Concerns over Sanchez & Gabriel. Wenger confirms Arteta & Rosicky contract talks to take place soon…

Morning all.

Back 1992 and on this very day, Arsenal fans far and wide shed a tear.

The boys faced Southampton and battered them 5-1 with Smudger and Campbell scoring a goal each. Wrighty got the other three to pip Gary Lineker to the Golden Boot award….

North Bank, Highbury...
North Bank, Highbury…

The North Bank terrace was to be knocked down and turned into seats which was sad in itself but perhaps sadder still was that day saw David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle play his last game for Arsenal. On his birthday too….

Talking of playing last games for the club, Abou Diaby, Tomas Rosicky and Mikel Arteta future at Arsenal hang in the balance imo. Diaby’s contract expires this month, but Rosicky and Arteta have one year left to run on theirs.

One is fighting fit and healthy, has played for his country on numerous occasions but still doesn’t get playing time for his club. Another has been out injured for most if not all of 2015. Leaving one who has been injured for what seems like the entire 21st century.

Arsene Wenger was questioned yesterday about the future of both Arteta and Rosicky and his reply was simple, it’ll be sorted out at the end of this month.

Now that’s not to say either or both will stay of course, all he’s doing is batting off silly questions until this campaign is over. The squad doesn’t need anything to disrupt this final month of football, especially with an FA Cup Final and second place to be secured.

Logic says he’s hardly like to start telling those who don’t matter in the media what the future plans of any of the players are. Just like he was hardly likely to publicly make any negative comment about Szczesny, not when he still has one more big game left to play yet. That’s if the manager stands by his decision to play him at Wembley.

I wouldn’t personally, it’s the last game of this season’s campaign and I hope Arsene Wenger plays the strongest starting eleven he has fit and leaves sentiment back in the changing room.

Talking of that FA Cup final, if Chile and Brazil wanted to be awkward they could insist that both Alexis Sanchez and Gabriel joined up with their international team-mates before the game kicks off but thankfully, that’s not going to happen. Not for Alexis anyway:

They could call him up but we got an agreement that they won’t call him up.

If Chile go very far he will miss the start of the season. 

Not sure if the same agreement has been struck with Brazil should Gabriel be called up but considering he has only just begun his international career, I doubt his country will insist he returns to South America.

Part of me hopes Chile can go all the way and win it for Alexis, but the other 99% of me hopes they get knocked out early so he’s back for Arsenal early next season. Same with Gabriel and Brazil.

That’s it for Saturday, let’s hope West Brom can get something at the Old Toilet this evening…..

237 thoughts on “Concerns over Sanchez & Gabriel. Wenger confirms Arteta & Rosicky contract talks to take place soon…

  1. Marinello says:

    Hi Rico,
    Good post, hope all okay.
    Brings back memories of standing on the North Bank for the first time in 65.
    To the left as you looked out onto the pitch was a small shed like “arsenal shop” where ex keeper Jack Kelsey used to work on match days selling scarves, wooden rattles and other Arsenal styled stuff.
    It had great atmosphere with some wonderful comedians amongst the crowd. No ticket required, just turn up at about 1pm for the 3pm kick off, pay your money and walk through the old turn style.
    The smell of hot dogs, burgers and the cry of “Percy Daltons peanuts” greeted one at every game.
    Enough of all that… Definitely should offer Rosicky another season, such a clever stylish player who always gives his all when ever picked, and has changed matches when brought on as a sub.
    I think Arteta could be on his way.

  2. Wath says:

    I’d keep Tomas and Mikel, They will both be told game time will be limited but I think both should be used and encouraged to coach the younger players in the squad and to take their coaching badges while still at the club.

    Tomas is such a great player and very tactically astute and Mikel also a good player good thinker has the respect of the players…! Most important.

  3. scottfromoz says:

    Terrible, filthy bloody cancer.
    I copped two on Thursday being told 3 months maximum…..mums hubby who is just natures gentleman, and my wife’s friends hubby….mid 30’s with a 2 year old son.
    The thing doesn’t discriminate.
    Very, very sad news.

