Winger deal close! Problems with Mesut Ozil & Ox injured…

Morning all.

I just don’t get all the stick Mesut Ozil is getting, not now and not all season.

The latest idiot to question the little Germans attitude is fellow German Michael Ballack:

It’s difficult to say where his head is going to be at the World Cup.

He has done well for Germany and he played well during the qualifying campaign but in the last few months – since his move to Arsenal – he has not been the same player, in terms of his confidence, that we used to see in the national team.

I don’t know whether the Arsenal move has affected him because he was untouchable and in Germany we still expect him to be one of our best players.

As one of our best players he has to take more responsibility, and we expect more from him at the moment. Hopefully, when the World Cup starts, we will see a different player.

I’d have thought Ballack of all people would have known how tough a first season in the Premier League can be, after all, I don’t think he burst into action in any big way when he first joined Chelsea many years ago.

Are these people not intelligent enough to know that most players from overseas need a season to settle?

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny prove that and to a degree, so have Lukas Podolski and even Olivier Giroud.

Don’t laugh at my suggestion about Giroud, he scored a lot of goals last season. Ok, he’s no Suarez or Thierry Henry, but no-one can deny he hasn’t scored goals. Nor can they deny he’s put a lot of hard work into the teams performance when defending. Oh, and he’s pretty active at 3am too… 😉

But getting back to Mesut, once the new season begins, I think we’ll finally get to see why the club paid what they did for him….

Sod Germany, Ballack and any other twerp who thinks the career of  Mesut Ozil is regressing!

He’ll show what he’s all about during this World Cup and for us next season and then all his critics, which include a few naive Arsenal fans, will see just how good he really is!!

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered an injury last night. Carlos Gruezo clattered into our midfielder and it looked like he twisted his knee as he fell. He’s due to have a scan today, fingers crossed it’s nothing serious….

Gossip:

According to reports in France, we have made a £1million offer for Kingsley Coman after he rejected a new contract at PSG. The 17-year-old is a graduate of PSG’s youth team, is rated as a big star for the future!

A four-year deal has been offered and Arsenal are prepared to pay PSG £1million in compensation.

Now there’s a story to get us all well and truly excited……

And on that note, have a good day all…..

 

303 thoughts on “Winger deal close! Problems with Mesut Ozil & Ox injured…

  1. Adam says:

    Morning Rico and all. This is that part of the year when the fantasists really come out to play. I think Ballack has a point though. He is over egging it perhaps, but all will be revealed in the fullness of time as we see what Ozil comes up with this season.
    If Cesc goes to Chelsea then Wenger had better have a superior alternative.

  2. Nickie says:

    Morning Rico,

    Good post. Very worried about Ox, he looked on fire last night. It didn’t look too bad but you could see his knee jerk in an uncomfortable way, hope he’s ok because him and Barkley brought a real directness to our play. More so I hope he’s ok for Arsenal’s sake.

    On to Ozil, his criticisms are unfair. Like you say, first season more than not hits foriegn players hard but he has 14 assists and 7 goals. He was over used and when we had injuries the quality in players around him dropped. Lack of pace in the side really constricted him, I mean there was a point where we had Cazorla right wing, jack left wing and Giroud up top, That’s barely playing to Ozil’s strengths. He started on fire, frazzled out a bit but when he come back from injury he started to look the part again. One more point, his key passes per game/chances created is excellent, get someone who can put them away and views will quickly change on Ozil.

    Interesting comments by Gazidis at the end of season Arsenal meeting. working on transfers already and suggests that the talks between Arsenal and Real were going on for months before we signed Ozil. Real food for thought on how long it takes Arsenal to seal a deal.

  3. rico says:

    Morning Adam. I actually don’t think Mesut has had that bad a season….

    It’s not his fault he was born looking unhappy.. 😉

  4. tsgh says:

    OG12 is active all the time Rico 😉 Not that I know 😛

    Good read btw..

    Ballack is just an angry man because he missed the last chance to play in the WC in South Africa…

    As I was mentioned the previous page – Star are reporting that Gazidis believes Wenger isn’t afraid to spend this summer and there are things happening behind the scenes.

    “Transfers are obviously important and we are deep in conversations already. I am confident we will add what we need this summer,” Gazidis said in a Q&A session with Arsenal fans.

    “The manager is not scared to spend, has the experience, but as always will have to juggle a set budget.

    So where does the logic of we will back AW to sign any player he wants if he ask fit into the ‘juggle a budget’ bit?

    The devil is in the details as they say…

  5. rico says:

    Morning Syg/Nickie.

    I hope IG is speaking the truth I really do but annoyingly, he has said this kind of thing before only for us to be let down.

  6. Adam says:

    I agree Rico but, having watched him a lot when he was with RM I thought he looked lost at times last season. Then again it was his first and he had more options in those RM days.
    I think the Cesc thing is a potential powder keg for Wenger and I reckon Mourinho knows this too.

  7. Adam says:

    As for Gazidis? Well, he’s hardly likely to say “We are all sitting, playing with ourselves, waiting until the last day to see who is still available” is he?

  8. deejay says:

    Well done, at last someone who has not come out with the comment ” first.. second etc. ” Fabregas should be brought back to replace someone , not as an addition. No need to increase the squad in this department..

  9. tsgh says:

    Nickie… I know a lot of fans do not believe that we were in for Ozil and it was not a fluke…

    I heard that we were actually in for Ozil way back in June when the media were actually linking us to Higuain… The main reason I was confident enough to say we would not sign Higuain nor Benzema…

    When IG said he said the player we wanted was from a club without a manager many folks thaought it was even Wooney…

    The issue was the player and his father wanted him to stay and were hoping that Di Maria, Benzema or Higuain will move to Psg so that Ozil woud stay but when Isco was signed and he featured les and less in pre-season I believe he realised the writing was on the wall…

    They then hoped another club like city or Yanited would come in for the player… as mentioned several times the player took a pay cut to join us that was the only issue that held it back.

