Yes, it is true! Read here. Nasri should be a gooner by the close of play today and if he is… you’d be a miserable bastard if you weren’t excited!
He seems to have the same dribbling skills as Hleb, but more directness in front of goal… he has been dubbed the new Zidane, which is quite a tag! Wenger is reportedly about to splash £13million on him.
If you think that is exciting, wait for the next bit of news…
Juve want Senderos for £5million and they’ve demanded Eboue as part of the deal!
Okay, I lied about the last bit…
The shame of it is I really can’t see the boss letting Senderos go. If I was Arsene, I would just admit it hasn’t worked out for big Phil, but Arsene won’t, he let Bentley go, got shot of Richard Wright and Francis Jeffers in a heartbeat, but Eboue and Senderos he won’t give in on, and they’ll be here for ever, so Grovers, don’t get your hopes up.
In other news says that Robin is confident of making the Euros, thanks boy wonder, at least we know where your loyalties lie, if you had a hair on your arse, you’d tell Holland you’ve had 3 consecutive injury strewn years with Arsenal, mostly caused by playing for Holland, but the minute you’re fit, you’re back playing for them.
I really rate you and love you playing for us, but if you get injured again playing for your country, we ought to sue Holland and sack you. Enough is enough. Check out Pedro’s new RvP widget in the sidebar.
We’ll have a shed load of players playing in the summer, so we’ll need a big squad to see us through Champions league qualification and the start of the season, so either way Arsene, you need to buy some decent players.
Not Thuram, buy a centre back that is the right age and is a CENTRE BACK please this time.
Have a hopeful day grovers!
Update:
A quick laugh for you:
The 24-year-old said he was not concerned Milan will miss the Champions League next season after finishing fifth in Serie A.
“I don’t mind at all,” he said. “Those who play in the UEFA Cup with Milan know that it’s the exception of one season. Milan are the team with most (international) titles in the world.
And another…
“Serie A is returning to the top. The problems are water under the bridge, lots of great players will come to Italy.”
Enjoy that brown grass Flamini…
May 21, 2008 at 9:17 am
ah first grove, as it were! ha ha ha joey barton sent down for 6 months….baa baa baaa daa daaa, im lovin’ it!
so IF nasri is coming can we assume that the ben arfa thing is dead in the water?
May 21, 2008 at 9:19 am
my dream and what we arsenal fans deserve
nasri and ben arfa in a double swooop
we deserve it
May 21, 2008 at 9:20 am
eduard
we should also try signing him as well, he aint going to sign a striker because he made it clear carlos vela will be up front or maybe, he sometimes sends edaurdo there on the left too.
but we do need a central midfielder some big fucker like yaya toure or something or a little monster like jean makoun
May 21, 2008 at 9:20 am
I’ve added a bit to the bottom… It’s a dream news day!
May 21, 2008 at 9:23 am
Hopefully the Nasri stuff is true, no doubt I’ll be glued to the newsnow all day & nothing will happen.
Out of Nasri & Ben Arfa I would still have preferred Ben Arfa, he is much more the winger we need as opposed to another central player who’s probably going to be played out of position. Don’t get me wrong from the few times I’ve seen Nasri & from the videos of him he is clearly an exceptional talent & certainly a very exciting signing, hopefully we can get both!! We may even get confirmation in the next couple of days that Hleb has left.
May 21, 2008 at 9:23 am
tha nasri link goes nowhere… =/
May 21, 2008 at 9:23 am
your link is not working.
I hope the announcement does happen today. It will give us some good news when our rivals play in the CL final.
Lets hope he has a great Euro (Nasri) and becomes a first team player.
May 21, 2008 at 9:25 am
Morning all (again)!!
What a great day!!
Nasri’s coming
Cashley’s crocked,
Sun is shining,
And to top it all off that money grabbing cnut is talking out of his ass!!! Very amusing.
Oh and another one I saw on news now earlier…spuds are thinking of going for……. Thierry Henry!!!! I’m still wiping tears of laughter away!! Hilarious!!
I sense a big day today chaps!! Let’s keep eyes and ears peeled, and whoever knows somebody that knows somebody near our training ground, let us know if you see anything please!!
May 21, 2008 at 9:25 am
so if helbs goes whos his replacment, im guessing we’re all assuming that nasri is the ‘creative’ player wenger mentioned???
May 21, 2008 at 9:26 am
GMR… we are finally signing a player that everyone in World football has been interested in!
I don’t see why we can’t get Arfa as well… but I would guess Marseille have said they’ll sell us Nasri if we lay off Arfa.
If Juve are after Big Phil… he should go, he might suit the pace of Italy… that would be too much though, to expect a player we want to go, to actually go…
Thierry to Spurs eh?
What a joke… It’s like the Elephant man trying to pull Jessica Alba… you cringe at the thought of them even trying…
May 21, 2008 at 9:28 am
GunnerShabz i couldnt agree with you more, personally i would liove to see yaya here BUT im just getting a sniff of last season when we were chatting abouty robinho, ribery etc and we brought my namesake(!) and bacary….who saw that coming? sell helb, if he wants out then fine, nasri, ben arfa and yaya and GIVE ebouseless to derby FOC
May 21, 2008 at 9:28 am
Click the link now…
May 21, 2008 at 9:29 am
Monin Gunners
Nasri for Emirates thats good news hey….
I have one wish for 2nyts champions league game, both chelsea and manchester united must loose………
http://www.latest-arsenal.blogspot.com
May 21, 2008 at 9:29 am
I hope Nasri comes and we dont let Hleb go as both of them on the wings would be half way to the title instead of good old Eboue (NOT!) or the injury prone Rosicky.
