Double post this morning, a bit from me and a bit from Steve Palmer – I think you will know who wrote which bit…. 😉
Well, what a good move from our Manager, the Champions League squad was announced yesterday and I think I’m right in saying that all those who want to leave were named in it.
Ok, I don’t give a hoot about Nik and Almunia but naming Fabregas and Nasri, well I like that.
Doesn’t that send a big message out to both Citeh and Barca?
I think so, it’s telling them that if either club want the player, they have until our first leg against Udinese to make the right offer; otherwise they could play in that match and therefore not be available to play in the same competition until after the knockout stage….
Ok, Nasri is suspended for the first leg but the second leg takes place before the transfer window closes.
Some may say that if Wenger chooses to play them, their value will go down – but I think it may just speed up any potential offer.
Fabregas is still in his contract so we have no reason to accept any offer less than what has already been quoted, Nasri, well I hope that idiot manager at Citeh falls for the plan and finally calls Wenger, we need him sorted…..
So do you think naming both Fabregas and Nasri is a good move?
To be fair, he has little choice but to name them as they are both Arsenal Players and will be next season unless the ‘loud-mouthed’ clubs they are linked to cough up the right money…
I guess the same could be said about others looking for a way out (Odyssey wasn’t it 😉 )
On to a little moan…….
I’m going to have a little moan about you lot, yes you lot on here!
You made me think twice about our fine club, it started weeks ago but only come to the surface last weekend.
I sat and watched the Benfica game and got the hump with the result big time and the same thing happened when I watched the Charity Shield the next day. After the game, I went home and logged onto here only to see moaning comments about Wenger and him not having bought any players.
That made me doubt our leader and maybe it was the belly load of beer I had consumed earlier that day that made me leave this comment:
‘Evening all, bit late I’m afraid, golf club bar kept me for a while, I noticed by some of your comments that you don’t seem to happy with the Arsenal set up at the moment. I certainly am not happy, one week from the start of the Premier league and all I get from the Manager is “I may have good news next week”!
Arsene I am sorry, I have been a staunch supporter of you for many years but, “may have good news for you next week” is not good enough with only one week to the start of the season.
If you haven’t secured a centre back who will play on Saturday and instilled a coach for our defence, I’m sorry but you are not doing your job right.
A phone call on Monday morning asking another manager if a said player is still available and if he is how much, is all that is needed. Pay the money get his signature and register him all in an hour!
If you can’t manage that, move over and pack your bags, as you are not the man I thought you were.
I can’t believe I wrote that and I blame you lot and your whingeing comments, you started to make me doubt our managers intentions. I started to wonder if what some of you were saying may have been true when all along I have been saying, don’t judge Wenger until the transfer window is closed, only then we can look and decide if he has worked hard or not.
Jenkinson, Gervinho, Chamberlain, 3 signings so far! Yes we are still looking for our centre back but I still believe we have time.
Our Asian Shirt seller Ryo Miyaichi has been granted a work permit which is great news so that’s four new players in AFC shirts this coming season so things are not looking as bad as some think. Let’s not forget the two Barca players Wenger has brought in too.
My optimism is back where it should be, I know you doom and gloomers out there will find something else to moan about if you look hard enough but right now I’m am back to normal after a slight hiccup.
I am firmly back behind our team as the new season approaches, I must admit though, you made me think for a minute. 😉
Wenger may not be the Messiah and he may get up a lot of peoples noses, especially the press but I like that about him!
He keeps his cards close to his chest and I still hope he is holding the Joker i.e. Cahill but I suppose I’ll just have to wait and see, just like you all….
But I have faith…….
Morning all….
I totally agree with the last part of the Write up! Was thinking the same just yesterday, after a bit of a downer when we first signed AOC, thinking a few mill more would got us Mata as we have not brought anything in! But aswell as the above mentioned we have the Verminator back so untill we lose cesc or nasri (think both should go) we are stronger then last season.
Also don’t think we have to get a centre back urgently, just not play the squid and we will be fine.
The problem is, a lot of fans are media led and see clubs with bottemless transfer pockets spending OBSCENE amounts on “name” players and moan when we don’t do the same. Tell me, were:
Vieira
Henry
Ljungberg
Petit
Edu
Pires
Huge “names” when we bought them?
Would you have rather bought Cantona than Henry seeing as at that time, Cantona was the name of names in football? I know I wouldn’t.
Yes we need a couple of players but in this artificially inflated market both in terms of transfer fees and wages, Wenger is doing a fantastic job and remember, there are at least 88 other English teams who would love to be in our position.
Back shortly
Morning Ben and Will…
I must say, Gervinho’s early performances have exceeded my expectations. Carry on like that, and he will turn out to be the exact type of signing everyone was calling for, without the price tag.
Sav, it looks like now we have super fast players who are going to take people on, maybe a shift from the boring pass pass pass pass pass pass lose the ball attacks we have at the moment.
Morning Rico.
Good article….
For a person, me, leaving in Singapore and a staunch Arsenal supporter will without a doubt know that Wenger will bring in at least 2 quality players >>> a central defender and a replacement for Cesc/Nasri.
It may not be replacements per se but 2 quality players.
Wenger has more than sufficient offensive players that he has signed recently who will be able to ‘link up’ with the likes of Robin, Jack, Ramsey. An offensive unit capable to meet up with the expectations of the EPL and Arsenal supporters.
Lets give Wenger that time and see who he brings in to shore up the defence dept.
I really think we should boo gervinho, aoc and this japanese feller to show wenger that we wont tolerate signings that arent world class and experienced.
I lyk the ending… 🙂
Nice 1
Well remember also Jones spoke to Arsene befor deciding on Utd and we were in for alvarez but money scuppered that.As for defeners Cahill would be nice but I agree with Wenger the prices are over inflated not that Cahill isn’t quality but 17 million really? therefore I see scott Dann and or Mertsacker being the defensive buys Wenger does. Of course we also short in left back position and really a reinforcement there would be handy. Now lets look at our defensive record or crisis as said the problem is not with the first choice starters but the back up in pre-season of the seven goals we conceded the majority of them were conceded by the second string with Scezny only conceding two and we scored twelve now for the maths that averages as two goals scored a game and 1.16 recurring conceded if we manage that all season then we will be in a good position I say lets sell Nasri and if Barca meet our valuation Cesc too then bring in mata along with at least two of the aformentioned defenders and we will be in good shape. Though I still don’t think defending was our main problem last season mindset was our downfall let me explain why i think this. Lets take a couple of example firstly the Newcastle game 4-0 up at half time those players thought we have won this thats game over and didn’t turn up mentally for the second half and conceded four. The second is the carling cup final the players picked apart from one or two believed the press and everyone else and felt that just by turning up on the pitch they had the cup in the bag and that complacency or disrespect of the opposition cost us the first piece of silverware in a long time. This malaise or problem appears when we play the mid to lower end teams and needs to be rectified. Finally I would love to see wenger sign Cahill because apart from what he will bring defensively at set pieces qand open play the goals he will score at set pieces will also be valuable
Great point by Will. We had a team of stars, who were not stars when we bought them. Some seasons ago Wenger said it was getting more and more difficult to do and so it has proven. Take injuries to KEY players as well; if Henry and Sol were both out for the season… or Viera… we would not have won what we won in the glory days.
We have bought lots of pace in so far and the squad is more English than it has been for a long time. Yes… we need a commanding centre back (and another solid, ball-winning midfielder, in my opinion) but we can only buy who is for sale and we can only spend the money that we have.
Chill out, stop whining like little girls and get behind your club and your manager; we’ve enough moaners in the squad without having to put up with them in the stands.
Hi Rico. I see that Fabregas and Nasri are still setting the agenda for dear old Arsene. He said earlier in the transfer window that selling them both would mean that we are not a big club but then he said a lot of things before the season ticket payment deadline was upon us. Are we moaners if we expect him to stick to those statements or are we just punters?
l call that blind faith…
Hi all…sorry will but both viera and henry were world champions at the time….nice post steve. Am all excited too. Get me mata and we ll tear them a new one…..i pity the wing backs who ll be lining up against u. First theo and the gerv runs them ragged then late in the second half we introduce the NORTH LONDON SPRINT RELAY TEAM: ryodinho and oxpot…..boy are they in for a rough time!
We don’t need Wenger to bring in “Huge names” just huge players, Will if you look at the list of players you just jot down. they are all over 6′ tall (Except Ljungbeg).
Our team very much needs height in it.
Viera joined us in 1996 not a world champion then Stan…..morning HH!
Goonster. I reckon you are right and we should be good going forward. But without Fabregas turning defense into attack, who will supply the ammunition? Jack, when fit I suppose, but it’s a big weight to put on a young boy. But it is what is happening at the other end of the pitch which should surely be concerning those who make the decisions at the club. It sure concerned me when we can be so easily outdone by a long ball over the top. Pulis must be drooling (a horrible image I know) at the thought of our defense. Failure to address this area this year will be criminal.
Sorry Goonster, but didn’t Vieira join in 1996?
Sorry ESP….meant bobby pires. My bad.
Ha, no problems mate!
And you had heard of then Goonster and were rejoicing we had bought these players?
I know many Arsenal fans who were happpier we had Suker than Henry.
Am appalled to see almunia on that list….what’s that about? He should be sold pronto.
Ask Dixon or Keown how many hours they spent on training and in games before they became “famous”. Do you really think that bringing in some CB in the last minute will strengthen our defence right away? And before the trasnfer window closes we will be playing 3 PL games and a CL qualifier. Wenger has lost it!
I think that bringing in Cahill or Samba and playing them instead of Squillaci will strengthen our defense straight away, yes.
Who would take Almunia? There is no chance of off-loading him, I wonder what his wages are like? No doubt far too high for a player who was bought as a 2nd choice GK, and thats all he ever was.
Guys, it is not so much the defence but the midfield reacts to danger rather than seeing it coming and getting into position. We have three or four players around the ball playing safe 3 yard passes but if the ball is lost, one pass takes those players out, the rest of the midfield has not slid over and is still on the other side of the pitch so the defence has to push up to close space leaving them open for a ball over the top.
Plus, the best way to stop that pass is to stop it at source, meaning it is up to the strikers to close down space not allowing defenders the time to look up and pick out players. Is that is done, the midfield get time to regroup and get into position and the long ball is not really a threat any more.
Yeah ESP I ll like to know how much he earns.
Moring again all, sorry for the delay in letting the new comments on, first comments always go into moderation….
Adam: If you knew a little bit about football and took your head out of Wengers arse maybe you also would realize that wenger hasn’t got a clue how to organize a defence. It isn’t just about the the individual players, it is about organisation, communication, training, experience etc.
Positivity will bring the good times back to Arsenal!!! Great Article!!
Stefan. I think that your insulting nature say more about you than your undoubtedly superior knowledge of football ever could.
Am hoping somebody takes almunia off our hands. The guy is useless.
Stefan, come on, no need for the insults, quit it please and now, we don’t behave that way here on HH….
Yeah what is that all about? Must you guys insult one to drive your point through….Rico I don’t think you should tolerate this we are all civil people here and insults will not be condoned.
Adam – i also believe that adding a quality CH would strenghten our defence – especially if he’s a natural organiser..
Thank you Rico. I don’t agree with some of the views on here but I wouldn’t stoop to those insults. Believe me though, I can hold my own in an argument on or offline and to suggest that I am a slave to Wenger’s views is slightly wide of the mark as you well know.
No probs Adam, Many of us don’t agree but we all have one thing in common, that’s Arsenal….. And yes, I do know re the Wenger comment….
I just heard the FA may cancel all the opening day fixtures due to all the riots..
This is a bit of a shock if true…
Carlos Vela is close to a move to Real Sociedad on loan….
