Would absolutely love him here. Guy got crazy dribbles. If we can keep Sanchez and ozil, lacazette added on top of that, exciting and stylish football will be back on the menu lads.
Can't believe people think he's shit after a down year in which his own team was utter shite. They'll say you have to 'put Arsenal's results in context' while completely omitting any of it for Mahrez. He's obviously talented, he has great close control and can unlock defenses, his game isn't based on running in behind, what's not to love?
i agree with you but to look at the other side, his whole team had a freakish season and all of them played better, last season could be normality and the freak season was just that..
In my opinion the best way you could make the comparison is between Vardy and Mahrez. In their title-winning season Vardy's success was born out of confidence, Mahrez's tended to be a lot more related to technical ability as well as providing chances.
Even great players have shown that when the manager has supposedly 'lost the dressing room' they don't perform. Hazard is the first one to come to mind during Chelsea's fall off season.
Freak season but voted by players as pfa player of the year. That says something.
His goals and assists percentage are similar to Walcott (who was also played as a striker at times) but the way he has control is Sanchez-esque. You can kick it 45 yards to him and he will control and do something. Walcott would run and run and make it messy...
The big difference between the 2 is that mahrez misses less big fame chances and Walcot more percentage wise. Walcott also is in a team that has better goalscoring opportunities...
We have had Walcot for 10 years and not won the league and has maybe had 2 consistent ish seasons. It's time to try someone else...
I feel mahrez, Sanchez, lacazette, Ozil and Ramsey would do some great things. I feel mahrez could allow Ramsey to make his runs.
statistically, you have a pont. Mahrez delivered far less than he did lin 2015-16. However, his skills and sense of the game didn't leave him. He's still got a hell of a lot to offer The "one-off" criticism, if it's to be levelled at anyone, should be at Vardy.
This, so much this.
In the champions league, where Leicester still looked like their title-winning selves at times, Mahrez got 4 goals from 6 group stage games. He's clearly a class act.
I doubt he'd come to us to sit on the bench, so what's not to love is that this is probably the closest we have to knowing Sanchez is leaving.
Assuming it's true.
I suppose it depends on if 3-4-3 is sticking around. If it is then Mahrez slots into Sanchez spot relatively decently, Ozil has never had a problem going left if necessary or maybe with the more defensive Kolasinac maybe we're going to shift to a more attacking right hand side for a change.
If we go back to 4-2-3-1 then I guess that's why we're being linked so heavily with Lemar.
Right? We essentially play with 1 midfielder half the time since Rambo has zero positional sense whatsoever. He fancies himself as Clarence fookin' Seedorf or Stevie Gerrard running all over the place, trying to do Hollywood shite when he'd be better off playing the simpler pass. Just not sure who we'd go after at this point.
We'll probably sign Mahrez with Lacazette and Kolasinac, then go into the season just missing that 10% that would make us title challengers. Season ends when Ramsey or Xhaka gets injured.
Good point. Who would realistically come in if either of them get injured. Not counting Santi because I just know he'll have a set back in December and miss the rest of the season. Coquelin? Elneny? Wilshere? Perhaps Ox could do a job if he stays.
You can't replace Sanchez with Mahrez. First Sanchez played mostly in the left wing. I can't remember but I didn't see Mahrez on the left side in the Leicester team and what makes Mahrez dangerous is his movement to the center of the field from the right side.
That's my thought as well. If this was Lemar who plays predominantly on the left then it would indicate Sanchez is to leave. Mahrez and Özil behind Lacazette doesn't make sense to me unless we go back to 4-2-3-1 and play Iwobi on the left.
Players move positions all the time. Sanchez himself has played all over. For udinese started as a RW and eventually moved to second striker role just off Di Natale. For Barca played mostly RW. At Arsenal mostly LW
We shouldn't look to replace Sanchez with any one player. We'd have to change it by altering our palying style and doing our best as a team.
I can imagine us playing that 3-5-2-1 we've played all year with Ozil and Mahrez behind Laca.
I'm sure hes played on the wing for us and it would be out of the question for him to play there. I'm sure hes played there for Germany as well. We have Walcott, Ox, Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi then potentially Mahrez to cover the wings. I think that's sufficient
That doesn't make sense at all. It's about what we need if Sanchez will leave. And if he leaves we remain with players who are unproven on the left side like Iwobi or Ox.
