Arsenal News Show: 9 POINTS BEHIND Liverpool! | Partey to Barcelona | Coman & Marmoush UPDATES

So this is how the table is going to finish in 2024. Liverpool first, Nottingham Forest second. What a season they're having. Shout out Bournemouth and Fulham as well. Liverpool first, Forest second, Arsenal third, Chelsea fourth, Manchester City fifth. Boy, if anyone's going to, you know, pick Liverpool, it looks like it's getting, it looks like it's going to be Nottingham Forest. But as you know, Liverpool have two games in hand and need them to drop points. And you have to, you know, credit where due to Arn's slot, man. I mean, in 2024-25 season, on what ends of this first half of the season this year, they've got the most points with 35, scored the most goals with 45, the most xG accumulated with 41.76, best goal difference with plus 28, most big chances with 78. That's what gets you goals. And they're so relentless. And most shots on target, on slot, I mean, people behave like he inherited a bunch of bums, you know, but if you look at for a new manager, he had three of your top players' contracts still running down, gave you a half-fit Chiesa, didn't, you know, improve the depth of Liverpool. And I think this goes under the radar. He didn't inherit a bunch of bums, but I do think Arn's slot is over-exceeding expectations. Now, Liverpool last two seasons, forgive me if I'm wrong, have finished in the top four. So there was a building block, but many people didn't have them to be top. And the league's not done, but credit where due. They're unstoppable at this moment in time, people. And you look at their games in all comps, people, 22 goals conceded, 12 clean sheets, 68 goals. You know, the record's got one L there, top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League, and probably the favourites in the EFL Cup semi-final, in which, obviously, I hope Arsenal get some silverware. And again, goals win games. Of course, it's simplistic. We can look at, obviously, Liverpool have won the most and lost the least, but, you know, they're up there for goals, people. You know, yes, somebody, every team, you've seen it with Rodri, you've seen it with Saka, you've seen it with Odegaard. Every team, if they lose, their key players are going to struggle. But when you look at Liverpool, Salah's got 17 league goals. The man's crazy, to be fair. People said Harlan's finished, but he's got 14. Salah's got 17, but forget all of that, people. You know, just in terms of depth and the machine we're going around. What I like about them on the pitch, they're relentless. They're creative kings. They go again and again. I don't think they're invincible. I do think there's fragilities in the Liverpool side. I'm sure their fans would agree. But they're up here. Everybody's down there. So even if they drop points, they're on a certain floor, assuming they keep going. And you look at the creative depth around their team, people. Salah's obviously the big dog. He's got 17 goals. But you've got Diaz with eight. Gakpo with five. Giotto's been injury-prone with four. Couple of other players chipping in, people. Now, again, I'll care only about Arsenal. But you look at Arsenal, our top goalscorer has seven. Bakayo Saka is now injured. He's got five. Martinelli hasn't been able to score. Somehow he's got four. You know, Gabriel's use of his two goals makes him our sixth top goalscorer. And we all know, we got Trossart in the goals he scored. And Gabriel Magalhães from set pieces. Goals win games. We don't have a consistent bagsman to share the workload with Bakayo Saka. Bakayo Saka's not there. We're an issue. So I'm not saying this to give up. But this is what we're going about, people. You know, there's just so many things we need to do better in it. There's a good base at Arsenal, but there's so much we could do better. On the transfer window in January, people, Mikel Arteta said, let's see how we get there. Hopefully the squad is going to be in a much healthier position than it is right now. But who knows? We are prepared if we need to do something. We're capable of doing something. But then that transfer window is very tricky and difficult to control. The opportunities are very limited, but we'll be there. Now, in isolation, we all know it's a difficult window. But Mikel Arteta, you said on the first of this year, January 2024 slash February 2024, we've got one of the smallest squads. As this year is about to close this week, he said the same thing. So with Mikel Arteta and the whole recruitment staff, have we done enough? You know, I remember last season, Mikel Arteta was saying we have to maximise every transfer market. Did we maximise what we needed to maximise in the summer? Hopefully we do something in January. Even on the best of days, people, we still need attackers. I like the crop at Arsenal, but I say this all the time. In the 19 games we've played, 18, 19 games, people, have we looked at any of the issues around Arsenal, the fragilities of the side or things that could cripple us? Have we learned our lessons? Have we learned better yet? Did we learn any of this across the 19 games this season? We've known for the best part of two years there's issues on that left-hand side. We all have spoken about if Odegaard, Saka and Benjamin White are missing, which our right-hand side is our bread and butter. I've got nothing against Kai. I think Kai Havertz is a good squad player and he's doing his job clearly. But did we go and get that striker to upgrade? Did we get that versatile attacker that can play on the left or play on the right? Have we got a midfielder that has something different to the sixes we've got? Have we improved the overall depth of our squad? The answer is no. So we have to pull a rabbit out the hat in the transfer market. There's many statistics that point towards Bakayo Saka's