Daily Bits and Bobs

Who will be 6th? Would they have signed if Wenger plans to walk away?

Posted on by rico

Morning all…

Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and the young but extremely talented Gedion Zelalem have all been tied down to new contracts…..

Great stuff I’d say!

Let’s start with Gedion Zelalem.

He may only be 17 years old but he showed signs of what he has to offer when he impressed for the first team during this seasons pre-season fixtures. He played a part in all four games of the Asia Tour and against Galatasaray in the Emirates Cup.Added to that, he came off of the bench for his competitive first-team debut on January 24th when we beat Coventry City 4-0 in the FA Cup fourth round.This is his first professional contract.

Arsène Wenger said:

We are very pleased that Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Gedion Zelalem have committed their futures to the Club. Cazorla and Ramsey are absolutely key players for us, and this news is a boost to the whole club. Gedion is very young of course, but he has shown already that he has fantastic promise, and we all look forward to his development with us.

Having tied down Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky, this news is very much welcome in my opinion and it’s a sure sign that the club are not willing to let the players who really matter, run down their contracts and leave for free. Far too many times in the past that has been allowed to happen but thankfully, that really is a thing of the past. Well, apart from Bacary Sagna as it stands right now…

But, what’s more pleasing is the response of the players who have signed their contracts and none of them have been offered a ridiculous amount of money to stay. None have needed to be given a weekly salary of £300,00 just to get them to remain at the club!

No. Every single player who has in the last few weeks signed new, or their first pro-contract, has done so because they want to stay and play for one of, if not the best football club in the Premier League.

Aaron Ramsey said:

I’m delighted to have signed a new contract. I’ve been here for six years and I’m so happy. I think we’ve shown so far this season what we’re all about and the direction that this club wants to go in. I want to be a part of that, and to be a part of something special at Arsenal. We have a great team which we believe can achieve great things.

Santi Cazorla said:

I’m so happy to have signed a new contract with Arsenal. This club makes me very happy – the manager, my team-mates, the fantastic supporters, the stadium and the whole organisation here.

I have had a great time with the Club since joining nearly two years ago, and I think that we can be a big player in competing for the top trophies in years to come and that’s important for me. I have already had lots of good moments here and hopefully there will be many more to come.

I can’t find a quote from young Gedion Zelalem but I bet he’s thrilled to bits……

That’s five players all tied down to our club for a while yet but possibly, the bigger picture is unfolding about our managers future. Would any one of Mertesacker, Rosicky, Ramsey, Cazorla and yes, even young Gedion sign new contracts if they didn’t have the reassurance from our manager that he was staying?

I don’t think they would…

Also, would they agree to stay if they didn’t know what the summer and years ahead hold for us?

Again, I don’t think they would….

Will there be a 6th signing and if so, will it be Arsene Wenger or Bacary Sagna? Well, The Daily Telegraph believe it will be Laurent Koscielny which is good because keeping him and Per together at the back is essential.

Not such good news yesterday was the under 19′s getting knocked out of the UEFA Youth League Cup quarter final by Barcelona. Yet again the sending off of our goalkeeper cost us dear. That silly rule really has to be ditched…

That’s it for another day…

 

 

rico

0 thoughts on “Who will be 6th? Would they have signed if Wenger plans to walk away?”

  2. Scott from Oz says:

    Rico, i fly Cathay Pacific, and am meeting a mate who has been in London for nearly a week now.

  3. Wavy says:

    But w when will they sign Costa? He’s shite, by the way!

    Morning Rico and all. Nice to be greeted with positive news, for a change.

  12. IGooner says:

    How about looking at it like this?
    Wenger is leaving/retiring come this summer. That is why he’s getting all the important players stay together for atleast next 2-3 years so that new manager can settle in well without any problems of other clubs stealing our star players.

  22. rico says:

    Spot on Lee, I don’t remember half of my trip to London, although Kev’s Salmon was rather yummie, as was the Cobra and the fizzy stuff…

    Maybe the Stella was the wrong move 😉

  29. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Morning all! Rico, I remember that fateful lunch you came to London for only too well…. I still blame Adam!!

