Le Grove

I really believe we will add to the squad, but it won’t be by much, Flamini is key to who he buys and I think if he goes, Barry will join. Robinho or Ben Arfa will come in on the wing and now Barca are out of Europe, Henry’s chances of an emotional return have rocketed, he will though look for an experienced centre back to bring in whilst the kids develop. I can’t see Senderos or Eboue going and I think we’ll hang on to Gilberto until Denilson develops.

Hleb will stay but Lehmann will seek pastures new.

The additions will come from the reserves, who I don’t know, but he really believes in his kids.

We can still win the league, but only if the other two collapse, 2 draws should do it but don’t get your hopes up.

I think he’ll make his signings the week after the Sunderland game and I think he’s been sounding them out already, well that’s what I would do, but with Arsene, who knows? …he does right!

We need a winger for sure, Rosicky can’t be relied upon, if Eduardo comes back early, he won’t sign a forward, with Bendtner and Ade showing signs of being the strikers we can rely on I can’t see him going for Benzema or Villa and that’s why I could see Henry coming home, a bit of experience to help them along.

We do need Adams back though, a defensive coach is what we’ve been lacking and if we can shut up shop at the back, and then we will win the quadruple next season…

Interesting that we had no chavs in the EPL team of the season, and more Arsenal players than from any other club, it shows that we’re not that far off, even if we don’t believe it ourselves sometimes.

There, now I can’t be more positive than that can I?

Good day yesterday Grovers and welcome aboard several new commenter’s, sorry it takes so long to approve sometimes, it’s the system, not us.

Let’s wish the cheating scousers luck over the cheating chavs tonight, they always have the refs on their side so maybe tonight as well eh?

That’s how excited I was about this potential bore fest… I noted that Cesc was sporting a new hair cut with some super trim sidey’s… but not to be outdone… Theo has gone pure mutton chop! Seriously Theo, you actually look like you could pass for 15! Excellent news!

So the only shock regarding the line up was that Eboue managed to worm his way into the side! Arsene wont give up on him will he…

Fabianski

Toure Gallas Song Clichy

Eboue Cesc Denilson Walcott

RvP Nikki B

Does anyone think it’s over for Big Phil? Dropped, even for a reserve game and in place of a defensive midfielder. I think Liverpool was the final straw for Arsene and as much as I have defended Big Phil in the past… I think a move could do him good.

There were many goals, so I can’t really go through the whole game… Here are the key points.

The first goal came from Nikki B intercepting a bad pass from Issac Hayes (Stick to soul and South Park my friend), he laid it off to Robin… who slotted it back through to Nikki B who cooly finished. How many of you were waiting to see who would hug him? Well, you’ll be pleased to know everyone did! No surprise Theo was in the huddle… he’d hug anyone, he is such a brown noser.

Did you spot him at centre back?

Derby then managed to claw one back from a set piece. A cross was whipped in from the left, the keeper stayed rooted, song jumped feebly and Nikki B rose about 8 foot high but missed. How many times have I said before…

‘DON’T LET NIKKI B DEFEND SET PIECES!‘

Oh well, you never felt a shock was on the cards. I did feel for the away fans though… the players looked distinctly uninterested.

Oh, Eboue tried a cross.

Next up, Clichy played a ball about 30 yards backwards to Kolo (I’ll admit I cursed his ball), then Kolo played a sublime chip into the path of RvP who held his line superbly (Take note Ade), took the ball down and rifled home in one slick motion. Great goal, Bergkampesque… but Grovers, there was a price to pay.

After 7 games uninjured, the footballing gods felt it was only fair that they take the boy wonder back… so they gave him a thigh strain. Do not curse the Gods, for they are just testing you (DeeOzGooner, you cursed him yesterday with your insistence on me removing him from Le List)…

Did I tell you Eboue, tried a shot?

So the second half started, and Adebayor came on. We started with a bit more purpose and pinged the ball about in 2nd gear fashion… it was embarrassing how poor Derby were.

Theo burst through the derby defence, held off a challenge, then cut it back to Eboue who tried his best to err… well I don’t know what he did, but he fell over and the ball sat up nicely next to Adebayor who slotted home! He looked mightily pleased with himself… Go Ade!

Then Clichy slotted a ball through and Eboue slid at it… ten minutes after it had whistled past him.