Senderos will never go unfortunately but we need another centre half - what about Micah Richards if SVen Sven Sven goes from Manchester City??????
May 21, 2008 at 9:32 am
Nasri is the creative player, wenger was talking about
experience probarly someone like thuram or ayala
now flamini is gone, probarly a jean makoun, yaya toure, gareth barry
if hleb goes, he needs to get a replacement and that is hatem ben arfa
May 21, 2008 at 9:33 am
Apparently arsenal are in for Ben Arfa, but are close to signing 3 french players!!
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1766_3591251,00.html
May 21, 2008 at 9:36 am
Agreed though GMR, I would still prefer Ben Afra too. He seems to be a bit more of a finished product than Nasri. Don’t get me wrong, Nasri looks good, but he needs polishing, and a better finish. Great ball-handling skills though. I guess we’ll see as the day plays out though, who knows though. Probably only Arsene and a select few… =/
As to Senderos to Juventus, I think we should let him go. I doubt we will let him go though. Liked the Eboue bit though, haha!
May 21, 2008 at 9:36 am
GMR I think Francis Coquelin has already signed as mentioned yesterday, but he’s more one for the future as he’s only 17. dont know who the other guy is.
May 21, 2008 at 9:37 am
GMR good stuff
well if we can get them all and get hatem ben arfa and a central defender, we done all our summer shoppin
May 21, 2008 at 9:37 am
samir nasri, i am very happy thanks u arsen. he is our present and future. boyz believe me he is a great thing. nasri,nasri,nasri
May 21, 2008 at 9:39 am
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7923594413165991047&hl=en
the cesh show, i hope those who missed it watched it on my google link, took me about 12 hours to do!
Nasri lets be ‘avin ya!
May 21, 2008 at 9:39 am
this is too good to be true.
hope he get’s number 10 and make gallas weep again about his number.
May 21, 2008 at 9:40 am
Unfortunately I think we’re stuck with Senderos and Eboue for at least another season!!
Chris well done mate! 24 hours of hard work finally bore fruit aye?
May 21, 2008 at 9:40 am
“Nasri, whose season was disrupted by meningitis”
jesus that is a tough break from the guy, and he came back, RVP & Rosicky could learn from this guy
May 21, 2008 at 9:41 am
if we do get nasri, i be looking forward to euros 2008 and watching him play
like what happened to rosicky seen him play a blinder against usa in world cup
May 21, 2008 at 9:42 am
Chris….. watched it this morning. Thanks very much for your work
May 21, 2008 at 9:43 am
you are welcome big raddy, next time ill post it to you, what ever it is next time plus it will be in better quality
May 21, 2008 at 9:44 am
If John Terry got meningitis he would just taken aspirin and report for training the next day. Which must be something to do with being thick, and repugnant
May 21, 2008 at 9:45 am
We need a CB. The excitement is always when teams sign exciting talents but we desperately need a defender as well.
May 21, 2008 at 9:46 am
meninegitis bloody hell!!! I’m thinking the odd hamstring injury will be a doddle for him then!! Trooper!!
May 21, 2008 at 9:48 am
Agreed GMR. Though I think a defensive coach is even more of a necessity. We have the players (one more would be great) but they lack cohesion.
May 21, 2008 at 9:51 am
we need to sort our defence out and well need a good centre back…. for sure
fabio cannavaro anyone..
May 21, 2008 at 9:51 am
This is a quick google translation of Nasri story in the french website.
Information Team: Samir Nasri play Arsenal next season.
The young leader trained in the OM could even sign his contract for the Gunners before returning to the team of France in Clairefontaine on Wednesday at 19:30, when it will begin collecting Bleus before the Euro.
The two clubs, Arsenal and Marseilles, would have agreed on a transfer fee of 15 million euros, reveals L’Equipe. Nasri, whose season was marked by several physical glitches, including viral meningitis, had extended his contract until 2012 with the underlying idea to allow his club trainer of pocketing a nice allowance transfer.
There will be four seasons, discovered the Champions League, the team of France, won the title of best hope of L1 in 2007. A twenty-year career that saw Real Madrid a year ago as the new Zidane will accelerate.
May 21, 2008 at 9:51 am
remember Wenger let Cygan go.
He could still let Senderos go. We now have 5 CB’s, and he wants to bring a new one in.
May 21, 2008 at 9:51 am
so we’re not getting arfa?
May 21, 2008 at 9:52 am
Nasri is a more finished product than Ben Arfa .. he is better technically as well
whether he is the one we need is another question.. I thought we needed more of a winger, but then Arfa is not your typical winger either .. he drifts in quite a bit.. he is no Capel/Navas etc..
but we need more steal in our side .. we need to buy more physical players
also this seems to back up the move from Hleb .. Nasri and Hleb are NOT going to play together
May 21, 2008 at 9:53 am
so at 14 mill or so .. .our record transfer?!!
May 21, 2008 at 9:53 am
IT FEELS LIKE I JEST START BREATHING NOW WHEN I HEADR THE NASRI NEWS WOW WOW WOW WOW
May 21, 2008 at 9:54 am
i dont think wenger likes wingers
we never had one
marc overmars was a winger but not that kinda one where he floats in croses, he was a goal scoring one
pires, same thing like hleb and nasri, good dribbling skills and passing and good finisher
rosicky, hleb no need to say anything
glenn helder was the last winger we bought
May 21, 2008 at 9:54 am
nasri and ben arfa both coming on…don let hleb go plzz…we need him to stay at arsenal midfield…
May 21, 2008 at 9:54 am
we need a winger in the mould of petrov…. with a wicked cross..
but he shouldn’t be lazy like him..
