Well lets start off with a lesson in life. Many people e-mail in to say that the thing they like the most about Le Grove is that they always walk away having learnt something.
Todays lesson?
You Booze you Lose.
If you get on the Super T (Tramp Juice) and you are a professional athlete, there is every chance you may not win too many titles. These sentiments have been echoed by brown paper bag legend, George Graham,
‘When I look back at my time managing Arsenal in the Eighties, I wonder how much more we could have achieved had my team not been boozing so much,’
I wouldn’t want to be presumptuous about the Grovers, but I sure can relate to that statement – education, career, relationships…! It’s definitely a better excuse than ‘We lacked experience’.
Next up in the news. Justin Hoyte, Arsenal legend in the making could be off in a £4.5million move to Villa this week. I am going to to a bit of simple math here. If Villa have 3 players we may want (Agbonlahor, Young, Barry), maybe a swap deal could be in the offing? Would that just be too logical for Arsenal? I don’t know… What I do know is Martin O’Neil would probably do anything to avoid selling to Liverpool.
Next up. Sammy Nasri has possibly played his last game for Marseille. He had this to say after scoring,
“It is very important because it is perhaps my last match at the Stade Velodrome.”
Could he be heading Arsenalwards? I hope so! Even if Hleb is staying we should sign him. Having quality in reserve is something we lack at the moment.
It has all gone quiet on the transfer front, the calm before the storm? Or the calm because it 27 degrees outside and there is no chance of a storm this summer! Please be the storm… please…!
A big well done to King Kanu for nicking a goal to win the most boring cup final since last years. I was on Arse watch and I can report that Diarra looked average against below average opposition as did Niko Krancjar.
Finally, for those of you who are still bitter about the Anelka saga of 10 years ago… read here for a laugh.
Have a great Sunday!
P.S. Thanks for the great response to the mailing list! Le Grove appreciates your support (if you haven’t subscribed, you know what to do…)!
Pedro
Geoff
May 18, 2008 at 08:57
Nice post Pedro and nice ditto about Anelka!
May 18, 2008 at 09:04
What are you still doing in the country!
May 18, 2008 at 09:09
I think Hoyte’s performance in the Carling Cup Semi exposed some weaknesses in his game & from then on he has been on borrowed time.
May 18, 2008 at 09:09
Who’s going where? Is Geoff off to play golf again??
May 18, 2008 at 09:10
If we can get 4.5 million for Hoyte that has to be considered great business.
May 18, 2008 at 09:14
It was strange watching Diarra fouling people left,right and centre, barging through three or four tackles and then giving the ball away. Perhaps he isn’t as good as he promised to be. You certainly would have thought that, against a team like Cardiff, he should have run the show. But, then again, Portsmouth were pretty crap all round i thought.
May 18, 2008 at 09:14
Pedro I’m going through now! GMR I’m flying to New York then flying south to Pinehurst to play golf.
May 18, 2008 at 09:15
morning people..
read this…
eto would rather join arsenal than the spuds.. uh… of course
Link
4.5 mill is good for hoyte…!!!
nasri is a cesc type of player no?
May 18, 2008 at 09:17
Traore didn’t do much better that game either but his assist against Everton for Bendtner was enough for me that he has a future.
May 18, 2008 at 09:20
Never was a big fan of hoyte to be honest…4.5mill is a hefty price tag too.
Didn’t some blogger mention that Nasri’s medical would be today?
May 18, 2008 at 09:23
Have a good one Geoff!
Nasri having a medical today? That would be surprising!
The shame of it is that if he come in, you’d think that Hleb would probably go? Especially if we really are interested in Arfa!
May 18, 2008 at 09:35
Geoff, have a good one!! Only two weeks until I’ll be out in the USA as well.
I think something will happen this week with regards a signing, obviously the Spanish & Italian leagues finish tonight & the Franch season ended yesterday (just the French cup final to go now).
Could be an exciting week, Hleb’s agent said everything should become clear within 10 days which would make it this coming Friday.
Geoff’s going to miss all the fun!!
May 18, 2008 at 09:41
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a 3 player press conference on Friday! When was the last time we bought a player expensive enough to merit a press conference?
May 18, 2008 at 09:45
“If I were Sam, I would go, but I don’t decide for him,”
Henry advising Eto’o.
May 18, 2008 at 09:46
Nasri having a medical, struth that would be exicting if its true?
May 18, 2008 at 09:46
so rumours have it that we are going for both nasri and arfa?
May 18, 2008 at 09:52
any1 watching the Fiorentina game tonight? i can only get the Roma game on ESPN…
May 18, 2008 at 09:55
Evo,
My team is Reggina, & they are never on. But look like they will stay up.
May 18, 2008 at 10:01
i only like Inter for Vieira (otherwise none), but im more interested in Fiorentina winning so AC Milan stay in 5th!
May 18, 2008 at 10:06
Yeah to be honest I’m not really that fussed. The whole Serie A pales into insignificance compared to the cut & thrust of the Premier League.
May 18, 2008 at 10:08
How strange the Italian league has worked out. Inter or Roma will win the title but they are playing the two teams who either go down or stay up. Parma need to beat Inter & hope Catania lose to Roma. You can’t get a more exciting finish than that!!
May 18, 2008 at 10:09
morning all . have a good trip geoff , sounds nice !! Did anyone else think krancjar looked average and what concerned me most ( if we did get him that is ) not very quick !? nice to see kanu score and sol lifting the cup . good for them
May 18, 2008 at 10:10
GMR,
Yes, that is true, but its all played in second gear. And these are the people who invented the Ferrari
May 18, 2008 at 10:11
would much rather have ben arfa , much quicker , go back to the pace and power policy arsene , we used to get the ball from one end to the goal in ten seconds with 4 touches
May 18, 2008 at 10:13
I don’t know what anyone else thinks, but for me as a youngster… Inter were a massive club. Now though, I really don’t see them as a big club? Their success is a by product of a scandal.. bar the last few years, they’ve had very little success. So my question is… why are they seen as a bigger club than Arsenal in World Football?
Have Madrid won La Liga yet? Probably the worst thing a coach of Madrid can do!
May 18, 2008 at 10:19
Well i must admit, i think Inter arent as big as they used to be either Pedro. Although my old cheese took a European vacation 2 years ago and i asked her to get me an Inter-Vieira strip! Couldnt resist!
Anyway, i posted this morning (late last night for you guys) that i though Krancjar was average as well. You cant base a performance on only 1 game, but if its against Cardiff (not wanting to be disparaging) and your pompey (not wanting to be disparaging) then he could have had a day out!
Come on signings, hurry the f*ck up!
May 18, 2008 at 10:20
anyways
samir nasri is not like cesc, he has better dribbling skills quick feet but maybe lightweight. people do say he is the new “zidane” but i dont think he is. he will come deep to collect the ball and hold it and run with it. good close control
hatem ben arfa, is a left footed wizard, he can twist and turn defenders, he would be brillant for us on the left hand side.
honestly if we had like £60m i will buy benzema, ben arfa and nasri.
but in reality we will buy one, i wish we can get both nasri and ben arfa but one will be the one and i think if we do sell hleb we will get both
but ben arfa is the one we really need at this time
May 18, 2008 at 10:20
Spot on Pedro. I’ve never thought about that before, but it is true. AC and Juve are the Big Two despite Inter’s record (tainted though it is). I guess it is because of the fantastic Ruud Gullit/Van Basten team.
Are they bigger than The Arse? No way.
Would Inter be top 4 in the EPL….. I doubt it
May 18, 2008 at 10:21
The mirror says we only got £25m but they come out with loads of players for what??
2 st. ettiene players, mario gomez, raul abiol, lillian thuram, aquilani
we cant get them all for £25m
May 18, 2008 at 10:23
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger isn’t interested in signing players with big reputations.
