Versatile defender deal agreed. Cut price Ibra deal on? Martinez the prefect striker for Arsenal Officials…

Morning all.

On this day back in 1982 Arsenal signed Tony Woodcock from FC Koln for just £500,000. Woodcock was Arsenal’s top scorer for the next four seasons, his best tally being 21 in 1983–84 including five in a single game against Aston Villa. I think that remains a record at Arsenal – Arshavin came closest against Liverpool with four goals.

A serious injury in 1985 and the arrival of George Graham as manager the following year, Woodcock was out the door and back he went to FC Koln.

A few international friendlies took place yesterday. England played out a bore zero draw with Ireland. Jack was Englands best player but the entire game was awful. Theo came on around 82 minutes but even he couldn’t make a difference to the scoreline.

Giroud and Koscielny were part of a French side which got beat 4-3 by Belgium but the best result of the day came in the Womens World Cup where Germany thrashed the Ivory Coast 10-0.

One more international for the men and then it’s off for a holiday. Apart from those taking part in the Copa America Cup.

Nigel Winterburn has been talking to ‘talkSPORT’ about Arsene Wenger and this coming transfer window:

If you look at it, he has got to spend money because the Premier League is the one (Wenger will want).

He’s not missing too many players, he just needs two or three players – They still need a leader.

I doubt many fans would disagree with our old left-back. Of course the manager/club need to spend some money and a lot of it if we are going to be seriously challenging, no, winning the Premier League and it doesn’t take a genius to realise that but instead of just saying ‘2/3 players why not go a bit further and explain who and why or in which positions.

As most of us here have said, a central defensive/holding midfielder must surely be a priority but after that, we all have differing opinions. A striker, winger and goalkeeper are just three of many positions thrown into the debate here most days but does Arsene Wenger think the same. I only wish I knew…

Looks like the Vidal story was all puff and wind as it seems he’s on the verge of joining Barcelona, unless the sports journalists have got it wrong and mean the Sevilla versatile wide-man Aleix Vidal, who apparently is switching Spanish clubs for £7.5m. How that can be when Barca have a transfer ban until January, I don’t know.

There’s not much Arsenal gossip today other than in The Metro and you can always rely on them to come up with a good headline, just a shame the story has little if any substance most of the time. They report that Arsenal have joined the £10.9 million transfer race for Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Jeorge Bird, a far more reliable website report that barring any last minute complications, Kostas Pileas will officially become an Arsenal player on July 1st after agreeing to sign for the club. The player is still young, 16 years old to be precise and can play centre-back or left-back.

The same paper suggests that ‘Arsenal officials reportedly believe that the transfer of Porto’s Jackson Martinez would provide a huge lift for the whole club’.

Would Martinez tick your boxes??

Finally, Big Sol Campbell has thrown his hat into the ring to become the Lord Mayor of London having decided he wants to be the Tory candidate to succeed Boris Johnson in 2016.

On that note, have a good Monday…..

 

115 thoughts on “Versatile defender deal agreed. Cut price Ibra deal on? Martinez the prefect striker for Arsenal Officials…

  1. tsgh says:

    Vote Sol! 🙂

    Good read; it appears the rag tops are struggling to manufacture rumours.

    I suggest they hire Malaga G. as a consultant. 😉

  2. Drake says:

    Morning all,rico barca can sign players but they will only officially announce them in jan 2016 and it alex vidal a right wing back from sevilla

  3. Drake says:

    Three signings for our youth already can not wait for next season to start.under 18 team really need all the help they can get

  4. Wavy says:

    Sol for mayor? Mmm, that will depend upon the good bug hers of London Town want to return another Tory to the office. The boris bus will be long gone and just a wry reminder of his greatest political achievement! A blue bike! I wonder what Sol will bring to the party? A steady centre right back with a view to the double values and invincible views of an old time Tory. Sadly, or not, I don’t think he has much of a prayer.
    He will I think, labour in vain!
    No new players yet dippers are already two duds up! I think they’ll let Sterling go now they’ve signed two players to replace him. Was no is he really that good that it takes two?

