In this podcast we look back and forward, hoping to make sense of a strange season and odd expectations for next season.
Pedantic George.
162 comments on “Arsenal 2023: Will Next Year Be Better?”
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Positively Arsenal 
If Edu had told Kante that the etymology of Arsenal is originally/from Arabic might he have been tempted by some north London wonga? Probably the player would like to play in a slower league after many years in the intense/insane PL. which is fair enough.
Can the club find a better CDM then an aging Kante? Especially if George’s prayer/hope above is answered.
Strong rumours around another Chelsea player also key to their CL win over City.
Don’t know much about the player. he hasn’t had many highlights since that goal? but instinct is he’ll improve under Arteta. More news on ESR injury strife from this season. I guess the squad player most concerned by this transfer might be Viera.
Off the pitch I hope the Jesus, Zinchenko Jorginho, Trossard form continues!
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Yep if Partey does go to the Arab League for £40 that would be excellent business.
Long term however I can’t help thinking the PL could be outspent. It may even give the club’s back to the fans and stop the state financial doping…… well in this country at least.
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latest reports suggest Partey is going to juventus for about £17M
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Havertz ghosted past Zinchenko to score the winner in the 2021 CL final.
If he signs for the Arsenal I hope his career follows Salah and KDB after they left the club that doesn’t deserve such players heh.
Considering rumours about ESR injury strife, he scored for the u21s tonight, I speculate that it’s Viera who should be worried about his minutes.
If the Partey is over (i can’t help it) would’ve been nice to tempt a season out of Kante too but the player might be at stage where he wants to play in a slower league etc.
Fingers crossed the off the field transfer form of Jesus, zinchenko, Trossard & Jorginho continues.
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Early season form of the two former city players and obviously not what we were served up in the final ten games.
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I was surprised to hear about Havertz, but in a sort of way it reminds me of an Arsene type of signing. With regard to Rice I’m always suspicious when the club seem so public and open about a target. That isn’t normally how we do things, and it seems a lot of money for us to pay.
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I see one of the on line hacks has suggested ARSENAL are looking to offload Runnerson.
Fuck me, how bad do you have to be at your job to put your name to that. Every ARSENAL supporter knew that two weeks after we brought him.
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Rapid Bucharest have signed 20 year old Arsenal midfielder Catalin Cirjan on loan with an option to buy
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last season our first choice starting 11 was probably
Ramsdale
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka
Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
if rumors from football journos and bloggers etc are to be believed we are set to spend about £250M on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jorrin Timber, Romeo Lavia, with the likes of Partey and Xhaka leaving for combined £35M or less, and with Elneny and Pepe off for free too.
so if we do that business our starting 11 would probably be
Ramsdale
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko
Rice, Odegaard, Havertz
Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
so a big outlay for little change to our starting 11, but would probably see our bench and rotation options a bit stronger. Many will tell you that Arteta has changed everything, but he hasn’t unless he is responsible for our owners KSE now that they are full owners being now prepared to splash the cash so that we like other big clubs are able to write off record signings, and keep spending so that we have a bench as well as first team full of big money signings and a squad full of high earners. Who’d have thought throwing massive money at it might work, where are all the kroenke out wankers now
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george post gone missing again
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If we sign Timber I would imagine he would be first choice RB and can you play Havertz and Odegaard behind the front three leaving only Rice to do the dirty work, it certainly looks a little lightweight especially in big games or indeed awkward away games.
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You have to wonder whether city were ever truly interested in rice. They certainly could of outbid us so was a few agents just helping the hammers get their price.
In any case we have paid a big price and obviously it remains to be seen if we get our monies worth.
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Kai confirmed, Declan all but, Jurrian expected soon.
Three deals done early coming in so it now will be interesting to see the outs and any other major deals we can pull off plus future prospects to fill out the squad.
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well Ian in the kai announcement Arteta said Havertz will be playing in midfield, so it does seems that the reports that he is Xhaka’s replacement are true.
on that note, the main reports are that our main incoming and outgoing will be
Harvertz in, Xhaka out
Rice in, Partey out
Timber in, Holding out
Lavia in, Elneny out
on the last two there, Elneny and Holding are both being linked with loan moves to Turkey, couple of clubs in for Elneny, no loan fee, wages in full, then he is out of contract, Holding, small loan fee and wages in full, he would still have year on contract, option to buy may be included in his deal. Besiktas main club linked for both players
one other signing we are being linked with is PSV’s 20 year old forward/midfielder Xavi Simons
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it seems Bayern Munich are in for Harry Kane, who has a year left on his spurs contract, they are said to have had one bid turned down already, less that £50M, but will go back in with a higher bid. Latest reports suggest Chelsea have contacted Kane to inform him if he sees out the last year of his contract they want to sign him on a free next summer
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Really exciting times obviously, but it makes you a little wistful too.
