Cesc Fabregas finally finished of the cheating Italians, so well done Cesc, you revenged the Flamster and we salute you! Villa didn’t have his best game but nor did Torres so I wouldn’t read too much into that performance, the only mystery is why Cesc comes on as sub when he’s their best player.
It seems that if Adebayor goes, the replacement will be basement buy Santa Cruz, or at least that’s the way it’s looking, if Hleb goes don’t expect Arshavin as he is 27 and only 3 years off being sold to Villareal or West Ham united.
Nasri has still not signed and to be honest I’m getting a little bored and starting to think Ben Afra, perhaps it was him all along.
We welcomed a lot of new people to the site yesterday and only had two AKB’s all weekend, perhaps they’re finally getting the message, who knows!
We need a signing quickly and we need to sign at least 3 players to replace what we may be losing, then there are the players we were short of last year so that means 6, Ramsey will count for one so that leaves 5.
We need them in sharpish as pre season begins in less than a fortnight. Perhaps today? maybe tomorrow, either way it won’t stop us debating will it?
Have a good week Grovers, let’s hope Wenger does too!
June 23, 2008 at 8:43 am
1st………….
June 23, 2008 at 8:44 am
damn u
June 23, 2008 at 8:44 am
2nd
June 23, 2008 at 8:44 am
i was going for the 1st 3 days in a row Rico!
June 23, 2008 at 8:46 am
The Cesc penalty was a cracker and im glad hes playing off the bench, less chance of getting injured and more chance of being in form come the CL qualifier games!
June 23, 2008 at 8:47 am
Morning all - Santa has said he would prefer to come to us than manure, and The Sun report we are holding out for 32M for Ade
Like you Geoff, I am fed up with the Nasri, Ade and Hleb saga, and what else can we all say about it. Lets hope we get some news this week, something new to get our gnashers into….
Have a good day Grovers
June 23, 2008 at 8:49 am
Sorry Evo - had I have known I would have waited
Cesc has obviously been studying John Thomas, and did the opposite, really pleased for him. He changed the game when he came on, he should start, but glad he doesnt….. For selfish reasons
June 23, 2008 at 8:51 am
Good post Geoff. This whole signings saga is becoming a bit like Pulp Fiction. Different stories being played out, about who is coming/who is going & no doubt coming to a head, soon I hope.
Hope the saga doesn’t all end up like the History of Tottenham Hotspurs = non event.
June 23, 2008 at 8:58 am
9th!
Morning Grovers!
I’m out in spain and I was drinking beer with some ex pros last night. Prepare yourself for some, ‘I love Le Grove’ ambush pics!
Who loved Cescs goal last night? I was praying he scored! Remember Bergy after he missed in 98? That was painful…
Anyway…it’s about time we signed some players! COME ON ARSENE!
Off out to sun myself… It’s the one week of the year I get to see any! I am so jealous of the Aussie Grovers… lucky bastards!
June 23, 2008 at 9:00 am
morning all
June 23, 2008 at 9:01 am
Morning
Once again Cesc was top quality. Everything the Spanish did went through him, and I cannot recall him wasting a pass. Like you Pedro, I was praying prior to his penalty !
June 23, 2008 at 9:03 am
Come on Arsene, pull your finger out. Brighten up our summer and sort the signings. Let Ade go and reinvest the money wisely.
June 23, 2008 at 9:04 am
Regarding Nasri, after what le boss said yesterday I don’t honestly think he’s coming or anyone else for that matter. Anyway his transfer smelt fishy in the first place. Anyone who thinks he is coming must be codding themselves.
June 23, 2008 at 9:07 am
Noooooo! I was rooting for Italy, as I’m a BIIIIG Buffon fan. GG9 knows. Still, i take consolation that it was Cesc who beat him, not a guy with no potential greatness. Oh well… my money on the Spaniards now….
Did you see Fab4’s pass to Villa ( the chip that beat the two defenders, but was recovered after Villa lowered it on his left foot)? OZ grovers - this isn’t FAIR!!!! Give em a time penalty Pedro!!
June 23, 2008 at 9:08 am
morning all .
June 23, 2008 at 9:13 am
It was nice to see AW and Zizou watching in the stands. Zizou = legend. Gigi Buffon too.
June 23, 2008 at 9:13 am
Nasri’s done unless he failed his medical which is unlikely.
June 23, 2008 at 9:14 am
some players… pedro i wouldn’t mind at all if we jut sign arshavin…. imagine the choices… cesc, arshavin, nasri.
arshavin would never be surplus to requirements…. this guy’s directness is superb
June 23, 2008 at 9:15 am
morning all….
what do you guys think about santa cruz….?
June 23, 2008 at 9:17 am
santa cruz is a good finished choy - maybe in a better team like ours he could be a star!
June 23, 2008 at 9:19 am
choy , i think he scored a good ratio of goals , he stays fit and knows where the net is .
I would take him as he is obviously already adapted to the epl.
June 23, 2008 at 9:20 am
choy - I wouldnt mind Santa - but as an addition, a proven goal scorer as Dudu wont be ready until Christmas - it will take a while to get his confidence back. No doubt he will have a bit of a run in the reserves.
Pedro - you lucky old thing, how do you get to hob knob it with ex-pro.s and in the sun aswell
Harry, what makes you think Nasri is a done deal please, its gone on so long?
June 23, 2008 at 9:21 am
would prefer huntelaar myself but don,t think we will get him so santa cruz would be a good signing
June 23, 2008 at 9:23 am
yes if we do sign him… hope that he stays fit!!!