We carried on in much the same way as we normally do, squandering chance after chance… it was amazing how poor some of our finishing was, but we were never in any danger.

Then Derby broke football league rules by bringing on Earshaw, half man, half monster (If Ashley Cole interbred, his kids would all look like Earnshaw)… he unfairly used his monster powers to do what our talented players could not… have one chance… and score.

Some would call it world class finishing, some would say that most strikers only need one chance against Arsenal. The stupid dance was probably one of the most irritating things I have ever seen.

Stick to movies Mr Earnshaw…

Willy G, what the hell was up with that? You are supposed to be our best defender! You’d have never let a crap striker get past you like that at Chelsea. Could he be off if the captaincy shifts? He has been here 2 years, so surely he can buy out the last 2 years of his contract? Never say never…

Well we needn’t have worried, Bobby Pires picked up the ball, cut inside and rifled it into the top corner! GOALLLLLL! Theooooo, Theooooo, Theooooo! He really deserved that didn’t he? Blogger Geoff called me up especially to say that Theo played like Bobby tonight. The more I watch him, the more you realise half his problem is that he looks for the perfect pass all the time… if he’d just speed up his distribution he would be much more effective.

A special mention goes out to Nikki B, who I personally thought had a blinder. He was all over the park, his touch was superb and he loves to get everyone involved. I would be very sad to see him go this summer.

Goal 5, Clichy played Ade through… Ade belted home!

Queue the funniest thing I have seen all season… Ade and Eboue ripping the piss out of A-Lister Earnie’s annoying touchdown dance! How the hell did they do it in time so perfectly? It was Eboue’s best moment of the season! It was the funniest thing Ade has done since he last spoke in an interview! Classic.

Finally, Ade rounded off a solid nights performance by rounding the Derby keeper and slotting home!

Well played Arsenal… the least exciting 6-2 win in history, but who cares! Our goal difference is the second best in the league!

So in conclusion.

We need a 25 goal a season striker… oh wait, we have one! So what if he has scored 24% of his goals against Derby! We have Nikki B and Theo who look good prospects for next year. I don’t think we need bolstering up front, unless of course Arsene can find a decent thigh on the black market this summer… RvP’s has clearly had it.

Fabianski looked weak in goal, being nervous against Derby is like being nervous about taking a penalty with no one in goal… he’ll have to improve if he wants to give the ever reliable Almunia a run for his money next year.

The Midfield looks ok, we are short a decent winger… Eboue is a good dancer, but as a footballer he falls short in many areas.

I think if we need strengthening anywhere it is in defence. Will Big Phil go? Will Willy G go? Who knows… all we know as fans is that Gallas has been shown up a few times since his mental breakdown at Birmingham and Senderos is not going to cut it at the highest level.

Lets just hope the Flamster and Hlebinho sign up for another crack at the whip. We are more than likely going to finish the season 4 points off the top… it is not good enough, but its a marked improvement. If we win our last 2 we will be 15 points better off than last season… make a similar jump next year and we will be taking home some silverware…

So the season has been a disappointment, but at least we won’t be talking about the Spuds over taking us this summer… we are contenders again and hopefully Wenger realises where we need to strengthen this summer.

So here is my advice Arsene, bust out the cheque book Arsene and buy Kaka…

“To get the books back in order it would be enough to sell Kaka for £55m.”

…bargain!

See you in the comments section!

Gareth Barry will be on his way to one of Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal, Panjic, the young attacking midfielder all the top clubs are after and Dimitrov who has had a trial at Arsenal are all being linked to join.

Cesc Fabregas rightly wins young player of the year and says ‘this is for all the team, and all the fans, because all together we have had good season even though we haven’t won anything at the end’

‘This is thanks to them as well.’

Now that sounds like he will be staying and hopefully as captain, I don’t think they can give it to Kolo as he and Gallas are similar and if that did, Gallas would be off, Cesc has shown great tenacity this term and deserves it after this award.

Hleb has again stated he wants to stay and Flamini has to make his mind up this week. I would prefer a premier league replacement if he went and Barry or possibly Nolan would fit in, and find there form quickly, overseas players take too long, aka Flamini, Hleb and Rosicky.

Rosicky I think is a great player, but a long term crock, which is a shame, but we have to realise that, and move on. Robinho looks like a shoe in swap for Berbatov so we will still need a winger and that could be one of the above two, and I confess I know little of them, maybe SWP would come too..