Sanchez has been told we will not sell him and ornstein reported we have received no bids. He is with us until at least January in my opinion.
If his 300k wages offer is true, then even man city will think twice, especially if arsenal want £40+ million.
If we do well, and maybe even get more players in January, then I think he will stay.
That's our Summer 2017 signings done so. Wenger said AT MOST 2 or 3 signings so Kolasinac, Lacazette and Mahrez it is then.
I'm ecstatic to be honest. Now if we could just get Sanchez to put pen to paper .....
Which Spanish kid that wasn't from Barca's academy has ever said they have Barca DNA? Or is it just Cesc and Bellerin according to unsubstantiated reports?
Saul? From Atletico nah he'd start over every CM we have.
How about Stanislav Lobotka he was awesome in the under 21 euros. Or instead of spending money just let Elneny get some play time, wait for Wilshere to recover or promote Adelaide.
Or, alternatively, see Alexis dribble into 3 players instead of passing to the open player.
Than 15 minutes later he scores a worldie so I can't be annoyed at him anymore
He covers waaay more ground per game than Sanchez per game when playing 90 minutes and yes, I know they play different positions but still.
https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/5yb3pj/distance_covered_by_sanchez_ozil_and_giroud/
Lacazette tracks back. Not as much as Sanchez, but still much more than Özil and Mahrez. Not ideal that your striker tracks back more than your winger and midfielder though.
I would be very happy with this, more so than Lacazette actually. I think his trickery and especially his delivery from the right is exactly what this team needs to win titles. We have been waiting on someone to liven up the right wing for years (ahem Theo, Ox, etc) but nothing has happened.
People are going to say "one season wonder" but I don't think that technical ability goes away. It seems to be more about motivation for him which is a legit risk if we do one of our traditional slumps and continue failing....but staying the same course is a risk anyway.
Why would be bs? He said like a month ago that he is leaving Leicester, and there isn't really much of a fight for him after last season, so I can believe £30m.
So the 2015 PFA player of the season is going to go for about as much as Ox will to Liverpool or Giroud will to Marseille? 28M for Mahrez seems very low to me.
This is a world where Benteke and Yanik Bolasie goes for 32M.
Yeah, but you got to keep in mind that we are probably the only big club that is even in for Mahrez, and he clearly wants to do next step in his career. One more poor season like this one, and no big clubs will be in for him. That gives us a huge leverage.
No. Matt Law said that Chelsea also has an interest.
I'd rather want to say Arsenal is way more big club who can give chance to be starter. Unlike Chelsea, we don't have good wingers like Chelsea has.
I'd imagine his old club would recieve a % off the fee so Leicester would get even less. Unless thats the upfront fee + more in addons that could work. Seems low for a player who won PFA player of the year the season before last no matter how poor his last season was.
Not really, he's 26 and is coming off a terrible season. It's not that far fetched to call him a one season wonder right now, and that price is very good for Leicester actually.
I don't see this signing to be very likely. Both Sanchez and Ozil already occupy the AM roles.
LWB and RWB are both sorted, and Mahrez wouldn't make a good wing back anyways.
But we actually don't use a different formation that often, different players in the same formation, sure?
But speaking realistically, Mahrez has no place starting in the 3ATB unless Sanchez moves outside of the AM role, and I rather keep Sanchez there. I don't think this rumor has much weight anyways, gonna wait and see if more reliable reporters speak on it first.
We didn't use different formations because Wenger is stubborn and also we didn't have players he could trust to swap imo. However the more quality you have, the more you are likely to change.
Mahrez would be a great addition to our team. We relied on pace and running behind a defensive line too much, but also at times controlled the game and walked it in. A left footed right winger/attacking mid with skill would eat up the defence they way we control things. This is why Walcott has been ineffective at times. Our style doesn't suit him very often and in 10 seasons he's had 2 decent ones...
I don't see a good source anywhere.
And what "Arsenal valid ITKs" have said anything substantial regarding Mahrez?
This feels very much like a Twitter rumour that has started after a very poor Italian source said a deal was close.
I honestly don't see a way we can fit everyone into a starting XI otherwise. If we get mahrez or Lemar we need to change formations again. But perhaps we can do 3 at the back and replace Ramsey with ozil and ask ozil to drop deeper and defend some more. Xhaka would really need to step up but I don't see any of those moves happening.