Not sure about the invective but the point is well founded,Yes we have made signings and we seem to be heading toward a fast counter attacking style but he has left it too late to rectify the problems in midfield and especially defence. To get that right any new influence will require time and practice this time is dissipating fast. We all know that the solution is not just buying a telegraph pole to stick in the middle of defence , the pole has to move and to move in concert with the players around him . The time for getting this right has gone. It’s all well and good to say that there is still time before the window shuts but by then we will be 3 league and 2 champions league games down. In recent years the league has been won by teams that only lose 5 or so games often less. so 60% of those could be used up 40% of which are against Liverpool and Man utd. This is why I am still glass half empty , we have not addressed the problem , we may well do but until we do I can’t fill the other half of my pint.
Hi Potter, I am on the fence still, yes the signings we have made ar very good so far but should we get to the 31st August and we have done nothing about tightening up our defence then we will always be vulnerable…
My glass is still heading towards empty… I just hope that Steve’s faith turns out to have been well placed…
Excellent! Whereas the media wants to show the world that there is a crisis at Arsenal, Wenger is very relaxed, because he knows that the crisis is only being created, but doesn’t exist. I don’t think losing Clichy, Nasri and Fabregas, Bendtner, Eboue and Denilson tantamounts to a crisis. I really don’t. First, Clichy was past it already, despite being only 25, given his consistency with schoolboy mistakes. I sincerely believe Gibbs is a better player, in all aspects. Second, Nasri’s wouldn’t as well. He has been one of the most inconsistent players in all the three years he has been at Arsenal. Even in his best season in Arsenal colours, he was anonymous in the run-in, one of the major reasons for a poor finish. He is very replaceable-Mata much much better. Third, despite his unmatched creativity, Cesc has candidates waiting to take his role, Ramsey and Wilshere, but it’s the Englishman who is most suited and better placed to do so. He’s a more forward-thinking player than Wenger played him last season, and so, would blossom even more in the Cesc role. He accumulated 2 goals and 9 assists playing that deep. He made over 50 appearances, meaning, he would assure Arsenal more games than the Spaniard, who has made it a custom to not finish the season through injury for the past three years. Ramsey’s talent is also well documented, and would do the job if called upon, but more preferably, playing the two at once would perfectly cover for loss of the skipper.
The others, the world knows they are not good enough and their departure would not mean anything. We need not be swayed by the pessimistic media as in Wenger we have a manager more than capable of setting up a team capable of being very competitive. Besides, he now has money to spend, and the signing of Chamberlain for a reported 15m is testament to that. With a bit more patience, we shall finally realise that Wenger was actually doing a realistic job throughout the summer. And before those additions, we have team to beat New Castle and Udinese, don’t we?
Adam, you made it through war-torn Hackney then? 🙂
I think we will get Mertesacker and Cahill either before the season start, or just before August 31. Anyways, I really think that is all we need on this team, provided Cesc stays. We have a solid goalkeeper with two good backups (Mannone and Fabianski), our right back position is solid (Sagna, and Jenkinson) and if we bring in Mertesacker and Cahill we have good cover for them (Kos, and JD), and if we move Vermaelen to LB then we have cover for him (Gibbs). In all honesty I think Cesc will stay with us this season because Barcelona are just messing around, and once we have him cup-tied he ain’t going anywhere. UP THE GUNNERS
😆 Lee
Arsenal, I’d be bloomin happy with those two….
I can not wait for saturday. I am of the belief,and you can label me as you please,that our defense will be 100% better with the return of TV,and double that improvement with Koscielny a year older and more experienced. I honestly believe he will shock the hell out of people and become a great player for the club. Seriously,a lot of pressure was put on him due to two things. Firstly,a lack of defensive pressure higher up the pitch,and a lack of composure from his fellow central defender…..he did make some mistakes,but he also improved immensely as the season progressed. This is not to say another centreman is not required,as the better the squad,the better the results. Time will tell,nobody will remember my comments anyway,but i think they will prove correct in the long run.
I like the positive vibes, COYG!!!!
Good read.i can see the positive vibes are growing as days go by.lets hope AW does his part too.o.
Organisation froom midfield and a dominating centre back and we are peanuts.
Hi Scott, i’m not sure the game will be on…
Hope Wenger feels them Lee 😉
back in 20 mins…
Howdy Gooners
EPL to decide tomorrow whether to postpone the weekends programme, or not….
Some positive vibes on here today… Very welcome…
So the writer of this blog had a brief recovery from his delusions, but then had a relapse. Hope he’ll see the light when the real joker – Wenger – resigns for his incompetence and neglect for this, and previous seasons.
” In Arsene we rust.”
How are we rusting?
Oh dear, some people are hard to please….
A list of rusting.
Own our own stadium
Own our own training ground
Several top class players
Several Top Top class prospects
Very little debt
MASSIVE income streams that will allow us to compete
A manager EVERY team in world football would sign in an INSTANT.
Top 4 since forever.
Always in the final stages of most if not all comps.
Apart from the clubs who burn money, who can say that?
Will, i was watching an interesting video [u-tube] and the amount of chances we miss is quite appalling.
Imagine if we only took another 15/20% of those opportunities, and maybe the defence would cease to be the issue it currantly is?
When we dominate games, but maybe only score one, it leaves the defence vunerable, but the fault should be equally shared by our goalscorers.
And yes, before someone goes ‘into one’ about the Newcastle game, yes it was unacceptable, but it also was a freak result, and they do happen occassionally.
Kev, I have said that all season, have you not been paying attention? 😉
I call it my 50% law. If we take 20 shots or have 20 attempts I would like 50% of thos on target, not unrealistic for highly paid pro players. Then out of that 50%, I would like to turn a further 50% into goals.
It triicky games, we have 12 attempts, 6 on target, 3 goals.
Simplified I know but basically doable.
allezkev@11.55 – And some people are too easy to please. Namely most of the apathetic and complacent A.K.B.’s on this site. Wenger signs attackers and yet more kids, instead of addressing the real priority, which is DEFENCE. Quality EXPERIENCED defenders and a defensive midfielder are required URGENTLY.
“Oh but the transfer window hasn’t closed yet.” That’s beside the point. The above reinforcements should have been signed LONG BEFORE this, to give them time to settle in and adapt. We HAVE the money, A.K.B.’s., 40 -50 million – and that’s BEFORE we sell Fabregas or Nasri.
Wenger could show real ambition and INTENT, and spend 17 million on Cahill. But he continues to haggle the prices down. So what if he’s overpriced ? Pay whatever it takes to improve the team where it’s needed. Stop pretending like we’re broke, when we’re clearly not !
” In Arsene we rust.”
Spectrum, I have asked you very nicely, how are we rusting?
Anyone want to help out?
I always swear at the hammer when I hit my thumb, so you shouldn’t feel too bad about sending messages to a man who can’t see and won’t listen.
Does anyone remember Wenger saying that we couldn’t possibly sell Nasri because it would give off the wrong signal of where we were as a club. I wonder what signal our summer of transfer inactivity has given off. Seems to me, following last season’s disaster and the fact that Squillaci will still be wearing an Arsenal kit at the weekend, Alan Pardew will have the easiest job in football on Saturday.
Will – O.k. well how about the neglect shown via my post above ? We’re rusting. Showing no real ambition. Not addressing the obvious weaknesses in the side. Have we signed a defensive coach to improve on our set piece defending ? Would have helped, would it not ? Haven’t read anything in the media about that, have you ? Or maybe Wenger has forgotten we actually need a defence ?
He’s had all the off season to get a defender in. But he’s either the unluckiest negotiator in history, or else ( more likely ) he hasn’t changed his ways and still wants to pay half the asking price or less. As we have the money, why has he a phobia about spending it ? We’re supposed to be SERIOUS about winning the league this season, aren’t we ? Just like the kids were supposed to win us the league last season too ? And we saw what happened there, didn’t we ?
” In Arsene we rust.”
We are rusting? Do you know who and what we are up against?
Oh and I am looking forward to seeing Liverpool do a Leeds.
And Will – What is Almunia still doing at our club ? No-one wants him, that’s why. And yet Wenger put his faith in this clown for most of the last couple of seasons. Same goes for Denilson. And now Squillaci. Perhaps if we weren’t paying such high wages to deadbeats like these, and kids who have yet to prove themselves, we might have enough to pay the wages of the ones who will benefit us – like Cahill.
It’s neglect and inaction like this, that confirms what I proclaim – “In Arsene we rust.”
Hi Kev 🙂
Spectrum no need for the AKB label here please, some have glass empty, some half full and some full, just because there are fans who believe Wenger will buy the right player for the defence before the window closes, they don’t need to be name called…
Why support Arsenal then if we are so poor?
Will, please don’t go down the ‘support’ route…..
You know supporting AFC is not something a fan ditches at the first sign of trouble…
Jeez, we are a defender, maybe two away from having a pretty good squad, lets give Wenger the chance to sign that player, ok, i know i don’t have great faith in the fact that he will but while the window is open and he’s saying he will, i’m sitting waiting with fingers crossed…..
If he doesn’t, then that’s different…..
Goal.com report we are in advanced talks over Scott Dann….
Will – Are you convinced that Gibbs will get through an entire season unscathed, with an injury record like his ? A puff of wind would blow him over and twist his ankle. Amazingly enough, he’s just injured himself during our last pre season match. Who would have thought ? Not Wenger it appears. He is content to use Gibbs as our first choice left back. And he has said he won’t be buying another LB to replace him. That’s a gamble that shouldn’t be taken, agree ? He also happens to be inexperienced, which is contrary to what Wenger said is required. But of course, he’s a Project Youth graduate, and would save on a transfer fee. And that’s what’s REALLY IMPORTANT, isn’t it ?
” In Arsene we rust.”
Would you come on here and say that you are a know-nothing fan if Gibbs plays the majority of league games and plays fantastically?
Spectrum,
I’m not convinced Gibbs will get through unscathed, but we have TV who can play there, Jenkinson, Kos and Traore – not ideal to move them and maybe Wenger will go get Baines or Enrique but I doubt it…
Is a fit all season Gibbs and Traore any worse than Clichy??
Will – I support Arsenal – NOT Arsene. Fifteen years of him is more than long enough. I had respect for him once, and for the same reasons you gave. But unlike you, I can see the time has come for him to move on. The longer he stays, the more respect he loses from his “credit” account.
” In Arsene we rust.”
So you supported him in the good times?
Do you know who and what we are up against?
That is the comment thrown up by apologists Will , facts are it doesn’t come into it. All through Arsenal’s history we have never been known for breaking transfer records. However we have bought well in the market. Recently we have sold well too but no-one expects us to buy players at the top of the game , in the last few windows people like Ronaldo , Kaka , Schnieder etc. but in the past we have acquired Bould, Dixon players that have developed and those that haven’t Cygan Squillachi per example. It really doesn’t matter that the oil rich Arabs and Russian investors can outbid us , we just need to be proactive in the market and find players one step away from the very top. Two years ago we needed a central defender and a midfield defensive player . We still do !
Go to be honest Will, i agree with Spectrum, I’m an Arsenal fan, regardless of the manager and Wenger has been great for us but he is living on his past reputation right now and this transfer window could make or break him….
Well, I will stand on here alone waving my Arsenal flag proud and true.
Spot on Potter,
i dont think anyone expects AFC to compete in the market as the rich teams do but, there are players out there who would make us stronger ahich won’t break our bank….
As will we all , but that doesn’t mean we have to close our eyes to do it.
We’ll all wave the AFC flag Will but right now the defence we have will be our downfall again, 21 days left for Wenger to put that right….
And you don’t think their fee’s have been artificially raised?
Cahill, £17M? Really?
Rico – As I said – Gibbs is injury prone. He’s shown that. He’s just hurt himself again F.F.S. ! Why not avoid or at least minimise, the risk, and buy a quality LB to shore up the position ? Baines or Enrique. Enrique has been crying out for us to come in for him. He’s experienced. A Spanish international. And he’d cost only about 8 million. Wouldn’t it be prudent to pay such a small amount and have the peace of mind of knowing the position is stronger ? Isn’t that logical ? So why has Wenger not seen this ? If he has, and does nothing about it – as looks likely – then that is poor judgment and rank bad management. The team’s interests should be ahead of saving a lousy 8 million. Anyone would think we’re Charlton Athletic, not Arsenal F.C.