“I think a huge player is better than a huge name,” Wenger told arsenal.com. “You have huge names who produce very little at the moment.
“There is plenty of demand from players who want to join us and what we need next year is two or three maybe.”
i dont know if to cry or be happy
May 18, 2008 at 10:23
Good stuff, I am glad other people agree!
Now this may be a bit more controversial…
What do people see in Ibrahimovic that I don’t?
I’ve seen him at Arsenal about 4-5 times and I’ve never been impressed? I read Madrid wanted to break their transfer record for him!
What am I missing?
May 18, 2008 at 10:23
There is a big potential market in Asia & yet Arsenal play pre season comps in Europe. With the way Arsenals product is of “Total Football” they should be taking it to a bigger market. I think you will find that as time passes, though, the Inters and Juves are being passed by those clubs which are willing to exploit the potentials out there.
May 18, 2008 at 10:26
Real Madrid are ready to open talks with Villarreal for Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres.
Marca says Real sports chief Pedja Mijatovic recently met with Caceres’ agent, Daniel Fonseca, where an agreement was struck over the youngster’s intention to move to Madrid in the summer.
Caceres spent this season on-loan at Recreativo Huelva and is rated highly by coach Bernd Schuster. The stumbling block could be Villarreal’s Champions League qualification, with the Yellow Submarines needing a deeper squad to handle next season’s commitments
am sure we were interested in this player before
May 18, 2008 at 10:27
Pedro, I think you are missing an “h” off the end of his name.or is that what they usually add when they move to Oz. Like Bosnic(h)
May 18, 2008 at 10:30
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to raid his homeland, France for three players to make up for the loss of Mathieu Flamini. Wenger has identified Lille midfielder Jean Makoun, St-Etienne right-back Mahamadou Dabo and Marseille’s Samir Nasri
why do we need another right back for???
is eboue really going to be pushed forward
May 18, 2008 at 10:31
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zlatan_Ibrahimovi%C4%87
I think my spelling was correct?
May 18, 2008 at 10:33
All this talk of signings, as if Arsene is going to do the expected. I’ll be chuffed if I have heard of the country our next signing comes from, never mind his name.
May 18, 2008 at 10:34
GG9. You have a point there. Asia is just full of MU fans, directly as a result of their promoting the team ther. There is an MU shop in Singapore FFS !
Ibramovic seems like a typical luxury player. No trackingoback, always preening, but also a man with fantasy in his boots
May 18, 2008 at 10:34
Yep, Pedro, it must be just an Australian thing then to add an “h”.
May 18, 2008 at 10:35
I reckon he is going to try and be clever with his signings…
The problem is, how can you buy a creative unknown? They are all pretty well known these days!
What about that Gouffran guy? He is a Wenger like signing, 25… failing at Milan… remember the last guy we bought from Milan who was in a similar situation?
May 18, 2008 at 10:38
Raddy, I read somewhere we are going to promoted on milk cartons in Vietnam!
We should get a tie in with China somehow… I’d imagine their interest will boom soon!
May 18, 2008 at 10:38
For the Villa fan who just came on…
I don’t mean straight swap you muppet…
May 18, 2008 at 10:40
gunnershabz .. I agree with you on Nasri versus Arfa
Arfa is the one we need right now
Nasri is incredibly technical, but more in a south american way
if we were only to buy Nasri, I would think that we did the wrong kind of biz this time around
I cant see Hleb staying especially with the improved contracts being offered to Cesc/Clichy/Sagna .. why not Hleb if we wanted to hold on to him?
So maybe yes, we will get both .. lets see
May 18, 2008 at 10:40
I thought Diarra as by far the best player on the pitch, he has drive, determination and great compusure under pressure, he stood out as a top top player.
Kranjcar looked very ordinary.
May 18, 2008 at 10:40
In America don’t they put missing persons on milk cartons, we could kill two birds with one stone and put Eboue on the side..
May 18, 2008 at 10:41
all Villa fans are muppets. It is to do with their upbringing and place of birth !
May 18, 2008 at 10:41
lol David
May 18, 2008 at 10:41
Great stuff David !
May 18, 2008 at 10:44
Arse&nose, I thought the Cardiff forward looked the best player! I thought Kanu played well, which was nice to see.
Diarra kept losing the ball and as much as it pains me… he is no where near the ability of Flamini.
May 18, 2008 at 10:47
loved that david made me laugh!!!!!!!
May 18, 2008 at 10:47
If all the rumours are true, we will see a huge movement of players this summer. The rise of the super wealthy Chairmen/Owner puts new demands on the market. I can see more that Hleb/Flam leaving. And more than 2 signings.
If we want to remain at the very top, we need to sign the best players, not a Milan reject (OK Pedro – we got a good one last time !). I want us to sign players that get the selling clubs fans furious.
Like Sol ….. oh happy days
May 18, 2008 at 10:47
I see spurs are deluding themselves again.
This is an extract from Vital Football.com THFC News
After the loss of the influential French central midfielder, Matthew Flamini – it appears that Arsenal may be forced to spend big on bringing in a replacement. Despite showing promise, it is unlikely Brazilian youth Denilson will be able to step into the role in the near future.
So, where does this leave Arsenal?
Inevitably, they will be forced to enter the transfer market and purchase a player of better, if not parallel standard. It is well documented that the club are in need of 2 or 3 experienced players in order to drag their potential-packed team up to the standards of Manchester United and Chelsea.
With Arsenal calling The Emirate Stadium home, an attendance of 60,000 is expected week – in, week – out. The project itself came to a staggering £430 million cost, which was later reduced by £100 million due to the sponsorship deal. This has lead to club being placed firmly in debt; especially with current market conditions – it is unlikely that they will be able to clear it in the near future. With funds low, will Arsene Wenger be able to pluck another talent from the footballing outback?! Arsenal also has a rigid wage structure in place, which is thought to have been the main reason for Flaminis` departure. Combining their lack of funds, their inability to pay wages and their need for players – I am already predicting a fairly disastrous season for the Gunners in 2008/2009.
4 miles away in the sunnier and more honest part of North London, we have Tottenham – a club with a very different story, but one likely to end happier.
May 18, 2008 at 10:47
Pedro – fully agreed, imbrohimovic is hugely overated!
May 18, 2008 at 10:48
Agreed Raddy, Milan buy players just to stop other clubs buying them though. I like it when we transform a player and leave other fans reeling.
I have to agree with you sentiments though… Lets go out and buy the best there is (Or we can afford).
May 18, 2008 at 10:50
…..anyway gentlemen, my work is finished for the day, hope that last bit of dribble will give you a good LOL, bye for now.
May 18, 2008 at 10:53
seeya GG9
May 18, 2008 at 10:53
The honest part of North London where they get docked points for financial irregularities and have to beg to get them back and the honest way they treat there managers..
May 18, 2008 at 10:55
see ya Tasweigan!
May 18, 2008 at 10:55
ok so i have a question…
Wenger said 2-3 weeks for signings…has 1 week now passed so its only 1-2 weeks?
May 18, 2008 at 10:58
Good news, Clichy has failed to make the french squad for the Euro’s!! I know he’ll be disappointed but I’m delighted at that!!
May 18, 2008 at 11:01
GMR .. was about to write the same thing.. so has Sagna.. look at the French central midfield .. average age must be 44..and Flam + Diarra.. hahaha they will win fukk all
May 18, 2008 at 11:01
Who the hell is better than Clichy or has he picked up a knock GMR?
May 18, 2008 at 11:04
hi pedro/geoff
May 18, 2008 at 11:05
i’m rooting for the spaniards in the euros.
