Can Man City stop Gundogan moving to Arsenal?

For the better part of last week different reports suggested Ilkay Gundogan was a Player Mikel Arteta was eyeing for his side. The fact that the German’s deal at the Etihad expires this summer and he could be free to choose where he wants to play next season made some Gooners believe they could get him.

In light with the belief Gundogan could be swayed to move to the Emirates, Gabby Agbonlahor feels Gundogan won’t be joining Arsenal. The PL pundit argues Man City are wise not to allow their stars to move to Arsenal and making them stronger to cause problems for their league ambitions

Gabby told Football Insider: “I don’t think Man City will ever let a player go to Arsenal again.

“This season, it’s almost cost them the title with Jesus and Zinchenko. They were outstanding.

“I think they’ll learn from their mistakes and know that Arsenal are a true rival.

“If Gundogan is to leave Man City, it’s to go to a different league. I’m not sure he’ll go to another English club.

“I can see him leaving for Spain with Barcelona. And the same goes for Bernardo Silva.”

Arsenal signing Gundogan may be a good deal, but even so I doubt it is a deal Edu and Arteta will want to force, although the fact is that if Gundogan did decide to join Arteta’s side, there is not much Man City can do about it once he is out of contract.

Even so, if they don’t sign him it won’t be a blow to them, as they will still have every chance to bolster the engine room with players who could serve them for years to come.

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Should Arsenal give West Ham these three players to help secure Declan Rice

West Ham is prepared to sell Arsenal target Declan Rice, with several clubs expected to compete with the Gunners for his signature at the end of this season.

The midfielder has been in superb form in English football over the last few seasons and now wants to play in the Champions League.

Arsenal can provide him an opportunity to play in that elite competition and West Ham is now prepared to lose him to the Gunners.

A report on pei online dating reveals the Hammers could demand some Gunners players in exchange for the Englishman.

The report claims Mikel Arteta’s side might have to add Folarin Balogun, Reiss Nelson or Albert Sambi Lokonga to their offer to the Irons.

David Moyes’ side believes these players could make an impact in his squad and are prepared to add any of them to it.

These players are fringe members of our squad, so we should be more than happy to send at least one of them to West Ham.

They could get more game time there than they get at the Emirates at the moment.

As long as the transfer will cost us less money when we add a player in exchange, it is a winning situation.

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Arsenal have spent more money than Man City? Pull the other one!

Is Manchester City’s success down to the money their wealthy owners have been willing to spend over the years? Most of us outsiders think so, but is it so? Man City Chief Ferran Soriano doesn’t think so; he says that it is unfair to claim Manchester City is getting the success they are getting due to overspending, as he feels they haven’t spent much; clubs like Arsenal have spent more than them.

“Look, you only have to look at the investment in players in England in the last year, three years, five years… we are never the club spending the most on players,” Soriano argued while speaking to Spanish outlet Movistar.

“There are many other clubs investing more money than us: Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal.

“Saying that we’ve spent a lot of money and we won because of that is just not true.”

However hard Soriano claims City’s success isn’t about the money, my question to him is, who has the best squad in the PL? To get a squad with such a strong bench, didn’t they spend? One reason that Arsenal failed to win the league is their inferior squad; this summer, they will try to bridge the gap between them and the Cityzens.

Given that only spending big could see Arsenal’s summer window turn out to be a success, you are left to wonder: could City have managed to have the success they’re having without spending?

Man City is probably the best club; for the last few weeks, they’ve proved time and again they are the real deal. At one point this year, they were trailing Arsenal by 8 points, but just out of nowhere, they are now on an 11-game winning streak in the league, and they’re set to beat Arsenal to the league title.

Incredibly, this league title win will be their fifth in six years, but to say they didn’t build that squad by spending zillions is simply not true!

Moggy

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If Saliba doesn’t sign now, Arsenal need to sell him quickly

William Saliba’s future at Arsenal will only stop being discussed at least the day Arsenal ties him to a new deal. The Frenchman is in the last 13 months of his deal at the Emirates. Over the last few months, there’s been talk about contract negotiations between Arsenal and Saliba’s entourage. However, nothing positive has come out of these talks; no progress has been made.