” In Arsenwe we rust.”
Yes Will, his price is high because his club value him, he’s the next English CH when Terry goes, go back to the day when UTD bought Ferdinand…
How much did he cost them? I don’t think the rich owners were even in place by then, it’s about being English more than it is anything else…
Lee. Yes, thank you. I set up a forward command post in Victoria Park and wearing camouflage, I made it through. Appreciate your thoughts though.
Rio cost £30M and was sold to the only club at the time who could afford him.
AND IT IS NOT JUST DEFENDERS.
I
It’s the market Will, last year GTX was 10.99 a gallon now it’s more like 14.99 . Probably the fee for Cahill is overpriced but he isn’t the only one out there. That is why Gazidis pays a fortune for scouts
2002, £30 million Rio cost….
£17 Million today for an English quality CH is not that much….
You made reference to Cahill Will, I was just commenting on why i don’t believe his valuation his that high….
After all it’s defenders we need now….
Spectrum, I know he’s injury prone, I know he’s not the answer and if i was AFC manager i would have bought a LB before selling Clichy and it would have been Baines or Enrique purely because they are both PL ready BUT i can see why Wenger won’t, i don’t agree with it though….
Will – 17 million is overpriced. But we can now afford it, and the team is in desperate need of strengthening defensively. Now is NOT the time to be cautious in the market. Other teams might not want to pay that kind of money. But their situation isn’t as urgent as ours.
Sometimes you have to be bold, and just pay what’s required to acquire the quality and experience you need. 17 million would activate Cahill’s buyout clause. He’s there IF we want him. Wenger won’t change the habit of a lifetime, despite the pressing need to do so. It’s not that we can’t pay, it’s that we haven’t got the balls to !
” In Arsene we rust.”
I actually don’t think 17M is overpriced but if he is not snapped up in this window, no doubt Wenger will wait for him to run down his contract…
Will – Well focussing on a (very relevant) catchphrase, instead of debating the issues, is an easy and convenient way of avoiding things, isn’t it ?
You can put your fingers back in your ears now.
“In Arsene we rust.”
Rico – Hey – I’ve got a radical idea. How about selling Nasri for say, 20 million, immediately, instead of waiting a year and losing him for nothing ? With that money, we could buy Cahill outright NOW. But that would go against the grain with Wenger, wouldn’t it ? Meanwhile the clock is ticking on the transfer window……
” In Arsene we rust.”
I disagree Rico, I think Cahill is expensive but he would considerable improve our defence, and even more so if we’d got him at the start of the transfer window and intergrated him into the squad…
Or I could say so ner.
I agree with some of your points but not the way you put them or the fact you are happy to throw one of the most sort after managers in world football to one side because other teams have come in and spent the equivilent of a small nations national debt on buting titles.
Sorry love, your boobs are saggy, your bags are packed, see ya.
sell nasri buy mata and still buy cahill, no?
Most of us have been saying that for ages Spectrum 😉
I guess for a player on his last year of contract his price is high but we are doing that with Nasri too Lee, is he really worth £22 million??
If anyone thinks we’re not rusting, why has Wenger allowed the Fabregas, and now Nasri saga, to drag on as long as it has ? How weak and indecisive is Wenger ? It should never have got to the stage where it is distracting from our other transfer business and virtually paralysing the decision making process.
Stop mollycoddling these players. A deadline should have been set. If we have to let a disgruntled player go for a few million less, so be it. The interests of the team is paramount, not the fragile egos of a sulk, and a disillusioned money grabber. Would Sir Alex have tolerated this farce as long as Wenger has ?
” In Arsene we rust.”
He’s what we’ve been crying out for ages so don’t fuck about just do it and do it early…and hit the citeh bid for nasri and get a replacement that wants to play for us!!
I don’t think we’d have enough from just the sale of nasri Lee, not now Mata’s price has gone up… 🙁
Rico@1;40 – Then why has Wenger not done the bleedin’ obvious ? I suspect that apart from saving a few bob, he’ll place his faith in the kids. Just what we don’t need.
“In Arsene we rust.”
he had a low buy out clause no? 18m wasn’t it?
Spectrum,
I can understand why you say the sales should have been done but if Citeh wont make an offer or if anyone doesn’t make an offer for nasri, we can’t sell him.. Same with fabregas, Barca know what our valuation is, they either meet it of shut up….
As for the likes of Nik, Alunia etc, you said it earlier, no-one seems to want them…..
i’m a bit saddened to see this blog descend into a free-for-all this morning, just as i am disappointed to see the “doomer” and “akb” labels thrown about so freely – as if this is one of the well-known agenda-driven blogs where those who do not buy into the group-think are immediately labeled…come on people – we are above that…
sure there are plenty of actual “doomers” and “akb”‘s out there. there are also plenty of full-up arsenal supporters who are not entirely happy with how this summer has gone and are apprehensive about the upcoming seasons – i am one of them – and i certainly hope you are not labeling me a doomer, steve…
the reverse also applies, there are many who are optimistic about the upcoming season, believe in their hearts that the team will do great things – this does not mean they deify our manager or think he is infallible…
can we please stop with this childish labeling? leave that to other sites…
our first match is just two days away. as difficult as it is, why don’t we let the summer take care of itself, and concentrate on kickoff and what we can hopefully accomplish when we start playing…
for the record, i am apprehensive and i think we have had a poor summer. we have not really impressed in the friendlies, cesc and nas remain a black cloud hovering above the club – and chamakh has confirmed it is affecting the dressing room…we are seeing key injuries already and the partial sample we have seen during the friendlies indicates we still have defensive issues…nevertheless, we should remember that we are not the only team with issues and problems…every team – in the prem and europe – has vulnerabilties, ones which another team can exploit. every team is only a couple of key injuries away from a completely different outlook…
spending money on players is no guarantee of improvement – just as standing pat and keeping a team together is also no guarantee. why don’t we just see what happens when we finally kick off? maybe, just maybe, this team has it, will gel on the job and win something – perhaps more than just something – this year…there is a long way to go until may, so i am going to try and enjoy the ride as best as i can…
Lee – 17 mill I think. This is the season we’re supposed to show INTENT, isn’t it ? To demonstrate that we’re really SERIOUS about winning something. So far, the only intent we’ve shown, is to lie to, and deceive the supporters. But then, what else is new ?
“In Arsene we rust.”
That’s a question I cannot answer Spectrum, he won’t pay over the odds for any player, we know that and that’s prob why he won’t go for Cahill…
But he was happy to accept £15M for Toure and £25M for Ade…..
Somewhere around that Lee, it ceratinly wasn’t a huge amount for a player of his quality
http://www.emirates247.com/sports/football/nasri-luka-wes-and-fab-move-but-arsenal-2011-08-10-1.412460
“In Arsene we rust.”
What’s wrong with Samba at 12 million ? He stated he wanted to play for us. Why was the deal not wrapped up quickly, and then move on to the next target ? It’s obviously all about MONEY. We’re a business enterprise, not a football club anymore. Run by an accountant, not a manager. And we’re now customers, who purchase merchandise that makes a profit, and are sold on false promises every year, coincidentally at season ticket renewal time. When will the Wenger worshipper sheep wake up ?
” In Arsene we rust.”
Interesting article Spectrum…..
AW fucks up on purpose. I’m sure he does
I think most would take Samba in a flash, he’d certainly be my second choice. I can only see it’s about money buy like the article says, we pay a fair hefty price for unproved players…
How much was Kos and Squilli? I can’t remember but i don’t think they were cheap…
rico, i think our french (french/polish) duo were upwards of 8 million…not cheap at all…nobody is these days…
£8.5 for kos i think….
£5 for squill rings a bell…
oh i forgot the million
Oliver@2:35 – Except for one.
” In Arsene we rust.”
Hi oliver, sorry i missed your earlier comment:
I have tried to nip the name calling in the bud, but it’s not easy at the moment as i’m not always home to monitor the comments…
As for the weekend, it is highly likely that there will be no football if the riots continue overnight….
Lee, i prefer your prices….
oliver 8.5m for Kos compared to 12million for Samba, I think Samba would have been a better buy but, we could look at that another way…
If we paid £13.5 Milion for the two of them, last summer that would have probably got Cahill, would that not have made more sense?
Re you first comment of the day oliver, it’s a very good one – i’m not at all excited about our prospects going into the new season as we stand today.
we have a very unsettled captain who clearly want’s to leave.
nasri, who obviously doesn’t want to be at afc as he refuses to sign a new contract.
Bendtner who is desperate to find a new club
Eboue, also wants to find a new club
Almunia wants to find a new club..
Regardless of whether we want them to leave or not, regardless of our own views on how good or bad they are, right now we have FOUR bad apples in our squad…
I’m am not a Doomer or a whinger, but i know that what i have just outlined is not good for arsenal football club!
What effect is that all having on the others, the good apples???
spec, at 6-plus million per annum, i would not necessarily call him cheap…i understand your point is more about his spending habits than wages…
Been away for a spell, so i’ve got a load of comments to catch up on.
Spectrum, me old son, if you wanna call me an AKB, then you go ahead, i consider that a compliment, so thank you.. 😉
Now to catch up.
thanx ricco…i thought coming in that we needed to have a good summer, and despite a couple of good signings, i don’t think we have…but kickoff is (likely) only two days away – we should be thinking about newcastle and how to beat them…a not-so-good summer does not automatically portend a dismal failure of a season…
i think many are apprehensive – does not make us “doomers”…fact is that two of our top players want to leave – i don’t think anyone can reasonably make the argument now that they want to stay – and it appears to be hamstringing us with regards to further player acquisitions, places in the starting eleven, designation of captain/vice captains, and is also affecting the mood within the dressing room…how can we accomplish all our preparations and summer business when this is not yet resolved?
thinking we still have problems and are not as ready for kickoff as we should be does not make one a “doomer”…nor does criticizing arsene and the board when warranted. it is possible to do these things and still support arsenal football club – that is why i hate such liberal use of the “doomer” tag…
just as someone optimistic about the squad and our prospects may not worship the ground our manager walks on, or support him over the club itself. being optimistic for the season and happy with how the summer has gone does not make one an “arsene knows best”…again, that tag is used too liberally…
how did we ever get this polarized?
ricco, regarding the kos versus samba, i think arsene emphasized kos youth (meaning he could mold him) and technical skills (ability with the ball at his feet)…i personally think we have too many defenders of that mold, but i am guessing that is one of the things that arsene valued when he chose to bid for kos…
i think a strong, experienced defender would definitely help. whether we get one or not, i would like to see us emphasize defence a little more in our style of play. everything is geared towards attack and keeping/regaining possession as much/quickly as possible – so no wonder that we get caught out so quickly and easily…when our defensive midfielder is asked to get forward often and our full-backs are played more as seventh/eighth attackers than defenders, it is no wonder we are not solid, that we look misshapen and panicked when under pressure…
i understand this is arsene’s vision, but i think a little pragmatism would benefit us…have our dm concentrate on breaking up attacks and shielding the back four. have the full-backs concentrate on defensive positioning first and overlapping attacking second…have our attacking midfielders/forwards pressure the ball when we don’t have it, force opposition defenders into turnovers in their half of the pitch…i think if we can get proficient at that, we are still capable of scoring plenty of goals, but conceding less…
with more structure and solidity, i think much-maligned players such as squil will be able to show their good qualities more often…
I’m pretty much on the same wave legth as you i think oliver, whilst i think the signings we have made will turn out to be good ones, they will not help us to sort out the defence nor will they stop us conceding the kind of goals we so often do.
Should Arsene Wenger not sign the much needed defender/organiser at the back we will still continue to concede goals, silly goals.
Also, unless we have a captain who is fully comitte to leading our side and setting a never say die attitude on the pitch until the final whistle blows we will also continue to be vulnerable late on in matches..
In all honesty, as much as i am looking forward to arsenal being back and the Premier League re-starting, right now I fear for the side I support…
Afternoon Kev …
Blimey, i thought i’d stumbled onto a certain un-named blog earlier today by mistake.
