Two Signings and Wenger needs to weigh up buying Barton ……..

Nigel Winterburn has spoken bout that little r**t Barton and from what he say’s, I’m not sure that he would be too keen to see him playing in a read and white shirt:

I think you know that he’s got that competitive edge on the pitch and occasionally it’s going to let him down and it has done before.

He’s tried to control that, but from Arsene Wenger’s point of view he would need to think that he could control him off the pitch.

You can’t have anyone disruptive around the training ground. It’s OK to have an opinion as a player as long as it’s constructive but not if it’s malicious, so Arsene Wenger would need to weigh that up.

In terms of talent and the fact he’s on a free transfer, I would have thought there would be a host of clubs after him. He’s the type of player that, on a free transfer, a lot of clubs in the Premier League will be looking at.

You’ve got to weigh up with Joey Barton whether you can control his temperament, more off the pitch than anything else.

Well, we may need a player like him in our midfield but do we really need a git like him associated to our club – Nah, I don’t think so….

On to the signings:

Firstly, Kyle Bartley signed a new deal with the club yesterday which personally I believe is great news. This lad may still be a raw player but he’s big, strong and he’s going to be good. We all know by now he excelled last season at Rangers in a tough Scottish League where hard tackling is an every day occurence. I don’t think we’ll see him shirking his duties in the defence.

Ok, he’s still young and inexperienced in the Premier League but I’m darn sure most Arsenal Fans would rather see him coming off of the bench rather than Squilli.

Secondly, Tony Roberts, ex Welsh international goalkeeper has finally given up playing the game to take on full-time goalkeeping coach at the Club, he’ll work alongside Gerry Peyton.

I didn’t need too much convincing, it’s Arsenal, when they ask you to go full-time you don’t think about it, it’s something that you have got to do.

I’ve had a great career and have been going for 25 years. I was going to sign another year for Dagenham but when the opportunity arose to go full-time, I had to do it.


It had been coming. Obviously, I wanted to play as long as I could but I had to hang up my gloves one day and now was a good time.

At last, someone knew how good it is to sign for us… 😉 Roberts had previously worked for Arsenal on a part-time basis but now that’s all changed. He’s 42 years old today so Happy Birthday to him.

That’s it for today folks, other than to remind you all that Highbury House has its own Fantasy Football League, thanks to regular blogger Rocastle who has set it all up. If you are interested, which I’m sure you are just click on the link in the side bar or at the top of the page….

Go on, you know you want to, it’s FREE 🙂

289 thoughts on “Two Signings and Wenger needs to weigh up buying Barton ……..

  1. Savage says:

    No to Barton, please. A PR disaster.

    See Joel Campbell scored 2 and set up another in Costa Rica’s win yesterday.

  2. Mr islington says:

    I’m really losing it with Arsene and the board,I’m fed up with the whole thing!!!!

    Will we ever get our true Arsenal back??

    Richard scudamore’s on his way to the Arsenal,wonder what for??

  3. rico says:

    Morning all…

    Savage, I think that is what Winterburn is saying too, he’s more trouble than he’s worth, looks like he could be playing another season with geordies anyway, thankfully….

    Aren’t we meant to be in talks again with Campbell….

  4. Mr islington says:

    Campbell please!!!!…..Why do we buy some players for now and stop with this 5 years down the road rubbish.

    The kid didnt turn up before,so why should we bother with him!

  5. rico says:

    Morning Mr Is…

    I feel the same about Campbell, once he heard old red nose was interested he ditched us….

  6. Savage says:

    Yeah, it looks like the Campbell deal is back on. Word on the streets is that Real Madrid and Man Utd are competing with us. If he has a hot tournament, it could make our job harder.

    My view is: if I was in his position, I’d also be weighing up all the offers. If he’s a genuine talent we must snap him up. To get the next Hernandez, you’ve also got to sign the next Bebe. Or you wait until they’re great and pay 35m.

  7. Micky Dee says:

    Forget Joey Barton. In my opinion he is thuggish and takes cheap shots. We need someone who is tough mentally and physically and has strong self belief and discipline.

  8. rico says:

    reserves won again last night, 3-0 with goals from Lansbury, Freeman and Afobe – three English players 🙂

  9. Savage says:

    You guys are a bit harsh – why are you blaming a kid for looking at the league champions over fourth place? What is there inherently holy about Arsenal that makes it a sin to look at all the other options?

  10. rico says:

    I can understand him weighing up all his options but he was due a medical and after agreeing to sign…

    right now i’d rather see a bit of experience signed…..

  11. Mr islington says:

    Exactly is that kind of spoilt brat player we need,he’ll just use us as a stepping stone anyway!

    My mood is as damp as this london weather this morning.

    Do you think we made that bid for jags knowing that we weren’t going to buy him,but just to keep the fans quiet for a bit.

    Have you seen Mata’s goal yesterday vs hamburg???……We really have missed gem with our penny pinching way’s.

  12. Mr islington says:

    Savage i understand what your saying but,surely if he really wanted to come to us he would have jumped at the chance of playing for Arsenal no?

  13. rico says:

    Didn’t see it Mr Is, saw a stunning sissor kick goal by someone earlier, was just on the way out the door and didn’t see who scored it, don’t tell me that was Mata??