  10. rico says:

    That’s my point really Adam, his options around him have been limited. (to put it kindly) He always looks to make things happen but when he looks, there’s seldom been someone there for him.

    As Dennis Bergkamp said, what made him look as good as he did was the players around him, they knew what he was going to do and he knew what they were going to do.

    Not only does that take time, it needs the right players….

  11. tsgh says:

    In my view that is Ozil’s game, he appears not interested but then produces moments of magic…

    I believe imho that a lot of fans remember the Ozil of International football and not club football… I was looking at his stats a few days ago and noted he completed less than 12% of matches he started in at RM…

  12. rico says:

    Not that I am trying to suggest Bergkamp wasn’t a great player, for me he remains one of the best the world of football has ever seen….

  13. Adam says:

    I agree Rico. At last there is a real opportunity to raise the potential of the squad. You would have hoped that Wenger would have had that spelled out to him large and strong before he signed his lucrative contract. I wonder if Kroenke said that all this 4th place malarkey really needs to end.
    No, neither do I.

  14. BrainwashedKev says:

    Morning All

    Morning Again Rico
    Morning Adam

    Michael Ballack, David May, rent-a-quote…

    Or as a mate of mine so succinctly put yesterday….. Tosser.

  15. Adam says:

    Thumbs up for the DB comment. A player like him seems from a different era even these few years later. You never heard about him waving his old chap around in hotel rooms with page 3 boilers the night before a game. 🙂

  16. luznic says:

    Morning to the lady of the house and gentlemen……critisizing Ozil well that’s something I just can’t understand

  17. Scott From Oz says:

    People criticising Ozil really are naive.
    His best work is always going to be when players are in motiona round him, and when we lost Theo as well as Ramsey, we lost what makes him fire.
    Morning everyone.

  18. Adam says:

    Morning Scott. I don’t think anyone here was criticising him harshly. The problem is that when you cost that much money it can become a millstone. Some great performances will sort it. It was the same when Dennis came and don’t score for several games.

  19. rico says:

    Adam. I honestly believe that the right players will be signed this summer. They may not be who we would like, but I’m quite upbeat about this transfer window.

    I think logic is behind my optimism, and that is AW won’t want three years of hell and abuse from the Arsenal fans…

  20. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    For all we know AW has already given the club a list of his preferred transfer targets and the club are messing around…

    AW is doing his FIFA and Canal+ job… the club have to do their bit…

    Chelsea have a woman flying around the world making moves whilst IG, Fox and Dick are well… ???

    Maybe the others are so inept that Aw would have to call the player and convince them to join us as per usual as Fox n Dick will probably tell the player and his chairman the player is a reserve palyer anyway…

  21. BrainwashedKev says:

    Good point Scott, same as what Adam said about Mesut’s time at Real…

    You put the right quality players in front of him and he’ll find them…

  22. BrainwashedKev says:

    Ginge, Gazides and Co can fly to the moon, but Arsene has the final say…

    Any delay is usually down to him.,.

  23. rico says:

    Have you read his book Adam? No ‘old chaps’ mentioned… 😉

    Morning luznic, I knew you’d be hooked after finally joining us.. 😉

    Morning Scott, spot on…

    Plus, Ozil was another player who was overplayed, none of that next season please AW!

  24. Lee says:

    Ozil needs movement in front of him not a cart house that’s more interested in his Barnet or poking his tongue out! Get a pacey CF and Theo back then we’ll see the true Ozil, imho.
    I told you that 6yrs ago Adam, if you remember! 😉

  25. Adam says:

    I do brudder. I believe we were in a Limehouse opium den when you leaned over to me and said those exact words. Just prior to me slumping back into semi-consciousness with a page 3 boiler on top of me.

  26. Nickie says:

    Agreed Lee.

    In addition to Ts’s comment, Wenger just needs to manage Ozil’s game load better. Take him off when he starts looking tired, if Ozil can’t see what’s good for him then he is a fool

  27. Wavy says:

    Ozil reminds me a little of GG aka ‘stroller’. He never seemed engaged in the game until someone kicked him or the ‘moment’ arose, then he would unleash a devastating pass or shot, and as a spectator. You realised he was still on the pitch. Ozil is in many ways similar. He seems to ‘disappear’ during games, he doesn’t he just doesn’t get the ball or play is elsewhere etc etc, and then, loke GG he appears and plays a supreme pass that results in a goal or an attempt at the target or 7 times this season, he scores. Just like Graham.
    I wish folk would get off his case. He is a class act and his real time will come……….hopefully with devastating effect

    Morning All
    Good post Rico, as always plenty to go at in it

  28. southyorkshiregunner says:

    Hiya Adam – Le-Grove seem to think that one of our ‘alleged’ targets will blow the Cesc thing out of the water …. And he seems to be obsessed with pace and energy. Whether it’s basic ITN bollocks who knows… The guy who pens the site doesn’t talk much shite and in fact talks a lot of sense – although the majority of bloggers on it are total windowlickers.

    I’d still fancy Javi Martinez as the big signing. He would fill the hole that is continually our weak link and provide our underpants inside-out form of Catenaccio. He is the player that would give you 12 extra points per season. Like Ramsey, he is tall and energetic and if I am honest extremely cynical in the way he goes about his business. He might not be the “ugly beast” everyone seems to crave for as DM – but hey – at least he’ll get kissed when he scores.