Repeating slogans doesn’t win an argument or make you a better fan than anyone else.
It just makes you an extremist…
Afternoon Rico,
Evening Oliver..
hi kev…it’s actually still morning here…
The problem I have oliver is we sign:
Untried and tested
And, usually from a league other than in England.
We all know it takes players time to settle, time to get used to the Pl, TV was a kind of exception but if he had his faults in his first season.
Look at how well we did at the back when Wenger got Big Sol in, he gelled straight away and didn’t need any bedding in time. Right now that’s what I think we need, not another oveseas risk..
Cahill, Samba, even Dann would make us stronger, they are used to the PL.
Re Kos, i’m not a fan if i’m honest, he’s too lightweight and Miquel is almost a clone but i’m sure you are right about Wenger wanting to mould him but what into I wonder?
Squilli five years ago would have been ok but now i’m not sure if he offers us much…..
i’d much rather we had kept Bartley…
I can understand the misgivings that some fans on here have. I also share a lot of them.
But i am not going to apologise for being positive, going into this season.
If certain individuals object to my views, well, that’s just tough!
If they want to hate Wenger, then there’s really nowt i can do.
Their minds are made up.
COYG
C’mon, let’s not drag on our andst since CC FInal right to the new season.
Water beneath the bridge.
Why wallow in miseries over past misdeeds?
Wenger’s teams are always based on attacking football, and the philosophy of:
“You scored 3 against us, and we will score 4 goals to beat you.”
It is simply that after 2007/08 season, with the best midifeld of Rosicky-Fabregas-Flamini-Hleb we saw after French Spine, the team degenerated from “One-Touch One-pass Breathing-taking” Football to the Crab Football we saw for the past 3 seasons where 20+ to 30+ sideway and backwards passes are done languidly, and invariably the final ball hitting a defender or sailed over the heads of all in the box and ended in the opposition side of the pitch.
But the chances we created are mostly half-chances, seldom clear-cut thru’ passes, and we don’t have a deadly finisher like Henry.
Perhaps, this season we will get luck of the green, Van Persie for once in his career at Arsenal manages to play 40+ games this season, and of course, Walcott came into his own and is a 20+ league goals finisher that we all are craving for since Henry.
I wouldn’t be too concern over our Defence as long as we score IN EVERY GAME.
Do not look at the Defence, but this season, look at how well we play as an Integral UNIT with MIDFIELD providing protection in front of Back-4, as well as FB sweeping between CB Pairing to nullify all those quick break-thru’ of last season as well as those exhibited by Benefica last weekend.
Do not judge 2011/12 TEAM by extrapolating on that dreadful collapse of 2011.
Just remember we do not have a complete team, but an ad hoc team racked by horrendous injury list such that Wenger cannot even field a team that played in 2 or 3 consecutive games. WC2010 was a killer with little pre-season training for those players at WC2010, as well as our key players in Fabregas returning with a chronic injury and TV absenced for the whole season, Arshavin off-formed for the whole season, completely new CB pairing playing for the 1st tiem together, plus their debut season with Arsenal.
Not forgetting four goalies rotating with Fabianski and Szczesney injured at key moment of the season.
Plus that french sewer rat stopped playing in 2011 as if he had done enough in 2010 like a whore in a display window, blatantly displaying her wares to ManU and CITEH.
Therefore, no matter whatever our Back-4 is, it will be a massive improvement over that ad hoc 2010/2011 team.
Least we forgot, Fabregas virtually had no major impact on 2010/11 season and he is merely a passenger with Nasri’s goal carried the team in the 1st half of season; and Van Perise carryng the team in 2nd of the season….plus even with Nasri and Cesc, we won 2 out of last 15 games with senior players liek SOng, CLichy, Djourou and Sagna simply stopped playing..1.e. having a ‘mare in last 11 games; and Squillaci being Squillaci???
In summary, in contrast to 2010/11 season, even without Nasri and Cesc, how can we be doing worse than 2010/11 season. A dismal season with Arshavin and Rosicky anonetities, Cesc had no impact on the season, Van Persie and Nasri missing half a season, Walcott inconsistent blowing hot and cold,
I will say, anything is better than 2010/11 season, with all those angry and hungry players willing to play for Arsenal on the pitch.
And if as expected, all premiership games are postponed this weekend, Wenger just got an “extra week” to fine-tune the team and to integrate new players into Arsenal style of play.
I was thinking in reverse Oliver, sorry… 😉
Oh, btw, i don’t mean the ‘regulars’…
Kev, i think i’m going to have to be a bit more strict on the moderating 😉
Like oliver says, we all have a view, just because i’m not happy with the squad it doesn’t mean i am a doomer, i’m just telling it as i see it..
The Scott Dann story is gathering pace….
I know, Rico, but people like Spectrum have an agenda.
Sadly i was down the gym whilst he was ranting away.
I read fans like him all the time, their minds are made up.
Fair enough, they’re entitled to their views, i’ll certainly debate with him anytime.
Afternoon AK/morning Oliver/evening Merlin (rude of me)….yeah AK, come on you Gunners!! PMA is what we need plus either Cahill/Samba, I really fancy us to get a result up on Tyneside. Late kick-off (if it does kick off at all)ESPN?
we are ripping India a new one in the cricket btw…
Bruno Ecuele Manga…. Lorient’s 6′ 1″ defender… Remember his name guys…..
I know Kev but he does make very good points too 😉 I have seen him on other sites doing the same as he has done here….
Lee, we need to get Dhoni out, he’s battering the bowlers for the first time this summer….
Merlin, did i miss Merlin coming on – Afternoon to you…
ricco, for the record i don’t think squil was a good purchase. i am sure he was good for as monaco and sevilla, but he just does not seem a good fit for us. that does not mean, however, with a little more defensive structure, that he cannot perform adequately when asked to. even last season, he at least a couple of games where he did well – home to stoke comes to mind, where he scored our goal and we kept a clean sheet despite being under constant pressure for the last 30 minutes or so….
arsene himself said earlier that he would prefer buying a cb with premiership experience – and i think he cited many of the same reasons you did – this summer, so you are in good company there. i also think we need someone with prem experience, someone different to what he already have in seeming abundance…
merlin, i get your point about the attacking football, but i don’t think we will be fine if we score in every game…some may not like it, but defending is just as much a part of the game as attacking. if we cannot be solid defensively, we will be found out – it’s happened before and it will happen again…
i also think that our 2010-11 team was a little less ad-hoc than you think…yes, we had injuries, but we had a fully fit robin available for most of the second half…tv was out of the mix as early as september, so he was not even a consideration…we got good mileage out of other key players such as jack and song.
we did have some stretches where we had several key players out at the same time, but i don’t remember prolonged absences like in previous seasons. remember the second leg at camp nou from two seasons ago? we sent a skeleton team out there…i don’t recall us being down to such bare bones at any point during the 10-11 season…
i admire your optimism, however, i prefer to be pragmatic. i think we have a good team, but i think we have problems with confidence, team spirit, tactics and player mix. i hope that we can overcome these things – but i think they are real and a potential hindrance…it’s up to arsene and the players to make it happen.
Yep Lee, ESPN 🙂
SS report the Cesc saga is stepping up too…..
I know nothing of him but I feel we need EPL experience Rico, and I think Kos will be really useful this season!
Merlin,
I can’t help but worry about the defence, we go all out attack and too often even Song has been up in the box, the oppo breaks and we are on the back foot.
Were we more solid and organised and didn’t get caught out with the ball over the top it souldn’t be so bad and then add the set-piece debarcle on and we are in trouble…
Stoke are in talks for Crouch and Palacios 😮 wonder if Shawcross is going the other way…..
Hi Lee, Rico, good afternoon.
Fun over here and I take it as my mission to spread “positive vibes” even if teh da Fat Lady is belting out loud and clear on the stage.
enough of calling Wenger a hypocritical snake-oil salesman till Sept 1 then when no CB and defender are signed……..lol..
Just give that man the benefit of reasonable till the season kicked off and Transfer WIndow closes on AUgust 31.
You knwo the trend, like Arshavin, signing of CB may drag on till August 31 at 23:59:59……lol
one or two games though oliver, that’s all and its not enough, not even for a fourth choice defender. at least if we get one more, he’ll be fifth choice and yes, in certain games he could be ok, maybe if we draw torquay in the CC or FA Cup 😉 😉
But, i know you didn’t see him as a good signing, i don’t think any of us did 😉
Rico, there’s making points, and there’s a diatribe.
I wish i’d been here when he was making his points.
12 million upfront for Oxlade – Chamberlain. That was the exact fee for Samba. Ironic isn’t it ?
“In Arsene we rust.”
How do you know Spectrum?
All the Parker talk, died a death, he’d be a good addition? Plus our new commanding CB and I’d be loads more optimistic…
Oh, hi Lee btw
Well, don’t leave me alone next time then Kev 😉
Totally agree Lee, we cannot afford to give a new defender time to settle, he needs to be ready to hit the ground running ….
SS say that we are in advanced negotiations now with barca and suggestion is we are going to lower our value….
That info came from one of the terrible two who report from Spain….
Have we signed the mega defender cum saviour yet or should I start burning my Wenger effergy now?
Sorry Rico…
I thought you was a big girl… 😉
Next time i’ll be here to hold your hand… 😀
Will, 🙂
Rico,
The main problem is that we did not scored in every games and our conversion ratio of chances created was poor.
To play an attacking game, Arsenal must scored first to force our oppponent to open up theri game which means Arsenal will score a 2nd pretty quick.
Problem of last season is that we were alwasy chasing the game with opponent scored a quick goal, parked a Santini Bus with 10-0-0 formation, inviting Arsenal to attack ’em with Crab Football and their defenders having a tea party in the box, knowing very well 99% of Arsenal final balls will either passed to ’em or hit their legs, bodies or sailed over the box into Row Z.
To win the title, it is not encessary to beat Top-4 as proven by ManU in 2008/9 season where they lost to Top-4 (including home and away to Arsenal) and yet managed to beat Bottom-12 teams, snatching 70 out of 72 points available.
If we are to win the 2011/12 title, we must emulate ManU and collect 70 out 72 points against Bottom-12 teams.
And thsi 2011/12 team is capable of doign that as Arsene Wenegr will get rid of thsoe french poodles, pretty boys and bottlers that let Arsenal down big-time last season.
Will says:
August 10, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Have we signed the mega defender cum saviour yet or should I start burning my Wenger effergy now?
__________________________________________________
Do it on Sep 01 at 00:00:00.
When is Guy Fawkes Day? November?
ricco, i think he would look better if were more defensively solid…he’s had the odd good game for us, but has look poor on far, far more occasions…i also think, however, he is at the point where his name is synonomous with defensive mistakes – benfica the latest in a catalogue of them – and perhaps another club would benefit all parties…
it’s taken him just over one season to reach “almunia territory”…
I am really Kev, I promise to try harder next time 😉
The question that needs asking today of all days is, are you a true Arsenal supporter, someone who is there in the lean times, someone who will clap and cheer even when you don’t want to or, are you a trophy fiend who boo’s players and pouts because you think your club is entitled to all and any trophy they want damnit?
I stand openly and firmly in camp A. There in the mid 70’s when we were dross and the 71 team were but a mere dream and the 79 team were not even a gleam in a gleam’s eye.
If you want to boo a team and throw away a manager who is at the top of his profession and yes, making us punch WAY above our weight, then don’t do it in front of me, I may call you a Johnny Come lately.
That’s true to a degree Merlin, hence too many draws but just think how the league would have looked had we not conceeded the goals to Tiny Totts, Newcastle both home and away and West Brom at home – we would have been a good few points clear with confidence sky high – that’s the kind of confidence that could just see us over the line and be a bit ‘more urgent’ up front…
Jeez, isn’t that a wenger line, ‘more urgent’ 😉
The Moroccan international branded the Gunners inability to find replacements for wantaway duo Samir Nasri and captain Fabregas as ‘a bit embarrassing’ during a recent interview for L’Equipe TV.
