I got curious about Nigel Kendalmint. What club and level he plays and so. But when I googled the name, all the results was about Kendal Mint Cake, even with video how to bake it.Arsenal 2021/22 | PLEASE LOCK (SERIOUSLY)
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I got curious about Nigel Kendalmint. What club and level he plays and so. But when I googled the name, all the results was about Kendal Mint Cake, even with video how to bake it.If you really do live in Sweden and aren't just pretending to be hard by putting that as your location then don't you dare fecking touch our Kendal Mint Cake. For that would be rank cultural appropriation.
Close but no cigar, I live in Norway. Nigel will be put in goal, and he better live up to the hype! Or he will be sold for a bag of chips, and replaced by talented but soft Battercake. I googled him too btw
My bad, presumed you lived in the Stockholm suburbs. Apologies for wasting your time on google. By the way, you have tremendous idiomatic English.Close but no cigar, I live in Norway. Nigel will be put in goal, and he better live up to the hype! Or he will be sold for a bag of chips, and replaced by talented but soft Battercake. I googled him too btw
Odegaard is the only decent signing they have made this summer. Other than that, it is just throwing money in the hope that it will help them to finish in top 4.
Yeah, if my second team was Hammarby or AIK or Djurgården instead of Rosenborg : ) Who will be up against Cavaminga and Rennes tonight btw.
And about the idioms, thanks, the Caf can be recommended also as language class. It's useful.
Agree, good player and talent, the problem is he can be clubbed as another 'young prospect' with the others they have. They needed some experience and stability, because they are the ones stinking up the place. The fact that almost all of the experienced players have declined under Arteta is damning. You can't expect kids to take Arsenal to any kind of success, they will have problems with consistency. And the transfers have not helped, again most are young potential rather than the experienced players that could improve them here and now, which is what they need.
Poor manager, and poor recruitment, a double whammy of failure.
Yeah, they need experienced players but I don't think Arsenal should pass away option to sign talented players like Odegaard. They should save money from signing players like Ramsdale.
Also surprising that they are getting Odegaard without much competition.
White (23)
Ramsdale (23)
Odegaard (22)
Tavares (21)
Lokonga (21)
With the ages & profiles of those signings, I'd say they were doing the opposite of throwing money at a top 4 finish this season.
It was more that he insisted returning to Arsenal, than it being any actual competition or bidding round. All talks were between RM and Arsenal.
Yeah, looks like it was Arsenal or staying on Madrid bench for one more year.
Only PL clubs and few top clubs from other leagues are spending money, so the options for him might be less.
I'd be surprised if they finish in the top 6 this season. I don't think they've made any bad signings just all a bit meh. Given they are all young players they could pay off in the future but I don't think they will get up to much this season and Arteta will end up being sacked anyway.
I've not given Arsenal any stick for selling Martinez as he only played about 10 league games for Arsenal and they got good money for him. When Leno got injured they were all worried as he had a good season up to that point. I believe it's pure hindsight to knock them for that.
The signing of Ramsdale makes little sense to me. Firstly I don't think he is particularly good (though not as bad as some make out) but unless Leno is leaving this summer, what is the point of signing him?
If it's because they think Leno will leave next summer due to his contract surely they should just assess the goalkeeping situation next season and spend the funds elsewhere. Sheffield United probably won't be promoted, so his price is likely to only go down if they still want Ramsdale in a year.
I've not given Arsenal any stick for selling Martinez as he only played about 10 league games for Arsenal and they got good money for him. When Leno got injured they were all worried as he had a good season up to that point. I believe it's pure hindsight to knock them for that.
The signing of Ramsdale makes little sense to me. Firstly I don't think he is particularly good (though not as bad as some make out) but unless Leno is leaving this summer, what is the point of signing him?
If it's because they think Leno will leave next summer due to his contract surely they should just assess the goalkeeping situation next season and spend the funds elsewhere. Sheffield United probably won't be promoted, so his price is likely to only go down if they still want Ramsdale in a year.
They are about to spend £135m this summer and they are still likely to finish where they did if not worse than last season. Unbelievable.
What is their fascination with Ramsdale? He looks bang average every time I've seen him play.
What is their fascination with Ramsdale? He looks bang average every time I've seen him play.
I don't see them finishing top 6 at all. Leciester and Spurs will do better than them. And possibly West Ham (depending on how far they go in Europa). Even Villa could out perform them.
I think there is the possibility they could nick 6th, but like you say Spurs, West Ham and Villa can easily finish above them this season. I've not included Leicester as I fully expect them to be above Arsenal again this season.
