Arsenal Banter Archive August 15 2013

15 Aug 2013 22:49:31
Ed is there any interest in Gabriel Appelt Pires. Some of you may know him because he is a beast on FIFA 13. He is a 19 year old holding midfielder who plays for Juventus. Loaned out to Pro Vercelli (then a newly promoted Serie B side and apart from a 4 month injury, started most games and scored 1 goal. {Ed007's Note - Well you're definitely interested in him!! If you want to talk about video games we have a site for that, we tend to stick to real football.

www.talkvideogames.co.uk/

Is he actually real? {Ed007's Note - The OP or the player?}

15 Aug 2013 21:31:34
Arteta being out means we can finally see the midfield of

Wilshere- Ramsey- Cazorla

Time so see if Rambo can man the middle of the pitch. I believe he's more than capable

Lining up Michu as an alternate to Suarez, if true, is pathetic

One can't even make the Spain squad, the other would lead the line if he was Spanish

If this is what happens, the fans better not accept it

This was the year we needed to spend a bit above market price, get our targets, and have them ready and on form for the season

It seems now, we don't even have concrete targets, just people from the discount bin

I said it in June, I have absolutely ZERO faith in IG and Law, and as one of his most ardent supporters, Wenger needs to man up and explain wtf is going on

Otherwise people need to sack up and stop paying the ticket prices. You shouldn't pay A team prices to watch a B team match

Sign world class players, otherwise mark me unimpressed and disinterested. This was not the window to "settle" for players

Grow a damn pair and get em signed, or else I hope the talking point at the Emirates all season is the lack of attendance

Board deserves every bit of it. As a baseball fan who realizes how non-salary capped sports work, Arsenal has no business spending like a mid level team. As per the inflated payroll on marginal players, that's all IG

How does a 1.5 billion dollar club not have an adequate front office, what an absolute joke

Rant over

I am feeling this post immensely!

YES US GOONER

I agree with all of that, I desperately want to support Wenger and if anyone is going to lead us out of our barren trophy run I want it to be him, but he needs to sort this issue out. We need to bring world class talent into the squad and it should have happened by now

Spending the summer watching the quality of targets deteriorate. sigh

Good post totally agree starting to look like a JOKE, our beloved club is been raped on a daily basis and its the fan's that get shagged up the arse

It's how we all feel. Arsenal FC are an actual joke. Even the spurs (heaven irbid it) are out spending and going to be out playing us this season. If this doesn't change then I feel this is our last season of champs league football and then watch us fall apart. I'm not even looking forward to the new season as we're going to be so thin that one injury and we're completely screwed. In arsene I no longer trust. Sad times to be a Gooner

Taking my Mom and Dad to the game on Saturday and am nowhere near as excited as I should be!

I feel like a victim.

Great post, wish someone at AFC would read and take note!

15 Aug 2013 21:08:13
Like I said before we've dodged a few bullets with the likes of Higuain, Gustavo, Fellaini etc. Priced way too high. And you got to remember the wages some of them are after is just way to high. Wenger was right not to give in and give the likes of Gustavo £115 000pw. This would have totally unbalanced the great mood we have in our squad at the moment. We need a few players. Yes. Squad is a little thin. Yes. Wenger do your magic get in the next Anelka, get in the next Koscielny. We know you can do it. We are the Arsenal. And we bow to nobody, especially the media, who is slowly trying to turn our fans. We will do it the Arsenal way. The Wenger way.
With class!

15 Aug 2013 23:13:15
This mentality is exactly what's wrong with some arsenal fans, in order to get the best players you pay top prices and wages.
And what exactly is the "arsenal way". promise the fans everything charge them most then deliver 4th.
we are slowly slipping down when instead we should be challenging for the top, we need CB, cm, winger and striker I can't see more than 2 players coming in and Wenger hoping to make it with squad till January
If Wenger doesn't sign top class players we won't do anything this season and then he should leave

Smells didn't win us anything. Koscileny has never won us anything.

The players you list cost what they cost.

If napoli hunk hig is worth 32m then that's what he's worth.

Who exactly do you propose we buy, and for how much exactly.

Having a cursory look at your posts I can't help but feel you are trolling or just have no clue about the modern game

You, my misguided friend are exactly the type of fan that Wenger & the board love.

