Use this thread for general daily football discussion.

This thread can also be used to discuss Transfer rumours and to post Tier 4 sources.

As this may fill up please sort by new to try and avoid constantly repeating the same question.

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  • 44cprs@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    I think our squad is at a point where it’s not that easy to improve it with transfers.

    If we had budget for another big player, I’d probably go for midfield. I think it would be waste of money for anyone up front. No one available for less than 120M cracks our front three, and no one available for less than 80M is an obvious improvement on our depth: Nketiah, Trossard, Havertz.

    Backline is solid. Following the City model, if a versatile ball-playing center back is available, that might be a nice pick up. But with Timber coming back and what we have, we’re very solid.

    Midfield has some opportunity for improvement. Maybe another try at the left 8, since Havertz is not exactly working out there. If I had budget for a big player, that’s where I’d put it.

    • e1_duder@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Knowing Arteta, an athletic defender who used to play midfield is always in the cards.

      no one available for less than 80M is an obvious improvement on our depth

      This is the fundamental problem with guys like Reiss, ESR, and Eddie. Renewing is the significantly cheaper option when compared to trying to find a player of similar quality, or better, on the market. The problem is that it results in players that the manager doesn’t really want to play. It’s part of the reason why we are where we are with the depth on the RW.

      No accounting for shrewd recruiting though. Trossard stands out as the obvious counter-example. He was on the outs with De Zerbi with limited time on his contract. Those circumstances aren’t always common, but also aren’t necessarily rare.

      All the reporting points towards a quiet January, but I won’t be surprised if some outgoings fund a move.

    • Purple_Rub_8007@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      You say that but we don’t have a world class striker or 8, I think we can get a top class winger who can play on both wings such as Sane, if we can also get a LB/RB who’s world class like Cancelo when his loan expires.

  • 3500fp@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    Xhaka losing the ball under pressure and giving away a penalty again, but we’ll still have people on the sub act like he was the answer to world peace

    • varro-reatinus@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Allegedly they were offering €20M, and maintained their interest through the summer, but we were asking €35m.

      Arteta is wise.

  • beetletoman@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    Anything below 4-0 on Saturday will not do gracias why do Villa and Newcastle get to go crazy every few weeks 😤

    • Special-Discount228@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Villa - no one gives them enough respect in the way they set up.

      Newcastle - they’re always in fuck it mode and just shoot from anywhere and often.

      Us - “let’s see how nail biting we can make every game”

      • qtdsswk@alien.topB
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        11 months ago

        Really nervous about the Villa away game tbh. Watkins/Bailey/Diaby are no jokes when hit you on the counter. McGinn/Luiz/Kamara/Cash can run for days to press you and steal the balls. Won’t be an easy game for sure.

    • m3rple@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      If we aren’t getting an out and out goal fest then I’d be happy with a strong performance from some of the players that need a lift in confidence. A goal creating action from each of Ode, Eddie, Kai and Zinny. Then one each for Fabio, Reiss and The Smith. I’d settle for that…

  • epicledditaccount@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    Going back to England to visit family in February and thought I might stop by the Emirates while I’m over, how difficult/easy is it to get tickets these days? Haven’t been in years

    • junkgarage@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Believe it or not it’s a nightmare now because we’re good. Was piss easy when Emery was in charge mind.

    • yusufila@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Ah nice! I heard they play quite good football these days, I think that makes it difficult to acquire a ticket.

      But that difficulty really depends on your disposable income :)

  • do0gla5@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    Does anyone remember when partey was a RB and Gabriel wasn’t starting?

    Feels like ages ago.

  • basedsims@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    I’m playing the new FM early access and I’m 10 points clear of City by the new year.

    The only problem is that for some reason United are above me. I demand the head for whoever is responsible for submitting their players stats.

      • basedsims@alien.topB
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        11 months ago

        They’ve even got ten Hag with amazing stats despite the fact he is one of the most mediocre managers I’ve ever seen, completely absurd

    • hafrances@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      I won the league with 103 points lol. City got 100. Beat them 7-2 to win it. This year’s FM is easy when you play with a world class inverted wb.