May 21, 2008 at 9:54 am
I watched the Cesc show earlier and thought it was an enjoyable romp.
I suspect the bloke who wrote this piece is a Spurs fan..
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/05/21/sfnjim421.xml
May 21, 2008 at 9:58 am
I hope we do get Arfa…. i found an article this morning with the Lyon chairman saying we are still in for Ben Arfa but he would rather he went to another French club and said he has had no contact from Marseille for him yet.
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/05/21/manual_091443.html&TEAMHD=soccer
May 21, 2008 at 9:58 am
“Nasri’s signing is likely to be followed by the arrivals of Clement Chantome and Francis Coquelin.
Chantome was one of the few Paris Saint Germain players to come out of last season with any plaudits after a string of impressive displays in central midfield.
The 22-year-old has been likened to Mathieu Flamini and Wenger is reported to have met with the French Under-21 international in the last week. ”
Interesting but still might not happen. I expect wenger meets with a lot of players during the summer but signs very few.
What we need is a Sol Campbell mark 2, about 24 years old! I cant think of any English players that fit that bill but people under-estimate how important the Sol signing was back in 2001. he was the rock and the foundation of all our trophy successes after he joined. He was Adams’ replacement and since Sol left we have desperately needed a big centre half to dominate defence. People would say Henry or Cesc, but I tell you Sol Campbell was Wengers most important signing of his 11 years here. maybe not best player but MOST IMPORTANT.
I hope wenger uses Hleb to get the player we need in some kind of swap.
May 21, 2008 at 9:58 am
its everywhere
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3591228,00.html
and those other 2 french players
May 21, 2008 at 9:59 am
dear ken
i am disappointed by your opinion please retract it,
the writer of the piece is not a spud but a northern mc Cunt
He is an ardent Manchester United supporter and writes a regular column for fanzine ‘United We Stand’. (from wiki) charybdis can you see your conspiracy theory is going strong.
what a tosser jim white is,
May 21, 2008 at 10:00 am
To the guy who said Ben Arthur is the more polished player: that made me laugh really hard!
Seriously don’t comment on players if you’ve only seen them on youtube!
Nasri is the complete player! Benny requires so much polishing it’s unbelievable!
May 21, 2008 at 10:00 am
I agree Wenger does not like wingers, I dont think there is the need for them in the way the modern game is played.
I also think we are moving towards a 4 3 3 formation. Ade in the middle, RVP or Walcott on the right and Perhaps Nasri/ Rosicky on the left.
May 21, 2008 at 10:03 am
can anyone in london look out the window and see if nasri has brought ben arfa with him?
May 21, 2008 at 10:04 am
Agree chris, i thinl the last line of the article is the give away…an audience with paul scholes!!!
May 21, 2008 at 10:05 am
It is indeed a very exciting day. So exciting in fact, you should all treat yourselves to a few minutes on http://ratemycameltoe.com
For those of you that are still not excited/happy with the available news today, perhaps you should spend 5 minutes on the very sick http://ratemypoo.com …… you deserve it !!!
May 21, 2008 at 10:06 am
its a bit sad that a journo would be so personal in a piece like that
May 21, 2008 at 10:08 am
Fair enough Chris I retract it but you can see how I came to that conclusion.. Btw, cheers for the Cesc show link.
May 21, 2008 at 10:08 am
thanks bud, thats me sacked then
May 21, 2008 at 10:09 am
cnut is the word I believe you’re looking for chris!
Is it me or does Nasri look like he’s got an arsenal top on in that sky news bit?! Crafty buggers very appropriate photo indeed!
May 21, 2008 at 10:10 am
Didn’t I say so guys ! it’s in the Mank-scum loving medias interest to big them up at every opportunity and to undermine The Arsenal.
But us goons are onto them - we don’t fall for their disinformation.
May 21, 2008 at 10:10 am
no worries buddy, it downloaded really quick for me but uploading to google took 4ever,
May 21, 2008 at 10:12 am
WHO ARE THE OTHER TWO
May 21, 2008 at 10:13 am
whabt about this image odub
http://goonertalk.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/arsenal.jpg?w=107&h=150
May 21, 2008 at 10:15 am
I’m hoping Wenger is playing it something along the lines of:- sign Nasri today to indulge the fans & keep them quiet for a few days, sell Hleb on friday (remember the 10 day all should be clear comment from his agent) & then over the weekend or on monday sign Ben Arfa once the cup final is finished!!
Then that would be all the attacking talent we need & he could concentrate on a defensive player or two, which are usually easier to sign.
If we could sign Nasri & Ben Arfa our team would be filled with sheer pace once again. We would have some of the quickest players anywhere in Nasri, Ben Arfa, Walcott & Vela. That would enable Wenger to take off a quick player & bring on another with something different to add if the gameplan wasn’t working!!
May 21, 2008 at 10:18 am
v happy about Nasri coming, but what does this mean for Merida?
not that fussed if we don’t get Ben Arfa. Samir Nasri was, like HBA, voted #1 young player of france (last year, before a sickness-hit season for Sammy).
Veloso and Lucio, and all will be right with the world
also, are we sure Hleb’s off?
May 21, 2008 at 10:19 am
stop it GMR… you’ll get us all excited
May 21, 2008 at 10:20 am
Bradley Hlebs almost a dead cert to leave mate
May 21, 2008 at 10:22 am
Great pic chris!!! lol
GMR that seems very precise, you sure you’re not on the inside?!!!
May 21, 2008 at 10:23 am
Sod you lot, I’m getting myself all excited!!
