2019/20 Rivals - Arsenal

FootballHQ

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Having an incompetent manager for a long period of time does more damage than chopping and changing managers. Imagine if Pool still had Hodgson in charge.

For what exactly?
The restrictions in place means I really can't see how Arsenal will be challenging for league in near future. They could appoint an Allegri or Mourinho and make themselves tougher to beat but they'd still finish 20 odd points off Man. City as quite simply their squad isn't that good and is only going to get weaker.

I think Emery did his best to keep them challenging for top 4 right up to the last few games. Of course they had good chance to make top 4 but so did everyone else and they all faltered from start of April. Disappointing in the cups overall this season.

I'm not sure where this perception is that Arsenal are still top 4 automatics. They didn't finish in the top 4 in either of Wenger's final two seasons and that has set the rot. Once you fall out of the top 4 it can be regular occurence. Liverpool fell out in 2010 and think they only played one CL season in the next 5 years. Man. United have also failed a few times post Fergie and this was a team that hardly finished below 2nd for 20 years.

You compare them this season to Chelsea and I'd say Chelsea have better keeper (Leno did improve after dodgy few games), better CBs (Rudiger, Christensen etc), Kante even out of position is better than anything Arsenal have in that area and obviously Hazard turned up way more often than Ozil that's not even a contest.

Lacazette and Aubameyang both taking it in turns to score won them so many games it kept them in the hunt. I get the feeling next season they won't be as winning as many home games and their away form will remain mediocre so to me they're more in danger of falling out of top 6 than finish in top 4.
 

Infordin

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Arsenal is finished as a contender for the biggest trophies. They have an average squad and are unwilling to spend big to improve it.

5th/6th for the long foreseeable future.
 

haram

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They are going to do nothing. Aubameyang is overrated.
 

haram

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Really? he's the least of their problems. He can actually do the core responsibilities of his job.
When you consider the context of the whole team he falls short. Lacazette won player of the year for a reason. Aubameyang does not have enough dimensions to his game. Very overrated player. Should be sold for someone who helps the team function better as a whole but its controversial to state that because he scored 20 last season.

Then again, I don't think they would get that much for him.
 

RooneyLegend

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Top 4 race and El final.
wow
The restrictions in place means I really can't see how Arsenal will be challenging for league in near future. They could appoint an Allegri or Mourinho and make themselves tougher to beat but they'd still finish 20 odd points off Man. City as quite simply their squad isn't that good and is only going to get weaker.

I think Emery did his best to keep them challenging for top 4 right up to the last few games. Of course they had good chance to make top 4 but so did everyone else and they all faltered from start of April. Disappointing in the cups overall this season.

I'm not sure where this perception is that Arsenal are still top 4 automatics. They didn't finish in the top 4 in either of Wenger's final two seasons and that has set the rot. Once you fall out of the top 4 it can be regular occurence. Liverpool fell out in 2010 and think they only played one CL season in the next 5 years. Man. United have also failed a few times post Fergie and this was a team that hardly finished below 2nd for 20 years.

You compare them this season to Chelsea and I'd say Chelsea have better keeper (Leno did improve after dodgy few games), better CBs (Rudiger, Christensen etc), Kante even out of position is better than anything Arsenal have in that area and obviously Hazard turned up way more often than Ozil that's not even a contest.

Lacazette and Aubameyang both taking it in turns to score won them so many games it kept them in the hunt. I get the feeling next season they won't be as winning as many home games and their away form will remain mediocre so to me they're more in danger of falling out of top 6 than finish in top 4.
Allegri would get them a whole lot closer than they are now even with the restrictions. Hes just a whole lot better as coach than Emery.
 

RooneyLegend

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When you consider the context of the whole team he falls short. Lacazette won player of the year for a reason. Aubameyang does not have enough dimensions to his game. Very overrated player. Should be sold for someone who helps the team function better as a whole but its controversial to state that because he scored 20 last season.

Then again, I don't think they would get that much for him.
Crazy talk, sell him for who and hows that person going to help out the incompetent defence or the dysfunctional midfield? What about the sheer lack of a consistent wide threat? If Lacazette won player of the year then Auba was a close 2nd. They are the only 2 that can actually do their job in the team.
 

haram

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Crazy talk, sell him for who and hows that person going to help out the incompetent defence or the dysfunctional midfield? What about the sheer lack of a consistent wide threat? If Lacazette won player of the year then Auba was a close 2nd. They are the only 2 that can actually do their job in the team.
Do the job to what level? Aubameyang really does not help the players around him and that's a problem. I know Arsenal fans who acknowledge his goals but know there is a problem there. Lacazette has a bit more about him, it's clear when watching them play.
 

RooneyLegend

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Do the job to what level? Aubameyang really does not help the players around him and that's a problem. I know Arsenal fans who acknowledge his goals but know there is a problem there. Lacazette has a bit more about him, it's clear when watching them play.
At a 20 league goals a season level. Sure he has more to his game but that's the advantage of playing the together.
 

haram

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At a 20 league goals a season level. Sure he has more to his game but that's the advantage of playing the together.
Well we have to agree to disagree. I've seen enough of Auba, he is too limited for me. Might as well have signed Vardy.
 

RooneyLegend

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Yeah and how many would actually put him above Aubameyang? Or even on par? We're not gonna sit here and act like Vardy is a top, top striker either.
Don't know and it doesn't really matter. We all know Vardy gets it done and has been getting it done for some time now. Vardy is a top striker, don't know where you've been in recent years. The man is a former league player of the year and has led a team to the title. He terrifies defence after defence season upon season.

