£24m Deal Done! £100 million kitty for Arsene!

Morning all…

A perfect ending to our season. The sun was shining, the boys were winning at Wembley and yesterday the celebrations followed…..

First up, our two centre-backs together!

These two have been absolutely outstanding all season... How fitting they lift the big jug together.....
These two have been absolutely outstanding all season… How fitting they lift the big jug together…..

Onto a sunny day in Islington……

photo 4

 

photo (1)

Just how good was it eh?

Absolutely awesome and nice to see the official website broadcast it all for free..

photo (1)

Islington heaving with 250,000 Arsenal fans…

photo (4)

That was a close up from Kev….

photo 1 (1)

 Small, medium and large…

photo 2 (1)

 Small and medium…

photo 3

 Gunnersaurus must have been hot….

Maybe now the message will get through to Stan Kroenke and Arsene Wenger!

Days like Saturday and yesterday are what we Gooners want to experience.

Look how happy he is!!
Look how happy he is!!

Of course we’d love to experience winning ways and trophies every season but reality is, that’s highly unlikely. Not even when we had the great players and deep squads of 1997/1998, 20o1/2002 and 2003/2004, we couldn’t manage that but thankfully, we didn’t have such huge gaps between success.

Now there is no reason why we can’t replicate those similar achievements.

The deadlock has been broken, the players have finally tasted success as a group and they’ll be hungry for more because just like us, they’ll want more of what they experienced yesterday. Not only that, other players around the world will have taken more notice of us now, they’ll know we can win a trophy and that together with Champions League football should make us even more tempting to join.

And we deserved that FA Cup victory if for no other reason than the journey, which was a tough one, but Arsenal FC can’t live off that for the next number of years.

Arsene Wenger is reported to be signing a new three year contract worth £24 million within the next couple of days and he’s to be given a £100 million transfer kitty. That’s according to The Daily Mail and although they normally make things up as they go along, I’m sure this story is quite near the truth.

Go and spend it Arsene and make the next three seasons as good as your first three..

Who knows, they maybe even better…….

Transfer Gossip:

Karim Benzema and Lars Bender continue to make the back pages and today James Milner adds them. The Guardian suggest we are favourites to sign the City player. Mandzukic, Bony and Di Maria also remain in the news relating to us…

Ivan Gazidis has said that work begins today on sorting out our summer activity…

I for one hope it started a long time ago!!

That’s your lot for another day……

196 thoughts on “£24m Deal Done! £100 million kitty for Arsene!

  1. Gonerjoe says:

    Morning did something happen this weekend the drink has effected my mind. Oh yes we won the FA cup we won the cup we won the cup.

  2. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good post Lady.

    I still think that we will replace those who depart and then the club will wait till group phase in the CL is secure before buying new purchases. I feel AW will sign the usual suspects which will see us getting squad players who he can rotate and then if we are through the group phase he will buy one marquee signing.

  3. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Evening Scott. did you rub it in at work??

    I did. And I made sure it was a hard rub as well.

  4. tsgh- The Hidden Hand says:

    Good read Rico…

    Morning Dev,Gj and all…

    A manic journey on the m25 this morning.. 1.5 hours to cross 2 junctions… 😡

    Milner, yes.. a pragmatic type of player we need for our 12:45pm k.o next season…

  5. David says:

    The Community Shield Cup is the next Cup we shud be targeting….In August n Arsene must start preparing now for that one too….

  6. Scott From Oz says:

    Devil, absolutely I did lol.
    The lads that follow football there are good guys, and actually respect the Arsenal, so weren’t totally devastated we won it.

  7. Hell Raising Devil says:

    And that was not an earthquake my lads. That was the roar of a dragon. That was the first real cup won since we moved to the Ems.