Arsenal are in danger of losing the Frenchman on a free transfer next summer if he doesn’t commit. Arsenal are in a tricky position, but it gets trickier with the reports that, as per RMC, three clubs are keen on Arsenal’s No. 12 and are ready to tempt Arsenal with offers to get him. Saliba has this season established himself as the key to Arsenal’s defence. Without him, the Gunners struggle defensively; no one can play the Saliba role as well as he does. Arteta’s project needs Saliba, and even Arteta knows that.

“We want to keep our best talent,” the Spaniard told reporters (as per Football London, a few weeks ago ahead of his side’s clash with Newcastle. “Especially the players that deserve some recognition. I think he (Saliba) has been incredible since he came back from his loan period, and we want to reward him, that is for sure. We will find the right moment to do that.”

The Arsenal decision-makers should give Saliba what he wants, but if he is intent on leaving then we need to sell as quick as possible (for the best possible price of course) and then we can concentrate on bringing in some top (hopefully better) defenders, as I discussed yesterday.

The sooner this saga is over, the better it will be for Arsenal.

Just my opinion, Gooners!

Moggy

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The facts and stats say Arsenal need to improve their defence and don’t need a top striker

I have never understood why the prevailing suggestions that Arsenal must have a 20+ goal striker next season to be successful. I am of the opinion that having multiple sources of goals within the team is much more important, and that Arsenal has plenty of players who can score goals.

I would argue that Arsenal should prioritize other areas of the team, such as the midfield, fullbacks, and centerbacks, which need more investment to improve the team’s defensive record.

The fact is that Arsenal has scored a decent number of goals this season, with multiple players contributing to the team’s goal tally. The saying goes that the League Table doesn’t lie, and that is telling me that, despite the high-scoring defeats that Man City have been giving to their opponents this season, they have scored only 9 more goals than Arsenal up to now. Plus, for further perspective, the team in third, Newcastle United, have 20 fewer goals than Arsenal!

However, the team has struggled defensively and has conceded more goals than some of its rivals. Again, the table says both Man City and Newcastle have let in 11 goals less than the Gunners, and Chelsea, who are having a nightmare season down in 11th place, have also conceded one goal less than us!

Therefore, I think that Arsenal should focus more on improving its defense, which has been unbelievably poor at home. Other than the relegated sides, only Fulham, Bournemouth and Everton have let in more in home games, which you must admit is a crazy stat for a team that had pretensions of winning the title. So much for Fortress Emirates!

Okay, I would agree that Arsenal could benefit from acquiring a taller striker who is good in the air, to offer something different. However, it seems to me that Arsenal’s style of play under Arteta does not rely heavily on crosses into the box, and therefore a tall multi-goal specialist striker should not be a priority for the Boss, who would rather work with more attacking options from midfield or the wings.

So, it makes sense to me that Arsenal should prioritize improving its defense and investing in other areas of the team this summer rather than splurging on an expensive 20+ goal striker.

I think that Arsenal has more than enough firepower in our current squad and that with some strategic investments in key positions, the team can improve its defensive record and compete at the highest level in the next campaign.

Just my opinion Gooners!

Moggy

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Brighton defeat was depressing, but let’s look at the big picture at Arsenal

Arsenal’s disappointing loss to Brighton has led to a feeling that the team simply can’t handle the pressure of a title race. However, I believe that the gloom and doom surrounding the club is a bit overblown. Yes, it was a disappointing game, but they still finished second in the Premier League, which is a huge improvement from last year.

It is important to remember that this is still a young team that is still learning and growing. They have a lot of potential, and I think they will be even better next season. Arteta has done a good job of building a young, talented squad, and I believe he deserves to be given more time to see his project through.

That being said, there are some areas where Arsenal can improve. One area of concern is the lack of a natural goalscorer up front. Jesus is a good player, but he is not a prolific scorer. Arsenal need someone who can hold the ball up and bring others into play. If they can add a player like that, I think they will be a real force in the Premier League next season.

