Morning all.
Over the weekend, one of greatest players said goodbye to the game once and for all. A career ruined by injury, was fantastic anyway. Not so much for all things won, but for us the Arsenal fans, it was an absolute privilege to see him play in the famous red and white shirt of the club. Tomas Rosicky won’t be remembered in the same breath as the likes of Bergkamp, Henry, Petit, Vieira etc etc because they all won the league with us, but imo, his ability, attitude, skill etc, was right up there with them. Like with Santi Cazorla, when Tomas ticked, Arsenal clicked. Yes, he’s one of my favourites and always will be. It seems like only yesterday when the announcement was made, no, not that he’d signed but he’d left the Czechoslovakia training camp to travel to sort out his move to north London. He was leaving Borussia Dortmund to play for us.
Yesterday I watched the highlights of his farewell match and it didn’t disappoint. A match played in great spirits with a lot of our past players turning out just for Tomas.
After the game, Tomas spoke with Arsenal Media. Here’s a transcript…
on his emotions…
Obviously it’s very emotional. It was great, I have to say, that I could share this moment with all the guys who came to play in the game and be here with me, so I have to say thank you to everyone who came here and made this occasion very special.
on the occasion…
I have to say I enjoyed it. As you could see the rain complicated everything at the start, so it was very difficult for the people to stay here in the stadium for one hour longer, but it seems like they enjoyed it as well like me and the other boys. It was a great day today.
on Jens saving his penalty…
Typical Jens, it’s no surprise!
on his son’s goal…
I was actually expecting Jens to save my son’s shot too! I’m glad he showed his human side as well.
on what it meant…
It was amazing, not only with my friends, but as well for my whole family, my son, my father, my brother was here, my wife and my mother-in-law as well. It was a special day, I enjoyed it, it was great.
on a message for the Arsenal fans…
I hope you will see me again soon. Obviously whenever I can I will come to watch my favourite club on the pitch, and maybe sometimes I can participate as well, so we will see.
One of Arsene Wenger’s greatest signings since The Invincibles?
Farewell Tomas, enjoy your retirement from the game and thank you for saying yes to Arsenal FC back in May 2006.
Perhaps this summer we’ll get some equally as exciting news when the club pull off a couple of cracking signings. The rumour mill won’t go away, of course it won’t, not with agents out their spinning their stories in attempt to make money.
Talking of which, the agent of CSKA central midfielder Alexsandra Golovin says he is in advanced negotiations for the twenty-two year old to move to Arsenal for €25 million. Didn’t we read something very similar this time last year?
Meanwhile, the fight for Sampdoria’s Uruguyan twenty-two year old defensive midfielder goes on. His price tag is around €22 million apparently although if he has a great World Cup as many expect him to, that valuation might increase.
Lastly, Gelson Martins. There appears to be a lot of unrest at his club Sporting Lisbon. Players want out, they want to terminate their contracts with their club. Nasty business I’d say so if Arsenal really are in for him, they might just get him because there’s a good chance apparently that he could end up leaving for free.
When does the transfer window close?
Morning all.
It would seem that the transfer carousel is in full rotational motion, with no end in sight. Perhaps it will all stop when the fat lady sings! (Not you Rico)?
The only good thing about all the rumours is that they seem to have an essence of truth about them, this summer. Whereas when Ebeneezer was in charge, although we wear linked to no end of players we, the fans knew there was not an ounce of truth in any of them because the old tight wad wouldn’t pay his money for any player, no matter how much the club needed new blood. We ‘always had enough’. Despite being at least two quality players short of a really competitive team! My, how I hope things will change.. the press seem to think so.
Sun’s just trying to put its hat on!
Morning Rico and the House.
Freddie Lundberg appointed U 23 head coach fromJuly1st.
Window Closes 5pm thurs 9th August.
Season starts 11 August .
See u later.
………Good morning Rico, thank you for the post.
Gelson Martins would be a great signing, he has a €50million release clause in his contract so if he can get that cancelled he could sign for free. The fly in the ointment is Liverpool, they tried to buy him last year and Herr Klopp is still sniffing around.
Ahh! Tomas Rosicky, one of the best! Farewell and on voyage Thomas.
One too many aitches there. ?
Hello everyone,
The world cup is almost here and we will soon be seeing some footy action. Concerning the Arsenal midfield and transfer rumors, I do not want Torreira or Carvalho to come close to Arsenal. We have Willock and Maitland Niles and we should really work on turning them into complete players. Buying a 23 year old from Italy to take the DM position is paying lip service to the ‘values’ Ivan mentioned.
I would rather have Nzonzi who’s 30 and then we can groom some younger talents to take over.
Morning you all..
Thank goodness Wavy, you haven’t heard my voice.. lol
Really pleased re Freddie Rick, let’s hope it works well for him..
Cicero, apparently Nelsons has signed an agreement with Benfica..
N’Zonzi for me too Iair3, but for his age, his price is ridiculous imo. Good player for the young guns to learn from and he wouldn’t get in the way of their progression.
All gossip though i guess, just pray we sign someone who can finally sure up our central midfield.
Rico, I take it that’s Martins who has an agreement with Benfica, hmph didn’t want him anyway. ?
Oops Cicero, another of my cockups, yep, that’s him…. lol
Maitland-Niles has signed a new long term contract…
That’s good news Rico, I just hope he is allowed to continue his development by playing in one position, rather than as under Wenger in five. Left and right fullback, left and right wingback and midfield.
My preference for him is to play in central midfield, I don’t think he will displace Ozil from the No.10 slot right now, but he could in the future.
Afternoon all and thanks El Rico.
Loved Rosicky, full of vibrant energy and penetrative thrusting !………………..for a second there my mind went back to Shakira and Jennifer Lopez ! hahaha……………………….and he scored some crackers against The Spuds !………………………great player and another who we didn`t see enough of because of injuries………………………..Dennis we`ve had a few !………………………..Diaby would have been a great too imo.
It`s like a furnace out there today ! 😎
Afternoon Rico and all. Lovely to watch TR in that vid. What a lovely, balanced and skilful player he was and how unlucky with injuries.
Me too Cicero. Seems he’s been overwhelmed by Emery… lol
Lc, it certainly wouldn’t have been interesting to see more of Diaby. I always thought his brain and feet didn’t work together..
Afternoon Adam, all.
I could watch Tomas all day, super player.
Arsenal are in talks with Sampdoria for midfielder Lucas Torreira and an agreement is close, according to Sky Italy.
The Gunners are believed to have offered £26.5m (€30m) in instalments for the 22-year-old, rather than agreeing to pay his £22m (€25m) release clause in one lump sum.
Torreira broke into the Uruguay squad this year and is currently with the national team as they prepare for the World Cup.
Guys, there’s another post up now. It’s sponsored and they wanted it live today.
Forgive me.. lol