When asked if he thought Lyon’s playmaker Gourcuff could be the answer for Arsenal, Chamakh replied: ‘If I could recommend a player to him (Wenger) it’d be Yoann, yes.
‘But it’s up to the boss to decide if he wants him or not.’
The pair formed a formidable partnership during their time at Bordeaux, helping the club to a French league and cup double in 2009.
Both players left Les Girondins in 2010 and Gourcuff moved to Ligue 1 rivals Lyon for £20million.
Since then the 25-year-old has struggled for form, and has recently undergone ankle surgery that will keep him sidelined until at least September, which means it’s extremely unlikely Arsenal would be interested.
Wenger though, remains a fan, and may be tempted to launch a bid in January should Gourcuff be able prove his fitness.
Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/871971-marouane-chamakh-calls-for-yoann-gourcuff-to-replace-cesc-fabregas#ixzz1UdjOWqW1
___________________________________________________
Perhaps Wenger is in secret negotiation to line him up as ACM to replace Cesc?
I knew Wenger is a huge admirer of Gourcuff and tried to ply him away from Milan at one time.
ANyway his papa is coach of Loreint..perhaps another Wenger’s “inside track”?
allezkev@4;06 – How do I know ? It’s no secret – http://www.fansfc.com/story/34404.html
We have heaps of wingers already. So we buy yet ANOTHER one ( 18 years old ) for 12 mill, when we could have got Samba for the same money. Strange how we agonise over and won’t pay for, a player we DO need, yet have no problem when it comes to someone we DON’T!
” In Arsene we rust.”
That’s true oliver and with every mistake he made no doubt his confidnce dropped and we all waited for the next error, sadly, like Almunia it came, same could be said of fabianski a season ago…
Glad to hear it boss, you had me in a tizzy… :P:
From what I have seen of him (admittedly not a lot) Gourcuff does look a top player.
Will, a question for you…
Why do you always want to question a fans support??
I don’t understand it….
not surprised chamakh is lobbying for gourcuff at arsenal…as i understand, those two are pretty close…rumoured (in certain quarters) to be more than just friends…
that said, gourcuff is a pretty good player…
And you believe that rubbish do you Spectrum???
I thought you was gonna tell me that you knew Pat Rice…
Spectrum, saying “it’s no secret” is not actually backing up your wild accusations with unequivocal proof.
Arsenal – the only club that finishes fourth in a two horse race.
“In Arsene we rust.”
Because Rico, when your club needs you, you stand tall and proud and you back them the fuck up, you don’t piss and moan and boo the players off the pitch.
Way to make a fucking comfortable working enviroment booers.
Maybe me and a few mates can come round to your work place and boo you when you have an off day or don’t work to our insanly high standards.
Does that answer your question?
I still don’t think we need to ‘replace’ Nasri and Fabregas if they go…
Spectrum, do you read the Sun? Or maybe the Mirror or Star.
Do you believe all the shit they come out with?
India 224 all out.
Where’s Shrek……. :P:
I thnk Rambo can replace Cesc and I am not sure Nasri needs replacing now we have the 4 musketeers.
Well thanks for the really polite reply Will!! If that was to anyone else, I’d hit the bin button right now!!
My point is, just because fans all have a different view of Wenger, The Board and the players we sign or not, it doesn’t mean that when saturday evening arrives they won’t be stood in the crowd, sat in front of their television at home or in the pub, shouting the rooftops down in support of the club, does it??
The season is closed right now and most have their eyes wide open and can see loopholes that we pray get sorted out…
And that is because we know it’s for the good of the club.
Spectrum, do you listen to TalkShite?
Do you believe all the Arsenal-hating garbage they come out with?
Rico@4;29 – Haven’t you guessed ? Will is one of those “fans” you tell me I mustn’t mention. You know – the ones who elevate the manager above the club. And then they have the gall to say I don’t support Arsenal.
“In Arsene we rust.”
supporters support in different ways…i love arsenal, i will always support them…but for me, support does not mean closing my eyes and pretending things that i don’t like do not actually exist…life is never perfect, there will always be good with bad…
as a supporter, i won’t boo the players, i won’t call arsene and the players stupid, insulting names…but i will not be shy about voicing my opinion if i think a player is not that good…or has done something that brings discredit upon the club…or if i think arsene has made a mistake in a specific area…i am entitled to my opinion, just as anyone else is…
i will try and take the good with the bad…if they lose, i will continue to support and hope they win next time…i won’t turn my back on the club…if i think the club can do something better, i will say so, and i will try and offer a possible solution at the same time…i will praise where i feel it is warranted and i will criticise (constructively) where i feel it is warranted…
i love arsenal and i will always support them. if certain supporters think that i should only praise and cheer, and never be a “dissenting voice”, sorry…if certain supporters think i should be negative, that change will only come if supporters show nothing but dissatisfaction, that is just as wrong in my eyes…for me, support does not work these ways…
the nature of my support is a choice that i alone get to make, just as anyone else decides this for themselves…
Yeah but come on, this In Arsene we rust bollocks needs to stop. These are young boys and they need supporting, not some JCL booing and telling them they are all rubbish.
Supporting a team is just that, you support the team good and bad, not good only and dump the players and manager when it’s bad.
Wenger has an AMAZINGLY hard job and dismiss it all you want, going up against three of the cash richest clubs in world football is an almost impossible job.
We can’t possible have 2 top level players in every position and then some in the stands like two of those clubs so we have to rely on youth and second string players.
Are we better than Liverpool, Tottenham and those same level teams we go against.
It is like asking Mr Patel to put his corner shop up against Asda, Tesco and Sainsburys and out sell them.
allezkev and Will – Rubbish is it ? Take your pick from these, then. http://www.google.com.au/search?q=12+million+for+samba&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-aOr maybe they’re all lying. Part of the great media “conspiracy ” against Arsenal ? This “conspiracy” theory is just a smokescreen to cover for Wenger’s failings, conveniently latched onto by his devoted followers.
“In Arsene we rust.”
afternoon, evening, morning all be safe gunners.
Bravo Rico for this piece. I support the decision of Wenger to include the duo FabNas into the Champions league squad as I think it shows the dignity of our club is still alive. The fact that we have less money than those MoneybagsTrophyHuntingLoudMouth doesn’t mean we should give in to their illegal approaches to our players and base our decisions of choosing our squad players on whether they satisfied or not. No, we don’t care about them or about what those players want; we care about our club and have responsibility to only our club.
Arsenal gave lucrative contracts to those players in the past to win them trophies and respect the dignity of our club. So far they didn’t win anything that makes us believe that their other ambitions must be respected.
the argument that this will drive down their value in pounds is ridiculous and disregards the fact that if we fail to qualify, from this tie, to champions league proper as a result of giving in to FAbNas the costs will be higher by millions of pounds. So, it’s in the interest of Arsenal Football Club to utlise all the players we have to give us a good chance of progress from the tie.
Arsenal Wenger’s should think about the dignity and the interests of our clubs and that’s what he’s doing at the moment.
oliver – another good comment and the key word is ‘CONSTRUCTIVELY’ – what is happening right now amoung fans is the insults and sarcasm is coming out through frustration and I thought human beings were better than that….
Spectrum mate, i’m not interested, my mind is as closed as yours.
I will support my club despite and whatever you say.
And i don’t need to use some stupid website to back up my view.
Thank god you re positive again! Ramsey is going to be key this season
We’re not arguing whether or not Samba is priced at £12m are we??….please!!!
Rico@4;38 – Well said, mate. But unfortunately the logic is wasted on these types. It just goes over their head, or should that be through their ears and out the other side ?
“In Arsene we rust.”
Like I said earlier Will, the season is yet to begin, no doubt when it does every arsenal fan will be supporting, right now we have 21 days in the transfer window and those of us who can see flaws in the squad as fans, are discussing it….
Using google to back up your argument?
We have, Tv, JD and Kos, all pretty good players, we need one more and don’t forget Miguel who will need games.
Spectrum, Will/ak have been saying for ages on HH that we need a commanding CB & a brutal DM…
Spectrum, ‘these types’ come on, no need for that either please or you will go in the bin too – just because others don’t agree with you, no insluts please, read the HH rules… there aren’t many but insulting others is one…
ricco, it’s emotional right now…i repeat – how did we come to this point where we are so polarized?
the problem this morning – as i see it – is the entire debate is being framed strictly in the terms of the extreme positions…both in how people support the club (you either cheer and shout loudest, regardless of the situation, or your are negative, moron interested only in trophies) and how ready the squad is for the next season (no reason to think we won’t be significantly better this season or no reason to think we won’t be significantly worse this season)…
life – and arsenal – are too complex to be pigeonholed into strictly black and white terms of debate…
Afternoon osi, thanks re the peice…
Looks like we could be wrong though if SS’s are reporting what is right, they suggest we are going to lower our value….
I am sorry, saying get rid of Wenger and In Wenger We Rust are hardly sane and logical arguments and deserve all the derision they get.
Spectrum mate, finishing your comments with that ‘rusty’ slogan is beginning to sound a bit juvenile, and does absolutely nothing for your argument.
I suspect that if Wenger signed two centre-halfs, that you’d come on here ranting about him not buying a left-back, in fact, i think if arsenal wins a trophy this season, that you’ll actually be disappointed.
Your hatred of Wenger simply over rides any logical thought on your part.
In Arsene We Trust….. 😆
Re the ‘are we better than liverpool and tottenham’ last season, no to the spuds and evens with liverpool i’d say.
This season? who knows yet…
No Oliver, it’s called debate buddy, it’s a larf.. 😉
So we finished equal to them?
Will you lot give it a rest or i’m going to close the comments for the day and start again tomorrow….
kev, debate is great…but this is what you get when the debate is framed only in terms of the extreme positions…
there is plenty of middle ground on both subjects…i think the middle is where many of us stand on them.
No, Spuds beat us twice! That’s how i measure it…
Dippers, well we drew twice….
Lee, i make you right.
And i’m confident that our wonderful manager will bring in at least a C/H.
Of course, even that may not be enough in certain quarters…. 😉
sorry ricco…
i think you are right, we are not really getting anywhere…the atmosphere feels like a boiling pot with the lid on the verge of blowing off…
against the backdrop of all this, we have (as of now) a league fixture kicking off this weekend…
Oliver, explain to me how you can have a middle ground with a boy who has an insane hatred for Wenger and signs every post In Wenger we rust.
Yes we need a centre back, I have been saying it for ages but I also know we HAVE to balance books so we can’t over pay. £17m for a centre back is over paying.
Well said AK
Will said
“Wenger has an AMAZINGLY hard job and dismiss it all you want, going up against three of the cash richest clubs in world football is an almost impossible job. ”
This is a fact that all Anti-Wenger movements forget or deny. Are we not in denial? The situation changed from wrestling with a big club (Man) to wrestling against 3 or 4, and some critics are still oblivious to that obvious fact, Denial?
Arsene’s doing good for our club by building it in order to make in shape for future competion, and what do the critics: Denial?
Some critics are just blinded by their own strict adherence to their ideologies and don’t want see the truth about EPL. Or maybe they see the change that happened and that stifled the progress of our Club, but have personal Vendetta against the person of Wenger. Or maybe some don’t have the ability of appropriate financial analysis that could show them the situation clearly.
Not in my quarters Kev, not if we have the money from selling
Cesc
Nasri
Nik
Eboue and the extra fiver for Almunia 😉
Lee – “We’re not arguing whether or not Samba is priced at £12m are we??….please!!! ” allezkev and Will refuse to see reality when it stares them in the face. I suppose they believe Google is making these reports up. At least allezkev got it right about one thing : he does have a closed mind. Hey, that deserves some credit.
“In Arsene we rust.”
Sorry Rico/Oliver, i shall refrain.
Mind you, i thought i’d been polite…. 😀
Hi Rico you said
“ooks like we could be wrong though if SS’s are reporting what is right, they suggest we are going to lower our value….”
what value, Nasri’s or Fab’s? In both cases i wouldn’t agree with any lowering of any value.