    His Father reckons we’ll come back with a proper offer, but yes, how did we miss out when he was available for less than he is now, makes me think we didn’t really want him either…

  14. Savage says:

    We’re obviously wishing for players that love us like family. But let’s be honest, if you had no preference and both United and Arsenal came in for you, there are reasons to go either way. Both teams are accommodating youth these days, but I’m sure United is a happier place to be right now.

    But can we agree that it’s okay to sign kids for the future as long as it doesn’t prevent us from signing needed talent right now?

  15. rico says:

    We need players who WANT to play for Arsenal…… If Campbell really wanted to he’d have turned up at the club and the deal would have been done by now…..

  16. Mr islington says:

    We should still make a move for Parker,but you know Wenger won’t.

    I feel the club is taking advantage of us fans knowing that no matter what they do,our love for the club with never die.I think our fans are way too soft.

  17. Savage says:

    When Wenger was asked about Mata, he said: you’re actually asking me whether Fab or Nasri will go.

    Clearly Mata is being lined up as a replacement only. I think Arsenal are waiting for Barca to come up with a decent offer, and it simply isn’t happening. As soon as they do, Fab goes, and we make a big offer for Mata, because we’ll have the dosh.

  18. rico says:

    Always said that savage, youth signings are fine but not at the expense of experience and sadly, the last few seasons it seems that they have been….

    How many youth players have we got at the same age, fighting for the same position??

  19. rico says:

    I think we’ll see a different set of fans this season Mr Is, same fans but a different attitude, the Ems Cup, a friendly tournament suggested that if we get off to a bad start, they won’t be happy….

  20. rico says:

    What do you guys reckon on the new keeper coach, now he’s full time he might just have more of an impact – if he’s any good of course….

  21. Mr islington says:

    Savage,

    I would love that to be the case,but i can just see Arsene banking that money and playing ramsey.Surely if Mata was available,shouldnt we be sending a message to fabs or Nasri that Arsenal comes first and not them.

  22. rico says:

    Morning stan…

    Savage, i think that’s why wenger has given barca a deadline date for fabregas, he’s hoping to speed up events rather than a 31st Aug deal which would do us serious harm….

  23. allezkev says:

    Good Morning All You Happy Gooners
    Great post Rico.
    Free did you say!
    I love anything for freemans….

  24. rico says:

    Liverpool seem to have got Enrique and now close to Cahill…..

    Wenger needs to get in quick as CL footie could sway him to us….

  25. rico says:

    With you on that Mr Is, we should have got Mata then told Nasri to pick his club and move on…..

    Morning Kev, thanks re the postie, good game last night?? How was Lansbury other than his goal??

    Freemans, he scored too 😛

  26. goonerstan says:

    I had a dream we bought MATA kept Fab and that punk nasri….we tore the league apart won by a whooping 17points! I was in a pub with a couple of friends celebrating when I was rudely awaken by my girlfriend. I went red with rage cause no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t return to my dream! Am still mad at her though.

  27. Mr islington says:

    Rico,

    My mind has changed compeletly after the way last season ended and all the talk about what we are going to do to improve the team and all the usal spin.We make rubbish bids for players to get our hopes up and are still sitting here with nothing.

    Were waiting for our captain to be sold and putting cesc first before ourselfs.We should have told Barca age’s ago that if they don’t come up with the money he will defo not be sold and Fabregas would have to be kidknapped by Arsenal and stay a slave for the club.

    We aint gonna sign cahill,it’s all talk….Our new centre half is Bartley.

    sorry stan mate,buy what a player we have missed out on.

  28. Savage says:

    The state of the nation:
    – Nasri will stay
    – Fab will stay unless Barca offer the right money, and then we get Mata
    – a CB will arrive, and most likely a fairly big name
    – we’ll recruit a few kids for the future

    So overall:
    – Mannone in for Almunia
    – Jenk in for Eboue
    – Frimpong in for Denilson
    – new CB moves Squid to 5th choice
    – TV is like a new signing 🙂
    – Gervinho in for Bendtner
    – Vela/Ramsey play bigger role
    – possible inclusion of Ryo

  29. Mr islington says:

    Lol stan,i wish i could of had some of that dream 😆

    Sorry about some of my writing,working and blogging at the same time 😉

  30. allezkev says:

    the man of the match for Dover, in the first 45 was definately their goalkeeper. He made 5 great saves, 3 excellent ones from Aneke and Afobe.
    Arsenal’s first goal came from a fabulous defence splitting pass from Ozyakup. He dropped it right into the path of Watt who pulled the ball across the face of goal for Afobe to explode the ball into the net.
    Lansbury’s goal was a 20 yarder from the edge of the area. he turned one way, checked back and just lifted it over the keeper, Merse would have been proud.
    Both youngGuns & Arsenal Youth said there was a deflection, but i didn’t see one.
    In added time in the first half, freeman got the ther 3rd. He picked up a smart pass from the impressive Afobe and shot low into the goal, via a deflection.

  31. rico says:

    Mr Is,

    i couldn’t agree more, this cesc rubbish has gone on far too long, the player himself doesn’t seem to care that we have to see him with a barca shirt on etc etc, his love for us has long gone… For me he should just be told something like:

    Go and tell Barca they have two weeks to buy you for £40M – otherwise I am putting up for sale and you can go to the highest bidder…

    And that should have been done on the 1st May…..

