Cech close, Walcott closer. Don’t expect Jack Wilshere to have a summer of partying….

Morning all.

On this day back in 1988, Arsenal signed Steve Bould from Stoke. He had a fine career with us and he’s still hanging on in there as Arsene Wenger right hand man. He was part of an Arsenal squad which won:

  • First Division/Premier League: 1988–89, 1990–91, 1997–98
  • FA Cup: 1992–93, 1997–98
  • Football League Cup: 1992–93
  • FA Community Shield: 1991, 1998
  • UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: 1993–94
  • Mercantile Credit Centenary Trophy: 1988–89

Twenty years later and on the same day, Aaron Ramsey left Cardiff City and signed for Arsenal FC. Let’s hope he continues his good form for many seasons to come.

Slightly worrying seeing the players Manchester City are reported to be signing. Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne, Gianelli Imbula and if they get all four, it will have cost them £150 million apparently. Ouch, what happened to FFP?

Whether or not they actually get all four is a very different matter of course but if they do, they’ll be a pretty strong side. The City owners have made clear that their intentions are to spend big and win all what’s on offer although I’m not convinced they will all the time Pellegrini is manager.

Enough of them, what matters is Arsenal FC.

In other news, Arsenal have been charged by the Football Association with allegedly breaching football agents regulations over the £16m transfer of Calum Chambers from Southampton in July 2014. Agent Alan Middleton has also been charged.

An Arsenal spokesman has responded:

We have acted in good faith throughout with regard to this transfer. We are considering our position and will make appropriate representations to the FA.

No idea what that’s all about but no doubt all will be revealed very soon..

This weekend sees the last international fixtures take place for the summer. Most if not all are Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Aaron Ramsey had a good game for Wales last night, a game which saw his Welsh side beat Belgium and that result means they are on the verge of qualification.

Germany take on Gibraltar this evening and France play Albania.

England face Slovenia tomorrow and Theo Walcott is being tipped to start instead of Raheem Sterling, the poor lad got booed during Englands last game so Big Woy wants to keep out of the firing line. I guess the fact that he was pretty average has nothing to do with it then..

Jack Wilshere, another player who’ll be looking to have a good game for his country has promised he’ll be a good boy this summer:

I don’t want the season to end because my fitness levels are still on the way up.

I’ve only been back three months so I’ll have to be sensible this summer.

So no pool parties, crafty fags and a few cocktails Jack? He’ll never manage it….

Bit of gossip:

The Mirror, well John Cross reports that contract talks have gone well with Theo Walcott and he’s close to signing a new contract.

The same paper and others suggest Arsenal have stood firm and told Chelsea that no Arsenal players will be involved in any deal for Petr Cech so the clubs hierarchy will sanction a £10 million sale. Suggestion is he’ll become an Arsenal player with the next couple of weeks.

Didn’t they all write something similar about Jackson Martinez? Well they got that wrong as he’s heading to AC Milan!

Lastly, there’s a story floating around which has Edin Dzeko and Arsenal in the same sentence. Ok, now that really is silly… Isn’t it?

That’s it for Saturday, have a good day all…

 

61 thoughts on “Cech close, Walcott closer. Don’t expect Jack Wilshere to have a summer of partying….

  1. goonster says:

    JM is that a fact??? Oh well we were never in for him anyway besides I see theo finally coming into his own next season and mutating into that fearsome striker we all hoped he ll be when we signed him from southampton. If theo could stay injury free I see a 30 goal a season player in him. Plus he shows up in big games. He has scored against manure the dirty chavs the scummy city and the sorry spuds. Sign dat ting theo and etch your name in arsenal folklore. Come on you gunners 😀

  2. goonster says:

    Hey great post by the way rico. How you keep churning them out only God knows. Great job maam keep up the good work.

  3. Dick Swiveller says:

    The Dzeko links suprise me, surely even the most rabid transfer junkie wouldn’t think that getting another big targetman of a similar age, who doesn’t perform as well as Giroud would be the answer to any question?

    Still slightly surprised we might actually be in for Cech too, Szczesny seemed to imply that Wenger told him he still has his confidence so I would imagine we’d go for a keeper who is a clear upgrade on our Pole, rather than a guy with a similar level of performance but less potential.