The only thing worrying me at the moment is the lack of any info from Marseille. We all know what Arsenal are like so thats no surprise, but if Marseille had agreed a deal to sell Nasri I’m pretty sure they’d have announced it on their website, however all it says on there is that Nasri is joining up with France today!!
May 21, 2008 at 10:25 am
Odub, I do actually know someone on the inside but he hasn’t given me any information for about two years now. Whether its because he isn’t getting any info or just doesn’t want to tell anyone I don’t know, but he’s been useless!!
May 21, 2008 at 10:28 am
just cos nasri looks all done doesnt mean arfa isnt, arfa said he’d spoken about arsenal (a while ago now) so im hoping they r both done deals.
wenger could have easily sorted both deals out in the time since the season finished, knowing that helb was going and while he france he coul dhave sorted the nasri deal after sorting the ben arfa one.
what r the odds we sign niether?
May 21, 2008 at 10:32 am
tom, there is a possabilty that both might not happen, but we all refuse to be negative and makes for very boring bloggin
May 21, 2008 at 10:33 am
Nasri is only a good signing if Hleb stays, because if the ice cream muncher goes we will still need to sign another attacking midfielder.
May 21, 2008 at 10:36 am
GMR I’d get him/her into a torture chamber and make him/her talk!!! We need information and we need it NOW!!
Sorry guys but in order of quality please rate Benzema, Afra and Nasri, because I aint got a clue about these kids?
May 21, 2008 at 10:38 am
we’ll surely get nasri or arfa…. or if the gods are smiling down upon us maybe both!!
May 21, 2008 at 10:39 am
too right Chris. If all the media can speculate, why can’t we?
bring on Essien/Robinho and Sergio Ramos.
Lunch calls…. back in a couple of liquid hours
May 21, 2008 at 10:40 am
if we’re gonna sign a frenchman from PSG (Clement Chantome) I’d much rather we look at Jerome Rothen. His left foot is exceptional, his delivery is one of the most deadly I’ve seen be it aerial or whipped in low into the box. “the left-sided david beckham”; top on assists this year in a club that’s been battlign relegation, no less http://sport.aol.fr/fr/football/d1/2008/passeurs/classement1.html
(note nasri is just 1 behind him though, having played fewer games!!)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=D4wBmoF7XRE
May 21, 2008 at 10:42 am
Nasri and Arfa would be great! That would be dream land right there…
Who would we want for Centre back?
Bradley… you asked about Merida and what would the signing mean for him.
It means competition for places! It means he will work harder and it means he will cherish any chance he gets!
COMPETITION FOR PLACES!
Oh dear… the excitement has got the better of me again…
If we feel this way… imagine how Cesc and the gang feel!
May 21, 2008 at 10:43 am
Rothen is 30 Bradley… he may as well be dead in Wengers eyes!
We looked at him a few years ago if my memory serves me correctly?
May 21, 2008 at 10:45 am
hleb could stay, put him on the right, samir on the left (or vice versa), since I presume Walcott will be going up front (well, into the striker rotation) for good sometime this coming season… presumably once nasri has settled in (until then he and walcott will probably alternate on the wings). Really not sure where Vela fits into the equation, wouldn’t be too upset if we sold him.
May 21, 2008 at 10:47 am
I remember J(ohnny) Rotten - there was sp[ecualtion at the last Euro’s he’d go somewhere big.
He must be getting on a bit by know, shurely ?
May 21, 2008 at 10:47 am
ah fuck it, I’m gonna sneak this one in on a day when gunners fans across the world are feeling optimistic about the future…
WENGER KNOWS!
May 21, 2008 at 10:48 am
All 3 are very good Odub… Ben Arfa and Nasri are 2 of the best dribblers in world football… plus i have a bit of admiration for making Anderson look a tit when Lyon played United in the CL this year.
here’s the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDklwNmwY9M
Also on a seperate note Flamini aint making any friends… the boy needs to learn to keep his mouth shut
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=772797.html?cid=rssfeed&att=
May 21, 2008 at 10:51 am
*for BEN ARFA making Anderson look a tit
May 21, 2008 at 10:52 am
Make this a wonderful day please and show me footage on Skynews of Samri undergoing his medical! Not only because I would love to see that but also because I cannot stand watching another minute of Manu and Chelski fans walking around in Russia.
Anyhooo….GMR is really playing with my emotions….Samri + Ben Arfa and I might as well add in Veloso and I would wish Id go to sleep and wake up in Aug.
I do feel is Samri signs up, Hleb is off. Helb’s best mate has left the club, he’s already tried to do a Cashley and met with Inter which has pissed Arsene off. If we get a good fee for him, i wouldnt be too sad to see him go, although i would still prefer that he’d stayed and gave us more options. It would take a while for Samri to settle in…(i hope that isnt the case but its likley)
May 21, 2008 at 10:54 am
Bradley… if you would be happy to sell Vela you can’t have seen much of him… the boy will be one of the best players in the world one day… he is a special talent and has been Osasunas star player this year and won man of the match playing against Real Madrid.
He is 19 and already a key player in the Mexican senior squad. This boy will be a star for this club one day
May 21, 2008 at 10:55 am
Morning guys.
Abnet Arsenal, hope this helps
From Sky Sports…..
“Nasri’s signing is likely to be followed by the arrivals of Clement Chantome and Francis Coquelin.
Chantome was one of the few Paris Saint Germain players to come out of last season with any plaudits after a string of impressive displays in central midfield.
The 22-year-old has been likened to Mathieu Flamini and Wenger is reported to have met with the French Under 21 international in the last week.
Coquelin - who is with third division Laval, has been on trial with Arsenal and although he picked up an injury during training - the 17-year-old seems to have done enough to earn a deal.