  32. Mr islington says:

    I would play lansbury over Nasri,i would do anything to get rid of him!

    Lansbury loves the club and would play he’s heart out for the club.We need players that will shed blood and tears for us,just like wilshere did last season.I love that kid 🙂

  33. Mr islington says:

    Spot on,put him on the open market where we would fetch 50-60 mil for him..Im so wound up that we have let it come to this!

  34. rico says:

    If you are right savage, deep joy….

    he was Mr Is and he told them to take a hike, good lad 🙂

    kev, sounds like a cracking game to watch – we certainly have bags of talent coming through – just wish they were 2/3 years older, we need them now….

    Lansbury hit the bar too ddin’t he with another cracking shot?

  35. allezkev says:

    Just over Rico, it was a ‘sighter’ for his goal…
    The second half was scrappy, Freeman should have scored, he lobbed the goalkeeper beautifully, but it just dropped wide.

  36. allezkev says:

    Aneke had another good 90mins, he’s a definate for the Carling Cup.
    Afobe was top class. That kid has to be around the squad this season.
    Ozyakup is a good player, got a great range of passing, expect him to get some Carling Cup exposure as well.
    But Lansbury, he was great Rico. We gotta keep hold of him…

  37. Mr islington says:

    I call Nasri the rat!!!

    I still think Song’s first choice and he’s commited to the cause so not bothered about him.Frimpong would be my choice if song wasnt there thou.

  38. Savage says:

    From what I understand, Nasri is a better player than Mata. Nasri is the star of the French team, whereas Mata is a sub for Spain. Nasri would certainly strengthen City, and I think that’s one of the prime concerns.

  39. allezkev says:

    Rico, i’m sure it just went over? same with Lansbury’s goal, i didn’t see a deflection, and i was behind that goal, but who care’s eh…
    It was a very good game, especially the 1st 45.

  40. Mr islington says:

    Allezkev,

    Would you pick Afobe over Chamakh mate!!

    Marouane is a very good player,but is used in the wrong way in my opinion.

  41. allezkev says:

    Mr Is, i really like Afobe, but he and Chamakh are different players.
    It’s good to have some variety, MC is still good in the air, but i really don’t know what’s happened to him.
    Rico, how many you got on the Fantasy Footie so far… 😉

  42. Mr islington says:

    Savage look at the class of spain and then look at france.

    Mata is fighting silva who is one of the worlds best players.
    I whole heartly disagree with that.

    Nasri has had half a decent,where Mata has scored 33 goals in four seasons and has the top assits outside of xavi and messi.

  43. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. Our Mr Wenger is an absolute master at almost signing players by letting the media know of our interest but never actually completing the deals. At this moment in time I would think that another teenager is the last thing the club needs. Wenger’s options surely diminish daily. The first capitulation will bring the fans down on him whether it is right or wrong. A house divided against itself cannot stand.

  44. Mr islington says:

    What i mean kev is would you pick Afobe over cham’s to lead the line if Rvp was not there??

    Nasri is going to go city next season anyway and for nothing.wouldn’t we be better of selling now and just getting rid of him before he screws us??

  45. Savage says:

    Nasri has scored 27 goals in 3 seasons, so that beats Mata. The thing to remember is that Nasri is really kicking off now, after taking 2 seasons to settle.

    But I do honestly have one concern about Nasri – I think he slows us down. How often have you seen him beat his man on the wing?

  46. Adam says:

    Nasri was very good up until Christmas. After that he couldn’t be bothered and bottled it. He offered less than nothing. The man has no fight or grit in him and is the last bloke to stand up when the going is tough. He is a vain little man obsessed with his “Little Prince” tag. We can do much better than him.

  47. rico says:

    Mr Is, I still think we need better than Song

    Kev 😆 Like you say who cares, he scored and nearly had two and we need him to stay….

    Good news re the ‘big boys’ too, too long we have been a team of tiddlers….

  48. Mr islington says:

    Yh but Nasri plays in a better side than what Mata does and he’s top class player for them mate.
    Nasri never beats a player on the wing,he always cuts inside and wiggles around them that way.Mata loves taking players on down the wing and also is good at cutting inside just the Nasri does.

    Savage if he was going to sign a new contract then that two years would have been worth it,but he’s going to lodge us off!!

  49. Mr islington says:

    True say Adam,where the hell did he go??

    He loves himself to much and has let the hype get to his head.He thinks he’s better than Arsenal.

  50. rico says:

    Morning Adam, agree, I don’t mind if Wenger buys the younger players as long as he buys the experience but he’s not.

    And, as kev has said we have a great crop coming through, we just need a few older, experienced quality players until they get to where they need to in order to break into the first team..

    Oh, and get rid of players who don’t want to play for us…..

  51. Savage says:

    The ideal is for a big offer for Nasri from Italy or Spain, or even PSG. But if Nasri were to sign for us, I would take that any day.

  52. Savage says:

    Was anybody else slightly relieved about Bartley signing again? I was getting the impression he had itchy feet. It reminds me a bit of Chezz signing that new contract last year after making comments.

  53. Will says:

    None that we know of Rico but do you really want Wenger to tell us and the world who we are going for so those arse’s at Chelsea and Man City can out bid us?