  29. luznic says:

    Hey Rico been hooked for a year now, I really don’t get who has the final say to transfers in Arsenal is it AW or IG we will never know would we? now the cesc transfer is what I am so interested in, we can’t sign a midfielder because that position is filled up and we don’t want him to go to Chelsea……….now that’s why I love the soap opera called Transfer window

  30. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Exactly Wavy…

    Ozil has rarely had a game like he did against Naples…

    I think the issue is with fans and their expectations and not Ozil tbh…

    The reason why I suspected those same fans raving about him would be moaning about his game soon afterwards when tyhey realise the type of game he plays…

    His fully charged performance in South Africa especially against England was rare imo…

    He is another version of AA23… we just need to live with his brilliance imho…

  31. Adam says:

    SYG. Hi mate. Yes, I agree generally. Martinez would be a great addition. I remember you mentioning his total cynicism when he played and by this I assume you meant his ruthless nature. Probably more the kind of player we are missing. So? Him and Di Maria, Aurier and a central striker?
    Well, I can dream can’t I?

  32. luznic says:

    Adam you mention these names with the hope AW would sign them but you know he won’t sign them right and all we do is wish, but I know he has something planned that we aren’t thinking of right now and it will blow our mind, the Aurier link is funny…..IMHO I think Jenko is ready to step in…

  33. southyorkshiregunner says:

    I don’t think that’s dreaming Adam. I think it is something that is quite possible.

    Di Maria / Draxler could happen – Wenger was being quoted (by John Cross) as Draxler being turned into a Van Persie type striker?

    Central striker? I thought Remy was the done deal – although I’d prefer Hatem Ben Arfa.

    Aurier? No one knows the French Ligue like Wenger and for the £7M quoted, it wouldn’t really be a gamble even though the club would have to pay his wages when he fcuks off to the ACON for a 10-week holiday. Maybe he could be another Lauren as opposed to an Eboue?

  34. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    I still think there are enough gems we can buy pragmatically from this league for the DM role…
    Jedinak and Morgan as examples… I will even tempt Cardiff with a £10m bid for the Pitbull himself… ok he is short but he plays DM and CB like a 6’2 player…

    Javi will head back to Spain re Real to replace Alonso or Khedira as Gundogan move looks likely to stall due to his fitness…

    In all likeliness he will stay at BM as Sammer wants him to stay.

  35. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Morning all, Rico, as you suggest Michael Bollox talks bolloxs. lol. Ts, what is Arsenes’ job?

  36. Lee says:

    Why do certain people get such a hard on about having a dig at anything Arsenal? Go and find a dead bear and poke your head up it’s Khyber you fucktards!

  37. Adam says:

    Luznic. Not really. Those signings would be impressive. If he is going to surpass those players then bring it on.

  38. Scott From Oz says:

    Adam/Kev, I need to qualify my comments better, sometimes.
    I only read HH on the net, but on FB, I am on quite a few Arsenal pages.
    That comment on critics of Ozil certainly wasn’t aimed at people here, because HH has EASILY the most knowledgable Gooners gathered in one place possible….

  39. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    John Cross quoting AW… I like the way someone posting something on LG ends up on the rag tops… lol

    Draxler has never been clinical enough to be a striker unlike RVP who was alwasy a 2nd striker before he became a winger and then a striker…

  40. Scott From Oz says:

    Lee! I truly believe people poke jibes at Arsenal as a way of justifying to themselves the shortcomings of their own club.

  41. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Emre Can is another Turkish creative player… nothing exciting tbh from B04.

    Bt, AW job is to give a list to IG and IG to either delegate or get the players in himself… imo

  42. luznic says:

    Why is anyone not thinking Ross Barkley, Nathan Clyne as English core, but there are no strikers out there so I don’t have top class striker preference and I don’t think Jackson Martinez is the real deal, for me Loic Remy I will gladly take except we do something extra ordinary and sign Suarez and yes Adam I would fancy Jackson Martinez he can play DM and CB would be money well spent also

  43. emma says:

    Ginge, I guess rogers just bought another Lago Aspas. He should have gone in for the heart of leverkusen midfield(Bender)

  44. rico says:

    We have on here luznik, especially Barkley. I like Clyne, but when I mentioned him, ‘some’ chuckled… 😉

  45. Adam says:

    I imagine Facebook has a different general profile in Australia though. Here it is a place for attention seekers, predators, saddos and nonces.

  46. southyorkshiregunner says:

    I remember Thierry Henry first coming to Arsenal.
    His finishing was initially shocking, to say the least.
    Draxler is young and adaptable and could easily learn.

    Who knows, maybe its Falcao we are looking at?

  47. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Lol Emma… Emre Can is a David Bentley or Borino… I guess they want him as another Coutinho but tbh Brenda was lucky with Coutinho..

    Dont forget B04 lost Sidney Sam to S04 too…

    Personally, I think the Lars was poor this season but its just my opinion…. against Yanited he looked lost…

    Castro was theri best player in midfield;

    Talking of a defender what are your views on Emir Spahic… he is my fave defender in the Bundesliga tbh… we were linked to him 3 or 4 seasons ago…

  48. luznic says:

    yes tsgh Javi I meant and Clyne ahead of Aurier for me, wonder what some Arsenal fans are always thinking, first they critisize our players then they want us to buy players because they are very expensive, for me I want effectiveness and hardworking players like Clyne and Barkley cant be thrown out of any serious discussion in football

  49. Scott From Oz says:

    Lol Adam, it can be like that, but account settings solves those issues.
    Also, having standards when it comes to “friends” helps.
    Some simply want as many “friends” as possible.

  50. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    In my view we have the best young German in Serge; AW just needs to give him more chances…

    Outside of that I really like Patrick Herrmann and Rudy…

    For DM it has to be Ginter or Leon Goritzka (spelling) of S04

  51. Adam says:

    Luznic. How many of us have watched Aurier play? For that matter how many have seen Clyne play on a regular basis. Have you watched Jenkinson up close and live to see how he works off the ball?
    You Tube has a lot to answer for.