It is believed Coquelin is currently in London undergoing a medical ahead of a deal.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have also handed a trial to Ghanaian starlet Tawrick Jibril.
The 16-year-old is currently with Hearts of Oak and has been linked with Atletico Madrid”
May 21, 2008 at 10:57 am
goonerjay this would be the same anderson that manure scum think is better than Cesc?!!! the boy Ben afra’s got skills by the looks it, needs to work on his shooting though, but hey AT LEAST HE SHOOTS!!
May 21, 2008 at 10:58 am
anyone got a clip of Chantome or Coquelin? Seems like Wenger has done it again, 2players weve never heard of.
Hey Pedro, wanna add them two to the rumour list?
May 21, 2008 at 10:58 am
t-buzz - ive seen the same article on football365 and fox news as well. Looks credible but it also says Ben Arfa plays for PSG! lol….
Im excited regardless…..anyone know more about Chantome? Wikipedia gives little…
May 21, 2008 at 11:00 am
Yeah urbaz, any sort of news on transfer is good news considering how quiet its been these past few days. lol
May 21, 2008 at 11:00 am
guys im still on with my idea of us getting Ronaldinho and Henry…
wouldnt that be great plus this Nasra Guy.
Am so happy that Flamini will not be playing in the champions league.
Cheers!!
May 21, 2008 at 11:01 am
Bradley are you kidding? Vela is rated one of the most exciting young talents in world football, or sumfing
May 21, 2008 at 11:04 am
Chantome should sign for Sunderland… and link up with Chopra
May 21, 2008 at 11:04 am
Wenger seems to be very keen to inject a bit of French back into the gooners!
Thats where we have gone wrong over the last few years…!
May 21, 2008 at 11:09 am
Pedro is right….Wenger has gone back to basics. A proven formula for success.
I feel this summer will be something very special!
May 21, 2008 at 11:12 am
does anyone think, like me, that Bendtner will get a lot more starts next year, but not as a centre-forward
May 21, 2008 at 11:12 am
Well we all know that Domenech hates Arsenal (well he certainly hates Wenger anyway), so you know 100% that he won’t do anything to help us out. My point being that Nasri has to join up with France tonight so if nothing happens before then its pretty guranteed that its either all a hoax or won’t happen until after the Euro’s.
There is no chance that Domenech would allow a player to leave the training camp to fly to London for a medical, so its either today or nothing. I’d say the same applies to Ben Arfa, he will have to join up with France on sunday after the cup final so again Arsenal have very little time if they are interested!!
May 21, 2008 at 11:14 am
G’Day all,
maybe hleb will stay because AW told him to hang 5, don’t make any rash decisions like Flamini, & he will show him how serious he is about winning the Premiership & CL next year by signing heaps of depth. Lets face it, it was depth that got manure over the line.
Of course hleb still might want to leave, but if hleb was that determined to go, he would have gone by now?
May 21, 2008 at 11:14 am
BTW I do like Vela, and he had an amazing game against Real Madrid and he’s fantastic on the ball. His final delivery leaves a lot to be desired. His link up play and movement off the ball is exceptional.
Is it just me of does he look like Walcott?
May 21, 2008 at 11:15 am
the only reason I have an issue with us signing too many french players is because of that dumbass domenech! hope he gets the sack after the euros.
May 21, 2008 at 11:18 am
domenach reminds me of Noel Gallagher.
May 21, 2008 at 11:19 am
timao.. yes he is going to be our new centre back…
lol.. where else will he play…
May 21, 2008 at 11:19 am
Domanech reminds me of Alex Ferguson… a cunt
May 21, 2008 at 11:20 am
…in the hole! behind two strikers
May 21, 2008 at 11:21 am
goonerjay, true! true!
May 21, 2008 at 11:22 am
Has everyone forgot that we will have a FIXED Rosicky next year now they have finally found what caused all his problems and operated on it……… he is more influential than Hleb anyway and would be a definite starter in any team for me !
Also, can someone please relight the David Villa rumour please………. apart from being a great player with a better scoring record for Spain than Torres, he is also Cesc’s buddy, so would keep our little maestro happy !
May 21, 2008 at 11:24 am
Nasri in….nice. Might as well have Ben Arfa, then bring in some money with Hleb going to chew some grass in a field away from the city somewhere (Madrid!?)
In an ideal dreamland…signing 2 wingers and losing Hleb should mean we can boot out Eboue. Try and get atleast a mars bar for him.
That leaves a Flamini replacement like Veloso or Makoun, with Diaby as back up - Gilberto, thanks for everything, but go home.
That leaves the CB position. Quite frustratingly Wenger has been jizzing in his pants about Song, though Song has been performing well I still think he’s a bit short and is not the finished article we need. I would bring in Kompany, Albiol or even Cueller, but it seems Wenger has some sort of secret love thing going on with Senderos, so that’s probably not going to happen.
With all this spending going on above (yeah right), this would not leave enough money to replace Almunia with Frey, or sign Diego. Maybe we could swap the Hoyte Brothers for them?
…End of dream.
May 21, 2008 at 11:26 am
Bud..how do you know that Rosicky will be fixed???????????????
May 21, 2008 at 11:27 am
I say keep Gilberto. Was our best player for the last 4 or 5 games oif the season…… he was shit last year as he did not have a pre-season….. don’t underestimate how that screws with a players performances over a season……… tis a scientific fact !
You wait, with a full pre-season under his belt this year, we will have our player of the season (2006/2007) back to his best !
May 21, 2008 at 11:28 am
Hleb should be offered a new contract, if he signs we keep him if not and he stays one more year that only leaves him a year left on his present deal and his value would plummit plus his wage bill.