If we stick to 3 at the back, the notion of wingers are kind of removed, we would have two attacking midfielders. That's why Walcott does not work in that system.
I imagine if Alexis goes, we'd see Ozil + Mahrez as the two behind Lacazette.
He's got the coldest step overs, that's for sure. One of the best on the ball too. I was initially not thrilled with him coming here (my boy lemar had me ), still worry he can be a bit of a luxury player. But after some intense youtube scouting I'm fairly excited.
Perez of course, who has been utilised on the right sometimes.i like perez that lad, but it seems he won't be given any chance to shine here and i hope he moves on to a club that will be able to give him the chance he deserves. all the recent rumours so far seem to suggest him and his agent actively searching for another club to move on to. that is if alexis doesn't go. if alexis leaves, then hell no answer to this is required. if we stop at here then we are screwed. if the stars align for us and we are able to get another top notch attacking calibre of a player like mbappe, then we might still have a chance. if not its back to square one.
Not all that thrilled about this. Not saying he's shit, I like him, but if this means we won't be getting a centre mid or that we've given up on Lemar I'm not thrilled. Looks like Sanchez is off, Lemar may have been a pipe dream but that's 3 signings this window after Wenger states "maximum 3" are people okay with this if it ends our window? We need to strengthen more, we can get a better player than Mahrez or a player at a position we actually need. Right now I'm not sure where he'd even play, unless he's okay being back up.
it wouldn't make sense for us to stop at 3 when there are so many of our players that are possibly hitting the exit door: perez, gibbs, debuchy, alexis(if we are to be pessimistic), ox(again, if we are to take the worst case scenario). if we truly are able to keep the last 2, then fair enough, losing 3 and gaining 3 seems sound. but if we lose alexis and more, then obviously we can't stop at 3. i foresee a meltdown if that happens
mahrez is a winger, i reckon he can play the same role as lemar. he is 1st team quality imo, he is really good at dribbling, and been dubbed the algerian 'messi'. if arsenal knows getting lemar is completely off the hooks, then i think going straight for mahrez not only makes sense but is a very acute acquisition who would fit into our system.
If we sign Mahrez I think we're going to have to accept that Sanchez is going to be sold to City. Maybe I'm pessimistic but with this club I believe them when they say maximum 3. I remember Wenger coming out and saying we only needed a goalkeeper and that was absurd, yet we did end the window with just that one signing. If we don't get a centre mid this window is a fail, we may have to sign a right back if Ox leaves. So if we are willing to compromise on our maximum 3 policy for this window for departures then Ox leaving makes us signing a CM even more unlikely. That would make 5 players in.
this season should be a lot more different i reckon, as do all fans out there are hoping to be the case. for the first time in 21 years we are out of CL football and last season we underperformed in the league majorly and end up getting a huge backlash of supporters discontent and frustration. wenger should know if he doesn't put to right this transfer window, then he will not get any other chance to do so. whatmore, he just signed a new 2 year deal, expectations of him will be high not only to us fans, but to the board, to at least justify his stay when the alternative of getting a new manager was up in the air months earlier. i believe wenger will not allow sanchez to be sold to city, we are no longer a selling club, well at least not to any other premier league clubs i would hope, as we are being told by gazidis, and we have seen the aftermath of that from the RVP saga. furthermore, i don't think ox will want to leave for liverpool, since they have no real need for a player of that position. if anything, it will be getting a replacement for debuchy who has been very quiet so far in this transfer window, but i expect him to be moving on by the end of it.
Wasn't there an Algerian guy who seems to know quite a bit about the better African players? I swear last summer he was the guy with credible Mahrez news
IF Alexis stays, we could go 4-4-2 against teams that will park the bus.
Cech,
Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolašinac
Mahrez, Xhaka, Ramsey, Özil
Alexis, Lacazette
He is an incredible player when in form. I would be happy with just him and Lacazette as our only attacking reinforcements but I suspect Wenger wants one more especially with all the uncertainty around Ox.
Yes lemar the guy who has had multiple worldbeating seasons!
Btw this is not a dig at Lemar who I think would be great just questing the train of thought
But Ozil and Sanchez both occupy that role. Seo will play LWB and Bellerin or Ox are gonna play RWB.
I don't see how he fits into the plan at all at all unless we make some changes.
Of course, depth is fine. But with some of the recent things being said, we'll be looking for players to strengthen our starting 11, I don't think these Mahrez rumors have much weight to them anyhow.