  54. Adam says:

    The creeping insidious nature of underacievement often means that you want change for the sake of it and that you settle for far less than you should. This is Arsenal and we should have several world-class players sprinkled through the team. People like Song and Nasri are not those players. Neither is Chamakh,, Djourou and many, many others. But we settle for them because we have been convinced that we are a poor club who have to exist on bringing through teenagers. We went through all this stuff with Wenger years ago when he said that, if it didn’t work, he would change his philosophy. I see no sign of that happening. Mata could become a great player. Arshavin was a great player. We really must set our sights higher.

  55. Mr islington says:

    I would rather he went outside the prem also,but city have the funds and if that means signing Mata im all for it.

    I’m glad we have signed up Bartley aswell and plays more games than squillaci.Still need another centre half thou.

  56. rico says:

    What, like Ricky, Campbell, Mata, Jags etc…..

    What I’d like is for him to tell us he’s signed one or two, the season is a week away and we look very dodgy at the back…..

  57. rico says:

    I think i might have a guess as to why Adam….

    Nasri isn’t world class, he may get there but half a season doesn’t make him a star, Messi is world class, Ronaldo is world class – Nasri imho is nowhere near that level….

  58. Savage says:

    Haha, I’m really surprised to be reading this. Obviously your grouping of “world class” is a very small one.

  59. Will says:

    You see, world class is a glib cliche thrown around by the uneducated press when they want to say a player is ok or pretty good.

    I would like to know how a player becomes world class.

  60. Adam says:

    Three years at Arsenal. Three good months. Nasri is not world class. If he is then what does that make Henry, Bergkamp and Vieira? Universe class? He might become world-class but to call him that now is wrong. World-class players are consistent and win several games a season with their brilliance. They step up to the plate and make the difference. Let’s not get carried away with terminology though. It deflects from the problems we are facing.

  61. Savage says:

    World class is not based on experience, it’s based on talent. You can play like a plonker for 25 years and never be world class.

    Nasri is full-stop one of the hottest talents in the world. I can’t believe we’re having this debate.

  62. Mr islington says:

    I define worldclass as players that would get in any team around the world…Would Nasri get into everyteam no??

  63. Will says:

    Would Nasri be a starter in

    Barca
    Real Madrid
    AC Milan
    Bayern Munich
    Man UTd
    Chelsea

    That is the question when you want to start using words like world class. Would that player get in and start with the top 8 to 10 teams in the world.

  64. Adam says:

    The World Class debate is moot and doesn’t move anything forward at all. Look at Denilson. He is World Class and we couldn’t find a place for him in our team.

  65. rico says:

    Savage ‘hottest talents’

    totally agree, he is young, very talented but world class, not just yet, a world class player would have dug deep in the second half of last season, what did Nasri do??

  66. goonerstan says:

    No offense savage but nasri “may” become world class. As u can see I emphasize the may become world class in the future but he’s no where near a world class player. He only had 3 super months and that’s all. Where was nasri when cesc was missing in the carling cup final. To me nasri on had 4 great games all through last season…fulham H totenshit H man shitty A and the swampies A in the carling cup. I may be wrong but those are all the games he was a bit above average. This is a guy that only had one assist all season! Where the term “world class ” emanates from is beyond me.

  67. Moses says:

    Its always good to have hope,but Arsenal manager may force you to commit sin.This whole saga of signing players is making us sick of wenger.We love and once loved him as a hero,but now he’s seen as a betrayer. Our joy is seeing Arsenal flourishing and humbling world teams plus taking trophies,but not self pitting with silly statements,”my boys are young” and yet they are at work.

  68. Savage says:

    Don’t let your clear dislike for Nasri cloud your judgment. I understand it happens – but you’ll need to engage your meta-cognition to recognise it.

  69. rico says:

    Hi Rocastle,

    he wants to play tomorrow too, shame he couldn’t muster up the interest in playing last weekend in front of his home fans….

  70. rico says:

    nasri wants out, why bother trying to keep a player who shows no respect for the club or the man who bought him in the first place???

  71. rico says:

    Hope is all we have right now Moses….

    Hope Wenger surprises us with 2/3 quality signings, but time is running out….

  72. K-TR7 says:

    Nasri has worldclass talent but he isn’t worldclass yet.i define a worldclass as a player who is a consistent performer who would get into most of the world’s top clubs.nasri hasn’t reached that level yet.

  73. Will says:

    Exactly my definition KT, too many lazy pundits and journo’s throw that around like it means something.

  74. K-TR7 says:

    Hi will.the term worldclass has become overused nowadays.if rvp was in nasri’s sitiuation i can guarantee all top clubs would be sniffing around.the same applies to sagna and cesc.those 3 are our only worldclass or on the cusp of it in our squad.

  75. Will says:

    KT, our problem at the moment is we have been spoiled by a once in a generation team and many fans expect players like that all the time. Not going to happen.

  76. Mr islington says:

    Exactly that,Sagna would get in any team in the world for me.
    Cesc would and so would rvp…Nasri is no where near yet.

