Arsenal’s first summer signing imminent? That’s another fine three points….

Morning all.

Paulo Dybala, who has been strongly linked to Arsenal recently, is set to seal a move to a new club within the next few days.

Palermo’s president Maurizio Zamparini says Dybala will seal a move to a new club before the end of March.

A team should close the signing of Dybala in the next 15 days.

He will not go for less than €40 million euros.

Not sure how that can be done as the transfer window is shut, however…….

Martin Keown has been talking about Walcott’s contract situation.

He hasn’t really cemented himself [in the team] yet, and I think it’s 10 years he’s been at the football club. You couldn’t really call him first choice.

[Wenger] is laying down the message to the player – ‘don’t take liberties, we’ll pay you a fair amount but we won’t go over the top.

What will be will be regarding that and right now, what’s more important is Arsenal FC, it always has been and always will be.

I didn’t see the game yesterday, just a few highlights. 3-0 could, maybe should have been greater.

Theo Walcott had a few chances yesterday to prove his worth but he was unable to bury any of them, he didn’t get a penalty early on in the first half either which was rather fortunate for West Ham as they could so easily have been down to ten men.

Bearing in mind it’s only his third start of the season, perhaps one shouldn’t be too harsh on Theo. At least he was moving and getting the right places. Fingers crossed he’ll soon improve in front of goal.

Alexis was unfortunate not to get on the score-sheet, as were one or two others who were all denied by some very good goalkeeping by Adrian.

As half-time approached, it looked like honours would remain even until Olivier Giroud decided otherwise and what a goal it was too. Great build up play, great finish.

Five In Five for Ollie....
Five In Five for Ollie….

We had a few little scary moments at the back early in the second half as West Ham came out of the blocks with a bit more about them and we certainly needed a second. It came on eighty two minutes.

Chambers throw in, Giroud dummied, Ramsey to Ollie, ball back to Ramsey – bang, goal! Super stuff.

Flamini then finished the game off with what was perhaps the most easy of finishes he’ll ever have in his life. The build up play was again quick and tidy with Santi Cazorla at the heart of it…

3-0 – game over and just one point behind Man City who lost later in the day at Burnley…..

Now we can sit back and watch the other clubs who are trying to catch us, drop points. Hopefully Chelsea will too…

Next up for us is Monaco in the Champions League and another 3-0 victory would be just fine….

Have a good Sunday folks…

168 thoughts on “Arsenal’s first summer signing imminent? That’s another fine three points….

  1. Marinello says:

    Hi Rico, good post. I think Keown makes a valid point with regards any new deal for Theo. Walcott has shown much promise in his early career, but has not always delivered, when called upon.
    Good result yesterday, now let’s come out of the traps firing on all fronts against Monaco. No silly giving the ball away, and all defending when Monaco have possession.

  2. Joe says:

    Just read your last comment on the last post Rico how right you are we would be top if we had turned a few draws in to wins and a couple of loses to draws.
    You know who I blame go on have a guess ok I’ll tell you refs that’s who. 🙂
    It’s a shame that our injuries and tired players at the start meant that we where not good enough at the start of the season.

  3. eduardo says:

    as for how Dybala could transfer now outside of the window, well a transfer can be done, he just can not play. Of course it could be a binding contract that comes into effect in the summer. By the way €40M (£28.5M) is a massive fee for a non international,

  4. rico says:

    I’m sure two clubs can agree a deal, but surely, nothing will be set in stone until the player is registered in his new country…

    Didn’t we do something similar re Podolski but nothing confirmed until the season ended…

  5. Marinello says:

    As we know, Arsene rarely pays what the selling club are asking.
    Joe: I agree with you. Start of season was not great, under par performances from certain players, and to be a point behind City at this stage in the season, I did not foresee…
    I have a feeling that the Monaco result will end up 2-0 to us, which will not be enough with aways goals etc.
    Just hope we do not pick up any more injuries from that match.

  6. Micko says:

    Don’t care who he plays rico as long as they’re up for it, that’s half the battle won, didn’t Arsene say we lost our nerve in the first leg, think he makes the bullshit up as he goes along.

  7. andrewh1313 says:

    Morning rico, good post. We always suffer injuries so I put the reason we are not right on Chelsea’s heels is AW. Going into a new season with 3 CB’s was asking for trouble and we got it. It was plain daft. We played players out of position on and off for two months. AW gambled on Monreal and Debuchy covering at CB. And of course they got injured as well for weeks. Bad luck? Yes but mis-management as well.