June 23, 2008 at 9:23 am
cesc is hot property, and he’s not going anywhere! i’m proud to be an arsenal fan when he’s on the field.
the santa-cruz news has been around for a while, but that arshavin news is hotting up too, so who knows. i’m getting positive about arshavin as he’s one of the best players on show atm. sure he’s 27 but who knows, i think 27 is pretty ripe for a striker. look at van nistelroy, he scored 46 goals at about 27/28. we have players who can supply arshavin better than van nistelroy got supplied back then, so as long as he has the talent (which he does imho, he has more!)… we win? that said though, is wenger game? that seems to be all that matters atm, as we don’t have a david dein to hold wengers leash. who knows… i’m confusing myself. i think arshavin would be good at arsenal though. give him a 3 year contract at 60 thousand with bonuses and we’ll be in a really neat position for the 4 titles next year!
June 23, 2008 at 9:30 am
AR SHAVIN i feel is doubtful… the better he performs the more suitors he will have… and he says he prefers a move to spain anyway!!
June 23, 2008 at 9:31 am
jamesb - arshavin has said he wants to go to barca… party time for him there
June 23, 2008 at 9:32 am
Morning fellow Grovers!
So let’s go after players that want to come, anyway if we paid so badlly, why do people want to join us?
June 23, 2008 at 9:32 am
I think Nasri will sign for Arsenal sometime in the next 6 years. Mark my words it’ll happen!!
June 23, 2008 at 9:33 am
Geoff, thats the point, no players do want to join us!
Wenger talked about 220 (or something similar) players wanting to join, but that could just as easily be conference & lower league players as opposed to anyone else.
June 23, 2008 at 9:36 am
david villa wanted to join us!!!
June 23, 2008 at 9:38 am
And Santa Cruz and John Barnes!
June 23, 2008 at 9:38 am
Methinks the transfer saga will run and run now as perhaps our defensive problem solution is tied up with the Hleb situation i.e. Yaya, whilst future striker possibilities only come into play if Ade leaves which is dependant on Eto’o, Deco etc leaving first.
AW’s pot has probably already been spent on tying up Ramsey, Clichey, Sagna, Cesc etc……….possibly Nasri and we can all hope for Arshavin!
June 23, 2008 at 9:39 am
Wotcha Geoff,
Gotta disagree about Ramsey being one of the 3/6 players, he’s yet another reserve yeam CC player, the players in the 2/3 additions were/are supposed to be proven players as stated by Obersturhmbahnfurer Wenger weeks ago, and the other 3 player are now replacements for the losses of Flamini, Hleb and probably Ade, which surely must mean like for like as in again proven players……
June 23, 2008 at 9:40 am
Morning Arse shavings
I have a feeling, I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes…. That Ade won’t be going any where and neither will Hleb.
Now that Ive said that, expect em both to be gone by the end of the day!
June 23, 2008 at 9:42 am
hey everyone
does anyone have links to highlights of the spain/italy game? i cant find anything…
great few posts last couple of days guys, and happy (LATE) birthday Pedro!!
June 23, 2008 at 9:43 am
GMR; Course there are players who wanna join Arsenal.
Ramsey could’ve gone to United, but chose us. Santa Cruz ditto, and then there are players who fancy them selves playing in the champs league, so that means all the spud players too.
June 23, 2008 at 9:44 am
Geoff/dennisdamenace,
Are you taking into account the ‘kids’ that might move up like Barazite, Nordvelt etc plus the possibilities that RVP, Tomas etc might be fit MOST of the time?
June 23, 2008 at 9:45 am
If we get Arshavin and Matersecker, Arsenal will finally be complete. *sniffs*
June 23, 2008 at 9:45 am
olli3
http://www.101greatgoals.com/
go there…
June 23, 2008 at 9:46 am
olli3..
http://www.101greatgoals.com/
go there
June 23, 2008 at 9:46 am
the thing that Arsene said yesterday he will rather use money to keep they players than buy expensive replacements…..
so does it mean ade and maybe hleb will be given better contracts??
why wasnt more more money spend on flamani
and still theres no replacement yet for him…
really starnge this arsene
June 23, 2008 at 9:50 am
Here’s a thought, and a positive one
AW has made his three signings he promised us, but wants to reveal them all together himself at The Emirates. So, once the Euros finish, he returns to the UK and all gets revealed.
So I am now going to turn off SSN’s and wait until next Monday when AFC.Com announces all our dealings
Yippee
June 23, 2008 at 9:52 am
i wont mind for the russia goalkeeper..his really good.but will never happen
will the nasri sage be ended today at last?
June 23, 2008 at 9:52 am
Do some popel STILL think mertesackershite is any good?
The guy has stank out the Euros IMO. He’s slower than Senderos too. The only nthing going for him is he is 7ft tall.
June 23, 2008 at 9:52 am
P7 - For me, none of the ‘kids’ count, as AW himself pointed out not so long ago that the team/zquad needed 2 or 3 proven players and that was before any first team departures…….
June 23, 2008 at 9:56 am
rico01 - what r u drinking matey, i’d like a pint of it!!
June 23, 2008 at 10:00 am
When I said no players want to join us I was talking about major players. I don’t consider Ramsey a major player.
I don’t recall Villa saying he wanted to join us, more along the lines of that if he were to come to England arsenal would be his first choice due to the football. However if Arsenal, Madrid & Barca go after him I’ll bet with anyone that Arsenal won’t be his choice.