  77. allezkev says:

    Mr Is, re: 11.34.
    Not sure Afobe is quite ready yet mate. Depends on the opposition. AW tried JET up at Stoke and it didn’t do him any favours.
    But who knows how good Benik will be in 6 months?
    Like you, i really rate the kid and in a years time we could have a top player on our hands.
    Rico, in your in-tray.. 😉

  78. K-TR7 says:

    There are very few worldclass players in the world.among our EPL rivals only shrek/rio/vidic/evra/drogba/cech/cole/terry/tevez/kompany/yaya/silva can be considered worldclass.

  79. goonerstan says:

    So we ve lost out on jag and cahill and now all attention is focused solely on scott dann! We are now a joke club. I wonder if we ll ever attract quality players if we can’t even bag average british based players. Yet you wonder why cesc wants out!

  80. DroumgarrGooner says:

    I have read this article with interest since the issue of Joey Barton and whether he is approached or not by Arsenal one that seems to split Arsenal fans.
    I am ambivalent to this issue because I can see pros and cons when considering whether he is offered a contract by the club. This is all pure speculation.
    His past is there for all to see and is 100% unacceptable. He has done his time for that and one has to say that over the last 12/18 months his behaviour off the field appears to have improved. On the field people will point at the Diaby incident in the now infamous 4-4 draw. I believe that there was no malice in the challenge made that day it was robust and hard, but having seen the likes of Peter Storey, Norman Hunter and Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris in the 70’s it was more ‘PG’ than ’18’ certificate to use the film analogy.
    Effectively I believe someone, who appears to be attempting to clean up his act should be given every chance to do so.
    His ‘tweets’ about his club may be justified. I actually found the one about telling the truth quite amusing. The picture it presented to me was one of Mike Ashley being the character “Napoleon” out of ‘Animal Farm’.
    He may or may not be justified in his criticism. Obviously he believes not all is right with his club and is entitled to his opinion. The one thing I do know is that he undoubtedly has a football talent and certain quality that Arsenal may be lacking.
    As the old saying goes “do not judge a book by its cover”. The image he has is a bad one, and it will take a great deal to change. Maybe he has finally grown up and whoever he joins in the future I wish him well. As I say I am ambivalent to his joining. If he were to join I would welcome him and support him as long as he does a job for us, keeps out of the headlins off the field and behaves himself on.

  81. K-TR7 says:

    Stan mate i told you to hold your horses as at some level we know arsene won’t anything to improve us.

  82. rico says:

    Kt, iw ouldn’t consider a few of those you list to be world class …

    Have the dippers got Cahill stan,all i have read is keown saying they should buy him….

  83. rico says:

    Steven, you are in moderation, the link you have is not permitted by my PC Security, if you want to come on please could you take out the link… thanks

  84. goonerstan says:

    will…explain this to me….first we sought out Alvarez sent dick law to tie up the deal only for inter to swoop in at the last minute and claim our prize….then some unknown arrogant south american kid stood us up over a few thousand quid….jag is not interested in coming to us and we lost my MATA….have u seen this guy play or hold on go check on Alvarez and see the beauty he scored in his first game in an inter shirt……JOKE JOKE JOKE….no wonder the press feasts on us. No other club in the northern hemisphere goes through what we go through and yet we are the third richest club in world football! Unbelievable

  85. allezkev says:

    DG, you made some good points ther mate…
    Wenger has straightened out quite a few ‘characters’ in his time at AFC.

  86. Will says:

    Stan, I doth believe you read and believe the press reports.
    Don’t believe until you see Wenger standing next to the player who will be wearing an Arsenal shirt.

  87. Mr islington says:

    Will stop falling for that spin,it just dosent wash anymore.
    You have fell into the wenger trap and it’s a load of bulls***.

  88. allezkev says:

    Stan, Mata hasn’t gone anywhere yet.
    Transfers these days are a minefield of buy-out clauses, bonus clauses etc etc, and then there’s the agents and what ‘they’ want.
    I share your frustration buddy, but there’s plenty of time, and we should all know by now that Wenger always ‘goes to the wire’.
    Yes it pisses me off as well as you guys [and gals 😉 ] but that the beast. Have a glass of wine Stan, chill out, enjoy the rain 😀 .

  89. allezkev says:

    No Rico, it’s what they’ve said in the past.
    You know, what that pair of twerps always say…
    I just like to remember the utter rubbish they spout… 😉

  90. Will says:

    But we are, we are going against teams who can and will lose hundreds of millions to get a player. Now we may offer £20M for a player, Man City find out, offer £30M and £200k a week to the player.

  91. rico says:

    I understand all the frustration too, I’m suffering it and add a bit of anger too…

    The board and Wenger saw just how unhappy fans were at the end of the season, surely, if they intend to buy players they would have done so by now?? What do they gain from leaving it until the last minute??

    Look at our situation with Fabregas, he has a few years left on his contract and wenger wants to keep him. If on the 31st August Barca still haven’t got the player, if you were Wenger would you sell for less or more than the 40m suggested he is available for??

    I know what i would do and that would eb to add another few million on just to cheese them off…

    I’m sure any other club who has a player they want to keep, would do the same… The only players available will be ones that other clubs don’t want anymore…..

  92. goonerstan says:

    Kev my man how the hell do you still keep your composure even when failure is starring at the arsenal in the face. Please throw some of that coolness down my way…..I really need it.

  93. Mr islington says:

    Will we are about to lose 25m on nasri…We have money mate.
    Wenger just does not want to spend.