Although I agree their signings have been "meh" this season, I actually think they're moving in the right direction and investing in the future. Auba, Lacazette and Willian should all leave/be left out of regular rotation by next season, leaving a solid young foundation for the future. Whether or not they are good/talented enough to make Arsenal contenders for a top4 spot remains to be seen but at least Arsenal are doing the right thing in investing/believing in the imo.
The young offensive core of Saka, Ødegaard, Smith-Rowe and Martinelli are all very talented, and should become a fluid, energetic and very entertaining front four.
Gabriel and Tierney are very good defenders with a bright future. I don't know about White, but he's still young and has some potential.
They're still a few signings short, and their strategy still leaves a lot to be desired, but if/when Auba, Laca and Willian leaves, they should be able to fill the gaps nicely.
That said, I think they'll struggle to even get in to the top 6 this year. But without those signings, I think they'd even struggle to get top 10!
The young offensive core of Saka, Ødegaard, Smith-Rowe and Martinelli are all very talented, and should become a fluid, energetic and very entertaining front four.
Gabriel and Tierney are very good defenders with a bright future. I don't know about White, but he's still young and has some potential.
They're still a few signings short, and their strategy still leaves a lot to be desired, but if/when Auba, Laca and Willian leaves, they should be able to fill the gaps nicely.
That said, I think they'll struggle to even get in to the top 6 this year. But without those signings, I think they'd even struggle to get top 10!
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They're spiralling down...
Can't say that makes me happy, our rivalry was really fun while it lasted and evokes some sweet memories.
Can't say that makes me happy, our rivalry was really fun while it lasted and evokes some sweet memories.
If their fixture schedule had been different, I would have said they have a chance at top 6. But the way the fixtures have come out and the defeat to Brentford, I think its highly probable they will be bottom of the league after the first 3 games with 0 points as they have Chelsea and Man City next. They have spurs in their first 6 fixtures too. I think it's going to lead to an incredibly pressurised situation very early on which is going to be too much for the youngsters and ultimately lead to Arteta getting sacked. They really do need an upset these first few weeks to get them going.
Here's hoping they beat both Chelsea and City...
I know hindisght is a wonderful thing, but you do wonder whether building the new stadium was ultimately detrimental to their future. It made sense from a business point of view, but it hasn't paid off from a football point of view. Wenger was shackled by the lack of funds and it's led to their current situation now.
I really hope they do. A proper football club beating artificial ones. I do miss the rivalry with Arsenal. It was a proper battle amongst two giants.
To me, this seems to be the plan that they are working to, & in a way I commend them for that. However, football is a results based business, & they need results short term for them to allow the mid term plan to work, & this is what I worry about.
Which leads on nicely to agreeing with Chiefs post below.
They had to move at some point Highbury was tiny!!
Yeah, Chief has some very good points there. But then again, would Arteta getting the sack be so bad? Blessing in disguise, that.
He's definitely got a lot to prove, that's for sure, & like I said, the pressure will just grow on him until in the end the board won't have much choice.
With that squad, & more importantly with how good the current top 4 is, don't think any sane fan should be demanding top 4 this season. However, at the same time, he won't get away with the start he had last season. If he doesn't get a run of results after the City game, the next 6 of which are Norwich (H), Burnley (A), Spurs (H), Brighton (A), Palace (H), Villa (H), then I think he'll be out. This stretch of games could define him as a manager, it really could be that important.
A good season for Artea would be to have arsenal as best of the rest after the top 4. Or at least right up there with whoever of Leicester/Tottenham/Everton have the best season.
I’m beginning to think Arteta isn’t as much the problem as is the running of the club by the owners. Wenger who has been an incredible manager was appearing to look lost in his latter years. Unai Emery who was regarded very highly and is showing his worth again now was also made to look poor at Arsenal. Now Arteta is the one having the finger pointed at him. I appreciate he is inexperienced but I just don’t think he’s entirely to blame. I just think whoever comes in will have similar problems to the recent managers. Even if it’s a Conte.
The top clubs apparently don't want to sign him now and Real Madrid is willing to let him go. So perhaps things have changed. I don't think he's a bad signing, but he's not a hidden gem exactly. The risk is that everyone else's assessment is correct.
Could.
Yeah I would agree. All of this points to the Arsenal board accepting, or being convinced, that a long term strategy is the only way to get the club competing over the next few seasons. Arteta looks to be a dead man walking on the surface, but he does not appear to be under any immediate pressure and is being backed financially, so you'd have to assume that there is a workable plan in place and that is not something we are likely to see the fruits from this season or probably even next.
Never said players he bought are shit, I said he has done a shit job so far. Of course he could do a 180 and Arsenal could start doing well. But what everyone has seen so far suggests nothing but continued downward spiral.Expected Threat apparently, its all the rage.... well it sounds good anyway.
