No one is happy the club didn't sign more players, however as someone who didn't just start supporting the team, I've seen worse - compared to the start of last season, we've effectively strengthened in the GK, defence and midfield positions.

Yes the striking department could be better, and even Wenger admitted that he wanted more goals. I do think there's a shortcoming there but I do not believe it's because the coach didn't 'try' or wasn't willing to sign players.

proudlysports:
If you want a player, you go for him. It's not all the time you wait for player to be available or club to be willing to sell player. Big clubs sometimes need to push hard to get their man.

This is the problem I have with many of you. You conclude we didn't 'push hard' because we didn't get a player we wanted, while in reality we may have pushed as hard as we could but still failed to get that player.

Chelski is a big club right? They 'pushed hard' for Stones offering ridiculous amounts of money but failed. If not that they did their business in the open, y'all wouldn't know about that.

I am convinced we did try to sign players but failed to do so, not because Arsene felt he didn't need any signings, but likely because he couldn't pull off the signings he wanted. Whether he was chasing realistic targets/had fall back options is a different matter.

edi287:

1. Yes they were. Legit sources have carried this story throughout the window...not your typical rumor spewing site like the sun. You think Cavani is content playing on the wing? did zlatan not say he wasn't sure he was going to stay at psg this season. The fact that reputable journos said psg would listen to offers for Cavani is good enough for me.

Reputable journos? Give me a break. Why didn't other clubs desperate for strikers sign them up? Or is Arsenal the only team looking for strikers?

2. Two strikers of theirs scored more than 3 of ours (I didn't even add drogba) what does that tell you? Welbeck started more games than remy, That was also Costa's first season. So no excuse for that. Oh yeah and lets forget that costa was struggling with his hamstring injury all season. So yes I don't see Giroud or Welbeck outscoring him. Cech signing will not cyre Giroud of his imbe nature.

I didn't add Sanchez who more than held his own in scoring stats in his debut season as well. Oh yeah let's forget that Giroud missed nearly 3 months of the season too, or that it was WELBZ first season.

3. Because they added the best midfielder in the bundesliga last season and arguably the best defender in the la liga last season. Oh yeah and Sterling has added a different dimension to their front line. There's also Delph as well. Thats why they're top of the table with no goals conceded so far. The addition of de bruyne and otamendi will only make them stronger.

Signing KDB and Otamendi has nothing to do with their league position as those guys haven't kicked a ball, so signings are NOT why they are top of the table. In terms of players on the field and points so far, Citeh have secured what they have with only Sterling as an addition, no different in numbers to our addition of Cech.

I don't dispute they've strengthened, but they've also sold players too - we haven't sold anyone except Diaby. Arteta will be LANS and Joel Campbell is back in the fold - he's also LANS Debuchy missed virtually the whole season. . . .I could go on.

4. Yes we will see come May. But its an open secret that this team will come no higher than 3rd and get knocked out in the second round of the champs league after a "spirited attempt" at trying to overturn a home defeat.

Yeah, Chelski spent all that money and got knocked out of the CL too. Citeh spent all the money and ended up trophyless last time round. Arsenal won a cup. I'm not delighted at the lack of signings, but I'm not despondent like you that's for sure.

Can this team win the title? If folk haven't written Chelski off then yes it can.

edi287:

1. Yes he did. Check his interview on BEIN sports. We have 200m to spend. Yes the transfer market is crazy, but thats just how it is. I don't think 50m for benzema or Cavani is that bad or that much of a gamble. Both are world class strikers.

You're not listening. . . .who said Benzema and Cavani were available for 50m? Who said the clubs would sell or the players would want to come? Do you think simply having money to spend means players will join? Or are you now the official agent for Benzema and Cavani?

2. Diego costa scored 20 in 26, Giroud 16 in 27, Welbeck 4 in 25 and walcott 5 in 14. Oh yeah Remy got 7 in 21. Lets not also forget that this pipe giroud has not scored more than 16 in the league since he signed for us which is disgraceful considering the midfield we have.

16 +5+4 = 25
20+7 = 27

Considering Walcott was out for most of the season and Welbeck was just adjusting to the team, is it unrealistic to expect them to bridge a mere 2 goal gap, especially with the anticipated improvement in defence due to Saint Petr's addition?

3. Yes 2 seasons are not the same hence why chelsea (who finished 12 points ahead of us) and city have added new players.City are now FAR stronger than we are and are rightly top of the league. Our start to the season is almost similar to that of last season (infact its even worse) so yes its right not to expect anything better. 95 percent of the first team is fit, so no excuses of injury. The socalled cohesion which was suppose to be our trump card is no where to be found.

