Morning all.
Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez has reignited speculation regarding Hector Bellerin’s future, suggesting that the defender remains open to the prospect of re-joining the Camp Nou club.
Despite claiming a second FA Cup winners’ medal in three years, Bellerin has been continuously linked with a move away from the Arsenal with the player said to be unhappy with life in London, and leading on a return to Spain. The pacey fullback was forced to play a reduced role towards the end of the season with his drop in form drawing criticism from many quarters as Arsenal failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Bellerin has been vocal towards the difficulties he has faced since choosing to leave his family in Barcelona to pursue his footballing career, which the media now like to us in order to increase speculation that the player might be agitating for a return to his homeland.
Whilst the three time capped Spanish international has subsequently poured cold water on those rumours, tweeting: “Don’t believe everything you read…” Arsenal will still be concerned by the latest claims to come from his friend and international teammate Denis Suarez.
Speaking to TV3, Suarez has claimed:
“I have spoken to Bellerin but it is not an easy situation because Arsenal trusted in him since he was a boy. It is his decision, and Arsenal’s decision. I really don’t know what is going to happen but I wish he can come.
“From one side he wants to join Barca, but from the other he feels very attached to Arsenal. It is a hard situation and I am nobody to be speaking about this, but I wish he can come.”
Well, if Suarez hasn’t spoken to Hector, how the hell does he know what the youngster wants to do regarding his career?
The Spaniard spent eight years in the club’s revered La Masia academy before moving to Arsenal in 2011 in the hope of securing more first team opportunities. Bellerin’s electric pace and tendency to look to overload the wide areas of the attacking third would be a perfect fit for Barcelona’s progressive style of play and is something that the side have been sorely lacking since the departure of the Brazilian Dani Alves.
Bellerin made his Arsenal debut in a late 2014 2-0 defeat away to Borussia Dortmund following injuries to fellow right backs Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers and has since gone on to establish himself as a key member of the club’s first team.
Still just 22 years of age, Bellerin undoubtedly has a great future ahead of him. Sadly for Arsenal fans, it seems that like Cesc Fabregas before him, it may well be the case of ascertaining “when” he will ultimately return to Barcelona and not “if”.
Well, I guess we picked Barca’s pocket a few years ago, so they are bound to pick ours one day real soon. It’s not always about who goes though as sometimes it’s about who the club replaces him.
Barcelona’s finishing school is what they call us.
rico
The one thing that is certain about the transfer off season is that the journalists & blog writers are so desperate to stay relevant, they invent a whole lot of cobblers based on stories they’ve read from other journalists & blogs. Call it Le Paranoia if you like, but if I were you & your contributors, I’d take a break from footie for a while & enjoy the excellent weather you are all having. It will all be still there when you return refreshed & ready for another shot at glory.
P.S If you are in direct sunlight for lengthy spells, wear a hat, unlike the boys from AFTV @ Ascot. They looked like they were melting ?
I find it hard to be overly critical of Barca when they come back for a player who grew up at their club. After all, we get them for next to nothing and then earn a lot of money when selling them back…
If Bellerin wants to return to Barca because he wants to win big trophies, then I understand that and Arsenal only really have themselves to blame for being unambitious.
If all this Bellerin chatter is true then it would seem that Wenger is in the happy position of selling our top, top players and not recruiting like for like. At the present count we are likely to lose Sanchez, Ozil, the Ox and now Bellerin! Good business, a great summer to make progressive, improving moves. However, there’s a new contract about to be offered to Ramsey. We sure have our priorities right, don’t we.
Whilst on the subject of top, top players, at a function I was at last weekend I was fortunate enough to speak to a 90 year old, very lively old chap who lived 100 yards away from Highbury during the 30’s. An Aresenal fan of course. He told me of arriving at the ground with his father, five minutes before kick off of being offered to the crowd with shouts of “small boy who can’t see” and was then picked up and was passed over the top of the crowd until he reached the front. Saw this happen myself during the sixties but the crowds weren’t as large as they were in the thirties. (I wonder if Ed has noticed I missed a comma out in the last sentence?!
We went on to talk a little about players then and now. I asked him about Alex James. His reply was quite illuminating, given that he watches all the Arsenal games live, he lives in the States. His comparison currently was James was like Ozil. James appeared to do very little running he was a magnificent distributor of the ball, a flick here a ball into space there, apparently he very rarely broke into a sweat. Ozil I think, works much harder but he has the same vision and his distribution or creation is second to none but, people don’t like him because he appears languid and lazy or he disappears from games, as James before him seemed to do or so it would seem.
Historically Alex James was, for all his so called shortcomings, the heartbeat of the great thirties side, without him the team was little more than just above average! Ted Drake got a mention too, a hard running bruiser of a cf, we could do with him now, I think, a prolific goalscorer and good team player.
There was further conversation about the legendary Arsenal team of way back when but, I’ll come back to that another day, perhaps.
Getting hotter by the minute here!
Thanks Rico.