  4. eduardo says:

    Arteta has been doing a lot of coaching at Hale End, as he does his badges, there has been prelim talks with him about him staying one more year as a player and then going full time coach with the Academy, not sure if its with the Hale End Academy or London Colney. It remains to be seen if Arteta sees himself continuing his playing career for more than a year. He may of course want to go back to Spain.

    Sparta Prague seem very keen to sign Rosicky, and with him only getting 5 league starts all season it may appeal to him to go where he would get regular game time.

  5. eduardo says:

    rico many reports say Flamini’s contract is up this summer, it would seem to have been a poor decision to have given him a 3 year contract, especially when he originally only turned up to training to get fit.

  6. rico says:

    Sorry Eduardo, I got that wrong, my eyes must be playing tricks as I didn’t realise you said Flamini…. Lol

    No idea on his contract but think it’s next summer….

  7. goonster says:

    Morning cookies and creams….cancer huh? Don’t I know it’s sting. My prayers and thoughts goes out to Rio Ferdinand. That disease just keeps getting worse. God help us.

  8. goonster says:

    I just can’t kick my weekend off yet….there’s something missing. Oh yeah arsenal is not playing till Monday. Grrr.

  9. goonster says:

    I ll only sell flamster. The rest I ll leave till next summer. We need to mount an all out assault on the Pl and cl next season. We don’t have time to start blending in new players and teaching them how to play the arsenal way. The season we went unbeaten. No one came in and no one left (though I ll love a shiny new signing isco please 😀 ). The rest is history. We ll smash the league next term mark my words. Just need to rotate more and look after our players better. Thank you 😀

  10. goonster says:

    Rico It’s….i don’t even want to talk about it. I know how Rio is feeling right now. Trust me it’s life shattering.

  11. goonster says:

    Rico am doing alright now but can’t find it in me to date yet. though I ve met some interesting women lately. Cassie still hovers above my head.

  12. tsgh says:

    Scott- Prayers for you…

    Good post Rico.
    Not sure how you can disrespect the King Abou himself…

    The 21st century still has 85 years to go… someone times me that with all the clean living, Abou will play until 2090… 🙂

  13. tsgh says:

    Agreed with Wah re. the seniors’ passing their knowledge down…

    Agreed Eduado. Arteta is already influencing tactics apparently…; re. my comment before city game…
    Mikel wants to stay and so I se no issue with him extending at all imho…

  14. goonster says:

    Leicester city has impressed me lately. Not the best team technical wise but what they lack in technique they make up for it with tenacity and hard work. They deserve to stay up.

  15. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Afternoon Lovelies and Hunkies.

    Nice one boss. But Flamini’s contract ends this June. Hopefully we will have a new DM and he will bugger off.

    Boonie steady on mate. Keep yourself calm and you will only get stronger, emotionally and mentally. Dont rush it back. you are still young mate, and being a blonde Adonis (lol) girls should be easy for you. As for Cassie….if you think you will forget you will be mistaken mate. she will never be replaced. She will always hold that little place in your heart because she was part of your life. But the moment you accept this it will be the moment you will have moved on….ready for the next lady in your life. but dont rush it mate. what is written for you will come to pass….AT THE RIGHT TIME.

    i feel sorry for Rio and his family. Such a young person and also such a lovely lass. May she rest in peace.

  16. tsgh says:

    BBC 5 live Sport @5liveSport ·
    Ex #AFC scout Damien Comolli

    ‘van Persie’s success is 5% recruitment & 95% Wenger’s coaching’

  17. goonster says:

    Hahahahahahaah did he really say that??? Omgosh ts. Thats sure going to irk the Dutch skunk 😀 I love it.

  18. goonster says:

    yeah I remember him Camerounian right? ? Played for shitty back when shitty was a lovable team. Rest in peace my man.

  19. tsgh says:

    Nice tribute for Gregory Mertens who died three days after suffering a cardiac arrest playing in a reserve team match for Sporting Lokeren….