Santa Cruz, I’m not even going to answer that. His agent is obviously trying to engineer a move & John Barnes is far too old to sign!!
June 23, 2008 at 10:02 am
dennis, milk on my cereal!!
June 23, 2008 at 10:05 am
GMR;
Course some players will prefer Real or Barca, or Hull city and some will wanna join Arsenal. I don’t give a shit if a rat faced twat like Deco would rather join the chavs, IF we get another Sagna or Eduardo. That will more than do for me.
Big players tend to be the ones with big egos, demanding even bigger wages etc.
I think we are getting cabin fever over the constant links to players coming or going without there being any thing actually happening. I trying not to get caught up in it.
June 23, 2008 at 10:14 am
cheers choy!
June 23, 2008 at 10:15 am
rico01 -I take it that it’s full cream milk and not semi-skinned then??
June 23, 2008 at 10:19 am
very optimistic rico - the beer glass is definitely half full on that one!
June 23, 2008 at 10:24 am
arshavin would bring the much needed pace to our attacks…. something which we left behind with highbury…
June 23, 2008 at 10:32 am
pedro
no point in being jealous of the aussie grovers ! june is a shitty time to be i australia
unless your from queensland , thailand on the other hand
Yes i expect to sell ade for 32 million and buy a 4 million dollar striker to replace him !
the other 28 million will mysteriously disappear into oblivion …. ( or stadium repayments)
Our club is like a stolen car ! the past few years its been ran into the ground and treated like shite ! replaced with 2nd hand parts and cheap imported parts
The board will be rubbing there hands together ! wow we gave him nothing this transfer season AGAIN ! and we will get another cash surplus for the 4th year in a row !!
Arsene has a job for life !
I think we are kidding ourselves if we are going to sign 4 or 5 more players !
All i know is we need too soon !
we’ve got more holes in our side than a patchwork quilt !
June 23, 2008 at 10:34 am
Arsenal should go for david vila bfor anyother player
June 23, 2008 at 10:35 am
angry
problem is we need 5 or 6 like sagna .
not 1 !!!!
June 23, 2008 at 10:40 am
So £13 million is peanuts now?
June 23, 2008 at 10:42 am
I like your analogy Ethan! I think the Flamster will be the hardest loss to deal with. He was a 40+ game player… we don’t have many of them. I don’t think Diaby and Denilson managed that between them?
It is time for Wenger to splash the cash though! That is if he has any! I still reckon he takes a cut of the budget he doesn’t spend!
Oh… and can people stop knocking Mertesacker… He is the best defender in the world because I recommended him. Anyone who disagrees will be moderated because that’s the way it goes on this site…
Arshavin - Dunne - Silva
I’d be ok with those… well, based on the 3 games I’ve seen them in!
Grovers… who would you like to see…ins and outs on a post card please…
June 23, 2008 at 10:43 am
Good old total skimmed dennis,
Evo, I have had my negative rants over the last few weeks, but now for my own sanity, I am going to think positve - I know AW has a brain somewhere and I am hoping this summer he dusts it off and uses it.
If we keep Ade, add a DM and CH, I would be quite happy. But a CF added to those would get me buzzing
I know we all talk about Nasri, but until he signs, or rather if he signs, I disclude him from how I see things…
A fit Thomas, Vela and Theo, and maybe Gibbs/Randall/Lainsbury/Merida/Barazite/Denilson/Diaby - even Traore and Wilshere - we have a lot of midfielders - and Hleb may yet stay
But I think he may use Barazite, Diaby or Gilberto as Flam replacement - or even JD/Song (thats sounds like a midfield overdose)
I reckon he has read Geoff & Pedro’s reviews, and us fans comments. He is pooping himself and has already or will sign those he promised us………
June 23, 2008 at 10:43 am
Arsene Wenger should have gone for some of these players before now. As long as players like David Vila or Ashavin perform well in the ongoing Euro 2008, it may be difficult for Arsenal to buy these players because like Chelsea, Man u and co. that has money to spend will definitely show interest
June 23, 2008 at 10:44 am
Ethan
I dont agree fella. 3 will be enough for me; a CB, Winger and an other. Personally I’d like a new keeper. David Silva would be my choice for the winger, as well as Nasri. I doubt a new defensive midfielder wuill be coming in. Oh hang on, with Ramsey and that Coquelin, that IS 5!
June 23, 2008 at 10:46 am
£13mill is not peanuts to us… but in the grand scheme of things it is.
That was our transfer record 8 years ago…
We are supposed to be in the big boys league now and we’ve not even come close to spending that sort of cash!
Not that a transfer can be judged on spend… but £17mill on Ribery looked a snip for Bayern last year…
June 23, 2008 at 10:47 am
Pedro;
What was I thinking?
That Mertasackershite is effin brilliant!
June 23, 2008 at 10:49 am
Pedro;
Again, I don’t wanna get modded, but, I think Ribery is quite possibly THGE most over rated player since Rooney. Average at best. And as for Luca Toni? Luca Toni cascarino more like!
The Bundesliga is great to watch cozx there are tons of goals due to the fact that no fucker can defend! IMO
June 23, 2008 at 10:54 am
I don’t rate Ribery that highly either.
June 23, 2008 at 10:55 am
pedro
It is time for Wenger to splash the cash though! That is if he has any! I still reckon he takes a cut of the budget he doesn’t spend!
