It's all about Sami Khedira! Squad buzzing after new signing…..

Morning all.

Fifty one years ago today, Bob Wilson left Wolverhampton Wanderers and signed for Arsenal.

He was pretty good wasn’t he?

51 years ago today....
51 years ago today….

Everyone is buzzing! Well, so says Theo Walcott:

Sanchez is a world-class player and I enjoyed watching him play for Barcelona and for Chile at the World Cup.

He’s still very young as well and he is going to show so much pace and power, which we lacked a bit last year. With me and him on the flanks, a lot of teams won’t be looking forward to playing Arsenal this year!

There’s a great buzz around the club at the moment. He is a marquee signing and something that the club has pushed on to: first you had Mesut Ozil and now it is Alexis Sanchez. Who knows where it is going to stop?

It is great to learn from these players, and I cannot wait to play alongside him. I am really looking forward to it.

Give or take a few months, both players are the same age but imo, Alexis Sanchez is a long long way ahead of Theo in all departments of the game, well maybe not pace but even that’s questionable.

We talked about how Jack Wilshere needs to step up his game yesterday, well it’s time Theo Walcott did the same. He’s the perfect professional off the pitch but on it, he’s not consistent enough. We see flashes of brilliance and on his day he really can’t cause defenders all sorts of problems but we need to see a lot more of that and much much less of the Theo who drives us mad!

If he can finally start delivering week in week out, he’s right, him and Sanchez in the same side is a mouth watering prospect.

Just hope Giroud can keep up… 😉

Friends... La la la la....
Friends… La la la la….

But as we keep on saying, Sanchez alone isn’t enough, we need more depth and certainly more strength throughout the entire squad and the rumours surrounding Sami Khedira just won’t go away.

Marca report that Real Madrid have accepted and offer from us for the player and all that needs thrashing out is the players wages.

These are friends too....
These two are friends too….

The fact that photographers have snapped Sami with all the Arsenal players whilst they celebrated their World Cup victory has of course help fuel the fire surrounding this story, as has Lukas Podolski’s antics during an interview yesterday but I’m still hoping this deal can be done.

Just like with Alexis Sanchez, the newspapers report that the poison dwarf wants to sign Sami Khedira and no doubt Chelsea would meet his reported wage demands but hopefully, and just like with Sanchez, there’s only one club he wants to sign for and that’s us.

Couldn't leave out the big guy....
Couldn’t leave out the big guy….

As Theo said, top quality players give the squad a lift, they give the fans a lift and if Sami Khedira wants to sign for Arsenal, I’ll give him a lift. From the airport to London Colney…..

Well, maybe I’d ask Kev, he’s nearer…….

Have a great day all……

 

335 thoughts on “It's all about Sami Khedira! Squad buzzing after new signing…..

  1. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Regarding Cleverley from previous post….

    I said a squad player Nickie. Not a first team player. A player who can fill in to rest others in the final minutes of some of the games. Yes we already have Ramsey, Ozil, Arteta, Wilshere, TR07 and Flamini plus we may get Khedira however he surely has better legs than Flamini and Arteta, plus he is a stronger improvement on Diaby. And he can rotate to rest the others.

    Plus he is English which many of you seem to forget. We need englishmen in the squad to balance the 25 man rule. How many English midfielders are available at a cut price????

    Off to read the daily sermon to which I already had a sneak peak. 😛

  2. Nickie says:

    Denilson was a squad player though, Cleverly would demand high wages also. I just don’t like the fact we’d even consider taking Man U dross. Hernandez has obvious qualities and Smalling can get better but Cleverly in my eyes is terrible.

    We have plenty of English/Homegrown players for the 25 man rule 🙂 and Midfielders is least of our worries if we sign Khedira. If we are wanting more Englishmen then the Smalling swap helps towards that

  3. Scott From Oz says:

    Morning all.
    The good news keeps on flowing.
    Ok, Khedira is nota. Done deal, but at the very least we know the club is very serious about chasing quality players.

  4. Adam says:

    Hi a Rico. It could be resolved in our favour. It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to envisage this particular dynamic. His mates are here but they will pay him more.

  5. rico says:

    Absolutely Scott. Totally agree there…

    Hi Adam, like I said in the post though, if the player only wants to sign for us, it’s a good start.

    Was the poison one at Real at the same time as Sami, or had he left by then?

  6. Nickie says:

    He’d get more playing time, His friends are here, he’d be working under a brand new world class manager, We are an exciting prospect on the cusp of something brilliant and We are Arsenal.

    For the sake of 200k less a week we look the better option lol

  7. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Good read as usual, Rico…

    Can’t just wait for Khedira to happen. It’s a crazy transfer world, but i’m not too certain Madrid would want to do business with Mourinho…bridges were seriously burnt while Mou left Spain and having his replacement win the UCL with almost same squad didn’t do Mou’s ego any good.

    Something tells me Chelsea’s interest in Khedira is his agents ploy to raise his wages at Arsenal. Just hope he signs da thing!

  8. rico says:

    Just checked and he was, in fact he may have signed him. I hope Sami hated his management style… 😛

  9. rico says:

    I think we look the better option for players too, be a star with us or be just a number at a club like Chelsea…

  10. frednerk says:

    Morning All,
    Sammys agent Jorg Neabaner has about 20 players,but Sammy is the big deal for him.It sounds like he wants to join us..effing agent.

  11. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good positive article Lady.

    yay….we have good English players coming through. But how many good players had we coming through and we were drooling over them and now they have been released or sold off to smaller clubs???

  12. Wavy says:

    No brainer of a choice for Kedeira, Schurlle and The Morbid dwarf. Or Pod, BFG and Ozil. Or one of these and stay put for the season and go on a free? It depends whether he needs friends from his joke country or not. He doesn’t strike me as a loner, he seems to. E a bit of a shy person, who probably needs the support of his mates around him. Imo
    Nice one Rico…..I’ll have a think about Theo and his potential in his post cruciate world!

