Over the course of the weekend Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis have both begun to sing from the same hymn sheet, with admissions that signings are needed up front and in central defence.
The Gunners have been linked with a host of defensive names, but in terms of forwards there’s been little variety – most of the attention appears to be on Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette.
The French club’s seemingly intractable position over his future changed slightly too, with coach Bruno Génésio saying, “He can leave if Lyon want him to. There are some offers that you cannot refuse. My desire as manager is that the best players stay and Lacazette is very important for the team.
“I have been assured by my president that we will keep the player. You never know what could happen right up until the 31st August.”
Reports this morning say that they’re prepared to offer him a new deal, while English sources insist Arsenal will go back in with another bid.
As ever, the Arsenal manager was quizzed about transfers after last night’s 3-1 win over Chivas, but he deflected those questions in typical fashion when asked about Lacazette and Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi.
“We have not closed any deal with anybody at the moment,” he said. That’s the answer. You speak about Mustafi. Is it Mustafi or anybody else – we haven’t concluded anything at the moment.
“I can understand that you are interested in transfers but I’m not ready to come out on any name.”
There was some excitement generated by Wenger’s interview with beIN Sport in which he was asked about Riyad Mahrez, see below:
Does the smile mean anything? Do people read more into Wenger’s facial expressions than any other manager? What time is love?
Maybe we’ll get the answer to one or all of those questions this week.
hahaha. I love this man. his reaction is so priceless. can’t keep a secret to save his life. promising 🙂
It’s his poker face…
Poker fail perhaps
The Mahrez situation is gonna drag on a bit more than we would like but eventually I guess we ll get him…and I have no worries about the defender case, since its gonna be sorted out I reckon, my real worry is our striker situation…I have this weird feeling we are not gonna be able to put this one right, leaving AW and co giving us fans lame excuses again before starting the season with TW and OG…God I wish I am proven wrong *sigh*
Sky recon we have made another bid for la cassette
Also their manager said ‘there are some offers you can’t refuse’ apparently
Make of that what you will
That expression is basically says it all :p. We’re now officially in the Mahrez sweepstakes!
I love Arsene, and only he can get Arsenal fans in a frenzy with little smirky smile.
Either we as fans are super deprived of transfers or Arsene is magical.
Arsene Wenger is magic, he wears a magic hat.
Time is God. God is love.
Baby don’t hurt me, no more.
Maybe he should stop penny pinching and pay a reasonable amount of money for the players he wants. You know 30 million euros for a good defender like Mustafi is not a lot considering his age and our situation.
It’s basically a second date smile – “I wasnt sure at first, but DAMN he rocked my world last night”
Lol
After watching Lacazette time and again on those online videos, I must say my stand has changed somewhat in his favour, physically he is in mould for the premier league, he appears well grounded, less of injury prone player, good finisher, reasonably fast, his positional with last defender is spot on, his first touch and his running with the both seems to be more than alright,
although he doesn’t score much with his head and he is not Giroud when it comes to keeping the ball.
I say sign him.
Patience my friends. Signings are coming…of that I am sure.
Thanks, I feel much more confident now.
Yes, but when? The Season starts August 15th. Why leave it so late? Why can’t we just close these deals earlier and start the season with a full squad ready to go.
Transfers don’t happen when you want them to, they happen when they are able to.
Yayyyyy… Mahrez!!!
Mahrez for Walcott
Get Lacazette and Mustafi
That’s all we ask for Arsene..
Pretty please…..
Loved his wry smile when Özil was imminent. Happy memories.
Little bit surprise us again, Mr Wenger.
His mouth says no but his smile says yes
Relax folks, we can always get Kim Kallstrom on deadline day if nothing else pans out.
Do not disparage the Kim, scorer of penalties, winner of FA Cup.
How about the idea that Wenger buys Riyad Mahrez & Alexander Lacazette as forward options and get a loan deal for a center back with/out option to make it permanent. I know not a lot of good players would not like to be loaned but if somehow this happens,I think we might have a squad good enough to challenge for title.
A man can dream. ????
I’ll probably have a heart attack if Arsene and Ivan spend £100m on Mahrez, Lacazette and Mustafi!……go on Arsene, pls give me a heart attack (as long as it’s not fatal).
Sorry it would be fatal.
But if he only bought 2 of them then you’d be OK.
So which 2 out of the 3 would you prefer?
Lacazette and Mustafi for me. Mahrez is a wonderful player, but we have a pretty lightweight squad it seems to me and need more physical attacking players.
Walcott is a horrible footballer
I honestly find myself watching him recently thinking ‘he’s a lot better than this’
He was rubbish in the MLS game
“Maybe we will have a good surprise for you.”
Can you imagine his poor kids at Christmas? “We are trying very hard to find the right present. Maybe we will have a good surprise for you”!
Anyone have a thought on the Guardian write-up on the Arsenal? Seemed reasonable to me — we’re traversing a tricky phase right now, Sanchez and Ozil in final two years of contracts, Wenger on his last, and a team that needs some new players. It would be nice to bring in at least one new face, sort out all contracts ASAP, and start the season without distractions, but then it wouldn’t feel like Arsenal.
No that’s just not the Arsenal way
I would prefer a defender to come in first but to get a wide man is a freaking bonus! Sign him!
Watched lacazette play for lyon yesterday and he did nothing to change my opinion. it just goes to show the dearth of real striking talent that such an average player is being touted to worth over 40m pounds. Would rather we pull all the stops and buy mahrez and give akpom a decent chance to develop. If he gets a 15% conversion rate in this team that will be more than 15 goals a season.
My opinion tho. But lacazette doesn’t do it for me.
Ah blogs is that a klf reference – what time is love – or is that wishful thinking?
Just sign the players we need now!!
I need my life to be more than checking Arseblog and Sky Sports for news!!
Spend all the cash sign all the players ££££££££
Icardi or Lacazette? And Mahrez, Akpom should be given a chance up front and just sell Theo mr Wenger! He just doesn’t do it anymore, there was a time when he looked like he was going to have a good run but got injured and never had the same touch since.
I do admire the optimism of Arsenal fans. However, if past experience is anything to go buy this is how events will pan out.. 1) Mustafi rejects us in favour of Chelsea and we end up getting some Ligue 1 randomer in or play as makeshift cover. 2) We get cold feet at stumping up what is a reasonably low fee for a striker (given the lack of decent strikers) and end up with Giroud & Walcott until Welbz is back. 3) We sign Mahrez as a ‘Look at us, we do spend money’ Ozil/Sanchez type of signing with no… Read more »
What will be will be. But we’ll still be Gooners.