  20. tsgh says:

    ha ha ha my friend who is a Liverpool fan was trying to tell me we spent more than Liverpoool last season and so it is understandable we are going to finish above them… lol

    I reminded him Liverpool spent £117m last summer. He tried to argue their net spend was £30m so it did not matter. 🙂

  21. tsgh says:

    Wenger; still the master of over-acheiving imho

    Since Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea in 2013:
    Chelsea have spent £65.409m (net)
    Liverpool have spent £64.43m (net)
    Arsenal have spent £86.3m (net)
    Manchester City have spent £113.8m (net)
    Manchester United have spent £179.9m (net)

    Next season AW needs to cut the gap between the top teams or win the EPL…

  22. goonster says:

    Ts do you think yanited ll get gundogan??? God I ll be devastated. He’s too good to be allowed to join those lot.

  23. tsgh says:

    They have the cash Goonie…; they need a midfielder like him so…maybe yes.

    I like Gundogan but I think he will get stifled over there…;

    I will hate if they bought your countryman Strootman, though…

  24. goonster says:

    I don’t rate strootman as I do gundogan ts….gundogan is a complete midfielder. Him and lecoq in front of our defense and I ll sleep easy. Strootman haven’t done anything to suggest he can cut it at the highest level. I may be wrong but he hasn’t convinced me yet.

  25. Wath says:

    Can we please be looking at buying a central midfielder who is taller than 4ft 6….! All these dwarfs that keep getting mentioned… A meercat taller than Gundogan when it stands on its back legs…. NO MORE vertically challenged midfielders…!!!

  26. Wath says:

    I know Stan i just thought once in a while you’d say something worthwhile like can I get you a pint of GG Wath….?

    Nzonzi………….. You been on the meths….?

  27. Wath says:

    Benteke scoring again means he either wants a new contract or a move away from Villa…!

  28. goonster says:

    You want a big bastard down the middle so hey I present to you nzonzi or micko’s best mate Karl Henry 😀

  29. goonster says:

    Am not worried about benteke kozzer ll handle him. We need to watch out for grealish. That kid is something else.

  30. tsgh says:

    Lol… Goonie.
    The De rossi of now is slower than Arteta.

    Strootman has come back from injury more fragile than King Abou anyways so yes i definitely agree on Gundogan…

  31. goonster says:

    Slower in serie A?? There’s no such thing 😀 everyone is perpetually slow in that league. Lol

  32. tsgh says:

    goonie- remind me if Gundogan suffered the cruciate on both knees? If not both then he is due another one like Pires, Strootman, Abou, Diaby, Keane etc

  33. Wath says:

    I shouldn’t need to remind you oh ugly Hollander that I require a big bastard down the middle as you so eloquently put it BUT the major requirement is that he is not only a large “unit” BUT is a good player as well, those two you mentioned apparently came round to relieve Micko of his tumble dryer…! As is rag n bone men…!

  34. goonster says:

    Hahahahahahah ts akinfenwa is beast of multiple proportions. He ll fit in nicely. Ts you ll make me pee on myself. Oh lord.

  35. goonster says:

    WATH ll rate Robert Huth as a center half. He ll probably prefer Huth to Gabriel and kosheiny …lol

  36. tsgh says:

    Isco and Kroos played in CM against Ath. Madrid and dominated…

    I think if 10 outfield players are willing to work off the ball then size does not matter much… saying that the EPL is like a battlefield where only the tall survive… lol

  37. goonster says:

    Ts is that a fact??? I need to watch that game then. Haven’t really watched Madrid play in a while. I watch a lot of Valencia and Villarreal games. Valencia because I have a soft spot for mendietta. God I miss that 2000 team. What a cracking line up.

  38. tsgh says:

    Gonalons is bossing the midfield.

    Kondogbia is not a proper DM though..

    He will need to play with another DM.

    At Seville he played next to Medel… and at Monaco its mostly Toulalons…

  39. Lee says:

    All good Stan. All good with you?
    Cech, Kondogbia/Schneiderlin, Reus/Dybala and Isco….. Simples!

  40. goonster says:

    Which is why he ll play alongside lecoq. I ll take him too ts anybody but flamster….and just to piss WATH off nzonzi 😀

  41. goonster says:

    We ll get none of the aforementioned lee. Trust me. They ve been in the news for too long. It’s a pipe dream. knowing arsene we might end up with fakin noh wan a Korean international. He plays for club brugges 😀 wonderful player. Two footed and loves to throw himself about. Has a mean tackle too. WATH ll love him 😀

  42. tsgh says:

    It is goonie..