Cool your jets - what makes City 'FAR stronger'? In the games played so far the only addition they've fielded is Sterling, so they've effectively played the same squad as last season, yet results are coming in. That again shows that it's not strictly about signings, even though they have made signings. So why can't our own results improve as well?

Fact is the good run we had at the end of the season is the best this team can do....and that is clearly not good enough to win the league.

There's no fact in what you've stated - it's purely an opinion. We will find out the truth in May.

coogar:
even if wenger didn't sign anyone......i'm just happy debosky is still alive.

Being alive is the most important thing bro!

Devil's advocate time!

edi287:
It has truly dawned on me that Wenger is not a serious manager and has no intention of even winning the league.
So this mugu wants us to believe there wasn't any upgrades on Giroud and Coq that was available throughout this window?

Did he say they weren't available? Not that I am aware of, so you're reaching here. Secondly being 'available' isn't the same as wanting to sign for your club or being able to agree terms/fees. Other clubs are available and the factors may not always line up to result in a transfer - bear that in mind.

This mugu HONESTLY believes he can win the league with Giroud, Welbeck and Walcott??

With due respect, how large was the margin between output of those players and those at Chelski last season? Even if it's not

Shows you how arrogant he really is to think that a team which finished 12 points behind chelsea last season is good enough to win the league against IMPROVED opposition.

No two seasons are the same - the much vaunted Chelski are struggling more than us at the minute despite signings, others who have spent 100m and more are not much better. It would be good to get signings no doubt but clearly others have bought and haven't quite hit the heights either.

proudlysports:


You're still hoping?

Arsene will tell you how Wilshere and Welbeck are like new signings tomorrow

But they are. . . .both didn't play that much footie last season.

I'll be glad to see WELBZ back for sure, that boy knows how to score goals even if he's not scored as many as we'd have liked.

Spy360:
If AW thinks this is the squad that will win the title this season, then he has confirmed himself to be the chief clown of Clown FC.

See frustration. . . are you a recent Arsenal fan or don't you know how our transfer windows go?

No manager can say this is the squad that will win, but we do know those that realistically attempt to put together a squad capable of winning. Arsene isn't one of them.

Pataki:
PatakiSports reported to you some weeks back that Arsenal is busy to bring in at least two quality additions; while the likes of debosky doubted the credibility of our sources, we at PatakiSports have remained consistent in our Arsenal news reportage.

Consistent in reporting nada.

Stop getting hopes up for nothing. . . .Wenger went to Paris to say hello to Hollande. No signings involved.

£36m for a 19 year old with no EPL experience? Now that Sterling deal looks reasonable at £49m for someone with EPL experience.

Manchester seems to be money-miss-road central this summer.

So odd to be this close to the window and no sorrows about who has left or who we've been forced to sell. . . .I guess that's a positive.

The negative is that we haven't signed as many desired, but hey. . . .still an improvement overall.

Wait, so after saying y'all aren't going to sell DDG you are going ahead to do so?

Useless bunch.

^^ But you know that will never happen. . . .all players being fit? that was a joke right?

Benzema was never on the cards, dunno why y'all felt that was a realistic option/choice? A club with only one main striker would now sell him to us at a time when strikers are scarce?

We are in big trouble if we don't start getting goals from somewhere or the other. . . I've got zero confidence of signing players so hopefully we get WELBZ back after the international break to provide a credible alternative to Giroud.

Chelski fans na wa oh. . . .so now RLC is better than Pogba?

Make una fear God small.

proudlysports:


I don't want to give Arsenal fans heartache this transfer season. I will wait till I get 99.99% confirmation from my sources before calling any name. It's likely to be someone already in the English league (note: not necessarily premier league)


Martial to United almost done though. Unless someone hijacks it again

So you sef dey fall for that Charlie Austin nonsense?

You for kuku suggest we're trying to re-sign Benik Afobe to address the striker issues while you're at it.

20 pages in one day because y'all lost one game?

scumtwats are the best.

Mahrez is average - he was frustrating last season and is actually a midfielder. I'd watch him to see how long he sustains his form before saying more.

Giroud appears too comfortable - he likes to do the exceptional but doesn't seem to do well with basic finishes. That's my main issue with him.

I agree with 'enjoying' the victory, as much as a 1-0 victory via own goal can be enjoyed, but not with the rest.

Coquelin the best according to who? You? What happens if he gets crocked/suspended as is bound to happen? Can't we get a decent deputy?

Secondly, we don't need an 'exceptional' striker in my view - we need someone who can credibly provide the same attributes as Giroud to increase competition in that spot. Walcott doesn't and should be a winger, Welbeck's injuries/goal record aren't that encouraging.

^^ Opinions are what make football go round.