May 21, 2008 at 11:29 am
BB - Do you not read the news???
It was everywhere that after a year of thinking nothing major was wrong, they found the problem was with the cartilage/tendon’s/muscles (can’t remember which one) wjere they join with the knee. They have reinforced this area with 2 titanium screws and are 100% confident it was cure the problems he has had !
May 21, 2008 at 11:30 am
walcott will be a winger for another year as well… so we could end up with
rosicky, walcott, nasri and ben arfa, to pick from… not too shabby!!
diaby has to be back in CM next year otherwise we should sell cos hes never gonna be a top class winger
May 21, 2008 at 11:30 am
Bud, Bert wants to play for Brazil in the olympics, no pre season again.
May 21, 2008 at 11:34 am
Just changing the subject slightly. When London hosts the 2012 Olympics, will England be the football team, or will a composite team be picked known as Great Britain? Anyone know?
May 21, 2008 at 11:34 am
brazil have called up both him and denilson in their provisional squad add to that the african lads going back home for the qualifiers, i make it only our english players not playing for ther country this summer…..
so that will be Theo playing all 11 positions for 4 games next season!!
May 21, 2008 at 11:35 am
PEOPLE! SMALL QUESTION WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TOPIC, HAVE ANY OF YOU SEEN THE NEW ARSENAL KIT? AND IS IT OFFICIAL?
May 21, 2008 at 11:37 am
BB… Bud has a very reliable contact within the Arsenal camp!
The Arsenal kit is not official… Look at the Euro 2008 kits if you want a clue regarding our new kit!
May 21, 2008 at 11:37 am
The away kit (88-89) replica one was the prize on the Fabregas show but I don’t think it was shown.
May 21, 2008 at 11:41 am
the SFA are dead set against a GB football team because they fear it would not represent Scotland - hence we never have any teams in the Olympics
May 21, 2008 at 11:43 am
Did you know we were playing in that replica 89 kit against Liverpool this year?
20th Anniversary!
May 21, 2008 at 11:45 am
Timao, Thats crazy, we use it as a stepping stone for our under 23’s, who incidently are coming along quite nicely.
May 21, 2008 at 11:46 am
Morning all - i said on yesterdays blog this morning, good old Arsene, waits until he knows we will all be a bit gloomy as we know we should be in Moscow tonight, he cheers us up by making a signing or maybe two -
shame old cashley seems fit to play tonight, thought Mak had done him good and proper…
will we be watching, and who to win then?
i have mentioned before, a friend of ours, a manure fan, took his own life a few months ago, he was a good guy so for him our family are cheering old red nose team… dont want cashley to do anything other than lose…..
May 21, 2008 at 11:48 am
can you imagine the arguments though trying to get a representative side for the home nations, without bias or favouritism?
May 21, 2008 at 11:49 am
Easy solution. 5 players from each nation in a 20 man squad !
May 21, 2008 at 11:51 am
and the manager comes from Switzerland?
May 21, 2008 at 11:52 am
well said Ric - hope you’re right though. I hate getting all excited by these rumours! I’m going out now and when I come back I want to See Nasri shaking Wenger’s hand and wearing an Arsenal shirt - or that’s it!
May 21, 2008 at 11:54 am
The Nasri news is convincing, if he can play on both wings as reports have stated he’s exactly what I was hoping for, a versatile winger, perfect.
Senderos is staying. Our best game of the season was 2-0 at the San Siro, Phil had a great game, Wenger is the one to take him (back) to that level, he’s worth far more than 5 million. Pre-Liverpool he had some great PL performances and the fans are on his back because of Liverpool. We need to get over that and move on, so does Senderos.
So who’s the centre back going to be, and the Ben Arfa link is getting colder, it looks like we’re near the finishing line for the first signing and Nasri is about 3 lengths ahead with Arfa losing pace.
Hopefully we’ll get someone younger than a Barcelona spent player. Lillian Thuram won’t be getting another contract from Barca, at 36 why should we sign him, we could have had Sol Campbell
That’s what Wenger needs and I’ve said this before, we’ve missed something in defence ever since Sol left. Kolo Toure looks a banker to continue as first choice centre back, so who could play alongside him? I’d splash out if I was Wenger and get Lescott, he’s gonna be a champions league player, top top quality, and we’ll never have a chance of getting him once he’s off at a top 4 club or in Italy. 20m? Buy him Wenger, we can sell him to Barca for 15 when he’s old, the lad is quality, ready made, scores goals and is exactly what we need. Go on Wenger get us a Merc player. Only 25, could be good for another 5-7 years for us. Unlike Thuram, Lescott won’t be available next year and there could be no one as good as him for a while. Can anyone remember a defender as good as Lescott playing outside the top 4? Rare stuff, Lescott could be our Ferdinand.
Give RVP a chance, he’ll be back ready for us, so will Rosicky.
May 21, 2008 at 11:56 am
Rico, sorry to hear about your mate, fine mancs it is! I’ve come round to the thinking that I’d rather them than the chavs anyway!
Bud where the hell would wales find 5 players to play in a GB team?!
May 21, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Based on the fact that would anyone really give a shit…… who cares !!!!!
Now can someone PLEASE start the David Villa badwagon rolling agin ?!!!!!!
May 21, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Cheers Odub -
Wikeepeeedea have written that we have agreed 15m euro for nasri and he is expected to sign later today and this should be confirmed…. i have a sneaky feeling AFC will announce two signings though, rather than the one, hence it taking sooooooo long…
anyone get to see old red noses i/v yesterday, he made me chuckle……
May 21, 2008 at 12:05 pm
next season is the make or break for many players and the manager himself!!