    Madrid have been playing Isco deeper to accommodate Ronaldo- Benzema- Bale/James.
    Reason Khedira is not getting any games at all as Kroos and Modric are their prime CDM…

  43. rico says:

    Out of interest Ts, what makes you say Kondogbia is not a DM when Wikipedia and every other footballing pundit I’ve heard talk about him, says he is….

  44. tsgh says:

    Lee- have you forgotten about your new fave Verrattti?

    For me Pjanic/Gundogan to replace Tr07/Arteta; Gonlon to come in and boss the midfield. The future Deschamp…; I think the Morgan bus has passed but still hoping…

  45. goonster says:

    Rico he’s a box to box like about diaby. He’s not a pure dm. Jeremy toulalan sits deeper than him. He breaks up play and runs with the ball maam. Much like Moussa sisoko of Newcastle.

  46. tsgh says:

    lol Rico- its like de ja vu;
    wiki and the pundits say Khedira is a CDM too; It took Alonso to tell Souness that Khedira is not a defensive midfielder for Souness to stop saying that live on TV even though he is a so called expert.
    I have talked about Geoffrey for a long time on here even before he moved to Seville… 😉

  47. rico says:

    Ts, to be fair, you’ve talked about nearly every footballer on here, just after checking them out on your stats database of course… Lol

  48. goonster says:

    Souness always appear like he’s got gas lol….the poor tosser can’t even tell a center half from a number 10. Lol

  49. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Fakin Non Wan is a player AW likes a lot.

    I prefer Gonalons to Morgan. Goonielons can play in defence as well and is very technical

  50. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Fakin Non Wan and Nobo Day were always top of the list during the last 8 seasons. Now we can get new superstars.

  51. Hell Raising Devil says:

    How are you Goonie? We are OK. I know why you like Gonalons ……because you can call him Goonielons. Lol

  52. goonster says:

    Dev I heard Noh bo dai can hit a 70 yard free kick into the top half corner. Sign him up arsene. I ve followed his career from Seoul tigers to steau Bucharest 😀

  53. eduardo says:

    john carver has accused Mike Williamson of getting sent off on purpose. either way its disgraceful, – disgraceful if true and disgraceful of Carver to accuse him if its not. I wonder how the Pardew out Toon fans like the way things are going for them since he left.

  54. eduardo says:

    yeah goonster it seems to be accurate, I’ve seen a couple of reliable people tweet it in the last week. Seemingly Flamini has not lost in nearly 60 BPL games he has played in at the Emirates, Its a lot less for Ozil.

  55. goonster says:

    I feel for Newcastle edu am afraid they might go down. The players look out of ideas bereft of any confidence and tactically they are atrocious. All the 3 goals conceded today were primary school mistakes. Its cringe worthy. Mike ashley is really do his best to run them into the ground.

  56. goonster says:

    Now thats a Stat for the flamini out brigade lol. eat your heart out. Flamster stays 😀

  57. eduardo says:

    so was there really a “Roders Out, Rafa” In banner flown over Anfield today, flickle fucking fans at it again.

  58. goonster says:

    Don’t you just hate Tony pubis….that cnut ll do everything to stop us. He ll stifle us up yet when he comes up against manure he spreads himself all open like a whore in heat. Boy I outta

  59. eduardo says:

    I don’t go with this notion that Ashley is running them into the ground or that he is a bad owner, why the fuck should he pump his own money into the club, he let Pardew buy lots of players. Toon fans like so many others have a massively over inflated opinion of where their club should be, they have not won the league since 1927 and not won the FAC since 1955, the Toon army have hounded out several managers. The nonsense they spout about the money in the clubs accounts very much reminds me of the same sort of rubbish gooners spout about the money in Arsenal’s accounts, never taking into account how much of said money can actually be spent on transfers, never mind that there is no guarantees even if every available penny is spent that it will change anything, other than empty the accounts. Fans act like an owner bankrolling a club should be how all clubs are run.

  60. eduardo says:

    I didn’t say he spent his own money, I actually said I don’t see why any owner should spend their own money on a club.