  37. rico says:

    Morning Rocky, don’t suppose you have even been back there… lol

    I blame Adam too, I am sure he ordered the fizzy stuff….

  38. rockyrocastle07 says:

    Funnily enough Rico, I have dodged it since! I refuse to even pick up one of his cookbooks to have a look. Maybe I should have a look at it…. Perhaps the secret of the Pork Vindaloo I had is “woefully out of date pork”.

  56. BrainwashedKev says:

    Morning All.

    Morning Lee, Rock, Scott, Adam et al.

    Morning Rico, very interesting post.

    Draxler, Benzema, Di Maria, Khedira, that’ll do me…
    Oh and Darren Bent of course… 😀

  59. Scott from Oz says:

    I am off guys.
    Next time we chat, i will probably be around the corner from you 🙂
    Remember, if anyone is handy, i am at the Gunners pub, so drop in.
    Talk soon.

  61. potter says:

    Just watched the entire game yesterday.
    For the first half hour Arsenal dominated, closing down Barca’s defence as they tried to play their passing game from the back. We were all over them and won a penalty when Akpom was bought down on the turn . Unfortunately Olsson hit the post with the kick and some of our dominance started to wane. Barca had two very fast powerful players and they started to use their pace to get through our midfield and after 30 minutes started to take control. They forced an error from our defence when an attempted clearance ( too slow ) was charged down and the deflection went in. 1 -0 Barca. The play was fairly even up to half time where just before a neat passing movement saw Gnabry get through on goal and he equalised.
    Second half and Barca were sharper moving the ball better and finding space between our midfield and back line as our midfield surprisingly were not tracking back too well. They went 2 -1 up a ball played through the middle our defence beaten for pace and slotted through the goalies legs. Barca dominated until they broke again , once more they got one on one with the keeper who bought down the forward blatantly + penalty and Red card. New keeper on and Zelalem off. Penalty taken and put over the bar. About 5 from the end we attacked down our left and a smart move by Akpom and he scored from about a yard out. We couldn’t hold on for the penalties though it seemed that it was job done in their minds and sloppy play allowed Barca to break and get two more before the finish.
    Shame though, they fought well to get back into it with 10 men but on the whole 95 minutes with the circumstances , I think the result was right.
    I can only see a few making any step forward at the moment and certainly Gnabry is the only one that I would see anywhere near the fringes of the first team for next season. Akpom maybe but not yet.

  64. tsgh says:

    Have a safe flight Scott
    Glad pen has been put to paper
    But things are looking like they may shape up as a few have always suspected…
    AW signing Sagna as his first buy for Psg… 😉

    Good report on the u-21 game Potter.

    I know I bigged up Gedion before the Far East tour last season and he had a couple of decent cameos…

    Since then however, I think he has become a younger Denilson on the pitch with Gedion’s dad I suspect doing the best imitation of Anelka’s older brother…

    The lack of a defensive-midfielder, in the absence of both Isaac Hayden and Glen Kamara was quite obvious against a very well drilled Barca squad taken from Cameroon…

    I think Gatting should have played Siemann along side Olsson…

    This defeat leaves the likes of Olsson, Hayden and Hayden in no man’s land.

    Iliev the goalie has the same annoying swagger of Scez which is quite worrying …

    Good afternoon Rico and all…

  65. tsgh says:

    Potter,I think Akpom should have been left as a winger… he certainly works hard and has the pace to burn but you are right about him not likely to be given a chance as striker…

  79. George says:

    hi all, been a while but I have moved to Dubai from Cuffley as I couldn’t get a job back home…

    I am on a boat party next week with Michel salgado! I will be sure to ask him about the Di Maria rumour. You can bet my nelly on it!

  84. tsgh says:

    Hey George… pleased for you mate…

    still attending your POF parties? 😉

    Hey goonster long time buddy…

  85. Rick. says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House.
    Good report on the U 19 game Potter. the only thing I would add would be that in the first half they were looking good.
    Ginge like you I think we missed Kamara and Hayden in a big way.