creativity and his importance for Arsenal. Most chances created in the Premier League. Cole Palmer's got 48. Bakayo Saka has 42. Kulishevsky has 39. You could throw Salah into this but those three are three of the best performing attackers at this moment in time. And it's another one. You've lost Saka who creates your chances. Creating chances creates goals. Goals win games. And God knows how many points we would have without Saka's goals. Of course, I can't really go back in the 19 games and say how many goals were important because how many Bakayo Saka goals, for example, turn defeats into draws, draws into victory or the assists. I'm not sure, people, but you get where I'm going. Apparently, we've identified Kingsley Coleman as a candidate to cover for the injured Bakayo Saka now. That's what Collins is saying of the Evening Standard now. It's easy to link us with what the Ganabries, the Colmans, the Sarnes, players whose contracts are running down people. Whether that's able to be done in January, I don't know. The core argument has said, people, our top priority, allegedly, is even before Saka was injured for a significant period with a hamstring injury, he suffered at Crystal Palace. The need for Arsenal to bolster their forward line felt clear. Arsenal struggled in attack at times this season, as shown by the goalless draws against Everton and Fulham. And it's not just a recruitment thing. It's the chance creation. You look at how Liverpool play on a football pitch. They move the ball quickly. I'm not criticising Arteta, but we move the ball very slowly. So when you're playing a mid, low block, compact and congested team, that's become a source of Arsenal's kryptonite, people. And again, that's another thing that's been there from last season, people. A new forward, be that someone who plays as a nine or out wide, would be a welcome addition and could help the Gunners with the magic moments that Arteta has mentioned them lacking at times. Now, unless we're going to find an Adebayor at Monaco, I would love a striker. I would love a central midfielder. I wouldn't be against another defender. There's so many things, but apologies. The priority surely is someone that can cover for Saka and maybe even an upgrade because on paper, you can say we're well stocked. You've got Gabriel Jesus, you've got Martinelli. Assuming when Sterling's fit, even though he's injured as well, you've got that. There's also been some rumours of recalling Fabio Vieira. Some have quashed that rumour, some are still playing it up. So, yeah, even on the best of days where everyone fits, some of these questions were still there. I wouldn't be against another defender. Hopefully we welcome Benjamin White back. And Tommy has to be back, but that's more hopeful than anything. You know, on the topic of Bukayo Saka, some are as optimistic as a return in February. Some are as pessimistic as late March, April. The season could be won or lost then, really. You know, we can talk about the summer window as much as we want in 2025. And I'm not saying I don't want us to, but we're in the midst of a season now. Everything could be won or lost. And I don't necessarily think we're winning the Premier League. The Champions League is a dream. The FA Cup, we need to bring that home, but we've got a difficult test in Man United. And we've got 180 minutes away from a League Cup final, but we're going to have to get through Newcastle. On paper, we still are in with a fighting chance of winning stuff this season. So let's bolster the squad, man. And yeah, we've seen the injuries. We got lucky last season. The injuries haven't quite been as kind. We all know Jorginho and Partey's contracts are running down. Apparently, we've shown interest in Nico Williams and Benjamin Sesco last summer. Obviously, attaining them in January is difficult. You're seeing price tags as high as 150 million for Isak. I don't think that's going to happen. Apparently, a short term loan may be easier to complete with the Gunners having been linked with PSG forward Randall Colomani. Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coleman was available on loan back in the summer and could be an option. So we're going to have to see. Kivio's been linked with a move away. Surely that does not happen until the summer. The same with Zinchenko, who's got 18 months on his deal. Tierney could leave in January. His contract's running out. I'm sure Arsenal will take a cut. Price has come out. They're not renewing his deal. I personally think you might as well let the man leave on a free with all the injuries now. At least he's an option there. So, yeah, man, it is what it is. And, you know, big up Lewis Skelly for taking advantage of the injuries of some people that left back and helping us greatly in that regard. We're never going to stop being linked with Marcus Rashford. And I don't want to assassinate someone's character without knowing them. But you look at Andy Mitten, who spoke on Talksport. He said if Rashford is being forced out by Ineos to save wages, probably because he's not in the manager's thinking. No, I think the manager has had a big say here. I think he's doing it his way. Ruben Amerin is a smiling assassin. He's a disciplinarian. Discipline is the single most important thing you need in life and for footballers. If he's lacking discipline, why would you want him in an Arsenal football club, really, on top of everything? Allegedly, and again, I find it very intriguing that whether you believe Rashford is a bad player or a bad egg or whatever, you look at the aggressiveness of articles printed in this with this guy's name day in, day out, people. I always take these things with a pinch of salt because I don't know him. But if we take words for gospel, every previous manager has had issues with Marcus Rashford. I've spoken to them. I know