    7 in a game, Ted Drake 193? And that was against Villa too, I believe (I’ve not googled it, too lazy!)

  5. Drake says:

    Rico i do not see it as a punnishment too, it more about delaying the time of arrivals(new signings).they should have stopped them from taking part in the transfers altogether

  6. Canadian Gooner says:

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

    A slow news day, but the Ibrahimovic rumour takes the cake. That would be so unlike Arsene to buy a 33 year old outfield player who is reputed to be on £300,000 a week. The odds of that happening are only slightly better than Arsenal signing Santa Claus. It is only early June and already they are scraping the bottom of the barrel.

    For the money the commercial press writers are being paid, I’m sure most of the regular visitors to the House could do as good, if not better, job for far less. Lord knows what they will be writing in a months time. Maybe they need to take a trip to Denver, Colorado for a little cannabis tourism to give them some inspiration for their pipe dreams. If they get any worse we’ll need a pump, not a pitch fork or a shovel.

  7. Canadian Gooner says:

    I’m off to the kitchen as the talk of cannabis has given me the munchies. I’m a wee bit peckish so to speak.

  8. allezkev says:

    I have just Googled Kim Kardashian, expecting to see a Kim Kallstrom type midfield bruiser, and was pleasantly surprised, not only by her classical good looks, but also by the size of her arse…

    I think she would be a very good signing… 😀

  9. allezkev says:

    You are right Wavy, Ted Drake in 1935, I believe…

    He actually scored an eight goal but the referee and linesman failed to give it as, if I recall, it hit the crossbar, bounced over the line and spun back into the play…

    When Drake questioned the referee, the ref said “come on Ted, aren’t you satisfied with seven”….

    Different times indeed..!

  10. rico says:

    Agree Drake, a ban is a ban…

    Morning Cg, I thought the Ibra story topped all other rubbish too, just isn’t going to happen imo…

  11. Hell Raising Devil says:

    For you Kev!!!!!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzQ6a2UKlGM

    Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.

    300K a week for Ibra??? lol. AW will sign 2 superstars, a couple of Freebies and another couple of youths and still have loose change from that wage bill.

    seems that our youth side is being given an extreme makeover then. gd. hopefully we will be seeing a couple of them make the breakthrough in a few years time.

  12. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – When questioned about the veracity of many of their stories, a top executive of one of the American cable news networks said that they were in the entertainment business – not the news business. We know much of what the ‘sports press’ writes doesn’t have any news value, but is also patently bogus that it even lacks entertainment value.

    It may be time to ween myself off all this, at least until the pre-season games start. I’ll just pop into the House and Arsenal.com to see what is really happening.

  13. Canadian Gooner says:

    Kev – Ms. Kardashian is not the normal type of backfield we normally discuss in the House. While of no technical value, she does posses a certain type of entertainment value .

    Also, your slipping in a reference to red Spandex the other day did not go unnoticed.

  14. Hell Raising Devil says:

    This looks more like it mates……a FREEBIE who will cost nothing and whose wages are not high…..

    Arsenal are trying to lure France Under-22 captain Stephane Sparagna on a free transfer after he impressed at the Toulon tournament. The 20-year-old centre-back put in a commanding display for the hosts in the final of the annual tournament, scoring France’s second goal in a 3-1 win over Morocco. Sparagna was linked to Arsenal last year and the Gunners have been following his progress in Toulon with Arsene Wenger’s top French spy Gilles Grimandi at every match. Grimandi, an ex-Gunners defender himself, will have been impressed by Sparagna’s goal – a brave header from a second-half corner, but his defending during the fortnight-long event also stood out. Marseille are desperate to keep the youngster, who made his first-team debut last August, but have yet to receive an answer from him on their offer of a new three-year deal and fear he could be heading abroad for nothing. –

    See more at: http://www.sportinastorm.com/Premier-League/Arsenal/Gunners-eye-star-of-Toulon-tournament/X1Y1Z1943266#sthash.mQ0hnaZB.dpuf

  15. Wavy says:

    I bra story is obviously untrue as Wenger rarely signs very ugly players! Even Gabriel is not as unattractive as thee sip able swede!

