By Sir Hardly An’yoné
I have discovered that some silly people have taken to laughing at my name, and so I have decided to change it by adding an apostrophe and an accent. Please take note. It is now pronounced An Yo Ney.
Now the news.
1: Arsène Wenger is pushing forward with an overhaul of his attacking options
This is the Telegraph’s take on the situation, which takes in the departure of Alexis, Mesut Özil, Lucas Pérez, and Oliver Giroud but sees the arrival of Kylian Mbappé, Alexandre Lacazette and Thomas Lemar still being worked on.
Their view is that “There is now little hope of Alexis Sánchez agreeing a new contract” and so all the energy is going into building a new forward line. Lacazette can play on the wing or at centre forward and has scored 91 goals in his last three seasons for Lyon, so is seen as a “direct replacement for Alexis.
While some reports reduce Arsenal’s potential in signing the likes of Mbappé because of the lack of the Champs League next season, others are making it more likely that he will come as he will immediately slot into the first team and not play a bit part as he might at Real Mad.
Lemar is 21, a French international and scored 19 goals from left midfield last season for the champions in France.
Mind you the credibility of the Telegraph on such matters is somewhat reduced when they speak of Gibbs, saying that because of Arsenal’s finances Gibbs does not have to be sold but Mr Wenger “does not want to add to the overall numbers.”
2: What happens to Giroud
According to Le10 Sport Lyon will only sell Lacazette if they have Giroud as part of the deal. But there are others who are after him as well – most notably those swashbuckling dare devils from way out east, West Ham.
It is reported Giroud wants to stay in the Premier League, although how anyone knows that is not revealed, and the idea is that WHAM could really test Giroud by making him run all round their overlarge pitch, not to mention the very long stroll from the dressing rooms to the grass.
The Evening Standard say that Giroud could be a key part of the State Aiders summer rebuilding job.
3: Extending the contract
According to the Telegraph Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be doing exactly this.
4: Changing the structure
The Telegraph also says a ” new football operations position is being created” at the Arsenal. Talks are continuing with other members of staff, Mr Wenger having already agreed the plan. The emphasis is supposedly on “operations” not on “director of football,” but quite what the new person will do, no one is sure. Or if they are they are not saying.
How is Lacazette a direct replacement for Sanchez?
Sanchez is clearly world class whereas Lacazette is behind Giroud (who we are constantly reminded is not world class) in the pecking order for international selection by the French manager. The conclusion being that Deschamps at least considers Giroud superior to Lacazette, whom we are being told will cost £60 million.
Lacazette is obviously a good striker but we are in danger of building him up into something he probably isn’t. He is 28 now yet has never interested any of the big clubs as far as I know and there must be a reason for that.
MickHazel
I was thinking just the same thing.
I am resigned to losing Sanchez and he will need replacing, but Lacazette?
Overpriced and probably over rated. Certainly not a like for like replacement for Sanchez.
Similarly, as seems to always be the way with Arsenal players, both Sanchez and Giroud are under priced, and in Girouds case also massively underrated. (Yet we are supposed to believe that Deli Ali is valued at over £150 Million. Laughable).
I would be gutted if we lost Giroud as well.
This is the same Telegraph that described Dier as the “English Busquests”?
To be fair to these hack-dwarves managing to type whilst being high on LSD is an achievement. Of sorts. Alan Partdrige must be prod of his progeny: The Wally Olly, Vampire Lawerence and King Henry the Fool.
These hack dwarves and blaggers and gallant and selfless podcastateers:
they are a shambles.
I agree, MickHazel.
Lacazette would not be an upgrade on Giroud and I hope we will dodge that bullet. In ideal scenario, we’d keep Giroud as our back-up striker (safe 12 goals from the bench), keep Alexis & Ozil and get Mbappe & a central midfielder who would help us to forget Santi.
Speaking of the next season, we open it v Chelsea in CS. When we win that trophy, we have Leicester (H) and two away games (Stoke, Liverpool) in August.
Let’s get prepared for those opening games and let’s not spill points against teams that should be looking our back. That’s why our team should be both completed before the season starts and kept injury-free.
Our February schedule is full of big games. If we are top of the league by the end of February, we will win the league come May.
This season will have a hectic schedule due to World Cup 2018, especially with at least six Sunday matches for us after European matches and knowing there is an extra knockout-round in EL comparing to CL (Round of 32).
