(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread

He's a promising Portugese midfielder. Tall and strong, the heir to Busquets Barca DM throne. Didn't have a good season last year apparently but a bad season for Barcelona at age 24 in CM doesn't mean he's done for by any stretch. More Viera mould than Torreira. Not sure which I'd prefer TBF. I wonder if it's Arsenal playing hardball woth Torreira's agent to get the deal done.

We're still being linked with Nzonzi as well.

I think we'll end up with one new midfielder only, probably Torreira.

And probably the Turkish kid at CB, but that has been dragging, and he's not at the world cup so not sure why, could potentially fall through.

After those signings I think that will be it, departures only.

Ok so Arseblog is quoting Sokratis as saying this (translated from Greek):

"I am an old fashioned defender. I want my team to concede zero goals. I want the opposition striker to go home crying for his mummy. I want to leave him on the floor, rip open his belly and feast on his gizzards, then kiss his wife with my bloody mouth. I hope I can bring this to Arsenal and the Premier League."

I assumed it was a joke, but the responses to the tweet seem to verify it!

That has to be a joke from Sokratis if it's a correct translatation. Either way I'm fond of him already <3

Arseblog often puts their own 'flourishes' on news stories.

Personally I'd still be surprised to see Ramsey sign a contract, and I think we'll sell him just before the season starts. 

I don't think it was an arseblog flourish, he was tweeting someone else's image/quote.

The responses had a few greek speakers saying the translation was accurate. Cracked me up.

Correct me if I'm wrong  but is Danny Welbeck the last Arsenal player left at the World Cup? Who would've thought...

And lets hope he does not get any more game time.

Correct, although we still have an interest in Uruguay if we get our man...

Nah it definitely was an arseblog flourish

i'd be happy with Torreira, seems to have heart and fight. Another good centre back and a winger would be nice

Is iwobi the new ox/theo? 

Torreira's Dad on tv suggests that the deal is done. He'll be at Arsenal for his medical straight after Uruguay are done at the World Cup.

https://twitter.com/MrArsenicTM/status/10147207159...

Theo, despite lacking the same natural skill, was twice the player Ox ever was imo. Ox still has time, though. Theo can be very effective when used right.

Would be very happy with Torreira from what I've seen; he's played a very solid role for Uruguay. Haven't seen much from him on the ball, but off the ball he's been very good. 

Sokratis is not a good passer, and Torreira isn't reallly a "Santi", so it will be interesting to see how we move the ball from the back.

I agree Valeo.

Since 2009 Walcott's made 267 appearances, scoring 77 goals and assisting 44 goals.

That's 0.45 goal scoring contributions per game, nothing to shake a stick at.

My only complaint is that over the last 9 years he's only averaged 29 appearances a season across all club and international formats.

His career went backwards when he became obssessed with becoming the new Henry. If he'd continued to play as a winger who got in behind for cut backs/goals he'd have had an even higher ratio and would probably still be with us.

Compare that with The Ox.

Since 2011 he's made 203 appearances for club and country, scoring 18 and creating 25. That's an average of 29 appearances a season, and a goal scoring contribution every 0.21 games.

I know he's moved further away from goal but for his pace & power he, like Theo, seems desperate to mould himself into something his abilities aren't set up for. He should be looking at a player like Arnautivic as someone to model off, strong and fast attacker who creates and scores. 

With the current Liverpool set up he should be considering a move away if he wants to become a midfielder, or resign himself to being a quality attacking threat, score all the goals and become a hero to his mum.

I think he should have switched to wingback permanently. When Wenger went with 3 CBs the Ox was unstoppable in that role, from the right or the left. Ironically his goal contributions were greater as well!

He also would've been better served by moving to Chelsea when he had the chance in my opinion. Conte always played a 3-5-2 and wanted him at RWB, ahead of Moses. I think he would've started game after game and could quite possibly have been one of the premier wingbacks in the world by now.

Does anyone else think Ramsay will be gone too?? We are still being linked with nZonzi and gomez even if we sign torriera 

I think Ramsey will re-sign. 

He's made positive noises about it, Emery rates him, we're in negotiation according to Ornstein, I reckon the only thing that might stop it is if Ramsey isn't a fan of Emery's methods during pre-season training. 

I'd take Nzonzi in a heart beat. Spells the end of Elneny for me, and probably enforces the need for AMN to spend a season on loan somewhere, but would definitely be an improvement.