  52. Adam says:

    Rico. FB users say to me “Adam, I have 500 friends”. I reply “I have 6 and I can’t stand 3 of those”. 🙂

  53. S2S says:

    Hello all,

    Ts, I loved AA23. He was one of the players who got screwed over by Cesc. The moment of magic or madness were around with him. Recently, I watched Reading 5- 7 Arsenal and the magical moment he produced. And how many are there who could score 4 (FOUR) at Anfield. And his movement when played as false #9. He was the best player as a false #9, Cesc doesn’t even come close to him in that department.

  54. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Same here Luznic re hardworking players/signings… we do not lose against the likes of City because we lack quality; in my view it is because we have bottlers who do not work hard off the ball…

    That is why Chelsea beat us 6-1 and then lose to Crystal Palace 5 days later…

    That is why we need pragmatic signings…

    In my view players like Draxler and Ozil need to be carried and who will carry them in our squad…

    The funny thing is that the players who do that like MA08 and Sagna are/were not appreciated by sections of fans imho

    Very true Emma, my bad,… what about Howedes?

  55. luznic says:

    Adam never been been privileged to watch Arsenal up close because I stay thousands of miles away from the Ems but I see Jenko as someone who will grab that chance once he believes the slot is his, I haven’t seen Aurier’s face but if he is that good why is Eboue still the best RB for ivory coast so its a no no for me but on draxler’s issue buy him as a midfielder don’t buy him if he’s to be converted, tired of experiments

  56. idealist says:

    It is necessary to be upset or get angry with these sorts of irresponsible comments? I think he almost forgotten that he was part of the Stamford Bridge “big flop” along with other so called big players. From those days we all knew that Ballack do have some reservations on AFC so his comments does not even bothered me at all!!! Just shows that how a jealously can drive a person to all sorts of madness n stupid remarks.

  57. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Luznic.. unfortunately Eboe was dropped from the WC squad in favour of Aurier…

  58. Lee says:

    I seriously think it would be a mistake for Jenkinson to be our first choice RB…obviously imho.

  59. luznic says:

    Ooh really! was judging by the 2013 Afcon guess I am outdated….lol…but still I hope we don’t sign Aurier ginge……. maybe his performance in Brazil can prove me wrong

  60. Adam says:

    Luznik. I mention that only because, when you see Jenks live you will notice his shocking tendency to lose concentration. I doubt that TV provides the same insight. Talk to the fans inside the stadium and mention Jenks as Sagna’s immediate replacement and you get a frown. The fans like him but don’t see him as being ready quite yet.
    Just a crass observation by myself.

  61. S2S says:

    Ts/Adam Rico

    Did any one of you see ITV’s Best of Enemies: Keane/Vieira? There were few interesting things Paddy V said:

    1) Best Manager he played for: Arsene Wenger not Jose.
    2) About Bobby Pires: He said they gave him freedom about not to wonder about defending much. Cause he could make something out of nothing in final 3rd.

    If you missed it, here it is:

  62. Scott From Oz says:

    Arshavins cross to Thierry…when on loan…v Sunderland (I think) was a ball maybe two or thee players in the world could produce.

  63. S2S says:

    I think tell MO that and ask him to do what he does best and you shall get cracking results. And with Theo in, most certainly.

  64. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Ts, that would be my description of Arsenes’ job, now can you tell me, what you think actually happens, in your opinion.

  65. Adam says:

    Scott. That is true. Unfortunately one pass does not a season make. The rest of the time he was either strolling about on the pitch or doing a Giroud at night. 🙂
    The funny little man.

  66. tsgh says:

    Bt, in my view what happens was summed up by the Cabaye feel…
    I don’t want to breach someone’s trust but I would say we did not get Lars Bender last summer because of our negotiator pudding of voller.
    I have always said since I started posting here that Law messes up loads of deals…

  67. Gunnerdna says:

    Morning all, interesting debate. lol

    What about leaving Ozil up field with the CF and lessen his defensive duties, just like what Liverpool did with LS and Sturridge and buying the right players to make the squad more balance. Ozil career is going to be further ruined playing with MA08 as a DM and OG12 as a CF. Ozil bad games wont be highlighted as much if his moment of brilliance result in a goal, he just lacks confidence at the moment, he is still 25.

  68. ozgunner says:

    evening all – been busy staying away from the window nonsense in the papers – they are really hamming it up aren’t they ha! Cesc to Chelsea is a worry but hopefully is more rubbish

  69. Scott From Oz says:

    Adam, I know, and I said at the time it’s best for all concerned that he goes, but he was a broken man by then.
    Still, I will always have that pass 🙂

  70. Adam says:

    You know Scott, the home crowd really gets behind any player who puts it in. Arshavin had great support but you are right, he was gone in the head at the end. His off-field stuff took it out of him. The lucky bastard. 🙂

  71. Gunnerdna says:

    BREAKING NEWS:
    Zenit Saint Petersburg have accepted a bid from Arsenal for Player Hulk and will have a Medical before the world cup. #AFC

  72. ozgunner says:

    Let hope Ozil is not another on the AA path – look a shadow of the RM player, although our squad does him no favours. Lets hope Wenger realises this ??

  73. tsgh says:

    Hi Oz,was wondering where you were?
    Scott,in my view AW gets more right than majority of the so called top managers.
    How many of us here wanted AW sacked for sperds seeking Holtby and also the early part of last summer.

  74. Gunnerdna says:

    Guillem Balague ‏@GuillemBalague ·11h Cesc hasnt got a deal with Chelsea, it doesnt matter what Pique or others say. Not yet. Conversations taking place but NO DEAL YET. Not yet

    Who is this mofers?

  75. Adam says:

    Not bad Oz. Thank you. A slack morning for me after a short period of intensity. Usual stuff around. Rumour innuendo and outright nonsense. Hope you are well. I am still gonna show up in Perth one day. :). That’ll surprise you.

