2022-2023 is now OVER!

Let's do this.

Just ordered the new home shirt with Xhaka on the back. Gonna truly miss him. Surprisingly emotional today seeing that big smile after his second goal. I'll always appreciate what he brought to the club.

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In reply to Teacher_Ag

Teacher_Ag said:

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Just ordered the new home shirt with Xhaka on the back. Gonna truly miss him. Surprisingly emotional today seeing that big smile after his second goal. I'll always appreciate what he brought to the club.

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I do love the guy but we didn't always love what he brought.

In reply to Ghost of Andrew Eaton Had some reckless moments, for sure, but in a phase where we looked so lightweight Xhaka was the one who was willing to play balls to the wall every match. Unlike others you could tell it deeply bothered him when we played without heart and lost. I think our turnaround and the spark lit under the younger guys has a lot more to do with him than people likely realize.

Xhaka is pretty much an individual representation of the last 7 years. Saw some God awful play and then things have finally started to improve and finish on a decent high point

Onward and upward! Let's win some hardware!

I am going to miss him playing for us. It must have been very difficult sticking around and playing for a club that lost its way for a few seasons.

🚨 De Zerbi: “I think it can be the last game for Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo at Brighton”.

“I am really sorry because they are two great players but the policy of Brighton is like this. It is right that they can leave, to play at higher level”, says via @JournoHaff. pic.twitter.com/D4VrGmI6Pl

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 28, 2023

🚨Mikel Arteta’s speech to the fans following the final game of the season [@rafsenal]

pic.twitter.com/ckZtlPiKN0

— Arsenal Informer (@ars_informer) May 28, 2023

Really torn on getting the Home kit with or without a name/number.

Seeing it live has really swayed me....and I'm a suckered for the gold stuff

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Let the crazy season begin.

PSG are interested in signing Martin Odegaard for 90m this summer lol. Unless they drop close to Neymar money, there is zero chance we are letting him go. Hell Mason Mount is being quoted at 85m. They are not the same

🚨 Arsenal have no intention of letting Emile Smith Rowe depart this summer. 22yo contracted until 2026 + important part of #AFC plans. After injury-hit campaign, hope is he shines at #U21EURO & in pre-season before big 23/24. W/ @ArtdeRoche @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/sRSk7zzE6E

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) May 30, 2023

In reply to wangus12

I think most Arsenal fans will receive this as good news. Can add that the club have recently communicated very clearly to ESR that he is part of the plans for next season.

Arteta’s task is now to extract more from this very gifted young player. https://t.co/xzXoUKC98z

— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) May 30, 2023

This makes me very happy. If we sign Gundogan to take Xhaka's spot, he will need rotation to stay healthy. Would love to see ESR be his rotation partner. Give Gundo CL & big EPL matches. Give ESR cups and lessor EPL matches until he proves himself ready for more.

In. If you had told me on page 1 of the previous year that we would finish 5 pts back in second with a +45 goal diff I would have struggled to believe it. I wonder what the 23-24 season will bring us? Lots of pundits ****ting on us now (as is the fashion) but I think if we sign Rice and Caicedo and can stay relatively healthy, we could challenge again. It was a good year considering what we looked like coming into it.

In reply to wangus12

wangus12 said:

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🚨 Arsenal have no intention of letting Emile Smith Rowe depart this summer. 22yo contracted until 2026 + important part of #AFC plans. After injury-hit campaign, hope is he shines at #U21EURO & in pre-season before big 23/24. W/ @ArtdeRoche @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/sRSk7zzE6E

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) May 30, 2023

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We need depth, so this is good

Assumed pre-summer window depth chart minus players we all expect to leave...

GK - Ramsdale, Turner
LB - Zinchenko, Tomi
RB - White, Tomi
CB - Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior
DM - Partey, Jorginho
CM - ESR/Vieira
AM - MO, ESR/Vieira
LW - Martinelli, Trossard
RW - Saka, Nelson
ST - Jesus, Eddie

Based on that we need atleast 1 FB, 1 CB & 2 MF. Would be nice to add a 2nd FB, 3rd MF and a ST.

All of the "pundits" are expecting we will be in for 1 defender, 2 MF & 1 forward. I think those suggestions may be accurate but do not account for players that are likely leaving and need to be replaced. That is were we could see a 2nd defender (1 FB & 1 CB) plus a 3rd MF (1 DM, 1 CM & 1 AM?).

Current links (some likely BS) I have seen by position...

GK - none
FB - Cancelo, Fresneda, Boey
CB - Simikan, Sutalo, Pavard, Tapsoba
DM - Rice, Caicedo
CM - Gundogan, Rabiot, Mount
AM - Simons, Maddison, Kudus, Mateus Franca (Flamengo)
W - Diaby, Olise, Ansu Fati
ST - Thuram, Vlahovic, Wahi, Pedrinho (Corinthians), Vitor Roque (Atl Paranaense)

I wonder what Turner thinks of his current situation. He is a much better keeper than Horvath IMO, but he might be wondering how his national team fate will be impacted if Horvath is starting in the Prem next season. Plus wherever Steffen ends up

I really wish Arteta had played him Sunday

In reply to chjoak If we bring in a ready-to-play full back, then I think the club may look at center back as "covered" between Saliba, Gabriel, White, Tomiyasu, and Kiwior.