  4. goonster says:

    Howdy rico this is the worst off season I ve had in ages. Winning a trophy actually wets your apetite. I ve watched the fa cup final 13 times since may 30th! And guess what am about to watch it all over again. Gee somebody stop me . lol

  5. ScottFromOz says:

    Morning all.
    They is about to sign.
    Go Wales.
    Aussie girls won.
    Sean scored a length of the field goal beating 4 players all ends up.
    I’m having beer.
    All is well in the world 🙂

  6. goonster says:

    Gee scott get a room 😀 we get it you aussies rock. For now though but your national team is shit 😀

  7. Wavy says:

    Morning all.
    It’s raining rods here! British summer time at its most unseasonable! Still holidays soon in sunnier climes.
    The Cech thing doesn’t seem to want to go away so, maybe there is some truth in that one! We’ll see.
    Theo is going to sign he’s just making a soap opera of it all, or at least his agent is!!
    If and when Wenger signs a new boy or two we will be the first to hear of it. The so called expert pundit journos’ will be the last know!
    I think we may be in for a couple of nice surprises, when the time comes!
    Anyway, Arsenal.com will reveal all.

  8. Dick Swiveller says:

    I like Cech, just don’t think he’s much better than Szczesny; I consider them to be on a little second tier of Premiership keepers, below De Gea (until he goes), Lloris and Courtois. They’re both very good, but make too many mistakes and are a bit suspect mentally, I believe Szczesny has more time to correct those whereas I feel Cech is past his best. I’d happily consign Szcz to the bench if we could get Lloris.

  9. Canadian Gooner says:

    Good Morning to The Lady of the House and all fellow Gooners in residence.

    A lot of stories about Jakckson Matinez heading to AC Milano. I’m not sure he was our primary striker target, but on to the other option(s). Rumours of our pursuit of Higuain have gone very quiet. Should we read anything into that?

  10. rico says:

    🙂 Scott…

    Wavy, same here re the rain, dark as well.. Reckon you might be right on the surprises, after all, any signing would be a surprise.. lol

  11. Canadian Gooner says:

    Scott – The Matildas looked good. Poor old Ecquador though, hammered badly twice in row.

    I’m supporting Canada, of course, and any team playing the US of A.

  12. rico says:

    Morning Cg. Me neither re Martinez and the papers really did make the most of that story. At 28, nearly 29 years old, AW wouldn’t pay the kind of money quoted surely…

  13. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – I think he would buy Higuain, if the price was right. However, I think Wath may have it right, Arsene would be more interested in a younger player like Morata.

    Nice to see the quotes from Jack the Lad that he is not interested in Abu Dhabi Citeh, especially if it is to make up the English/home grown quota. He wants to stay at Arsenal as long as they want him. Also, it’s great to hear that Theo’s contract negotiations are ‘going well’.

  14. rico says:

    He’s old and slow not isn’t he Cg so I hope Higuain stays well away from The Emirates…

    Younger, fitter and faster what we need…. imo

  15. frednerk says:

    For what it’s worth regarding strikers,
    Danny and Tuba could turn out to be Top-Notch,
    wenger’s not the type to shut the door on these two
    just yet…………………….
    I loved Wrighty,but always thought he wanted/demanded the ball,when not in the best
    position,this is what Greedy Strikers are all about.
    If we can improve what we have up front in our squad,
    we might just have enough.
    So for me at the moment..Can’t see wenger going for a striker.

  16. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – If that price is anywhere near correct, he wont be coming to Arsenal. You can bet your house, or in your case your chooks, on that. It sounds more like a price posited to scare of any bidders, but if you set it too high that becomes obvious.

  17. rico says:

    Fred, I too don’t expect a striker this summer, unless anyone goes.

    Giroud
    Welbeck
    Walcott
    Alexis
    Akpom
    Podolski
    Sanogo
    Campbell.

    There’s no room at the inn….

  18. Joe says:

    Afternoon Rico, there’s some room for movement in the last four in your list two sales Campbell and Podolski.
    With us loaning out Sanogo and Akpom to PL clubs so I could see room for one more striker (world class of course) 😉

  19. rico says:

    Afternoon Joe..

    Maybe Akpom will stay put and push for a place.

    Campbell, Podolski and Sanogo will possibly be gone for good…

  20. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – I think the writing is on the wall for Campbell and Podolski – Surplus To Requirements. As for Sanogo, the rumour mills have been very quiet about him.

    Chuba’s future is dependent on how he does on the preseason tour/tournaments and possibly on any loan spells this season. I still believe he has a future with Arsenal.

  21. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Nice post as usual. Thanks for the patience in keeping us entertained with down to earth posts during this awful time of transfers.

    Kev…Pa got the letter. very enjoyable when I read it. gave me the thrill I used to get everytime I got one from you. now we have internet, emails and HH. but I felt happy again to read one of yours again. Dad enjoyed it as well and he was over the moon.