We had a few weekend knobbers on, and for you Grovers I have saved a couple so you can see what we save you from.

When you consider how many new Grovers we got at the weekend, so 6 bores from 7,000 good ‘uns is not a bad return. Tonight I think we’ll see Ade, Robin and Theo start, with maybe Denilson, if fit, starting in the middle.

I expect nothing short of a big win tonight and am going for 4 nil to the Arsenal

Don’t forget though we need to add to the squad as this season we were woefully short of good cover in many positions.

Thierry to return? don’t bet against it, maybe a Hleb swap, I’d prefer them both, Henry will come back very humble, but his experience could see the kids through.

Have a great day Grovers, we are running out of games, and this week we should see how next season is shaping up.

So the official Sunday Times rich list is out, with Alisher Usmanov worth a staggering £5,726m which is considerably more than the £2 billion we all thought he had, now that could put a different spin on things, with him the largest shareholder, he could easily give us a gift, a show of good faith if you will!

That gift could be David Villa or Benzema, go on Alisher show us how much you love Arsenal, that would be beer money to you, if you did, I for one would start warming to you.

My feeling is that Flamini and Hleb will stay and Henry will return, we may sign a center back and a third rate goalie and that will be it, disappointing, but that’s it, unless of course our Usbeck friend comes to the rescue, it’s up to you Mr Usmanov, it’s now in your hands.

Not much else to talk about other than the title is still mathematically up for grabs, so the Derby game is still hugely important, we can’t lose third place now but we can get 1st or second and like in 1989 when we thought it was all over, it’s not, so keep going boys.

So boss, no resting those well paid players, first team out there, we only have three games to go and win all of them, we may enrich our transfer kitty.

Unless of course Alisher Usmanov does it for you.

It was quite sickening to see how many footballers were on that list, and how much they get for kicking a ball about, and we didn’t have one in the top twenty, interesting that eh?

Have a great Domingo Grovers, tomorrow we start talking big!

The boss came out after Henry said he would only come back to Arsenal, he said ‘never say never’ before you all laugh, think about it.

He could be the signing we need, a proven finisher, he won’t be captain, he’ll be very humble, and he won’t cost a fortune, he could be the 2 year gap striker that we desperately need until Theo, Nick and Ade grow up.

Flamini has been offered a new and improved contract and Wenger says he’ll stay, and I believe him.

Big Tone says he wants to come back, he is just what the defence needs, get him boss, he’ll be perfect.

Hleb I’m not sure about but if I was a gambler, I’d say he’ll stay, I’d put money on it, if he wants to go though, we’ll get a fee, so it won’t be all bad.

It seems that Gilberto will go but we won’t have any problems replacing him, there are plenty about, I just want to see us replacing big Phil with a world class big nasty centre back.

I think in this next 2 weeks, the rumour mill will go bananas but should also see how the future pans out, if we don’t bring TH14 back we should go for David Villa.

Let’s hope they (scum) draw today and we win our last three and get something out of this season, I noticed some pictures in the comments section yesterday Grovers, very creative, very colourful.

Slaven Bilic believes Niko Kranjcar will join Arsenal in the summer and media circles believe we are back in for winger Charles N’Zogbia, both are old rumours but would fit the Wenger profile, Premiership proven and cheap.

My fear here is we’ll bring in two no names like these and let go of Flamini on a free and Hleb for the £15 mil these two would cost, then buy a couple of youngsters and that’s it.

Same as last season, bring in a couple, sell a couple and bring in a few from the reserves, thus saving even more than we did last year, and weakening the squad again, so we’ll struggle on 4 fronts, sound familiar?

I would be very disappointed to see Hleb go as I think this season he became the player that Wenger splashed out on 3 years ago, Flamini looks set to go, but he may surprise us too, so who knows.

I don’t really know much about Kranjcar or N’Zogbia but if we’re going Premier league I would go for Gareth Barry to fill the Flamini role.

Arsenal dismissed the £25 million transfer kitty as pure speculation so we got that right, first, here on Le Grove, what a load of twaddle, the only worry about whatever we have is will he spend it? I’m still hoping he pulls a Kaka out of the hat. I’ve a little feeling he may just surprise us all, but that could just be me and my wishful thinking.