Im almost sure he does !(what manager doesn’t get bonuses for being below budget !) And if you think like that you can see the greed driven drive behind his youth theories !
They youth theory is perfectly acceptable and a smart thing to do providing you can loan the youth out , keep them on the hook and advance them without them wanting out or getting disolusioned . However if we are going for 7 on the bench this year or next year
you need an experienced 1st 11 plus at least 5 experienced players on the bench with 2 out standing youths also !
No step up kids !
as this crop coming up with the exception of vela and merdia
haven’t had any 1st team experience …
I surely am not going to see diaby - denilson - senderos - song - johan make a step up , AM I ???
I think we know the answer to that question …
June 23, 2008 at 10:55 am
My three
Yaya, Rob Alex from the Chavs, and probably Santa, if it is TRUE that he wants to come to us, he would cost less than Eto
June 23, 2008 at 10:56 am
Does nobody think a world class GK is in dyer need? With crazy Jens Lehman off to Stuttgart Almunia only has Fabianski to keep him on his toes! The little i’ve seen of him does not impress me! I’d love to see an Akinfeev if were to go for a Russian!
June 23, 2008 at 10:57 am
wenger has been at all the spain games. hopefully keeping an eye on silva. i think hes shit hot. he can run very direct good crosser, waste very little passes which fits in with the arsenal system and seems 2 have a great left foot. which is wat we have been missing since bobby became a senile pile of shit. although his price might be a bit 2 high
June 23, 2008 at 11:00 am
GK - not for me, Almunia and Fab good enough, especially if we get the defence sorted out in front of them (IMHO)
June 23, 2008 at 11:05 am
ethan - the players i listed are how i believe AW will see things, also he will continue with Eboue on the LW - that frightens me!!
June 23, 2008 at 11:05 am
Agreed a big ugly defender would help but I’d feel a lot more confident if we had a WORLD class GK! I would go for Toure in a holding midfielder role (Kolo that is)! Bring in a nasty tall strong CB and Gk and failing injuries and bad luck were fine for me!
Hoping Almunia will prove me wrong though and show why he kept the current German #1 out all season! Up the Arsenal
June 23, 2008 at 11:06 am
Glass half empty time i’m afraid (coz let’s be honest here, the club and AW have previous), another summer and another 1, 2 or even 3 first team regulars leave THOF to be replaced by cheap unkowns and/or 17 year olds. That in itself would be bad enough, but we all know that as soon as one or more make a name for himself by having a good season he’ll be off too, so the cycle continues and Arsenal FC as a club never moves forward, but so long as we scrape into the CL and AW turns a profit outta the playing staff those fuckwits on the board will be more than happy………….trophies, who really needs them eh Hill-Wood when your only ambition and motive is to build a cash surplus to make an eventual sale of the club as profitable as possible………….
June 23, 2008 at 11:06 am
Angry Loner Says:
June 23, 2008 at 10:44 am
Ethan
I dont agree fella. 3 will be enough for me
We needed 2-3 before anyone left !
June 23, 2008 at 11:09 am
I reckon Ade and Hleb will stay…. after all the speculation
June 23, 2008 at 11:09 am
Hi Grovers, I am finally home……… f-ing busy, so will not be back in full flow at least till this arvo…… anyway, what have I missed ????
June 23, 2008 at 11:10 am
no signings of note bud. so nothings changed mate
June 23, 2008 at 11:11 am
Well if the new squad numbers are right, then its fact, we need six players to ‘fill’ in the gaps….
June 23, 2008 at 11:14 am
Rico, Merida hasn’t been given a number either so I wonder if he’ll be out on loan again??
June 23, 2008 at 11:15 am
if cesc has a good euro08 are we in for unwanted courtship for the spanish
June 23, 2008 at 11:16 am
To be honest when you go through that list its scary. 26 first team players & a lot of those lack so much quality, our squad looks awful in my opinion.
June 23, 2008 at 11:17 am
DDM
with you on that one ! Personally from a money perspective its what i would do
If i was a fucking greedy cunt who had control !!!!
But as its my football club im allowed to be bias and only care about what happens on the pitch ..
You’ve got some bosses in corporate life that go against the grain and try to make a company move forward (me) bettering it .. and not afraid to tell anyone if another way works better, and you have some ‘YES’ brown nosing bosses , who are like a microphone tape recording of the directors !
They Like to appear to the staff and public that they are in control , but in the board room the cunt is just a YES SIR ! muppet - A figurehead who preaches the words down from the board and makes the words his !!!
Ive seen it in just about every company ive worked for ! & wenger is no different !
June 23, 2008 at 11:17 am
nordveit would make the big step next season. Mertesacker …haha
vela would score at least 12 goals. walcott would struggle i am sure and would be sold thereafter.
June 23, 2008 at 11:20 am
GMR - good point, and no reserves listed yet, please to see Hoyte, Djourou and Phillipe still have their squad numbers!!! ;(
I thought Merida was going to in the first team this year, AW speaks highly of him… Isn’t he older than Ramsey?
June 23, 2008 at 11:21 am
Arsenal first team squad numbers have just been released - interestingly Ade and Hleb are still in the first team (!), Ramsey gets Flamimin’s old number, and no one has so far been allocated number 8!!
June 23, 2008 at 11:22 am
egunner - it’s old proven business practice, show a set of healthy books and the overall value of your business improves………
June 23, 2008 at 11:23 am
It frightens me GMR, bet the manure, chavs etc are quaking in their boots….
Positive Rico Positve - there is still plenty of time for signings to be made…..