    Morning all, another warm and sunny one.d

  13. Adam says:

    Dunno mate. When the miniature shithead heard about the Sanchez deal, that the club worked on for months, he went crazy and was even more crass and envious than usual. Lots of bitter and twisted stuff went down that I will tell you about when I see you very soon. Yes Rico, he was at RM at the same time. All Jose’s players love him, or so he says.

  14. bondex says:

    Morning all… very very refreshing and interesting post Rico… signing khedira will definitely give us all more than a lift. Well it will most likely make me do multiple back flips 😀

  15. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Bonjour Adam.

    regarding the little spiteful one you mentioned Lots of bitter and twisted stuff……….but you forgot the bile as well

  16. rico says:

    Why am I not surprised he thinks that Adam, however, I strongly suspect if truth be told, not many do…

    Thanks bondex – i’m a bit too old for the back flips, I’ll just get myself a slab of Cookeen… lol

  17. lee says:

    S.P.S is a very serious condition!! Maureenhoe suffers terribly with it, apparently no cure available!!!

  18. rico says:

    Adam, if you are catching up with Lee soon, can I send his bottle of Cobra back with you tomorrow…

    Got to keep one of he and Bt off my back… 😉

  19. Canadian Gooner says:

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

    I think Khedira will come to Arsenal, but I’m worried if he doesn’t. There are other good options who I think would be preferable and better value for money.

    I’m glad to see that Arsene wont be held to ransom by Sami’s wage demands which, as others have already mentioned, seem to be prompted by a greedy agent. Are there any agents that aren’t greedy?

  20. Canadian Gooner says:

    Scott – If Chelsea don’t get off to a fast start this season, you may well be right about the Portuguese Pygmy not lasting the season. It seems as if Roman already has Maureen’s successor in the wings.

  21. Adam says:

    Rico. I am looking forward to seeing you and will act as your beer courier naturally.
    Dev. How could I forget the bile? 🙂

  22. fatgun-ug says:

    Hi all HHers,
    Morning Rico.
    I think Khedira wants us more than we want him.but his agent is pushing for big bucks. Doesnot look agreedy chap. His agent is going tbe sorted sooner rather than later me thinks.

    I am.still over the moon to hear we van.kick some add in the TE and blow teams like the old lady kit of the water.
    Great times to be gooners…….

  23. rico says:

    Thanks Adam, have a nice tin of Lidil baked beans and one of their best sliced loaves ready and waiting… 😉

  24. rico says:

    Morning fatgun.. Let’s hope he wants to join us, would be great to get another one over the man with short legs and a big head..

  25. fatgun-ug says:

    I think players have started to realise that its more important to be is a team that needs you. Ask Isco,Irallamendi, and now Khedira, yet they have pensioners Alonso, modric et al add Kroos and you see where Khedira stands . True we need him but he needs us more

  26. Micko says:

    rico, there was some chef on the radio this morning saying baked beans were a middle class luxury, I had them with everything growing up as a kid, they were even in my shepherds pie and lovely at that !

  27. Scott From Oz says:

    I agree he wants us, and you may be right that he wants us more than we want him.
    It still suits us not to act desperate though….
    Plenty of players find out that cashing is one thing, but at the end of the day, they are footballers who want to play.

  28. rico says:

    My folks used to put them in a stew/casserole Micko, loved it…

    Always have a few tins in my cupboard that’s for sure….

  29. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Morning all. History tells you that Bob Wilson was good, as it was a successful period for the club. The truth is, that though he’s a lovely man and Arsenal through and through, he wasn’t even in the top 6 keepers during the 1970-71 season – His best season. …Unspectacular and brave were his good points yet he was also overly dramatic – always clutching some limb or other and his distribution was woeful…. Yet we still love him…

  30. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Arsenal are expected to announce the signing of the all-action Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle for an initial £8 million on Wednesday, according to Goal.com.

    The Emirates club are also close to completing deals for Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina and Atletico Madrid right-back Javi Manquillo.

    Arsenal have agreed a £3 million fee with Nice for Ospina, who put together a series of good displays during the World Cup. They would sign Manquillo on a season-long loan deal from Atletico.

    Arsene Wenger’s side are confident that they can confirm deals for the duo within the next week. They are continuing to reshape their squad this summer after the capture of highly talented Chile international Alexis Sanchez last week.

    The Gunners are expected to carry on their transfer activity, demonstrating the club’s willingness to spend a supposed £100 million-plus transfer kitty this summer.

    Carl Jenkinson is expected to be sent out on loan for the coming season in order to get regular first team football, with Arsenal set to sign two other right-backs.

    Ospina will provide competition for Wojciech Szczesny, who, despite being first choice at Arsenal, has often under performed.

  31. rico says:

    goal.com are unreliable Devil, mind you, they might finally get one right as both are believed to be set for a move to us..

  32. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Syg with some factoids.. 😀

    Excellent post Rico…

    micko don’t tell lies you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth.. 🙂

    Dev, Cleverley?? Is it his Essex Mrs you are after? 😛

  33. Hell Raising Devil says:

    that is why I want Jenks to do so on loan. He would learn at someone else’ expense. But if MAnquillo and Debuchy are coming then he is wasted on the bench.

  34. Nickie says:

    I think that’s Wenger’s plan Dev…Get some kid in on loan to cover(rot on bench/if any good buy) send Jenks out for first team experience at RB/CB. Who wins? Arsenal and Jenks, plus if that rb is decent he’d have a fee agreed to buy him at the start of his loan agreement. WIn Win. Not fair on Manquillo but we’ll be paying his wages lol

  35. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Holy cow.

    Ginge…….his Essex Mrs would surely upgrade the WAGs at the Ems.

    but I still would go for him as a squad player. I still feel AW will make him better

  36. tsgh says:

    Bellerin could be as good as Manquillo imho… the few clips I saw of him playing for watford he looked very assured.

  37. tsgh says:

    I am surprised Micah Richards was not touted to us by the media… lol

    Another sick note with a salary to match…

  38. tsgh says:

    This explains why AW cooled on Remy?

