One thing is that I won't club Auba with others, he was good for most of his time,last few months doesn't change that. And secondly we have made a choice to remain with a thin squad. Hopefully everyone remains fit but it hasn't been that season for us till now. Which makes this window stand out more
What I don’t understand is though we’re clearly waiting for the perfect player (or close enough to it) so why did we even bid for Watkins and then just move on from it so quickly? We’re clearly not gonna go back for him in the summer, just a strange window imo
The summer was the mistake. I actually don’t blame them not spending this January. Hopefully it’s a lesson learned for the new DOF and we can have a good summer
The priority signing now is a Sporting Director. With the amount of work we have to now do in the summer, this can’t wait so we can make sure we get our targets this time
I feel that the mistake of needing a reserve keeper and then wasting a loan spot with a reserve keeper is now something that all clubs will learn from. It shall henceforth be know as “The Neto Paradox”
If Nwaneri hadn’t scored that goal I would be way more sad about this window. But now I feel like he can actually start a lot of games, so him and Saka coming back, both LANS.
Trossard needs to rotate more into centre forward, I think that's the headline. Martinelli back to the left, Nwaneri starting on the right. It's the only option to not kill Havertz.
I wonder if the Watkins story was initiated from the Villa side of things to push for the Dhuran sale and maximise the Saudi transfer fee without any intention of selling him to us. "Sign him quick for what we want or we'll keep him and sell Watkins to Arsenal".
By the way, I've been an avid reader, listener to your blogs/casts for many years, just want to say thanks. Now that content/ragebait/££ trumps facts, it's nice to have people like you staying true to themselves. It was fun explaining to my young daughter what the "arseblog" app was on my phone 😂
Too many fans want signings just for the sake of a signing. We need someone of genuine quality, not an overpriced panic buy. Realistically, no-one was available.
Nobody is advocating for an an over-priced panic buy, but we didn’t get either of our long term targets and failed to address areas of immediate need. Hard to see the window as anything other than a failure and a massive risk
There was not a single transfer from January that we should've done. Someone who is:
-Good enough to help immediately.
-Cheap enough to not hurt our future signings
-Willing to come to Arsenal to be our 4th/5th attacker.
-Club willing to sell/loan to Arsenal.
I don’t believe there is no one out there that can contribute. We beat City 5-1, but we also failed to score against Everton at home a few weeks ago, and have scored one or fewer in like 15 games already. Might be hard to find but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible or not their job to find someone
I’m not saying they didn’t look - I’m sure they did. Doesn’t mean anyone is going to sell though. Look at Watkins - Villa were never going to sell him unless we paid stupid money. I want a top quality striker too - but if we’re going to spend £70m+ it needs to be on the right guy, not just any guy
I don’t think we needed a top quality striker, I think we needed some depth to come on if Kai is having an off day or play the last 20 so he can get some rest of we’re winning. Like was Mateta available, even Welbeck? Bring Nketiah back on loan? Something creative to provide some cover for Kai
It was pleasing to see Saka on the pitch after yesterdays game. It may be too late in the season but with Nwaneri looking composed on the right could Saka move central ? Genuine question, could he ? Before we question whether he should.
Gutted - hope we don’t regret it !
Clearly they’re thinking Saka back end of the month and Ethan looking sharp but we’re one more injury away from problems 🤞
Good piece but pls can we drop the 'loads of left backs' thing - MLS' doing a great job but he's actually a MF - Kiwior/Timber aren't LBs; Tomi can play LB but ALWAYS injured; Tierney's a proper LB but hardly plays; Cala's defending is suspect, IMO he's more a MF - the same with Zin but x 1,000%
There is no guarantee that the much coveted summer signing will arrive. Last summer the point in case. The inactivity this window is bordering on negligence and is a very disappointing sign of the lack of ambition from the club.
I haven't much confidence we'll get it right in the summer either. Waste time trying to to get Isaak, end up not getting him then panicking looking for an alternative, or put out the excuse of needing to offload players before bring the main targets in. Big contract renewals need doing too
Another aspect of a poor summer window is the academy level attacking prospects can’t go on loan and develop because we need them for bench fill ins incase of another injury…. Not good
People also forgetting that Sociedad probably won't accept 50p, some shirt buttons and a chomp bar (over 5 instalments) for Zubimendi, who is going to be an essential signing when Partey & Jorginho are out of contract this summer
Comments
You should have bought a back up during the window, very Kroenke of you.
-Good enough to help immediately.
-Cheap enough to not hurt our future signings
-Willing to come to Arsenal to be our 4th/5th attacker.
-Club willing to sell/loan to Arsenal.
That player didn't exist this window.
Clearly they’re thinking Saka back end of the month and Ethan looking sharp but we’re one more injury away from problems 🤞
LW: Trossard/Martinelli;
ST: Havertz/Trossard;
RW: Martinelli/Nwaneri/.../Sterling
With the Watkins bid put in at least the fans now know there should be about £100,000,000 available for a striker in the summer + another signing.