  8. rico says:

    Guys, when you keep changing names, your comments will go into moderation/spam… Meaning you might be stuck there forever… 😉

  9. rico says:

    As Kev said yesterday, the first since HH has been up and running…

    Happy Days…

    But, the club can’t sit back now and wait for the WC to be over, get into the market and make a couple of top signings…

  10. Scott From Oz says:

    Rico, I forever remain Scot from Oz because I am Scott and I am from Oz…..get it 🙂

  11. tsgh says:

    Lol Rico… I try to change my name to avoid the sin bin you and Wath keep chucking me in… 🙂

    I haven’t even posted any stats on why Flappy is better than Buffon yet.. 😛

  12. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Sorry Rico………but I still think that the club will buy after we secure CL place in group. After the qualifier.

  13. Hell Raising Devil says:

    3 of the pens were stonewall ones. I mean one might not be given due to a mistake, but 3 stonewall pens and one which another ref would have given makes it seem that he was doing it on purpose.

  14. Ogugua says:

    If wenger sign new contract it will be 100% mistake because it will signifies other 3years without trophy. We nearly los FA cup to hull city imagine if we meet club like let me just say west browich by now FA final defeat will have not depart from our heart.alot of if he retire now let him not think of another league.arsenal fans hve endure so many insult in hope thah tomorrow wil be bright.but rit now we re far from

  15. rico says:

    I do Scott, I do…..

    Ts, good, that kind of comment might get you in the bin 😉

    Devil, you maybe right, you maybe be wrong, I am hoping it’s the latter…. We can’t wait until then, not this time….

    New players need to have an Arsenal pre-season and be ready for The Emirates Cup imo…

  16. tsgh says:

    Talkshite say we only got to the final because we maanged to get all our games played at home… 🙂 idiocy and jealously going hand in hand is a bad thing… ;0

  17. Scott From Oz says:

    Luggage, you are right.
    I mean, how long has it been since we won a trophy, yet Arsenal will allow that specialist in failure to keep trying?
    How ridiculous.

  18. rico says:

    Ogugua – Kroenke and the board clearly think differently. A new deal may not please many fans but as long as we sign the right players this summer and we have a much deeper squad with a quicker, better strike force, I’ll be right behind the manager at the start of the season…

    ‘we nearly lost’ – we didn’t lose though, and that’s what matters…

  19. rico says:

    Devil, I think most are, we just need to convince AW…

    Maybe I’m being far too optimistic but I have a feeling this summer will be different….

  20. allezkev says:

    In games’ of Saturdays nature and taking into consideration how finely balanced it was at the time of the penalty incidents, I think most English referee’s and lines persons, just lack the courage to give penalties unless a player is almost murdered in the box…

    I don’t think the Officials are cheats, I just think they lack bottle and maybe confidence in their ability to read an incident accurately….

    It’s a result of how good players are at cheating these days…

  21. rico says:

    Ts, talksport are probably quite right but that’s what the draw pulled out for us, including a lunchtime fixture at Everton which was clearly rearranged in attempt to stop us…

    And after being battered by Liverpool at Anfield, we did bloody well to then beat them the following week…

    Exactly why I believe we truly deserve this FA Cup win….

  22. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Ogugua……if you do not succeed after making a pass at the first girl, and then fail in the second, and the third, what do you do??? Give up??? Wait till the girls make a pass at you?

    We nearly lost did we. BUT WE DID NOT.

  23. rico says:

    You might have hit the nail on the head there Kev.

    Had those officials been in charge of many Liverpool games this season I wonder, could explain a lot…. 😉

  24. rico says:

    You and me both Scott, I think I have said the same on here at the end of every season. At some stage I have to be right for once 😉

  25. allezkev says:

    Rico, since the retirement of the Red Nosed Bully, I think and hope that in general, refereeing decisions in the EPL will return to a more balanced position…

    Arsenal, in general, will probably be on the wrong end of more contentious decisions, than say Liverpool or ManCity, but as Wath says, if our team is good enough, then it won’t matter….