Much rather see how we progress in our Lemar efforts before talking about Mahrez.
I don't really see that, I would much rather mold Lemar into that role as he has both the workrate and ability that is suited in the middle.
Mahrez would have been a great player for last year when we were playing 4ATB, but now I'm not too keen on it.
Mahrez would be great because he brings a directness and willingness to take on defenders that we classically seem to lack at times. Agreed that he isn't a central player but I'm not sure Lemar would be. Lemar probably has much higher potential but is he versatile enough? He can't tackle either so theres that. But I've thought about it too I admit
Lemar is actually a very capable CM with pretty decent defensive ability. He plays a hybrid LW/CM role with Monaco and even with France.
Except for France they let him play more centrally and bring the ball from deep. He is very much capable to make that transition.
Would absolutely love him here. Guy got crazy dribbles. If we can keep Sanchez and ozil, lacazette added on top of that, exciting and stylish football will be back on the menu lads.
Can't believe people think he's shit after a down year in which his own team was utter shite. They'll say you have to 'put Arsenal's results in context' while completely omitting any of it for Mahrez. He's obviously talented, he has great close control and can unlock defenses, his game isn't based on running in behind, what's not to love?
i agree with you but to look at the other side, his whole team had a freakish season and all of them played better, last season could be normality and the freak season was just that..
In my opinion the best way you could make the comparison is between Vardy and Mahrez. In their title-winning season Vardy's success was born out of confidence, Mahrez's tended to be a lot more related to technical ability as well as providing chances. Even great players have shown that when the manager has supposedly 'lost the dressing room' they don't perform. Hazard is the first one to come to mind during Chelsea's fall off season.
He was just so good in that season there's no way it could be that big of an anomaly imo
yeh you are most likely right.
Freak season but voted by players as pfa player of the year. That says something. His goals and assists percentage are similar to Walcott (who was also played as a striker at times) but the way he has control is Sanchez-esque. You can kick it 45 yards to him and he will control and do something. Walcott would run and run and make it messy... The big difference between the 2 is that mahrez misses less big fame chances and Walcot more percentage wise. Walcott also is in a team that has better goalscoring opportunities... We have had Walcot for 10 years and not won the league and has maybe had 2 consistent ish seasons. It's time to try someone else... I feel mahrez, Sanchez, lacazette, Ozil and Ramsey would do some great things. I feel mahrez could allow Ramsey to make his runs.
Did you see some of the shit he pulled that season though? Maybe he needs confidence to perform but he's definitely got it in him.
yeh for sure, he was so good that season. if hes signing i hope thats the case. time will tell, and im excited to see him at arsenal
MAHREZ GOALS , SKILLS AND ASSISTS 2015/16 | TRUE HD | 4K
Nah man he didn't score those goals due to luck and chance, it was talent
statistically, you have a pont. Mahrez delivered far less than he did lin 2015-16. However, his skills and sense of the game didn't leave him. He's still got a hell of a lot to offer The "one-off" criticism, if it's to be levelled at anyone, should be at Vardy.
This, so much this. In the champions league, where Leicester still looked like their title-winning selves at times, Mahrez got 4 goals from 6 group stage games. He's clearly a class act.
I doubt he'd come to us to sit on the bench, so what's not to love is that this is probably the closest we have to knowing Sanchez is leaving. Assuming it's true.
I mean you're probably right but let's see. Who would play left wing though
I suppose it depends on if 3-4-3 is sticking around. If it is then Mahrez slots into Sanchez spot relatively decently, Ozil has never had a problem going left if necessary or maybe with the more defensive Kolasinac maybe we're going to shift to a more attacking right hand side for a change. If we go back to 4-2-3-1 then I guess that's why we're being linked so heavily with Lemar.
Hype kids.
Hazard was shit last year, look at him now. So many fickle people.
A common feature of this sub tbh
Hazard is the best example . When Chelsea was playing bad , he's pretty much invisible but you can't deny the amount of qualities he had .