Cheers Osi, and hello to you buddy.
Ha Ha Spectrum, thank you mate. It’s only closed to your nonsense.
oliver, you have no need to say sorry 🙂
Has Wenger made mistakes? Yes.
Has Wenger seen off many managers who have spent far more and won far less? Yes.
Do I give the guy a fair chance? Oh you betchya.
I have to go off for a while, nurse duties…
If i get back and a few of you have been squabbling and insulting eachother, you will all go in the bin for a day…. So, behave, please…..
Back in a couple of hours….
Rico, i know where your coming from as you know my point of view.
Oliver always frames his position intelligently.
I share a lot of what you say.
We will sign a defender, not sure about a def/mid [sorry Lee].
In my view that’ll be a good summers business.
If Nasri goes then Mata is a possibility.
None of us know where the club are in it’s negotiations regarding new players, the Press doesn’t know, nor does all those crappy rumour websites.
Read them yeah, but don’t be stupid enough to believe them for Gods sake. Use your common sense!
will, i never said spec is middle ground…
whether he is or he is not, he is entitled to his opinions, just as you are entitled to yours…and i am entitled to mine…
for the record, i don’t care for his slogan and i will never use it myself…but if he wants to use that slogan – and repeat his view that arsene is bringing the club down and the board are liars – that is his right…i refuse to impose my views on him…just as i refuse to all you, him or anyone else to impose their views on me…
nor will i contort myself in fury over a view that does not accord with mine. i choose not to engage him over his views because, having seen him debate on this and other blogs, i am aware that he is entrenched in his views and i am unlikely to persuade him differently…
suffice it to say, i completely disagree with some of his views…it is also fair to say that i agree with some…i can say the same about you – i completely disagree with some of your views, and i agree with others…if i feel like debating them with you, i will…if i don’t, i will let it be…
as ricco says, again and again, we are all entitled to our views…those who think we are not entitled to our views need to take a good, long look at self…
allezkev@5;08 – My “nonsense” ? Er, weren’t YOU the one who called Google a ( quote ) “stupid website” ?
There must be a lot of “stupid” people around the world who use it , then.
” In Arsene we rust.”
Hi all dear participants in this discussion We shall be Polite. The reason I like this blog and comment consistently on its discussions is that I thought that there are good people with the right open mind, and that discussions are usually polite and disagreements tolerated as a good contribution to the debate around the issues affecting our club. So I hope that we don’t deviate from that good discussion spirit.
If you look at the most passionate people around the glob on any one particular issues: there are people who are dogmatic and extremist in their views on some issues but that’s only because the other side don’t listen or don’t see any value in their contribution. So we better listen to each other’s views and show some empathy towards the opinions of other even when we disagree with them. Attack the ideas but never attack the person. that way you may convince some people.
Oliver, I am an Arsenal fan from an Arsenal family, stood on the terraces during the 70’s and teh dross that followed, I reserve the right to speak my mind on players and fans alike.
If someone is going to have a childish and stupid slogan, I am going to call them on it. The cold Saturday’s and night games have given me that right.
osi, bingo…attack the views, but not the person…
btw, how is that knee doing? think you will be able to practice anytime soon?
will, whomever said you couldn’t speak your mind?
once again – not agreeing with your position is not the same saying you cannot have your opinion…
i respect your right to have your opinion – whether i agree with it or not…
Spectrum, isn’t Google a ‘Search Engine’…?
Coming on here qand slagging the team and manager in our and their hour of need is a huge no no in my eyes. We are not Tottenham.
Oliver – I respect your impartiality. But doesn’t there come a time when even the most neutral observer feels strongly enough about issues, particularly when it’s something dear to one’s heart ? As I said earlier, I had respect and admiration for Wenger once. But not anymore. I analysed the nature of the man, and events surrounding the club on and off the field, and realised that he is past it.
What needs to happen in your view, for you to come down firmly on the side of one camp or the other ? Or are you content to see what happens ? If so, how long are you prepared to wait ? Will doesn’t see the need for a time limit, as he can’t see much, if anything, wrong. What about you ?
“In Arsene we rust.”
Is slagging the team, the manager and the board is open-mindedness?
To those hypercritical of Arsene, the board I say: Show us where exactly they did wrong? Not buying quality players, you would say, but quality comes with a high price tag which we didn’t have in the past or even right now.
If you have have inside knowledge and you know what was available to Wenger, for instance, that he refused to spend because he likes young players, then come out and show it. others stop believing your speculations and assumptions as truth that we need to believe.
I see things wrong, I just have an in built family desire to support Arsenal through thick and thin.
Kick out the Biased reporting out of football writers columns! Look at this so-called report of Mirror on buying ‘another kid’:
“Arsenal fans fume as Wenger buys another kid” says mirror. One would suspect that they ran the streets of London, Far east, Africa to gather Arsenal fans opinions, but all the opinions the report refers to Are that of Pete Wood, fan website writer; and Darren Epstein a season-ticket holder. These 2 are, in the opinion of Mirror, a sample representatives of Arsenal fans and supporters. Vive la Science! That’s the sort of rubbish nonsense we’re faced with on a daily basis.
Osi @5;41 – Broaden your horizons. Spend some time on other blogsites, not just ones that support YOUR views. If you’re so confident that Wenger is the be all and end all, then put your points forward in those other blogs. But that would require you to be open minded, and confront some truths you might not want to face. The trouble with Wenger supporters is that they are too afraid to leave their comfort zone. Arsenal and Arsene have become so intertwined for them, that they have become one and the same – indistinguishable. Step back, and get some perspective. I did, and I survived the experience. No-one is bigger than the club.
” In Arsene we rust.”
Anyone see irony at work here?
Osi @ 6.00 – I think you’ll find that it’s not just their own personal opinion on what they think fans feel. Without taking a large opinion poll, we can’t guage accurately the extent of the anger and frustration that many fans feel. They could well be basing their opinions on anecdotal evidence. Unscientific, yes, but I think even you on your travels have noticed a strong and growing mood of dissatisfaction with the goings on at the club under the current regime. I would say it’s about 50-50 for and against by now. But that percentage will only grow, unless we get some real success soon. Buying new players will help, but there are many OTHER things wrong at the club. And they mainly stem from the manager and his inflexible ways.
“In Arsene we rust.”
Spectrum mate, I’m very open-minded and I read most Arsenal blogs and writers, and that includes Myles Palmer; a guy blinded by his own limitations as analyst, when I have time. For me Arsene and Arsenal are not so intertwined, but I don’t get along with your axioms. I can only see the fact: Arsenal don’t have enough resources to acquire highly priced talents, experienced quality players both in wages (see what’s been offered to Nasri reportedly) and price tag.
I’m one of those people who you call ‘In Arsene we trust brigade’, but I have to tell you that I’m proud of Wenger, trust his judgements, commitments and decisions for the club. However, if you show me, scientifically, I use the word here loosely, how he stifled the progress of the club, then I am ready to accept defeat. There’s one thing, however, that I hate which is stating all the time that ‘Wenger failed to buy that, or this player when he had the money and the player was ready to join us’ without really showing details and relying on your own assumptions.
one other thing I know as matter of fact is that ARsenal don’t have the financial power similar to ManU, Cite, Chelski.
spec, i certainly feel strongly about what is happening at our club…to imply i am apathetic is inaccurate. but i always try and keep in mind i only know what i see, and i have to infer the rest…arsene is most definitely not infallible, but neither am i…
at this moment, i still feel arsene is the right man for the job, however, i will not deny that my faith in him and the team has been shaken, particularly during the just concluded season…
what i would like to see him do is relax what i perceive to be an unwillingness to compromise in the areas of player purchases and playing style…moving into the new stadium has been a challenge, and we are competing with a few clubs that have significantly stronger financial resources at their disposal. these are realities; yet i think that sometimes arsene and the board hide behind these concerns in order to justify not spending spending xx amount on ready-made-player a…i would like to see him strike a better balance in purchasing ready-made experienced players for the first team and promising teenage prospects…gervinho represents a good first step, in my opinion, but i think he can do more…
i would also like to see him be a little more pragmatic on tactics…i would prefer a better balance between attacking and defending…we already go all-out on attack – why can we not go all out defending when we need to? i would also like to see him get more out of all our players, not just cesc/jack/robin…for example, instead of always playing chamakh in a support role, off on the flank, why not put him central and see what he can do as the target of crosses from the flank? there are other things i think we can do to get the best out of him and many other players…if we can get that balance, we may score less goals, but it should make us much more difficult to beat…in theory…
i still think arsene is the best man for the job because he has already won here, and he has kept us in the top four throughout his tenure here…only red nose has done similar for such a prolonged period. some of us sneer at the premise that “fourth is a trophy”, and while i agree it is not a trophy, keeping us at this level for so long is an accomplishment not to be taken lightly. should we have won some trophies during this six year period? i think so. we have not – and i think much of that is on arsene himself – but we are still in the top four and still competing in the champions league despite building a new stadium and fielding teams that feature less experience and combined age than our competitors…
if i understand your main points right, arsene and the board are liars, his “project” is more important than winning, and he is well past it…i completely disagree. i think our board is anything but open and forthright – and i think they are disingenuous regarding many things, but i don’t think they habitually lie to the supporters…much is made of ig and arsene’s “promises” of new faces and getting business done early. i don’t recall and promises – i recall comments that we would try and strengthen and would like to get everything sorted early…i don’t see these the same as promising things. i think that, for the most part, the board and arsene have tried to do business. and i think that if arsene were more flexible about certain things, more would have been accomplished by now…
i certainly don’t accept that winning is not important to arsene – look at him during last season’s run-in and tell me the results were not important to him, that he didn’t take the defeats hard. his perceived unwillingness to compromise on certain thing that may have given us a better chance at getting results undermined us, in my opinion. but that is completely different from saying he does not care…
regardless of how any of us see this situation, it will not be like this indefinitely. at some point – i think sooner rather than later – we will start winning titles again or we will slide down the table…we will not perpetually occupy third/fourth spot. my position is that i think that arsene is still the best man to lead us to success. maybe he will, maybe he won’t – we won’t know about this particular season until may.
even if we don’t win this season, i don’t see seven years as a particularly long time for a barren spell…but in the context of six plus years finishing in the top four, i do think the urgency and pressure are greater this year. at some point, the club has to translate potential into achievement. we have achieved the goal of staying in the top four during the past six years, it’s time for the next step…
if anything changes my opinion that arsene is not the best man for the job, it will be the results on the pitch. if we take a massive step backwards – and the biggest indicator for me would be a complete non-title challenge, where we are out of it before december, plus a plethora of lazy, disinterested performances, then it would be difficult for me not to infer that arsene can no longer motivate the players or prepare them to win in the league consistently, then it will be time…
arsene is not arsenal…he is the manager, but nobody is bigger than the club…i am not at all afraid to consider life after him…but i don’t think we are at the point where he needs to be replaced – or that he is not the best man for the job…
regardless of how anyone feels about the manager/board/players, i think most of us will agree that this has not been a good summer for us…yet, that does not automatically make the upcoming season a total disaster. even if we do not buy another player, if arsene adjusts things to get more out of more players, instills an emphasis on defence and allows the players to grow into men (i have not touched on his coddling), there is no reason why we cannot win anything this season…
Will@6;16 – Specifically ?
“In Arsene we rust.”
Spectrum, thank you for entertaining me with your absolute blind hatred.
Spectrum by the way I know Arsene is only human and made some mistakes but the question is, for me and others, whether that warrants his sacking or not. As far as I’m concerned Arsene kept our club competing at the highest level without having enough resources (financial). He also built an extremely attractive academy that ensures we compete for trophies in the near future.
