Le Grove

That’s it then, it’s official, Le Grove’s own steward on the inside tells us a photographer has been called in this Sunday to take a picture of Samir Nasri in an Arsenal shirt, presumably the new one, well done El Tel, let’s hope it true and we can celebrate Monday’s post with a picture of our new wonder kid.

Othe great news is that Robin the boy wonder has now said he’s signing a new contract and is not worried about them money, if that’s true then more good news indeed, about time, but it makes me wonder what he was on about earlier in the week, but then this will forever be known as the week of the turnaround!

Finally by now you would have all seen the clip of Eduardo, my god what an incredible player, Rosicky and Robin take note, I cannot believe anyone can recover that quickly, burn him, he’s a warlock!!!

Not a lot on today, no signings the boss is being paid by someone else to commentate, so you’ll all have to wait, hopefully our inside source is right and it won’t be too long now.

Happy Saturday Grovers.

In a week when the rats have looked for way off the ship, well one of them anyway, the one that looks like a rodent, Ade came out and said this.

‘I’ve assured the gaffer Arsene Wenger I’ll stay because I believe in the team and I want to assure the fans my concentration is here.

I have no reason to leave so I’ll stay to ensure that together we’ll win silverware. Mathieu’s a good player but his departure doesn’t mean Arsenal is about to collapse. Our team is a deep well of talent.

I am confident we are capable of winning titles and we will return for next season hungrier to be successful.’

The Sun.

At last a player reassuring the fans, well done Ade!

Well sorry Ethan, but I know that even you are beginning to warm to him, if he can learn the offside rule and become more of a team player, I think he can become a legend, too many teams want him for him not to have something, time will tell, but I have a feeling, with Bendtner a year older, Theo becoming what we bought , Robin and Eduardo fit and Ade banging them in, we could have the best front line in football next term.

Onto the centre back situation, 19 year old Gavin Hoyte is saying that Nordtveit could be the answer to our woes next season, I would prefer to fill the void with a home grown, but only if he’s good enough, what do you all think? Gavin himself is highly rated and now he’s 19, he could be an answer at centre back, just as cover though because I think he’s a left back.

Nasri is becoming a boring story, I mean how long does it take to sign someone? Is he for sale? Yes, does he want to join us? Yes, has he passed his medical? Yes. Pretty simple really, don’t you think?

We need to sign Barry and quick, his value will soar after the Tobago game, so a quick swap with Justin and we’ll have our Flamini replacement, sign up Velosa as well and we have the centre back and Gilberto role covered, get this keeper from Wolves in and we’re done, Benzema and Villa won’t happen so I would think that’s it.

You know even if we sign the above and we sell Hleb, we still won’t have spent the £25 mil were were told that we had.

I don’t want Makoun, especially if Song kept him out of the ACN, and I really don’t want anybody I’ve never heard of and after last night I’m not convinced that Richard Dunne is the answer (especially that the Spuds are now after him) not saying no, just saying maybe we should look at our own or push the boat out and sign Mexes, don’t forget, the clubs we love to feed can’t buy everyone.

I’d also get in there and pay Cardiff what they want for Ramsey, we didn’t hesitate with Theo and this kid looks to have it all already, finally I just heard that West Ham have put Ferdinand up for sale at £5 mil, anyone?

Let’s hope today is good news day today Grovers.

So we keep hearing about respecting the players wishes etc, etc, well they earn more in a week than most of our fans do in a year, think about that before anyone gets angry, that’s a month and they have a house, 4 months and they have the fancy villa on a golf course in Spain and another 4 and they have the big yacht in a fancy marina, and we’re supposed to respect them!

Alex Hleb last night came out and said he said nothing about leaving and he loves Arsene and Arsenal, well mate you have a funny way of showing it, for all the fans that are glued to the internet, waiting for signings and waiting and praying that their best players don’t leave, we have all been through hell in this last few weeks, not to mention the piss taking from other fans that are too stupid to support our beloved Arsenal.