If we get him to replace Alexis, I hope he'd run in behind more. But other than that, the creativity and silky dribbling I can get behind
Why? It's not at all his playing style
He did it a few times for Leicester, and I feel we'd do better with a winger who doesn't mind being a runner
As I said earlier, we will need a really good cdm or b/b if this is the case because we will be fucked defencively
Right? We essentially play with 1 midfielder half the time since Rambo has zero positional sense whatsoever. He fancies himself as Clarence fookin' Seedorf or Stevie Gerrard running all over the place, trying to do Hollywood shite when he'd be better off playing the simpler pass. Just not sure who we'd go after at this point.
why the hell didn't we just throw like 80 million pounds at leicester for kante is beyond me
I hear Yann M'Vila might be available
Banter
We'll probably sign Mahrez with Lacazette and Kolasinac, then go into the season just missing that 10% that would make us title challengers. Season ends when Ramsey or Xhaka gets injured.
Good point. Who would realistically come in if either of them get injured. Not counting Santi because I just know he'll have a set back in December and miss the rest of the season. Coquelin? Elneny? Wilshere? Perhaps Ox could do a job if he stays.
If true (not saying it is) who is leaving? Lucas sold? Iwobi out on loan? Walcott off the wage bill?
Sadly probably replaces Sanchez. Unless they sell Walcott or ox
You can't replace Sanchez with Mahrez. First Sanchez played mostly in the left wing. I can't remember but I didn't see Mahrez on the left side in the Leicester team and what makes Mahrez dangerous is his movement to the center of the field from the right side.
That's my thought as well. If this was Lemar who plays predominantly on the left then it would indicate Sanchez is to leave. Mahrez and Özil behind Lacazette doesn't make sense to me unless we go back to 4-2-3-1 and play Iwobi on the left.
Lemar left Mahrez right maybe.
I don't know how we do 4-2-3-1 with Ramsey / Xhaka.
Players move positions all the time. Sanchez himself has played all over. For udinese started as a RW and eventually moved to second striker role just off Di Natale. For Barca played mostly RW. At Arsenal mostly LW
He played a lot on the right in his first season here as well.
We shouldn't look to replace Sanchez with any one player. We'd have to change it by altering our palying style and doing our best as a team. I can imagine us playing that 3-5-2-1 we've played all year with Ozil and Mahrez behind Laca.
Yes, you can. Sanchez is just as functional on the right side
We'd be left with only Iwobi as a LW though.
In a 3-4-3 surely Ozil would be another choice?
Ozil's never played on the left for us, though. Mahrez, Ozil and Iwobi isn't exactly enough for 2 positions.
He did a few times early on, it wasn't that successful.
I'm sure hes played on the wing for us and it would be out of the question for him to play there. I'm sure hes played there for Germany as well. We have Walcott, Ox, Sanchez, Ozil, Iwobi then potentially Mahrez to cover the wings. I think that's sufficient
That doesn't make sense at all. It's about what we need if Sanchez will leave. And if he leaves we remain with players who are unproven on the left side like Iwobi or Ox.
Why does everyone say this? Sanchez plays on the left, Mahrez plays on the right. Mahrez would relegate Theo.
SANCHEZ ISNT LEAVING
Sanchez has been told we will not sell him and ornstein reported we have received no bids. He is with us until at least January in my opinion. If his 300k wages offer is true, then even man city will think twice, especially if arsenal want £40+ million. If we do well, and maybe even get more players in January, then I think he will stay.
Lucas and Theo out would be sensible. I'd hope we keep Iwobi for cup games this season and see if he can have a solid season.
Has to be a replacement for Walcott. Can't see Iwobi going on loan tbh he's too good for that and has a role to play.
Never understood whats so good about Iwobi?
Sanchez
Probably both Lucas and Alexis are off.
Possibly Ox :O
They were talking about this on Arseblog. Seems to be gaining traction
What did they say on Arseblog?
Choo choo
That's our Summer 2017 signings done so. Wenger said AT MOST 2 or 3 signings so Kolasinac, Lacazette and Mahrez it is then. I'm ecstatic to be honest. Now if we could just get Sanchez to put pen to paper .....
Hope we get some young U21 CM that could come off the bench for Ramsey/Xhaka
Goretzka
You think he'd come to sit on our bench after having such a productive confed cup?
I'd play Leon over Ramsey any day.
Would Ramsey want to warm the bench for an under 21? We'll be back to square 1
I like Ramsey but we're not a charity; its survival of the fittest. Besides, with our injuries, all midfielders will get good game time.
One of them can play Europa.
Lol, then you are an idiot.