    ”Loic Remy has been banned from driving after admitting drink-driving. ”

  39. Nickie says:

    It seems Remy is very troubled. Signing him would be unlike Wenger. I think it’s safe to say we may steer clear of him

  40. Nickie says:

    Another attacking mid though Ts? Surely not, He only plays well behind the striker. We have that position sorted3-4 times over lol

  41. tsgh says:

    True Nickie, that was why I think Balo’ is misunderstood or hated by media… he has never gotten into trouble with the media per se…

    All is nonsense is done at home unlike most other troubled players…

  42. Hell Raising Devil says:

    its a pity he has so much off field troubles. Remy would have been very good for AFC. I like his style and would have got a good number of goals for us.

  43. allezkev says:

    Sorry Gooner, busy today.

    Terminal 2 it is Mick…

    Scott, if you could play like Khadira, then I would have picked you up. 😉

    Afternoon Rico.

    I like nature programmes on the TV, but I’ve yet to see the one that focuses on the Blue-Eyed Toad…. 😛

  44. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Save me the imaginary arithmetic…Jenks goes out on loan, another kid comes with Debuchy. Kid expected to be on the bench…Jenks to get experience playing regularly elsewhere! What if Debuchy gets injured? No one, least of me, is praying for that but s++t happens.

    Then the club taken Jenks on loan doesn’t give him first team option and we have to rely on an in-experienced kid from another league for say upward of three months?

    I thought why Wenger didn’t buy Aurier was 1. Because of January African nations Cup and 2. Not to entirely block Jenks progress…

    When Sagna was out long time, Jenks was quite good. It was only his spells on the bench that retrogressed his development. With cups matches and one or two subs, Jenks should be better for himself and us if he stayed to understudy Debuchy…

    Unless Wenger has found him inappropriate to develop into real deal and wanted to replace him with this Javi Manquillo, Jenks’ loan doesn’t make sense!

  45. Wavy says:

    Bob Wi
    Son may not have been the best gk in the league during his reign at the club but we all liked him because he was intelligent, brave, capable and a thoroughly good bloke……for a Scotsman! (Well he was at home but down Chesterfield way he was English!
    Happy birthed Mr Wilson as Charlie George might have said in the corridors of the school he and Bob attended as pupil and teacher, respectively. And get well soon.

  46. Hell Raising Devil says:

    have you ever see a programme which focuses on Aardvarks Kev??? you know the long nosed ant-eaters!!!!

  47. allezkev says:

    Coach, I’m with you on Cleverley, I know I’ll get caned for that, but hey, it’s good being controversial now and again… 🙂

  48. tsgh says:

    Politics and promises Aw made 3 years ago is the reason- Tai

    its all paper talks and rumours atm… the player sounds like he is staying so…

  49. Canadian Gooner says:

    If the club announce the signings of Debuchy, Ospina, and Manquillo; that is the bulk of our needs filled. Arsene can then sit and wait for the likes of Bender, Khedira, Schneiderlin, etc. for the holding MF and Balotelli, Bony, Remy, Riviere, etc. for another striker. Some club/player is sure to blink.

    Arsene will probably try to save £10-15 million for the end of the transfer window to pick up a bargain or two as other clubs panic to raise funds.

    I see Milan have already lowered the price on Balotelli and that if Abu Dhabi Citeh sign Mangala they’ll have to sell one or more of their non home-grown players to balance their squad. It continues to be a very interesting summer

  50. Canadian Gooner says:

    Scott – I’m not sure Roman would bring back AVB, but there are a few notable coaches at loose ends. If he wants a retread, he could bring back Big Phil. He’s available after Brazil’s disastrous WC.

  51. allezkev says:

    CG, I have it on good authority, that the negotiating team are really earning their corn this summer…

    Another friend told me that Gazides has been excellent this summer.

    It’s all positive…

  52. Hell Raising Devil says:

    From where did this idiot get the impression that AW is annoyed about Jack? its incredible how quickly journos make 2+2=10

  53. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly frustrated with midfielder Jack Wilshere after he was pictured smoking while on holiday in Las Vegas.

    Photographs emerged this week of the 22-year-old puffing on a cigarette while relaxing in a swimming pool with friends and England teammates Joe Hart and James Milner.

    The midfielder was forced to answer questions regarding his off-field behaviour last year when he was photographed smoking outside of a nightclub in London.

    Despite stating that he wouldn’t smoke again, Wilshere is said to have left Wenger unimpressed and the Frenchman is concerned that the midfielder could tarnish his reputation, according to the Daily Mail.

    Wilshere is due to return to pre-season training with Arsenal on Sunday.

  54. allezkev says:

    Coach, both Milner and Joe Hart were with Wilshere on holiday…

    Who does the Press dig out, the Arsenal player…

    Go figure Habib…

  55. tsgh says:

    Cg- With Conte available Jose will be quaking in his boots knowing full well the 6th trumpet has been blown on his reign..

  56. Scott From Oz says:

    Kev, I’m in trainng already 🙂
    CG, surely Roman must be getting an itchy trigger danger by now…it’s been a while.

  57. Mark Zever says:

    Ii hope we sign Khedira n win the champions league so we shut Chelsea supporters here in Nigeria up,since thst’$ the only trophy they hv n we don’t

  58. Canadian Gooner says:

    Ginge – Has Remy’s drink driving been confirmed or is it an unconfirmed rumour? If true, it certainly would explain things going quiet on him coming to The Arsenal. Arsene had enough of that with NB52. I’m sure he doesn’t want a repeat or for a player to get a term inside like TA6.

  59. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Mark, if you let the noise of Chelsea fans in Nigeria get to you, you’d quit watching this game. Shout back at them without blinking…that’s the secret of surviving them.

  60. allezkev says:

    I’m glad to hear it Scott…

    You did set the bar, at a very high level.
    So training is vital, for you to keep up the high standard you set…

    I am looking forward to episode two with relish…

    Not sure that my liver is as keen though… 😉

  61. Scott From Oz says:

    It’s all about conditioning, Kev.
    A slow build up and thorough pre season is imperative.

  62. Canadian Gooner says:

    Ginge – I think I’ve seen Conte’s name being linked with Chelski. Maybe that’s who Roman has waiting in the wings.