When you go home at night after a hard days training Alex, does your wife cheer you and sing your name for and hour and a half? No, does she give you a £5 note, which is what I reckon we contribute to your salary every week, (based on 25 players and divided by 20 and based on my season ticket price) I think the answer is also no.

So whether you’re staying or going, spare a thought for us, show some respect. If you want to do something positive, sack your twat of an agent, he’s an arsehole.

It’s like John Terry (£150k a week) he scuffed his penalty against the Mancs, which could have won them the Cup, and then dedicated his England goal in a meaningless match against a poor team (sorry USA no offence) to the chav fans, oh gee thanks John, we so appreciate that.

Sometimes I wonder what planet these players are on.

I remember the games in the 70’s and 80’s when the players got paid the same as the workers did, had a testimonial and maybe got themselves a pub to retire to, long gone are those days, they still get their tax free testimonials though, do you? I mean do you the fans get anything tax free? NO YOU DON’T.

Mind you how many players will stay at the same club for ten years these days is another matter.

Will Hleb stay? Who knows, I think he’s a great player, but if I could I’d sell him and bring in Goofy, Robinho or Dos Santos, I would, and use the bargaining power we’ll have for whoever wants him.

The great news is that Cesc has vowed to stay, Blatter’s idea has been blasted out of the water and Djourou says he can do Flamini’s job.

It seems the Nasri deal is done and we are sniffing around Veloso, Mexes didn’t make the French team so who knows, but the really, really funny news is Flamini won’t feature in the Euros or the Champions league, so the Arsenal curse seems to be working overtime, well done that curse.

We love Arsenal, but there are times that the so called players need to get a reality check, ManU, Chelsea, Milan and Madrid can’t buy everyone, so Robin, you should watch what you say, you should be paying your salary back. We stood by you when you were charged with rape, when you got injured and now it’s time to show us some respect instead of carping on about what you don’t earn, even if you were talking about others, I know what a veiled threat is.

Today is moving day Grovers, well according to our leader it is, so sit tight and brace yourselves, today could be all about good news, we’re owed it.

Another great day yesterday, we sure do put the world to rights don’t we?

Ok it’s now apparent that Hleb is off, Arsenal football club are about to demonstrate how they play hardball with football’s elite, much like ManU did yesterday when they reported Madrid for unsettling their player, Madrid immediately apologised and that’s the end of that story.

Anyone wants our players and it seems they can have them, we rarely complain, or when we do it’s all bark and no bite.

I read that Spurs are in for Dos Santos, why on earth would Barcelona sell him? If it’s the case then sign him before it’s too late, I know I prefer older players, but this kid is class, why would he want to go to Spurs when he could come to us.

Nasri and Ben Arfa were on display last night with Nasri looking a bit ordinary (according to some in the comments section), let’s hope that was an off day, I’ve seen him play and he looks fab, but hey, who knows who we’re after, we got linked with Santa Cruz yesterday as well, please let that be a rumour.

I also read that David Dein’s son is Cesc’s new agent, amazing that, a little bit of nepotism there or what? Is Darren really that good, would he be Cesc’s agent if his last name were Smith?

Still the Dein’s are all Arsenal fans and him being English should want to see him stay with us here in good old Blightey. I wouldn’t be too worried about him going anywhere, but with our record in getting tough on players, I wouldn’t be surprised who stayed here anymore.

There is still a big possibility that Diaby or even Djourou will fill in for Flamini and we won’t see a Gareth Barry come in, well with Sepp Blatter determined to push through this overseas player rule, Arsene really should be buying some English players, I think that overseas talent costs as much as English talent these days, but we’ll know soon enough.

Other news was Danny’s interview, which confirmed yesterdays blog and it was heartening to see that, all we need now is for the boss to go forth and multiply, over to you Arsene!

Great day again yesterday Grovers, you certainly put the com into comment, that’s for sure.

So Danny Fizman has come out and said exactly what we said yesterday and have in fact been saying for months.