So quiete on the transfer front for us Gooners, although Ed said we are in for a couple of tools in Tori Spelling Wright and Wavy`sJack Kelsey Grammer !……………………..so hard to get myself down the gym in this weather, but I have will power, just need to coooooooooooooooool down for a few mins, then on the ride on mower to drive around the field like I`m on a spit getting cooked !……..great way of getting an all round tan ! 🙂
Yes, I remember kids being passed head height over the crowd down to the front, it happened to me once !………didn`t ask for it, I was 30 at the time, but as now, young looking for my age !……loved it so much I ran back up to the top and pleaded ………………….”again !”
Nice photo of Arsene at the top ! 🙂
Afternoon All.
Afternoon Rico.
It’s going to be 81’F out where I am in Essex today.
Fortunately I won’t be here, I’ll be in London where it’ll be 90’F ?
Good post Rico, I wonder if Hector will need to go through the Cesc experience to fully realise that the grass isn’t always greener, even in your homeland?
I like Hector and will continue to like Hector despite the lies of the Spanish media.
Whatever he does or doesn’t do can be affected by our crowd, so we need to show him what he means to us Arsenal fans. He is our Spanish Cockney and no amount of Catalan propaganda and downright dishonesty from Spanish sources will change that…
I mean let’s cut to the chase here, Barcelona and Real Madrid are possibly the two most unscrupulous football clubs in world football. They will tell any lie, bend any truth and spin any kind of misinformation to get their way, not least with the Spanish tax authorities.
So I don’t believe any of the shit I read concerning Hector, in fact I’ve pretty much ignored it up till now and I’d advise you guys out there to do the same.
Very true Gg..
Afternoon Kev. Can’t take any credit for the post… 🙂
Apart from Henry, has any player who left Arsenal enjoyed a long successful career at Barca?
Rico, I’m not sure that TH14 had a long career at the Camp Nou..?
He got what he wanted, the CL and was soon off to the MLS…
Petit, Overmars, Van Bronckhost, not sure any of them had long fulfilling careers in Spain?
It’s all a load of media rubbish anyway, I’m bored with it all.
Hope you are well and everyone out there.
Off to London now…
I remember my mother in tears as I was passed down to the front of the clock end and she couldnt find me .I think I was about 8 or 9.However there was more respect then and when the crowd realised what had happened theey parted like the Red Sea to allow her through to get me. We beat Preston 2- 1 .
Ok, just successful then Kev… 😉
Interesting Uber news Kev?
How ironic about Suarez talking about Bellerin joining Barce. Isn’t Suarez almost on his way out? Really funny stuff.
He should concentrate on getting sticking around for the Euro U21 team since he’s on the fringe. Maybe if he concentrates on his game he would get better.
Well said Obi…
I laughed because he said he’ not spoken to Bellerin, yet seems to know what he wants to do..
Plank!
Lewandowski is available…
Just saying…
Re: Lewandowski, when I read that I called AW….but it went into voice mail. Now that’s the player to replace Sonogo with……………………………..
Buy Lewandowski, team him up with Sanchez and Perez upfront.
Then buy Lllaramendi or Benjamin Andre and sit him next to Xhaka and we are ready to go.
All about 75-80m (just as the Prof. said 3 new players).
Yeah, I heard about that Potter, but he’s still got a fortune in shares.
Pity that someone in the States doesn’t just shoot him.
Longest day today !…………………..and hottest June since 1976……….record temp somewhere near London !…………..I remember summer `76 was hot as it was the first time I suffered from sun stroke……………I was standing too close to my aunt who was blow drying her hair !
Lewandowski would cost that alone wouldn’t he Obi?
Funny Lc, I don’t recall 76 being this hot but clearly it was. Maybe as we get older we just struggle more with the heat…
It`s all right for the rich pensioners like VCC who has just had air-conditioniong fitted to his zimmer frame ! 🙂
We must be keeping our transfer dealings very very quiet as even the media haven’t got hold of any half decent stories… lol
Sensible chap I say…
Night guys.
Rico @ 7:31 PM, he possibly could be more, but not 100m that they want to spend on Mbappe.
Morning..
Obi, possibly but Mbappe would have a very good sale price when he decides he wants to move to a big club… lol
Morning Rico. At least that awful heat has eased – a bit. M’Bappe would be a positive move I think.
He is possibly thinking of Anelka and how he came , saw conquered and left.
Morning Adam, sorry, I disappeared as it was so quiet.. 🙂
Agree re Mbappe, win win all round I think, certainly for the player. He’s exactly what our team needs imo.
Hi All:
Mbappe’s people said yesterday that they are perfectly OK with Arsenal not playing in the CL and that Europa is not a problem. That’s the first time I have heard them directly speak of any team……
Btw, real funny stuff…BM said that they will report any team that contacts Lewandowski to FIFA because he’s not for sale. Laughable considering all the tapping up they do……
MmmmmBappe I love your waaaaayyyy, every day!!!
Ox. Staying or going?
Jewish operatic production Carmen or Cohen.
