janssen too: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/17/tottenham-harry-kane-return-injury It's going to be interesting to see what he does with Sissoko .

Their wages are a smaller percentage of revenue than just about any other club. Doesn't make me any less amazed that we're competing at the same level despite the huge wage differential.

Liverpool still running away with the Lolro Premier League - unbeaten all season: http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Mark_Lawrenson_Predictions_2016-17.html

Yes and no. Sissoko was a bizarre decision (still wondering if it was to do with taxes given our huge profit this year) but Wanyama has been a massive success. I genuinely believe that Janssen has the potential to be an excellent buy - the guy is only 22. GKN is younger still, but hasn't really shown a lot. I suppose the concern with Zaha is workrate, but there's an argument that he's exactly the kind of player we are missing. The trouble is - as always - that we can't even come close to matching the wages that the big guys dole out. I believe Ashley Young is being paid more than any Spurs player, and nearly double the wages of most of our first team, let alone our squad players. I would argue that Alexis Sanchez would score 30 goals a season in our team - he's just about perfect for us - but we simply can't afford the wages for players like that. We end up taking punts on players like N'jie, N'Koudou, Chadli, Son etc etc and just have to hope that enough of them work out.

Saw that earlier and had the same reaction. He's not even that good. Also didn't realise they pay Ashley Young £120k a week The difference between the salaries we pay and those of Man U, Man C, Chelsea, Arsenal and even Liverpool, is still shocking.

Anther disaster area. My Jonah-dom has been magnificent so far though, might switch to Man U and Arsenal players to get some injuries going.

Def one of my football pet hates. What have they done now?

He'll have a host of clubs after him this summer, probably with a view to loan back. Somebody will have had the inside track on him for a couple of years now. I just hope it's us. Problem is, we have Rose.

I'm not totally convinced by that article .

Finally getting to watch MOTD. How on Earth didn't Man City get a penalty in the first half ?

https://twitter.com/Arsenal490304/status/842736590308880384/photo/1

This was the key match for Chelsea, for me. Lose this and there would still be a faint chance of them slipping up. Win and I think it's all over.

Not just Kante. We got Wanyama for 11M, while they were paying 34M for Xhaka. The one that gets me is Aldeweireld. I mean, he would be exactly what they need in so many ways, and they would have paid him far more than we can afford, yet it seems like he wasn't even on their radar. It doesn't even really take that much scouting to see the players that they could have gone for. Xhaka's a f***ing liability as well. I'm reading through the Arsenal-mania match thread for shits and giggles. Xhaka is getting some stick, as well as Walcott, but really it's every single player except Sanchez. They aren't that bad, and it does rather suggest that the problem lies with coaching/management.

Just before and after xmas. Cheers. Pity .

Did West Ham go on a really good run around Xmas? I wasn't paying any attention, but all I can remember from this season is them being terrible at the beginning and being terrible right now...yet they are basically safe from relegation.