  26. tsgh says:

    .’.’including a lunchtime fixture at Everton which was clearly rearranged in attempt to stop us…”

    I love it when you have your conspiracy hat on Rico. 😉

  27. allezkev says:

    Riley getting the sack will also be a massive help as far as refereeing integrity is concerned as well Rico…

  28. rico says:

    Seriously though, with the new sponsorship deals in place and the whole world knowing we have an awful lot of money in the bank, surely AW would be stupid, absolutely stupid, if he thinks he can get away without spending well this time…

  29. tsgh says:

    Ogugua… jeez take a chill pill bruv!; I bet you want a winner like Jose or Pep? Or now diego Simeone ’cause he sent a team that has spent more than us in 5 years to the top of the most boring la liga league…

    Pep spent £20M on a DM and still needed to turn his captain a RB into a DM… maybe he is a genius…; If Aw did that most will want to lynch him..

    Or Jose saying he will play his youngsters at the right time… the right time being the essential part…

  30. tsgh says:

    We have money but to me it is not sensible to chuck the cash away… every chairman wants a bit of our hard earned cash 😉

  31. rico says:

    Hi goonster…

    Ts, it’s not that, I truly believe it. Having seen us fail during the early matches, we had ours changed but it truly bit the FA on the butt!

  32. snaparse says:

    morning all…..I’m still buzzing…not interested in any transfer news for now …..nice read rico

  33. rico says:

    Ts, I’m not for one minute suggesting we just throw money at other clubs, there’s no need to do that.

    Just go and spend what it takes to tighten up our midfield and speed up our attack.

    HM/B2B Winger and striker.

    And replace whoever leaves….

  34. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Morning all, Rico hope your right about things being different this summer, personally i can’t see it, prove me wrong Arsene!! She Wore. She Wore!!

  35. rico says:

    Bt, history makes us all doubt anything much will change but I’m hoping what the weekend did for AW makes him wake up….

  36. rico says:

    If we really are after Remy, that deal should be one of the first as he’s definitely leaving Qpr…

  37. allezkev says:

    My God that passenger was a bit weird, hard work but luckily I am in a fantastic mood…

    Adam/Lee you would have been in your element with that last guy, ha ha ha, what a tin barf.. 😀

  38. ChärybdÏß1966 says:

    Morning Rico and all,

    excellently described account of yesterday’s events and although I was there for the Parade I didn’t get to see a whole lot.

    I get the feeling the Club and Islington council under estimated the crowds that would turn up.

    It’s been a long 9 years and we can consign that hoodoo to history.
    Great time to be a Gooner – let the good times roll !

  39. ChärybdÏß1966 says:

    I’m a lot better than I was at 5.10pm on Saturday, Rico.

    It was great to soak up the atmosphere in N5 yesterday even if I didn’t see a whole lot, but what the hell, I was there !

    Suppose I was put into spam ‘cos you thought – “Who’s this bozo?”, ha ha.

    I’m taking particular pleasure in saying “You can stick your 9 years up your a***”” whenever possible.

  40. allezkev says:

    No Ginge, Wath is a diamond, this bloke was, I think, coming through a course of therapy…

    But I coped, as I am a professional driver… 😛

  41. rico says:

    Ten mins in was worrying Chary but all came good in the end, class shone… 😉

    Just moderation with your first comment, happens to everyone, nothing personal honest.. lol

  42. Lee says:

    I’d make Sagna our first signing, then this Aurier fella,we then need a GK, (CB could use Sagna if he signs),DM,Winger and a Striker! Simples!!

  43. Bt62 Gooner says:

    I wish Rico,LOL, Hope Arsene isn’t watching.Play inside most weeks,grass is for rollin these days!! lol

  44. Joywedsjeff says:

    Take a chill pill Miss Ogugua(you talk like someone i know bearing same name)… My Brothers are united fans and they tormented me throughout the first half. All i could do was chant we’re the Arsenal and we do things the hard way. Strangely enough one of them thinks Sanogo will be world class in two years.

  45. rico says:

    Ivan Gazidis says winning the FA Cup was a “great day” for Arsenal – but he is already plotting future success.

