It’s Nearly All About Mo, Fara
Jan 6th, 2016 by 'holic
Well, January has arrived and while the rumour mongers have us linked with a couple of handfuls of ‘targets’ none have yet appeared. Unless of course you include Arsenal Ladies who unveiled a very exciting new arrival in Fara Williams from Liverpool Ladies. The signing of the England international sends out a very strong message that the team will compete with big-spending Manchester City and Chelsea in the coming season.
The only deal looking remotely close for the men however is that of Mohamed Elneny from FC Basle. Although Arsenal have yet to confirm it does seem a deal is likely as long as the Gunners are able to secure a work permit for the Egyptian international. His team-mateย Albian Ajeti Facebooked his wishes for “success in Arsenal”, and his club explained Elneny was not back in trainingย because “there could be a transfer in the coming days”.
I’ll hold my hands up. I’m one of the few, if social media sites are to be believed (extracts tongue from cheek) who has never heard of the man, and so I cannot give you a view of just what he brings to the club. I do however trust those responsible for their judgement ofย those players who are signed. The data that is reviewed these days prior to making a new signing will have given a favourable impression for certain.
Doubtless he will be one of the topics for discussion on this weekend’s A Bergkamp Wonderland podcast which should hit the airwaves on Thursday night. You will hear me completely avoiding as much of the speculation as I can, although I suspect that Gimli, Danny, Jason Davies, and @GeoffArsenal will come up with a comprehensive list of who might be heading our way.
In other news, scant though it is, Mikel Arteta returned to action with the U-21’s in their 3-2 defeat of Blackburn Rovers yesterday (Tuesday). Coach Steve Gatting was fulsome in his praise for the Spaniard.
“Mikel was talking the lads through the game. He is very experienced on the ball and knows when to pass it, and where to pass it. He is always available for the ball and hardly ever gives it away.”
I know that Mikel has divided opinions this season, and I confess I would be surprised to see him here as a player next season, but with Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla being ruled out by injury the former skipper is a welcome return to the squad, if only as cover for Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey. Until Elneny signs, of course!
And with that we have gone full cycle. I’ll be back with a Cup preview on Friday evening. Cheers ‘holics.
84 Responses to “It’s Nearly All About Mo, Fara”
Fara Williams quite a desirable teammate as it appears. Anybody ever think about starting a mixed league?
I can’t see Mikel being a squad member next season either, but I can definitely see him take up a coaching role at some level. Probably not the first team straight away but certainly with any of the youth teams.
I have always liked Arteta (even before he signed for us) and although age has caught up with him he can still produce the odd good performance and I would not be at all surprised to see him start on Saturday.
Hey guv, you write that Arteta is the former skipper. Thought he still Is recognized as such, though given his near complete absence from the squad, it’s de facto a role in name only for him.
One more reason why Le Coq might be a good choice is that the last time Arsenal had a French DM as captain, that seemed to work out well.
Agree with Lars. I would have thought Mikel was ahead of Flam in the pecking order and would be happy to see him in the cup game.
Gotta love Arsenal being linked with a slew of unknowns presently (Youssef Aรฏt Bennasser and Austin Amutu to name two more to add to Eleneny that I read about today), while up north it’s all talk of Neymar and Bale to Manure, Messi to $iteh, and locally all of the above to the chavs.
More interesting is the growing speculation about Pep preferring the Ems as his next home and maybe waiting for AW to make a decision. A better bet, I suggest, than Klopp is proving at Poo where they are twanging hamstrings like rock star guitarists at an alarming rate under his new training regime. Although I would be interested to have Dr Trev’s better informed thoughts on that one.
Oskar
Another very clever title Holic. Very sharp!
Fara Williams has had a very interesting and difficult life. I read a piece a few months ago about her where she admitted that at the start of her career she was homeless for four years following a family falling- out. It appears to have made her a very tough young lady who has had a stellar football career. We have got three Dutch internationals in the side now( one of whom has sadly displaced the delectable Emma Byrne) Nice to see us competing hard in the women’s game as well.