    One of the things that has disapointed me is how many fans were looking at the game to see who was ready to challenge for a first team place.
    Of last nights team Maitland -Niles is only 16, O’conner, Pleguezuelo and Zelalem were 17 at the end of Jan and Iwobi is also only 17. They have a long way to go before they can even make the step up. I think (hope) Serge will play more and I also hope they give Chuba a chance.

  86. tsgh says:

    Hi Rick, hope you are well? I am with you there… all the boys no doubt have the talent that is why they are playing for us albeit at Youth level…

    The key is how they make the jump from reserve or youth level to the senior level taking into consideration the lack of proper peer competition available to the youngsters and the lack of opportunities afforded loanees when they are loaned out…

    I still think the likes of Olson should be trusted and given a chance once in a while…

    Serge should get more opportunities but a few may forget that he had 2 considerable ankle injuries last season and is still growing so maybe he is not quite ready to play every single game…

    I am pleased AW seem to have trust in Hayden but I am not a fan of AW throwing him in when the barrel is bar like he did with Eastmond who in my opinion was very good…

    Randal was another player who was given too many chances too early I think, because he was left footed and played CM which AW LOVES whilst the likes of Yennaris and co did not get such chances…

  88. Rick. says:

    Ginge I have bad days now and again but in general I am good thank you.
    Olsson has said that the are trying to make him a DM big mistake .
    I cannot understand the way they are treating him, with Hayden he would be one of the first on the team sheet.
    I have some veiws on the likes of Eastmond and Yennaris which I will make known later.

  89. Rick. says:

    Hi Rico, Good positive Post today. You areright there is no way they would sign new cotracts if he was leaving. I think he will extend his contract for anothe 2years.

  90. potter says:

    Maybe things will change with Brady’s replacement and the boys will be able to develop on, especially with the new league format giving them more opportunity to play without leaving the club for a fruitless loan.I only commented on player’s readiness to step up because there is always chatter about buying from abroad and often the targets are just development players of other clubs. The first team squad needs players and the ones we get will have to be ready immediately . My comment was not meant to criticise purely to point out that there are few money savers for messrs Gazidis and Wenger right now.

  94. rico says:

    Potter, the new guy, Jonker certainly has a lot of experience and as much as I love Liam Brady for all he been, and done for our club, a new broom might just reap more reward.

    Very similar to Pat Rice really, great player, great assistant, but it all went a bit stale…. Especially at the back….

  97. BrainwashedKev says:

    I’ve not heard that about Olssen, although I do recall reading that ppl at the club, see Olssen as the successor to Arteta.

    Arteta isn’t a def-mid in the classic Vieira mould, so maybe Olssen is the kind of d/m the club are looking for?

  99. tsgh says:

    Rick I am looking forward to your post…

    Enjoy Rico.. are you getting your dinner from the Fat Duck restaurant down your patch? 😀

  100. Rick. says:

    Kev I have been told he said it in an iterview when he went home for a few days. He also spoke of how thrilled he is being able to train with Rosiky and Ozil.
    Anyone watching man u tonight, or should I say Joal Campbell.

    I gather that Terry Burton is leaving us after being subbed for Bradys job . What do you all think?

  101. rico says:

    Hardly Ts, that place is about 40 odd miles away and HB has history for a bit of an upset tummy after dining there…

  102. potter says:

    I met Terry a few years ago , he was a nice guy but he’s been to a number of clubs and never made the top . Good man to have around though , shame if he’s off.

  105. tsgh says:

    Kev, I see where you coming from re. 6:06; I doubt AW is really looking for an out and out DM…

    His attempt after Bender in the summer was Seb Perez who was just a physical Ollson or a younger Arteta imho…

  106. rico says:

    Terry Burton has not been with us that long has he Potter..

    Ts, well don’t 😉 Not when it comes to HB….