June 23, 2008 at 11:25 am
Welcome back Bud… you’ve been missing for ages!
Ikon… your comments wont get moderated anymore…
I just read in the Mail that we are going after David Gill… that would be funny!
I saw Ribery playing for Bayern a couple of times… I thought he was great. I would like Podolski if he is available… he would fit in nicely at Arsenal.
June 23, 2008 at 11:30 am
Arshavin wants Barca… Kiss your dream move good bye Hlebby!
June 23, 2008 at 11:31 am
GMR I was looking at the squad and thinking the exact opposite. It is interesting that there are no squad numbers yet for the likes of randall, barazite, lansbury, merida. Maybe they’ll be off on loan next season. I personally think it’s a very good 26 man squad, with other additions still to come in
June 23, 2008 at 11:31 am
DDM
yes of course , the point im making is wenger is just a ‘yes man’ puppet !
i mean ffs ! these guys pay his wages … They can throw the blame on him ..
say anything about him … he is being paid enough …
So when fizman or PHW say wenger can spend what he wants , it means
they will listen to anything he has to say !
But if you know the club hasn’t got the cash 4 it (as he does)you DONT ask , then you work within the parameters.
I do think that wenger cares about the quality of his club , and he’s working like a ‘mizer ‘ because he is forced too !
Thats why im sure ade’s deal is going through so wenger can get some new faces !
( like TH14 last season )
June 23, 2008 at 11:32 am
Pedro - I can’t see there being any truth in the Podolski rumours - We already have three left footed forward players who are better up front but can play left wing, a forth carbon copy would be a big waste of money!
June 23, 2008 at 11:38 am
A- seriously I couldn’t disagree more. That has to be one of, if not the weakest squad I’ve ever known Wenger have.
Not one top quality goalkeeper & filled out with unproven youth.
Of all those listed the only ones of any quality are: Sagna, Clichy, Toure/Gallas (but not as a partnership, Cesc, Rosicky (if he can stay fit), Hleb (if he stays), RVP (again if he stays fit), Eduardo (if he ever gets his game back properly) & debateable Adebayor (if he stays).
The others like Walcott, Vela, Ramsey etc are all totally unproven & cannot be relied upon.
Thats a lot of IF’s under the players I listed!!
June 23, 2008 at 11:40 am
We could use him out wide A… fast, creative and clinical in front of goal.
How do we not need him! Proven talent is what we need…
June 23, 2008 at 11:43 am
Seeing as we’ve had nothing but what seems to be pure speculation for quite a few days now, I don’t see much point in getting annoyed at the Ade/Hleb ’situation’, Wenger’s silence, or anything else! How about this: we be happy with what we know we’ve already got - an extremely promising young squad - and save the pessimism and aggrevation for fans of clubs that are actually in trouble! There is simply no way to know for sure what’s going on behind the scenes so we may as well take this opportunity to ’switch off’ the emotions for a bit, before the start of another long, eventful and nerve-wracking season!
June 23, 2008 at 11:44 am
A, your 11.31am post. I admire your optimism. Having looked through that squad I am strugging to find any optimism for next season. Whilst there are some top quality player’s in there, most of them to me are either not good enough (Eboue, Senderos, Djourou, Song, Denilson, Diaby) or unproven (Vela, Ramsey) or injury prone (Rosicky, Van Persie).
AW would need a shed load of luck with injuries to win either of the two trophies (how about going for all four trophies AW?) which really matter to him with that squad next season.
Of course there is still time for signing’s and we need them.
June 23, 2008 at 11:45 am
ah maybee beause podolski is shit he isnt even in the bayern first team he only plays good at big tornaments
June 23, 2008 at 11:45 am
egunner - totally agree fella, i think the only way AW can buy anyone in is to offload a player again a la TH14
June 23, 2008 at 11:46 am
I think its way too soon to judge whether Denilson, Diaby and Djourou can’t make the step up. Personally I think both Denilson and Diaby have the qualities needed, whereas Johan should be given the same playing time afforded to both Senderos and Eboue.
Those last 2 definitely need to be shipped out.
I also think Ade and Hleb will be staying.
And there will also be a few names added to that squad list, from the yutes and new signings!
Barazite, Nordtveit and Lansbury for me, not so sure about Gibbs and Randall, although he looked tidy enough against Sunderland.
June 23, 2008 at 11:46 am
I hate players who only like to prove themselves on the biggest stage…
Give me 11 Eboue’s please!
June 23, 2008 at 11:48 am
Wenger takes a cut of the transfer budget for not blowing it???
Haahahahahahahahahaha! Nice one, keep em coming!
June 23, 2008 at 11:51 am
A
your insane, your the new pat
!
I agree GMR , to many Ifs , i do think theo is proven however and if let loose this season
will make an impact ! Theo is one who will explode this year !! The others ? no
maybe vela ??? but probably not .. forget diaby-senderos-song-johan -denilson-bert-
and then you have the sick bed specials ! RVP- dudu- rosicky ? they are a HUGE gamble!
and you know 2 out of the 3 wont make it on the pitch at the same time ..
flamini - hleb - ade -diarra-jens all going ! 2 babys to replace them and our manager
is more worried about the Euro’s !
total disaster , currently !
June 23, 2008 at 11:51 am
What do people think about trying for Alex - or am i being really stupid…..
