-
! ! ! IMPORTANT MESSAGE ! ! !
Discussions about police investigations
In light of recent developments about a player from Premier League being arrested and until there is an official announcement, ALL users should refrain from discussing or speculating about situations around personal off-pitch matters related to any Arsenal player. This is to protect you and the forum.
Users who disregard this reminder will be issued warnings and their posts will get deleted from public.
Edu & The Football Intelligence Unit
- Thread starter OnlyOne
- Start date
- Replies 2,418
- Views 192,943
GoonerJeeves
Established Member
Country: Norway
We've done well on outgoings, which is nice to see. I'm rather mixed on our signings. I don't rate Sterling at all, but he's our man now, and you have to hope he'll succeed....
Overall a good window for sales, rather sub-standard for incomings.
It is what it is.
Overall a good window for sales, rather sub-standard for incomings.
It is what it is.
Batman
Hard on crime, soft on Stan
Country: USA
Player:Saliba
He seems to improve one area each window. Last year he finally got our primary targets instead of getting outmaneuvered and got them in early as well. This year he finally learned to drive hard bargains and get the kind of fees for unwanted players that other clubs seem to manage. One day he might put together a complete window.
Almost none of the young or prime aged players in European football made a move.
To anyone. Anywhere. Even people who were bid for or in talks. They all stalled, and nothing materialised.
Osimhen
Nico
Isak
Sesko
Bruno G
Zubimandi
Gordon
Braithwaite
Guehi
Etc.
People often don't like looking at the wider context of Transfer Windows (except to complain about inflated fees) but if you literally list out the young or prime aged players who were set to or speculated to move at the beginning of the window, and then come the end of the window realise that none of them made a move, it should let you know that our window was a good one in context.
Because the richer, best and smarter clubs didn't spend.
I'm sure several articles will come out in the next few days and weeks explaining why, but something was happening at the top end of European football that made the big clubs hit pause.
So with that said, Calafiori, Merino + Sterling on loan gets a
to Edu and Co. from me, and then when you factor in the outgoings x2
dka1
100% Dark Chocolate
Country: England
I really haven't kept up with most of the transfers or the threads here this summer so hopefully this is a viewpoint not heavily influenced by online Arsenal discourse....it's "untainted", if you will.
I can't lie folks, the monies we got for Nketiah and ESR is a lot more than I expected....
^That sums it up.
Erm, I think we got a decent fee for Aaron too, all things considered. I was never one to think that given all the circumstances we'd really be able to pull a large fee for Ramsdale, but we got more than I expected for him too.
A few out on loan, including Vieira and Nelson isn't bad, and hopefully they can gain some form whilst away.
If we get Raheem over the line then I think the incomings have been quite decent too.
What I'm keeping in mind is that our squad is in a place where really we don't need THAT many players; we need particular pieces and I think we're decently stacked with Raheem to provide cover on both wings.
Still with Gabby Jesus's injury record, and the same with Partey's, it does leave me a tiny bit worried about the striking and pivot positions, though you could argue that we've probably got enough cover for them (with Jorginho that can play #6 and ofc Havertz and even Trossard that can cover up top).
Finally it would've been nice to have a bit of an "x factor" striker coming in, a bit like our own Haaland, but I think part of the issue is that kind of player isn't exactly easy to find.
Overall I'd say I'm content.
I can't lie folks, the monies we got for Nketiah and ESR is a lot more than I expected....
^That sums it up.
Erm, I think we got a decent fee for Aaron too, all things considered. I was never one to think that given all the circumstances we'd really be able to pull a large fee for Ramsdale, but we got more than I expected for him too.
A few out on loan, including Vieira and Nelson isn't bad, and hopefully they can gain some form whilst away.
If we get Raheem over the line then I think the incomings have been quite decent too.
What I'm keeping in mind is that our squad is in a place where really we don't need THAT many players; we need particular pieces and I think we're decently stacked with Raheem to provide cover on both wings.
Still with Gabby Jesus's injury record, and the same with Partey's, it does leave me a tiny bit worried about the striking and pivot positions, though you could argue that we've probably got enough cover for them (with Jorginho that can play #6 and ofc Havertz and even Trossard that can cover up top).
Finally it would've been nice to have a bit of an "x factor" striker coming in, a bit like our own Haaland, but I think part of the issue is that kind of player isn't exactly easy to find.
Overall I'd say I'm content.
MauveGunner
Well-Known Member
Country: Belgium
Player:Saka
He did okay all things concidered. Sales were good with the fees we got and the loans that were done.