  61. rico says:

    Eduardo.

    I think your comment about Gooners talking about the Arsenal accounts etc is pretty darn rude. do you know the ins and outs of what money has been available to the manager of late?

    I doubt it, but be careful, as one or two fans on here do!

  62. eduardo says:

    and goonster it can be argued that if a person owns a club 100% that any money in that club is his money. I don’t really go with that view, but then why do people say despite someone spending 10’s if not 100’s of £M buying shares in a club, “he has not spent a penny of his own money on the club”, it really could be seen as a false argument.

  63. eduardo says:

    rico there is nothing at all rude about what I said about how some gooners talk about the money in Arsenal’s accounts, as I’m referring to those who see we have a balance of say £150M, and go on as if we can spend £150M on signings, never taking into account any other factor, only the £150M. Surely rico you have come across these people.

  64. goonster says:

    lol edu there are a bunch of them on leshite. Tools I ll really love to boil into glue. Lol

  65. eduardo says:

    goonster
    MAY 2, 2015 AT 5:49PM
    Manure 2 up….van prick.

    is that a prediction goonster

  66. rico says:

    Eduardo, have a re-read! I thought it was rude and disrespectful to arsenal fans….

    Perhaps if you made your view a little more clear, your rudeness would have been dampened..

  67. tsgh says:

    Seville agreed to sell Kondogbia to us before close of play last season but apparently, Monaco went in and offered more salary to GK and blew our offer out of the water…Allegedly

  68. Hell Raising Devil says:

    still 0-0 at old toilet. I hope they drop points.

    I also hope that the spuddies win tomorrow. that will mean that if we win our two games in hand we have vis-a-vis the Manchester teams we will practically have sealed 2nd spot.

    we will be 6 pts over shitty and 7 points over Manure.

  69. eduardo says:

    rico maybe you are the one who needed to re-read what was posted, it looks clear enough to me

    “the same sort of rubbish gooners spout about the money in Arsenal’s accounts, never taking into account how much of said money can actually be spent on transfers”

    what is unclear about that, I will admit that maybe I should have included the word “some” as in “some gooners”, but I would have thought that was understood.

  70. rico says:

    Eduardo. My reading and understanding of your comment is fine thank you and if you want to stay on here, don’t leave comments which read like you are slating fellow Gooners on this site..

    The rules here are simple. Conform or find another website….

  71. goonster says:

    is anyone worried about villa’s form?? I am guys. They just whooped everton. They ll give us a heck of a game in 4 weeks time. God help me.

  72. rico says:

    So do I Ts/Dev – would love to go there knowing 3rd is done and dusted and 2nd is down to us v City..

    Mind you, for once, I hope the neighbours get something from their game tomorrow- ouch, that hurt…..

  73. goonster says:

    Rico calm down maam….edu didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers. I think you misunderstood him. he was referring to gooners like Gambon bamford et al down at legrove. Not the smiley spastics we have on here 😀

  74. Lee says:

    No I didn’t Rico but I did watch “super vet” the other night (ITV I think?) if you haven’t seen it, it’s a must but very sad!

  75. tsgh says:

    My concern is that Syg and scott dislike benteke so much so he will score 2 against us just to spite us… lol

  76. goonster says:

    Ts I don’t think he ll be available for the final. He ll either be injured or serving a suspension. 😀

  77. rico says:

    I’m not ruffled at all Goonie…

    Lee, it’s on our planner. Great programme but very sad. But so many animals come out of his place with a chance, incredible stuff Noel and his team do…

  78. tsgh says:

    You love Yann M’villa don’t deny it… lol

    Goonie- is your prediction written in the leaves you smoked earlier? 🙂

  79. rico says:

    Lee. Arry was talking about Merse when he was at Pompey, apparently he asked for help with addiction and wanted two weeks in Tony Adams clinic which was approved…

    Two weeks later, Merse returned with a fab suntan…. Turned out he went to Barbados with his family….. 🙂

  80. Joe says:

    Of course I love him but I can’t deal with the disappointment every time he does not sign for us it’s like an open wound to the heart. 😉

  81. goonster says:

    Nah ts he’s not tall enough for wath….he wants a big brawny bastard down the middle. Mulumbu is a midget 😀

  82. goonster says:

    I love the look on loser van guy’s face….Hahahahahah what a turd. Am loving this season.

