I think its the best decision for ESR, I dont think Arteta is willing to give him ample game time to get back into form, considering were chasing the title and every small margin counts. I wish him the best, its bad luck that his injuries came during this period, and there is a big chance that we will regret selling him. I hope he regains his form and be a great player again.
Saka gets away with murder, he goes missing when kicked. Arteta never subs him. Martinelli is opposite, gets kicked, doubles his efforts, Arteta first choice to sub out - Martinelli? ESR not given a chance by a second rate manager. Selling a decent prem, proven player for £35m then buying Merino, failed Premier player probably same amount. Chuck in the wasted £35M on Vieira.
Hey Charles. There has been a lot of talk about Calafiori coming in to play left back. With the return of Timber and Partey’s injury history/inconsistent play at times last season, do you think that Arteta possibly envisions Calafiori in more of a John Stones type roll as a DM? We have many capable options at LB and with DM covered by an aging Jorginho and Partey I am wondering if this is the intention. Thanks, Tom
Shortly before the ESR to Auba counter attack goal against the team that shall not be named the commentator said something like "Arsenal are not known as a counter attacking team...".
I think selling ESR is the right move for him. But man it will be sad to see him go. I’d liked to have seen a few more players to have left before him though
Charles you absolutely nailed why we love Emil: The shining light in our darkest hour. So sad to see him go. Also agree Fulham will be good next season and hope afc have a buyback/sell on percentage, I think its likely he'll kick on and make good on his promise.
Hi Charles, many reports now say that Aston Villa are demanding at least £40million for Jhon Duran who has been linked with West Ham. Surely if that figure is correct then we should be looking for more than £25million for Nketiah? Eddie has more experience, more goals and has the English tax. What’s your take on this?
Morning Charles. I love ESR and it’s going to be painful to watch him go, but I’m not completely sure that I agree with James when he says that Arsenal could have done better for him. I appreciate that last year he didn’t get as many minutes as he could have, but the year that ESR got injured after taking the league by storm, we nabbed Ø from Real Madrid and he took this club to new heights in that 10 role. He went from loanee to captain in almost one whole season. To give ESR consistent minutes would have meant playing him out of position on the left (where Martinelli had controlled up until 23/24), or in a left 8 role which I think would leave Declan a little too short of defensive help in a midfield 3 with Odegaard. At Fulham, ESR can kick on and be the undisputed 10, and barring any injury setbacks will absolutely smash it at that club!
Good show Charles, hello from Australia, I like how we want to find a reason why we love ESR but sometime you don't need a reason to fall in love and that's why we love saka and ESR for who they are, they are our boys and they will always be a halender
Morning Charles, Do you think Arteta may give academy players more chances this season or a smart loan move perhaps? Otherwise expect to see Cozier-Duberry esque exits to come ( who scored 2 goals on his debut for Brighton ). Even Oscar Bobb, Micah Hamilton & Rico Lewis all have been given opportunities to showcase what they can do alongside most of the regulars at City. Also do you reckon Arteta may wait for other transfers in the market before going out to get those 2 or 3 attacking versatile midfielders seen as a marquee striker won't be brought in this summer. Lastly best ESR moment could be any game against Chelsea, that nut meg on Thiago Silva.
ESR, Saka and Tierney... just came in dark days of Arsenal. Experienced players were not to the level but those youngsters just burned other teams defences....
Sad to see ESR go as I am a big fan of his just like you Charles but at his age he must be playing regularly. Too much talent there to waste on the bench. He helped us through the bad times and many stand out performances. Boxing day against chelsea, away at chelsea under tuchel, west brom away and of course spurs at home 21/22 season
I know it’s early doors Charles, but what is your ‘hot take’ with Arsenal going into 24/25 season? Mine is that I think Timber will become undroppable for us this season!
We’re not trying to recreate last season but elevate to go on and win the PL. They will replace ESR with someone better, who Arteta will give more minutes to , and that’ll be the standard Nwaneri will need to step up too if he is to get game time.
I would keep Kiwior, he will still get minutes. I doubt anyone will offer any decent money and we definently shoudn't be giving him away for cheap. And I would put Zinny in the middle where his defensive lapses wouldn't be as noticable. I wish Arteta would try that just for one game.
Smith-Rowe leaving is sad. But some positives are getting a good fee for him, making that #10 available again, and his career being able to take off better with more minutes elsewhere. Who’s to say he won’t come back one day…
I don't think it's a perfect amount of minutes for Nwaneri. ESRs minutes were pitiful last season. I agree that he does not look out of place. And he really did not look out of face when he came on last season. The kid is composed, strong it deserves time.
It disgusts me that Arteta is willing to sell Emile and then look to buy Merino as a replacement? ffs. Shame because for Arsenal to buy someone of ESR's quality we would have to pay in excess of £80m, yet we will sell for less than half that. We were willing to pay £80m for Mudryk! The manager is the problem, we need a manager that can bring players in, swap squad around, Arteta is not that man.
Wenger bought Ljungberg without watching him play live and convinced by his performance in Sweden’s 2-1 Euro 2000 qualifying victory over England in September 1999...
Find it highly unlikely viera will make it at arsenal. Not often players have two poor seasons , don't break into the team, and then subsequently go on to make it.
If I'm being honest, I'm impressed we've gotten £35 million for him. Reflects well on Edu. If we sell Nketiah for something similar, it'll be one of our better ever selling windows.
With Fabio Vieira, let's not try to pigeonhole Arsenal players into one position. In their Arsenal careers, all these guys have to be able to adapt to multiple roles. I think our system is about exploiting spaces not fixed positions on paper. So I have let go of all my ideas about fixed XIs, and positions. Declan Rice has to be able to play as a CB, Odegaard has to be able to play in deep 6, Saka has to be able to play as a fullback/forward etc.
There’s no point keeping players Arteta have no plan of playing. I think Arteta is stepping it up. Eddie, ESR, Vieira, and Reiss are not to the new standard.
Would you call Merino a step up? Failed at Newcastle, had few good moments (total 14 minutes) in Euro's, and Arteta wants him. We need a Xhaka replacement, ESR is a natural for that Role. We need a step up in manager.
Why so much love for a player that hasn’t made the grade, and the manager won’t play? I love Arsenal, not individual players. They all eventually leave…
I don’t believe Viera is good enough for Arsenal he looks to light weight for the premier league and not quick enough. Nwaneiri is a much better player problem is Viera has no resale value
'Face of the franchise'? Come on Benge. Nice alliteration, but don't describe The Arsenal as a franchise. Pay that 50 quid now 😂 Gutted about Emile by the way 🥹 I hope there is a buy-back clause.