  107. potter says:

    He was with us then left went round a number of clubs and then Brady brought him back.

    Campbell looking a bit of a hand full.

  109. tsgh says:

    Agreed Potter; When I listened to AW talking about JC last month part of me was wondering if he was just plying lip service to the audience..

    His loan was with a view to a £2M move so…

  111. tsgh says:

    A real shame….

    Ex-Barça coach Rijkaard has retired from football management after 14 months without a job

  113. tsgh says:

    Lol…

    Diaby working like mad to get back. Training at altitude in French Alps this week. Back at April 1. Desperate to play this season to get on the plane to Brazil…

  120. BrainwashedKev says:

    Ginge, I just get the feeling that the big midfield enforcer is on the decline.
    Vieira was a supremely skillful player, not just a nutjob assassin sitting in front of the back-four.
    Arteta doesn’t just break-up play and win possession he also sets counter-attacks in motion.
    Olssen could be being groomed in that way as well?

    Rick, like you, I really rate Hayden and think he’ll be the next one to move into the senior squad on a semi-regular basis after Gnabry.
    These Kids can suddenly go through a spurt in development in just a few months.
    Therefore by next July/August one or two of our youngsters could suddenly look the biz.

  121. tsgh says:

    lol. Micko…

    Kev, interesting that normally Aw and his crew make DM, CBs like Djourou and Noidvedt(spelling) whilst Hayden has been moved from CB to DM…

    PV04 was a 2nd striker/AM before he joined us like Diaby…

  123. BrainwashedKev says:

    Diaby’s recent comments, whilst not suprising, show a lack of judgement.

    The last thing that he should be gobbing off about is the World Cup. France haven’t been paying his poxy wages whilst he’s been laid up.

    Talk about playing for Arsenal first and foremost.

  124. tsgh says:

    You have a point Kev…
    Strangely enough AW moved Gilberto Silva to CB in his final 2 seasons with us… reason he decided to go…

    The likes of Tiote, Frimpong and Medel will have a place with the mid table to lower teams etc but not with the Klopps or AWs of this world me think.

    Similarly,Klopp plays Sa hin ahead of BVB’s club captain and Pep chooses to play Lahm in the DM role instead of Martinez who he is now favouring as a CB.

    Bender has played more games as a CB this season too…

  125. tsgh says:

    Its very annoying when such players put country before AW and us…

    It’s like when Judas was with us he never missed an international when he was fit but at Yanited he picks and chooses…

    I blame Aw though for that… Fergie would never have tolerated that…

  126. BrainwashedKev says:

    Petit was a left-back, Luzhny a right-back, Van Bronckhorst a midfielder, all of them ended up at Arsenal playing different positions Ginge.
    I’m sure that we could think of a dozen more…

    Mind you, if Diaby goes to Brazil and has a great World Cup, maybe we can sell him in the summer?

  129. BrainwashedKev says:

    Ginge there’s pros and cons to Wenger’s softly softly treatment of his players.

    Did you all see those pictures of Podolski celebrating with the Arsenal fans at the end of the game Sunday?
    He has a touch of the Ian Wright’s about him in regard of his relationship with the fans.
    I always like to see that rapport between players and fans.

  130. Joaquim Moreira says:

    hello everybody!
    Benfica knocked out m.City yesterday on the U-21 too. They will play at the semi-finals versus R. Madrid, probably in Switzerland.
    will be Barcelona versus who?
    Back to the League Champions. Probably all the teams that finished first at the first stage will be in the last eighth. Proud for every team. Arsenal will be out again. For four years was the same. The mean reason is we finished second in our stage. AW don’t understand for comercial and marketing reasons, make attractive the competition, etc, the pitch is “bent”,the referees preferably whistle for one side and everyone prefer watch a game between Bayern-R. Madrid them Bayern-Olympiakos or Bayern-Zenith. So, losing this form of international affirmation is a mistake because interests, and much, being present in those who may be considered the top 8 teams in the world.
    We must play in defferent way in Stanform Bridge compared to Totts.
    One question: It had not been possible to go get Campbell in January?