Potter are you referring to car men the rollers and George the Cohen or the opera and the englishcrugby player?
I’m baffled!
Afternoon all
Arsenal FC. Stepping stone or feeder club ?
Adam – staying.
Micko – both..
Evening guys..
Evening Rico
It’s been quite pleasant today with a nice breeze…
Evening Kev. Agree, lovely day weather wise… Miss the sun though.. 🙂
Not me, ?
I’m not surprised… 🙂
Wavy it was the punch line of a Mike Rie joke about a Jewish opera singer that didn’t know if he was Carmen or Cohen.
Ah! I get it now. Sorry. He would have been Cohen, I think! Did he smoke? If he did he may have been Carmen!! If he died on stage that d be the clincher!?
Wheelchair either wants a contract extension on increased salary (he only earns £90 grand a week, LOL), or he will want to run his contract down and leave on a free, OR move somewhere like China and earn £250 grand a week.
Are we all on the same planet as these diva’s?
Looks like Sanchez is not staying, Pep beckons offering more money, to warm their subs bench.
Mbappe to The Arsenal? If Arsene Wenger can seal the deal, the boy’s development needs to be hinged to hard nuts in the middle & at the back, even a no non sense forward like Alexis.
I guess what I’m saying is when TH14 was strutting his stuff, the team had some hard nuts who would take no prisoners if opo players tried to put cynical challenges in. It worked like clock work as history shows. I think a few more Xhaka & Kolasinac
…….types. Xhaka doesn’t seem to take shit.
Meerkat
Spain is a 3rd world economy that is not measured by Gross Domestic Product but by how many trophies Barcelona & Real Madrid win each year. A few greasy beaches & a bit of sun. Who cares.
Pep was just some fella who once pulled the strings in those parts but struggles if he doesn’t have access to everyone else’s assets. Pep is poop now ?
I rather like Spain, especially in Catalonia- lovely people and way of life…
Pep poop GG? Reckon you might be eating your words at the end of next season. Years ago, players came to us because of Wenger, these days they want to play for Pep imo…
Morning all..
Good for you rico, but it’s economy is 3rd world & its beaches are greasy. If you can prove me wrong then you are welcome? I thought Catalonians dont consider themselves part of Spain?
How many trophies did Pep win last season? But you can guarantee he is a voyeur of The Arsenal team when spending an end less amount of £ at bolstering his list to win a trophy!
Spanish beaches are lovely Gg. Certainly not greasy…
None last season, but in seasons before, many. Unlike our old man…
Fair enough rico, Greasy is probably not a good description then. But as for Pep, if he didn’t have Messi I wonder how outstanding a record he would have had in Spain. He went to Bayern with a ready made list. He inherited a man city list that won the title not long b4 & has to now re build??
P.S I’d rather be on a Cornish beach ☀️
I watched the England U/21s beat Poland today. You won the U20 WC. Your sports lottery is really working wonders for your sport, I.e Olympics, etc Mr T here is making noises about getting a similar lottery in Oz. We might be able to afford to pay for our coaches, etc to come home from the UK, amongst other things?
Anyway, the word is you Poms don’t have to go to Spain anymore for a bit of sunshine? I’m off to watch the footy.
Morning all.
I agree Rico, Wenger once had the power to lure a player based on reputation of development and style of football, to me that lure has long gone. Now they want to play for Pep, Klopp and a couple of other imo.
If Wenger can pull off this Mbappe transfer ill happily eat my words but agree with gg that he needs to get accustomed to our league quickly.
Talking of beaches, in the UK Newquay/Cromer have some lovely ones. Abroad, well the list is endless…
October 1st ,Catalonian referendum on independence.Madrid won’t accept the results but it will make the point. At the moment it’s the Catalans and Basques that are keeping the rest of Spain afloat.
That old chestnut Gg. It’s irrelevant isn’t it whether he had Messi or not as he did. What would we have won without Henry?
Football allows players to be signed for big money, no point in knocking it just because Wenger/Arsenal to join the big boys with their ambition..
Jealousy is not a good trait to hold… 😉
Exactly Bumba. Those days are long gone though but like you, if he get’s Mbappe, I’ll have a re-think..
Add Crantock to the beautiful beaches…. Love it there….
Cromer ? Norfolk has some lovely patches of sand all the way from Wells to Yarmouth .Miles of unspoilt coast except Happisburg where half the houses fell into the sea.
A friend of mine is Catalonian Potter. She is desperate for them to get independence…
Anyway, New Post is up now…
Morning all.
Sanchez and Ozil wanted to play for Wenger, so they said.
Our old man did win more trophies than Pep last season 🙂
Of course players want to play for Pep though, as the clubs he’s been at al also pretty fair salaries-would players flock to him if he were at Stoke?
As GG alluded to when using Wilshire as an example, it’s all about money.
I don’t for a second buy this “leaving for trophies”, as how many do so and take a pay cut?
There would probably be the odd exception, but I dare say the huge majority get a decent pay rise.