  76. Gunnerdna says:

    Oz, the most powerful manager in club football ever is AW. Check IG Q&A session yesterday, AW is going to be buried on the Ems pitch, it makes no sense going against him, i gave up.

  77. ozgunner says:

    Adam – yeah bloody night shifts are not a good mix for me but hey you go where the bucks are mate – Have little interest in the window anyway and do not believe we’ll buy the right blend. Fingers crossed i am wrong

  78. snaparse says:

    nice read Rico………morning all……..ozil was poor against Cameroon and has been of late so he probably deserves some of the criticism but I think some just take ur to another level anyways I hope he gets back to form quick as I would not like him down on confidence when he returns…..so sorry for the ox hopes he passes his medicals as he was playing well yesterday

  79. Gunnerdna says:

    AFC_Andrew @PR_WhoRu · 14h
    As mentioned earlier by @fkhanage he was told Serge Aurier isn’t coming & the feeling is Cesc isn’t either. From a very reputable source.

  80. Scott From Oz says:

    Geoff has NEVER BEEN right.
    People everywhere are quoting him but why?
    The amount of players he said we’d get last season made MG look silent lol

  81. Gunnerdna says:

    AFC_Andrew @PR_WhoRu · 13h
    In short, forget about Cesc & Aurier. Nothing likely until after World Cup unless a target becomes available.

  82. Gunnerdna says:

    AFC_Andrew @PR_WhoRu · 4h
    Gazidis said press talk “nonsense” on transfers & sympathises for fans as that’s where get info from. Clearly not heard of Indy the prophet.

  83. Gunnerdna says:

    AFC_Andrew @PR_WhoRu · 4h
    After Q&A last night Ivan said Club didn’t employ Jonker with intent of being Arsène’s successor & that AW has long list of transfer targets

  84. Gunnerdna says:

    AFC_Andrew @PR_WhoRu · 4h
    Ivan said to me Arsène has a long list of players he want. Shoulda clarified if they’re transfer or sticker targets as I have 4 Khediras.

  85. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Which club starts transfer negotiation by asking if the palyer is available?

    Still loads will blame AW so…

  86. BrainwashedKev says:

    Hulk eh, yeah, I can see him holding up the ball, turning sharply and laying if off to Spiderman, he’ll in turn pass it back to Thor who’ll cross it to the far post where Batman will control it on his chest before slipping a simple pass inside to Wonder Woman (?) who will have lost her marker and ghosted into the box, a slide-rule pass to the Elephant Man and bang it’s in the net….,

    I gotta get out more…. 😉

  87. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Snap, like you I agree Ozil was poor against the Lions… but I think Loew has to take the blame for using Khedira as a deep lying playmaker and using Kroos as a box to box midfielder…

    Gotze and Ozil combination has never worked; Plus Muller as the alternative striker for Klose will come back to bite his back side so…

    Muller spent half the time on the rhs.. Ozil had no one to feed until Poldi came on for him after 60 minutes or so…

    Also, Germany were overwhelmed with Mbia, Makon(spelling) and Song’s energy in midfield

  88. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    If true I am not against hulk though as he can play anywhere on along the front… he is big too and has speed with a bullet of a left foot…

    Still someone’s imagination though…

  89. Scott From Oz says:

    Guys, something was just pointed out to me.
    Until Barca accept a bid, the clause whereby we have last chance is not yet activated, so could explain why we have done nothing yet.

  90. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    And actually Gotze was shite too but he is a BM darling so no media twerp will name the young man…

  91. snaparse says:

    agree ts leow really is annoying…not taking Kruse??? I really can’t phantom the reason for that but I guess I’m not a coach so….still I feel ozil should grow a pair and start taking matters into his hands IMO …it wouldn’t surprise me if he lost his place to Mario

  92. snaparse says:

    ts the Germans love ozil and they feel like HD should be doing more with his obvious talent…..know a few here in France who thinks dat way

  93. Adam says:

    Scott. Do you know the terms of the so-called Cesc buy-back clause? I am not even sure it exists.

  94. Scott From Oz says:

    Adam, I haven’t seen it, but the person citing it seems pretty clued up, so I can only take them At their word.

  95. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Snap, the Germans should be grateful Ozil is representing them tbh… they have for the first time in a long time someone with flair.

    Imagine if Turkey had all their ex-pats like Gundogan, ozil, Can etc playing for them..

    Same as Ghana, Nigeria,Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire and other emerging countries… still

  96. Scott From Oz says:

    Any chance Cesc is playing the game, along with Arsene, to stitch Jose up?
    Probably not, but damn, that would be hilarious!
    All the theories are coming out now 🙂

  97. Scott From Oz says:

    Snap, I honestly don’t know the full details…..actually, I can’t say I know much about it all with any certainty.

  98. Scott From Oz says:

    Oz, not really.
    They need more defensive mids, not creative ones hahaha.
    Night all……I expect to wake up to no news.

  99. ozgunner says:

    Cesc’s first choice is obvious, can we really sit back and watch that talent head elsewhere in the PL and call ourselves serious? Isn’t it about building squad depth and options

  100. Gunnerdna says:

    Oz, i gave up on Cesc, i think he is a CFC player. Arsenal have no plan based on previous transfer windows, so all these talk about working on Ozil deal for months is bullshit. Arsenal have the best fan than any other sports franchise in the world, honest, patient and courageous set of people who everyday lives in hope, but continue to do so although the end result is predictable. AW would want Cesc back but what will happen to the British whore, sorry i mean core. Would Cesc be more valuable to the team than JW, Diaby, MA, TR, MF & SC? Who at Arsenal is brave enough to tell AW to replace 1 of those play with a world class talent like Cesc Fabregas?