  135. Rick. says:

    Kev Hayden was playing r/back when I first saw him at the start of last season. His improvement since he moved to C/M has been very impressive and like you I think he could follow Serge.

  136. BrainwashedKev says:

    Ah well Rico, hopefully they’ll get Barcelona in the next round and get a good thrashing.

    Chelsea vs Bayern would be good…

  138. tsgh says:

    I was in the home section unfortunately so I missed it.Kev.
    Hayden has played everywhere…
    Rick what do you think about Kamara?

  140. tsgh says:

    Hayden was also a CB before we bought the Charlton CB…
    I really rate Kamara…I think he has it all but hasn’t got the confidence and British grit Hayden has…
    Night Kev

  141. Micko says:

    Kev, if Diaby has a good WC he’ll celebrate it by moving into an even bigger skip with his 3 year contract extenstion… scary thought.

    A winning double, Madrid to win the CL and Juve the Europa cup, pile it on.

  142. Micko says:

    Nite rico, bet your dreaming of those nice shiny white trainers coming your way !
    Take it easy kev.

  143. Joaquim Moreira says:

    and the match finished 10 seconds before the 5 minutes for extra time… and of course, Olimpiakos was attacking…

  147. George says:

    Times are well odd here in Dubai..Didn’t fancy harpenden Micko

    Lee, Adam Rico hello!

    Its a strange place . I had dinner last night with Dale Gordon(ex Norwich!), its like seeing ex professionals you used to collect Panini stickers of in your school days…

    My take on the summer departures:
    Bendtner
    Miyachi
    Park
    Diaby
    Fabianski
    Djourou
    Miguel
    Bellerin
    Galindo
    Afobe
    Aneke
    Sagna
    Vermaelen

    We may also see either Podolski or Giroud or both out.

    We will most likely be in for a goalie as Viviano has not impressed enough in training. A young defender to replace Miguel and a top draw defender to replace TV5.A right back (Coleman or debuchy).

    It was good seeing us beat the turds down the road and I have been very impressed with Mozart , his attitude and performances. T.he Ox has really blossomed of late.

    Not convinced Ozils head is in the right place. hope its not another Reyes, bags of talent and not doing it for us.

    I don’t think Sanogo will be anything other than a Christopher wreh type of player for us 5l6 important goals here and there.

    Jenkinson is just a good 2nd choice up and coming right back.

    Wilshere has not got the fitness to compete a full season…nor has he got the discipline to hold his position. Its like watching a young kid playing football in the playground and he’s the best player by miles.
    Arteta is getting slower but can still do a job

    Why don’t we recall Joel Campbell . Akpom is at the same level as sanogo…Him too…

    Ginge, POF parties err…naah. I went to a couple of those ….scary stuff.

    There are lots of Australian and kiwi girls working over here. wont be long before I hook one of those fish up lol! no more wellington “silva” boots hahaha

    Scott, have a great time man in the uk. Im sure the dream team will look after you.

    I’ll be on here more frequent now im not slaving 2 jobs for peanuts

  154. George says:

    Adam plenty of fish (dating ) party where supposedly there are single ladies (fridge freezer size that look like the back of my foot) and bald fat over 40’s in the hunt…

    scary stuff .

  157. tsgh says:

    ha ha George… glad your mojo is back…
    You will be buying your porche back soon…

    Morning all…

  159. tsgh says:

    Watch out for the Aussie girls mate… they can be a bit …

    I had a couple of experiences with Aussie ladies in Uni and thank heavens I made it through 😉

    I don’t want Scott to fry me up when we meet up so i shall keep my peace… 😛

  161. George says:

    morning Ginge …I am already thinking about a Porsche 928 this time…I have made enquiries about my old one already lol, but the new owner sleeps in it 🙁

  165. BrainwashedKev says:

    Morning Rico, Lee, Adam, Ginge, George et al…

    A good tactical summation of the cheating shit that is Samuel Eto’o on NewsNow…

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