May 18, 2008 at 11:06
Can’t say I am disappointed. Our FB’s are so important to the team. What it shows is what a total dickhead Domanech is
May 18, 2008 at 11:07
Holland for me
May 18, 2008 at 11:07
wenger needs to tie up the deal for nasri pronto…. he will be a star at the euros and will have real, barca et al on his case
May 18, 2008 at 11:08
the dutch are a stonking bet @ 12/1
totally overpiced, they are in that tought group with the french and italians i think
May 18, 2008 at 11:08
Holland for me.
Hi Mayank.
That is a shocking omission by France, their loss!
May 18, 2008 at 11:17
hi pedro/geoff
I JUST WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO A TOPIC…
BIASED REFS N COMMENTATOR SPECIALLY FOR MANURE…..YOU SAY THAT WE LOST THE TITLE BECAUSE OF PLAYERS..I JUST WANT TO DIGRESS FROM THE TOPIC …WE LOST THEM COZ OF THE REFREEING DECISIONS.THE COMMENTARY THEY HAVE OF SKY SPORTS IS COMPLETELY BIASED…JUST LIKE MANURE T.V. AND THE REFS LOOK LIKE THEY GET PAID BY MANU…
I HAVE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF DEBATABLE DECISIONS GOING AGAINST US
Can you remember Drogba’s goal against us ? the first one ? yep! it was offside. Remember Ade’s goal against boro? Boeteng passed to Ade and he scored ? they said it was off but wasnt cos beoteng passed it. Even the penalty at old trafford is debatable. The rule says if you spread your hands to make yourself bigger. Gallas idnt spread him arm. When you see Rio’s penalty shout at Wigan and Scholes’ redcard shout, you know something is wrong in the league. it’s a disgrace.
AND CLICHY PENALTY AT BIRMINGHAM WAS ALSO NOT A PENALTY.
AND THE MOTHERS OF ALL BAD DECISIONS WAS THE LIVERPOOL ONE…I JUST WANTED TO HIT THAT FUC@## REF.
I JUST WANT U TO START A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THIS BIAS OTHERWISE IT WILL GROW EVERY YEAR..THE SAME REFS SUPPORTIN THE SAME TEAM AND GOING AWAY CLEAN.
AND AGAIN THOSE SKY BAST@#$%….WHO THINK MANURE R THE ONLY TEAM ON THE PLANET.ITS GETTING ON TO OBNOXIOUS LEVELS AND WE HAVE A RIGHT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS BIAS.
ITS A HUMBLE PLEA TO BOOTH OF U…JUST HIGHLIGHT THIS POINT TO THE WHOLE WORLD.
May 18, 2008 at 11:20
Morning all
dont want to be doom and gloom, but i watched Lyon last night, Benzema looked average, scored a good goal early on, but then made a few runs and no end product
Fred looked pretty good – strong!
Ben Arfa – came on with about 10-15 mins to go, again average.
Hopefully both performances were ‘last game’ syndrome, and the early goals secured their seventh consecutive title.
then i watched some of barca – Giovani dos Santos was awesome and scored a super hat -trick, if arsene is looking at youngsters, he is a must! TH was showing signs of his old self and grabbed a gola.
Tonight I am going to take a peep as Ossssssasooona and watch Carlos Vela
May 18, 2008 at 11:20
very passionate Mayank!
May 18, 2008 at 11:21
Fred always looks good and strong, but his career is over in terms of us making a signing like him!
May 18, 2008 at 11:23
Thuram was dreadfully slow – we dont need him guys
May 18, 2008 at 11:29
Yet another video of cesc fabregas before the Cesc Fabregas Show: Nike Live aires!!
The video is hilarious, cesc scared!!
srohit.blogspot.com/2008/05/cesc-visits-sports-psychiatrist.html
May 18, 2008 at 11:39
ok 2 more names to add to the list…never heard of these blokes…
St Etienne duo Mouhamadou Dabo and Blaise Matuidi. The pair would cost about £10m
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/05/18/exclusive-arsene-wenger-to-splash-25m-98487-20421862/
May 18, 2008 at 12:05
Nice one Rico… That is my point about Arfa and Benzema… do we know they will definitly be world beaters?
Mayank, I think you are clutching at straws a bit!
Draws against average teams has nothing to do with refs really. Going on your worst run EVER can’t all be blamed on the refs.
Rico, Dos Santos has a buy out clause i think!
I’m thinking about getting Sky with the broadband. Does anyone have any experience of Sky broadband before I make the plunge?
May 18, 2008 at 12:10
couldnt say about sky Pedro, but i do hate a monopoly!
May 18, 2008 at 12:12
David- Domenech seems to think Evra & Abidal are better than Clichy. Evra runs Clichy close but Abidal is one of the worst left backs I’ve ever seen. Who cares though it means Clichy gets a good rest!!
May 18, 2008 at 12:12
Rohit – certainly loving the Cesc videos, im glad they’re keeping him occupied with plenty of cash incentives!
May 18, 2008 at 12:15
As long as he rests that pen on a new contact I will be happy.
Anything in the Henry to America story? Thought he wanted to be nearer Tea.
May 18, 2008 at 12:16
Pedro, it depends where you live really. Sky’s broadband can be pretty s*** & to be honest you have limits on use. You have to keep the BT line rental going which is £10 I think on their cheapest rate.
I looked into it before but in all honesty they didn’t work out that cheap & if you’ve been with BT a while you can get a better deal with them.
I argued with BT & got everything thrown in such as the home hub & their mid range package for less than sky’s for 12 months. I have no limits on use either!!
May 18, 2008 at 12:17
definitely want no limits on use, or the max possible!
May 18, 2008 at 12:20
pedro – not sure on sky broadband, have heard mixed reviews. Might be worth looking into bt/setanta as arsenal tv package i think is included for free, and all the CL qualifiers get shown on setanta, as do a lot of our pre season matches (well most last year)
May 18, 2008 at 12:21
GMR, I am on be unlimited, 24mb download, 1.3 upload and its unlimited. My flat mate wants to do the sky package… the problem is that you always seem to get shafted by Sky and Ntl…
Maybe I’ll leave the broadband.
I really can’t see how anyone rates Evra or Adibal over Clichy… I don’t think those two are in Clichys league.
Its a real shame that he has to compete with those two. Still, Clichy used to be a Le List candidate… maybe a summer off will do him some good!
May 18, 2008 at 12:25
Dos Santos – it seemed very obvious last night that he has a ‘dad’ relationship with Frank R, the comentators reflected this also, poss a bit like cesc and arsene. now FR finished, he may bot have a desire to stay in spain and his folks may believe arsene would look after him and nurture his talent. he looked so happy to play, so happy to have the ball and when he used his foot like a sand wedge for his second, i thought he was going to have a tear. he really needs to come to us, and the best will be seen by us all
May 18, 2008 at 12:26
I agree, I think Evra is good but Abidal is woeful. As I say I don’t care, the less players we have going to the Euro’s the better, firstly for fitness reasons but secondly because they won’t be getting tapped up!!
Someone said Sagna isn’t going either which is fantastic news.
May 18, 2008 at 12:29
Pedro, honestly that sky package does not work out cheap when you actually look into it. It looks great when they advertise it but they don’t include the BT line rental you have to keep paying. I wouldn’t touch it.
May 18, 2008 at 12:31
Duno bout us getting £4.5M for Hoyte but if we did that would be great business & the best move for Hoyte to take for his future.
I duno though us being constantly linked with Nasra, Ben Arfa etc is not convincing me cos Wenger has been saying that we need big players & not big names. So you tend to think we wont be getting players of this current stature. I guess we will have to wait & see. Hopefully we can see these signings before I go on hols in two weeks. Come on!!!