  • aesn1394@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    I’m not really sure what Artetas plans are with Rice. Does he see him as a 6, LCM, progressive 8? The main reason it’s confusing is also the players he’d want to bring into the club to play alongside Rice in midfield, like Zubimendi or Tchouameni. Both of them are deep lying and ball carying DM’s. That leaves Rice as the 8.

    • sekiroisart@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      the thing is because of rice skill set which is running with the ball forward, arteta seems to now fully use him as no 8 compared to few first few appearances where he played as no 6

      • jackulatorstrikes@alien.topB
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        11 months ago

        He played him 8 in his first true competitive game. Then a 6 that becomes an 8. Then mainly a 6 and now more recently an 8 again.

        I think he’s just a super talented midfielder that can do different things in different games.

    • BalticKnight3000@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Rice is actually great as an 8. He can carry the ball well, he’s decent at passing and can score too. He would need time to properly settle into the position but everything is there (in him) to find success.

      Although it’s quite clear originally Mikel wanted Kai as LCM and Rice as CDM (forced Partey as RB) but it didn’t work out at all. At least he’s not foolishly stubborn and seems to have changed his approach.

    • depressingmirror2@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      I think you should wait until we’re actually signing these players before getting confused by artetas plans for them. More likely than not it’s all bullshit anyway.

      It’s pretty clear at this point that his plans for rice are mainly putting him on the pitch. But it could be that he doesn’t trust him in possession at the base of midfield against teams where possession may be harder to come by. Or it could just be that he likes Jorginho.

  • haha_suh_dude@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    Playing FM24 as The Arsenal and hate doing staffing stuff so saw we had a vacancy for under 21s coach- tell me how Edu and co hired Lee Cattermole ffs

    • Le-ChosenOne@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Man are on 3 points after 3 games in the UCL, single handedly bringing the coefficients down and are talking about other clubs getting exposed 💀

    • Ok_Virus_7614@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      I can admit I find Trey hilarious when he’s talking about other Big 6 teams not named Arsenal.

      But I don’t mind twitter banter

      • datguyakala@alien.topB
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        11 months ago

        I don’t mind it either. Though I do feel as if my brain is rotting if I’m on there for longer than 5 minutes… the general level of discourse on football Twitter is secondary school esque.

        That and the engagement whores.

      • Ife2105@alien.topB
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        11 months ago

        Every week before an Arsenal game I hope he makes fun of us because that usually means we’ll end up winning

  • JoshyRanchy@alien.topB
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    11 months ago

    Market value of the following, what are your estimates

    Eddie. 20m

    Tomi 25m

    Zinny 20m

    Partey. 28m

    Viera. 12m

    Nelson. 11m

    • e1_duder@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Not surprising. It’s also further evidence in my continuing - yet entirely unproven - conspiracy that we lend senior players to clubs where there is a recruitment target.

      Zubi is likely a summer target, if the interest still remains.

    • Insertnicenamehere@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      While Mo does have some sources, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal are interested him. Doesn’t mean he wants to leave Real Sociedad.

    • shockzz123@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      And Kubo. I’ll take either of them let alone both, but doubt it’s reliable.

      Speaking of, i saw another twitter rumour that we’ve made Tchouameni our number one summer target. Lol. Lmao even.

    • cesc05651@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      I think raya’s biggest issue is adjusting to the limelight. We will know pretty quickly if he can stick or twist

    • Kensei400@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      Arteta must be a genius if we are actually getting away with two bad goalkeepers.

    • MSAndrew07@alien.topB
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      11 months ago

      It’s not exactly the same though. My frustrations with both are exactly the opposite - Havertz is too safe, not taking risks with shooting or some tricky passes enough, while Raya is the opposite - he is taking too much risk, and it can be a lot more costly for us if he is to make them compared to Kai.