  94. rico says:

    Mr Is, thats how i think too, if we are so cash strapped, how can we afford to lose such an amount??

    That £25m would have got us Cahill and Parker……..

  95. rico says:

    Will, the Man City money bares no relevance to us, we have money to spend, he’s just not spending at the moment…..

  96. rico says:

    Hi DroumgarrGooner,

    sorry for the delay in letting you on, all first comments go into moderation….

  97. allezkev says:

    Rico, Wenger really doesn’t want to lose Cesc.
    So he’s dragging it out safe in the knowledge that Barca are skint.
    If Barca come up with the dough, he’ll sell. If they don’t, then they can ‘do one’… The longer it goes on, the more chance we have of keeping him.
    I know it’s a bummer, and the Press do their level best to stir-it. I also agree with you, i’d put up the price, but Wenger has to be carefull not to upset Cesc, he has to pile the blame on Barca so that Cesc eventually thinks ‘bollox to them, i’m staying at AFC’…

  98. rico says:

    Who Will??

    If me, I’m only interested in AFC, What City spend is up to them, they have the money, they are allowed too….

    All we need is Wenger to spend what money he has got….

  99. goonerstan says:

    We are going to sell cesc to barca a day before the transfer window closes then wenger and IG will scramble all around europe looking for a quick fix and they will fail you know why…all clubs have are through with their shopping and the players both old and new are preparing for the long season ahead and won’t want to leave. On the first on sept wenger will hold a press conference telling us how he tried to get the right players but failed because the selling clubs won’t sell. In panic he ll now offer nasri a new four year contract and the little punk will refuse it…six months later he’s free to talk to any club he fancies. Wait for it…you ll say I told you so!

  100. allezkev says:

    Stan, it’s all down to years and years of Arsenal in the transfer market.
    My Dad used to tell me how they missed out on Dennis Law, Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, and a whole host of others.
    And why?
    Because we have a Board that hate’s spending.
    And that’s why i don’t totally blame Wenger.
    I also love a glass of wine. You should try it buddy.. 😀

  101. oliver says:

    morning all…no photo today, it seems…not only cesc, but several players who were linked with moves away are training.

  102. Mr islington says:

    No one has had the money man city and the chavs have had,
    How comes liverpool have strengthen,man u,even bloody sunderland have spent money…stoke making big moves.

    And we are supposed to be the third biggest club in england.

  103. rico says:

    Kev,

    you are right about Wenger, he def want’s to keep Cesc but
    I wonder why Cesc can’t see that Barca cannot really want him, if they did, they would have secured his signing before they bought the other guy….

  104. Prince Abdul says:

    Damn it! Cant the fans stone the idiot so called Wenger in London? Sir Alex with his victorious has been stoned severally in Manchester. So why can’t we do the same to the shameless heartbroken fool. Maybe he can learn and put his faithful fans in consideration.

  105. allezkev says:

    Rico, we don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes or what Wenger is nattering in Cesc’s ear.
    He managed to keep hold of Vieira, despite Balague selling him for us every summer.
    Likewise Henry.
    Nasri is a different scenario. I’d sell him. He’s like Flamini.
    Must be something to do with coming from Marseilles?

  106. Mr islington says:

    Yeah but we need to forget cesc now and let him go,
    This is affecting us and this cant go on,we have put enough time and effort into him already.

  107. K-TR7 says:

    Apparently cesc received a huge cheer today.he kissed the badge ;> waved to all 4 corners before heading down the tunnel.

  108. goonerstan says:

    Rico because those idiots know cesc only wants to play for barca so they will take their time..sanchez on the other hand has no obligation and might sign for any team pretty soon…..so their board made sanchez first priority and fabregas second…its simple logic though..I ll do the same were I in their shoes.

  109. rico says:

    I think i’m just fed up with it all to be honest, don’t get what is so difficult, we need a centre half, just go get one 😉

    😆 kev re Marseille, you may have a point there….

    I’d sell them both if i had my way, cesc is becoming a crock and nasri is ready to walk for free..

    60 million would really make us stronger than we are right now…..

  110. allezkev says:

    Mr Is, i thought the same a few weeks ago, but Barca haven’t come up with the dough.
    Why should we sell our players cheap?
    Bollox to Barca, they’ve spent the last 3 years poisoning us against Cesc.
    Why should we sell him for £27million just to suit those tossers?
    i also think it will affect us worse if he leaves…. The morale of the squad and all…

  111. Mr islington says:

    No what i mean kev is Arsenal should have set a date along time ago and told cesc if they dont come up with the money by then you can either stay or go on the market to the highest bidder.

  112. allezkev says:

    Mr Is, me and Rico were saying much the same a couple of weeks ago. But things have moved on behind the scenes, i really think he’ll stay.
    And if Aw had put up a deadline, that would have painted us badly in Cesc’s eyes.
    As it stands Arsenal have done everything correctly whilst Barca have been the pub team…

  113. allezkev says:

    But Nasri is a different kettle of fish. He doesn’t appear to care about Arsenal, he’s just passing thru.
    But, as with Adebayor, he’ll regret it…

  114. goonerstan says:

    Maybe he’s not rico…..there is a nemesis named alcantara waiting for him in Barcelona…will you leave a club where you are club captain and go somewhere to scrap it out with some 20 year old who a year ago wouldn’t be fit to lace your boots. Think about it cesc is scared..thanks to thiago alcantara we may as well be planning cesc testimonial. I don’t see him leavin soon. Roll out the drums kev, hey will get us some beers rico serve out some of that your delicious home made dishes.