    I can’t say I’d miss the malignant dwarf. It would be great to see him on the rubbish tip alongside his old buddy Sven Gormless Erickson. The press would consult him occasionally for bitter and bilious quote or two until he fades into obscurity.

  63. tsgh says:

    Cg- I think Jose will get his conniving agent to sound him out for the England job…

    Jose imo only has 1 more club to go to whilst Sir Fergie RedNose is alive..- AS Monaco

  64. Canadian Gooner says:

    Kev – There certainly is a more positive vibe with the Arsenal executive, staff and supporters regarding transfers this summer. Ah it’s great to be a Gooner.

  65. tsgh says:

    Scott, with all teh conditioning you have been doing over the years one arm must surely be bigger than the other.

    All the table to mouth repitions. Lol

  66. Canadian Gooner says:

    Ginge – I think it may be a while before the FA hire another foreign coach. Jose would make a complete dog’s breakfast of the England set-up (a la Sven Gormless Erickson). Also, he wouldn’t like it as he couldn’t buy what he didn’t have. However, the deep pockets of the Monaco or PSG owners would suit him and his usual modus operandi.

  67. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Drink-driving or not, I didn’t see Wenger signing Remy now…any possibility would very late in the window. With Giroud, Sanchez…Remy isn’t a starter and with Podoski and Walcott…his sub chances are limited.

    wenger will try Sanogo and Capbel first during pre-season to start thinking of bringing in somebody of Remy’s class…only when not convinced of Sanogo and Campbel will he look Remy’s way…and that’s should be after Emirates Cup if Remy was still available…!

  68. tsgh says:

    😀 Cg… I think Sheik Nasser is not a fan of his..

    If you cast your mind back, Jose delayed his acceptance of chelsea job hoping that he and Ancelloti could do a mary-go- round.

    Certainly, he was available but Psg opted for Lauren Blanc…

  69. Adam says:

    Rico. We are salivating at the prospect of you Lidl baked bean feast tomorrow. I shall eat lightly this evening. 🙂

  70. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Nobody hires Mou in a hurry. Despite his trophy haul, he usually gives back to employers more their trophies’ worth of trouble!

  71. Adam says:

    Most men have their time and then get found out. In past times they would eat a bullet in shame.

  72. Canadian Gooner says:

    Adam – Much as I would like to see it, I don’t think Jose would do us the favour of falling on his own sword. In defeat, malice is more his style.

  73. Adam says:

    CG. So true. There is, as we see, little humility or old fashioned good manners in the world today. Just me, me, me. Look at me.

  74. Joywedsjeff says:

    Ts…imagine the headline “Ozil dissapears on the football pitch,his money off it” and the writer goes on to tell us that the gesture is not really a gesture because he was merely nicking a living in brazil and it’s only right he dosen’t spend any of it.
    Just read that he is sponsoring the surgeries of twenty three children. The man is class both on and off the pitch

  75. Adam says:

    Perhaps a morsel of a garlic Nan and a dozen lentils tonight then Rico? :). Leave lotsa room for the beanfeast tomorrow. 🙂

  76. tsgh says:

    So Boro Primac is back? I thought he was off… 😡

    Hi Joy… well is Ozil… I am not even sure; he does everything he does effortless but quietly…

    pure Class!

  77. Canadian Gooner says:

    It is a shame and detestable that the gutter press tries to diminish a noble and selfless act of charity. I wonder how some of these lowlife scribblers manage to sleep at night. They should be consigned to the cesspool as they are beneath contempt.

  78. rico says:

    Jeff, don’t let them get to you. if the press want to twist this about the Ozil donation, it totally exposes them for being what they are…

    Have you sent me a post by the way?

  79. tsgh says:

    Cg- I suspect you understand how the machinery behind the media operate..

    I hope his sizeable donation to that course does not come to haunt him..

    CR07 donated 1.5m Euros to Gaza 2 years ago and his sponsors had to clariify where it went to.i.e his golden boots was given to RM Foundation and then given specifically to build schools…

    There are rumours about why Ozil left Nike in the first place…

  80. potter says:

    Lentils today , beans tomorrow , they say we are having a heatwave with storms on the week end.

  81. rico says:

    I have and just hadn’t got around to checking who sent it Jeff but your earlier comment gave me a clue.. 😉

    Will post it in the next couple of days and thank you….

  82. Adam says:

    Rico. There is a huge problem with mixing sport with politics I think. Arsenal have a large Jewish fan base well as Spurs so, once the papers start on this track, it will only end up in tears. Wenger seems to sit aloof from the politics which is a good thing in my book.

  83. tsgh says:

    Last night at football I was discusiing Remy with a gooner…
    He kept telling me how we should swap OG12 for Remy…

    According to him as a season ticket holder he does not want to see OG12 in an AFC shirt next season…

    I realised you couldn’t change his mind on OG12 so I asked him to go home and check how many times Remy had scored more than 20 goals a season in his career and then email me with his views…

    He just came back saying he does not want Remy anymore… 🙂

  84. rico says:

    I don’t know enough about what is going on in Gaza Adam…

    It seems Mesut is not the only one to donate his money to the cause….

  85. Adam says:

    Rico. It’s a classic case of most wanting some sort of peace and a comparative few who don’t who are setting the agenda. Religion is sadly at the heart of it all – again. Some would love to see the conflict spill over into sports and the WC provided a focus for that to happen. We should all hope it won’t. I think it will soon become a serious concern though.

  86. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Did we sign Bob Wilson again? 😉
    Internacional media: Khedira and Arsenal agree. 25 millions
    Filepe Luis (ex-A.Madrid) Chelsea
    What’s the cause for Mesut? The terrorist?
    Those living in bunkers surrounded by all the luxuries and summon the people to go to the rooftops and interiors of houses, buildings and public places, where they are being posted (and hidden) daily missiles since the last ceasefire, shouting to die as martyrs and expecting them several virgins in Paradise?
    I could with pleasure, those who help daily through the border food and medical aid (and not passing the checks to the summit) and to whom you want to create a society in Gaza civil rights such as education, health and justice, and not a organization which replaced the growing areas for training camps and missile launches and alienates everyone, teaching via television and radio, to be martyrs and to cultivate hatred.
    It is time the Western media say, without fear, what is happening there.

