Alexis/Alexi Sanchez

[City64]

Getting Sanchez would be a nice bonus for me, but what we really need is another left back + one more centre back. We are in deep shit if we get some injuries to our back-line.

I think our defenders are in for an easy time this season as 90% of premier league teams will set up like Brighton did , 2 banks of 5 and a couple of buses . Our midfield and attack is now set up to absolutely dominate games finding the net is key to our success under this system .

[PeterParker]

Getting Sanchez would be a nice bonus for me, but what we really need is another left back + one more centre back. We are in deep shit if we get some injuries to our back-line.

I think our defenders are in for an easy time this season as 90% of premier league teams will set up like Brighton did , 2 banks of 5 and a couple of buses . Our midfield and attack is now set up to absolutely dominate games finding the net is key to our success under this system .

This,

but nool is spot on, we need a left back, a decent one, while our defence looked decent with Vinnie. Without him, we looked gash, even if we dominated almost non stop.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

not again? bear in mInd that Lawton is a detritivore in the deepest sewers.

Watching the game on Saturday i did think how the hell would it work if we signed Sanchez ( or Mbappe) when we already have this team and still Sane,Bernardo,Sterling, Yaya, Gundogan , Foden ready to bring in as attacking options.

Just makes me think Pep could be making it harder for himself as it would be so hard to keep everyone happy. He might slightly improve our best team.... or would he?

Greatest of respect Doug but it's very hard to get out of our old mindset where out team had a 'first 11, best team', whatever. I think we are finally arriving at a squad (22?) which is interchangeable, where any player can be rested on the bench.

We have pretended at it for years, but in truth we could never function without either of Silva, Aguero Yaya or Kompany. Now it doesn't really matter, we can even rest Silva and not notice the join - now if we only we can sign Virgil!!!!

Yes I know all that and for certain there will be mega rotation this season as we push on all fronts. Just a concern that it's not just 1 or 2 class players who will sit on the bench but 6 or 7! But if Pep wants it then it's all good.

Does sound great to be able to rest Merlin and be able to bring his brother on doesn't it !

[City64]

Getting Sanchez would be a nice bonus for me, but what we really need is another left back + one more centre back. We are in deep shit if we get some injuries to our back-line.

I think our defenders are in for an easy time this season as 90% of premier league teams will set up like Brighton did , 2 banks of 5 and a couple of buses . Our midfield and attack is now set up to absolutely dominate games finding the net is key to our success under this system .

This,

but nool is spot on, we need a left back, a decent one, while our defence looked decent with Vinnie. Without him, we looked gash, even if we dominated almost non stop.

Also with opposition showing very little intent to attack us or play open football against us Pep can revert to a back 3 , I think we will see this a lot during our PL campaign . Can see Tosin getting a few games back four is flexible fern can slot in if needed Danilo also key here . Back 3 will be utilised a lot IMHO . Deffo don't any long term injury to Vinny , Walker or Mendy but that is the risk with most top clubs isn't it ?

[Mikhail Chigorin]

not again? bear in mInd that Lawton is a detritivore in the deepest sewers.

That is the second word I've learnt from one of your posts in the last month.never knew a Lawton is an organism that feeds on fecal matter.

Crikey PD, I wonder what Tommy Lawton would have made of that ??

[PrezIke]

Well sounds like Wenger is truly digging in saying he is taking a financial “sacrifice” letting Alexis' contract wind down, and said there was no progress in getting him to sign a new contract and that there have been offers he's turned down:

“He is a player who goes into the final year of his contract and prepares for the season. That is a consequence of what I say, yes, unfortunately. But we have to make a choice between efficiency on the field and financial interest, and most of the time if you can find a good compromise it’s better. But in this case, I think I prioritise the fact that he will be useful on the sporting side.”