I don't think it'll happen though. Now Banega looks to stay they're moving onto the next logical option, although given his age must be a longer time and more strategic signing than a 'get me a reliable midfielder who can bring leadership' for a couple of years signing.

He could have been the next Bale, dominate from a full back role to get pushed higher and become a forward.

But he really wants to be a CM.

Nzonzi would be a Xhaka replacement imo. Similar players.

I like Nzonzi too. 

Not sure if he'd replace Xhaka or play with him. With Elneny and Xhaka re-signing, and Torreira seemingly coming in, chasing Nzonzi has me thinking Emery will play 2 DMs. 

Will Ramsey play 10 (assuming he stays) and Ozil move wide? Then who would miss out? Laca? Mkhi?

Torreira signing hopefully imminent now - hopefully we don’t go peak Arsenal on it.

Perhaps would negate the need to buy an out and out winger by using those 3.

Could revert to a straight 4-4-2, 

2 - Aub/Laca/Ozil/Welbeck

4- Xhaka, Ramsey, Mhiki, Elneny, Torriera, Nzonzi, Iwobi, AMN, 

Not as crowded as you'd think.

Lucas Perez seems to be an interesting situation. You’d think if Wenger was still there that he’d be gone. But with a new man in charge, a Spaniard no less, he might be open to staying. I don’t think the fans would begrudge Emery giving him another chance, in fact I think we’d welcome it.

Sounds like Torreira hasn't travelled back to Uruguay and is on track to have his medical and sign with us immeninently:

https://www.telenoche.com.uy/deportes/torreira-fui...

Courtesy of google translate:

Torreira was hired by the Arsenal of England and therefore could not return to Montevideo with the entire squad. Now he must undergo medical studies and then sign the contract. "I was very happy to be able to leave for Uruguay with my teammates, but good is this nice opportunity and I do not want to waste it," said the player of the national team, who assured that he had had contact with the club coach before the World Cup. English. The midfielder, who debuted as an international player in Italy, said that while it was difficult to leave the country at his young age, it was important to be able to "move forward" with his family. "I knew that this was the opportunity of my life to be able to progress as a person and to be able to develop a very large family. I saw the sacrifice my old man made. I was away from home for a long time and I could not even drink mate with my mom, "said Torreira, grateful for what his parents have done for him. The player of the selection apologized for not coming to Uruguay with all but assured that it will arrive "very soon to greet them all".

apparently we have signed this young fellow as well

Mateo Guendouzi

Douzi of a signing that

Word is Torreira will be the end of the "senior" recruitment. I'm happy, as long as Ramsey re-signs. 

Then we cut off some fat.

The Guendouzi signing was a total surprise. Guess we'll see how he goes. 

Getting bloody excited. The preseason training videos the arsenal twitter account are tweeting are going straight to my veins right now. 

getting our business done early is great, ideally selling mustafi and getting another cb would have been great. ideally if we could off load perez and campbell and get a speedy/tricky winger......in saying that perez could do the winger role

Still rumours of another one happening. Though it's in the "madness" class so I'm not expecting it to go anywhere.

Jack signs for West Ham... that seems about right for both player and club. 

If Ramsey doesnt sign so we sell him and we got Nznonzi instead would you be happy?

I don't think Emery sees those two players in the same type of role. 

I think Ramsey will be further forward. 

If we got Nzonzi, I reckon he'd be competing with Xhaka, Torreira, Elneny and AMN for 2 deeper midfield positions. 

do share the madness

We've seen the rumours re Mustafi going to Juve... well; the mad rumour is that if they get CR7 (another rumour), we'll offer them Mustafi + some wedge for the guy Cristiano will replace (ie: Dybala).

Which is in itself, quite mad.

The other thing to consider is that if that did happen (hint: it won't), what would be the impact on our squad? Surely we'd have to (or want to) offload an attacker? And if so, which one? Laca? ...Ozil? To be fair with the last couple of weeks MO has had he'd probably be quite happy to piss off to Turkey/China/USA for a few years to build up his pension - and who could blame him.

Anyway, I'm calling bullshark.

I wonder if it would be Ramsey.

Ramsey + cash for Dybala would be madness but more logical.

I still think we'll see Welbeck leave, on top of Campbell and Perez.

Torreira offical and to take #11

https://www.football365.com/news/official-calm-torreira-takes-mesut-ozils-old-11-shirt-arsenal