  87. rogerbij says:

    Well played Ozil donating $ for Gaza. I was there twice last year for work and, politics aside, there are a lot of good people living there who I met, living in a virtual prison. Now being bombed. Again. I wonder how he expects the money to be delivered because I can vouch that its pretty damn difficult to bring anything inside those walls!

  88. rico says:

    JM, maybe it’s better that we don’t bring the politics onto HH, just to keep the peace, like I wish every nation could……

  89. tsgh says:

    Afobe and Akpom trained with the seniors too… Rick where are you Sir?

    Any news on what will happen with Afobe?

  90. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Den Ba Ba (Chelsea) Besicktas ?
    one question: I think we can have only 17 foreign players in our squad for the domestic competitoins and also in the UEFA competitions.
    How many we have now? with Djourou, Coquelin, Rio… I think we have more then 17.

  91. rico says:

    JM, guess we’ll have to wait and see who leaves, I think quite a few might, especially those you mention.

    Maybe Miquel could stay but I’ve no idea….

  92. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Italiano mio bosso????? :lol

    In Italian…..Italiano=italian
    mio=my

    but in our language bosso means fart

    lol

    Italian my fart!!!!!

    you have k/o me

  93. allezkev says:

    Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed how desperate Mourinho seems to be, in conducting his transfer business…

    If he carries on behaving in this way then I can see The Soecial One becoming a case for Special Needs, of a psychiatric type…

  94. rogerbij says:

    Youre not fooling anyone playing it cool Rico – you KNOW things 😉
    What is ITK code for?

  95. Gunnerdna says:

    AFCPressWatch™
    ‏@AFCPressWatch
    Khedira’s agent: “We are talking to Real Madrid about his contract, but nothing is close to being decided.” #AFC #CFC #RMCF

  96. Gunnerdna says:

    AFCPressWatch™
    ‏@AFCPressWatch
    Khedira’s agent: “When a club have an interest I am sure they will call me and we will speak about things. The same goes for Chelsea.” #AFC

  97. Gunnerdna says:

    AFCPressWatch™
    ‏@AFCPressWatch
    Khedira’s Agents Neubauer:”We are not in talks with Arsenal. I don’t think a fee can have been agreed, otherwise I would have been told.”

  98. rico says:

    I’m too honest guys and I don’t make things up. I know nothing about any Afc deals or targets… 🙁

  99. Gonerjoe says:

    Evening everyone seems Jacks crime is taking a drag not smoking a whole cigarette what a swine. 🙂

  100. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Seems as if we have a new signing…….Diaby. At least for the Emirates cup. Let’s see how he pans out.

  101. Gonerjoe says:

    I know nothing about about a cigar I did not see it.
    Devil is right Diaby is looking very good.

  102. Hell Raising Devil says:

    So finally PV04 is going to be replaced this year with Diaby. Hope he turns out to be as good as PV was.

    Do you guys and dolls have any you tube clips for his previous clubs??

  103. Rick says:

    Evening Rico and the House .Another positive post Rico well done.
    Also well done to the u21 in there first game of the season
    Goals by Crowley(2) Iwobi o’connor and Maitland Niles gave them a 5-0 win.
    I gather both Jonker and Arsene were there.

  104. Hell Raising Devil says:

    hehe….I was pulling your legs about Diaby. lol

    Seriously though, if he stays fit its a bonus.

    But remember Gnabry as well. I feel that he can fill in at CM since he is now filling up.

  105. rico says:

    Evening Rick, thank you…

    Great start for the u-21’s and nice to see AW back and looking at the future…

  106. rico says:

    Devil, when it comes to Diaby, I doubt any of us believe he has a part to play…

    But I bet we thought the same about the old badger….

  107. Gonerjoe says:

    Rico trust you not to miss anything :D.
    Crowley my be the real deal it’s a pity he’ll spend a large potion of he’s football life having the you know what kicked out of him.

  108. Rick says:

    My thoughts on Jack All the worms crawling out of the woodwork and
    slagging him off for having a drag.
    Where were they last year when Jack befriended the young lad dying with cancer and also befriended his family after his death.
    Its clear to me that the press have an agenda against the lad.
    Rant Over.

  109. tsgh says:

    Indeed Rick,

    Luke Shaw was apparently in a bar with hart and co and no press coverage.. still JW needs to learn.

  110. tsgh says:

    lol.. send him to Siberia.. .

    Zubizarreta puts Alex Song publicly up for sale “He has a contract, but we’ll evaluate the offers that come in.”

  111. Hell Raising Devil says:

    This is style……you Chav/Spuddie/QPR morons……

    Arsenal have agreed to send a team to play Harrow Borough on July 26th. The club are expected to send a mix of youth players and reserves to the game given that the main squad will be in the US at the same time to face the New York Red Bulls on the same day. The decision to send a team to play Harrow Borough has been met with widespread approval from their manager Dave Anderson who praised the club and called on other Premier League clubs to consider playing local lower league teams in pre-season friendlies. Speaking to the Kilburn Times, Anderson said “I think Arsenal should be applauded for agreeing to play us in pre season. I don’t think enough is done by local Premier League clubs to support their local non-league teams. “How many games do you see QPR or Chelsea playing against teams near them lower down the leagues? “It’s a shame because at our stadium fans would get to see these players close up. “I don’t expect Arsenal to send their first-team squad but their Under-21 team will still wear the club crest and they will play a style of football that goes throughout the club. I look forward to being passed off the field!”