  8. goonster says:

    Morning rico and housers I won’t get my hopes up yet. I might do something hurtful to myself if we don’t end up signing him. Dybala ll take us to the next level but I don’t see this happening which is why am skeptical but good lord if we end up signing him. I ll squeeze Kate middleton’s boobs while Harry watches 😀 : what a player.

  9. goonster says:

    Oh bugger I have to wait till mid night UK time to watch the game again on arsenal player???? man alive I can’t wait that long.

  10. goonster says:

    Rico I think we can do it….we need to play every game like it’s a cup final. Forget about Monaco let’s focus on the league. We ve got nothing to lose. We can do this.

  11. rico says:

    It’s a tough one Goonster, we don’t want a loss on Tuesday as confidence might dip but like you, I’d forget the CL…

  12. goonster says:

    Typical spuds always bottling it…..am not suprised. always making manure look imperious. Oh well who cares we hate them anyway.

  13. goonster says:

    Rose and walker are shit fI’ll backs. Makes you appreciate bellerin gibbo monreal and debuchy.

  14. goonster says:

    Lol ts you nitwit….heard Dybala has agreed in principle to join juve….I ll take that with a pinch of salt though.

  15. tsgh says:

    lol goonie..

    Agreed Goonie.Dybala is nothing special yet imho…
    Do you know Luciano Vietto… he will do a better job for us or Lacassette if Theo leaves…

  16. goonster says:

    Laccesste(spelling ) has a bit of Henry’s arrogance about him. I ll take him but u doubt if he ll leave lyon anytime soon. Plus he ll probably join madrid. Heard he’s a huge zizou fan.

  17. goonster says:

    Plus I think arsene ll promote from within if theo leaves. Gnabry and to an extent Jon toral harper.

  18. goonster says:

    Lars is injury prone ts…we have enough crock players. I ll take kramer. He seems and look the part. Plus he ll be cheaper.

  19. goonster says:

    Toral is the shit right now at Brentford. He’s their best player by a mile. So glad to see him up and about. Had huge doubts about him after that knee injury. Plus he looks like he bulked up a bit.

  20. tsgh says:

    yep Kramer will be my fave too.. but Kev and Rico have a thing for the Benders. lol

    Christoph K. has better engine too; like Sami 4 years ago

  21. tsgh says:

    drmic is doing well for Bayer 04…

    Xhaka and Kramer are bossing midfield now for M’glabach against H96…
    I think Serge my go back to Stuttgart though…

  22. goonster says:

    Nah i doubt it with the uncertainty surrounding theo right now I don’t think wenger ll sanction his move. ,

  23. tsgh says:

    M’glbch CM of Kramer, Havard Nordtveit and Xhaka needs to be poached…

    Our old boy Havard Nordtveit is doing well still although he is now behind Christoph and Xhaka

  24. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All…

    Wellington Silva, work permit in hand, could an outside bet to join our squad next season…

    If Flamini and Diaby leaves, that’ll free up two spots for a foreign player, although I’m not sure how it works, tbh…

    Never believed the Dybala rumours myself.
    Agent mischief I reckon..,

  25. allezkev says:

    I think the Bender train has left the station, a bit like Reus, I suspect that Wenger is looking elsewhere.

    Maybe even within the club?

  26. allezkev says:

    If there is a position, where I’d like to see Wenger go out and spend serious dough on a fcuk off player, then it’s goalkeeper…

    If Wenger can find a Keeper like the fella at OT or the guy at Chavy Bridge, then we’d be serious contenders next season…

  27. rico says:

    You and me both re the keeper Kev, apparently Mrs De Gea hates Manchester, perhaps she’d find London more to her suiting….. 😉

  28. goonster says:

    Look no further ak lloris is that man. It’s time we take the piss out of the scummers again. So campbell seems like an age ago 😀 :

  29. goonster says:

    Ts I watched him against villareal his tricks on the ball is insane. Plus his turn of pace ll make him a threat in the epl. Can’t wait to see him.

  30. tsgh says:

    Wellington played earlier for Almeira… he is not scoring goals though but has some fine assists to his name…

    He does not seem that fat or lazy anymore… and completing 90 minutes so it can only be good.