them. They've told me in confidence going back years, years and years. So, boy, unless there's a change of heart from Marcus Rashford and he box up his ideas, is that someone you want at Arsenal in mid-season? Now, undoubtedly, we're going to keep being linked with Marcus Rashford, probably for the whole of January, people. Newcastle have put a hundred and fifty million price tag on Isak, people. Would you lot spend that? Smash the like button. Apparently, Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all interested, but a hundred and fifty million. Arsenal have been linked with Lorenzo Pellegrini, people, Roma. Obviously, he can play centre-mid and he's quite versatile. He has a bad time with injuries. I don't know if he's the difference maker or someone we want, but he's been linked with Arsenal Football Club. Another person that's been linked with Arsenal people, apparently we are considering a move for Crystal Palace's Tyreke Mitchell, whose contract expires in 2025. Would it be against him? I mean, he's homegrown. He could be a good squad player and stuff. But many would say, you know, we've got a lot of left backs. And surely, you know, Kivio can play centre-half as well as left back. Surely he'd have to be moved on. Surely the club might say, you know what? We love Tomiasu, but you can't stay fit. Surely with 18 months on his deal, Zinchenko has to move on. And then you've got the options of a Calafiore, a Timba. Obviously, Lewis Kelly has come into the fold now and he's doing quite well. But for me, I still maintain his future could be in centre-mid. And I would love to see him actually get an opportunity in that left centre-mid role. Essentially, people, I don't know where you're at. Spurs, apparently, are considering a move for him, people. So we'll have to see. And apparently AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. He typically always has a decent game against Arsenal. Wouldn't be against it, but I could understand many of you who sat there and let me know your thoughts. Would we need another left back, Paul? I hear it, people. A number of Premier League clubs are queuing up for the potential transfer of Eintracht Frankfurt Amar Mahmoud, who Mohamed Salah, regardless of his future at Liverpool, surely for his fellow countrymen, he's ten in Liverpool. I don't know if he's the answer or not, but he's scoring a lot of goals for Frankfurt. And I like his technical level and his technical quality. I think he's got capacity to play in a bunch of positions, people. Apparently, he has a stunning record of 18 goals and nine assists so far this season. A total of 27 G8 in his last 24 appearances for the club. I mean, he's 25 people, but I can't imagine that is something that is going to happen in January, people, potentially in the summer. And where the things have happened, you know, Arsenal, Sean, we didn't get them, but Sean will put the bag down on Kaiseido or Mudja Kovalevic. So you never know. On paper, we've got a positive net spend, but then you hear we're trading close to PSR and, you know, it feels that we go round and round in circles where Arsenal's transfer plans in the media is concerned. Kunya, who came off injured against Spurs, who has been linked with Arsenal, apparently Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in Spain, are preparing to spend 80 million euros on the Wolves forward Kunya, who has also been targeted by Man United in Arsenal. Now, PSG were linked with Lukman in the summer, right? Obviously, Wolves are in a relegation race. Kunya is their star man. He's a difference maker. As we said on the topic of goals winning games, they can make the difference. Would they want to sell him in January? But then you could argue if he really was to get an 80 million euros bid, which is about what? Maybe 68, 67, 68, 69, 70 odd million. Are you going to get that in the summer for someone who's got two years left on his deal? I don't know. But apparently Manchester United and Arsenal, as well as PSG, are keeping tabs on him. Again, Isak, we've gone through this. We all know we need someone like Isak. We'd love the 25 year old Swedish player at the club. But who knows in that regard? Arsenal are still linked with Zouba Mendy, but we've also been linked with Liao's Boubani, who is a young player, but quality. You would have seen him against Juventus and even against City, I'm sure. Couple of big teams in the Champions League. Cole Omani, apparently Chelsea are moving aggressively closer to signing him on loan. Another one who's been linked with Liverpool, Tottenham, Hotshite and Arsenal, as well as Chelsea. I'm not really keen on that, but you could say beggars can't be choosers. Interestingly, with the whole Declan Rice Again, let me know your thoughts. He said, I feel like I can do whatever the manager wants me to do. I've always been the best as a kid growing up as a six. I feel really free as an eight. Arriving in the box is unnatural for me, but it gives me more hunger for goals. I like your willingness to date that. I like you in the six, but there you have it. Apparently Celtic are working on a pre-contractor return Tierney back home, essentially. Deserves to play football, man. You know, Tierney, you was once upon a time a future potential captain at the club. You wore your heart on your sleeve. You was the first choice left back. 27 years of age. You deserve to play on a regular basis, man. So, yeah, man, it is what it is where Tierney is concerned. Martinelli, you know, his manager, Mikel Arteta, said something interesting. And let me know your thoughts on this. Gabby needs people around him. He needs constant threat. He needs to always be in the last line when the ball is on his side, that he has relationships there and people close to him because he's very intuitive. He's always a threat. I think that if you're isolating