    Read more at: http://ladyarse.co.uk/2014/07/arsenal-praised-agreeing-pre-season-friendly/? | Daily Cannon

  112. Hell Raising Devil says:

    lol

    GJ………..I feel that he will go for around 5million. Now that would be a larf and a half

  113. tsgh says:

    somewhere hot will be another holiday for him… moreover he is from W.Africa so he likes the heat…

  114. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Let’s face it…Mourinho is one person, who is so greedy and envious…especially when Arsene and Arsenal are involved…he could have truly stalled our move for Khedira…Khedira’s agent’s latest comments point to that. Mourinho ‘hijacked’ Mikel Obi from Man U after being unveiled…he snatched Willian from fellow country man after medicals at Spurs…and also Sallah from his ex-assistant, Rogers.

    Why do ppl like Mourinho ever make progress in life?

  115. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Certainly, Rico … Mou, is jealous, extremely…he blocks moves to rivals that he may open his wide mouth and say rubbish! But his days are numbered, verily!

  116. rico says:

    Talking of that, this day for me is numbered, got to get the feathered ones up to bed and stuff..

    Night all…. Sleep well..

  117. allezkev says:

    Where’s that blinking Mick got too?

    Smoke and mirrors.

    Gazides got one over the Psychotic One with Sanchez.
    And now Psycho is desperate to win this dual.

    We need to keep matching their offer as much as possible.
    Make them pay much more than they want, or even better get Khadira.

    That’ll send Psycho into a mega depression.

  118. Micko says:

    Kev, for one scary moment I thought TEO was gonna challenge me to an eyeball !
    tsgh, our local newspaper is running a story on mario gotze this week, he played for the U16 German side vs Ireland in Kerry 6 years ago back in 2008, sources close to gotze claim if it wasn’t for the boys in green toughening him up that night he wouldn’t be the world champion he is today ! makes perfect sense to me.

    Nite all.

  119. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Micko????? Woke up this morning, feeling we got another Julian Draxler in Sami Khedira – phantom!

  120. lee says:

    Jack is an arsehole, this season is make or break for him! Pull your socks up boy and get focussed or fuck off!

  121. rico says:

    That’ll be in the news for a long time yet as well, then of course we’ll have the apology from him and the telling off by AW… la la la….

  122. rico says:

    He certainly is! He knows a camera will always be close by…..

    Really hope this is the last time we hear of such a thing, however….

  123. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Amazing-Lee Jack does not yet realise that he is a plank. He is still closed in a bubble.

    Good Morning Red and White lovelies.

    The sun is shining on here and its already 35 degrees. by 14.00hrs it will be something like 40 degrees. We will be frying.

  124. tsgh says:

    lol Rico… he wants us and Puma has only OG12 amongst our ranks as Frimps is gone…

    The asking price has dropped to £14m from £25+ before WC… in August, Milan may accept £8m plus clauses and give him to us me think…;)

  125. Gonerjoe says:

    Morning all this is the 3rd day on jack smoking what would it have been like if he had let’s say slept with another Arsenal players wife, shot a trainee with an air rifle or banned for drunk driving.
    The fact is the only person jack’s smoking will hurt is jack it won’t effect his performances on the pitch like some of the tackles he suffers.
    I read a story yesterday about Jack befriending a young boy who was dieing and after the boys death he still spends time with the boys family.

  126. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Not yet this year Ginge. Atm I dont have the time to go and catch eight legged friends. But will soon do so mate.

    Morning Lady. Want some Octopus stew??? 😛

    where did you see the Balotelli news Ginge?? I did not see it on NN.

  127. Gonerjoe says:

    Tsgh
    I like you believe that Balotelli is still possible I have this belief he’ll be bought at the end of the transfer window.

  128. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Morning, Rico, all…when is today’s post due? Don’t run away from Khedira, Mou and transfers…

  129. rico says:

    Joe, but he brings the club bad press too and AW will really not like that…

    No thanks Devil, not my cup of tea… lol

  130. frednerk says:

    Morning All,
    Balotelli……………… 25million arsenal not interested,
    Balotelli……………….. 8million arsenal interested.
    Now his good enough?..

  131. Scott From Oz says:

    Look, if Mario is the right price, I reckon he’s worth a go.
    The guy is quality and Arsene may get him sorted.

  132. tsgh says:

    Lol Fred, Balo’ has always been good enough… his concerns are always his off field drama?

    Apart from that he has been suspended 2 times in 2 years… mostly yellow card accumulation… 1 red in 3 years

    imo, a lower transfer fee will give any club the opportunity to sell him on if things don’t work out…

    At 23 y.o he scored 28 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions last season… for a Milan side that was playing on the back of its name only…

  133. rico says:

    Morning Nickie, Scott, Joe, fred…

    £8 milion for Mario – kind of suggests Milan want him out for some reason. Can’t think why….

  134. Nickie says:

    Doesn’t he have a terrible goal to shot ratio? He’s lazy, rarely works hard for the team. Look at Italy, biggest stage in the world, he was terrible. I’m not bothered about his attitude etc. But his work ethic and actual quality.

  135. Gonerjoe says:

    Not that I keep a close eye on Balotelli I don’t seem to remember any problems recently. Now that he’s engaged he’s behavior may well include more self control.

  136. Nickie says:

    And before we get into goals actually scored, Italian league is of dreadful quality. At Man City he played just like at the world cup and I don’t care much for this “moment of brilliance” tosh if he’s crap 95% of the time. I’d rather have a striker consistantly good that isn’t flashy,

  137. tsgh says:

    His work rate can be an issue; very true Nickie… I think in this wc he and Immobile up front was a very bad idea by Prandeleli (spelling)

    When Immobile was dropped Sciglio who imo is the worst Italian no.10 in ages didn’t help him…

    Anyway lets see…

  138. tsgh says:

    Nickie, Italian league is still better tactically than the EPL any day of the week.

    The issue with Serie A is to do with lack of money not quality of players imho…

    Jose’s killed Inter with his shopping spree leaving the Old Lady in charge..

    But if you consider Naples beat us and Juve did better than 3 of EPL teams in the UCL I think you are a tad under estimating Serie A…

  139. Gonerjoe says:

    If we do sign Balotelli and he hasn’t changed well you think we have problems with Jack now. 😀

  140. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Balo’s ego is his problem…always believes the whole team should work for his glory…same like Ronaldo but Portuguese far better and a consistent top level performer. Wouldn’t want Balo pissing off Sanchez, because the Italian certainly would!