    Remember we still have Ryo and Campbell on loan

  31. goonster says:

    wow I totally forgot about miyaichi. His development was stunted due to injuries. We should have left him at feyernoood for a while. Poor fella

  32. tsgh says:

    Agreed goonie; AW should have kept Campbell and sent Ryo back on loan last season;
    as it stands AW’s rationale for keeping ryo in the UK ahs not worked as he has hard to go back abroad.

    He hasn’t played much for Feyenood this season…

  33. goonster says:

    Sadly rico I have to agree with you. Ryo campbell and few others ll be cut loose soon. Shame. I really liked Ryo. He made ivanobitch look like a mug while at Bolton.

  34. tsgh says:

    Goonie, they this week managed to ‘pay off’ the metal works owner who was in litigation against them re stadium… 😉 The claim has been dropped so they now have the green light.

    Goonie- do you still not rate Koeman?

  35. allezkev says:

    Like you Rico, I have forgotten about Ryo Miyaichi…

    Yep, expect him and Campbell to be shipped out in the summer…

    Toral is an interesting one Stan, seems that the medical staff have sorted out his persistent leg problems and his confidence is growing alongside his improved form…

    It may only be Brentford, but it was ‘only’ Charlton, and look where that got us with Le Coq..?

    If Bellerin and Coquelin have taught us anything, or reminded us, it’s that some our own can ‘do the job’, if, they are given a chance….

    So Toral, Wellington, Jack Jebb even 😉 who knows?!

  36. allezkev says:

    Rico, there’s no chance of the Portugese Prick allowing Cech to join Arsenal…

    It ain’t gonna happen, likewise Lloris, he’ll go abroad as well…

  37. allezkev says:

    But notwithstanding Cech and Lloris, there simply has to be a better and available goalkeeper out there, better than Szczesny and Ospina…

  38. tsgh says:

    I rate Fernando Muslera …

    Weindefeller (spelling) is also solid.

    Handonovic is always going to need a big club like our…

  39. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Evening Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Great match report Boss.

    You want to get rid of Ospina already Kev? 5 clean sheets in 9 games should be enough no???

    Imo he will be the number 1 next season as well. the only downer on him is being just 6 feet short.

    Good results all around imo. Yes even the fact that Yanited of Manure won against the scum is a good result for it keeps the shitters 7 points away from us. And remember that next week Yanited have to play the dippers while we will be playing Newcastle. Hopefully they will end in a draw while we win.

    If the chavs and oilers drop points that will be a bonus.

  40. Hell Raising Devil says:

    nite habib.

    you rate Handanovic Ginge??? He is not covering himself in glory atm. Infact he has even let in some stupid goals ala Almunia this year. Weidenfeller is good, but not better than Ospina imo

  41. Hell Raising Devil says:

    yes i agree Rico…..but now the totts are practically cut off from the top 4. And today it was a lesson to them and also will deal them a psychological blow. The sperds have to play 4 home and 5 away in their remaining matches.

    Yanited of Manure have to play the dippers, Shitty, the chavs and us. they have 5 home and 4 away

    The dippers have to play us and Yanited. 4 home and 5 away

    We have 5 home and 4 away.

  42. rico says:

    Our run is tough too, Newcastle and burnley away will be difficult…. Liverpool and Chelsea at home won’t be easy either…

  43. Hell Raising Devil says:

    imo…..the shower of poop will suffer when they will begin to build their new stadium. infact they will be mid-table for a long time I think. We suffered a lot and we stayed in the top four. but the spuddies are not a top four and as a result they will have to sell to finance it all. Bale was simply a one off. They will not get a lot for their players, especially if they do not showcase them in the CL. And we have to see if Kane will reproduce his form next year. So either they sell him now and suffer, or risk selling him later on but he might flop as well.

  44. potter says:

    There is a lot more television money floating around than when we built our place. Also the sponsor deals we did were not particularly good . It will impact on them but not as much as it did to us , I think.

  45. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good points Potter. But i still think they will suffer. especially if they have restrictions. we were lucky we had AW.

    That is a big factor……..the type of manager who will be managing the sperds. will he have the same honesty and patience and loyalty that AW had during the last 9 years and still remain a top manager???

  46. goonster says:

    You and me both dev handanovic is appalling this season. I think he caught ” the flappyhandski” bug. Ospina over him anyday. Like i said previously let’s try and get lloris from the sperms. He ll be easier than sol he’s french and ll want to play under arsene plus I ll give anything to get one over the scummers again. imagine how they ll feel if lloris helps us win the cl. They still haven’t forgiven sol though. Lol.