    JM to Milan according to JM.

    lol

    I like him and he would have added to us…..but at 29 years and nearly 25mill I never saw AW paying that.

    Cech……maybe Krychowiak…….and a winger so that Theo will play centrally. Aubemayang maybe???

    we will hit the chavs for 6 long before maureen sits in the dugout and parks the bus.

  22. Dublingunner says:

    Good Afternoon, Mandzukic, Greizman, Morata, Dybala, Destro, Martinez, Pedro, Ibra, etc, etc and now Dzeko. It,s a long list of forwards we were linked to over the past few seasons, but truth be known, if Wenger seriously had wanted any of these players, chances are he most probably would have got them. I don’t even believe he wanted Lewandowski, It has all been newspaper claptrap, utter bulls**t, made up by journalists that have no stories, but have Mortgages to pay. I do believe there,s only a handful of Strikers at the moment, that Wenger would even consider. And 3 or 4 of them we couldn,t afford, And if Giroud is getting picked over Benzema for the French national team, Well, that doesn,t say much for Benzema. That only leaves Cavani that we could possibly afford. So unfortunately I Think unless Cavani becomes available, Wenger will stick with what we have up front, and play Theo more central, to which I think is a big, big Gamble going into next season.

  23. rogerbij says:

    Thanks Rico and all, as much as I would like Sanogo to go, I cant see someone else paying his 35k/week wages (I think thats what I remember) so expect him out on loan with Arsenal subsidising wages and hoping that he can find some form that would interest someone, anyone in buying him! Ok ok if he hits 15 PL goals in a season Ill reconsider my position.

  24. Wavy says:

    Surprise, surprise!
    Oh no! That was Cilla Black, will she be our new signing??
    No Rico. Sadly no surprises yet, but I live in hope!

    Still rodding it down here! Set for the day. Ah well, no gardening then?!

  25. Malaga gooner says:

    Afternoon Rico and all
    Would we get 25mill for giroud and would sell him and buy cavani

  26. rico says:

    Afternoon guys.. Thanks Devil/roger..

    Perhaps AW will let Sanogo leave for free after all, he signed him for nothing..

    What about that Alexandre Lacazette chap, has he signed for anyone yet… 😉

  27. Wavy says:

    I know this won’t please you Rico, but I thought. Le Quiff looked a bit shagged out in the last sex games or so……I don’t understand it. What’s he worth? Depends whether he’s offered on the open market or behind closed doors! Or how desperate the Chairman is to get his daughter married off!! Oh no, I’ve just remembered he’s already married. Ho hum! He has a few decent seasons left, probably worth round about £15 to £20m.
    He’s not leaving, just think how many disappointed hose fraud that would be bereft of he left!

  28. rico says:

    Tbh Wavy, I wouldn’t worry too much if he was sold. I like him but he’s hardly the best striker in the world.. (That will upset agag lol)

    If he went and was replaced with better, I’d be saying Ollie who?…

    But the big issue is AW clearly likes him so I doubt he’ll be gone any time soon…

  29. Micko says:

    tsgh, they’ll be back before the postcards, never beaten France, get through the group stage and they’d only meet Germany…..then it’s Kaput !

  30. Micko says:

    tsgh, now that everyone’s gone to their cots, a little stat for ya, of the top 10 players to have covered the most ground in the CL this season, 6 of them were in the Juve side, who says Italian sides are lazy, I’d bet Vidal had to have been in the top 3, had we not rolled over and cried off to Monaco who’s to say Alexis would have taken the crown, we’ll never know !

  31. potter says:

    So if Le Quiff seems to have been working his nuts off in his spare time then as he is late 20’s and,French , who is to say Quelle Surprise.

  32. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Stinker???? We had so many of them in the last 9 years Wavy.

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Its the turn of Bender today.

    tbh……I hope we get him as I like him a lot. And while AFC officials are there get his twin as well.

  33. Joe says:

    Morning all, Özil had a great game for the Germans last night and why do they keep picking podolski is’t he one of those stinkers.

  34. potter says:

    Joe :- Podolski is a good player that just does not fit into the way Wenger sets up his teams. It is possible that with the forced emergence of Coquelin that Podolski might find that his style of football is more suited to the Arsenal. Germany have always played with a defensive midfielder something that Wenger has only done by accident due to the injuries that forced him to bring Le Coq back. With him Podolski can use his natural attacking flair rather than having to play behind either Gibbs and Monreal as he has had to do in the past.

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