Evening all,
I see we still have a mixed bunch of comments, and of course you all make very good points, some are for and some against, we have come through some lean times, with a lot of money tied up in quite a few pies, now i know you all think that Arsenal Chiefs are all pocketing a fortune every home game, and maybe they are. But i do know, that while other clubs are struggling and scraping a living, with stadium’s that hold far to few, their training facilities are in need of refurb, some teams are hopeing that the goverment will build them a stadium, but Arsenal have made the decision to build, and build it to high standards, Those guys you think are stuffing your pound notes in their pockets, were the people responsible for all that is in place, but all that has to be paid for, and in six years that i keep hearing over and over again, has been used to pay for that luxury. Meanwhile In Arsene we rust, has kept us in the top four every year. In Arsene we rust has brought players that will excite you tantilise you thrill you and also make you swear, but if your an Arsenal supporter, and not just a glory hunter, just take a minute to watch this man work, he is now anouncing that Nasri and Fabregas are down to play Champions league, and the enemy are out with offers, Wenger is not as rusty as some of you thik
Thank you guys.
Evening Steve, nice post btw.
Evening Ak, joint post with me and the guvner, you never know i may get WATH’s pillow
Osi – He is living on his past glories. We have money – at least 40-50 million, before we sell Fabregas and Nasri. Do your research, don’t just believe me. He simply won’t spend big, even when we HAVE the money. Yet the team is suffering partly because of this. In fact, we’ve had sufficient funds for the last couple of seasons now, at least. Yet still the usual suspects claim “we cannot compete”. See how Wenger and the board have spun you a lie ?
Why don’t we just use the money we HAVE, not spend recklessly, just pay what is responsible – and get the players we need ? We don’t, because Wenger won’t change. And we stagnate ( rust ) as a result. Season after season. Our collapse last time round was because he failed to buy a replacement g.k. and defender, his inability to motivate his players, and his tactical predictability. It didn’t surprise me, or the other realists. We knew it would happen. It finished similarly the previous seasons.And it will happen again this time. More so, without Fabregas. No doubt Wenger wants the club to succeed. But his “best” just isn’t good enough anymore. And he can’t see THAT, either.
“In Arsene we rust.”
Get your own bloody pillow………………..!!
Hi Wath, I thought you were away, oh dear
I’m never far Steve 😉
Ill remember that me old mate, only joking honest
hi steve/wath…lively one today…
You been in London today Wath.
what’s it been like?
Not been to bad by me AK, plenty OB knocking about though but still feels pretty tense but nice to see ppl also getting out there to give these kids a slap…!
Hi Oliver, I’ve been observing….. ! been interesting for sure and some very valid points made.
Hi Oliver, you well mate.
hi wath/steve, well away from london…it’s quiet here…seems as though this forum has calmed down as well.
Building the strength up with their dinners no doubt
round 2 to come then…
As long as they hav’nt gone out for a tele.
i think we will win at st james – if the match goes ahead as scheduled…we are focusing on our own woes, but from all i have heard, newcastle’s summer has not been good by any standard…captain (nolan) sold to a championship side, club feuding with barton, enrique wanting to leave. minimal investment in the squad. we should be able to turn them over. hopefully a nice comfortable win to get us off to a good start.
hi!
boooo…. benfica 2 Arsenal 1 ..what a shame!
i’ve seen now the score!
and you get a new player…
but we are on the 10 th august!
I’m abroad…
Hi JM, Benfica were lucky, hope its raining there, we have a couple of exciting prospects your going to love them.
Reckon your right Oliver, but i think it might need a few games to get in gear
liverpool at home will be a good test, and the ot will be very, very difficult…
we also have the matter of udinese. we need to win the first leg, but have rvp and arsene suspended. having rvp back for the second leg should help, but we have to take care of business at home without him. if we stumble at the particular hurdle, it can potentinally set a very negative tone very early in the season…
I am not looking at any stumbles, were an eperienced outfit even with our changes, I hope the team he picks stays the distance, i am not a believer of lots of changes, and would like to see his first team for 90 minutes, 45 tells you very little.
steve, i don’t think he can afford to screw around with this tie, even if we have a comfortable lead going into the second leg. the stakes are much, much too high…in my mind, he has to pick the absolute best sides available. if we are cruising after 70 minutes in the second leg, that would be the window to “experiment”, but even that may be dangerous…
he absolutely cannot look ahead to the old trafford fixture. we have to take care of business before that can even be contemplated.
I stll think we will have another adition, The way he is performing i feel its a done deal, and i really think we are struggling for cash, despite what some are saying. i think we are syphoning off some of our cash to pay off other debts, and the need to sell nas or cesc is is paramount to the deal
if that is the case, then the club can help themselves by being up front about this – i.e. cash tight because we are allocating it in other ways. whether cash is tight here or not, a selling club is going to look to get the best price for any target of ours.
with all that has been said on todays forum, i would add that i think the club’s habit of being less than forthright about certain things fuels frustration as well.
Steve, I really think the board are paying off the debts early to give Wenger as much as he can get next season or the season after.
chamberlains money, seems to being paid in installments i believe Wenger was hopeing cesc was going sooner, and he has tried to get nas’s money upped, but has resorted to posting that they will both play in CL to nudge the deals along, when he gets the money from them we get our defender. everyone is waiting on these deals.
Will, your not far off there i think will, but i did read that Arsenal are getting involved with property deals.
Most of if not all of the property money is now profit as all the debts have been paid off and I think we are now down to roughly £150M. Now I am not sure if there is an early payment clause in the mortgage but I read somewhere there is meaning we would have to pay extra to pay off sooner.
If we can get it down to just £20M a season in mortgage money and everything else goes to Wenger and pays the general staff and upkeep (something a lot of the anti-Wenger fails to remember) of both the ground and training grounds, we are golden.
I feel that Arsenals board are trying to look as good as the money clubs and its all front, but loose cash and big transfer funds are a figment of their imagination, people believe Wenger wont spend it but i don’t think he has it, he’s ducking and diveing
Problem is, we are a big money club, the Chelsea’s and Man City’s are just bottomless. We are still going against Man Utd in terms of making cash we can use.
The sooner the FFP rules come in and are used as a stick to beat these cheating clubs the better. As much as I dislike Man Utd’s obnoxious fans, you have to say, their club does it the right way.
Evening…….
Who’s for the bin then 😉
Not me.
Anyone listening to Sky Sports News, Paul Merson??
‘Cheating Clubs’ Not again Will…..
I’m surprised you say that about the Mancs Will, they are so so much in debt, yet spend money they don’t have….
It’s all cool here Ricoi, so fab gone at the w/e according to ssn, €29m first payment, then €6m in add ons…..fab the shortfall???
That bucked toothed Spanish reporter git….being all smug!!
We believe were a big club, but i think its all front, our facilities are first rate, but other wise were close to our limit, we only ever buy when we sell and thats why we don’t spend big, Wenger i believe is doing far far better than anybody knows
oliver, if you are still around i totally agree with the CL fixture, strongest side onle and if nasri and cesc are still with us, i’d play them – we have to get through those two legs, just have too….
Rico a lot for the bin!
Spectrum I was away but now I can address your staatement:
“We have money – at least 40-50 million, before we sell Fabregas and Nasri. Do your research, don’t just believe me. He simply won’t spend big, even when we HAVE the money”
first, I agree that this season is different as we around the figures you mentioned, but I think Arsene will buy a good quality this time around. However, it’s misleading to argue that we had this sort of money in the last few seasons, and as I understand your criticism of WEnger is not only based on his lack of movement in the transfer this season. Your thinking is that Wenger is lost it and failed to spend all those past seasons.
Second, the 40-50 millions figures is not big enough to secure about three quality players, for instance a center-half (15m upwards), a DM (15m upwards) and a Striker (20m upwards). If you take into account the fact that we already got good quality for 11m Gerv, plus the big wages that we’ll have to buy for the quality players we’ll purchase then that figure is not enough.
Steve, so unless you really factually know the nuts and bolts of our financial situation, probably best not to be so judgemental towards AW? You’ve definitely hoot the nail there mate…
Your not an owl….HIT!!
Osi 😉
Lee, is that real, we are accepting a price that low, thats shocking… Not a good move by us imho….
lee you said
“It’s all cool here Ricoi, so fab gone at the w/e according to ssn, €29m first payment, then €6m in add ons…..fab the shortfall???”
No, no. We won’t accept Fab to be sold less than 40m cash. Any other figure is just giving to Barca blackmailing. Those guys didn’t behave as it should be towards Arsenal FC so they should buy the FAB price or just go away empty handed.
All about opinions Lee, they don’t tell me anything like they don’t tell you, but reading between the lines, whats so dificult in asking the price of a player and writing out a cheque. do you want him or not, in the chamberlain deal, it appears that they talked ages ago, but only shook on it this week why, because they were waiting for Barca or City. The deal may have been done but the money wasn’t there.
Evening Rico
Evening All, i’ve had my dinner, now who wants a ruck???? 😀
Evening steve, that makes me wonder why IG and AW said they would be busy and ealy in the window, if they knew buying depends on who we sell, why would they make such a bold statement…
Afternoon Oliver.. 😉
What’s Merse been saying then Rico..?
Osi, I agree but that’s what the parasites are reporting….AK, I’m currently looking for someone under five foot!! 😉
Rico, agree or not, using money you have not earned is cheating but we shall agree to disagree on that one.
Also, Man Utd, before the buyout did it the right way, owned their ground and only used money they made to buy players, they just made far more than anyone else and that is who we went against when we built the new stadium.
Uefalona have taken the piss out arsenal for ages….and it’s not just fab as we all know!!
I’ll get down the local old age home AK and wheel our geriatric on a zimmer frame for ya….!
Hey Lee, your a bit of a hoot tonight…
I don’t understand how Barca want Fab around £30 m when they his qualities and the player pricing market at the moment. Fab is the best Arsenal player, best paid Arsenal player, spanish international and on long contract with Arsenal, and they want him that cheap, whereas Nasri is has only 1 year left of his contracts, not handsomely paid by Arsenal, not better quality than Fab at the moment and still clubs are ready to pay around £22m for him. Also Fab is not asking a big wage bill once at Barca, on the contrary Nasri is if he moved on. Get real Barca.
Yeah Wath, i’ll take on anyone over 80..
Don’t you want Gazidis to come out and say, we are asking xxxx for Cesc and Barca only want to pay yyyy therefore rating him slightly more than abcd.
He knew beforhand that barca wanted cesc, he thought he could push them to 40 mill and their offer was to low they have scraped the money together, but can only pay in installments. A rich club would not mess about with nasri they would have paid him the 20 or 30 thou but we wouldn’t, we wanted to get rid of cesc’s wage bill not get another, nas will go as well.
Consider it done AK…….. I’ll sort you out with energade for after as well if you survive…!
Hi Kev
Merse has said he really worries for our club, he honestly believe that we will struggle to get into the top four….. He’s pretty upset about it..
Maybe Cesc has agreed to waive any loyalty payments from AFC?
But 35million euros seems a bit of a joke.
What’s that £31 million..?
How much of a loss did Man UTD report the last financial year Will??
Cheers Wath.. 😀
Mums the word Rico.. 😉
I have no idea Rico, maybe you can ask Spectrum, he seems to know all the financial dealings of football clubs 😉
Aparently Cesc wnts to move so bad that some of his wages will be paid straight to Arsenal
Hi WATH, i know where there’s a zimmer 😉
If Fab’s waiving his share of payments of around 4-5m then Arsenal should accept a figure around £35m or very close otherwise it’s won’t be considered a good business from our point of view. We won’t be a Pushover club.
We’re fucked because unlike nas, who’ll play for anyone that’ll pay him a fortune, cesc will only play uefalona…..he’s worth £50m all day long…… we all know that!!!
That little fucker aint entitled to no loyalty anything…..!
I agree with that Lee.
178 million dollars was their reported loss Will in March this year, so how is there spending deemed any more ‘proper and correct’ than the other clubs who you refer to as cheats?
Will, drop the S & P re your 9:26pm….;)
😉 😉 even…
Well, if the reports are true and he leaves for a price less than what the club stated he could go for then, what a muck up by whoever is negotiating this deal…..
Here Here WATH…..
Lee if someone’s, say AC Milan, offered Arsenal £50m for Fab Arsenal would then asked to choose to be sold to that club or stay at Arsenal unless Barca match that figure or come close to matching it. But, apparently other clubs are put off by the persistence of Fab in joining his boyhood club.