  47. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good morning Lovelies and Hunkies

    Still feeling among the stars

    The only keeper I would change Ospina for would the big Southampton feekker Forster. He is than Hart IMO.

  48. Lee says:

    After seeing his side held to a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton, the Chelsea boss was asked if Arsenal’s current momentum had made them more of a threat than Manchester City, and responded in typical fashion.

    ‘What momentum?’ he said.

    ‘3-1 against Monaco?’

    I’d love him to fuck it up!

  49. allezkev says:

    What to do?

    Go for everything, or focus on finishing 3rd and winning the FACup???

    Beat Monaco 3-0 or 4-2 and we’re only 4 games from Berlin…

    I gotta say, with Arteta and Debuchy back soon, plus the addition of Gabriel, we do have the strength in depth to cope…

  50. rico says:

    Very true Scott…

    Morning Kev..

    Tough call, I thought AW might play a a few fringe players tomorrow – Flamini, Rosicky, Theo, Akpom etc etc but reading his comments it looks like he’s going all out for a win.

    I just hope we don’t suffer any injuries….

  51. allezkev says:

    Koscielny, Ozil and Giroud have missed large chunks of the season and must still be fresh.
    Walcott could and should be raring to go, new contract and all…
    Coquelin has only been playing since the turn of the year, so plenty in his tank.

    Probably only Sanchez, Cazorla and BFG have been ever present this season, so the rest of the squad should be on it…

  52. allezkev says:

    Yeah, I see your point Rico, and I’d hate to see us fall between two or three stalls, but this team is close to it’s peak whilst everyone else is running out of gas, so I’m optimistic that we can can go all the way in all three competitions…

  53. rico says:

    Have to agree Kev, we are looking good and are one a good run in the PL and FA Cup and as you say, Debuchy, Arteta, OC and Jack are all still to return…

    But I’m not sure we can go all the way in the CL, although I’d love to be very wrong….

  54. allezkev says:

    On the face of it Rico, you’re 100% correct, but imagine the confidence if we did turn around the Monaco score…

    There’s a lot of very tired players out there post-WC, a lot of teams running on empty, but we’re hitting form at just the right time…

    And yes Rico, I forgot Wilshere, maybe Jack and Theo will get a go in the FACSF?

  55. tsgh says:

    lol.. Rico mentioning Arteta so early in the morning? 🙂

    What did you add to your morning brew? 😉

    Bonjour mes amis..; au fait…

  56. rico says:

    It’s be a huge confidence booster Kev, it really would and the reverse could be damaging..

    Especially at Chelsea, their players looked quite lethargic yesterday, long may that remain, City too…

    I forgot Gabriel and of course, Gnabry is in there too waiting for a chance…

  57. Lee says:

    If we hadn’t let that third goal in…. big big ask tomorrow night! They need to watch San Siro masterclass from 2003 to get some inspiration!

  58. rico says:

    I fear that last sloppy goal conceded will prove just a bit too much to recover from too..

    If we can get a very early goal, game on….

  59. tsgh says:

    Worrying thing is before Monaco played us they were averaging just over a goal a game; since then they have been conceded only a goal and scored just under 3 goals every game… including the draw against fellow oilers Psg

  60. tsgh says:

    sorry they lost to Psg me bad; 3 goals conceded

    We will go through as they have now became more adventurous; still no Toulalon but ex- chav Ricard Carvalho is back… he is due a nightmare courtesy of our front 3…

  61. Joe says:

    We strarted a pretty strong team on Saturday with a great bench add to that the players that are coming back from injury soon.
    We are poised to strike at what I am not sure but we are poised.

  62. goonster says:

    Morning good people… ts gonalons has gotten better with age. He’s lyon’s crown jewels doubt if we can get him now. Him over kondogbia anyday. I hear his contract is up at the end of the season. But I doubt it. Lyon ll never allow that.

  63. goonster says:

    Am with Scott let’s go all out for Ben foster. He loops the part plus he’s English. About time we have am English man in goal. Him and Morgan for 40 million. That should do the trick.

  64. Snaparse says:

    Morning Rico ts gonnie Joe. .. …… . Hoping for a miracle against Monaco we are due one at least… … Gonalos has been the best midfielder in ligue on this season in my opinion….. He was fantastic last night….. I think wenger likes him but his indecision will cost us if he does not act fast….

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