Resting the players playing this summer is an insult to the fans, it’s like playing a weakened side in the cups, Arsenal football club should always field it’s strongest side and go out and try to win every game, if you want to experiment, do that with the reserves, we pay to see the best possible side trying its best to win. Though I accept we need to experiment pre season.

Finally there is a lot of speculation surrounding legend, Thierry Henry and Newcastle, it won’t happen. He told this to the BBC ‘There’s only one team for me in my heart. It took me a while to understand what that club, Arsenal meant to me.’

Fine words indeed Thierry, I would have you back and put you on the wing, in a heartbeat.

Flamini, listen to me, you are good, mostly because this team makes you look good, move to Italy and play to 12,000 fans every week and you will suffer, Henry was a better player than you will ever be, and look what’s happened to him.

Lots of interesting comments on Pedro’s controversial blog yesterday, lots of divided views and a few new Grovers, but all clean and true to the no slagging mantra of the site, well done and look forward to seeing you today.

Check out the Niko Kranjcar video if you need to refresh you memory. He is quite a player by the looks of things.

So Arsenal fans have been talking a lot over the last few days regarding the amount of transfer cash we ‘could’ have over the summer.

Can I just say firstly, I am no expert in finance, but if Keith Edelman says we have £70 million to spend… I am going to trust his words on the matter. An amateur assessment over the size of our transfer kitty based on the same facts any fan could view is not going to get me worried.

It is interesting that the story was not published on the AST’s website which would again reinforce my opinion that the article was speculative.

When you run a business like Arsenal, you are responsible to shareholders and customers, in other words the supporters, you can’t go public with a statement which says you have £70 mil for players if you haven’t. Simple. You can’t tell porkies in an annual report that’s audited, it’s illegal.

This is the cave man assessment of our debt, in other words a very rough guide.

Out - £450 million for the stadium.

In - £150 mil from Emirates up front, £50 mil for the shirt sponsor (Emirates) up front, £250 mil from Highbury.

That’s kind of washing it’s face. Now then you add to that match day revenue, concerts, International matches, prize money from the EPL and Uefa, TV money, Nike, Internet, shirt sales and money that hasn’t been spent over the years, I think you’ll find he easily has £70 mil to spend purely on players.

Salaries come out of cost of sales, same as with any other business.

Foreign Ownership

So the debate rages…

Argument 1: If we are skint why don’t we get a big old sugar daddy to takeover?

Argument 2: We need stability and a board that have the interests of the club at heart.

My argument…

Actually we don’t need either?

We have been prudent as a board and have a well run club, Wenger has a £70 mil transfer fund, why? because Edelman publicly said so. If ‘intellectual’ blogs try and tell you he doesn’t and you believe them, that’s your prerogative. We don’t believe them.

The budget is Wenger’s and if it’s not spent, that’s down to him, not the board, a sugar daddy won’t cure that.

Arsenal TV are very cleverly showing you the new generation of kids, and we’re all salivating at the prospect of the new Gazza, the new Bergkamp and the new Liam Brady, that way if no significant signings come in, we won’t care because we’ve been pre conditioned.

Very clever Arsenal, but that’s papering over the cracks, bring in some players and some silverware so we can brag to the rest of the premier league, we already brag that we’re still English and not owned by people that don’t care.

David Dein said this,

“As a devoted Arsenal fan I don’t want to see them left behind.”

He was a fool for selling up, but you can’t deny he is Arsenal through and through. Maybe he is right with what he is saying? Could another summer of underinvestment see us lagging behind the rest for a 4th season running?

Lets hope that Wenger is bluffing when he says he doesn’t have much money available… otherwise Usmadein and the Kroenkenites may find themselves with a little more support than they had last summer.

The measure of any well run business is the dividend it pays to its shareholders. The measurement of success of a football club is silverware, that is the dividend a football club should look for.

Don’t forget people, we are supposed to be a Football club, not a case study for a well run business…

Anyway, enough of my thoughts… how about a few of yours!

See you in the Comments section!

First of all I would like to focus on two players, Flamini who can leave on a free in June and Hleb, who can buy himself out of his contract in the summer.

I remember last season, both were figures of ridicule by many Arsenal fans, and many wanted them gone.

At this point the management should have either sold them and got a return, or made them sign new contracts so in the event they decided to leave, at least have made something on them.

What we could now see is the ridiculous situation of two of Europe’s finest, walking out the door for nothing or little. Poor planning from the money men in my book, but having said that, it will show how loyal those two are to the fans, we suffered them both for 3 years, losing possession, getting carded, failure to shoot, the list goes on and we all groaned, but we never jeered, we always supported them.