June 23, 2008 at 11:54 am
oh and eboue
sorry Geoff how could i forget
June 23, 2008 at 11:54 am
Denis Kolodin now this guy is a good defender aggresive and god does he have a shot
June 23, 2008 at 11:55 am
rico
alex is a player i rate ,
but you think the chevs will let him go to us ???
June 23, 2008 at 11:57 am
de joooooooooooooooong, i want de jong as a replacement for flamoney!!!!
June 23, 2008 at 11:58 am
ethan, i dont know, but i didnt think they would let Willy go (wish they hadnt…)
Alex is not playing and at 26yrs old, surely he must want to, I certainly think it would be worth testing the water, especially is fat Phillip doesnt have him in his plans - shall i give Arsene a call…???
June 23, 2008 at 11:59 am
He might be in Scolari’s plans, especially if Mourinho gets his way & signs Carvalho.
June 23, 2008 at 11:59 am
Angry Loner Says:
June 23, 2008 at 11:48 am
Wenger takes a cut of the transfer budget for not blowing it???
He doesnt get a cut as such he gets a CASH BONUS from the club for remaining below budget !
You obviously know nothing about business angry !!!
I worked on cash bonuses for keeping under the annual budget ! ALL BIG COMPANIES work the same !!!! it keeps the managers in power honest !!!!
angry what do you do for a living ????
a waiter ?
June 23, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Jeez ethan, I would hate to be as negative as you fella. And the way you seem to relish righting off young players so easily really is kinda sad.
Ho-hum, takes alsorts I spose.
Agree about Theo though, he should be 1st choice Right midfielder next season.
June 23, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Afternoon all.
The only thing is Alex might not want a 50% pay cut rico..
Of cource Arsene dosn’t get a cut of the transfer budget.. We don’t have a transfer budget..
June 23, 2008 at 12:04 pm
ethan;
was that some kind of dig fella?
patronising or what!
Must dash, table 5 still havent got their sweet pea and fennel rissotto.
June 23, 2008 at 12:09 pm
rico
willy was for cashley .. + cash
diarra was because of the french connection .. and he was almost going to walk on a free .
Thats why we signed him on the last day , chevski couldn’t let him go to any other club !no takers ?? …
but to get a player from them without some sort of back scratching from any of the top 4 would be almost impossible .. i can never see any transfers happen between them , unless we are throwing money over the odds away on said player , OR player swaps
but with the way arsene spends money i doubt he would even ask !
June 23, 2008 at 12:09 pm
yes he would need to take a pay cut, at his young age, wouldnt you want to play??
i would, and having earned enough in the last season, an amount that would keep all of us financially sound for most of our living days, i wouldnt worry about money…….
no doubt a ‘bigger’ club will come in for him though
June 23, 2008 at 12:11 pm
ethan - i can dream, i rate Alex, he is scary and bloody strong especially in the air - his goal against us stills haunts me….
June 23, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Trouble is Chelsea have ruined the pay structure in this country and there reserves are full of overpaid underplayed players (SWP etc).
Arsenal mean no more to him than Chelsea it’s not the same affection you have for the Gunners. Money is there GOD..
June 23, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Has everyone forgotten that the priority this summer was to buy a top quality centre-half.
Nasri me arse - so good he got subbed after coming on as a sub against the Italians - don’t say alot ???
June 23, 2008 at 12:17 pm
angry
you tell me im righting off young players then you commend me for sticking up for theo ! …
WTF ???
and the only thing sad , is the bunch of players we are left with that no one wants !
all the good ones run off as soon as they feel they are beyond playing for our club !
sorry sue me if i want things to change !
say what you want about me angry, but at least i see things for the way they are !
not some Technicolor hippy lucy in the sky with diamonds visions of greatness for next season !
The only thing that can save this season is selling ade for wenger to get 30 million to spend !
we obviously have no money .. or we would have landed signings before ..
and no , we didnt sign them on the sly ! because the media leaks everything !
and if he did sign them on the sly , they are no bodies !
not the big names that will make as feel more assured !
June 23, 2008 at 12:24 pm
RSC would be a good signing, as would Arshavin
June 23, 2008 at 12:25 pm
ethan - our squad looks dreadful, at the moment - i just hope and pray those six gaps are filled with at least 4 big players, then i will accept barazite and randall as the other two….
at the moment though, i cant get too excited
senderos, and hoyte should not be in there, hoyte may yet go to villa or somwere else
June 23, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Still I am excited, I am off to see Boy George in concert in the Autumn, not sure if he will be singing or sweeping the streets…….
Looking forward to it - for those of you young ones out there, he was the lead singer with a band called Culture Club and Culture Club were….. bollox, he sings anyway!!
June 23, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Rico do you really want to hurt me? Lol
If we dont get a signing soon AW is going to make me cry! Lol
June 23, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I still remember Boy George when he appeared on the A-Team. His acting was abysmal.
June 23, 2008 at 12:41 pm
interesting day.fab was more commanding than xavi!!!thats good.about Nasri,his club has confirmed a feed 13mil and the player is due for a medical.I thot villa looked mentally weak.he was getting frustrated too often.Am afraid he may have the skill but he is not mentally prepared for the ups and down of the EPL.I think Arsharvin is better thogh i think he needs to bulk up abit
June 23, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I cant believe it is Adebayor week on Arsenal.com
If he does go this week, all of those idiots need sacking!!!!!
June 23, 2008 at 12:59 pm
tgs - very good!!
GMR - Must have missed that episode, actually, i missed all of them…………
I think he must be a better singer than actor -
June 23, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Pat, So if we are holding out for top price on Ade, you are suggesting we cancel Ade week to let them know we are about to cave in?!