Maybe you don't know what I know but this mythical striker that they'd get over Auba actually doesn't really exist. How many strikers are better than him in the league? Is he Aguero, Kane or Mbappe nope, but the man still gets it done.
 

haram

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Don't know and it doesn't really matter. We all know Vardy gets it done and has been getting it done for some time now. Vardy is a top striker, don't know where you've been in recent years. The man is a former league player of the year and has led a team to the title. He terrifies defence after defence season upon season.

Maybe you don't know what I know but this mythical striker that they'd get over Auba actually doesn't really exist. How many strikers are better than him in the league? Is he Aguero, Kane or Mbappe nope, but the man still gets it done.
Like I said, agree to disagree. He is nothing impressive to me. Lacazette was literally voted player of the year ahead of him so that's one striker on the exact same team.
 

RooneyLegend

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Like I said, agree to disagree. He is nothing impressive to me. Lacazette was literally voted player of the year ahead of him so that's one striker on the exact same team.
They can play together ffs as they do from time to time.
 

haram

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They can play together ffs as they do from time to time.
I understand. If they want to raise funds though thats one player they could actually get rid of. It's not like they are that much different results wise before and after buying Aubameyang. They were whacking teams at home the season before last without him.
 

RooneyLegend

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I understand. If they want to raise funds though thats one player they could actually get rid of. It's not like they are that much different results wise before and after buying Aubameyang. They were whacking teams at home the season before last without him.
Or maybe sell the hoards of players in that squad that do nothing productive? No player has had a significant impact on their results in recent years cause the team continues to have huge holes in it. They've got strikers who scire goals but defenders who can't defend, a midfield that can't control a match or protect a defence and a coach that's not at the required level. How is selling Auba going to help with all of that?

Get rid of Xhaka, Ozil, Mustafi, Monreal, Ospina, Jenkinson etc. That's who you sell and use the money wisely, not one of your best players.
 

Adisa

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If you are an arsenal fan, look away. Thoroughly depressing thread. The Kreonke ownership has been a double whammy of stingy and incompetent.
 

UweBein

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... How is selling Auba going to help with all of that?

Get rid of Xhaka, Ozil, Mustafi, Monreal, Ospina, Jenkinson etc. That's who you sell and use the money wisely, not one of your best players.
Agree with that. But they won't find a buyer for Özil. He is literally dead wood.
What kind of money would they generate from selling Ospina, Monreal, Jenkinson, Xhaka, Mustafi...?
 

Ikon

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I think if I were an Arsenal fan, I'd be as far from optimistic as its possible to be..
 

FootballHQ

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Brahimi isn't a bad player, played well for Algeria and always looks decent for Porto when I see them.

On a free that's not a bad signing to give them some width in ths squad.
 

UweBein

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I still consider them as a contender for top4. There is no Chelsea this season, let's see what Spurs do next as well. Also United is not a sure bet for top 4.
Arsenal have a good manager. That goes a long way.
 

SquishyMcSquish

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Brahimi's shit. Doesn't even start for Algeria. Proper West Ham or Everton signing that.

As squad depth alright fine, but it's another mediocre player joining a squad already beset by mediocrity.
 
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Mogget

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Brahimi's shit. Doesn't even start for Algeria. Proper West Ham or Everton signing that.

As squad depth alright fine, but it's enough mediocre player joining a squad already beset by mediocrity.
As a free signing he'd be on big wages too. 29, average, and on lots of money. Sounds perfect for us :drool:
 

Basso

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Just signed 18 year old Gabriel Martinelli for 6m from Brazil. Trained with the National team prior to Copa America.
 
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Yagami

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Brahimi a few seasons ago would've been a good signing. However, last season, whenever I saw Porto, he looked a shadow of his former self. Like Alexis for us.
 

Scroto Baggins

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I feel they should be ok, Chelsea lost Hazard and are on an xfer ban, they are never catching City or Liverpool. But then atm, neither are we. And they are better than Wolves, Everton or Leicester, so battling with Chelsea for 5th and 6th looks likely. Linked with Zaha and Saliba, both of which would be good signings, Zaha has his flaws but he is definitely a great attacking outlet.
 

jus2nang

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Just signed 18 year old Gabriel Martinelli for 6m from Brazil. Trained with the National team prior to Copa America.
From the 4th tier of Brazilian football, not much to shout about.

To be honest I'd rather we just trusted our academy graduates a bit more. We have very little money so there's no point wasting it on players that'll inevitably be not good enough.

What's interesting about this season is that Chelsea without Hazard should be significantly worse than they have been of late - he was their one genuine superstar. 4th will depend on Man Utd's moves in the transfer market, if they get it right they'll be back in. If they get it wrong, we have a chance.

Does anyone think the group below (Leicester, Everton, Wolves) is a genuine threat?
 

The Purley King

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Out the following group I think Leicester have the best chance.
Perez is a good signing and if they keep Tielemans too it’s starting to look pretty good. That is assuming vardy doesn’t start declining.
I think Harvey Barnes will explode this year.
Tbh don’t think they’ll miss maguire too much and they’ll probably use the money wisely.
 

Robbie Boy

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Brahimi isn't a bad player, played well for Algeria and always looks decent for Porto when I see them.

On a free that's not a bad signing to give them some width in ths squad.
He’s rubbish. Proper mid table PL player at best.
 

Scroto Baggins

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Whats going on over at Arsenal, why are they so broke? I heard rumours of 50mil spend this window, plus player sales.
 

Buster15

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You think they will get better?
We always seem to underestimate Arsenal and yet they been consistently in and around the top four.
And I detest the Goonners more than any other team.
 

MalBot

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They are in real trouble. An incompetent manager, a poor squad outside of two striker and a non existent transfer budget. No point expecting anything better next season if you're an Arsenal fan.
Why do you think Emery is incompetent?
 

bond19821982

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If Emery is incompetent what does that say about us ?