Incomings are so and so. Calafiori and Merino are good signings. But how we handeled the forward problem is an issue. We really could have assressed this business earlier this window. Now we were lucky to get Sterling on a loan...
Incomings are so and so. Calafiori and Merino are good signings. But how we handeled the forward problem is an issue. We really could have assressed this business earlier this window. Now we were lucky to get Sterling on a loan...
RunTheTrap
Says Aesthetics Merchants, but really means Trilly
Edu did well when it came to sales. He did as much as he could despite Arteta cratering the value of homegrown talent. The loan deals for Nelson, Vieira and Taveres SHOULD put us in good stead for the next summer window.
Now onto the negatives. Pissing around with goalkeepers on the penultimate day of the transfer window is diabolical stuff. Under no circumstances can you justify bringing in FOUR goalkeepers in one window. I don't care about Arteta's sick fantasy of substituting one keeper for another in a game - do it on Fifa. Inaki should be reprimanded for even suggesting a backup keeper for €30 million.
Secondly, why does this club show so little creativity in the market? If we don't sign our first choice, we beg Chelsea for one of their cast-offs. When was the last time we signed an up-and-coming star? Why couldn't we go young and hungry instead of Sterling or Coman? I don't trust this club to think outside the box.
Thirdly, the Merino deal was overpriced for what it is and took longer than it should have. Good player but not for the price or time it took. Overall Edu gets a 4/10 from me. By removing the “fake depth” of the Hale Enders and Vieira, the squad feels a lot less bloated. However, the team needed that superstar quality that we have sorely missed since the days of Auba. We can't keep waiting for the next summer because our rivals are allowed to improve too. Let's see what the season holds for us.
Edit: oh yeah. What happened to revamping the youth setup? Did we even replace Chido Obi Martin? Our most high-profile signing was a goalkeeper ffs. Why didn't we find loans for Lewis-Skelly? I needed to believe something had changed, but it appears not.
Now onto the negatives. Pissing around with goalkeepers on the penultimate day of the transfer window is diabolical stuff. Under no circumstances can you justify bringing in FOUR goalkeepers in one window. I don't care about Arteta's sick fantasy of substituting one keeper for another in a game - do it on Fifa. Inaki should be reprimanded for even suggesting a backup keeper for €30 million.
Secondly, why does this club show so little creativity in the market? If we don't sign our first choice, we beg Chelsea for one of their cast-offs. When was the last time we signed an up-and-coming star? Why couldn't we go young and hungry instead of Sterling or Coman? I don't trust this club to think outside the box.
Thirdly, the Merino deal was overpriced for what it is and took longer than it should have. Good player but not for the price or time it took. Overall Edu gets a 4/10 from me. By removing the “fake depth” of the Hale Enders and Vieira, the squad feels a lot less bloated. However, the team needed that superstar quality that we have sorely missed since the days of Auba. We can't keep waiting for the next summer because our rivals are allowed to improve too. Let's see what the season holds for us.
Edit: oh yeah. What happened to revamping the youth setup? Did we even replace Chido Obi Martin? Our most high-profile signing was a goalkeeper ffs. Why didn't we find loans for Lewis-Skelly? I needed to believe something had changed, but it appears not.
Last edited:
You make some fair points but this just isn't true. Why supplement your argument with inflated rubbish?
Chelsea were reported to have offered him to us and we took the opportunity at a fantastic negotiated deal. That makes for a much different narrative and acceptable alternative (though, as I've stated a couple times, I think we were fortunate to be in that position).
Arteta runs the show, but he doesn't do Edu favors when it comes to negotiating.
We got as much as we could get for the outgoing, all things considered.
Incoming was good. Sterling is a good addition. The mid and CB additions were solid.
At the end of the day, you still have to develop and manager players. Can't just buy your way to a title. Look at Chelsea.
Last year's January window was great: We did nothing, and then went on to play the best football under Arteta.
We got as much as we could get for the outgoing, all things considered.
Incoming was good. Sterling is a good addition. The mid and CB additions were solid.
At the end of the day, you still have to develop and manager players. Can't just buy your way to a title. Look at Chelsea.
Last year's January window was great: We did nothing, and then went on to play the best football under Arteta.
Paperino
It’s Timo Time
Country: Sweden
Interview with Edu about our business this summer:
www.arsenal.com
Edu reflects on the summer transfer window
Edu discusses our activity in the transfer window and the business done on Deadline Day
1macca1
Established Member
10/10
Maybe
You're wrong, no?
This must be one of the best transfer windows we've had.
Nelson/Vieira - both found good loan deals where they will play and increase their value for future sales.