May 18, 2008 at 12:37
Domenech really is an idiot. Sagna was voted the best right back in France & this season was voted onto the official team of the season in the premier league, yet he’s not good enough for France!! I doubt France will even get close to winning this tournament.
May 18, 2008 at 12:37
dont blame it on injurys
dont blame it on referees
dont blame it on sky t v
blame it on Eboue
May 18, 2008 at 12:42
Are you kidding me? Sagna didn’t make the squad either?
The manager has lost the plot!
I am officially not supporting France at all… they are my Germany this year!
I respect Hoyte, he never complains and he gives it his all. A true pro. I think he could be a solid right back, not at the highest level though and if we can use him as a make weight… excellent!
Cheers for the advice GMR.
May 18, 2008 at 12:42
Nice song Terry.
May 18, 2008 at 12:54
Pedro Bothelo is coming back… Traore is going out on loan to Pompey!
That would be a good signing for them… I hope they play him out wide!
Wow, I am talking to myself?
Madness…
May 18, 2008 at 12:57
thanks Pedro picked it up here a couple of weeks ago the Richard Dunne rumor is still doing the rounds he could be a good addition to the squad right age for a c b
May 18, 2008 at 12:58
Sagna’s injury might well be the reason why he hasnt been selected
Domenech doesnt like changing teams .. so it will be Abidal/Malouda on the left for them .. both are crap..Lyon didnt miss them this season even though that guy Grosso they bought from Milan is a complete waste as a left back
I was watching Lyon celebrations last night on Setanta
couldnt help but feeling that Arfa looked a bit out of touch with his team mates
at one point he was looking around for somebody to celebrate with him..
he is clearly not going to stay..
May 18, 2008 at 13:03
I thought he was only out for 3 weeks?
Who is right back for france? Sagnol? He is old…
Here is a joke for you?
What is the best way to get a transfer to Tottenham?
Get your player linked with Arsenal first…
Not really a joke, more of a fact.
They want Arfa, Eto’o, Dunne… they’ve signed Modric!
What a joke that club is…
May 18, 2008 at 13:07
they let Arsenal do the scouting for them not a bad policy with the amount of gems A W has bought
May 18, 2008 at 13:13
We can forget about Nasri, Barry and co.
Wenger’s gonna muck around with some footballers from St. Etienne, or so it seems.
Believe it or not?
The ego has landed.
May 18, 2008 at 13:13
let Spurs break the bank for Eto’o
he looks far from his best for the moment
thats what Wenger means when he goes on about big players and big reputations
look at the money that man is paid at Barca.. 128K net per month
thats 6MM after tax..fukk it..thats 10MM before tax in the UK
so you pay 25MM quid transfer money and add to this over lets say 5 years 50MM in wages –> 75MM total
hope we dont do that sort of biz honestly
I still think that somebody soemhow stinks about all the French players we are being linked with
I fear the worst .. we might end up buying fukk all again
May 18, 2008 at 13:16
The English tabloid this morning claimed that Martin O’Neill is on the verge of finalising a deal that would bring Justin Hoyte from the Emirates to Villa Park for a fee in the region of 4.5 million pounds.
O’Neill tried to sign the 23 year old full-back last summer but could not reach an agreement with Arsené Wenger over the player’s valuation. Hoyte would be seen as a replacement for the Juventus-bound Olof Mellberg.
Meanwhile, it is thought that agreement has already been reached between Aston Villa and Chelsea to bring Steve Sidwell to the Birmingham club.
Sidwell made only one appearance in the league for Avram Grant’s side since January, and is seen as surplus to requirements in a midfield that is stocked with Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, Mikel John Obi and Claude Makekele.
A fee in the region of 7 million pounds is thought to be the price of taking the ex-Reading man away from Stamford Bridge. Whether Sidwell will be acquired as a potential replacement for Liverpool target Gareth Barry remains to be seen.
Cheers!!!
http://www.latest-arsenal.blogspot.com
May 18, 2008 at 13:16
If Arsenal’s gonna get acquired by the Yank, Stan Kroenke, as might be indicated by Peter Hill-Wood’s recent slip of the tongue (”Before I met Stan Kroenke, I didn’t think he was the right person to TAKE CONTROL OF Arsenal Football Club.”), that might make transfers tricky – AW may be rushing to get them through, signed and stocked before the takeover happens and Kroenke starts tweaking the budget (might be for the better, who knows… better we present him with a ‘fait accompli’, just in case).
Another reason for hurrying the signing would be Euro 2008 – players we’re interested in might be hard to sign (negotiations, medicals) right in the middle of a major tournament, and might rocket in value afterward if they do well
May 18, 2008 at 13:18
Afternoon all.
So Eto’o wants to come to arsenal? Take a number mate, no 221 according to AW!!
Saw Benzema’s goal last night, apart from that nothing else.
Also thought Kranjkcar looked average and Diarra’s head looked bigger than usual and he didnt look any better than anyone else on the pitch!! Good to see the 40 year old Kanu get the winner. Lauren didnt look too chuffed at not making the squad though did he?!!
So by my calculations the new signings should start coming through by the end of this week no?
May 18, 2008 at 13:18
heard this crap from Fla-Money…..
“Some people say I left for money but I could have joined an English club who offered me much more than Arsenal,” he said. “But I decided against it out of my respect and bond with the club.”
May 18, 2008 at 13:19
Bradley, I think the Arsenal board see him as the best of a bad bunch. Will the weak dollar not affect his spending power? The same way it has Gillet and Hicks?
May 18, 2008 at 13:23
well said B B I think stay away from Eto
May 18, 2008 at 13:23
“we should”
May 18, 2008 at 13:29
I see people are preparing their bets for Euro 2008. If you are preparing to punt on who will win, you need to think of a banker bet to get your money back.
The easiest and least riskiest for me is this best:
Spain to qualify. On Betfair at 1.29. All Spain need to do is Qualify for you to win the bet, first or second. For me that is a well priced banker considering Greece, Russia and Sweden. As bookies second favourites they must beat Greece, and surely will beat either Russia or Sweden to get through, 6 points will get them through.
The Group of Death contains Italy, France, the Netherlands and Romania.
Romania must be the whipping boys, France will outclass them, and I don’t think Romania can stop them. And even if they can, they have Italy to deal with as well. Romainia ar 1.67 to finish rock bottom.
0.67
0.29
0.96
After betfair take off your commission it’s 0.91
Some serious dosh to be made, for example 1 unit = 50
Possible scenarios:
Result: Spain don’t qualify AND Romania DON’t finish rock bottom (shock horror)
A)Profit/Loss = -100
Result: Romania manages to get more than 3 points in group C from Holland , Italy and France, but Spain qualify.
B)Profit/Loss = -35.50
Result: Romania finish bottom of the group of Death and Spain qualify for the next round
C)Profit/Loss = +45.50
If A happens, the person that took the bet deserves to win, fair play.
B, same with B, you haven’t lost a whole unit, you can easily make that back later in the tournament.
C Very likely to happen, and if you win, you gain more than you would have lost if option B happened. Option A is very unlikely to happen and the bookie fully deserves the money if it does.
Best triple for the group stages?
Spain to beat Greece
Italy to beat Romainia
Netherlands to beat Romaina.
1 unit on the triple, 1 on Romania rock bottom and 1 on Spain to Qualify will be my bets, hopefully I can just cash in and after that, may the best team win, no more bets
May 18, 2008 at 13:34
Pedro Bothelo isn’t coming back this summer. They have ripped that story from young guns but got their facts wrong. He is in the same position as Vela was in, Arsenal sent him to Salamanca in order for him to gain a spanish passport, he’ll be back next summer.