There shouldn’t be any issues with Giroud. He plays well from the bench and consequently avoids injury and is still a first choice for France. Does it get any better for him? Can’t see him going to West Ham either.
Thought Mbappe looked really good last night, although he was playing against the worst England defence I’ve seen this millenium (including the last Euro).
I think should strive by all means this summer to sign a second to Alexis Sanchez world class striker/winger for next season’s campaign. Those who have been mentioned in the media and are said to be nearly world class one if whom could be signed by Arsenal are: Aubameyang(nearly wc), Harry Kane(nearly wc), Diego Coasta(nearly wc) and Kylian Mbappe(could become wc).
With the Arsenal’s three opening PL matches of the 2017-18 season campaign looking to be tough to overcome – Leicester H, Stoke A and Liverpool A. Arsenal should not start their next season’s PL campaign as business as usual when they have been losing their opening day PL matches at the Ems in past two consecutive seasons to West Ham and Liverpool to begin their campaign on the back foot.
Leicester could prove tough to beat. Therefore, Le Prof and the Gunners MUST start their opening day PL match at the Ems against Leicester with a convincing home win. And not only that, an Arsenal’s away win against Stoke City is compelling and Arsenal MUST make this win compelling on Stoke City with a convincing away win.. A good beginning can lead to a good end for Arsenal in their PL campaign next season if they beat Liverpool at Anfield to the collection of all points to start their 2017-18 PL season on a front foot with three consecutive wins which could ultimately culminating in seeing Arsenal go on a very long PL games winning run that will surpassed their 13 Premier League games winning run record in a single season that they set which Chelsea attempted to break last season but could only equalled it.
In fact, if Le Prof will sign that one world class striker or nearly to be one for the reason he not yet world class because he hasn’t won the world cup or a regional tourney. And keep Sanchez whose goalscoring efforts for Arsenal will be supplemented by the new world class striker with his own contributions of much goalscoring and assist, Arsenal can finish the PL next season’s campaign unbeaten again.
I think Arsenal should strive by all means this summer to sign a second to Alexis Sanchez world class striker/winger for next season’s PL campaign. Those who have been mentioned in the media and are said to be nearly world class one of whom could be signed by Arsenal are: Aubameyang(nearly wc), Harry Kane(nearly wc), Diego Coasta(nearly wc) and Kylian Mbappe(could become wc).
With the Arsenal’s three opening PL matches of the 2017-18 season campaign looking to be tough to overcome – Leicester H, Stoke A and Liverpool A. Arsenal should not start their next season’s PL campaign as business as usual when they have been losing their opening day PL matches at the Ems in the past two consecutive seasons to West Ham and Liverpool to begin their campaign on the back foot.
Leicester could prove tough to beat. Therefore, Le Prof and the Gunners MUST start their opening day PL match at the Ems against Leicester with a convincing home win. And not only that, an Arsenal’s away win against Stoke City is compelling and Arsenal MUST make this win to be compelling on Stoke City with a convincing away win.. A good beginning can lead to a good end for Arsenal in their PL campaign next season if they beat Liverpool at Anfield to the collection of all points to start their 2017-18 PL season campaign on a front foot with three consecutive wins which could ultimately culminating in seeing Arsenal go on a very long PL games winning run that will surpassed their 13 Premier League games winning run record in a single season that they set which Chelsea attempted to break last season but can only equalled it.
In fact, if Le Prof will sign that one world class striker or nearly to be one for the reason he’s not yet one because he hasn’t won the world cup or a regional tourney. And keep Sanchez whose goalscoring efforts for Arsenal will be supplemented by the new world class striker with his own contributions of much goalscoring and assist, Arsenal can finish their PL next season’s campaign unbeaten again.
Sorry Mr Tony for my double posting my comment which is against the rules of the house. I had to double post it after seeing the errors I made in my early comment when I read it and had to correct them. Thanks.
If Alexis goes, we will have Giroud, who will be better this coming season.
He has found his mojo and is playing more relaxed.
Yet there is still time to get another striker, which will cause some decisions for Giroud depending on who it is, as he wants to play more, which he should too.
I want AW to get the players he wants and to take Arsenal into next season the way he imagines it, keeping the squad together as best as possible.
Then we can look forward to a good season.