The root challenge since Saliba was injured has been that Ben White was not available to play center back. If Tomiyasu was available to play on the right and Ben White could have moved centrally, there might have been a lot less hand-wringing about the defensive situation.

In reply to chjoak

chjoak said:

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Current links (some likely BS) I have seen by position...

GK - none
FB - Cancelo, Fresneda, Boey
CB - Simikan, Sutalo, Pavard, Tapsoba
DM - Rice, Caicedo
CM - Gundogan, Rabiot, Mount
AM - Simons, Maddison, Kudus, Mateus Franca (Flamengo)
W - Diaby, Olise, Ansu Fati
ST - Thuram, Vlahovic, Wahi, Pedrinho (Corinthians), Vitor Roque (Atl Paranaense)

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What? No Draxler?

At least Rabiot is on there

In reply to TXAggie2011

TXAggie2011 said:

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If we bring in a ready-to-play full back, then I think the club may look at center back as "covered" between Saliba, Gabriel, White, Tomiyasu, and Kiwior.

The root challenge since Saliba was injured has been that Ben White was not available to play center back. If Tomiyasu was available to play on the right and Ben White could have moved centrally, there might have been a lot less hand-wringing about the defensive situation.

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Agreed. It's possible that we focus on FB and plan for White to play at CB at times. Really depends on (a) who is available at what price and (b) where is Mikel's head as far as the future scheme. If he likes the 3-2-2-3 formation in attack, he may be inclined to move towards FBs that are CB/FB hybrids (White, Tomi & Kiwior) but if a 2-3-2-3 formation in attack (2 inverted FBs) is in the cards then it is more likely we focus on FBs with White getting some CB rotation next season.

The other interesting aspect to this is Saliba. How long will he be out? Is he going to extend? Could play heavily into what we do next season as well.

In reply to Ag Since 83

Ag Since 83 said:

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I wonder what Turner thinks of his current situation. He is a much better keeper than Horvath IMO, but he might be wondering how his national team fate will be impacted if Horvath is starting in the Prem next season. Plus wherever Steffen ends up

I really wish Arteta had played him Sunday

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I think he spends at least one more year at Arsenal. He gets to play for his favorite team and I don't think he needs to worry about his NT fate until 24/25 when we start really gearing up for the World Cup. Will be interesting to see if Horvath gets a transfer to Luton or somewhere else. I don't think he takes to starting job at Nottingham Forrest.

In reply to wangus12 I think if Copa America 2024 wasn't a thing, 1 extra year at Arsenal would be a no brainer. But he might worry about being #1 in summer 2024.

All this also depends on if Arteta is happy with him as #2. I think that Sporting first leg impacted Arteta's confidence in him.

To be entirely honest, I don't think Turner is a good fit for Arsenal. He's a solid shot blocker but his distribution is not good. I wouldn't be opposed to selling him this summer but I don't think we want to use any funds on a backup GK. So unless we get someone in FA, promote Hein/Okonkwo or find someone on a really cheap fee, I don't see us addressing it.

Just realized Henri Lansbury plays for Luton Town. That was a name I hadn't thought about for a long time

In reply to TXAggie2011 He was with Aston Villa for a few years. And I wanna say he was part of an older Nottingham Forest team that knocked us out of the FA Cup years ago. What surprised me is that he is 32

Seeing more SMS rumors popping up. Supposedly Inter, Juventus & Arsenal interested. Contract expires in 2024 and rumors suggest that he will be available this summer for 30-40m euro.

🚨🚨 Arsenal are interested in James Maddison

[@FabrizioRomano]

— Link Up Arsenal (@LinkUpArsenal) May 31, 2023

Maddison was supposed to be headed to Newcastle. They are now rumored to be getting Gabri Veiga instead. Some take that as Newcastle backing away. Others suggest that Maddison found what he feels is a better option.

🚨🚨 Arsenal’s priority is Declan Rice, though he is keeping his options open at the moment, Arsenal are a concrete option but the race is open.

Arsenal also want 1 more midfielder, a centre back & a fullback.

Arsenal want to sign important players.

[@FabrizioRomano]

— Link Up Arsenal (@LinkUpArsenal) May 31, 2023

Slightly different than other pundits are saying. Assuming we sign 4 "important" players, I could see this position wishlist being more accurate. If Nelson resigns we have 6 players for 3 positions and most can play 2-3 spots. Think if we add a forward it is highly likely to be one of those young Brazilians we have been linked to.

William Saliba seeking improved offer from Arsenal.

Sources insist that Saliba is NOT trying to force his way out of the club, but he wants a contract befitting of his status as one of the best young defenders in the world.@90min_Football https://t.co/Q6e6cccbfv

— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) May 31, 2023

Arsenal official bid for Declan Rice will be submitted after the Europa League final. Plan very clear. ⚪️🔴⤵️ #AFC https://t.co/cwL483INCY

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 1, 2023

🚨 Exclusive: We can exclusively reveal Sacha Boey has agreed Personal Terms with Arsenal ahead of a potential move.

🗣️ We understand Arsenal did submit a bid for the right-back however, it was rejected by Galatasaray as they want £25M.

🗣️ Afcsphere can also confirm that a CAA… pic.twitter.com/f3E7feIEN6

— afcsphere (@afcsphere) June 1, 2023