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Well sounds like Wenger is truly digging in saying he is taking a financial “sacrifice” letting Alexis' contract wind down, and said there was no progress in getting him to sign a new contract and that there have been offers he's turned down:

“He is a player who goes into the final year of his contract and prepares for the season. That is a consequence of what I say, yes, unfortunately. But we have to make a choice between efficiency on the field and financial interest, and most of the time if you can find a good compromise it’s better. But in this case, I think I prioritise the fact that he will be useful on the sporting side.”

Doesn't sound too sure of himself.

[iwasthere2012]

Well sounds like Wenger is truly digging in saying he is taking a financial “sacrifice” letting Alexis' contract wind down, and said there was no progress in getting him to sign a new contract and that there have been offers he's turned down:

“He is a player who goes into the final year of his contract and prepares for the season. That is a consequence of what I say, yes, unfortunately. But we have to make a choice between efficiency on the field and financial interest, and most of the time if you can find a good compromise it’s better. But in this case, I think I prioritise the fact that he will be useful on the sporting side.”

Sounds very open to me. if anything it's like he's angling for a big offer from us. Extort more money and cry about how we're ruing the market.

If Arsenal stick to their guns then they really have to make top four this season. Otherwise holding on to him will be for nothing and they will lose more players next season in a similar fashion. I personally think they will make CL next season but it is a big risk to take on Sanchez.

[City64]

Well sounds like Wenger is truly digging in saying he is taking a financial “sacrifice” letting Alexis' contract wind down, and said there was no progress in getting him to sign a new contract and that there have been offers he's turned down:

“He is a player who goes into the final year of his contract and prepares for the season. That is a consequence of what I say, yes, unfortunately. But we have to make a choice between efficiency on the field and financial interest, and most of the time if you can find a good compromise it’s better. But in this case, I think I prioritise the fact that he will be useful on the sporting side.”

Sounds very open to me. if anything it's like he's angling for a big offer from us. Extort more money and cry about how we're ruing the market.

If Arsenal stick to their guns then they really have to make top four this season. Otherwise holding on to him will be for nothing and they will lose more players next season in a similar fashion. I personally think they will make CL next season but it is a big risk to take on Sanchez.

This .
Finally we here a tone of resignation to the fact that Sanchez isn't going to play for the gooners ever again . It's sort of letting the truth out slowly to repress Arsenal Fans and Arsenal Fan TV going off the scale
You have to hold your hands up at Wenger though , the old cunt just lies through his back teeth like a seasoned politician .

[iwasthere2012]

I do believe we are in the end game.

[iwasthere2012]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league

Independent take a while to get there. They run with Wenger view, but do say he has to Convince the board.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I actually did say that when it comes down to getting 50 million now or zero in 10 months or so..why the fuck would the board allow that decision to be wengers alone ???!!

Seems madness to me if its his decision.

[iwasthere2012]

I actually did say that when it comes down to getting 50 million now or zero in 10 months or so..why the fuck would the board allow that decision to be wengers alone ???!!

Seems madness to me if its his decision.

Seems to me it's not his decision. It's like they are angling for more money, otherwise the board backs Arsene.
I wonder how high we are willing go.
Still think this has last day written all over it.

[Dameerto]

I actually did say that when it comes down to getting 50 million now or zero in 10 months or so..why the fuck would the board allow that decision to be wengers alone ???!!

Seems madness to me if its his decision.

The reason Gazidis likes Wenger so much and the reason Wenger still has a job this season is that he's a mouthpiece for the board and takes all the shit that the board should be getting. There's no way it's Wenger's decision but there's no way the board will be telling anyone that.

[Hazy2]

50 mil or 0 they will cave on the 30th. Not sure we or Arse will see a great deal of him, as he will back and forth on WCQ with Chile.

[patrickblue]

Definite last day move.
As many others have said, it's now all about getting as much as they can for him while saving face by blaming it all on Sanchez's greed and City being cnuts.

Arse are beginning to actually believe they are becoming our feeder club.