  101. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    AW, said during last summer that ‘we had first refusal and yes, there was a clause’ when asked about the selling on profit…

    From Swiss Ramble -So in effect if Cesc is sold for £40M we will make £2.5m from the sales assuming Cesc was sold for £35M.. apparently…

    That is why it is in both parties interest FINANCIALLY for Cesc to go somewhere..

    If a bid came in for Cesc we can only activate the clause if we match the fee and Cesc wants to join us…

  102. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Jose is after Koke though according to reports Oz…

    Koke is more of Jose signing than Cesc; whilst you can see Pele’ and Vaal being keen on Cesc… but all my opinion so…

  103. Scott From Oz says:

    Ginge, does Arsene even want him, given the way he left and how he acted leading up to it?
    That is THE question, IMO.

  104. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    According to rumours, the only reason why CFC have renegaded on their agreement to allow Curtois to stay with Ath is that Enrique Cerezo wants the full £58m release clause met for Koke whilst the chavs wanted Torres/Lukaku to go to Madrid as part of the deal but allegedly Lukaku does not want to move to Spain…

    Rumours not saying its true… all according to the same person who told me last year that Costa will be joining Jose and it has happened so…

  105. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Scott, people will blame Aw for whatever reason but IG himself said 2 years ago that Cesc won’t be coming back but then…

    Cesc himself has always said he will only come back to Arsenal as a coach in future but still the opinion that AW is the dark knight blood drinking leach destroying this club is held so… 😉

  106. ozgunner says:

    tsgh – I don’t think Wenger is any of those things, just a coach who’s not quite there every year, much of which is his own fault. One FA Cup in 9 years? Not really good enough surely seeing the changes we’ve seen around us? Missed opportunity at best. But you know my opinion well enough now 🙂

  107. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Oz you always make your views known in a dignified way. I wouldn’t say I agree with all of it but I respect it all…

    My view is that he made 4 finals in that time so its not as bad as it seems; And that is not factoring in the debt and all…

    I personally blame is bosses but as I say I am under Aw’s spell so.. 🙂

    Fans are now going on about Simeone, but I remember 2 years ago when I mentioned him a few on here said I was talking shite but still Diego has spent more than AW…

    The definition to success imho is not someone making one final or winning something in a year or 2; its about sustaining it… David O’leary comes to mind…

    As I always say to folks who know me, I never hate the player but hate the game… why hate Aw when he is just an employee of teh club.. I admire him for making himself ‘unsackable’ – dont know if that is a proper word tbh.. lol

    If my boss tells me I am unsackable in my job, then I am either doing something very well or I have some dark secrets my boss is aware of so… 🙂

  108. BrainwashedKev says:

    BBC radio 5Live have just confirmed that Fabregas is available for transfer (report from Barcalona) and that Arsenal are NOT interested in resigning him…

    We move on!

  109. ozgunner says:

    when Dein left, Wenger saw a huge opportunity to seize complete control, he did it, we’ve been Arsene FC every since IMO

  110. BrainwashedKev says:

    Had a fantastic ‘meat’ lasagne for lunch…
    Very tasty…
    With a delicious buttered roll…
    Hmmm

    I just can’t help myself, but I always start chuckling when I eat lasagne…

    Memories of CL missed opportunities.
    The Trotts and Totts… 😆

  111. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Kev, tbh.. I personally dont see the reason why AW and AFC should make a move now when we do not know what the going rate is…

    we know Dein has been in touch with Aw recently…

    Maybe if a bid is accepted by Barca we can come in and match it; there is no point in us stressing over it…

    Based on his history with the club in recent times I can understand why the club wont want to be in bed with him soon… his clients from clichy to Adebawhore to TH14 all left for peanuts…

    Same as Jean-Pierre Bernes Samir Nasri’s agent; , who according to CNN was the “right-hand man to Marseille president Bernard Tapie during France’s biggest football scandal. The pair were found guilty of attempting to fix a Ligue 1 match against Valenciennes in May 1993, in the week before Marseille beat AC Milan in the Champions League final.”

    To be honest with you knowing our luck if we sign a player now he would probably get inured in the WC and miss the next 9 months so… better late than never…

    We already have a solid squad to start the season so we just need additions…

  112. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Lol..Oz,2.14 you see… you might see it as AW’s opportunity to seize control whilst others might see it as we were lucky to have a manager like him unlike Jose who admits his wife manages his finance… so 😉

    If we did not have Aw then might not be sitting here talking about making 5 players to potential win the EPL… we might be talking making 5 players to qualify for UEFA cup so…

    But as I say I am under Aw’s spell so.. 🙂

  113. Wavy says:

    Mmmm. AW a “lean and hungry man”. Never really saw him in the role of Cassius, the back stabber! Always saw him as a company man, a team player but, if he is or was an over ambitious, power crazed, leanish dictator, then I’ve totally misread him and his motives!
    And you know I’m never wrong!!

  114. Gunnerdna says:

    Ts, u need to come close to VA, so we can have a couple drinks and chill with gonster. U need to hennesy. lol

  115. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Lol… I came down to do some work near Mesa and Phoenix 😉
    This days the mrs does not allow me to have a boys weekend… I even get rations of watching football. 🙂

    🙂 Wavy, some dictators have doubles… the real AW never comes out… he is the hidden Hand behind every move like the Illuminati…

  116. goonster says:

    Moaning all…just wanna say this. If we lose fabrepass to chelshit. He’s gonna come back and haunt us yearly like Drogba did. Make no mistake he ll have a point to prove. Come inter juve and milam bid for cesc. I don’t wanna see him lining up against us. God help me.

  117. S2S says:

    Arsene is not just manager, he is COO of this club. COO is working quite well problem is with CEO and CFO.