All I'm trying to argue is that Odegaard helped with our creativity, hence why he's a good signing. His individual stats, the team stats, all say this.
The jury is out on White & Ramsdale signings, that's for sure, especially as I keep saying we have other areas of need. The jury is still out on the manager as well, agreed. But the Odegaard signing makes good sense & does help us address an area of need.
You are right, he has been backed by the board, but If you're throwing in this summers spend at least let's not judge him on 1 day of the season with half the players out. Sure, the jury is out on this summers transfers, but at least let them play games to prove that it's sh!t.
You talk about people talking about alternative tables, but how else can you judge improvement over a season as fans? Sure, you can be clinical & say two 8th place finishes = no improvement, I get that. However, it's not criminal to break the season into parts, look at reasons why parts were good or poor, & try & assess from there.
No-one is saying we are great, we will challenge, even get top 4 or anything. Just that there was an improvement on most aspects 2nd part of the season, now we need to improve further & try & kick on. We'll judge the beginning of this season the same we we judged the end of last season.
Yes you guys improved in the second half of the season but you do realise right how crap you were in the first half of the season. Also, you bottled the most important game of your season by getting knocked out by Villarreal. So all this improvement talk doesn't hold any strength. Apart from the results it is the football you lot play under arteta which is irritating. I find it dull. Atleast under latter wenger times too you used to dominate the smaller sides. Now there is nothing. Again I understand you are an arsenal fan and you want to defend your manager but seriously if you remove your arsenal glasses off maybe you would realize it is arteta who is holding you guys back.
Oh god I remember when Arsenal fans were going crazy for Samba. I think you ended up with Mertersacker instead and he turned out to be a really decent signing in the end.
I don’t think 2 goals for a number 10 for half a season games is good at all. Poor signing.
Don't like the term bottling, that comes across as arrogant that we should have been in the final, & considering they went in to beat Utd in the final & with their performance in the Super Cup, Villarreal have shown recently that they are no mugs.
Listen, I do understand what you are saying. All I'm saying is results & some performances improved, but I agree there were still a good few in among that time where we looked poor. Also, I'm intrigued to see how teams / players react when crowds are back.
I'm not defending the manager blindly, & I've said lots of times, unless he improves both results & performance he'll be out the door. All I said was let's see after maybe 10 games or so rather than 1 game where we are.
There are some players which leadership is so notorious that's its hard not to see, players such as Bruno, Sergio Ramos, Chiellini, etc but I agree with your point overall. If the leadership is not overwhelming I don't think us as fans can really say which players are a leaders or not nor quantity that leadership.
I mean its quite obvious to see that Bruno has a winning mentality, you must be completely naive to think otherwise. Okay, so because he hasn't won a trophy outside Portgual he is not a winner?
Maguire is a leader in the dressing room, I know many don't think its true but the United squad now has leaders in there, hence the signings of Cavani, Sancho, Varane, VDB, these are all winners that bring a certain mentality to the team, on the training ground.
Arsenal have the opposite, players like Bellerin complaining training is too difficult and that.
I thought the same thing. Tierney is very good and an excellent crosser. They can't find a striker that's a beast in the air?
They could use their possession game to setup Tierney for crosses into the box. Hell even Giroud would be good for that.
If those 4 reach their potential then they can be a good creative base but they are going to need to start playing a lot more directly and there is still a gaping hole in there where a striker needs to be. I imagine Arsenal will want to be on the Haaland express next year but without a top 4 finish I doubt Mino will even return their calls and so the scouts are going to need to work overtime to find an alternative.
Just looking at their squad now...
Leno, Cedric, Tierney, Gabriel, White, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Aubameyang?
Ramsdale, Chambers, Tavares, Mari, Holding, Elneny, Lokonga, Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette, Nketiah
+ Bellerin, Kolasinac, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Willian, Nelson, Balogun.
I suppose there are some good young players in there but they really need to shift their unfancied squad players.
Leno, Cedric, Tierney, Gabriel, White, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Smith-Rowe, Aubameyang?
Ramsdale, Chambers, Tavares, Mari, Holding, Elneny, Lokonga, Pepe, Martinelli, Lacazette, Nketiah
+ Bellerin, Kolasinac, Torreira, Maitland-Niles, Willian, Nelson, Balogun.
I suppose there are some good young players in there but they really need to shift their unfancied squad players.
Isn't Martinelli supposed to be their striker in the future, but has been "eased in" through the flanks as most youngsters of his kind do nowadays?
Also, I don't think Arsenal have any hopes of signing Haaland, and I think they're very aware of that themselves.
They could use more leaders and role models for all these good young players. So far only Auba looks like one and that's pretty much it.
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