    “I think we went through all the range of emotions,” Gazidis told Arsenal Player. “We’ve probably lived 1,000 lives and I can tell you that to come through that with the strength of character and discipline the players showed was really encouraging.
    “We have a good platform to build on – today’s a great day for us to celebrate and we should do that as the Arsenal family.

    “But tomorrow we start work again and we’ve got to use this to progress the club, to take it forward. This was a very big step, to have the players understand what it takes to come through that kind of adversity, to get over the line whatever it took is a big step and now we need to take the next step.

    “It was very big. It really colours the season. You come out and think we were seven points away from winning the double and that gives you encouragement to move forward and make the improvements we have to make. We know we’re still a work in progress but this is a big step, a big platform and we can build on this, and we will.”

    Arsenal’s 11th FA Cup final win was the fifth Arsène Wenger has presided over. No manager has lifted the trophy more in the modern era and Gazidis is especially pleased for the boss.

    “I thought it was a great day for Arsène,” Gazidis said. “He’s been through a lot and you can see that he lives this club – you can see how much he loves it and how much it means to him.
    “To see him soaking wet and getting thrown up in the air – he was probably a bit nervous about that – but it was fantastic, it was really great.”

  46. goonster says:

    Rico I ll believe it when I see ut….gazidas talks out of his ass most times…In the meantime na na na na na na na na girooood…..ohhhhhh to be a gooner.

  47. ktr7 says:

    Good read rico.it all still seems like a dream even now.

    Santi was absolutely brilliant at wembley.i think it was the 1st time in a really big game that he really stepped up.he probably knew that he had to impress in order to avoid getting dropped by the spanish national team.hope he and oz do that consistently next season.

    Oooooohhhh santiiii cazorla!!!!

  48. ChärybdÏß1966 says:

    I think Word Press is playing up for me, no worries, but you may get double postings though.

  49. allezkev says:

    It’s a beautiful, hot and sunny day in London Town, I guess that everyone is in the garden with a cool beer…
    Wish I was…. 🙁

    Waterloo doesn’t really do it for me…

  50. allezkev says:

    That’s good news Rico, the Academy needs a good sort out…

    We need to up the ante and start scouting across England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland more…

  51. allezkev says:

    Derby, Fulham, Southampton, have all proved that there is talent out there in the UK…

    A Dutch perspective to Youth Development is maybe the answer…

  52. rico says:

    Totally agree re both comments, plenty of talent around, just need a new pair of eyes looking and of course, t do something with who with have. They can’t all be hopeless causes…

  53. Wavy says:

    Bloody Nora! I’m like a blogging marathon man!
    I’ll write something meaningful soon, when I retrieve my wits!
    Kev. We’ve all been/are locked in the news now dungeon for “posting too quickly”
    What ever that means!

  54. allezkev says:

    NewNow, Wavy, 90% rubbish, but addictive… 🙂

    Wonder if Mr Luggage works for WordPress??? 😛

  55. bradster says:

    Hi All,

    I personally don’t see Wenger changing his prudent ways and clubs know we have money so they will ask above the odds for their players.

  56. frednerk says:

    Afternoon All,
    Great win for us but,
    This game sort of some’s us up a bit,it had a bit of all the good,bad and the ugly bits we have experienced this season.
    We started off like we don’t know each other,2 nil down and the players are still singing Abide with me,
    lucky for us gibbo woke up,we managerd to get our heads in front,
    then we fall asleep again.
    Hull’s 3 at the back against La Flick was not what you want when 2 down,you have to make defenders work.
    Sonogoal did that,and as Andy Townsend would say,Thats Better.

    Arsenal Fantasy new signing season starts.

  57. Micko says:

    Great to win the cup Fred but we were definately short changed this season.

    Missed a trick sunday, we should have taken a last minute detour and parked the bus outside Chelsea, that would’ve made some funny headlines.

  58. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the Houser
    Looks like others have the same probleme as I have.
    Wavey they have been telling me to slow me for over a weeek now
    But as Kev put it if I go any slower id be in reverse. Hoping like the pony express this get through.