Now after the good news about Sagna, Clichy & Diaby being left out the French euro squad, we are hit with the bad news that Denilson & Gilberto have been included in the provisional Brazilian squad for the Olympics, which means should both be selected they’ll miss the start of the season!! Two players who may well have covered for Flamini, not a good start!!
May 18, 2008 at 13:34
Wow Finest, that must have taken some working out. Are you by any chance a mathematical genius?
May 18, 2008 at 13:37
May be a good thing GMR may make Arsene get his arse in gear and buy Barry or someone if he learned anything from the ANC in January.
May 18, 2008 at 13:38
Would that be the same Romania that beat & drew with Holland in the qualifiers & topped their group??
May 18, 2008 at 13:39
This International stuff is becoming farcical. No-one really cares about these competitions, and the friendlies are a waste of time. Plus there should be a rule that states that if a player is injured whilst playing for his country, the National FA should pay his wages and rehab, not the club.
RvP’s injury playing for Holland may well have cost us the EPL. Add in Kolo & Song coming back fucked from the ANC.
It is a shitshow
May 18, 2008 at 13:41
Lol it’s obvious isn’t it Raddy, that bet is almost a definite to come through eh?
The triple is the most risky, Romania or Greece could pull a draw, but Spain have got to qualify, and 45% is a neat return for an almost dead cert (Spain to qualify, Romania to finish rock bottom). It is a bet still so we have to count on Spain being as good as they’re tipped to be, and Italy. the Netherlands and France to also outclass Romania. I don’t think they’ll let us down, but the bookie deserves it if it gets funky, it’s odds on for the punter.
Bet or not to bet?
May 18, 2008 at 13:44
so Gilberto is doing the same thing than last season .. well for me thats it .. sell him
we dont need him 6 weeks after the season started .. he will be tired and the rest
better cash in now on him and buy a rested player for the start of the season .. preferably not ANC bound
fukk that shit
May 18, 2008 at 13:45
finest .. Holland struggled a lot with Romania in the qualifiers and the French dont look that great .. remember 4 years ago..
May 18, 2008 at 13:46
Yup the triple is risky BB, any opposition to Spain qualifying or Romania finishing the group rock bottom?
May 18, 2008 at 13:49
BB, I agree with you, Gilberto shows little to no respect towards the club at times. I understand these players are honoured to play for their country, but Kaka & Ronaldinho to name but two both asked to be left out last summer from that tournament whereas Gilberto didn’t & now we have the same situation again. Fair play if it was a world cup but it isn’t, he lost his place last season through his own fault & if he goes to the Olympics over Arsenal this summer he should be left out the team for his remaining year!!
May 18, 2008 at 13:52
OK an even nicer easy double, Portugal to beat Switzerland and Spain to best Romania and maybe to make it a triple go for the world cup champions to beat Romania, so sub Netherlands with Portugal v Switzerland, that has a good chance of making it don’t you think?
May 18, 2008 at 13:54
Gilberto is the captain still I beleive so he wouldn’t be showing a good example if he didn’t want to play for his country.
Buy English while Lampard and Rooney plays we will never qualify for a major tounament (trouble is there not many players worth having).
May 18, 2008 at 13:56
GMR, he is going there as captain, but we’ve known that for a long time. If he wins the Olympics he’ll be ready to get straight back on the team, we need 2 top quality players to rotate with for that position, we got too dependent on Flamini, and when needed, Flamini couldn’t help with the goals wheres Gilberto and Diaby will. IMO rotating between Gilberto and Diaby would be a good plan, put Diaby in for games where we know the team has weaknesses in defence and a weak attack, Gilberto when we need to get more defensive.
I hope Gilberto wins the Olympics and jumps in with Gold medal Olympic form for us.
May 18, 2008 at 13:58
Romania might pull out a surprise .. they will be solid and technical
I believe that the quality will be poor as no teams will take any risks
look at the French midfield .. there is NOT one creative player in that area..Diarra/Flam/Vieira/Makelele etc..
I am very comfortable with Spain qualifying without any doubt, but I am not sure about Romania finishing bottom .. I would like to see better odds
May 18, 2008 at 14:02
Finestcuts, if a replacement comes in for Gilberto & does well Gilberto won’t get his place back, that is his fault. As I said I understand why he wants to play for Brazil but Arsenal should come first. Next summer you’ll have the confederations cup & then the year after the world cup meaning Gilberto would probably play for 4 consecutive summers without a rest!!
It won’t be our problem then as I doubt Wenger will extend his contract but players need to balance things out & ignoring your club continually for the sake of your country is not good form. If he refused to play last summer so he could play this then that would be fair but he doesn’t do that!!
May 18, 2008 at 14:05
Spain struggle against defensive teams, I haven’t looked at the groups but if they have Greece & Switzerland then they’ll have a problem winning those games, they won’t lose but I’d tend to lay Greece or Switzerland rather than back Spain!!
May 18, 2008 at 14:07
Ok, you’re sticking with the rock solid favourite. I think Romania will finish rock bottom, I know they might get a draw or 2 but I seriously can’t see them getting beyond 3 points, and the odds of them getting four points far outweigh the probability of the odds on offer, it’s less than a 10/1 chance, and the only way that would happen is if one of the others failed to win a game AND Romania got 3 points OR for Romania to get 2 draws AND the team below them to have 1 point or less.
1.67 is a very good price for such an eventuality NOT to occur.
May 18, 2008 at 14:08
Gilberto was given a holiday last year after he finished with brazil also he missed all the friendlies and he wasn’t over used last year, in fact the more games he got the more the old Gilberto started to show through.
May 18, 2008 at 14:40
Latest Score – Milan 0 v Udinese 1
PMSL….
May 18, 2008 at 14:49
Oh my… how my sides split!
Uefa cup beckons!
May 18, 2008 at 14:53
Hope Flamini scores from the halfway line in next years UEFA cup final against Spurs. What are the chances of that happening?
May 18, 2008 at 14:58
i heard some people talk about arsenal not going into asia but in india there is a programe going on done by arsenal fc where kids from india will go and train with afc coaches and a few selected will train with cesc etc and will be taken to emirates ,it is hugley publicised because arsenal are a big club here arsenal and manu he big ones very less chelsea or liverpool
May 18, 2008 at 14:58
I think the Flamster has to be regretting that move doesn’t he? No champions league football would be a massive blow.
Still….. Halpol Tel Aviv, Man City & The Slug & Lettuce should provide him with enough competition next year. ….
Mahhh haaww hhaaww
May 18, 2008 at 15:01
Btw, no thanks to any Milan players who have sat on the bench, or any of their players. Diego would be a good signing but the French lot with Ben Arfa are the front runners.
Btw , good luck to Hoyte, that 4.5 mill off Villa would be a great help to our transfer kitty.
I get the feeling Barry could stay, and that he O’Neill could have Sidwell and Barry in the middle, that would be interesting.
May 18, 2008 at 15:05
Can we sell Martin O’Neill Eboue as well?
May 18, 2008 at 15:17
Milan 1 v Udinese 1..
Pato Scored… I like Pato, but im disapointed in him for scoring that one….lol…
Fiorentina still 0-0….
May 18, 2008 at 15:23
Who goes through on a double draw?
May 18, 2008 at 15:27
it would be Fiorentina, but unfortunatly Milan just scored a 2nd…
It’s all on Fiorentina getting a winner at torino now i’m afraid.
Oh how the Flamster will be SMUG if it stays this way….
May 18, 2008 at 15:30
The Fiorentina game is the only game without a goal….
COME ON……
May 18, 2008 at 15:44
Milan have gone 3 -1 up…..
BUT FIORENTINA HAVE SCORED
How do you like them apples Flamster????
May 18, 2008 at 15:47
Get in there!