too much, you're going to suffer, especially playing with a natural foot on the right. And that's things that we can evolve and improve. So what do you make of that, people, especially with Bokai Osaka being injured? And you'd imagine, I believe it's going to be Martinelli on the right. One of Trostar or Jesus on the left and Kaifu in the middle. But if Sterling was fit, you could make a case of Martinelli on the left, Sterling on the right. Let me know your thoughts. The Athletic have said Arsenal are expected to continue their attempts to add in top emerging UK and global talent to the academy and the fringes of the first team. The club are putting in groundwork with several teenage prospects, ensuring that when they're old enough to join, they're in pole position. Fair enough. Keep doing that. Once again, people, Fabio Vieira has been linked with a move away, people. And some have said, you know, some have started tracking flights from Portugal to England. Obviously, he was left out of the matchday squad. I would say he's had a mixed time at Porto. He scored some goals and got some assists, but generally he's been in and out the squad, still had injuries and not really pulled up any trees. The manager said I have to make decisions, play Carlos, attention to the player's performance and how they view their day to day activities. That don't sound promising, does it? Fabio is a very talented, is very talented, but talent has to be based on a series of preconditions. And when one of two of them end up falling apart, it makes everything more difficult. He has immense potential and I have a large squad that offers me guarantees. I cannot give up on certain principles that are mine. What does that mean? I don't need to pass on any message. Fabio knows me well. We are counting on him. He'll be available to play again next week. So it is a question of making decisions. So what does that mean? Even if he returns to Arsenal, surely you're more in the portal plans than you would be at Arsenal. You'd be a body and we need bodies. So I wouldn't be against it. But where do you draw the line on that, people? Arsenal apparently reportedly still keen on a potential transfer window move for Espanyol goalkeeper Juan Garcia, who has a €25 million release clause. As you know, we tried to get him in the summer. Apparently he's impressed in La Liga and he looks like he could be a very capable backup to David Ryan. Now he's somewhat seen as someone allegedly that can challenge for the Spanish number one jersey. Does it make sense? You sitting on the bench because you're not like Neto where respectfully to Neto, I'm not saying he's happy there, but you're 35. You've been around the game and stuff. This guy's just starting to play top division football, just starting to start as a top level keeper. Do you want to go on the bench for David Ryan? I'm not saying you can't rule out taking his spot and such as being Mikel Arteta's fiend for goalies. You don't know if David Ryan, even though I don't believe this, being devil's advocate is going to be the long term option. Some would say, does it make sense to spend 25 million on a keeper where maybe resources, if we allegedly have to watch the pennies, could be better spent elsewhere? He's the second goalie this week to be linked with us though. We've been linked with Boca Juniors 22 year old shot stopper, Leandro Bray. So maybe we're looking for a younger, more long term option that could grow to be the number one and really challenge Ryron. You see with Brighton, not so much now, but they rotate their goalies. Maybe that could be something for us people. I mean, it's without a doubt that we have to do something in the window, man. It's without a doubt, in my opinion, I don't think we have enough on the best of days. That's annoying, not quite sure what happened there, people, why the intro started playing, but there's a couple more things to go over, man. There's a couple other things that we can go over as well. People, I don't know why the intro started playing. So yeah, apologies. If you had any mistakes in that regards, people, I'm just copying and pasting a couple of tabs for us people and we get straight into business again. Where is it? There we go. Share my screen again. Apologies about that. We have also been linked with Leroy Sarnay. Sarnay would be willing to waive a lot of his current salary in order to get a new contract at Bayern as he feels extremely comfortable in Munich. However, the current tendency remains that Sarnay's contract is unlikely to be extended unless he plays an outstanding second half of the season. So is that something we could get involved in? Been linked with Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, actually, and also Barcelona, as well as obviously staying at City. Thomas Partey, a lot of reports are linking Thomas Partey with a transfer to Barcelona. You'd imagine they take him on the free. He has played in Spain before and he's having a good season in the last year of his deal, people. So I'm not sure where we're at with that. Apparently they want to sell Frankie De Jong, which I know some Arsenal fans would be keen on, people. We have been linked with Liam Dillard as well. Prior people, apparently Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are all interested in signing Liam Dillard from Ipswich. Now, this is reactionary based off the Leicester game, people. But could it make sense to sign James McCatry from Manchester City if they are willing to do business because he struggled for football? But yeah, people, man, apologies for the technical difficulties. Do make sure you smash the like button and all of those good things. Don't get away without subscribing and letting me know your thoughts. Leave a comment, man. Let's help the YouTube algorithm grow our platform to 70K. DG Nation, peace.