Another area where Arsenal can improve is their squad depth. They have a good starting XI, but they lack quality depth in some areas. This was evident in the game against Brighton, when Arsenal were forced to make several changes due to injuries. If Arsenal can add some quality depth to their squad, they will be better equipped to deal with injuries and suspensions next season.

The absolute key areas that Arteta must concentrate on is our midfield, and with the constant rumours about Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo, and numerous other top class central performers, we can just about confidently predict that we will be having a very exciting summer transfer window ahead.

Also, although at the beginning of the season most Gooners thought that Saliba and Gabriel were likely to be the strongest defensive pairing in the League, our defensive League record is telling us the exact opposite is true, especially when either of them were out injured and we had to rely on the adequate but uninspring duo of Holding and Kiwior, so it is a must that Arteta concentrates on our back line as well.

But overall, I believe that Arsenal are on the right track. They have a young, talented squad with a lot of potential. With a few key additions, I think they can be a real challenge to Man City in the Premier League next season.

Moggy the Gooner

 

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Are Liverpool going to be a big threat to Arsenal in next season’s title hunt?

For the better part of the season, Arsenal have been the real deal. Prior to this season. For at least the last five seasons, Liverpool and Manchester City have fought for the league title. Though Liverpool have only lifted the league once, twice they’ve missed out on the league title to the Citizens by a point.

This season Liverpool were out of the picture; they’ve been poor most of the season. Arsenal took part in the title race in their. With the Gunners giving the Manchester Blues a run for their money, at one point even being 8 points clear of them.

However, after a poor run in April, Arsenal lost all the favour they had in taking the PL title home. Just like Liverpool failed four other times in the last five seasons, Arsenal will not manage to get the better of City unless something special happens between now and May 28th.

All Arsenal may have to do is take what they learned this season, go in the summer, recruit well, and come next season, find a way to win the title race. While the thought next season is that the battle for the league will be between Arteta and Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp has hinted he is returning his side to the title race conversation. Speaking to the media on Friday (for the clash against Leicester), Klopp described why teams shouldn’t be dismissive of his team next season.

“There are two games a season, maybe with cups three, four, or five, when you play City, Arsenal, and the others,” he said as quoted by the Independent.

“There are five million ways to win a football game; you only have to find one. A successful season is you are ready for all the games, that you can win 25-odd games.

“If City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, Man United are all involved in that 25 then it is even better.

“But it is about: can we create a team who can win the majority of the games? Yes, we can. It was never about what the other teams do.

“We didn’t become champions by a point twice, and there will be some people who say it was because we didn’t have this player in that moment.

“Getting 90-odd points is absolutely insane, pretty special, and no one should take these things for granted.

“The top seven get even closer together, it will be more difficult and more competitive.

“It doesn’t make it easier, but everyone with a good idea has a chance to be part of it. If you are part of the battle up there, then you can win it as well.”

Liverpool have, in recent weeks, found their brilliance. They are on a run of six wins out of six. Many had ruled them out of Champions League football, but if they win the rest of their games and either Newcastle or Manchester United lose two of their remaining games, they’ll finish in the top 4 and play Champions League football.

Liverpool could be a threat next season; should Gooners be scared?

Peter Mac

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My choices for the five players Arsenal need to buy this summer

Arsenal’s Summer Transfer Needs

Arsenal need to sign at least five players this summer:

A right-back
A winger
A central midfielder or defensive midfielder
A center-forward
A left-back

It is obvious that Arsenal need to invest in the transfer market to give us enough options to be challenging on all fronts next season, including at least qualifying out of the Group Stages in the Champions League. Here is the players I would suggest to fill those roles….

Right-back

Mohamed Simakan is a good option for right-back. He is available for €30 million and can also play as a center-back.

Winger

Michael Olise or Leon Bailey would be good options for winger. They are both available for around €25 million.

Central midfielder or defensive midfielder

Arsenal need to sign a central midfielder or defensive midfielder to replace Granit Xhaka. Youri Tielemans is a good option and he is available on a free transfer.

Center-forward

Arsenal need to sign a center-forward who can score goals. Dušan Vlahović, Youssef En-Nesyri, and Aleksandar Mitrović are all good options.