I hope we don’t meet them in the qualifiers…
May 18, 2008 at 15:57
2 goals from Ibrahimovic has given Inter the Title.. He came off the bench and bagged that brace… Inter were struggerling up to his introduction. That will get Madrid sniffing alot more for his services…. and add another 5mil to his price tag.
Milan won 4-1, but who cares…… as Fiorentina did the business at Torino and that leaves the Flamster playing The Slug & Lettuce next year in the uefa cup.
That has made my weekend, sad i know, but i was desperate for the Flamster to miss out on CL football next year.
hoorah!
May 18, 2008 at 15:58
Game over?
May 18, 2008 at 15:59
yeah see above post… lol
May 18, 2008 at 16:09
so Milan-Spurs is on then .. what a great UEFA cup game .. or not..
May 18, 2008 at 16:26
I hope this Hoyte rumour is just that, anytime I have seen him I’ve thought him to be decidely average. As far as a swap for the 3 mentioned (Gabby, Young, Barry) You are having a giraffe. If MON were to do as you suggest he’d be taken away by men in white coats.
P.S. Hope you do better next year, always had a soft spot for Arsenal.
May 18, 2008 at 16:31
Haha Kiwi, we hope it is true.
You are losing Barry regardless… MON wants hoyte… so a swap deal with a bit of cash makes everyone a winner (In the sense you get someone you want as appose to Rafa’s crappy deal)!
May 18, 2008 at 16:59
I wonder if Huntelaar will have changed his mind about staying with Ajax after they lost out in the cl qualifier today??
May 18, 2008 at 17:22
any chance flamoney may change his mind, has he actually signed….. would be funny if he tried to and the boss told him to stick it!!!! i know i am dreaming…
well done for pv and inter….
come on guys, now its all but over, lets not type that MT’s name again, he has gone and for me forgotten, dont ever forget it was one season.
hleb for me is the same, and if he goes, so be it, i wont shed a tear.
as i have said all along, the boss knows what is happening and i anticipate he has everything in hand…. we know what he has done in the past, but at least this year he has said he will buy 2-4 players, so it is a little different. like most, i believe we will get some news this week as all the leagues have finished – i know in relation to ben arfa and benzema, they still have a cup match so if they are meant to be coming our way, we wont know until after next weekend..
i have said all along, these are who i think will come to us, and i still believe this is true
Toure, Villa, Makoun and Benny or benzema
Maybe, just maybe Dos Santos will be the dark horse
Oh and a CH – Kompany is looking favourite – SIGH!!
May 18, 2008 at 17:23
Money is all in football. If Barca/MU/Chavs/ Inter etc come calling, he will be off. Because Ajax will sell for the right sum..
Lovely idea of a Hoyte/Barry straight swap.
So pleased for AC. To be overtaken by Fiorentina is just piss poor for the current CL champs.
May 18, 2008 at 17:24
sorry, i meant to type MF = Flamoney, now i am no more typing his name!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18, 2008 at 17:28
I’ve spent the last 5 mins trying to work out what a MT is !!
May 18, 2008 at 17:42
i am sorry -big raddy, i have now had beer and my keyboard has changed!!!
krancjar – we dont want him guys, slow, useless and, just crap!!
May 18, 2008 at 17:43
Must be time for a sherbert. So long…..
May 18, 2008 at 18:17
Ajax did not get into the Champions League. If a Champions League club come in for him, he is likely to go there. I hope Arsene makes a bid, cos Huntelaar is going, but will he pay the 25 million euros needed?
May 18, 2008 at 18:27
Sperm banks in Chesea and Manchester will be closed next week.
As all the wankers will be in Moscow.
May 18, 2008 at 18:27
anyone think we’ll sign ben arfa and nasri or is it gonna be one or the otheR??
May 18, 2008 at 18:33
just saw the news about Nasri coming to us on another arsenal news site
its coming from an article run in the “official” local Marseille newspaper called LA PROVENCE
they even have an entire section dedicated to Marseille
I have jut read it and can confirm that they are categorical about a deal that has been done
Nasri is coming to us for 13.5MM pounds I do believe this to be true
I am just wondering whether we are after Ben Arfa at all!!
but we fukking need him .. I am not sure at all anymore whether we are gonna get him after all
maybe this deal has fallen through
May 18, 2008 at 18:37
maybe hes hlebs replacement rather than diego?? would be nice to see us do a big double signing like last years nani and anderson
clichy and sagna both out the french squad!!!
May 18, 2008 at 18:38
Reports in France this evening suggest that Olympique Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri has agreed a €17.5 million deal with Arsenal which would see the Frenchman come for around 13.5 million pounds.
As we reported yesterday, Nasri announced to French Television cameras that his game against RC Strasbourg could be his last, and reports today suggest that a deal has already been struck between the two clubs.
The 20-year-old is a talented midfielder who can play on either wing, famous for his feint’s and pure creativity, Samir has been likened to Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo.
Local Marseille newspaper La Provence reported this evening that both OM and Arsenal have agreed a deal which will become official in the next few weeks.
May 18, 2008 at 18:41
Hleb is gonna fukk off.. useless spineless gutless cunt
at least Nasri will score spectacular goals
but he is a bit lightweight
May 18, 2008 at 18:47
we need ben arfa, nasri and benzeeeeema
2 out of 3 will do.
May 18, 2008 at 19:02
Benzema will not leave Lyon this year..thats for sure
May 18, 2008 at 19:07
The so called breaking news on Nasri would be a welcome start to this summers transfer activity. I was never convinved by Krancjar and after yesterday’s abject performance, Nasri would represent a better and cheaper alternative.
May 18, 2008 at 19:07
i cant krancjar coming to arsenal and to be honest hes not good enough
May 18, 2008 at 19:17
Barca are looking at RVP and Theo now, we should never have got that maroon and blue international kit it gives them a chance to see what our players look like in their colours.
Who is the player coming with the premiership experience?
May 18, 2008 at 19:29
Nasri & Ben Arfa are very good friends so its possible we could get both, however that may just be me dreaming. If we are truly buying Nasri for 13.5 million I cannot see Ben Arfa coming unless of course we have sold Hleb for a great profit.
Somehow I just cannot see Wenger playing a midfield containing Cesc, Nasri, Ben Arfa & Walcott. It would be ridiculously unbalanced with no defensive capablility, it just won’t happen especially as the oldest player would be 21!!
May 18, 2008 at 19:38
it would be a dream if we sign both hatem ben arfa and samir nasri
May 18, 2008 at 19:43
just watched clips of both and we need both…
samir nasri plays in the middle
ben arfa on the left
all we need is a centre back now
May 18, 2008 at 19:49
feck me!!!!…are both confirmed???
May 18, 2008 at 19:53
No neither are, but if that french paper are genuine which a lot of people say they are then Nasri is a definate.
May 18, 2008 at 19:58
no choy..looks like only Nasri is confirmed if you believe Marseille’s semi official newspaper..
I am smelling something rotten regarding Arfa.. just seems too obvious
I just cant see us buying both
but on second thoughts, we needed reinforcements
with both wanker Flamini and cunt Hleb leaving before the start of the season, we are two down before the fukking reinforcement process kicks in
does anybody know anything about the Arfa transfer??
May 18, 2008 at 19:59
GMR .. the French paper is definitely saying that Nasri decided for us
we still need a winger, dont we!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18, 2008 at 20:01
If its true what the french paper says than surely we will be hearing sooner rather than later
May 18, 2008 at 20:01
and GMR .. I can see your point regarding the midfield formation!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18, 2008 at 20:02
ok people what are the chances of both of them coming here?
we gonna spend a bomb this summer…. can’t help but feel excited…
May 18, 2008 at 20:03
I would just like to add to a topic that was discussed earlier in the blog.
Most people were saying Arsenal is a bigger club than Inter.