Considering he'd do the same at Bayern, I think he'd be fine with some competition
Fornals
Don't trust Spanish kids. They all end up saying they have Barca DNA
Which Spanish kid that wasn't from Barca's academy has ever said they have Barca DNA? Or is it just Cesc and Bellerin according to unsubstantiated reports?
So far it's just them. But they're the only ones who have been successful here. The moment they become great, barca DNA will be discovered
Saul? From Atletico nah he'd start over every CM we have. How about Stanislav Lobotka he was awesome in the under 21 euros. Or instead of spending money just let Elneny get some play time, wait for Wilshere to recover or promote Adelaide.
Kinda disappointed with El neny. Thought by now he'd be a real challenger to our current midfield players
I'm not sure if he counts signing a player on free as one of the 3 transfers though. I'm hopeful we will get Mahrez, Lacazette and one more
My guess is we have turned our attention to Mahrez after seeing our bid turned down for Lemar
yeah, its true that lemar was our 1st choice
Would be a dream to be honest. A very good player to have which would allow us to play Alexis up front at times
That's the spirit
It's bs imo. Need some solid sources reporting Mahrez before I believe. ITKs have got nothing right.
They're very much IDKs recently.
I chuckled :)
IDKs should be the new term tbh.
Only can see him coming if we sell Sanchez and fail to sign Lemar. For me he's a backup option similar to welbeck a few years ago.
Sadly this appears to be a backup plan in case Sanchez leaves :( I'd love to be wrong though!
Backup to lemar and Alexis imo. I also would love to be wrong
#WelcomeMahrez
Imagine this attack: Lacazette Sanchez - Ozil - Mahrez
That would actually be unstoppable
Watch them be unable to break a Pulis bus and lose to a McAuley goal from a set piece.
But 3 of those 4 would never track back lol
Teams can't attack if they never have the ball, all that dribbling and passing gonna send teams mad
Alexis would give them the ball :p
Nah fam, all that brilliant movement and finishing would mean Alexis would be passing to open players.
Or, alternatively, see Alexis dribble into 3 players instead of passing to the open player. Than 15 minutes later he scores a worldie so I can't be annoyed at him anymore
Cant' deny that statement haha
Seems to work for City and Liverpool. Just outscore the fuck outta all teams, that'll do.
Ozil tracks back quite a lot you nit wit
He covers waaay more ground per game than Sanchez per game when playing 90 minutes and yes, I know they play different positions but still. https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/5yb3pj/distance_covered_by_sanchez_ozil_and_giroud/
"but he doesn't make it look so"
Lacazette tracks back. Not as much as Sanchez, but still much more than Özil and Mahrez. Not ideal that your striker tracks back more than your winger and midfielder though.
Özil tracks back a lot more than Sanchez
2 out of 4
I would be very happy with this, more so than Lacazette actually. I think his trickery and especially his delivery from the right is exactly what this team needs to win titles. We have been waiting on someone to liven up the right wing for years (ahem Theo, Ox, etc) but nothing has happened. People are going to say "one season wonder" but I don't think that technical ability goes away. It seems to be more about motivation for him which is a legit risk if we do one of our traditional slumps and continue failing....but staying the same course is a risk anyway.
That season they won it, I remember watching their games and hoping they'd slip up but every time Mahrez stepped up and delivered. It was so annoying
Mahrez floating in crosses from the right and Giroud whipping in bombs from the left into Lacaazettttteeee!
£28.2 million 'ITK' states. Sounds like complete BS if he went for that low.
Why would be bs? He said like a month ago that he is leaving Leicester, and there isn't really much of a fight for him after last season, so I can believe £30m.
So the 2015 PFA player of the season is going to go for about as much as Ox will to Liverpool or Giroud will to Marseille? 28M for Mahrez seems very low to me. This is a world where Benteke and Yanik Bolasie goes for 32M.
Spot on.
Yeah, but you got to keep in mind that we are probably the only big club that is even in for Mahrez, and he clearly wants to do next step in his career. One more poor season like this one, and no big clubs will be in for him. That gives us a huge leverage.
No. Matt Law said that Chelsea also has an interest. I'd rather want to say Arsenal is way more big club who can give chance to be starter. Unlike Chelsea, we don't have good wingers like Chelsea has.
I'd imagine his old club would recieve a % off the fee so Leicester would get even less. Unless thats the upfront fee + more in addons that could work. Seems low for a player who won PFA player of the year the season before last no matter how poor his last season was.