  115. allezkev says:

    Stan that’s sounds good to me….
    But now KT has told me that about Squillaci, i’m gonna go around to my local and start a fight……. 😀
    Lata Gooners

  116. rico says:

    stan – good point made there, maybe the penny has just dropped in his head and he’s had a change of heart….

    If so and he stays, his head best be focussed on one team only, and that isn’t Barca….

  117. rico says:

    Arsenal’s potential Play-Off opponents are Rubin Kazan, Udinese, Odense, Twente or FC Zürich.

    Who do we want to draw then guys??

  118. goonerstan says:

    Wenger is unbelievable we need to ship out the dead wood yet he’s rewarding failure! What the heck has squillacci done over the course of last season that ll guarantee him a contract extension. For lands sake we need a new defender not rewarding the failed ones. Is wenger’s head up his a**

  119. goonerstan says:

    I ll take fc zurich rico…its closer to home so we avoid the long distance flight and all…..besides they look the easier amongst the lot.

  120. rico says:

    Squlli signing isn’t on .com, fingers crossed…..

    We should be able to beat any of them really stan, but i thought we’d beat Brum….. def need a short journey, it’s smack in the middle of tough league fixtures….

  121. rico says:

    Before you chastise me, this is from the Rumour site so pinch of salt please……

    ‘I work for Remars and we have the contract to print all the arsenal calendars programmes team posters etc we were told this morning that the photo shoot was being cancelled due to the weather but my boss Jon flanagan spoke to someone at arsenal who told us the real reason was because in the next 10 days there would be at least 8 coming in or leaving the club.

    When he asked more he was told nasri is a done deal to City Eboue is off to turkey squillaci is going home to France. And Mata will be in by next weekend Samba is joining and upson will be back at arsenal as back up and the shock signing of Gyan. In all this there was no mention of Fabregas. Watch all this unfold before next weekend.’

    😛

  122. oliver says:

    ricco…ricco…ricco…you know that is ridiculous. as if the club would disclose transfer specifics to someone who works in the calendar business…

    squil? extension? sounds like a wind-up to me…at least i hope it is…

  123. rico says:

    Hi oliver…

    You know i know that is an off the wall comment, so much so i just had to share with you all – some of the others are equally hilarious 🙂

  124. oliver says:

    i know…if the news about squil is true, i won’t find that funny at all…the guy gave us little – other than his winning goal versus stoke – and, to use a term that arsene is so fond of, extending him may just “kill” bartley…

  125. oliver says:

    it does not make much sense…as i remember, he signed up for a couple of years last summer. what has he done to earn an extension?

    gotta be a wind-up…

  126. goonerstan says:

    It had better be a wind up rico….squill having a contract extension is not what we need right now.

  127. rico says:

    😆 Lee, i was thinking something different but thought best not to post it ….

    Agree oliver but i don’t think he’ll kill Bartley, a couple of games and wenger will soon see who the better player is….

  128. oliver says:

    i wouldn’t be too sure of that ricco…i would say that we already know who the better player is…but the better player does not always feature for us…

    i shudder when recalling how squil twice let darren bent get wrong-side of him in the space of a few minutes at the ems last season…

  129. rico says:

    Well, he is a bit of a dick Lee 😉

    oliver, you know it takes wenger longer to see things we all see 😉

  130. oliver says:

    probably…them or dynamo kyiv were the two sides i hope to avoid. since rubin took care of the latter, it is now just them…

    udinese and twente are good sides as well, but the travel won’t be nearly as bad…we handled twente pretty easily in the group stages a couple of seasons ago – them as the defending netherlands champions.

    regardless of who we get, it won’t be easy…but we made this particular bed for ourselves, so we just have to get on with the job…

  131. rico says:

    Just hope wenger doesn’t take it too easy either… like he did in the group stages last season…

  132. rico says:

    The Guardian:

    Henri Lansbury has failed to agree terms on a new contract at Arsenal and the young midfielder looks set to leave, with Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City among the interested clubs.

  133. allezkev says:

    I’ve heard of Bob the Builder……
    But Squillaci the Brickie….!
    Are you sure Lee???
    You’ve not been on the Jamaican Woodbines again have you? 😉

  134. Adam says:

    I just drove past the Emirates and there is a long line of Centre Backs, all of them world-class, queueing around the block just waiting to get in. Couldn’t see Upson though. They seem to constructing a statue of Squillaci on the main concourse next to the meat pie counter. Exciting times ahead.

  135. allezkev says:

    Good to see Lansbury, Miyaichi, Afobe and Frimpong all involved in training at The Grove today…..
    Odense for me Rico… Then ADK can go to a game.. 😉
    Gyan Rico….. that’s a new one….
    No doubt all the scummy ‘Red Tops’ will pick up on it…

  136. allezkev says:

    Hi KT, i don’t think the Birmingham fans have seen much of him recently!
    I can’t say that he’s stood out to me in the past, but all the pundits seem to talk him up.
    What do you think?