I would like to say though that I feel both clubs are the same level.
If you look at the respective leagues, In England we are the third most successful club. League Titles Liverpool(18) Manure(17) Arsenal(13)
In Italy Inter in the same position. Juventus(27) AC(17) Inter(16).
There is no real equivalent of us in La Liga…Real and Barca are way out in front …..Real(31) Barca(18) Atletico(9) we sure as hell are bigger than Atletico!!!!!
I mean both leagues in my opinion are the same tier therefore both clubs have a very similar record.
Inter has the edge however if you look at the fact that they have won the European Cup/Champions League twice.
So europe on the whole may see tham as the bigger club.
I feel for Arsenal to get the respect we deserve we must win a Champions League and soon., ans also hopefully overhaul thus Manure dominance in recent times we have come second to them too many times.
May 18, 2008 at 20:03
Hey Guys – Nasri sounds promising, but do we really want Ben Arfa? I dont think so, there is someone else out there who is better – I say this as I have watched him the last few games – he is no Freddie or Sir Robbie P –
I would rather see Dos Santos……………………………
Villa, Makoun, Dos Santos, Nasri, Yaya – I would be so happy….. Oh and of course a wicked CH
May 18, 2008 at 20:04
We may need a winger but that doesn’t mean Wenger will buy one!! My point was more that Wenger is more likely to buy an older winger as opposed to Ben Arfa if the Nasri transfer is true. I just can’t see him playing the midfield I said earlier it wouldn’t work.
Don’t any of you be surprised if we sign Alberto Zapater in the next week!!
May 18, 2008 at 20:04
Livererpool – 18 titles
Manure – 17
Arsenal – 13
Real – 31
Barca – 18
Atletico – 9
May 18, 2008 at 20:05
Nasri would be a good signing….
It’s possible that we could get him & Ben Arfa, but I have heard that Ben Arfa will be on his way to OM, paving the way for Nasri to join us.
Still, exciting times… Still wonder who the Premiership player is likely to be mind?
May 18, 2008 at 20:07
rico dos santos is a striker… ask carlos….
nasri back up for cesc or playing behind the striker…
we def need a winger…
May 18, 2008 at 20:10
If we could keep Hleb then add Nasri and Ben Arfa on top of that we would have the perfect midfield, options wise. Nasri could offer a central creative alternative to Cesc and Ben Arfa could rotate with Rosicky. If Hleb stayed he could be a great all rounder who could fill in everywhere.
That is the sort of squad we need. No fucking about. If Hleb goes then these two players still won’t placate my concerns as they could be thrown in too early.
May 18, 2008 at 20:11
Zapater .. is he the guy who just went down with Saragossa??
ja-gunner .. I agree..
ManU are Real/Bayern type clubs
we managed to become a Barca, but recently with the west london scum, we are close to becoming a Valencia before their disastrous season
but then again, nobody predicted their awful season.. so we must be very careful not to make one too many mistake which would cost us dearly in terms of falling down the pecking order
May 18, 2008 at 20:11
I don’t think Lyon would sell to Marseille. Marseille in the last two years have started challenging at the top of the league (albeit not a threat to the title) so I can’t see them strengthening the opposition. If Ben Arfa & Nasri had swapped that would be different but not a straight cash deal!!
May 18, 2008 at 20:14
BB, thats the Zapater. Wenger wanted him last summer but Zaragosa were asking for 10 million, mainly because they thought they were going to be a champions league team. Since they have been relegated most of their players will now leave including Zapater, Ayala, Aimar & Juanfran just to name a few.
May 18, 2008 at 20:15
davoody.. I have the same ugly feeling about this
Pjanic to Lyon with Arfa to OM and we get Nasri..everybody happy and thats the way our man Arsene likes it as well .. so he can still enjoy his pastis with his French mates
we need a winger.. I want to see the Czech pornstar moving in more centrally if he brings his bones back to good health ..
May 18, 2008 at 20:17
Who would everyone prefer Robinho or Ben Arfa??
Since Ben Arfa has been linked everybody seems to have gone quiet on Robinho!!
May 18, 2008 at 20:19
@GMR.. I hear what your saying, but its is a lot more common for the continent to sell between the top clubs more than it is over here.
Don’t get me wrong, i of course would love the pair of them, Buy Kompany as a CB and we will start to look like we are geting a squad.
I know its unlikely, but i would like to see YaYa joinas well.
Nasri, Ben Arfa, Kompany & YaYa.. that for me would be a good summers business.
Wouldn’t even begin to think about how much that lot would cost mind.
May 18, 2008 at 20:19
GMR .. thats a good point as well .. would Lyon sell to Marseille when they look like the net
losers in player terms in this triangle .. Pjanic is a super talent, but the greenest of all of them
but then somebody mentioned on here that Lyon want N’Zogbia..would that be enticing enough for them to sell Arfa for money to Marseille
I just hope that Wenger wont buy that Newcastle twat .. please Arsene..dont do this to us
May 18, 2008 at 20:23
As far as Lyon is concerned, Ben Arfa is a Bench Warmer most of the time. So i don’t think they would be overly concerned about selling to OM.
May 18, 2008 at 20:24
@BB …. I second that PLEASE PLEASE don’t go near N’Zogbia
May 18, 2008 at 20:26
davoody.. bench warmer he might be, but for different reasons.. not sporting ones
Marseille are definitely after him ..
May 18, 2008 at 20:28
davoody, he’s only a bench warmer for political reasons. You don’t win young player of the season for nothing.
I’ve already said about Kompany’s injury problems which were highlighted on another site by a german guy. He was saying that Kompany has a chronic back problem & is unlikely to ever play a full season again!!
May 18, 2008 at 20:29
damn and i thought we had ben arfa wrapped up about weeks ago
May 18, 2008 at 20:33
GMR .. quite right .. the last we need is another Rosicky type injury prone Bundesliga player
May 18, 2008 at 20:33
We can speculate all we like about this and that…No one will ever know till it happens.. but its great fun all the same, and lets face it.. if we never speculated.. the summer would be very long and boring.
I have just watched a few Youtube’s of Vincent Kompany and i must say i would like him to be one of our new boys….
May 18, 2008 at 20:34
Super Gary will sort him out…
May 18, 2008 at 20:35
k.. people on arsenal mania reporting that we have both benny and sammy!!!
they will both be in london for meds this week.
May 18, 2008 at 20:36
@choy… lets hope David Villa shares a taxi with them…..
May 18, 2008 at 20:40
yeah thats a good wish but of all the players we get this summer….
i don’t think that we will get a striker this time around….
May 18, 2008 at 20:47
I know we won’t, i’ve said on here before that every year i have a dream signing and every year i seem to watch them sign for someone else.
Last year i wanted Torres so much it wound up everyone i was sitting with by me going on about how good he was.
He signs for liverpool, the rest is history. And i have have worn the biggest “I told you so hat” down at the emirates this year.
I would very much like to see David Villa, but i know that is wide of the mark as with Vela coming back it rules that out.
Nasri looks a good signing (if it comes off), just wondered if the balance between him and Cesc in the middle of the park would be a little off. Would like to see YaYa in alongside Cesc.
Not sure Nasri would come to us to play off the bench… not at 14mil or whatever.
May 18, 2008 at 20:55
probably replacing hleb then…?
May 18, 2008 at 21:03
now lets speculate here…………………..
if Hleb went to Barca, what would we get for that wanker??
a few quid or a player exchange??
can you see why we are not signing a striker like Villa?
is it the return of the promised man?
maybe with Yaya or will it be another Barca player?
any thoughts??????????????
May 18, 2008 at 21:09
What about Hleb to Barca… Eto to spurs and Berbatov to Arsenal?
May 18, 2008 at 21:13
david .. and our Ade giraffe? where does it leave him?