Fiszman, the power broker on the Arsenal board, said:

‘We’ve never said no to Arsene, so I’m sure that whoever he wishes to bring in, he will be fully supported’

‘There’s no set amount. But as I said we’ve always supported Arsene, we’ve never said no to him and have no intention of saying no to him’

‘I think Arsene said it’s not a big name we’re after, it’s a big talent. I think it’s about big talents and committed players’

We spent a whole day yesterday rubbishing talk that we were skint, we had 4 AKB’s telling us we were wrong, but Danny boy’s come out and said it’s there if he wants it. So to all those who knew better, have a nice day, go stew!

He also said it’s not about big names it’s about talent, well here on Le Grove we’ve never asked for Ronaldo, we’ve have however asked for Ben Arfa, Barry, Diego, Benzema, a big center back and Nasri, hardly big names, but certainly big talents.

Yeah I know we cheekily ask for Goofy and Kaka but that’s more tounge-in-cheek.

He also said our wage bill was up there with the Mancs and substantially more than the scousers, so that dispels all this wage structure nonsense we argue with the AKB’s.

At last we are hearing from the top what we’ve been asking for, spend our money! I don’t think Fizman would be telling ATVO this if something were not afoot, so brace yourselves Grovers, it’s about to happen.

We had a great bank holiday Monday, with many of you chosing to spend yout day chatting, well done and don’t stop, someone out there is obviously listening.

It’s not wrong to question, it’s not wrong to speculate, and it’s not wrong to want silverware!

I still believe it will happen over the next two weeks and we’ll all be watching the Euros and our new ‘big talent’ signings, I for one am getting excited, so a big thanks to Danny Fizman.

You sure did stick it to the people who have been saying we’re skint…because we’re not!

I was listening to the news this morning that Pompey fans were complaining about having to pay £700 for a season ticket, Sunderland were moaning about a whopping £450, they don’t know they’re born, do they???

Bentley has turned down a new contract offer from Blackburn, you’re not thinking what I’m thinking are you?…

Have a smug Tuesday Grovers, you earned it!

I mentioned that one of the most respected magazines in the financial world, Forbes, wrote a four page center spread on the finances of Arsenal Football club, it also asked Usmanov and Kroenke to comment and both refused, so that added even more credibility to the story in my opinion.

A lot of toot is written about clubs and how rich they are, what defines riches, turnover (revenue) or income (profit)? here are a few facts about our finances, you make up your own mind.

During 2006/7 Arsenal match day revenue was $150 million against $82million in the last year at Highbury, that included tickets, merchandise, concessions and hospitality sales, that’s $6 million a game and $1 million a matchday more than Manchester United. Arsenal posted $77 million in operating profit, that’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Against a turnover of $329 million.

That makes us the 4th richest club in the world in profitability behind Real who made $112 million, ManU ($111) and Barcelona ($92) but ranks us 3rd in value at $1200 million, behind ManU at $1,800 and Real at $1,285.

The estimated worth of Arsenal includes our current debt, so even our value will soon rocket, once the 724 luxury apartments are released that debt should fast disappear and we’ll be in the black, current estimates, the end of season 2009.

So whichever way you look at it we have more cash available than Liverpool, both Milan’s, Juventus, Munich, Newcastle and Top4tottenham.

The only clubs that have more than that are ManU, Madrid and Barca, the Chavs and ManCity have sugar daddies so they could outspend us too, but that’s it, so we are not skint, we are in fact very, very rich.

So why are we not acting like it? Why did we spend less than anyone last season? I would love to have someone from Arsenal on here, to tell me why we seem to be a feeder club for the so called big boys, why players such as Anelka, Viera, Edu, Henry, Overmars, Petit, Flamini and now Hleb all go on to other clubs and then earn more money.