40 million euros
You sure that’s not S & M…..? 🙂
Rico I agree with if we accept bulshit from Barca then we’re finished as negotiators.
Rico, here is what I said.
Also, Man Utd, before the buyout did it the right way, owned their ground and only used money they made to buy players, they just made far more than anyone else and that is who we went against when we built the new stadium.
Notice the keyword?
I know it’s a shit sandwich with Cesc, and a lot of fans won’t forgive him.
But maybe we’ve just got to draw a line under all this.
Get rid of him and bring in a couple of decent players and we’ll soon forget about him.
Rico we need the money for our next signing
He will only play for barca, or sit his contract out? Then go for sweet fa….we’re talking about him going for the same dough as Andy Carroll FFS!!! That’s bollox!!!
By my reckoning on our transfer dealings all we will have left is enough for desperate Dann
Thats how I feel Osi, we should stand firm, he’s under contract so we hold all the cards…
Will, you really can be very sarcastic!!
Yes I can Rico and I am sorry.
I am just pissed off with some of the people on here and many on other blogs. I support Arsenal and it’s manager/players win or lose. I never call for a managers head of the head of the board but I guess I am an old school fan.
In a nice way tho, Rico 😉
I agree he has to go this summer but after all the big talk that he will only go for 40Million, why are we suddenly backing down… It can only be as Steve says, we need the money before we buy….
Dann is better than Squilli though Steve 😉 then maybe if Nasri goes we’ll get Cahill aswell… 🙂
You are Lee 🙂
We got him for fuck all and we’re getting a great return, nice to think it will all be re invested in players….
Goodnight, all you gooners!!
Cesc Fabregas has been a great Arsenal ,man and served us well, he doesn’t want to be here any more and he had a bad season he wants to go home and he should be allowed to go he cost us fuck all and we get 35 mill for him shrewed bargaining by Wenger who else is going to pay that for him, when we know he would not go there. take the money and move on
Send Steve Rowley to La Masia immediately.
Poach 3 or 4 more, stuff em….
It better be Lee, we are still a few players short….
Nighty Night, sleep well, no snoring 😉
Don’t forget your pipe and slippers Lee… 🙂
Nte Lee ,tie your laces to the bed post
Nte nte all, see if i can get a tele before i turn in
Everyone gone now then??
I still think one commanding defender and a proper DM away from winning the league.
Carlos Vela’s agent has admitted that Vela is looking for a loan.
But only up to January, when he’d like to come back to AFC as cover for Gervinho & Chamakh who are off to the ACN.
Now AK wants to start a fight at La Messia and get Steve Rowley in bother……
Cheers Lee
As far as i know Coquelin and Sunu haven’t got loans yet.
Botelho is off to Rayo Vallercano for the season.
That’s right Wath 80 or under 14, that’ll do me.
Bring it on…. grrrrr
Night Steve, a vodka before you turn in ? 😉
Kev – i posted yesterday about Vela being close to agreeing a loan to Real Sociedad 🙁 🙁
Nighty Steve, had a good nights sleep…. No dreaming about Cahill and mata..
That may still come off Rico…
YoungGuns said a loan to Lorient hadn’t emerged.
Could be a bit of Vela’s agent at it again. He does seem a bit of a pillock, he cost Vela a move to Bolton if you recall…
According to the BBC.
Cesc to go for £30million + another £5million on performance related payments.
Apparantly Cesc would be entitled to £1million for every season left on his contract.
That equates to an extra £4million. And it’s thought he has waived that money in order to ease the transfer through.
Very good of him eh? 🙂
Hello everyone! Here’s a question for you all: Is Cesc someone to despise now? Has he failed us? Is he considered a hero, because of his constant flirting with barca for the last 3-4 seasons?
Vela should stay and fight for a place.
It’ll be good for him to go on loan Kev, he won’t start for us unless injury hits us for six….
Wish it was to a tougher side in the PL though who will play him every week…
Loaning to overseas club won’t make him PL ready…..
Some great Arsenal videos, plus some groovy tracks.. 😉
http://mr-renoog-videos.blogspot.com/
The 14yr old throw bricks n bottles AK make it 10-80 mate, safer…!
Is Dann us going yet again for the cheaper option…? lets hope not.
Lets also hope we ship nasri out asap as well…!
That’s 5M gone then Kev, performance related pay, he’ll be on the bench 😉
Hi ADK – i’m not sure i feel anything about him really, for a few seasons he’s been just awesome but the last few he’s been so in and out, i’ve kind of accepted he’s gone….
Spot on Rico.
That’s why his stupid agent missed a trick, costing him a move to Bolton.
Look at how Sturridge blossomed up there!
I think it’s time for Vela to go, He’s 22, and although young, he’s not young enough to improve rapidly, unless he plays week in, week out for a good premier league club.. Although I would love for him to make it..
For sure Dann is the cheaper option WATH, but if we wanted cheap, why didn’t we get Roger Johnson, cheaper and better imho….
Hi ADK, you booked your ticket for Udinese yet..?
But rico, can we agree that he’s still our best midfielder by miles, despite his average form, the last couple of seasons?
that’s what worries me.. who can replace him? We need top top quality if he’s to be replaced.. Schweinsteiger or someone like that..
Been watching Götze from Dortmund, 20 years of age, box to box midfielder. Just got his debut for the German national team today, and scored. Iv’e followed him this season for Dortmund, he’s class!
great Ramsey limps off so to Arshavin….. just what we wanted
Hi Kev, no I haven’t. I’m moving this weekend, and as a student, i’m all out of cash.. In my 15 years of support for Arsenal, my biggest dream has always been just to watch a game at highbury or emirates, but even when i was in london 3 years ago, i couldn’t get a ticket for a PL game against Blackburn. Even though I tried to book a ticket 6 months in advance! I guess it’ll be a while before I can attend a game 🙁
wath is Ramsey injured? 🙁
ADK, on last seasons performance, no – i honestly don’t think he is our best midfielder….. Ramsey, Ramsey…….
No Wath, no…… pray they are not bad injuries….. 🙁
Im done guys, off up the wooden hill for me…
Be good and tomorrow is another day…
night all…
Where you moving to ADK, still in Danmark?
I’m a big fan of Ramsey, I just hope he does not have that mental block after his leg break.. Just like dudu had…
Good night Rico, sleep well.
Wath, do you have any details on the injuries?
I’m still here in DK kev, just getting my own place now, you now, becoming a man 😉
Well done ADK.
There’s nothing quite like your own ‘front door’… 🙂
Apparantly Ramsey came off at half-time.
Lets hope it was a precaution…
thanks kev, it was about bloody time. 🙂 Now i just gotta get the right channels so i can watch arsenal all the time :;)
I just watch it on my PC.
The pictures not great, but it’s free… 🙂
And i love anything freemans… 😀
Also, watching it on my PC, gives me the opportunity to listen to a foreign commentary, therefore missing out on the usual idiotic anti-Arsenal English language commentary.
I think they both came off injured AK, ADK save up mate and get over for a decent game, if you cant get a tkt let Rico know and I’ll try sort you one out I have a spare one quite often.
I’m off gents busy day 2moro. Lets hope we get Cahill as well as it’s Rico’s big prediction day 😉 Cheers…
Apparantly Arshavin was one of six substitutions made by Russia, so hopefully it wasn’t injury related.
Goodnight Wath….
Bet it’s Mertesaker.. 😉
Well that looks like that…
Everyone has gone to bed.
Oliver is probably stuck in traffic.
So it’s Goodnight from me… 😉
And it’s Goodnight from him… 🙂
Goodnight Gooners… 😀
Good night kev, see ya tomorrow
£36m deal for Cesc – but he pays £4.5m out of his own pocket
Arsenal are set to agree a £35.9m fee with Barcelona – plus add-ons – should Fabregas win major tournaments.
But the fee also includes £900,000 a year which Fabregas has agreed to pay Arsenal out of his own wages over the next five years of his Barca contract.
All that remains is for Fabregas, 24, to thrash out personal terms to bring to an end a three-year saga.
And last night he returned to the London Colney training ground to clear out his locker.
The Gunners skipper has made no secret of his desire to return to Barca, the team he left at 16.
Arsenal have been holding out for around £45m and boss Arsene Wenger had vowed Fabregas would not be allowed to move.
However, it has become increasingly obvious keeping him against his will would be a mistake.
Now Samir Nasri is expected to follow him out to join Manchester City.
The French midfielder, 24, is in the final year of his contract and, even though Wenger claimed he would let him run it down, the Emirates bean counters were not happy.
City are prepared to pay Nasri £180,000-a-week wages in a £25m swoop.
Striker Marouane Chamakh said: “I think both Cesc and Nasri will probably leave the club.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal could be ready to snap up Birmingham centre-half Scott Dann, also 24, for £8m.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3745192/36m-deal-for-Cesc-but-he-pays-45m-out-of-his-own-pocket.html
_________________________________________________________
A good mornign to you all….:D
Wenger said he will allow one to leave, but will not allow two players to leave.
Does it meant that he will carry out hsi threat to froce Nasri to stay?
Or had Stan and Gazidis over-ruled Wenger and Nasri gone by this weekend?
I believe there is some true to this “The Sun” report as they may have an inside track since Cesc wrote for ’em as well.
Whatever it is, no player nor a manager is bigger than the club.
We move on and rebuild.
If you all recalled that previous saga of Reyes pleading to allow to leave to join Real and Wenger’s retort on unhappy players was:
“My office door is always opened. I will never keep a player who does not want to play for Arsenal.”
And he mentioned that “Special Togetehrness” that he needed to build a team.
Let’s hope this sordid and weary Cesc-Nasri Saga ends this weekend and we move on and closes this perennial “SUmmer of Discontents” which is gettign worse and worse every summer.
My dearest wishes for 2011/12 season are:
1 – We will not have that perennial “Horrendous Injury List” by October/November.
2 – Van Persie remains relatively healthy and plays 40+ game this season.
3 – FInally, we have a 30+ goal scorer in Van Persie and/or Theo.
4 – Rosicky and Arshavin regain their scintillating form after over-coming lengthy lay-off and homesickness respectively.
5 – Jack Wilshere finally came into his wona nd dominated midfield.
6 – Ramsey fulfils his potential this season.
7 – Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ryo Mayiachi surprise us all by being 1st team materials.
8 – Fabianski and Szczesney came intot heir own and we have our very own “Clemente-SHilton” battle for No. 1 slot.
9 – In SOng, Frimpong and Wilshere, we finally has a MIDFIELD that protects the Back-4.
10- We set a record of scoring in every one of the the 60+ games we will play this season with overall total 130 or greater goals scored.
11- Adn we have our very best season breaking all Arsenal record of “clean-sheets” kept.
12- We top the Table going into the new year with 5 points ahead of the chasing Pack.
13- COme May, Arsenal players reap the rewards of playing joyously, in harmony, firends-on-adn-off-the pitch. That perennial “Summer of Discontents” Curse is finally broken in summer 2012.
How is that for a Baker’s Dozen of good wishes to generate positive vibes over here?…lol
KEEP THE FAITH!!!
They’d do Merlin, for starters 😉
From the mouth of the man himself ( July 13th ) ; “It is in the interests of the Club,” he went on. “Imagine the worst situation – we lose Fabregas and Nasri – you cannot convince people you are ambitious after that.
“And even if you lose Nasri, to find the same quality player, you have to spend again the same amount of money. Because you cannot say that you lose the player and you do not replace him.
“I believe for us it is important that the message we give out – for example you see about Fabregas leaving, Nasri leaving – if you give that message out you cannot pretend you are a big club.
“Because a big club first of all holds onto its big players and gives a message out to all the other big clubs that they just cannot come in and take [players] away from you.
Hmmm. Looks like we’re not going to be a big club anymore then, fellas. According to Wenger, we will show no ambition if we let both of them go.
“In Arsene we rust.”
Morning early birds….
new post up