  137. oliver says:

    dann was injured for much of last season, as i remember correctly. a bit like the problem we had with tv. i know dann missed the cc final. i am pretty sure he was unavailable for our 3-0 win at st andrews, also…

  138. rico says:

    Evening Guys

    From YG’s

    Arsène Wenger has included Emmanuel Frimpong, Henri Lansbury, Benik Afobe and, providing he is granted a work permit, Ryo Miyaichi in his first-team squad for the new season, Young Guns has learnt.

    All four players are yet to have their first-team squad numbers confirmed, but were told of their promotion before today’s opening training session for members at the Emirates Stadium.

  139. stevepalmer1 says:

    I hope your right Will, seems a strange way to be going about it, What do you know about this registration of players for the champions league, would that mean that if you brought players in the January window they wouldnt be able to play. i didn’t know you had to register.

  140. ArsenalDK says:

    Hello everyone, I hope we get OB 😀 It’s hear in Denmark, and I would be able to keep you updated, as I will probably be at the stadium 😛

  141. Will says:

    I think if they don’t register before the qualifying game, they can’t play in that but if they sign after and we get through, they are fine to play.

    I must admit, I do wish we had done our business already but who am I to question someone at the top of his career.

  142. goonerstan says:

    Hi guys….am so happy for henri. All he has to do now is have a flamini-esque kinda season and wenger ll be begin him to renew his contract.

  143. rico says:

    Hi ADK, they are pretty good though aren’t they??

    Will, you obviously don’t mean you are questioning Wenger then….

  144. stevepalmer1 says:

    Will, your right there but why all this cloak and dagger stuff. i am wondering if our signings are all hinging on the sales of players first, thats a bad state of afairs,as that is a lever against us, It appears that Fabregas’s sale is all about Barcelona, and we couldn’t sell him anywhere else because he wouldn’t agree, If he stays this year we should in future say that Fabregas is going no where untill the end of his contract so we will never have this is he or isn’t he scenario

  145. Adam says:

    So, according to MP we should awaken to 3 signings tomorrow.Two England internationals and a top class foreign player. Can’t wait myself.

  146. ArsenalDK says:

    No rico, they are not! Fc Copenhagen are the leading team here in Denmark, OB are about as good as a mid table team in the championship i would say. They don’t have any profiles whatsoever, except maybe the former United player, Eric Djemba Djemba..
    And all these years I have been a supporter, I have never watched our team live 🙁

    Barazite has just scored a hattrick for Austria Wienna…

  147. rico says:

    stan, Henri needs to sign his new contract, otherwise he’ll be gone…. i’m sure he will though….

  148. rico says:

    😆 Adama…

    Phew, then i’m all for us drawing them ADK, at least then you get to see them play 🙂

    Barazite, now i always thought he had a future with us but he just suddenly left, same with Merida… Mind you, don’t think the latter has done very well… Yet..

  149. Will says:

    Steve, I am not sure if any new signings hinge on sales, I think they hinge on player greed and we have to work out payment plans for these players.

  150. ArsenalDK says:

    I have my fingers firmly crossed that we will sign them rico, that would be a good workout for our younger players 😉

    If we draw them, expect me to show my excitement all day tomorrow 😉

  151. goonerstan says:

    some pin head on talk shite is spouting filth saying there’s no way cesc ll remain an arsenal player by sept 1…what a loser.

  152. rico says:

    😛 Kt, don’t bother, try afc.com, then reality will hit home – no real news…. other than how good the asia tour was, the training photos, the fact that jenkinson can play RB, CH & LB….

    See, there’s our new central defender/LB……

  153. Will says:

    We he just slags off Arsenal and Wenger and says he is in the know when he knows less then anyone on here.

  154. rico says:

    Will, not being rude but do you actually know Myles Palmer (if that is who you are talking about??) If not, I would suggest that maybe you or no-one else knows just who or what he really knows….

    Same can be said for any other blog or it’s authors, let’s not go down the route of slagging them off here – i wouldn’t like it if that happened to HH…

    We all do our best….

  155. Will says:

    It is his self righteous holier than thou attitude I can’t stand,

    He has admitted he doesn’t support Arsenal so why does he bother to continually slag us off.

  156. Adam says:

    Rico. It is genius. We already have the new, tall CB we were promised. Not only that but we have a RB as well. As if that wasn’t enough to rejoice about we can now see why Clichy was moved on and Baines and Enrique never had a chance of becoming Arsenal players because we also have a LB too. And for £1 million. Buy one, get two free.

  157. rico says:

    And neither would I Will if someone said that here……

    Kt, he’ll be in the squad i’m sure, I just think YG’s gave us news about the ones we were concerned about…

    I’m gone now… Night all..

  158. Will says:

    I am not sure why you are upset Rico but I am sorry if I offended you but I am not sorry about what I said about him.

  159. rico says:

    I’m not upset Will, honest – i just don’t agree with knocking Myles Palmer when he is not here to defend himself…..

    Now i am gone…..

  160. allezkev says:

    Palmer has written for The Scotsman and The Scottish Sunday Herald, so he might be a Jock, and therefore unlikely to have any kind feelings for Arsenal…

  161. allezkev says:

    KT, re: Bartley, is it for the entire season?

    And did you know that Eden Hazard has a younger brother, at Lens?
    Thorgan Hazard is a striker and apparantly he’s as talented as his elder brother.

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