  59. allezkev says:

    Fred, it’s being reported that Chris Willock is gonna stay at Arsenal after all…
    It seems that a lucrative new deal ( yeah, really!!!) has swung it…

    Willock’s older brother is already at Old Bog
    His younger brother is at Arsenal…

  60. Rick says:

    At last I made it. I have been trying for the last 24 hours to post this time, what ever is wrong with world press.
    What a week end , I think Rambos goal will go down in Arsenal folk law just like the Kings of 1971. They will both be rememberd as goldern goals that won the cup from losing positions.

  61. allezkev says:

    Hey Rick, good to see you rocking n rolling…

    Great day yesterday… Ended up back in the Duchess of Kent for lunch and a few with my son and his partner…
    Days like those should be savoured, and I certainly did… 😀

    Wonder how Lee is doing with all that gardening???

  62. Rick says:

    Kev in all the years I have been a gooner I have never been there for days like yesterday and I really do envy everyone who has.
    Watched the highlights on the player this morning and felt a few goosebumps simply fantastic.
    Thats great news about Chriss Willock Kev, I was told he was the best of the 3brothers and that we would put up a big fight to keep him. I wonder if a change of coach had something to do with it.
    Have you noticed young Moore is playing for England U17 in the UEFA U17 Championship and is getting good reports.
    They play Holland in the final on Wed and I beleive Jonker has a role with the Dutch team.

  63. frednerk says:

    Not heard much kev,was hoping Pat Roberts the young lad at Fulham would be chased,
    not sure how Jonkey will go about his work.
    Micko QE2 for me then drop anchor on that little sh#t.

  64. Wavy says:

    Just Potter still not posting! What has happened here?
    I support the view that no big deals will be done until we either have or have not qualified for the CL.
    There may be one or two unknown children signed up before hand.
    It’s in the lap og the gods omg that’s Wenger and Gazidis. One may be the other definitely isn’t, and as for Dick Law, the clue is in his first name!

  65. rico says:

    Evening guys and gals…

    Real sorry about wordpress but there is nothing I can do 🙁

    We have a big storm a brewing here…. Good, might clear the air and finally get rid of all the lyme fluff that’s in the air and causing me to sneeze and rub my eyes!! Grrrrr

  66. allezkev says:

    Yeah, great news BT

    Fred, Fulham have, apparently, a great crop of young players coming through, definately worth keeping an eye on them…

    Rick, it was superb mate, reminded me of 1989…

  67. allezkev says:

    Still warm and sunny if a tad cloudy now in London, Rico…

    Don’t want any storms thanks…

  68. Lee says:

    Arsenal are ready to make Toulouse full-back Serge Aurier their first summer signing in £7m deal in a swift move to tie up a deal that effectively sees the Gunners attempt to replace Bacary Sagna, according to the Daily Star.

    Sagna played the final game of his current contract against Hull City in the FA Cup final on Saturday and despite Wembley success is widely expected to sign for Manchester City on a free transfer, although Arsenal chiefs are still talking to the French international to try and address that situation.

    Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is a realist though and has already moved to sign Sagna’s long-term replacement in Aurier, an Ivory Coast international who has taken Ligue 1 by storm this season.

    Aurier is just 21 but already commands a reputation as an energetic full-back with creative edge, a view which has been enhanced this season thanks to a record of six goals and as many assists for Toulouse in Ligue 1.

    Arsenal believe the powerhouse has the potential to replace Sagna and compete with Carl Jenkinson for a starting spot in the Premier League, with the added bonus of a relatively small fee in terms of the reported £100m budget Wenger has to make additions during the close season.

    Toulouse are reluctant to let the starlet leave this summer but Arsenal have other plans and want to tie up a deal before the World Cup gets underway next month, in a bid to fend off rivals for his signature from across the continent.

  69. ChärybdÏß1966 says:

    So ManUre appoint an ageing dutch autocrat – their squad still sucks and I predict a Di Canio style descent into chaos for the Old Toilet mob.