  118. Gunnerdna says:

    David Ornstein ‏@bbcsport_david 3m
    Arsenal may also sign a defensive midfielder if right deal available, but not in market for another attacking midfielder #bbcsportsday #afc

  119. Gunnerdna says:

    David Ornstein @bbcsport_david · 17m
    Arsenal have informed Barcelona they won’t be exercising buy-back option on Fabregas. He was keen but #afc not seeking a creative midfielder

  120. Gunnerdna says:

    David Ornstein @bbcsport_david · 17m
    Fabregas now open to market & future likely to be sorted in next few weeks. #Afc priority striker & right-back + will get back-up goalkeeper

  121. rico says:

    Senderos is a nice guy. He told SS’s that he was really pleased for Arsenal and the fans after the FA Cup win…

  122. rico says:

    Just been reading that on the Beeb website Gdna. At least we all know know that he’s not returning…

  123. tsgh-The Hidden Hand says:

    Senderos is an AFC fan.. remember he chose us over RM all those days when he left Switzeland…

  124. BrainwashedKev says:

    I agree Lee, but I think he would look good in the new 3rd strip, skin tone and all…

    Tbh I’m hoping that when Wenger makes his trolley dash on 31st August, that he makes a bid for the Fantastic Four…. 😀

  125. Adam says:

    Feeling better by the minute Kev. Now I have turned the bullshit meter to low sensitivity. 🙂

  126. rico says:

    Trevor Brooking retires say the FA..

    Thought he retired years ago and he’s barely worked since has he… 😉

  127. Adam says:

    He hangs around and occasionally mumbles something about academies or the lack of sports fields for kids. I think he’s been on £10,000 a week for the last 15 years.

  128. Adam says:

    Rico. It’s all terribly exciting isn’t it. SYG and I were contemplating a RB ( not Aurier apparently), Javi Martinez to kick the shit out of anyone who tries to run past him, Di Maria, to pretend that he has been fouled and a striker who can run quite fast.

  129. rico says:

    Well, I’m staying positive Adam, no matter how hard you try to deflate my positivity… 😉

  130. BrainwashedKev says:

    I honestly cannot see Arsenal doing any business before the Wirkd Cup is over, save maybe the odd Freeski or youngster signing….

    In fact it wouldn’t suprise me in the slightest, if we go into the season without a single major signing.

  131. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good Afternoon Chappies and Lasses.

    Goody for you Rico. Another good article.

    Who cares how Ozil plays for Germany? Do we care?

    Ox injured? Good. Hope it keeps him out of the group stages. Then when England get knocked out he will be back refreshed for the new season. Ahhh….hopefully Wilshere as well.

  132. Adam says:

    I am not trying to do anything of the sort Rico. I believe that what happens next is critical. No matter how hard you try to tell me it isn’t. 🙂

  133. Adam says:

    Now you’re talking. You see Rico, I knew Wenger had a plan. Seems your optimism was well founded. 🙂

  134. Hell Raising Devil says:

    who have we signed???

    Bingo Bongo????

    Never heard of him?

    Ahhh….wiki has it that he is a star of the recently newly FIFA admitted Gibraltar team

  135. vernat1066 says:

    Hi as long as we buy Round pegs for Round holes I don’t care what they cost. They need to be able to do their primary function in the team first so RB needs to be a good defender first everything else on top is a bonus.

    No more players who will be good in a couple of years please lets get players who are good now (we will need to allow time for them to adapt to the league etc…) so a Striker who has pace and can score, a RB who can defend, a DM who can break up play and not get sent off suspended and a CB who again can read the game and defend and a GK who can command the area and make the right choices.

    Should be easy really

  136. Hell Raising Devil says:

    His looks are those of my number 1 PETIT……hopefully the skills will be the same as well.

  137. rico says:

    Kev, should a great signing have a price tag?

    Chavs signed Torres for £50 million, he’s been a flop.

    Dippers signed Andy Carroll for £35 million, he was a disaster..

    Koscielny was signed for for around £10 million.

    As was Per Mertesacker….

    Just saying…. 😉

  138. Hell Raising Devil says:

    and Nemaja might be signed for nowt.

    his looks may be those of Petit…..I hope his brain and feet are not the same as our last import from East Europe. Shades of Stepanovs make me sweat with fear.

  139. Micko says:

    Afternoon all,
    On me holibobs this week, work hard, play hard.
    Kingsley Coman, that’s got me excited, won’t be able to sleep tonite !

  140. Mr Wath says:

    Least it ain’t Conan Micko, then again in central midfield he’d even do as an enforcer.

  141. Hell Raising Devil says:

    is he good? I have never heard of him.

    Conan for midfield??? The destroyer or the barbarian one? 😛

  142. Micko says:

    Donegal rico, sod the expense, you only live once !!!

    It’s a long ole slog wath, I was gonna say it’s about time you penned some thoughts but there again…………..

    Who’s been tinkering with tsgh’s comments today, they keep ending with so…..I never get to read the end of them !

  143. Mr Wath says:

    Distraught about the Cesc news Rico, seems I am the only one but I been laughing all day, thought he could come swanning back… Good, tosspot…!

    The destroyer or barbarian would be ok with me Dev 😉 just what we need…!

  144. Mr Wath says:

    I’d do another post Micko but we’d lose all the readers bad enough they have to read my comments mate 🙂

  145. Micko says:

    Not too worried about Cesc to be honest, even if he better on one leg than Arteta on two, if we could get Gareth Barry instead that would be much better business all round, this guy is ouzzes experience, hopefully common sense will win the day.
    Sorry wath no offence.

  146. Micko says:

    wath, I remember a good few years back when they launched Guinness lite and it went down like a cup of cold sick, if it ain’t broken……..
    That yellow stuff your talking about is called fosters or kangeroo piss, any queries bell scott.

  147. Micko says:

    Adam, surely it would be a pay as you play contract, you’d like to think even Arsene wouldn’t be as daft to offer a 12 month contract at that age !
    Laters Gooners, have to set my lobster pots.