PS Take 25m
June 23, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Do you think it could be Kanu Jnr week to advertise him to potential buyers? Lol
Like a car advert not done many miles (age only 24) one previous owner (Lyon) bids of 32 mill plus please apply within! Lol
Or the complete opposite like a poorly hosted game show for Barcelona “now lets take a look at what you could have won! LMAO
June 23, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I would just like to say that Boy George should not to be confused with gnarleygeorge.
June 23, 2008 at 1:41 pm
at 27 i think he is the finished article…
June 23, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Hey, found this at Arsenal.com… finally an interesting article…
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=493134&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Official+first-team+squad+numbers+announced
Arsenal’s official squad numbers for the 2008/09 season have been confirmed.
The most notable change is Manuel Almunia, who has taken the No 1 shirt in the wake of Jens Lehmann’s departure.
Mexican forward Carlos Vela, who has completed a successful season-long loan with Osasuna in Spain, has been allocated the No 12 shirt. Finally, new signing Aaron Ramsey has taken the No 16 shirt following Mathieu Flamini’s move to AC Milan.
Here are the squad numbers in full:
1. Manuel ALMUNIA
2. Abou DIABY
3. Bacary SAGNA
4. Francesc FABREGAS
5. Kolo TOURE
6. Philippe SENDEROS
7. Tomas ROSICKY
8.
9. EDUARDO
10. William GALLAS
11. Robin VAN PERSIE
12. Carlos VELA
13. Alexander HLEB
14.
15. DENILSON
16. Aaron RAMSEY
17. Alexandre SONG
18.
19. GILBERTO
20. Johan DJOUROU
21. Lukasz FABIANSKI
22. Gael CLICHY
23.
24. Vito MANNONE
25. Emmanuel ADEBAYOR
26. Nicklas BENDTNER
27. Emmanuel EBOUE
28.
29.
30. Armand TRAORE
31. Justin HOYTE
32. Theo WALCOTT
June 23, 2008 at 1:44 pm
What about Charlie gnarley…..
June 23, 2008 at 1:45 pm
8 will be for nasri
June 23, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Mannone handed a shirt, maybe we arent after a GK?
Reassuringly, Eboue is on the list. Shirt #27 because thats how many times he falls over in a game…
Rambo given 16! will he be playing then?
June 23, 2008 at 1:45 pm
choy - gnarley must be more than 27yrs old if he remembers Boy George
June 23, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Ethan;
Oh brother!
So you see things how they are and no one else can, coz they are drugged up hippies.
Why do we bother having this blog to debate shit when all we need to do is wait till you tell us all what to think.
Yep, patronising indeed.
I agreed with you on Theo, hardly worth saying WTF, was it. Not after you gleefully wrote off Diaby, Denilson and Djourou. But how dare I disagree with the master?
June 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
AngryL - Have you got out of the wrong side of the bed, or just having a bad day
June 23, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Eto’ number 14 please!!
June 23, 2008 at 1:55 pm
worth a look…
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9RsQg1dnwiY
June 23, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Rico,
Boy George =
Charlie George =
June 23, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Ethan,
Australia =
June 23, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Night all.
June 23, 2008 at 2:03 pm
rico i was talking about AR SHAVIN!!
June 23, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Rico;
Oops! And I thought I was being dead restained an all!
Muchas apologias if I am being twattish!
No offence, well, maybe a bit!
June 23, 2008 at 2:11 pm
18 for benzema
June 23, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Read this article! It’s a sensible and insightful analysis of the Gunners’ current situation regarding the transfer market.
http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=747107
June 23, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Night gnarley
June 23, 2008 at 2:15 pm
choy - i know, I was being cheeky
June 23, 2008 at 2:26 pm
The point seems to be that Adebayor is far from the finished article and that if Milan or Barca are prepared to spend £22-25 million to buy him, Arsenal should take their money - especially if the player wants to leave
June 23, 2008 at 2:26 pm
lol… whos boy george?
June 23, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Trouble is - none of us really KNOW if Ade wants to go or not - Hleb, bridges burned for me ..
June 23, 2008 at 2:28 pm
choy - who’s Boy George…. Ha ha
June 23, 2008 at 2:39 pm
ade is being either being very clever or like us is sick of the rumours… when the stoires about him were bad (demanding 80 grand or quitting) he denied them the same day along with the initial trnafer rumours, but now when it actually seems like somthing couldnt be happening he’s keeping stchum.
personally tho i think he’ll stay and hope he does
June 23, 2008 at 2:41 pm
arsenal tom..
he did not deny asking for a raise!!!
June 23, 2008 at 2:44 pm
SSN Milan State Adebayor or nothing AGAIN
Milan have again stated that Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is their sole summer transfer target.
The Serie A giants accept they face a tough task to prise the Togo striker away from Emirates Stadium, but will not look elsewhere if they fail to secure his services.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, Barcelona stars Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o, Lyon ace Karim Benzema and Ajax hitman Klaas Jan Huntelaar had all been linked with a move to Giuseppe Meazza.
But vice-president Adriano Galliani insisted last week that they were only interested in Adebayor, and he has moved to reiterate that stance.
Deal in motion
He told the club’s official website: “At the moment there is only one deal in motion, and that’s for Adebayor.
“Milan remain true to their word, either Adebayor comes or we keep things as they are, with (Alberto) Paloschi.