I think we can assume Elneny has signed but the deal has not been announced as I assume Arsene would want him in the squad for the Cup game , although his last game was apparently on Dec 10. I haven’t seen any other rumours that look seriously likely yet.
Interesting to see Liverpool’s injuries which do suggest that they are not physically strong enough yet to play in Klopp’s favoured style. Interestingly the fittest team seem to be the Totts who sustain very few injuries of this sort.
Bayonne, yes, he is still officially the ‘club captain’. Much as Tommy V was ‘club captain’ in his final year. It’s an honorary thing really. There is no doubt that the BFG is the team skipper now.
Lars and Oscar, also yes, hopefully a coaching role for Mikel next season.
I’m not sure Pep would have any different results to Klopp or AW with injuries given how he likes his sides to play. He will be tested in the Prem where there is more competition. I don’t care what anyone says, Bayern and Barca will always be contenders in their respective leagues. Pep will prove himself or be found out in England, and he needs that challenge.
Thanks TTG.
Agree re the lovely Emma. ๐
An Egyptian international playing in the Swiss first division. Is there a better pedigree? Only the one produced by those wonderful people at Marstons I would suggest.
Like you H I had never heard of him either. But if it goes through he will be welcomed with open arms and judged by his performances. Let’s hope he turns into another inspired selection.
Now Guardiola? That’s an interesting one. If he did actually want to come to Arsenal for next season then what do you do? Do you stick or twist???
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‘Mikel was talking the lads through the game’ sounds like a coach in training.
Timing looks wrong for Guardiola coming. Pep seems to have lined himself up for taking a new job from this summer. AW’s contract runs to June 2017 and he has always been a stickler for sticking to his contracts, and especially as he now has a squad that could win him some serious silverware to retire on. It is conceivable that Guardiola would come for a transition year as heir apparent, but it does not seem very likely. And I am sure that Kroenke would not force AW out early against his will just to land the Spaniard.
SteveT@8: Elneny sounds a good fit for the Premiership: tough, compact tackler, can run all day, strong and with an eye for a pass. As ‘Holic notes someone at the club must see the technical potential in him. AW converted Le Coq from an average box-to-box midfielder into one of the best DMs in the league, so I would be the last to gainsay any suggestion that Elneny won’t be turned into a very good whatever he is best at. In the meantime, a pint of that excellent Marston Pedigree on the bar for you. And I might just have one myself…
Ned. The first round is on me. Your informative post a week or so ago about Elneny told me more than anything else I had read about him. I for one am always impressed and grateful for for insight and informative drinks.
Le Coq was pure luck though. In 2014 He went to Charlton on loan because we could not off load him. He was on too much money and we could not sell him. It was only the usual array of injuries and a poor showing at The Valley that saw him return. The rest is history.
I have no doubt that Atreta is being groomed for a future role at the club. He comes across as the model pro and I’m sure he has just the image that the club would want to promote.
As for Pep? I think that is a really interesting one. If he did genuinely want to come to Arsenal then I think it’s difficult decision time.
Guardiola does seem likely to go to Man City if he is coming to England this summer.
AW is unlikely to walk out on a contract for the first time ever just as he is able to recruit from the top shelf again. While some say Guardiola is more ideologically suited to the Arsenal, it is also true that City is well stocked with his mates from Barcelona days – Begiristain is Sporting Director and Ferran Soriano, an ex-director of Barca, is Chief Executive (I believe) at Middle Eastlands.
Still, if he hasn’t won the treble in his first season at City, he could still be available in 2017. If we even want him then. I wouldn’t bank on AW walking so soon and I don’t think he will be asked to leave against his wishes.
The Elneny deal has apparently stalled over personal terms and family concerns.
The club is said to be currently in discussions with his mummy.
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i think trev has it, about pep.
one other thing, though, is i’ve seen numerous statements where pep himself says he’s not interested in being at a club for a long time, that 3 or so years is just about right. kind of the anti-moaninho, if it comes to that.
that was pretty nile, trev.
Nice report Holic, the Sun must be knocking on your door with those tag lines!
I’ve heard that the delay in signing the contract is that he is insisting we sign Nile Ranger to make him feel more at home ๐
The Liverpool Sextet, currently strumming away on their banjaxed hamstrings, is an interesting one.
I always wondered, watching Borussia Dortmund at their best against us in the Champions League, how long a team could maintain the intensity of Klopp’s high press and perpetual motion style.
I seem to recall it lasted about two seasons in Germany, before transfers away and injuries saw the team struggling at the wrong end of the Bundesliga.
It is easy to imagine that the different styles of David Brentan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp would have required different styles of preparation for the team. Klopp’s arrival saw an instant transformation in Liverpool’s playing style and presumably training was equally modified.
Recent performances have seen a drop-off in their form. A packed Christmas programme and the sheer intensity of the high press have clearly tested fitness and energy levels. Those hamstring strains are almost certainly fatigue induced injuries – three in one game cannot be sheer coincidence – as Klopp has been as unable to rotate the team as we have.
With a game coming up against them at Anfield, let’s hope they heal about as quickly as our injuries do ! ๐
Uply,
I heard his agent has involved his entire family and all their friends in trying to sell us other players too.
It’s a pyramid selling scheme.
Here’s hoping his agent makes a better fist of this Elneny deal than he did of his last deal. Seems he tried to sell us a young lad called Potamia in the summer.
Yep, he made a right mess o’ Potamia. ๐
Time to drop the bomb, I think. Arsene broke his contract in Japan to come to us early.
Circumstances change, and his parting from Annie may change his priorities?
You all know what I feel about him, but let’s not use the ‘never broken a contract’ card as a defence.
I think he will stay as long as he can. He has immersed himself in the development of the club. But only as long as it is personally satisfying. He has however around ยฃ7m reasons for staying loyal.
I don’t think departing early would constitute breaking a contract in AW’s mind if he considers it in the club’s interest. Especially if it meant signing what he perceives as an ideal successor when that person is available. And especially again if he himself will be staying with the club anyway in some upstairs capacity.
Oskar
Not that I’m suggesting Pep is that ideal successor. I have reservations about him. Not that I have a better suggestion either! Just that I respect AW’s decision about the time of his departure and who will succeed.
If any of that makes sense…
Oskar
Good point, Holic. I forgot that one.
After looking quite unwell a couple of years ago, he does look a lot calmer and happier these days – not like someone who finds the whole thing too much.
Trev / Holic, Arsene doesn’t look like a man who’s had enough of the pressure cooker environment – he looks like he will stay to the end of his current contract. This time next year though will be interesting in this respect and perhaps the team has progressed to an actual chance in the ECL, especially with a couple of โqualitee signings”. Whoops, I’ve just destroyed my own arguement ๐
Trev, all these Egyptian puns, Tut Tut ๐
Tut Tut – ah come on !
๐
Bit off topic but –
I can’t stand Russian dolls – they’re so full of themselves.
๐
Trev…heh
Elneny has been told we draw a line at signing Chelsea players, in particular Neferteri. However, he will have the opportunity of playing alongside Ramesses 17.
heh !
Get a room you two.
Oskar
As and when Arsene vacates his position I don’t actually see him leaving the club. I’m sure he would move upstairs in some way.
I see Arsene’s post-retirement role as scouting players in the vineyards of Bordeaux. You know you’ve spotted a good defender if he can stand tall and well balanced on the delicately poised mountain of grapes he is crushing. Maybe he and Grimandi could switch roles?
i really don’t think
you are taking
these 8ball things seriously
aaaahhhhhh 33
.
oooooohhhh 45
.
zoinks 78
.
.
BACK O THE NET !
cba i used to include more ๐ ‘s and ๐ ‘s after all the silly things i say but then i started to realize they were redundant. ๐ ๐
Enjoying all the Egyptian puns including the subtly clever scruzpun @16.
From what I hear about the Nile’s water quality it is nothing short of vile.
But will the Elneny deal survive the Foreign Office sandstorm?
Legalisation of documents. But is that legal?
https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised
Wenger just need to call Pep and tell him ” hey pep, just come to Arsenal end of this season after I have won the PL title”. I won’t mind pep taking over from Wenger at all. Don’t think it will hurt the top brass to actually get someone that they can actually object or argue with once in a while.
Forgot, while tired last night, to add that so much change to playing and training systems mid-season , will have had a bad effect – i wasn’t just saying that because training had changed, everything would be ok.
Alexis valued at ยฃ60m in new CIES Football Observatory list. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/cristiano-ronaldo-is-worth-less-than-eden-hazard-but-lionel-messi-still-leads-the-way-study-finds-a6799021.html#gallery
‘Holic: Fair point about AW leaving Japan early. Had forgotten that.
I can’t ever see Wenger make a decision that is based on money. The man is minted and at an age where he could never spend what he has earned through the years. I think Wenger will stand down immediately if Pep would take the job. Simple as that. I think he’s the man who he’d want to succeed him here and I also feel, as Holic has said, that his priorities may well have changed after the split with Annie.
While Citeh do have financial benefactors and friends of Pep in management positions at the Club – I would never rule out the allure of London and the absolute freedom and support he would assuredly get at AFC. I think there’s a very real possibility of him coming to this club.
Pep coming to AFC would be far more respected in the world of football that if he went to Citeh to work for the Oil Sheihk.
35 ?
I believe Arsene had an understanding with Grampus 8 that he could consider other jobs after a doe civic period. The Japanese are very respectful of contracts and Arsene is a very loyal guy.
I think for Wenger to step down would require a huge personal sacrifice by Wenger. Football, and more specifically, Arsenal , is his life and since his marriage ended I think his priorities may be even more focused on football.
If Deschamps was to step down after the Euros he would walk into that job but that’s far from certain. I also think it would be very inhibiting for Pep to have Wenger at the club in some sort of Technical Director role. But if Arsene goes I would like Pep to succeed him because they are enormous shoes to fill. Much bigger than most of the idiots who decry Wenger realise.
Just heard we are interested in Nile Ranger?
Who needs Nile Ranger when we’ve already got Ainsley Maitland-Niles?
Doesn’t he play for the Pharoah Islands?
Come on, using “tut” as part of an Egyptian pun is not uncommon.
How many Niles would it take to drain an enrire continent?
That is, drain a whole continent, or make a hole in a continent?
Maybe Aynsley’s forebears traversed both the White and the Blue Niles. Or maybe not. ๐
I’ll be happy with Elneny as long as he doesn’t prove to be one of these Luxory players, as long as E doesn’t go round giving the refs a lot of Gyp, and assuming he’s not one of those players who Suez his clubs for lack of game time.
Coutinho being injured a few days ago made me think. When was the last time another club’s star player was injured the week before facing Arsenal. There seemed to be a rule against that.
Like those long neck tribal people with extended necks in another part of Africa, some of these puns could be stretching it.
Disappointment of the day: Fara Williams seems to have a husband or boyfriend, if my interpretation of photo 14 (of 14) on arsenal.com can be trusted. A real tease, too, scrolling through photos 1-13. ๐
Arsenal.com also has an interesting statistical compilation on one-nils to the Arsenal since the Premier League began.
That boyfriend is the Arsenal ladies manager, so your hopes have not been dashed just yet haha
Oh balls. That was me, chaps..
Arsene to win the league and leave with the great legacy of his intact, perfect ending to a great man. After that would have rather have had Carlo even Pellegrini but not pep. I dont know why but i do not like the man one bit. Seems too arrogant and just wants to win where there is hardly a competition, premier league will be tough to do so for him. I am the eternal romantic and always want something won after blood, sweat and tears than just handed over on a plate.
Simeone is an interesting option, the rugged, give your life on the pitch manager at Arsenal, where the huge shadow of Wengerball will hang long after the great man has left. Will that be the next revolution? Can we accept that type of football, maybe the Graham style all over again? He will be interesting if we and he wants to come.
Elneny should have been with the team by now and was hoping to see him this saturday but looks unlikely. Why does our transfers take so long?
Talking of saturday, let us hope we do not have any first teamers starting but let us pray that one first teamer is back and plays a part, alexissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.
Alexis won’t play on Saturday. That’s probably very sensible but limits our options for rotation if Ozil is rested. We are Cup holders and I hope we put out a reasonable side to defend the trophy. Being a demanding fan I want us to thrash Liverpool and Stoke as well. Fortunately I believe Sunderland are going to field a much- changed side on Saturday.
Chin still up then Busta. ๐
So Pool’s Ibe is also down with a hamstring…. hope it’s not contagious!
๐
Very insightful Trev about the Russian dolls who really ought to try to get outside of themselves once in a while. Maybe a once in a lifetime vacation trip to see the pyramids? ๐
Alexis has suffered another setback according to reports coming out?
Elneny????
3 weeks I’m told.
?
Russian dolls are like Arsenal players, bt8, sadly injury prone. The great ballerina Tumbelova for example.
Oskar
Full strength side for Saturday surely? I can’t see the opportunity for a unique cup threepeat being risked at this stage of the comp.
Still seething about Alexis playing against Norwich…
But TR7’s progress is good news. He could still be a charm for the cup games to come.
Oskar
…’full strength’ being of those available, NOT including Alexis.
O
TR7 not finished yet. I can feel it in my bones.
Still my favorite player of the Emirates era, though magnificent Mesut is getting close to it…
super super Tom Rosicky …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyJeJ8bXMT8
“If you love football, you love Rosicky.” — Arsene
“The best thing about London? Arsenal, of course.” — Rosicky
๐
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35258754
Fat Sam gets reinforcements…
I am a huge Rosicky fan too. So sad his career at Arsenal has been riddled with injury
Me too.
Quiet in here today.
TR7 is an interesting mix of dynamism and mysterious longterm injury.
He has been a good player when fit and must be hugely frustrated by his injuries.
Hopefully he will make some key contributions as this season,which is most likely his last one with us, winds down.
Arsene admitted to the Elneny deal today but added it would take ‘ a few days’ to sort out. Steve T’s three weeks might be spot on! It takes so long to do deals nowadays . Sphinx ain’t wot they used to be in that respect. ?
Good news! Season ticket prices frozen for next season.
Exeter City v. Liverpool should be an interesting watch today, even if Klopp rotates the hell out of his team.
BB@72: Did Kirchoff sign for the wrong side? He is only 25 and has already missed 848 days with injury, starting only 15 games in the last three seasons. Seems a shoe-in for the Shenley Infirmary.
Time to start a five pint preview. This is the hardest bit. I’ll sit here blank for half an hour, then hopefully it will all slot into place. Love you lot!
Hey ‘holic here is a riddle for you.
Q. How do you get a 14th place team out of a 1st place payroll?
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35262190
A. Bad management.
@NBN
Well.. it seems it’s only an 18month deal,.. maybe his injury problems are over and he’s looking to move to a better side later, and he must have been cheap too as Fat Sam can’t resist discounted sauerkraut. He’s got his own BFG.
Either way he’s not going to be staying long.
Be interesting to see if he’ll line up against us.
๐
BB@82: Fat Sam paid 1 million euros for Banjaxed Jan.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>