It’s all obviously speculation but I think we know enough about how Arteta loves Xhaka that he was probably thrilled Roma lowballed us and was willing to keep Xhaka here.
So even if the original plan was to sell Xhaka and buy someone like Bissouma or Neves or idk, pick a PL midfielder, I think they pivoted and locked Xhaka down.
I think the Sambi signing was always intended to be a guy to fill out the squad for this season and was an educated guess that a player we bought for a relatively low fee (compared to Partey or top shelf talent) would outperform that fee.
The jury is definitely out on Edu. He’s made some good signings at times and I guess brought us Martinelli too. Definitely better than Raul who overpaid for people who didn’t fit the squad.
On the other hand the gross negligence in the January window was awful. We released squad players who would’ve been vital in recent weeks. Then failed to reinforce up front with Auba going and in midfield when it was evident Lakonga was well off the pace as good cover.
It’s clear Arteta can only do well if he has very technically gifted players who can play in a Man City total football style. And that he’s not a pragmatic manager who can make do and mend and get the best out of a squad that isn’t fully in his preferred mould.
Knowing that makes the January window all the more criminal although I’m guessing they were given a free pass from above as a “project year” this season with no pressure on getting a CL placing.
Just because he’s better than Raul who was especially dreadful and possibly very corrupt it doesn’t mean Edu is remotely good enough. I guess he’s going to be given this next window along with Arteta but I think by early next season the fan base will start losing patience en masse if we’re not clearly a strong top 4 contention team by then.
Nothing hindsight.
Anyone who has 80 IQ should know this.
Whoever suggested and agreed this fucking cheap ass move (no move) is a brain dead fuck tart.
The Chambers one particularly pisses me off, he was already going to walk away this summer, made no sense to hand him over to Villa on a free in January.
he should have a dick in his mouth and choke him to death.
his karma for having too many barbeque parties during the season, and not reinforcing us a bit but trimming down our roster/salary for the worst reason.
This place is genuinely turning into the forum equivalent of AFTV lol, Jesus tonight sucked but have some pride.
Bunch of 40-60 years olds having a melt down because things haven’t went our way.
The only reason BigWeng trolls this board so much is because of all the cry babies who flip flop on their opinion of the club from week to week. Hide behind his ego and ride his coat tails until things go bad and he comes back.
No fucking wonder the majority of decent posters have all but entirely fucked off.
Having pride or not, at least BigWeng is consistent.
It is because of the pride, we don’t accept the fact that we are not good enough, we don’t accept the fact that we made mistakes (like hiring/supporting Arteta), and we do not accept defeats and vow to make ourselves better next time.
This is the pride killing Arsenal Football Club, not because of some cheap dirty jokes
The fact these weirdos respect BigWeng is geniunely the most telling thing. BigWeng knows he’s playing the clown and the troll, his little followers though- they’re the real lost causes.
