We’re three weeks away from the transfer window opening and the chance to strengthen the squad ahead of a packed second half of the season.
Following the injury to Gabriel Jesus, we’re short up front and we’ve long coveted a goal-scoring winger. What about midfield where an injury to Thomas Partey could also upset the balance of the team?
There is a lot to think about and the rumours are starting to fly…
Mykhailo Mudryk
According to David Ornstein he’s our ‘priority target’ and will be available for a lot less than the €100 million that Shakhtar Donetsk were touting a while back. He certainly seems keen having spoken warmly of Arsenal’s ‘dynamism’ this season. Of course, we’re not the only ones sniffing around and that means we may be wise to keep our options open.
Does he speak Portuguese? No
Has he ever played for Arteta? No
Poo-o-meter: 💩💩
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Yunus Musah
The 20-year-old midfielder has excelled at Valencia since leaving Arsenal in 2019 becoming a regular at the Mestalla and for the USA. He spent seven years at our Academy and Fabrizio Romano has claimed that we’ve sent scouts to watch him in action. Despite being under contract until 2026 and having a €100 million release clause, Valencia, who are permanently in financial trouble, are willing to do a deal for around a quarter of that.
Does he speak Portuguese? No
Has he ever played for Arteta? No, but they did overlap at Arsenal.
Poo-o-meter: 💩💩💩💩💩
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Ferran Torres
Arsenal apparently went after the Spaniard in the closing stages of the last transfer window even though he’d only been at Barcelona for six months or so. Spanish publication Fichajes speculates he might not survive at the Nou Camp past January with Xavi deeming him surplus to requirements. They reckon Arsenal, Sp*rs and AC Milan are possible destinations.
Does he speak Portuguese? No
Has he ever played for Arteta? Yes
Poo-o-meter: 💩💩💩💩💩
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Joao Felix
Atletico Madrid’s record signing isn’t on good terms with Diego Simeone, he’s struggled for game time since September and the club are open to selling him if a suitable offer is put on the table. Does that mean he’s a good fit for Arsenal? He’s certainly versatile, operating off the left, as a number 10 and even leading the line but it feels a bit fanciful at this point.
Does he speak Portuguese? Yes
Has he ever played for Arteta? No
Poo-o-meter: 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
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Leroy Sane
It feels like the Arsenal talk is just a ruse before he signs a new deal at Bayern Munich, so don’t go getting your hopes up. Even Fabrizio Romano thinks it would take a crazy bid to lure him away from the Allianz Arena.
Does he speak Portuguese? No
Has he ever played for Arteta? Yes
Poo-o-meter: 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
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Dusan Vlahovic
Sometimes a transfer rumour is the stuff of fantasy. And sometimes they just smack of a lack of imagination. Yes, we wanted the guy a while back. Yes, Juventus have been playing silly buggers with their finances. But come on, this isn’t going anywhere.
Does he speak Portuguese? No
Has he ever played for Arteta? No
Poo-o-meter: 💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
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Evan Ndicka
Last week, a report from Italy claimed Arsenal have already reached an agreement to sign the 23-year-old centre-back as a free agent next summer. The Frenchman moved to Frankfurt from Auxerre in 2018 and has been a mainstay in the team ever since. As a left-sided player, he’d presumably provide competition for Gabriel. Seems like a canny deal if true.
Does he speak Portuguese? No
Has he ever played for Arteta? No
Poo-o-meter: 💩💩💩💩
Literally none of these players are called Gabi. I can only guess that all of them have Gabi as a middle name otherwise these rumours lack any kind of credibility.
Arteta and Edu accidentally had their player search parameters set to ‘Nationality – Brazilian’ for the whole summer.
A bit embarrassing for both of them but it’s happened to the best of us…
Sometimes you can do something really embarrassing, but weirdly it ends up working out really well!
Careful when you’re searching for Brazilian just saying 🤫
BFN – Big Fucking Ndicka! We need to make this happen.
Big willy and ndicka in defence!
Holiding N’Dicka
Lets put it this way – if Gab Maghales and Saliba are injured, we wil be left with Holding the N’Dicka 😀
Free transfers stress me out man. Five year deals on six figure salaries.
Still feeling the burn from Willian, Kola and Lichtsteiner.