Left-back

Pervis Estupiñan is a good option for left-back. He is available for around €20 million and can also play as a center-back.

Total cost

The total cost of these five players would be around €200 million. However, Arsenal could recoup some of this money by selling players such as Shkodran Mustafi, Pablo Mari, and Lucas Torreira.

With these five signings, Arsenal would have a much stronger squad and would be able to compete with the top teams in the Premier League and Europe.

Moggy the Gooner

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My thoughts after watching Arsenal’s disastrous defeat at home to Brighton

Here are my thoughts after watching Arsenal’s disastrous defeat at home to Brighton

Managerial Concerns

It appears that Mikel Arteta does not have a great deal of faith in his Arsenal squad as a whole. He seems to be certain about the first XI, but after that, he is not sure or confident that the other players can get the job done. This is likely why he has been reluctant to rotate his squad. Of course, none of us can know this for sure, but it is the impression that I get.

Ramsdale

Aaron Ramsdale is the best shot-stopper in the Premier League, and I would not trade him for anyone else. As time goes on, he will cut out the occasional mistake and go on to become a legend for Arsenal.

Partey

It took me a while to start believing in Thomas Partey, but he did have a fine season until recently. For whatever reason, he has gone back to being a bit ponderous and has generally lost form. I hope that he can regain his form soon, as he is a key player for Arsenal.

Diving

Today’s footballers are great athletes, but they do like to “go down” too easily. For example, Gabriel’s collapse in the recent match was unbelievable. He should have stood up and defended the clear and present danger, but he instead chose to go down and appeal for a foul. This type of behavior is disappointing to see, and it needs to stop.

Everton/City

I am not sure that the Everton/City result had anything to do with Arsenal’s performance against Brighton. Everton are a good team, and they were always going to be a tough test for City. Arsenal should have been prepared for this, and they should not have let the result of the other match affect their performance.

Summer Transfers

The right recruitment during the summer will see Arsenal improve as a squad. Contrary to what some people believe, City are not going to dominate forever. Arsenal need to strengthen their squad in order to challenge for the title.

Osimhen

Even if Napoli were willing to sell Victor Osimhen, he would be too expensive for Arsenal. However, Arsenal do need a proper center-forward. An old-school “killer striker” who can score goals would give Arsenal another dimension and keep opposition defenders guessing. At present, Arsenal have excellent tricky players, but they are all similar in their style of play.

Game Management

Arsenal can improve their game management. There is no shame in playing against City or Liverpool with less than expansive football if it means coming away without losing. Arsenal need to be more pragmatic and learn how to win ugly.

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Should Arsenal go for this cut price Southampton defender

When Premier League clubs get relegated, other teams staying in the league always turn to these clubs and consider which players who are too good to be relegated can sign for a bargain.

Saturday evening, Southampton’s 2-0 loss to Fulham confirmed their relegation from the Premier League about 11 years after getting promoted from the Championship. Among the Newcastle squad, there are quality players Arsenal can look at and add to their squad at a bargain. We already discussed James Ward Prowse being considered but in this piece, I’d like to ask if Arsenal will go through with their desire to recruit Kyle Walker-Peters.

Walker-Peters has been linked with a move to the Emirates since last summer. He is a right back, which Arteta has been considering for his right back. At the moment, Ben White is the reliable option for Arsenal’s right-back; Tomiyasu has proven unreliable and has been very injury-prone since he arrived, so signing another backup to White could be a priority.

Arteta may, in the summer, as suggested, go for Walker-Peters, as the Athletic hinted. When they come for him, the former Spurs man will undoubtedly be ready to join, as Alex Crook hinted after interacting with the Saints’ fullback after the loss to Fulham. Crook tweeted: “Just spoken to Kyle Walker-Peters for talkSPORT asked if he felt they had shown enough fight. He said they gave there all but were not good enough. Also backed them to bounce back next season ‘whether I am here or not’.”

Do you think Walker-Peters is worth bringing in as backup if we can get him for a bargain price? He is only 26 years old so would fit Arteta’s criteria…..

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