  16. Hell Raising Devil says:

    and not only Arshavin Rico……Baptista also scored 4 against the dippers in the league cup in a 6-3 win.

    So……..

    Drake…………7 vs Villa
    Woodcock…..5 vs Villa
    Arshavin……..4 vs Dippers
    Baptista………4 vs Dipper

    I wished for the unbeaten record since I was a teen……I saw it.
    I wished for another double……got two in less than 6 years
    I wished success in Europe……saw the CWC….hopefully the CL
    I wished to see someone break Drake’s record of 7 goals….maybe one day??
    I wished to see someone score more than 42 league goals in one season……maybe one day???
    I wished for…………..maybe one day. What is it??? Well that is none of your business!!!! 🙂

  17. Canadian Gooner says:

    Devil – Do you really want to give the House regulars the freedom to fill in the blank? That is very brave of you.

  18. Dublingunner says:

    Ah, Woodcock, Rix, Brady, Talbot, O leary, Sunderland.. Memories, There a few of the boys that started me loving this great Club, and started me on this long journey, mostly good times, thank god, and with all my family, cousins, etc, all Liverpool fanatics, I could,ve easily ended up going the other way.It was the 1979 final that did it for me, only to be inconsolable a year later, When we lost 2 finals to Valencia, and West Ham, Yep it was clear from that early on, It was going to be a roller coaster of a ride, but I wouldn,t change a thing. Well maybe just a goal keeper, and a world class striker.

  19. tsgh says:

    The game I am looking forward to the most will be Wales Vs Belgium.

    Joe Allen vs Fellaini. 🙂

    I hope our Ramsay comes out of these international unscaved.

  20. Canadian Gooner says:

    Ginge – I make no apologies for not being up to date with the minutiae of reality TV stars and other assorted ‘personalities’.

    As for Mrs. Kardashian-West (for the moment anyway) herself, I don’t appreciate her over-sized backfield and being wed wont make her an honest woman, but just a married one. I’d claim to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, but I haven’t got there yet.

    Rant concluded, smile back on face and normal service resumed.

  21. tsgh says:

    🙂 hash Rico.

    Dev- since you have an eye for goalie’s what do you think of Ruffier?

    Rico- after watching France vs Belgium I think I now agree with you on cabaye’s time being past.
    Nnaingolan and Witsel outmuscled Matuidi and Sissoko in midfield.

  22. Dublingunner says:

    I believe Giroud had a stinker the weekend, boo,d off by the french fans, not good. I know its early days, but lets hope Wenger doesnt, sit on his hands through the summer, hoping to pull of a master stroke in the last few hours of the T.W. News that Lacazette is of to PSG, and Cech could be snapped up too, by United, who are looking at him and Loris. Jeez it wouldn,t be the worst 20 million ever spent ,if we could get Ibra and Cech. Although highly unlikely.

  23. tsgh says:

    Dg- the French fans who do not like Arsenal as a 2nd team ‘hate’ Giroud.

    They think the sun rises out of Benzema’s backside but that is another story…

    I think France lost the midfield which I can’t phantom it..

    Kosser was surprisingly very poor. If I didn’t know him I would have assumed he was not used to this level.

    Nainngolan is basically the Belgium version of frimpong playing for a very poor AC Milan team.

    witsel is a loony when he has a rush of blood.

    fellani I think is a one trick pony but ups his game for his NT.

    I think the French set-up assuming with cabaye, Matuidi, sissoko thinking De Bruyne, Dembele would play.

