Words mostly of Arsenal FC (@awoaken)
With less than a week of shopping left before the transfer window shuts, it’s worth looking at Arsenal’s player registration situation and what it means for potential incoming and outgoing players.
As you’ll see, Arsenal are in a tough spot. Players will have to be sold, regardless of new arrivals. It’s a bit desperate, to be honest.
Continue reading “Why Arsenal are in transfer trouble”
The League Cup tends to give a good indication of who will be the first teams’ B level players for the upcoming season. Who will live in the shadows of the first team, in the dreaded “limbo zone”, where they fight just to get a seat on the bench.
This is often where the team’s younger players operate. So, who are they, what can they expect from the 20/21 season, and should they stay, be loaned out or sold?
Continue reading “The Arsenal youth’s impact this season”
Besides obvious focal points such as the start of the new season and new, flourishing signings Willian and Gabriel, was the impressiveness of Arsenal’s attacking.
How the Gunners attack has changed massively through the club’s many tactical changes and philosophies in the last three years, and it looks like it has arrived at a place of modern sufficiency. Let’s take a look at Arsenal’s attacking evolution since Arsène Wenger, shall we?
Continue reading “How Arsenal’s attack evolved since Wenger”
Us Arsenal fans have always prided ourselves on the culture of giving young players a stage to flourish. A scheme at the foundation of Wenger’s philosophy for the club and football in general, and something Emery has said to continue.
It colours the history of the club with great and unlikely stories of courage, trust and integrity.
Fabregas, van Persie, Ramsey and Bellerin are some of Arsenal’s most important players in the last decade or so, and their stories of overcoming the odds as young players at a top club is worth remembering.
Continue reading “Analysis: Arsenal’s top prospects of the last 15 seasons”
There haven’t been too many shining stars from the midfield down at Arsenal this season (except Torreira), but 19-year-old Matteo Guendouzi has sparkled beyond anyone’s expectations.
The French kid’s impressive performance away against Man City in Sunday’s 3-1 loss – and throughout the season – demonstrates just how brilliant he is and how excited we should be to see him develop in an Arsenal shirt.
Here’s a list of what to be grateful for:
Continue reading “Guendouzi: A shining light in a pretty dark place”
How valuable is Mesut Özil to Arsenal – to Unai Emery – really?
Özil’s place on the fringes of the Arsenal starting lineup is evident in his relocation to the bench in this weekend’s loss against Man United in the FA Cup, last weekend’s important win against Chelsea and his complete omission from the squad against West Ham the week before that. It exemplifies Emery’s ruthlessness and pragmatism, and the tactical mis-fit of Arsenal’s brightest star.
Continue reading “Are Özil’s days numbered? Should they be?”
Fourteen months after Sven Mislintat joined Arsenal after a nasty breakup with Dortmund, “Diamond Eye” moves on, again, after a reported breakdown. This time it’s said he was overlooked for the position of technical director at the club, which he wanted and also marginalised his current position as head of recruitment.
Continue reading “Mislintat’s exit a major blow for Arsenal – but something stinks…”
Earlier this week Unai Emery exposed just how close Arsenal are to their Financial Fair Play limits while considering new player signings.
In an honest but self-defaming comment on Arsenal’s transfer situation, Emery, amid speculation that Barcelona’s Denis Suarez and/or China-occupant Yannick Ferreira Carrasco could be arriving at Colney any day, said this about the January window:
“We cannot sign permanently. We can only loan players. (…) We can sign players later on.”
Continue reading “How Arsenal are untying their transfer knot”
Arsenal haven’t had much success in the loan market… ever. But the decision to send Reiss Nelson (18) for a year-long stay with Bundesliga’s Hoffenheim on deadline day has been one of the best deals of the summer for both Arsenal and Hoffenheim.
In sports, as in life, one’s true colours and potential can only be revealed with great challenge.
Arsenal played their third “top six” opponent of the season on Saturday: Liverpool. A great time to check in on Emery’s progress at Arsenal.
A Word of Arsenal 