  141. potter says:

    G Joe :- Purely out of interest are you a smoker ? . As an ex semi pro player with Asthma I never did , but was made very aware (and this is in the sixties) of the problem of lung capacity and distance running. In those days a 5 mile run over Hampstead Heath for training was considered a long distance and I had to do it 3 times a week to open my lungs. Modern footballers run twice as far as that in 90 minutes the fags can only make things worse for a guy that is not physically built for endurance distances.

  142. tsgh says:

    And at City he scored 20 goals in 53 games for a 20 y.o; you can’t doubt his quality at all imho…

    He also set up the goal for Aguero against QPR to win the title…

  143. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Sciglio is a right back Ginge. Not a number 10.

    He has never played as a number 10 mate neither for Italy nor for Milan.

    you must have muddled him with someone else. Cassano you might have meant? Or Cerci?

  144. frednerk says:

    Not sure its the right option just cause his cheap,he is a good player,but once you go out and give 4 year contracts to players £100.00 plus a week,that 8mill will look like chicken feed compared to his greengages.

  145. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Nickie…..go and watch serie A more regularly and you can see that tactically the EPL is miles behind mate.

  146. tsgh says:

    Cheers for correction dev, It should be psg’s Verrati and Marchissio

    Sciglio was on my mind because I wanted to ask if he was worth a punt for our RB position instead of Fathi

  147. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    All Balo’s antics while at City were fun to British press. Wait till he puts on Arsenal colours If that stunt ‘why always me’ would stick swords into Arsene for managerial incompetence. Now, Balo…don’t get near The Emirates, unless in the colours of an opposing team!

  148. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Sciglio is good for Italy but not good for EPL. Yes he can play on both flanks and even as a winger, but I do not think he can cut the mustard in the EPL.

  149. tsgh says:

    Tai- I don’t know the boy Balo’ but if you read further than the headlines, the issues with e.g house fire was either caused by his brother or his friends in his house.. sometimes he was away when such incidents happened but you are right the media will have something to lash us with…

    Balo’ had fights with Mancini but Mancini is more temperamental than most teenage girls… why do you think he got sacked at Gala’ as well?

    Pirlo and all have said Balo’ has never been a problem for the Azuri squad… when he scored against England all the players were on him… that is normally a telling sign… imho

  150. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Verratti and Marchisio are midfielders mate.

    I think you meant Cassano. he is the Italian number 10. A has been. And always moody……more than Balotelli and Cantona put together.

  151. Nickie says:

    Dev…It’s a poor league. We are talking about bringing Balotelli to the premier league. Therefore i’m interested if the league is more tactical. I’m interested to see how he will perform in one of the toughest and best leagues in the world..

    Further to this Ts…Building on your stats earlier,

    You forgot to mention that he received 14 yellows and 3 reds amongst those games. If we look at his last season he scored 1 goal in 14 games….around this time the premier league had gotten more “difficult” in a sense that teams around had got better.

    I’m just not sold on him. It’s ok to disagree!! lol

  152. Nickie says:

    Lol Cassano was terrible when he came on against Costa Rica, He should have been out of that squad a long time ago. One Italy player I liked was their young full back. Durmain (not sure if spelt correctly)

  153. tsgh says:

    marchisio plays no.10 for Juve at least behind Tevez and Llorente..
    I thought Marchisio was behind Balo’ in the final Azzuri game that he was sent off with De Rossi and Pirlo behind him… Insigne also played behind the strikers…

    Marchisio was the n.10 against England and scored the first goal

    Cassano wore no.10 but he did not start against Uraguay nor England;

    I might be wrong btw…

  154. Gonerjoe says:

    Potter
    No I am not a smoker I have never smoked in fact I am a bit of a nagger when it comes to family and friends smoking.
    I remember as a kid the reaction my father would have in the mornings to his smoking no tips.
    I believe he would be dead now if he hadn’t stopped in the early 70’s but thank god he did.

  155. tsgh says:

    Of course Nickie… its a debate here mate… its not about right or wrong… I come here to learn about the beautiful game too…

    And I think you are right about how Balo’s form just dropped after February… the same arguments I made about Costa and Cesc so you are spot on…

    I am wrong most times and as you can see Potter, Dev, Kev, fred all correct me if I am wrong..

    not forgetting the Bosses Rico and Wath…

    Even Micko who rates Gervinho corrects me too… 😛

    Micko will kill me for that..

  156. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    tg…National team football is quite different from club football…one is for the flag, the other is for the money. Balo is no player you get in and sleep pretty.

    Balo has ego problems bid time. That’s why he fell out with chief egoist himself – Mourinho. We don’t need a bomb like Balo in our subtle build-up to the top.

    And if you knew Wenger well, you’d understand that he’ll sign Sanchez, Debuchy, Ospina and one DM…I’m almost certain he’ll make Vermalaen stay. And he’d start Debuchy, Sanchez and DM…he echoes that more than three changes from previous summer affects technical balance. He’s done with any big signing in attack. He’d get back Cambell, then add him to Giroud and Sanogo as middle strikers…then wait for another summer.

  157. Hell Raising Devil says:

    It is Matteo Darmian you are talking about Nickie. He plays for Torino.

    Now that is a player who is built for the EPL. Although slightly shorter than De Sciglio he is more powerfully built and is more tactically astute (street wise) than the latter. Plus he is better technically and can play across the entire back line.

  158. Nickie says:

    Oh i’m sorry if you got the impression I was arguing, I wasn’t suggesting you was wrong at all lol Just astonished there’s been a time I haven’t been able to agree with you! 😉 lol….I just feel he gets too frustrated in the premier league because he can’t handle it. Once you get a name in the premier league in a sense that you’re a decent player you’re going to get some extra “treatment”….This obviously shown in his last season when he didn’t get a sniff.