[Sideshow Bob]

loved him at udinese. gutted when he chose barca. slightly gutted when he went to arse. now? f*ck him. thx but no thx! old and expensive and moody and potentially v disruptive. if this does go through, i can imagine it all going t*ts up: sanchez struggles to bed in, pep refuses to drop him ala bravo, any one or more of sergio/jesus/sane throws their toys out for lack of minutes, we fall out of 4 competitions by march, rags stroll to title. just say no!!!

[phips]

Watching the game on Saturday i did think how the hell would it work if we signed Sanchez ( or Mbappe) when we already have this team and still Sane,Bernardo,Sterling, Yaya, Gundogan , Foden ready to bring in as attacking options.

Just makes me think Pep could be making it harder for himself as it would be so hard to keep everyone happy. He might slightly improve our best team.... or would he?

this. I've subscribed to this idea for a long time--not just about Sanchez and not just about football.
it sounds nice to want your team/club to stockpile as much talent as possible but there's only a limited number of starting spots. yes, theres a lot of matches (football = 38, baseball = 180+, NBA = 82) but big-time players dont think that way. they want to play in every single match they're fit enough to play in and sitting on the bench doesnt even sound like an option for them. if you have a bunch of guys like this then the locker room can get bad and people are complaining to the media etc and it can rot a team from the inside out.

[johnny crossan]

Watching the game on Saturday i did think how the hell would it work if we signed Sanchez ( or Mbappe) when we already have this team and still Sane,Bernardo,Sterling, Yaya, Gundogan , Foden ready to bring in as attacking options.

Just makes me think Pep could be making it harder for himself as it would be so hard to keep everyone happy. He might slightly improve our best team.... or would he?

this. I've subscribed to this idea for a long time--not just about Sanchez and not just about football.
it sounds nice to want your team/club to stockpile as much talent as possible but there's only a limited number of starting spots. yes, theres a lot of matches (football = 38, baseball = 180+, NBA = 82) but big-time players dont think that way. they want to play in every single match they're fit enough to play in and sitting on the bench doesnt even sound like an option for them. if you have a bunch of guys like this then the locker room can get bad and people are complaining to the media etc and it can rot a team from the inside out.

you might want to think again about that number phips

anyway this lot would be unstoppable!

-----------------------------Ederson---------------------
Walker------Kompany-------Otamendi------Mendy
------------------------Fernandinho----------------------
------------De Bruyne------Silva-----Sanchez--------
-----------------Aguero-------------Mbappe---------------

Bench from: Bravo, Danilo, Stones,Yaya, Bernardo, Sane, Sterling, Jesus, Gundogan, Evans
+ Muric, Foden, Diaz etc

[aaron bond]

Watching the game on Saturday i did think how the hell would it work if we signed Sanchez ( or Mbappe) when we already have this team and still Sane,Bernardo,Sterling, Yaya, Gundogan , Foden ready to bring in as attacking options.

Just makes me think Pep could be making it harder for himself as it would be so hard to keep everyone happy. He might slightly improve our best team.... or would he?

this. I've subscribed to this idea for a long time--not just about Sanchez and not just about football.
it sounds nice to want your team/club to stockpile as much talent as possible but there's only a limited number of starting spots. yes, theres a lot of matches (football = 38, baseball = 180+, NBA = 82) but big-time players dont think that way. they want to play in every single match they're fit enough to play in and sitting on the bench doesnt even sound like an option for them. if you have a bunch of guys like this then the locker room can get bad and people are complaining to the media etc and it can rot a team from the inside out.

We should be looking at a minimum of 50 games this season.

But quite simply we currently have 2 strikers. Aguero is proven and whilst Jesus looks promising, he is still new to the league.

Sane/Sterling/Silva/KDB do not score enough goals.

As bad as our defence was last season, it was the lack of goals which cost us more often than not. In both recent title winning seasons we had 4 top strikers.

We need another striker. Sanchez is proven in Premier League and will score 20-30 goals for us. We can easily rotate 3 strikers over a 50+ game season.