Daily Bits and Bobs

Arsene Wenger hints at Benzema signing. Giroud the diver!

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

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Well let’s hope the big guy can dive as well to get his bonce on the end of many crosses this season!

These overseas pre-season tours to the Far East are clearly a bit of a struggle for our boys, have you seen what they’ve had to endure?

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Can you imagine having to suffer such difficult times….

Seriously, it’s great to see the guys all enjoying themselves together and if the photos if them splashing around in the pool and having a laugh together are anything to go by, this crop of players really are a close knit group and that’s only good for the club and team morale.

There are more photo’s of their fun times in the pool on AFC.com. If you are interested of course!

Straight on to the gossip as there’s not a lot of ‘real’ news around:

Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc has responded to recent reports linking Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a move away from the club to us, saying that the forward won’t be going anywhere.

I’ve heard a lot of rumours, but I have made it clear that he is in our long-term plans.

That hasn’t stopped The Express reporting that Arsenal are set to make an improved offer in excess of £30 million for Aubameyang.

That back pages have gone overboard  this morning with stories suggesting Karim Benzema is a serious transfer target for Arsenal and a £40 million has been made to bring the Frenchman to The Emirates.  However, Arsene Wenger has dismissed such reports. Or has he?

Talking to Sky Sports he said:

I don’t know where that story comes from but er, that’s not er, not happening at the moment.

‘At the moment’ – which to me means he’s not completely ruled out signing the Frenchman, so we’ll have to wait and see on that one.

West Brom want Serge Gnabry on loan and if Arsene Wenger wants to sign Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, then it’ll cost the club £35 million according to the President of the French club.

Finally, good luck to Yaya Sanogo who is heading off to Holland for a season loan with Ajax. Frank De Boer reckons he’s got a good player with great talent and he’s confident he and his coaching staff will get the best out of him and take his game to another level…….

On that note, Friday done, tomorrow it’s match day….

rico

88 thoughts on “Arsene Wenger hints at Benzema signing. Giroud the diver!”

  1. Tai says:

    Morning All….

    Good KISS this morning, Rico…

    My support follows Sanogo…just praying for the boy to have an in jury-free season…the rest will be easy because his potential is not in doubt. However, those that have eyes for just finished products will not see it.

  7. ZesusHv says:

    Morning Rico and Tai… Anybody having the same feeling as me… “wenger is’nt going to sign any striker better than Giroud”?

  8. Tai says:

    Hmmm…my English lecturer, a professor for that matter first told me about the KISS rule after one essay…ho shouted to me…, ‘Obasi, keep it short and simple…it’s called KISS’… I’ve never forgotten!

  9. Adam says:

    Morning Rico, Tai and all. So, we’re back to Benzema are we? Lots of people who have never seen him play won’t like that.

  14. frednerk says:

    Regarding any new signings:Wenger
    Only exceptional players will be signed if available.
    I bet if we have any injuries that will change.

    We had to sign him for cover even if has a
    broken back/leg/neck and is 33 years old.

  15. rico says:

    I’d rather a ‘DM’ before a striker….

    Fred, Arteta is already injured so that 33 year old might be on his way soon… lol

  17. Hoffa00 says:

    Cant say I’ve seen much of Lacazette either. But what I have has been pure class. Just get the feeling he is one we would regret not signing.

  20. scottfromoz says:

    Adam, there’s plenty of players linked to us I won’t comment on, as I don’t see much football other than the Arsenal.
    I have seen this guy, and I just think he is a World Class player in the making.
    He’s pure quality and if he’s 20 million or so, I think he’s value….relatively speaking, of course.
    Id rather get him than Benzema or Higuain.
    Benteke would be a better signing than those two, IMO , but if given the choice, I’d take Lacazette.

  25. George says:

    Good afternoon all from sunny UAE….

    As far as new signings go , here is my 2 pence worth:

    I expect 2 more signings and that will be that. We are likely to sign a highly rate youth player and a last minute desperate loan signing ie Kallstrom type of deal once we pick up an injury.

    I do expect a few to go on loan, Sanogo and Jenks have gone, Gnabry will be loaned, as will Martinez, Crowley, Zelalem, Toral and most probably Akpom. I think we will most likely let Flamini and Campbell leave as well. Its also possible we sell begrudgingly Ospina, who wont be happy to stay benched.

    A few of the other youngsters aere likely to get loans in the championship and lower, like Iwobi, Ajayi, Bielecik and Hayden.

    What is likely to happen inside the first two months:

    Arteta, Wellbeck and Wilshere will get injured and we will get out of jail with Rosicky playing really well, before being dropped again for no reason. sad but its a pattern.

    We won’t buy a striker as we have 4 already (Welbeck Walcott Giroud Sanchez). Wenger will not give Chuba a chance (Remember Jay Simpson anyone?) and we won’t buy a DM as we will overplay Coquelin and drift in Arteta every now and then , even Chambers.

  26. George says:

    @ hoffa Adebayor at Villa would work for both parties for a season at best. Whilst he has talent, he is a troublemaker and i see this dingo ending up playing in Saudi Arabia, India or far east not before long.