“I still think that our squad as it is today is absolutely competitive enough to win the Scudetto.
“Everyone says it’s not and I don’t understand why when we have got Marco Borriello who has scored 19 goals in the Italian championship (at Genoa).
“We’re happy with the forwards we have. We’ve got Paloschi who is fourth choice after (Alexandre) Pato, (Filippo) Inzaghi and Borriello.
“It’s not like we’re lacking forwards.”
Despite Galliani’s insistence that only Adebayor will do for the Italian club, he did admit that negotiations for 24-year-old would not be easy with Arsenal reluctant to sell and the player having signed a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium only last year.
Pessimist
“Adebayor has a contract, I’m always a pessimist by nature,” he continued.
“Look at last year when Real Madrid said Kaka was theirs. If the club don’t allow you in there’s nothing you can do.
“If the player is at the end of his contract then his wishes are important, but if not and there’s a contract and the club who owns him says no, then it’s no. At the moment, it’s no.
“Does it depend on Wenger? He’s the Arsenal manager, a representative of the club, and at the moment the club isn’t selling.
“Everything depends on Arsenal, but when a club says their player is indispensable there’s not a lot that can be done.
“Of course things could always open up but at the moment I must keep to Arsenal’s official line and that is that for the moment there is no possibility of negotiating.”
June 23, 2008 at 2:50 pm
what cunts
June 23, 2008 at 2:51 pm
From Sky Sports - How spot on your post is Geoff
Staying
When asked about his future at Emirates Stadium, Fabregas replied: “Of course I am staying, definitely.
“I am very much looking forward to next season. We have a good team but let’s go game-by-game.
“If we give 100 per cent every game we can win something.”
June 23, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Eboue: ” I am a Midfielder”
June 23, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Eboue: ” I am a Midfielder”
http://www.arsenal.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=507393
June 23, 2008 at 3:00 pm
choy…
he did after it was published in the daily mail a month or 2 ago, it was a while back now but he came out on the arsenal web-site to deny it
June 23, 2008 at 3:03 pm
AT - was that not just his ‘agent’ stating he deserves more money
June 23, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Eboue “I am a midfielder” LOL
I may think i’m a better singer than boy George but singstar doesn’t agree with me! You can believe you are something BUT you really are not a midfielder!
June 23, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Eboue “I am a midfielder” ……….ha fucking ha, the really worrying thing is that AW believes him!!!!
June 23, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Eboue “I am a midfielder” ……………..apparently after hearing this the Press Office of Tottenham Hotspur announced “we are a football club”…………
June 23, 2008 at 3:17 pm
defensive balance people… defensive balance!!
June 23, 2008 at 3:18 pm
rico…
im pretty positive it was ade… it was only a short thing he said but it was enough, somthing along the lines of…
‘the reports ive demanded more money or ill quit the club are total rubbish’
i remember because i spent hours trying to tell my mates he denied it in the pub.
“Of course things could always open up but at the moment I must keep to Arsenal’s official line and that is that for the moment there is no possibility of negotiating.”
keep to arsenals offical line… what a shit stirer
June 23, 2008 at 3:24 pm
AT - Sorry, i thought you were meaning Ade asking for a pay rise… stupid me
June 23, 2008 at 3:41 pm
i found the link anyway…
http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=news&article=491302&cpid=703&title=Adebayor+-+Reports+I+want+to+leave+the+Club+are+%27rubbish%27
either way its good to hear!!!
June 23, 2008 at 3:44 pm
arsenal tom.. how about the flamini one.. where he says that we are writing a story and he wants to be the hero of the story and all!!!
June 23, 2008 at 3:49 pm
fuck him choy,
June 23, 2008 at 3:52 pm
“There is not a player who could say no to Barcelona. If Barcelona make an offer for me and reach an agreement with Arsenal, I would be delighted to go there”
did anyone see this quote?
June 23, 2008 at 3:55 pm
choy did he say that or u joking??
sounds too cheesy to be true!!
June 23, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Arsenal Tom, when was the Ade quote written?
Like I said before, say to Milan, ok you can have him and we’ll have Pato plus £15 mil or to Barca we’ll have Messi and you can have Hleb.
They’ll then have to tell us no because they both rate those respective players higher than ours.
Ade’s ego couldn’t handle that and the deal would be at an end, common sense all this.
June 23, 2008 at 3:58 pm
these fuckers have made co secret for our leading goald scorer, they shold pay through the nose,
if ronaldo is going for anywhere near the figures being mentioned, them 24 million sterling is far too low,
June 23, 2008 at 3:59 pm
sorry, new keyboard….
June 23, 2008 at 4:00 pm
AT
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=559786
http://www.soccerslave.com/english-premier-league/21613-flamini-wants-new-deal-arsenal.html
June 23, 2008 at 4:03 pm
geoff…
that quote was the same day or day after the specualtion. cant ask for much more than that. fair enough its old now but he states his happy etc and its not like much has changed!
i agree tho, if they want him that badly then they should have to do it on ours terms, give us kaka and nesta, and u can have ade and 5mil
June 23, 2008 at 4:05 pm
So why does Wenger say nothing, these people are like playground bullies, and we let them.
June 23, 2008 at 4:06 pm
just didnt love us enough i guess choy!!
i think he’ll really suffer the old ‘grass isnt greener’ syndrome next year, he’ll go from an arseal revelation to milans moody utility player, and i cant fucking wait
June 23, 2008 at 4:09 pm
you really can’t keep them once they want to go geoff..