May 18, 2008 at 21:17
we have ade rvp nick walcott vela edu….
that’s why we aren’t goin to see a striker….
berbatov plays in the hole… he is the support striker…
May 18, 2008 at 21:22
I was going more down the road of all three players arn’t happy where they are.
Berbatov has a far better first touch than Ade and he is already what i hope Bendtner will become (or better please).
If he can look good in front of the shit Spurs midfield what could he do in front of Cesc?
May 18, 2008 at 21:29
Choy isn’t that where Hleb as been playing half the season with what three goals?
May 18, 2008 at 21:33
Yesterdays joint favourites have notched up a bit and the odds have shortened, have we uncovered 2 of Arsenals new players, Nasri and Arfa before they are officially released? We will know within 14 days according to Arsene’s last words, he said it should all me done in 2-3 weeks. A week has passed so we should expect more news in the next 7-14 days.
May 18, 2008 at 21:41
yes david… but I think nasri is being bought if only hleb leaves…
hleb is going to barcelona… according to reports…
May 18, 2008 at 21:46
I think if its at all possible we should both Nasri and BenArfa.They are 2 diff types of players.
Since Arsene said that Vela will be a forward…. the only real competetion to Arfa on the left would be Rosicky( this is not even Rosicky’s natural position)
Given Rosicky injury record I could see Ben Arfa getting 20+ games there.
I dont think he can complain with that in his first season at bigger club.
I hope we will also get Nasri, and I hope Hleb stays. The reason i say this is because I dont think adding 2 20 year olds will make the diff next year.
We need stability and experience. Hleb must have learnt something and realised he must go and practice shooting and do it more in matches.
Nasri should be used in place of Cesc for Carling cups etc. He could also be rotated with Hleb if he is having a substandard game.
In this way he could also see 20+ appearances. Again he should not complain because it would be his first season in a bigger club.
May 18, 2008 at 21:55
ja-gunner..Hleb has not been offered a new contract .. improved contract.. Cesc has.. so have Clichy, Sagna .. doesnt look good for our icecream clown
May 18, 2008 at 21:57
Choy I have seen the reports that Hleb is going to Barca and the only player I can see in a swap deal is Yaya and I’m not sure he is better than Kolo in the dm position.
Does anyone know how well the Toure brothers get on and is that a good thing they would be in the same team (didn’t watch ANC)?
Messi for Hleb + cash (?) would be nice..
May 18, 2008 at 21:58
The only thing is if we both a fit Rosicky and Hleb, Theo will not be on the starting lineup. We already know he was getting fed up of being on the bench.
May 18, 2008 at 22:06
I reckon Wenger is gonna stick Eboue on next years CC team. The only way for Eboue to get exhonerated is for us to win the CC with Eboue on the team, hopefully scoring a few on the way of course.
May 18, 2008 at 22:07
what about Thierry.. does anybody see him coming back????????????????????
May 18, 2008 at 22:24
Wenger deserves what he has sown. He didn’t sign Flam last summer and then let Diarrhea sign mid-year: idiot.
Happy that Flam will only play in the UEFA Cup next year, however! LOL.
Lorik Cana would be my choice over Appiah or Barry.
Would Wenger break the bank to sign Kaka if Helato left? Nah.
Nasri and B-A are o.k., but only Robinho is a sure goal-maker: only Ronaldo and Ribery are better.
Why the f**k loan out Traore and Song on loan, idiot? We need coverage.
Would like to see Thuram in the squad and back up for Richards (if Eriksson actually leaves).
I’m sick of seeing Drogba or other big striker score on us.
Most English players are rubbish and overvalued these days, excluding some of the youngsters Walcott, Lennon, Bale, Huddlestone.
My 2 pence.
May 18, 2008 at 22:27
Nope cant see Henry returning.
May 18, 2008 at 22:29
Going back to an earlier topic again.
We really need to win a Champions League for outsiders to consider us elite.
We missed a glorious opportunity in the invincible season. We went out to Chelsea’s old squad.
I am almost sure we would have beat Monaco and then beat Porto…even though Porto were playing brilliantly that year.
What a missed opportunity.
Also I almost seems unfair for Man U win the CL. It means Ronaldo in a short time would have won everything important as a United player.
FA cup, League and CL…..he has only had 2 good seasons it seems so unfair…while many other players have had many glorious seasons and not have half as much to show.
May 18, 2008 at 22:34
BB.. arsenal did want to negotiate with hleb.. but that fecker did not want to
May 18, 2008 at 22:38
Does anyone know how Barca can afford to pay better wages and higher transfer fee’s than Arsenal? They have no shirt sponsership, they charge less admission prices and as far as i am aware they don’t get as much from TV deals.
How do they lure our top players?
May 18, 2008 at 22:40
aren’t they owned by the fans? or large groups of sponsorship?
May 18, 2008 at 22:48
Hey we have to be careful with our approach to wining.
Gerrard has said Liverpool must spend big. I mean spending big is no guarantee but if they continue it will payoff soon.
I dont want a scenario where we overtake United only to be outdone by Liverpool.
Gerrard has never won the league and he wants it badly, so he is telling the board to spend big.
Could this mean that if they dont win by next year….he will leave?
May 18, 2008 at 22:48
Winning should have been the word lol not wining.
May 18, 2008 at 22:55
these nasri rumours sound good to me, bears all the hallmarks of a wenger type of player.
May 18, 2008 at 23:15
Great day today grovers, I just got the stats, awesome, I’m in the USA!
May 19, 2008 at 00:59
[...] Villa swap deal mooted? New ‘Zidane’ on the move to Arsenal? Well lets start off with a lesson in life. Many people e-mail in to say that the thing they like the most about Le [...] [...]
May 19, 2008 at 01:03
Ja_Gunner …. its a good thing many people don’t know what “wining” is … lol
May 19, 2008 at 07:35
I thought there might be some stronger speculation around this morning but alas it’s gone the other way.
I’m hoping something happens this week, its great speculating but its even better when you see the players unveiled on arsenal.com!!
May 19, 2008 at 08:05
i can see lillian thuram coming this summer, he is on a free and he is 35 years old i think……
but if he buys another defender then i dont mind him coming, he is exprienced and gives us what we need.
if hleb wants to go barca let him, they can do a swap with yaya toure and we can get both samir nasri and ben arfa
May 19, 2008 at 08:11
where does Theo play if we get HBA?
May 19, 2008 at 08:42
we are linked with saha!!!!
May 19, 2008 at 09:03
Diarra may have looked average and played in a boring cup final but he at least has won some silverware this year more than we can say about our weak willed lot. So at this stage we have to say he made the right choice … maybe on Wednesday the likes of Gallas and the rest of the team may also well be looking enviously at Ashley Cole.
May 19, 2008 at 09:08
Nasri looks like a giggs type player, would be an interesting AW signing, that’s for sure! and yet somehow I’m more excited about him than HBA.
My hopes lie with Veloso and an unknown slayer of a centreback. Someone whose parents were killed in some wartorn zone by a football-playing soldier that looked a bit like Ronaldo, Rooney or Drogba (put together) and since then has been running up mountains with a horse on his shoulders, getting to the top and headbutting rocks
May 19, 2008 at 09:34
NEW POST!
May 19, 2008 at 12:37
wher exactly in new york is Geoff? myt be flying there in the next couple of days?
to hell with flamini.
http://www.latest-arsenal.blogspot.com
May 19, 2008 at 19:58
say roma star to arsena
May 21, 2008 at 07:22
who wants Saha, maybe the trash can…we no want no rejects at Emirates
December 13, 2008 at 15:17
vela is a not all that playing with bendthner, y dnt arsenal attempt to sign pato and swap bendthner?