  83. goonster says:

    Now we need the scums to take points off shitty tomorrow….will be weird supporting that shower of shit but hey It’s for a good cause. Come on you gunners.

  84. goonster says:

    The fact that their manager is a former Ajax coach makes it more enjoyable. Now he’s paying for all the humiliation he dished to my hometown club. Lets all laugh at manure…..hahahahahahahahahaahah

  85. goonster says:

    Joe I ll take a draw……we don’t want the spuds anywhere near us. I love the fact that my spittle spends 3 minutes before hitting them on the face. That’s how far we are above them right now FOYS 😀

  86. Hell Raising Devil says:

    nope Goonie. I want the spuddies to win tomorrow. if we win on monday then st Totters day will be celebrated on that day. however its important that Shitty drop points as much as they could now.

    i want 2nd spot secure long before we play van prick.

  87. goonster says:

    Dev I hate those cum sucking bastards more than ISIS so I ll never want them to win. A draw is what I want for them. Plus 2nd spot is all but secured. I don’t see shitty dislodging us.

  88. rico says:

    Anything but a City win would suit me…

    On that note, I’m off guys..

    Have a good night, catch up tomorrow..

    Night all..

  89. Micko says:

    Stan, you’re fast becoming a connoisseur on here, it can only be a matter of time before rico releases the shackles and lets you unleash a post on us !

    rico, not long after the Southampton game the mural went up, some will tell ya it was only there to stop all of Johnny Jensen’s shots from ending up on Gillespie Road, saved us a fortune on ball boys.

  90. Micko says:

    Stan, if your thinking of courting again you oughta have a word with Giroud first, might be able to help each other out with all those blonde stowaways that keep turning up in his underpants.

  91. Micko says:

    At worst we’ll stay 3rd this weekend, still in with a chance of regaining 2nd, which-ever way you look at it sure beats being in rvp’s boots tonite, gotta feel for those Northern Monkeys.

    Kev, best to be sure to be sure.

    Off out to play, over and out.

  92. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    Ginge, ya cheeky bastard…..did I say I didn’t like Benteke?
    I must have been hacked that day 🙂
    Good discussion overnight and the stat on Flamini being unbeaten at The Emirates astounds me.
    Micko, I believe Rico is thinking of making Stan admin bahahahahahahahaha

  93. allezkev says:

    Adam, I had a load of furniture and bags in the back of my cab… 🙂

    ManUre losing at home to the Baggies!!!
    Ha ha bloody ha, you couldn’t make it up…
    What a flippin’ brilliant result…
    Now if ManCity can slip up?

    Bournemouth, champions of the Championship…

    Forget Boring Boring Chelsea and The Boring One…

    Eddie Howe and the Cherries have to be ‘the’ story of the season…

    Mick, it’s much ado about nuffink mate…

    Night All

  94. allezkev says:

    Not sure how much is just newspaper hype, especially from the Catalonian press, but it seems that were at the start of another long-drawn out Barcelona campaign to unsettle one of our players, Bellerin…

    I think he only recently signed a new long-term contract, not that means anything, so at least Arsenal would get decent compensation…

    The only way to ensure we keep these players, is by being competitive is.by winning trophies…

  95. tsgh says:

    morning kev, Rico…

    no legs in that rumour imo…

    Hectors parents are here now so hopefully they like the wet weather… lol

    Vidal again helps the old lady to another title…

    Scott- maybe it was Alex Song. 🙂

  96. rico says:

    Morning Kev, Lee, Ts and all..

    Barca can’t sign anyone until the winter window so make the most of him… 😉

  97. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, I was CERTAINLY Song hahahaha.
    Morning all.
    If your may to waste an hour, watch a replay of the big fight.
    Manny fought.
    Floyd ran.
    Floyd copped 140million for it.
    Don’t EVER tell me footballers get paid too much until we address the corrupt Industry that is boxing.
    I wasted 4 hours on seeing a guy show less character and less heart than Gareth bloody Bale.
    BUT, he is undefeated and a legend lol

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