It would be Ndicka-tive of Arsenal to make a false step here.
Here’s hoping he has been really well scouted and our eyes aren’t just bulging due to the lack of transfer fee.
I get your point, but I feel like the only one of those that is a viable comparison is Kolasinac.
Neither Willian or Lichtsteiner were anywhere near 5 year deals (and thank fucking god because both were diabolical), and were clearly well over the hill.
Kolasinac on paper, and indeed in his first few months, looked like pretty decent business I’d say
Lichtsteiner on a year contract made sense but Willian’s whopping 3 year deal on a million a month was absolutely crazy. A blessing in disguise that his lucrative three year deal proved to be his undoing even if it cost us plenty to get rid of him.
Kolasinac and Santos, the left backs who looked like a steal in the first few months but ended up being horrendous (apart from the “Good job gays” tweet, of course). It’s a reverse-Monreal who couldn’t hold Kieran Gibbs out of the team at first but then became a legend.
I think there’s a bit of memory fog when it comes to Kola – he was great in his first season or two especially on the attack. Nonsense comparing him to Andre Santos.
You’re forgetting Sol Campbell
Willian did agree to termination I believe. Did he either give some money back or called it square with AFC? Either way he was classy about it, wouldn’t have done that if he was pure mercenary. That deserves our respect imo
“Did he either give some money back or called it square with AFC?”
Nothing has ever been revealed on what it cost Arsenal to get rid of that useless pump. He was entitled to his three year salary so him not asking for at least a good chunk of it would make no sense. I reckon it cost a fair wedge to terminate his contract. Classy has nothing to do with it. Lesson learned on our behalf I hope.
We’ll have to get one right, evan-tually.
Mudryk, a cm and pre-agreeing Ndicka looks like a good January to me
Agreed. And although Danillo may not be a priority signing – now that El Neny has recovered from injury and is available for selection – I wouldn’t be surprised
if we submit another bid for him at some stage or other.
Ndicka.
I’m guessing at a bit of hedging here in case one of the “Gabriel to wherever” rumours grows wings and learns how to fly in the summer.
If the rumors are to be believed, bringing in ndicka would be about raising the baseline player quality at the position and providing cover for gabriel on the left. Any left sided center half we add is more likely to replace Rob holding and Pablo Mari than they are gabriel
From our point of view, sure. But why would he move from a team where he plays week in week out for a team that qualifies for the CL to be a back up player for us? If Gabriel stays, he plays.
given that pablo mari is likely to make his italian move permanent and the only other left-footed center half we have on the books is auston trusty (who before his current loan at birmingham had only played in the mls), it seems likely we will need some depth in the position as gabriel cannot play 90 minutes every three days. trusty is a big player, tall and good in the air, but i’m not certain he’s up to the challenge of the PL just yet, or if he will even achieve the level we’ve come to expect in recent seasons,… Read more »
Ndicka is a confident footballer. He might think he is able to take the spot. He will also understand that some rotation will be required to deal with CL football. Minutes will be there for him.
The Musah link is interesting, he’s looked good at the World Cup, not seen much of him at Valencia though.
Mudryk or Torres would be amazing, not sure we’ll get Felix though
I thought musah was pretty average for the US and absolutely terrible when they played the Dutch. Avoid.
How much did he play with Saka, ESR, et al growing up I wonder…
I don’t remember the circumstances of his departure. Any chance there is a buy back /sell on clause that favours us? I guess not if he went for free
I watched the USA throughout the tournament. Their midfield is the standout department of that team..Mckennie Adams and Musah…really surprised to know Musah was once a Gunner…get him in asap…he’s got a great engine…absolutely superb and just 20yrs of age
Adams was the guy who impressed me most on the US (side from pulasic). He was top class.
Average rating on the Poo o metre = 7.3
And to think we coulda snapped up France’s all-time top scorer for a million squid… still hurts!
Musah would be a great addition. Is a very flexible player with experience on the wing and in the middle and I think with experience could be a great backup to Partey when he is not fit. Incredibly strong technical and has a great motor plus he just turn 20 years old and has great experience already professionally in La Liga and with the US National Team.
Sign them all!
Does the Poometer speak Portuguese?
Have they ever played for Arteta?
Sign them up!