  148. BrainwashedKev says:

    BT, sorry about delay in answering, but yes, despite all the spin, nothing would suprise me…
    I’ve been fairly constant this summer, so far, with my low expectations…

  149. Adam says:

    Micko. Yes, but imagine the goals would score for us. And most importantly, he is on a free and during the year that sponsorship and TV revenues have gone up alongside season ticket prices, that makes a lot of sense to me.

  150. BrainwashedKev says:

    Rico, 4.47, you can say what you like, and I’ll defend your right to, even if you are wrong… 😉

  151. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Bingo Bongo signed yet??

    Or Nobo Dy?

    Or Som Eone?

    Back from 4miles today.

    The heat is killing me.

  152. rico says:

    Laurent Koscielny backs coach Arsene Wenger to oversee a new era of success at Arsenal, providing he buys at least four players — including a top-class striker — this summer.

    Arsenal, which won the FA Cup to end a long trophy drought, led the English Premier League for long spells and was in the top two places from late September until March before slipping to fourth after crushing defeats to rivals: 5-1 at Liverpool and 6-0 at Chelsea.

    Those losses, coupled with injuries to midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, severely exposed Arsenal’s squad limitations.

    “We’ll need a goalkeeper, a right back, a midfielder and a striker,” Koscielny said on Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press at France’s pre-World Cup training camp.

    “It’s important to have a minimum of these four players so that we’ll be better able to challenge over the course of a whole season against teams like Manchester City, Chelsea or (Manchester) United. Winning the FA Cup can change things and lead to other players coming.”

    Arsenal missed Ramsey’s scoring touch and striker Olivier Giroud, who scored 16 league goals, was overplayed, starting 36 of 38 league games.

    “Yes, we need to recruit a very, very good striker, because it’s important for us, for competition for places, because Olivier needs that to become even better,” Koscielny said. “Having a striker who scores more than 30 goals a season can help us win the Premier League. Compared to the squads like Manchester City, even United, Chelsea. … You can see there’s a certain difference.”

    Arsenal beat Hull 3-2 in extra time in a thrilling FA Cup final. Defeat would have been hugely damaging for Wenger, who was under severe pressure to deliver.

    “It was a relief for everyone. We felt a weight coming off us. We made the most of it when we celebrated our trophy, it was an extraordinary moment,” Koscielny said. “Thanks to this trophy, we’ll be able to play more freely in the years to come without this pressure hanging over us, thinking ‘we must win a trophy.'”

    Koscielny said Wenger deserved his new three-year contract extension.

    “We’re all happy. He’s the one who brought me over here and gave me my chance,” Koscielny said. “A lot of players owe him. It was important for us that he signed again.”

    The 28-year-old Koscielny recently signed his own new contract to 2019.

    “I feel good at this club, I’m trusted,” he said. “I play regularly, so I didn’t have any wish to leave.”

  153. potter says:

    Seems that we know it , the players know it , the world and his dog knows it and all our rivals know it too. Our not competing with Chelsea on wages for Cesc just gives prospective incoming players the impression that there are better deals to be had elsewhere. I am mortified and i really don’t care and can’t be bothered to cut my nose off to spite my face. Cesc is a better player than every one of our midfield players not finding the extra cash to get him is just pure negligence. Even if “” The manager is not scared to spend, has the experience, but as always will have to juggle a set budget.””
    The club has the ability, even allowing for the possibility of his budget being used up, to push the boat out and improve the squad and find the money because it’s there.

  154. rico says:

    But do we know it is all about the wages? Or do the club, well Arsene Wenger, just not want Cesc back..

    I think it’s the latter….

  155. Wavy says:

    Agreed Rico, the Cesc affair runs much deeper than mammon! The little general pissed on his chips to the extent that even his French father could not or would not forgive him. Lord knows what he did but it must have been pretty bloody serious. Then again Wenger rarely forgives and never forgets disloyalty.
    So over to you greedy dwarf, you can have him!

  156. Scott From Oz says:

    Morning all.
    Micko, Fosters is like Home and Away……we only make it to flog off to you lot as nobody here is interested in either 🙂
    Have we signed anyone yet?
    Bugger….I’m off for a few days fishing which means no transfer window stress.

  157. potter says:

    If every thing that we are told about Wenger and his charges I doubt that he would refuse Cesc because of what happened in the past. Wenger must have known the pressure that Rossell put on his family and would have known how torn he must have been. Forget all the player’s dna statements , Cesc’s family had broken up , parents divorcing etc and Barca’s president was wining and dining them and giving the hope that a return to Arenys might solve family problems. They started on him when he was 21 years old and finally got him back when he was 24. However the fans have never forgiven him for leaving in the first place and are on his back if anything goes wrong. Can’t help feeling the same would happen if he came back here with many people unable to swallow that he left , but he is now 27 a world cup and champion’s league winner. Exactly the type of player we have been crying out for.

  158. tsgh says:

    Morning Rico et al,
    Kev are you on your way to celebrate D-day?
    Can’t believe its 70 years already…
    God bless…

  159. Lee says:

    Thanks Adam, I’ll be honest the live pink unicorn has been a bit tricky to find!! But she got horse related gifts…..

  160. Rick says:

    Morning Rico and the House.
    Ginge like you i cant believe its 70 years. Its going to be a big day
    see you later.

  161. Lee says:

    So your man Costa is signing for Jose, if they get Fabregas too that’ll really strengthen them….

  162. Adam says:

    Lee. We were told by the oracle that Costa is shit and as we know Fabregas is a moaner. There are no such negative vibes attached to the glorious Kalou and I believe Umbongo does great work for charity.

  163. Lee says:

    Umbongo regularly sends back 95% of his salary to help with the local community…..but for the life of me I can’t think where he’s from though!

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