  70. Micko says:

    Nite rico.
    Lee, we’d better be quick, everyone’s off on their hols before the WC.
    Chary, it’ll only be short term, every time I see him on telly I can’t help wondering what happened to his conk, surely he can afford a nose job !

  71. Scott From Oz says:

    Excuse my French, but that man can fukk right off!!
    Who the hell does he think he is?
    Morning guys.

  72. Scott From Oz says:

    Cop this Durham….sent to his editor 🙂
    “To whom it may concern….
    Even from Australia, the stench of the writing from this grub is plain to smell when it comes to Arsenal FC.
    Why don’t you ban this cretin from even touching on the subject of Arsenal until he learns to offer a fair minded and level headed opinion, because until that happens, he lowers the quality your news office down to the depths of his level, and that is not good.
    Did Wenger sack him at some stage….maybe he slept with his wife, because this “man” makes it awfully personal.
    Gives us something genuine!!”

  73. Adam says:

    By highlighting what that cretin says you merely give him the oxygen of publicity that he craves. If I ever thought of him it would be as something that you avoid stepping on in the street. He doesn’t even have the honesty to post a current picture of himself as the sight of his fat, bloated pig-head is so totally revolting. He hasn’t come up with an intelligent thought in his life and like many morons spends his time winding people up. I would hate it if a toxic creature like that had anything nice to say about Arsenal. We have enough pricks supporting our club already.

  74. Lee says:

    Ah Durham, I see he’s getting a reaction from Gooners, exactly what he’s after….ignore the ginger cxxt! Shame it wasn’t fatal attack he suffered in Brasil!

  75. tsgh says:

    Morning Scott, he was the biggest basher of AR16 even last year…

    We should have paid you to cop him one when you were down here.. 🙂

    I remember he twitted last year dissing a stat I wrote for one of the stats sites where he claimed that AR16 did not make more tackles and accurate passes than any other EPL midfielder one weekend…

  76. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Morning Chappies and Lassies.

    Already three days since we last won a trophy. Tsk. Tsk. Sack AW and Gazidis.

    Look at the spuddies. They dont go beyond 5th place and sack them. That is how a club should be run. 😛

    Benzema is being quoted at 30 to 40 million. For 1 player that is a no brainer for me. For that money I would try and get…Vela-4mil, Bony-20mill, Aurier-7m, Richards-8mill. That would make it 39mill and with the exception of Aurier all are EPL exp.

    And that would leave 61mill to spend on an exp gk and DM.

  77. Hell Raising Devil says:

    not exactly cheap mate. But more of a common sense.

    Because that would give us Experience, numbers and more appropriately people who want to prove themselves as well. Plus they are all young.

  78. Hell Raising Devil says:

    that is my reasoning as well Adam regarding Yaya

    If we were at the RM level in Europe than it would be different. But we are not yet at that level.

  79. Hell Raising Devil says:

    imo….Yaya would want more than Sagna. And he is the same age as BS. So I do not think he will be coming to the EMs. I would be cery surprised if he does

  80. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I am trying to post. None is appearing. This is the third comment which is not seen.

  81. Adam says:

    Rico. It will be interesting to see how the Barca squad evolve if Luis Enrique takes over. I remember him as a player, particularly when we played them in the CL years ago at Wembley. That snivelling git Cocu conned a penalty out of the ref with a dive and Enrique would go over if you looked at him. What a shit shower that Barca team was. Now he has the reputation of a strict manager so we’ll see how that pans out.
    It would interesting to know what the Fabregas buy back clause, it it exists at all, consists of.

  82. Hell Raising Devil says:

    What is happening Rico? I have posted two earlier comments on Yaya…..none of them appeared.

  83. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Just read this………

    Bacary Sagna appears on the brink of leaving Arsenal with some reports today claiming he has already completed a medical with Manchester City after agreeing terms over a three-year deal worth £140,000-a-week.

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading