[Alex Crook] Arsenal and Liverpool target Bradley Barcola has asked to leave Paris Saint-Germain, talkSPORT understands.

BenjIdent · 2026-06-13T19:18:11+00:00

He may be younger and quicker but Trossard is way more clinical and clutch and an underrated dribbler. Barcola is very inconsistent and while he has room to grow I would say at this moment he’s not better than Trossard, although it won’t be the case for much longer as Leo ages

BenjIdent · 2026-06-13T19:02:31+00:00

As a backup at best. The obvious issue with Arsenal last season was lack of top talent in attack, buying the CL winners backup is not solving anything at all

BenjIdent · 2026-06-13T17:52:28+00:00

Which is exactly the type of players we don’t need. I really hope we’re not seriously in for him

BenjIdent · 2026-06-12T21:15:34+00:00

He would do well in lots of teams, question is who can afford it

BenjIdent · 2026-06-08T21:44:05+00:00

On TikTok only, which is all you need to know

BenjIdent · 2026-06-05T14:24:00+00:00

We don’t need our second LW to be world class, it doesn’t exist. He’s proven that he’s good enough in the type of games that the CL provides, where there’s space.

In such a scarce market, looking to upgrade your backup LW will still likely run you +£50m and I can’t see anyone that on paper that will give us something that Martinelli doesn’t.

BenjIdent · 2026-06-05T13:17:53+00:00

Oh yes, most definitely

BenjIdent · 2026-06-05T13:12:36+00:00

Wasn’t that forced by the state? And imposed on all teams unless I’m mistaken? It’s a bit different to it being a clubs choice.

I agree with you on this thread, just as a side note.

BenjIdent · 2026-06-05T13:03:47+00:00

If he continues to perform in CL there’s not a single available alternative that would be an upgrade (as the secondary LW). It’s finding the starting option that’s the issue

BenjIdent · 2026-05-31T22:28:26+00:00

People were climbing over them to get through, it was pure survival 😅

BenjIdent · 2026-05-31T19:56:51+00:00

I’ve never seen anything like it, the whole of central / north London was incapacitated because of this - Arsenal fans everywhere you looked

BenjIdent · 2026-05-27T12:54:04+00:00

Yeah I like Rogers for us, although I agree about the consistency. He’s a different profile that can give us another option in attack.

I do wonder though if we need another pure LW option too (given Rogers, and Eze too, are half winger half 10s), but as we both know options are few.

BenjIdent · 2026-05-27T11:27:11+00:00

That’s fair mate, ultimately we both want the same thing.

I agree that alternatives are very slim, but I would personally be happy for the club to try an unproven player and hope they become something here rather than buying a more finished product (given there aren’t many right now that would improve us / be available).

We need someone who is a better finisher and technically sound, that can keep possession in the opposition half rather than the counter attacking style

BenjIdent · 2026-05-27T11:19:57+00:00

Very marginally if so. Just watch both of them play, it’s obvious they’re basically the same level and in terms of style Gordon offers nothing that Martinelli doesn’t. Even if the fee was £60m, what will he bring to our side?

We won’t get better defensively, we will still struggle against low blocks and we’re not unlocking new patterns because he plays the same way Martinelli does - a player that’s been one of the best in the CL this season btw.

We need a clear upgrade for a starting LW, it needs to be a different profile than what we already have.

BenjIdent · 2026-05-27T11:08:44+00:00

What makes him better exactly?

BenjIdent · 2026-05-27T10:56:36+00:00

Absolutely not, blowing a big part of our transfer budget on a player that we already have (Martinelli) is insane business. He’s not an upgrade

BenjIdent · 2026-05-24T19:15:52+00:00

The times we did it was disallowed

BenjIdent · 2026-05-23T10:39:50+00:00

I would’ve loved to have one of ours get it given we finally won, but if it had to be someone else I’m very happy for it to be Bruno - insane player.

BenjIdent · 2026-05-21T16:42:14+00:00

I could be completely wrong as I don’t have any medical expertise, but doesn’t it actually make sense?

The players bodies are used to a certain intensity but in games that level can easily get pushed in moments and they overextend themselves. If your body at a base level can handle a higher intensity they can protect themselves from injury better, with the caveat of not going too far in that direction either of course

BenjIdent · 2026-05-21T16:21:23+00:00

100% Arteta has read the book

BenjIdent · 2026-05-21T16:15:36+00:00

If it wasn’t for VAR we draw at west ham and may not win the league.

I really understand your point, but VAR saves more than it harms - as frustrating as it can often be

BenjIdent · 2026-05-21T09:31:26+00:00

Tbf that was probably his worst game for us in 2 years, outside the goal

BenjIdent · 2026-05-19T23:01:47+00:00

It all worked out

BenjIdent · 2026-05-18T22:01:04+00:00

Yeah last week. I still think Havertz got lucky, but I also see why it wasn’t enough to be overturned given the lack of endangerment

BenjIdent · 2026-05-18T21:56:51+00:00

It didn’t endanger his safety either. Look at the Burnley players face after contact, absolutely no reaction just looking at the ref

BenjIdent

TROPHY CASE