I think about what prime AW could have done with a bit more freedom. And it’s not so much about the players could have bought, but those we could have kept.
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Arsene Wenger was ALWAYS prime.
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Without a doubt Arsene, with the funds Uni and Mikel have had, would have pulled up a whole Forrest and not just the thicket of trees he magically managed.
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I think if Rice translates his previous form to us – and improves – he will begin to fill the gap we’ve not been able to fill since Patrick Viera left.
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I like to think that Arsene planted the seed that is now growing into something special. Like all great men he did not expect to sit in its shade, but I think he’d approve of the way it’s developing.
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Its a lot of money, maybe, too much money(?), but worse is its big pressure on the Riceman. And makes him a massive target for orc- styled football?
If it works out then we’re on to something…
It will be interesting to see how Havertz is played along side the Riceman.
Im always worried about messiahs coming in and all hope being pinned on them for our salvation.105m for one player or two top 50m?Squad or not to squad? Who knows or dares to dream? Anyway, looking forward to see how it all works out.
I like the proposals that David Dein is making at the moment ( they’ve been around for a long time on various blogs and need implementing)…
Come n you fkn Gunners!
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Always remember David Dein was one of the first proponents of a breakaway European league decades ago.
He is primarily a business man who always chases money.
The myth and the man are very different.
Oh and Kai won’t play alongside Declan
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I still like his proposals.
Oh, and you said history repeats itself, youre wrong. May be a little less patronising?
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I may have missed it but I can’t see anyone saying about history repeating itself.
Although being a keen historian it quite often does.
If the comment about being patronising was aimed at me then I certainly didn’t mean it like that.
My point was Xhaka was a midfielder, who was asked and did get forward, whereas Kai is an attacking midfielder a more natural number 9.
Although in recent years Rice has played a role further forward than his usual standard defensive midfielder you would imagine he would be assigned the Partey role to protect the back four and join the attack when able.
Unless we sign someone else to play that role then they may both play in “midfield” but that nowadays is a very wide term and so they won’t play alongside each other.
Indeed I would expect Kai to be available to play any of the front four positions or as a double pivot with Odegaard.
I really can’t see him making the typical Xhaka last ditch tackles inside the area.
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ian re david dein, I used to have a contact within the club and he always said Danny Fiszman was the Mr Arsenal that David Dein got the credit for, that Danny was a very shy private man who shunned the limelight, but that Dein was all about image and promoting himself, Arsenal was just a great way to do it. On that note, Dein bringing in first Kroenke and then Usmanov was all about DD looking to become Arsenal chairman
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DD brought us Arsene, I’ll overlook a lot because of that. And there’s a lot to overlook btw. Even yesterday he was saying what an incredible job City had done and didn’t care about their cheating.
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I remember when the Ghoulish Aunty bleeb proclaimed Harry Winks as the next Jack Wilshere.
No offence to the player but what bozo could mention him in the same breath as Parlour let alone more technical footballers?
I remember not being convinced by the those who know better then me when Wilshere was converted to an 8 for the club team.
Arteta and Cazorla made the step back from the forward line as veterans under Wenger.
Is Arteta thinking of Havertz as his Wilshere?
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< Fabregas made the opposite journey until he was poleaxed by a “bruised bone” (wasn’t even called a foul…)
from 8 to a goalscoring 10.
I speculate that Wilshere was asked to move back to use him as a rotating midfielder (rebuilding his fitness over time or just being managed) with Ozil taking the burden of being the constant 10.
Havertz as one of Arteta’s 8/10s like Wilshere?
Odegaard as his Fabregas 10/8?
During the dry barren days of Arteta’s time, 21/22, he sometimes played Odegaard back alongside the other CM. Didn’t quite work but this gave me hope he knew where the opponents goal is and wanted to score more goals.
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Fins that’s really Interesting. If we add in the fact that the media always gets some of the exits wrong the main final position for Havertz could be anywhere.