However, if I want goals? Walcott any day. . .Ox has the potential to have a more complete all round game, but it's too early to tell.

For tonight, I think we need to start with lots of pace - set Walcott and Alexis against the young fullbacks of Liverpool and play Ozil right behind Giroud.

For this game Rambo should be on the bench with Coq and Santi in midfield - the defence picks itself Nacho, Kos, Per and Hector, with Cech in goal.

If the second half gets dicey throw on Rambo and Ox to bring additional energy and pace at them.

I think we'll win this comfortably, but again nothing in football is quite predictable.

Afternoon folks. . .just dropping by.

I don't think Arsenal is going to sign any players before the end of this window - that's my gut feel.

Y'all can forget about Benzema - Ballague has said it's not happening.

All the other alleged targets are speculation, even though patakisports says otherwise.

Wingers - we aren't getting any wingers with Theo and Ox warming the bench as we speak, not to mention Alexis or even Joel Campbell who may remain. Worth remembering both Ox and Theo barely played last season. . . .Wenger won't bring anyone in ahead of them not after giving Theo a new deal.

Defenders - no defenders when we have 4 fit CBs, 2 fit LBs and 2 fit RBs, so that's more or less settled. GK - you know the story.

Midfielders (defensive) - unlikely to see any additions; Arteta is fit, so is Coq, not to mention the Flamster is still on the books.

Midfielders (attacking) - virtually no chance here - Rambo is fit, Ox can potentially play there, Wilshere's injury isn't lengthy, Ozil looks on form. Rozzi though injured still has his one year deal to run out.

Attack - this is where a signing may still be possible, but it won't be Benzema . Giroud remains #1, Welbeck is the main back up (hopefully comes back soon after the international break), with Walcott having some delusions of being a striker. Lacazette anyone? Or would 2 Girouds be too much for y'all to handle?

That's my thinking at the moment, but as always you never know till the window actually closes.

raumdeuter:


Bookmarked already

You sef know say na March be una bus stop in all competition useless team. Thank you small for silencing that gutter mouth anyway

DK padi mi how far?

Did the FA Cup finish in March in 2014 or 2015? Just a simple kweshun oh.

The king of parking the bus saying Wenger had 10 men behind the ball?

Sore loser.

Good win. . . I didn't watch the game but will catch up on highlights later on.

Meanwhile where is that girl torres? Make she come shake yansh for us on this thread.

Ibime:


Thunder fire Emenalo.

Some things never change.

I think Debuchy will start this one - Bellerin will be kept on the bench. Expect to see a full squad plus one youth player - maybe Iwobi or Rene.

netotse:

boss...this one that you are posting here, what changed?

Just briefly visiting bro. . . hope you're doing good.

pickabeau1:


Your first statement sounds contradictory

You say I have nothing to fear yet you say its all on me if I am unfortunate to get a wealth plunderer who uses laws to extract my wealth

That is why I have to fear

No you don't - what you pick is what you get, just as with anything else in life. Don't choose a money-grabbing pillager and expect a homely wife to emerge. It's really that simple.

Men have little to fear really. . . .if you marry a rapacious plague who just wants to extract value from you, it's all on you bro.

Besides, I don't buy all of this 'women holding all the cards' business. Whether or not men admit it, married or divorced or otherwise, women do carry out majority of the parental responsibility so why won't the person who takes care of the kids more get custody more often than not?

Men, in general, earn more, and have become socialised to think they 'should' earn more than their wives - with all the negative effects of women being paid less than men even when doing the same jobs etc.

The reality most men need to face is that there is nothing inherently higher earning about men - at least for most people not involved in physical exertion to earn a living. Your wife earning more/paying a bigger share of bills doesn't necessarily make you less of a 'man' - it's all dependent on your spouse.

If your ego can't handle it, do as TV said and marry a lower paid/lower potential woman, preferably not the type that will leave you and take your hard earned money.

. . . .the toilet?

I hear say the preseason food dey run belle.

pickabeau1:
Deborah stop crapping there
I wonder why you call my name

Because you are always miserable - win or lose.

Even when the team won, you had to be sarcastic in saying 'Wenger till 2035' and personalised the win to Arsene. . . .wholly unnecessary in my view.

Having one or two issues against Wenger now means I am not a fan?

No, but when you can't even make a statement without mentioning Wenger it is a problem bordering on obsession. This goes both ways - positive obsession and negative obsession like yours.

Soon you lot will start moaning when the inevitable injuries crop up

So you're warming up with your own moaning so you can say 'I told you so' no?

Stop Brown nosing wengers arsè

Even when I didn't mention Arsene in my initial post how many times did you mention the name in yours? Obsession I say.