One AKB site yesterday reminded us that Wenger could speak 10 languages and Graham signed no-one, well a Tunisian beach boy can speak 10 languages so what was that point? And Ian Wright for me was one of our best ever signings and that was a George Graham buy, so to that ‘Inanimate’ blog site, good point, thanks

I didn’t read it by the way, it was brought to my attention. I wouldn’t give sites like that the time of day but that comment was sadly funny, in a Homer Simpson type of way, so I wanted to share it with you all, give you all a bank holiday laugh!

It has just come to my attention that an overseas Arsenal blog site today was wondering if sites like us could keep speculating for 92 days, well yes actually, we’re a blog site and we’re supposed to speculate, it’s obvious that writing about us is all these sites have to do this summer, we prefer to talk Arsenal, and no I didn’t read that one either, Pedro told me.

We move on swiftly, we were 2 or 3 players short this season, Wenger’s words, not mine, then we lost Diarra, Lehmann, Flamini and probably Hleb, so that must mean we’re signing 6 or 7 players, assuming that we’ll bring in Vela and Diaby with one from Randall, Lansbury, Wilshere or Denilson from the stiffs, does that mean 3 or 4 new buys?

If it does then I would go for Barry, Diego and Nasri. We urged Wenger to sign Nasri last summer and he didn’t, if he doesn’t do it by the Euro’s, his value will double, we also said that Diego would be worth a punt and given that he won’t sign Arfa and Nasri, then that would be my choice.

Though swapping Hleb for Goofy or Kaka and cash would make me respect Arsenal more, I expect we won’t though so I won’t labour the point.

All I am is an Arsenal fan trying to make other Arsenal fans happy, speculating about signing world class players and winning a few trophies is one way, watching John Terry and Nickolas Anelka take penalties is another, the latter won’t happen again for at least another year, though the former could happen tomorrow!

Here’s to mañana and have a happy holiday today Grovers.

Words we have heard much this season, the boss believes in this team and wants to keep it together, unless of course they want to leave to earn more money, then they can go, because you have to respect that.

What a load of bollocks, why do we have to respect a greedy toe rag that is shit for years, then good for one and wants more money, breaking contracts is low and deserves nothing but contempt and Wenger should dig in and let Hleb rot in the reserves.

Before anyone says he can buy out his last 2 years, don’t believe it, it’s very complicated and he wouldn’t be playing football for months.

Let’s move on to the kit shall we? I quite like out home kit, apply the same logic as Wenger does with the team, keep it together for another year, believe in it, it has spirit.

Well he won’t will he, why? Because you, the fan who may only earn £5 an hour not £60,000 a week, will pay for it, because you are a fan, and because that’s what we do, we buy the latest kit. Doing that allows us to pay wankers like Flamini and Hleb £55,000 a week, to then stick two fingers up and bugger off to Milan for more.

So Arsene can keep faith with a team that screws him and we get no silverware for 3 years, but you the stupid fan get to buy a new kit, year in and year out.

See where I’m going with this one Grovers? I think it’s time to show us some respect boss and get your cheque book out, it’s not your money, it’s ours, go out sign what we need and then win something.

You maintain this philosophy about respecting players who earn huge amounts, but you’re okay with another kit change and watching your fans once again cough up when you give us nothing back, even Gilberto is telling you to spend now. We may be stupid, but if we can see what Gilberto can, maybe you should listen.

At least sign Nasri and give us something to look forward to during the Euros.

Have a great Domingo Grovers!

Dear Alex,

The Grovers have woken up this morning to the unshocking news that you have decided to leave our wonderful club.

The thing is Alex, you were never really anything more than the poster child for technical ability. Your main skill was never losing the ball, FANTASTIC, shame your other skill was never really doing anything productive with your possession. If Wembley doubles was a professional sport you would have been world champion… shame it isn’t.

In your chosen sport of professional football you had 2 major flaws.

1. You couldn’t shoot

2. You didn’t create.

People will say you helped Cesc look good, but to be honest, that was Flamini’s job last year. Having 2 players making 1 player look good is kind of pointless really? You were bought to help replace Bobby P or Freddie, sadly you didn’t come close. You had two seasons of pure crap and one season of above average performance and now you have decided you are off.