Sterling - think this was our biggest win, starting quality loan deal which gives us more time to find a good permanent solution (this window didn't offer much on that)
Merino - looks like an amazing value for money transfer, improves our starting lineup from day one, and gives us a lot of flexibility in the midfield
Calafiori - I'm not 100% on this, he is definitely a very good player but investing so much in what seems to be our 3rd choice LB (if Timber is fit) and a backup CB option looks a bit too much for the current season. I think this is more a result of Tomiyasu being so unreliable with injuries rather than us needing another body. Long term I'm sure this will be a good deal for us and there wasn't much else to buy this summer anyways.
After Vieira and Lokonga flops it seems like we have no interest in taking risks anymore, a part of football that I enjoyed over the years. Can't blame anyone for this, the club is in great financial shape so we can afford established players
Nelson/Vieira - both found good loan deals where they will play and increase their value for future sales.
Sterling - think this was our biggest win, starting quality loan deal which gives us more time to find a good permanent solution (this window didn't offer much on that)
Merino - looks like an amazing value for money transfer, improves our starting lineup from day one, and gives us a lot of flexibility in the midfield
Calafiori - I'm not 100% on this, he is definitely a very good player but investing so much in what seems to be our 3rd choice LB (if Timber is fit) and a backup CB option looks a bit too much for the current season. I think this is more a result of Tomiyasu being so unreliable with injuries rather than us needing another body. Long term I'm sure this will be a good deal for us and there wasn't much else to buy this summer anyways.
After Vieira and Lokonga flops it seems like we have no interest in taking risks anymore, a part of football that I enjoyed over the years. Can't blame anyone for this, the club is in great financial shape so we can afford established players
FinnGooner
Established Member
Solid 7/10 imo. Probably didn’t land our top targets apart from Calafiori but we got stronger in defense, midfield, and in the end, attack as well. Got rid of inflated contracts while making money in the process. We still need one more true difference maker in attack but when you look the window as a whole, those simply were not available this summer. Very few actually exciting attackers moved. Loan deal for Sterling is 10x better than overpaying for the likes of Pedro Neto or Ivan Toney.
dashsnow17
Doesn’t Rate Any Of Our Attackers
I mean it should be enough for top 4, I don’t think we’ll be strong enough to win the league though. But we could really do with a trophy at this point.
HagnSprayGooners
@TNAT's Lone Subscriber
Country: Northern Ireland
Top 4 what? We are considerably better than every single team in the league barring City.
It’ll be another scrap for the title.
Blankety Blank
emoji merchant
Not the most exciting window. However I'm happy enough with our business.
Good squad management in a a tough market so hats of to Edu & the team.
As I predicted PSR playing a big part for many & the market somewhat deflating.
I don't think the hype clowns at Sky will be happy but looks like the time of crazy inflated fees & giving out massive contracts to older players may be coming to an end in Europe.
Bet you could have got good odds 12 months ago on Big Dom Solanke being the biggest transfer fee of the summer at £65m
Good squad management in a a tough market so hats of to Edu & the team.
As I predicted PSR playing a big part for many & the market somewhat deflating.
I don't think the hype clowns at Sky will be happy but looks like the time of crazy inflated fees & giving out massive contracts to older players may be coming to an end in Europe.
Bet you could have got good odds 12 months ago on Big Dom Solanke being the biggest transfer fee of the summer at £65m
Last edited:
TH14shahriar
A gentle soul
Country: Sweden
Player:Saliba
This Inaki guy needs to feck off. Why's he still around?
Macho
Thinks he's better than Havertz.
Country: England
I felt Edu did a great job. Or atleast half a great job purely on the parts we can see.
The narrative when the summer transfer window started was Edu couldn't sell and he sold his socks off. Very respectable fees for players the majority didn't want here, digging his heels in when the situation looked scary and showing great flexibility when it was called for.
Unfortunately, the incomings were far from inspiring and I am unsure where/who the blame lies with here.
Depending on the answers to the above is what would make me grade Edu a 6/10 window or a 9/10 this window (not that my opinions mean anything you guys know what I mean).
The narrative when the summer transfer window started was Edu couldn't sell and he sold his socks off. Very respectable fees for players the majority didn't want here, digging his heels in when the situation looked scary and showing great flexibility when it was called for.
Unfortunately, the incomings were far from inspiring and I am unsure where/who the blame lies with here.
- Why is Sesko the only CF target in the entire world?
- And why was he not convinced to join?
- Is financial regulations what held us back?
- Why did every established striker minus Toney stay put?
- Did KSE pump the brakes?
Depending on the answers to the above is what would make me grade Edu a 6/10 window or a 9/10 this window (not that my opinions mean anything you guys know what I mean).