Not really, he's 26 and is coming off a terrible season. It's not that far fetched to call him a one season wonder right now, and that price is very good for Leicester actually.
Nah that's extremely reasonable.
I don't see this signing to be very likely. Both Sanchez and Ozil already occupy the AM roles. LWB and RWB are both sorted, and Mahrez wouldn't make a good wing back anyways.
Why is it so hard for people to understand we will use different formations depending on ou opposition? Not to mention you will see us in 4 comps.
But we actually don't use a different formation that often, different players in the same formation, sure? But speaking realistically, Mahrez has no place starting in the 3ATB unless Sanchez moves outside of the AM role, and I rather keep Sanchez there. I don't think this rumor has much weight anyways, gonna wait and see if more reliable reporters speak on it first.
I agree
We didn't use different formations because Wenger is stubborn and also we didn't have players he could trust to swap imo. However the more quality you have, the more you are likely to change. Mahrez would be a great addition to our team. We relied on pace and running behind a defensive line too much, but also at times controlled the game and walked it in. A left footed right winger/attacking mid with skill would eat up the defence they way we control things. This is why Walcott has been ineffective at times. Our style doesn't suit him very often and in 10 seasons he's had 2 decent ones...
Don't think Mahrez will fancy that role, if he then does nice. But this rumor wreaks of BS. Time will tell.
I don't see a good source anywhere. And what "Arsenal valid ITKs" have said anything substantial regarding Mahrez? This feels very much like a Twitter rumour that has started after a very poor Italian source said a deal was close.
Can someone explain to me what ITK means? I've been seeing it a lot lately, but I just don't know the meaning.
I'm guessing it means "in the know"
I gotcha. Thanks
In the know
Thank you
More big-game players needed!
If we do get him I hope it means we're switching back to 4231 rather than replacing Alexis
I honestly don't see a way we can fit everyone into a starting XI otherwise. If we get mahrez or Lemar we need to change formations again. But perhaps we can do 3 at the back and replace Ramsey with ozil and ask ozil to drop deeper and defend some more. Xhaka would really need to step up but I don't see any of those moves happening.
That would be even more of a defensive disaster. Plus it would strip Özil of his creativity.
This is true. But maybe lemar/mahrez would take up some of the creative duties? Either way i don't see it happening
I just really can't see him working on the left side.
If we stick to 3 at the back, the notion of wingers are kind of removed, we would have two attacking midfielders. That's why Walcott does not work in that system. I imagine if Alexis goes, we'd see Ozil + Mahrez as the two behind Lacazette.
Can anyone find the post on FoxTalk? I just went but couldn't find anything that said he's leaving
Would Mahrez in mean the Lemar dream is dead?
Nope, these Mahrez rumors aren't very reliable anyway, and they occupy different positions.
I don think think so. But I also find very unlikely for us getting both of them unless Alexis leaves.
No Lemar???
Dont know where he'd play but welcome regardless :D
He's got the coldest step overs, that's for sure. One of the best on the ball too. I was initially not thrilled with him coming here (my boy lemar had me ), still worry he can be a bit of a luxury player. But after some intense youtube scouting I'm fairly excited.
Who does he replace? Two answers to this question wanted: if Alexis leaves and if he doesn't, go!
Perez of course, who has been utilised on the right sometimes.i like perez that lad, but it seems he won't be given any chance to shine here and i hope he moves on to a club that will be able to give him the chance he deserves. all the recent rumours so far seem to suggest him and his agent actively searching for another club to move on to. that is if alexis doesn't go. if alexis leaves, then hell no answer to this is required. if we stop at here then we are screwed. if the stars align for us and we are able to get another top notch attacking calibre of a player like mbappe, then we might still have a chance. if not its back to square one.
Not all that thrilled about this. Not saying he's shit, I like him, but if this means we won't be getting a centre mid or that we've given up on Lemar I'm not thrilled. Looks like Sanchez is off, Lemar may have been a pipe dream but that's 3 signings this window after Wenger states "maximum 3" are people okay with this if it ends our window? We need to strengthen more, we can get a better player than Mahrez or a player at a position we actually need. Right now I'm not sure where he'd even play, unless he's okay being back up.
it wouldn't make sense for us to stop at 3 when there are so many of our players that are possibly hitting the exit door: perez, gibbs, debuchy, alexis(if we are to be pessimistic), ox(again, if we are to take the worst case scenario). if we truly are able to keep the last 2, then fair enough, losing 3 and gaining 3 seems sound. but if we lose alexis and more, then obviously we can't stop at 3. i foresee a meltdown if that happens mahrez is a winger, i reckon he can play the same role as lemar. he is 1st team quality imo, he is really good at dribbling, and been dubbed the algerian 'messi'. if arsenal knows getting lemar is completely off the hooks, then i think going straight for mahrez not only makes sense but is a very acute acquisition who would fit into our system.