Well see you later son. I don’t know what Milan/Madrid think they are buying but it sure as hell ain’t the ‘White Ronaldinho’. You’d need directness, goals and some trophies to be classed in the same category as him. Hopefully Mr Wenger will replace you with the type of wide player the Gooner faithful are used to…

Have fun in Madrid, we dearly hope you recreate your goals and assists ratio in the coming season… oh and good luck convincing the Madrid fans you do a lot for the team… those fans don’t do grey… it’s purely black and white (Goals/Assists).

Bigger and better have left us in the past, we’ll get over you… in fact, I already have.

Kind Regards

Le Grove

So Hleb’s agent has been flirting outrageously with Real Madrid. If this was a real life situation and your wife was doing this, you’d pack her bags for her.

Apparently he can pick up wages of £100k a week in Madrid, a number that would send Arsene Wenger spinning… not to mention a majority of the Arsenal fans.

However, reading around the comment sections of Le Grove and some other sites it seems there is a resignation to the fact that footballers need to maximise their earnings and it is ok if Hleb wants to disappear off to Madrid.

We need to respect his wishes.

To that, I say bollocks.

Hleb is wildly richer than a majority of Arsenal fans. He earns, at the moment, about £17k more than the average person earns in a year… a week.

Arsenal are rumoured to be offering him an extra £20k on top of that… that’s £37k more than the average person earns in a year, he would now earn a week.

Pretty grotesque right? Do you know who pays for Hlebs monstrous salary?

You.

Every time you subscribe to sky, renew your season ticket, buy a shirt, buy a product you saw on Setanta or buy a £4 beer at Arsenal… you contribute.

So, seen as it is you the supporter who is paying for his luxury lifestyle, is it not fair to expect a little loyalty? After all, we have received very little return on our investment over 3 years. Would he have still been getting games at Chelsea, Madrid or Milan if he’d played like he did in his early days? No way… he’d be on the scrap heap along with players like Saviola, Gilardino and Pizzaro.

Why do so many Arsenal fans respect the financial wishes of a footballer who earned his millions doing something he was genetically gifted to do…?

If they have so much respect for Hlebs wishes, why can’t they respect a fan who has worked hard enough to be able to purchase a club level ticket… or shell out on a box?

I have more respect for a person who has worked their bollocks off to achieve their wealth than for some spoilt footballer who has been lucky enough to be born with a talent for a game we all adore.

So excuse me for not respecting Hlebs wishes. You got rich off the back of clubs fleecing the fans… how long the fans will tolerate this is anyone’s guess. At some point, the bubble will burst, and I can’t wait.

Ok So Vela has his work permit, great news, Nasri is still on hold but the really great news is the cheating chavs lost! It was so good to watch Cashley’s face at the end, but even better to watch the cheating chav Terry, miss his penalty and instantly hold his shin, as if if was his shins fault, ha, fucking ha! what topped it off was to watch ex gooner Anelka putting the cherry on the cake and see Abramovich put his head in his hands, justice done, job done, well done super Nick.

Good move Cashley! You greedy little shit, you now have the record as the only mobile phone loving twat that has lost two champions league finals, I only wish you had swallowed you tongue after the head butt.

Enough of that Grovers, we still haven’t signed Nasri or Ben Arfa and after watching the most boring game in champions league history, sign them quick, ‘cos Fergie and Grant will be trying hard to if we don’t.

There’s no need to wait, if you want them, sign them, but do it quick!

Not a lot else to talk about but this week, but it should shows which way we go, if we don’t do it soon, the Euros will be on us and then every one will cost a fortune, so all we’ll see is kids, and we have enough of them.

So please, please Arsene, get the fucking cheque book out before it’s too late.

It sickened me to see the Champions league final between 2 teams that play kick and run football, it should have been us, and if you make those signings, it could be.

Have a great day grovers, this could be the day!

New Kit perhaps? Good work Arsenal Youth!