May 21, 2008 at 12:06 pm
another funny one - sidwell is off to Villa for 5m in next 24-48hrs, just think, he could have helped Reading stay in the EPL rather than wearing his shorts out…on the subs bench, or sometimes just sat watching at home….. what a pratt he was
May 21, 2008 at 12:08 pm
but rico… now he can retire easily… having been on chelsea’s payroll!!
May 21, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Choy - but surely he only went to the russian camp to play football, he must be so so upset….!!!!!!!!
May 21, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Finestcuts, why is Kolo Toure a banker to stay first choice CB?? I couldn’t even begin to agree with that statement.
If Kolo was such an automatic choice at CB Wenger would have dropped Gallas to other positions at the end of last season, instead he choose to move Toure around, that tells its own story.
When Gallas arrived in England Ranieri played him as a right back, it was only later on that he was moved to CB & LB at Chelski, so Wenger preferring to keep Gallas at CB when he needed a RB seems to suggest he sees Gallas as first choice. Toure has been suspect all season, his performances have been poor a lot of the time & he was woeful in the ACN. It might just be a one off bad season so to speak but I wouldn’t bank on it.
May 21, 2008 at 12:12 pm
l’equipe translation:
L’ information; Equip: Samir Nasri will play Arsenal the next season. The young trained leader with l’ OM could even sign its contract in favour them Gunners before finding l’ equip with France with Clairefontaine, this Wednesday with 19:30, the time when will begin the gathering from Blue preceding l’ Euro. The two clubs, Marseilles and Arsenal, would have put d’ agreement on an allowance of transfer of 15 d’ million; euros, reveals L’ Equip. Nasri, whose season was marked by several physical pips, in particular a viral meningitis, had prolonged its contract jusqu’ in 2012 with l’ subjacent idea to allow its formative club d’ empocher a beautiful allowance of transfer. It will have spent four seasons there, discovered the League of the champions, l’ equip with France, gained the title of better hope of L1 in 2007. At twenty years, the career of that which Real Madrid considered one year ago as new Zidane goes s’ to accelerate.
May 21, 2008 at 12:13 pm
it was the lure of CL football that drove sidwell to join chelsea, he has enjoyed every minute of it, and is looking to make a massive impact in the final tonight…… insert punchline here……….
May 21, 2008 at 12:14 pm
i think kolo went to RB cos hes more of an athlete and more pacey and attacking than gallas, they were solid before the shitty ACN
May 21, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Fantastic news if it’s true, but don’t stop there Arsene, get Arfa, or a decent left winger and a center back and it’s all ours next season.
Nice edit Pedro and I liked the bit about brown grass, what happened to my bit on the crisps then?
I’m off to play No. 6 today guys!
May 21, 2008 at 12:18 pm
nah… its mostly about the money these days rico…
how can you choose sidwell over makele lampard essien ballack???
May 21, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Well the crisps bit was linked in to your headline which I had to change!
I couldn’t fit it all in…
How was Pinehurst?
May 21, 2008 at 12:22 pm
the massive impact will be…..
he will be flying over the stadium in a hot air balloon to get the best view during the game - the balloon bursts and he drops on to the pitch, the already parting turfs cant take his ‘wait’ the stitching hold the grass pieces together gives way, and the turfs fly everywhere… the game abandoned!
headlines in the Sun..
Ginger minger makes massive impact on CL Final (no disrespect meant)
May 21, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Fantastic but the greens were brutal! do you think Nasri will be it?
May 21, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Good and Valid points GMR, I’m going on Wenger’s previous form where he declared Kolo Toure the rock of his defence.
http://www.carling.com/football/arsenal-fc/kolo-toure.html
He’s been in the squad since Sol Campbell days and has been good with us ever since then. What you’re saying is logical, but I think he just wanted to use an experienced player instead of Hoyte while Eboue played RW.
Gallas should be moved into the squad because he is as you state a total defender, can cover for any position. Also he was trying to bring Song in, and because Gallas is captain he was made automatic first choice. The armband needs to be taken away from Gallas so there is no disparity between kolo and Gallas, it must be given to our player of the season Cesc Fabregas. Stick Gallas on the bench and put someone in there next to Toure. If what you’re saying turns out to be right it would mean Wenger would dislodge on of his “pivotal” players who he once described as the rock of his defence. It would be an almighty shift in his defensive theory.
May 21, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I think we will sign Nasri and as part of the deal, we let Marseille have a free run at Arfa.
I would dearly love to sign the two, but I can’t see it.
I also don’t believe Hleb is leaving…
May 21, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Choy - i was jesting, its all about money, except those who come to us…..
May 21, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Well if Hleb stays does that mean Nasri will play alongside Cesc?
May 21, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Said before, Ben Arfa looks too much like Jenas, he wont come to us!!!!
May 21, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I here you Rico,for the sake of your mate and the fact that I have a few”friends” that happen to be Chavs, I’ll be rooting for ManUre to nick it.Rather them than some wannabes!!
Sidwell’s a pratt, didnt want Reading to go down for the sake of their humble Manager.
Well Choy you have a point, he Can retire on chavskies payroll.lol
Rico, try not to rely on Wikipedia or transfer update cos 90% of the time the info is bullsh!te.
May 21, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Hleb staying would be a bonus + 3 signings!
May 21, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Winston Bogarde!!!! Now that was a player who sat on the bench for the money at chavski!!! didnt play a single game and got paid 40k a week for 4 years!! I could do that, for half the money!! lol
May 21, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Eboue should play left back……in the sheds!
May 21, 2008 at 12:35 pm
If Hleb stays it means we have Nasri to cover on either wing, it would make Wengers life so much easier.