  29. Lee says:

    Benteke is dipper bound and I’d rather have Giroud than him…

    Lacazette never seen him play but have seen plenty of Benzema and he’d score buckets of goals for us…

    Any top team has a top striker/keeper and we haven’t had one for a few years….. One down one to go, alternatively we could block the postman’s move to Ajax? Or b)

  34. allezkev says:

    Just had to visit a taxi garage in Edmonton.
    Procedure and all that TfL shite.

    What a dump, Edmonton that is….

    Adam would love it…

  37. potter says:

    Lacazette has all the attributes of a young Henry . He is quick , he scores with both feet close in and far out .He has the ability to run with the ball at pace , take on players and go one on one with the keeper. His only detraction is heading but then again that wasn’t TH 14 ‘s best suit either.
    Hoff says we would regret not getting him especially if he goes to a rival club. Scott sees him as world class in the making , and having watched ( only on tv mind) a few matches , I agree with both of them.

  38. Lee says:

    And he’ll have resale value, Benzema being that much older will have less….we know how Arsene thinks, well sometimes!

  42. Adam says:

    Kev. Did you try a gourmet burger in the high street? All the food groups in a grease suspension, served in a dough sock and deep fried in reclaimed sludge. It’s the lunch of champions. All the Spurs fans were bought up on them.

  43. rogerbij says:

    Hi Rico, just emailed you a blog post for tomorrow. Hope you like it enough to publish! Cheers, Roger

  44. rogerbij says:

    Hi guys, Lacazette is high power quality. Absolutely I would buy him in a flash. In fact I wouldnt blink at laying down 30m for him.

    But Akpom… lets take a reality check. 26 senior appearances for various clubs including lower divisions and 0 (zero) goals. Not a single goal on loan at Forest last seaon.

    Let that sink in before anyone suggests Akpom should lead Arsenal this season, because that wont lead us to a title. I really hope he makes it in a few years time, but absolutely not now. He needs to develop first and then we’ll see. I agree the potential is there. But surely another loan season would, like Sanogo, benefit his development most.

  45. Lee says:

    Roger if we get a Lacazette / Benzema plus Giroud, Walcott, Ox, Sanchez, Ramesy, Ozil etc all chipping in with goals will be set…..

  48. George says:

    Definitely gone to my head Rico lol… Adam its going good here, and i cant say i miss the UK. Kev, Edmonton? really? that place is a warzone. As for Romford, that place can still be fun haha…

    Back to the footy, the team to watch next season that will be our biggest challengers is manure..they are buying some decent players…

    As for Benzema , itd be nice, but its unlikely.

  53. rico says:

    Evening Adam, back down to earth with a bang, only rain will save this game I fear….

    I wonder who it will be… 😉

  54. Joe says:

    I see Ivan expects Arsene will probley be at Arsenal for some time come.
    That should make you happy Rico as I can remember you writing he can stay as long as he likes after we won the FA cup. 🙂

  58. rico says:

    Tai will give you the answer to that… Lol

    Seriously though, it has made me wonder too, time will tell with Sanogo I think and if he proves me and many others wrong, then that’ll be good for Arsenal….

  62. rico says:

    Credit to you for holding your hands up Joe….

    I wanted Capoue but…. Mind you, Spurs have ruined him…. And injury didn’t help.

  65. Joe says:

    I am in agreement with you I’d be happy with a DM but I don’t thing Wenger will spend a large amount of money on one just to be back up to the Coq.

  66. Joe says:

    That’s it you mentioned M’Vila I can see the headline in the media tomorrow “Arsenal insider points to the signing of M’Vila and this time it’s for real”

  69. rico says:

    Ha ha re M’Vila, that ship has long sailed, thankfully… I often wonder had he not been arrested whether he’d have been signed….

  70. rico says:

    City have signed Delph then… The same player who said he wanted to stay at Villa… How desperate are they for English players……

  71. Joe says:

    I read some where that they only have 2-3 players that meet the home grown rule before the bought Sterling.

  73. rico says:

    That’s what I mean Joe, they gave to sign English players and they are at any cost… Delph is foolish imo as he’ll get little playing time…..

  78. allezkev says:

    Hi George, you would have loved Edmonton…

    Adam, the most exciting thing about Edmonton was driving on the A406 and twice passing by Costco… 😀

  82. potter says:

    The Delph thing brings me round to the link I posted for Tai, it’s not the player’s skill that has to be considered just his nationality.

  86. Adam says:

    That’s true Rico. Imagine the days when Jackie Stewart was racing when there were about 2 or 3 deaths every season. Formula 1 was deadly then as you can see from the footage of the time. The track was lined with the public taking pictures and there were no safety measures except a couple of fire extinguishers here and there. Beggars belief really.
    Football grounds too. The overcrowding at times at Highbury was scary before seating was introduced.

  87. potter says:

    Tai they are changing squad make ups to increase the number of British born players to help the home international teams. Inevitably this will impact on the number of non nationals

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