I have just seen Cesc has hung up his boots. For a technically gifted player, who can play all over the midfield, 36 seems quite young in this modern era of Modric’s etc.
The way he left was difficult, as well as the success he had at chelski. But at the end of day he gave us some wonderful moments and nearly realised a few wild dreams.
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The U21’s resumed training today and the most notable things was not about who was there but who was absent.
According to Jeorge Bird Some players whose futures are uncertain, like Tim Akinola, Miguel Azeez, Mika Biereth, Alex Kirk, Charlie Patino and Omar Rekik didn’t train.
Zach Awe also didn’t train which suggests he will become a free agent when his Arsenal contract expires tonight.
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ian I seen it mentioned that Mika Biereth, Alex Kirk and Charlie Patino were training together in Portugal and would all return to AFC training this coming week
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Barcelona B interested in signing Arsenal’s Miguel Azeez, they want to take him on a free transfer but with a sell on clause, he has one year left on his AFC contract
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It seems like we have got to a stage now where some of the players leaving could really come back to haunt us.
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The Declan deal agreed and so is old news we now will here a plethora of other midfield targets.
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Hear
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It’s a sad day with another club favourite Granit officially leaving https://www.arsenal.com/news/granit-xhaka-leaves-the-club
His presence will be deeply missed
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Reiss Nelson has signed a new contract for 4 years with an extra years option too.
Xhaka has left the building, a big loss to Arsenal
William Saliba is reported to have signed a new long term contract
Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are both reported to be set to do their medicals tomorrow before completing transfers to Arsenal
Some first team players are already back in training, some of our youth players have been drafted in to make up the numbers, including Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, the players who were on international duty are expected back in the coming days, as are the new signings.
This day week we play our first preseason game
Assistant Couch Steve Round has unexpectedly left Arsenal, will be interesting to see who comes in to replace him, names such as Cesc and Cazorla are being wishfully mentioned by some fans
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with xhaka gone it only leaves Elneny and Holding of the Wenger signings, and we have Pepe, Tierney and Saliba of the Emery signings, with all bar Saliba reported to be on the for sale list
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great to have an irish man at the arsenal again, ha ha ha
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its rumored that Steve Round is going to join up with David Moyes at West Ham
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Unbelievable news about Steve Round. They say it’s the old “mutual” consent which actually never is. Sad and strange to see another club stalwart go under whatever circumstances.
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Bayer take Granit and immediately we are linked with their midfielders Frimpong and Diaby. Personally I liked them both when they were previously at ARSENAL although they must be getting on ABIT now.
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Good to see Reiss and Saliba contracts in the bag which are as important as some of the incomings.
Also nice to see Sead get a new club, I love him.
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So Wenger sowed the seeds that are now going in the club. Really?
If reports are correct, there will be no Wenger players in the coming season.
Arteta has hardy conducted himself with honour as Wenger did and he is busy buying in talent, a la Man$ity and has no interest in any of the academy players who will never be allowed to play on a regular basis because we are buying any established player that can stand.
What we have now is Arteta’s team and players, his tactics and his seeds.
Wenger is history and a history that clearly Arteta detests.
Good luck to the wishful thinkers for next season
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head of medical at arsenal Gary O’Driscoll is now leaving for man utd, he will be gone by summers end, staying on for a few weeks to help AFC bring in his replacement
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Saliba will wear number 2 this season
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the signings of Rice and Timber not announced yet, a first team squad including youths such as Lewis-skelly, Nwaneri and Walters have travelled to Germany for a training camp and a game on Thursday, its suggested Rice is still on Holidays so wont join up till the USA trip, but Timber might join the squad in Germany, he can’t join up in UK till he gets work permit, which shouldn’t take long, but he can go and train and play in germany with the squad, so he very well might join them this week yet.
by the way Elneny is in the squad
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The new season, or friendlies at least, kicks off tomorrow and we may get to see one or even two of our new signings.
We also get to see the three youth lads who have travelled with the squad and maybe even the last game or few games for Mo Elneny.
To watch a bit of football rather than listening to the stammering media tell us the same transfer news over and over again but with massive emphasis on the last word of every SENTENCE will be fantastic.
Sky really need to put those transfer gurus down and relieve them of their misery of trying to make a silent fart sound exciting.
Anyway although it’s only a second tier German side were playing I’m still excited.
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My Mrs brought home a well known brand bathroom cleaner and apparently it gets rid of scum. Maybe we could send a few gallons down N17.
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