We could go back to Hleb, Flamini-replacement (Gilberto/Diaby), Fabregas and Rosicky with Walcott and Nasri rotating. Gilberto can roate with Diaby. Fabregas in un-rateable, so are Sagna and Clichy, in other positions we can rotate, sorted.
May 21, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Pedro, Marseille haven’t been in for Ben Arfa. Lyon’s president is on record as saying he wants to sell Ben Arfa to a French team so even if Marseille had to wait for the money from the sale of Nasri they would have at least contacted Lyon to state an interest.
Aulas has said only two English teams are in for Arfa & he states the most notable being Arsenal. We all know the spuds are the other one & we also know they aren’t notable so Aulas is very up to date!!
May 21, 2008 at 12:36 pm
un-rateable = un-rotatable
May 21, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Evo, many gooners have gone off the cnut since ice cream gate, and after his quotes re London being too noisy. I get the feeling he doesnt want to stay, so show him the door. if he stays good.
May 21, 2008 at 12:39 pm
it would be great to wrap up a signing before friday night. we could all get rat arsed all weekend to celebrate….oh wait… i already to that!
May 21, 2008 at 12:39 pm
i already DO that!
May 21, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Nasri is everything bar a winger .. he plays in the middle..can play as a playmaker or behind the strikers
Bud.. I take your word on the Czech porn star .. I just hope that I dont need to remind you next season after 5 games and our little man already sidelined, that we over estimated his resistance… fingers crossed here
May 21, 2008 at 12:41 pm
id rather hleb left now… hes said too bollox and done too much cratyness and so has his cunt of an agent…
no ones bigger than the arsenal
May 21, 2008 at 12:41 pm
cratyness = craftyness
May 21, 2008 at 12:47 pm
BB - I can only report the facts………. personally I like to look on the positive side of life, I leave the negative stuff to “Dave Angry”, so I am a believer, Rosicky is not going to miss a minute all season !!!!!!!!
May 21, 2008 at 12:49 pm
i know what you mean tom!!
I’ve never believed in keeping players that have been caught meeting other clubs. a la cashley. that was just a messy affair that i hope we never get involved in again.
Easy solution. you get caught meeting another club, you get sold once we get a replacement, until then you play with the stiffs and shut the fuck up. works for me.
May 21, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Christ bud that’s more than positive mate…
May 21, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Hi All
good to read that we going to be signing a quality young player, with loads of potential, lets hope he lives upto the hype.
just one to throw in here, i’ve read on a couple of sites that the legend that is Pat Rice could be stepping down, his wife is i’ll. this leaves a big hole!
the replacement that is being touted is……… TONY ADAMS!!! could this be the defensive conection Wenger has been talking about?
don’t know if anyone else has heard this or if some one could delve a bit deeper to get any truths. could be interesting
May 21, 2008 at 12:55 pm
fuck Hleb off out of it
May 21, 2008 at 12:55 pm
first off, thanks for the cesc show, chris. we don’t get that kinda coverage for soccer in aus.
secondly, i’m not gonna challenge whoever said that ben afra isn’t as good as nasri. i just personally like how he plays more, and what i’ve seen of him, he looks a more complete player. lets sign them both though and then we’ll be able to make proper judgements =P
May 21, 2008 at 12:55 pm
its amazing we went to milan to play 1 of the games of our lives and he was meeting up with another team to do deals, what is this world coming to?
May 21, 2008 at 12:55 pm
http://www.footballshirtculture.com/200801181039/08/09-kits/new-arsenal-08/09-nike-home-away-shirts.html
I think this is our new kits for next season.
May 21, 2008 at 12:56 pm
absolutley odub, and all this ‘im not going to buy out my contract’ he started saying like he was doing us a favour!!!
we carried that fucker for his first 2 seasons and now he wants out!! he can go but on our terms… its time to get tough
May 21, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Not its not aquilani, it’s not Veloso, it’s Chentome of relegated PSG.
The more things change, the more they stay the same,
May 21, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Ronaldo to Real…bad luck red nose!
May 21, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Is Nasri even in this country yet?? Seen as all this info was released last night wouldn’t the media have had photographers (or at least independants) based at the airports to get the first picture!!
I have a feeling this is far from a done deal, I think l’equipe are having us on!!
May 21, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Duncan, I wouldn’t worry about the Pat Rice rumour. There was no source to the story and nothing to suggest TA would replace - I wouldn’t waste too much time thinking about it.
I don’t like to comment on other sites, but I did find that story a bit distasteful. Transfer gossip is one thing, terminally ill relatives is another…
Mark those kits have been doing the rounds for a while! They look quite legit but there was a similar white copy last year which was way off…
May 21, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Mark,
Proposed white kit:
Link
May 21, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Thanks Pedro, thought it was just a site desperate for hits, but thought this is the best place to get some further info on truths like this. but would be nice to see TA back thou.
May 21, 2008 at 1:12 pm
As much as I wish there was a way for both teams to lose tonight - its Utd for me aswell - based solely on the fact that I do not wanna hear the jumped up Chav fans singing to us “Have you won the Champions League. Have you fuck!” next season.
Hope the Nasri signing is a goer - although Wenger does like to do his work under the radar there are still transfers that have had similar exposure and still actually happened. Hleb and Walcott spring to mind has doing the rumour rounds for a couple of weeks before they actually happened.
May 21, 2008 at 1:14 pm
no aquilanai
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/05/21/manual_112702.html
May 21, 2008 at 1:17 pm
No press conference announced which does not bode well !
In answer to what someone said about the Paps being on it and picturing him the airport….. they are all in Russia !!!