    I was surprised Gonalons did not start as he is by far the best CDM from france now imho…

  24. Dublingunner says:

    Didn,t see the french game, I was comatosed after watching Ireland v England match, awful game, I suppose we were the happier of the 2 with the result, Hate friendlys. We need to step saturday in a must win game against the scots this saturday. A defeat against the scots and were all but F**ked.

  25. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – “Cripes Ts, you agreeing with me, something must be wrong…. ” We’ll have to make a note of this historical event for future reference.

    Ginge – You must have had a grand weekend or have you too been ‘saved’ by the Rev. Kev?

    With that, I’m off. Have a great day everyone.

    Keep The Faith!

  26. Dublingunner says:

    Copa America, awaits, Maybe Wenger has he,s eye on a talent from latin america, Hopefully Vidal. As much as I,d like to see Chile lift the trophy, I just can,t see past Argentina, although Messi did look tired saturday night, and Brazil not exactly Exciting the football world, also Suarez banned, Maybe Chile could go all the way.

  27. rico says:

    5′ 5″ is ok for creative midfield Ts, and Aguero is one of the finest strikers for a shortie… 😉

    Evening all…

  28. Wavy says:

    So is Podolski as it seems. He’s coming home to Arsenal. Our winger shortage solved! Lucas is da man!

  29. Hell Raising Devil says:

    haha. you took a long time to get around it Rico. was just pulling your leg. what once was can never be again. although I can still give a good shift for around 60 mins. 🙂

  30. Joe says:

    It’s always good to be left wanting more Rico like I said he’s like ice cream and you have to pace oneself with ice cream. 😉

  31. tsgh says:

    Andre Ayew’s father Abedi Pele is one reason Wenger did not beat Marseille more often…
    I rate Andre.he will be superb on either wings for us… Just don’t let syg know.

  32. allezkev says:

    How the mighty fall….

    Phil Thompson gets a hard-on over Liverpool’s Bosman signing of Milner.

    Therefore we can only guess at the excitement Thompson must be now experiencing at the prospect of Danny Ings moving to that ‘massive’ Meseyside giant. That club that lives in a hazy world of history. Yes, it’s all in your past Scousers.

  33. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Seems that a world known striker who is one of the top in business might soon be searching for a club. It is reported that Wolfsburg are not happy with the world’s best striker in their ranks and want to cash in, because he has demanded a reduction in wages and this means they will have to sell him for a sack of peanuts, a packet of tissues and a kg of snail liver.

    AW should do all his effort to secure Bendtner, who is a better choice than Martinez and Higuain combine.

  34. allezkev says:

    Morning All…

    Feels a bit chilly today.

    Morning Coach, are we going down the French avenue again???

  35. allezkev says:

    Morning Again Coach…

    My other comment is in moderation…

    Just can’t get the staff these days… 😛

  36. tsgh says:

    Buon Giorno Dev.

    Higuain is heading to the bridge apparently… rag tops.

    Rumours are Vidal has agreement somewhere; RM it appears

  37. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Buongiorno Signora.

    Buongiorno Ginginho.

    Higuian to bridge??? lol. as expected.

    tbh…..never saw him coming to AFC….not while we have Ollie with the same build, same scoring rate and same position.

    Martinez or Aubemayang is more likely…..they have speed and like to get behind the defenders.

    tell you what…….buy Cech……get Martinez and give Ches to Porto for a whole season…..he will play in the league and get to play at least 6 games in the CL.

    what do you think???

  38. tsgh says:

    Lol… Harry is trying to get back into management by suggesting that WHU should make Rio as their manager with him as the DoF.

  39. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I would even go as far as to lend them Akpom and maybe Jenkinson for the whole season. It will help them as a squad, it will help them with regards FFP, it will help the three players play regular football at a good level and it will still keep them at AFC.

    a win win for everyone.

  40. Adam says:

    Brudder. I think Lacazette is off to PSG isn’t he? And can we do business with Lyon? If Ramsey goes to Barca then perhaps Gundojan? Dunno about Kondogbia.

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