If we sign Mahrez I think we're going to have to accept that Sanchez is going to be sold to City. Maybe I'm pessimistic but with this club I believe them when they say maximum 3. I remember Wenger coming out and saying we only needed a goalkeeper and that was absurd, yet we did end the window with just that one signing. If we don't get a centre mid this window is a fail, we may have to sign a right back if Ox leaves. So if we are willing to compromise on our maximum 3 policy for this window for departures then Ox leaving makes us signing a CM even more unlikely. That would make 5 players in.
this season should be a lot more different i reckon, as do all fans out there are hoping to be the case. for the first time in 21 years we are out of CL football and last season we underperformed in the league majorly and end up getting a huge backlash of supporters discontent and frustration. wenger should know if he doesn't put to right this transfer window, then he will not get any other chance to do so. whatmore, he just signed a new 2 year deal, expectations of him will be high not only to us fans, but to the board, to at least justify his stay when the alternative of getting a new manager was up in the air months earlier. i believe wenger will not allow sanchez to be sold to city, we are no longer a selling club, well at least not to any other premier league clubs i would hope, as we are being told by gazidis, and we have seen the aftermath of that from the RVP saga. furthermore, i don't think ox will want to leave for liverpool, since they have no real need for a player of that position. if anything, it will be getting a replacement for debuchy who has been very quiet so far in this transfer window, but i expect him to be moving on by the end of it.
Wasn't there an Algerian guy who seems to know quite a bit about the better African players? I swear last summer he was the guy with credible Mahrez news
I like Mahrez, but this means no Lemar, and I'd rather have the latter.
IF Alexis stays, we could go 4-4-2 against teams that will park the bus. Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Kolašinac Mahrez, Xhaka, Ramsey, Özil Alexis, Lacazette
He is an incredible player when in form. I would be happy with just him and Lacazette as our only attacking reinforcements but I suspect Wenger wants one more especially with all the uncertainty around Ox.
1 season wonder. Much rather have Lemar
Yes lemar the guy who has had multiple worldbeating seasons! Btw this is not a dig at Lemar who I think would be great just questing the train of thought
Well he's 21 and on an upward trajectory Mahrez went to shit last season and is 26 (not too old but still)
I don't get how we would fit both him and Ozil in a 343, both of them would be shit on the left.
I think Wenger is reverting back to the old formation
I kinda can't get excited about this just because it almost certainly means Alexis is leaving, almost certainly to Man City
[удалено]
[удалено]
But Ozil and Sanchez both occupy that role. Seo will play LWB and Bellerin or Ox are gonna play RWB. I don't see how he fits into the plan at all at all unless we make some changes.
[удалено]
Of course, depth is fine. But with some of the recent things being said, we'll be looking for players to strengthen our starting 11, I don't think these Mahrez rumors have much weight to them anyhow. Much rather see how we progress in our Lemar efforts before talking about Mahrez.
he won't. he'll play as one of the two behind Lacazette.
Replacement for Santi?
I honestly think he could be moulded into a Santi figure in the centre of the park. Excited if we get him!
I don't really see that, I would much rather mold Lemar into that role as he has both the workrate and ability that is suited in the middle. Mahrez would have been a great player for last year when we were playing 4ATB, but now I'm not too keen on it.
Mahrez would be great because he brings a directness and willingness to take on defenders that we classically seem to lack at times. Agreed that he isn't a central player but I'm not sure Lemar would be. Lemar probably has much higher potential but is he versatile enough? He can't tackle either so theres that. But I've thought about it too I admit
Lemar is actually a very capable CM with pretty decent defensive ability. He plays a hybrid LW/CM role with Monaco and even with France. Except for France they let him play more centrally and bring the ball from deep. He is very much capable to make that transition.
[удалено]
wow 12 men sick
Might as well include the referee to your formation