  159. tsgh says:

    Nickie, this league being the best is what the likes of Merson, and Talkshite radio will say… lol

    In the WC apart from Iran we had the 2nd highest number of players coming from our home league… 7 more than eventual winners…

    Also we/England had the highest number of players representing a top 4 or UCL side after Germany but still falter…

    this league is exciting and never the best.. most can learn more from even the Eredivisie than the EPL. imho

    Lets be honest most players join this league for the money and eventually the best of them want to leave to Serie A or La liga anyways…

  160. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Tai……….your 9.56 is spot on. And very Wenger style.

    I will only accept Balo if AW employs a neuro surgeon to keep his synapses under control.

  161. tsgh says:

    No worries mate…

    I must admit you are looking at all the angles better than I am on Balo’ without considering his off the field issues… so I take all on board…
    Also, I think Song was a very good player for us, Scott my partner in crime here begs to differ but we still cool.. apart from him not paying me for the Ramsey stats 2 years ago… 😛

  162. Nickie says:

    One of the toughest and best 🙂 I just don’t see him bossing CB’s in the premier league like he might do in Serie A. I agree in a sense that our league can learn in terms of qualities from other leagues. For example Dev’s tactical comment about Serie A. Our basic tactic is (for lower league teams anyway) Sit back defend get lucky goal.

  163. potter says:

    G Joe , nothing personal , but”” It’s only a fag”” was always the argument of a 20 a day person. My mother in law used it from when she started aged about 8 until she coughed up half a lung three years ago and then suddenly stopped ( smoking that is.) She is still with us at 87 but suffers badly from smoking related problems i.e. Can’t walk more that a couple of yards , climb stairs, has difficulty raising her legs far enough to get in and out of a Vauxhall Astra. When I see this and weigh that in with my own problems which my doctor says would be much worse if I hadn’t done the exercise when young, it’s why I get so annoyed about kids like Jack throwing their future into jeopardy . There are so many traps you can fall into unwittingly , but to go headlong into one when the evidence is there not to , is just plain mad.

  164. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Thanks, Dev…will never get to calling you devil…imho we don’t need Balo at Arsenal…not now or even when he becomes world player of the year…in his dreams, of course!

  165. Scott From Oz says:

    Haha Ginge,
    I just detest the way Song would be caught up the pitch and make no effort to get back.
    Cheque is in the mail 🙂

  166. Hell Raising Devil says:

    talking of fags……I have never touched one in my life.

    And if someone is smoking near me I just walk away.

    I dont have any health related problems or conditions like asthma…however I do hate their smell.

    And considering the healthy and sports related lifestyle I lead it is a must.

    The only weak points I have are wine 😉 , Chocolate and what happens between the sheets 😛

  167. Nickie says:

    Ts,

    I do find off the field antics annoying, sometimes fair, sometimes unfair. It hides away from qualities/lack of qualities on the pitch. Yes it does put a tint on a player but if we actually analyse what’s happening on the pitch, what happens off it shouldn’t matter, to a degree. Jack wilshere being an example, If wasn’t under performing so regularly would his press attention be so intense?

  168. tsgh says:

    Nickie, and you were on point about Sami link as well…

    The moment rumours emerged that a german midfielder was under the microscope NN and Marca added 2+2 and got Sami

  169. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Song? Come on…if Wenger could ever turn down Fabregas…Song should never dream of Arsenal’s red shirt in his remaining days as a footballer unless a third World War starts and Wenger quits mid-way!

  170. Nickie says:

    I wish I was wrong about Sami hehe but there is still hope :). at least we’re looking at addressing that area of the field.

  171. potter says:

    Re :- Balotelli, it’s not just the football ability which is certainly an upgrade for us . its the baggage that comes with him and the fact that he is a refereeing target.David Elleray wrote that he kept a list of all the players he booked and sent off so that he could look back upon it when he retired. I believe that the practice is quite widespread and that they are like kids collecting stickers . “” Look I got a Ballotelli / Vieira today “” that’s got to be worth a few points.

  172. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I would like Khedira to come. However imo the Khedira story is another Higuain.

    I think that its more likely that Schneiderlin or Bender or another German DM will come. Maybe Kramer???

  173. potter says:

    Khedira is one reason why it was important to seal the deals before the world cup. He is a world champion now and in consequence , the cost. has gone through the roof.

  174. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Higuain? No, Dev…Sami hasn’t ‘done a medical’ yet. Just liken him to Draxler…everybody believed he was Arsenal-bound except the two clubs concerned!

  175. Nickie says:

    We must remember his contract situation though. Although it’s wrong the player does probably have more power atm because he’s in the last year of his deal. Madrid can’t risk having him go for nothing. World Cup winner or not I think his price would stick

  176. tsgh says:

    CDM or DM will come quicker if King Abou goes down again..

    Reports claim he is looking very fit.. In fact his current pre-season fitness test was his second highest since he joined us…

  177. Nickie says:

    I forgot wages lol, Khedira must know deep down he’s not worth 180k. I wonder how much Kroos is getting at Madrid now

  178. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Deep down I feel that Khedira wants to go to AFC. He knows the lads from the German camp, he knows how AW prefers to play, and he knows that at the end of the day he will not be knifed in the back by the bilious narrow minded midget swine at the Chav classless FC.

    However his agent is trying to use the interest from them to increase his wage……….and his commission as well.

  179. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    At 27, Khedira was just coming back from cruciate ligament damage. The world Cup was the perfect setting to observe how well he’d recovered. Don’t blame Wenger for not signing pre-world cup. This profession has peculiarity.

  180. tsgh says:

    Nickie, to me it was a far short…

    I think Dev summed it up perfectly below a month or so back…

    Hell Raising Devil says:

    June 30, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    The only plusses for Khedira are the German contingent and his experience at international level.

    The plusses for Schneiderlin are his age, his EPL experience, the fee, the salary, the french contingent, his ability to defend the midfield.

  181. Gonerjoe says:

    Potter
    I agree with every thing you have said the thing with Jack’s smoking is if it’s 20 a day he’s an idiot.
    My problem is the press and it’s self-righteousness if as Jack say’s he is not a smoker and he is just taking drag’s fine if not he’s an idiot but why stop because it becomes a story to the British press.

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