Now they’ve come good, they should repay our lack of booing with a little contract signing, they should also remember the Arsenal curse, I personally would like to see them stay and think they will, but if not, who cares? Arsenal will still be there long after them and we must move on.

We are still being linked in various sections of the press with the big three, Huntelaar, Benzema and Villa, I have mixed feelings on them all, but would like one of them, if you understand that! I think Wenger should study their medical records before making a decision.

Who would I go for? Tough! Is Huntelaar proven? would Benzema be another Aliadiere - but cost more? is Villa too small? I think given the Cesc situation, another Spaniard, in the toughest of the three leagues may tip it for me, but I wouldn’t kick any of them out of bed, if you get my drift.

That’s the forward line sorted, I’ll talk defence tomorrow.

Have a speculative day Grovers and don’t mention the ‘chav’ word.

Ok so here we go, the rumour mill kicks in to gear, already AC Milan want Adebayor, why? because they see him as a young Drogba, a handful and someone that can mix it up, precisely why we should be excited about the future, I know he has had his moments with poor first touch and missing sitters, but he has scored a lot and I remember the chavs saying the same thing about Drogba for the first two years, I honestly believe we’ll see the better Adebayor next term, I know a lot of you don’t but Wenger won’t sell him so only time will tell.

Hleb off to Barca and Milan at the same time and Wenger says he thinks he’ll stay, but mention his favourite Cesc and a firm ‘he’s going no where’ pipes up, funny that.

Flamini is looking less likely to sign, though I always believed he would, if he doesn’t know by now, perhaps it’s best to bring on Diaby, buy someone else and say goodbye to the French, Italian greedy twat.

Young Jack Wilshere had another blinder and even some of you Grovers are calling him the next Gazza, I hope that doesn’t mean he’s a mentally ill drunk, and that he is a footballing genius instead.

The list of people coming in goes on, from Kirkland to Ramos this weekend, I would like to think we’ll get a center back, winger and forward but we’ll have to wait and see, I have a feeling he knows already and will move at the end of the season, I also think Robinho is a good bet, as he won’t be playing in the summer.

Next up Derby County so that should improve our goal difference, the Champions league kicks off tonight and we can only reflect on what could have been, So a Liverpool Barca final for me, with Barca winning and proving that anyone can win the European Cup, so we’ll win it next year instead.

Anyone but the Chavs, please.

Have a rumour filled fun fest today Grovers!

So I have been firmly out the loop with Arsenal for 3 days and let me tell you, it wasn’t nice.

I had about 6 text messages from my brother on Saturday, here are a few:

• Yes! No fucking Eboue, theoooooo!
• Theo’s been outstanding, Van Persie just hit the bar and post with a free kick
• Theo just hit the bar
• We won 2-0 but should have been 10, hit the post twice, hit the bar 3 times, 1 off the line and song played amazingly well.

So I don’t turn up for one sodding game and that happens!

I haven’t seen the goals or read much about it… all I know is that the boys were back to their best and Theo has given Arsene a real headache for next season.

So, we know that Flamini has about 10 more days to decide what he is doing, I understand from sources close to the club that Wenger has £14,000 set aside for a top class replacement plying his trade in the Morrocan 3rd Division. Good old Arsene!

I understand why a deadline has been set, but what if he doesn’t sign? Is he barred from the training ground? Does his locker get given to Justin Hoyte? I hear that poor chap still has to get changed outside…

I’ve also read that Gilberto may stay on for next year…. good on ya Bertie. We need all the experience we can get and he has started to show signs that he may be rekindling some of last seasons form.

We are in for Raul Albiol according to the Evening Standard.

No Comment.

Actually, yes there will be a comment. Why are we chasing after a 22 year old defender plying his trade for 16th position Valencia? If that rumour is true, I will be miffed to say the least. I don’t want to see potential, I want to see ready made world class talent at the Emirates.

Oh and Ade maybe off to Milan… this is old news rehashed. He is the younger Drogba according to reports. I would be very surprised to see Ade making his way over to Italy. Football wise, they are a spent force… this is where the cash is, this is where the best players play. Simple as that really.

We shall wait and see on both of those stories.

Anyway, I’m off for a catch up on the news.

See you in the comments