I agree with wengerism.

not on the price. but on the squad balance.

If you think about it, if someone equal to you earns more than you, it does feel like an insult. Luis Gustavo is not better than Jack or cazorla in terms of talent not field position, so it would be unfair.

but if you look at this summer, we had higuain, then suarez camp encouraged us on a wild goose chase, we lost higuain, and now we may not attain suarez.

in terms of CDM, while I do rate Paulinho and Capoue, the likes of Luis Gustavo, Khedira, Lars Bender are a different class. Champions league class if I may.

and if i'm not mistaken, are we not the team, who have won all our games but the galatasaray match in pre season, while spurs, and united have faltered?

im still feeling confident even with injuries. I think man of our players, like Ox, Rosicky, can step up and deliver.

we will buy. just got to be optimistic

As much as I support Wenger this blinkered 'fox that cannot get the grapes' kind of post irrates me immensely.

Rue1025 is right, you're the most delusional fan in the world!

Have you seen higuains conversion rate? Last season he was only behind messi (yes, better than falcao and Ronaldo). At around 33%.

Luiz gustavo last season won the bundensliga, the domestic cup, champions league and the confederations cup. He's a winner and he's only 26, at £17 million, a bargain.

Ill agree with fellaini, he was over priced and we didn't and don't need him.

But why would you want 'the next someone' to join? We need proven players right now. They should be the priority, that's not me saying we shouldn't buy youngsters, but right now players like higuain and gustavo should have joined.

15 Aug 2013 20:54:41
According to one of the Eds, Julio Cesar is wanting £70k a week.

So Arsenal think a GK that has won the following honours isn't worth £70k a week:

1) Serie A 5 times.
2) Coppa Italia 3 times.
3) Uefa Champions League.
4) Serie A GK of the year 2 times.
5) UEFA GK of the year.
6) Copa America once.
7) Confederations Cup 2 times.
+ More in Brazil etc.

Ridiculous! To put it into perspective. Fabianski is on £50k a week and he's woeful. The lack of logic at Arsenal is mind-boggling.

Is it the 70k or the length of contract given his age?

Actually its the 4 year contract putting us off. I right there eds? {Ed027's Note - no

I don't think it's just the wages, it's the fact he wants a 4yr contract aswell

Yes, but if I remember correctly he wants a 4 year contract and you can already she he's declining so Wenger's clearly reluctant to end up with another piece of over paid dead wood for the next 4 years.

Absolutely agree.
He's still top class and goalkeepers of his ilk usually play at the highest level approaching their 40s.
Really have given up with Wenger.

15 Aug 2013 20:34:41
Everyone is being so darn negative, yes we haven't signed anyone but let's hope, stay optimistic, if we got rid of wenger do you really think that we would win a trophy straight away? And secondly if we spent a HUGE amount of money that won't guarantee trophies either, look at how man city got on spending millions on players without winning anything for a long time so just chill people, if we don't sign anyone and don't win anything at the end of the season then wenger will have a lot to answer for so relax people lol
Is there anymore news on the gustavo/suarez front? In Arsene We Trust

15 Aug 2013 20:14:47
rumours are that Arteta is out for 4-6 weeks, this season is an absolute disaster already

Did you hear this from the daily fail?

I've got a crazy suggestion. let's play Wilshere and Ramsey together with Oxlade or Santi playing in front of them.
Not the end of the world

15 Aug 2013 19:26:40
All the haters don't you all know we won't sign until we are in the CL it obvious wake up and grow up

Ok mate I'll wake up and grow up just like I did two years ago and we beat Udinese, signed approximately ZERO players, pullee out of the Mata deal, suffered our greatest ever defeat, to our fiercest rivals no less, and only THEN did Wenger do a supermarket sweep. That's when he signed a defender too slow for the league who took a season to settle (Mert) when we needed a CB who'd hit the ground running (at pace). He signed a player he should have signed about 3 years prior (Arteta - but what a signing), he signed Santos for more than LFC paid NUFC for Enrique and put him on higher wages, he signed Gervinho, and he signed Park and Jenko.

All were emergencies, all bar Arteta took at least 1 year to settle, 2 never did and have since been sold, 1 never did and is nowhere to be found (Park).

I think I'll grow up when I'm good and ready!

Well said mate. No patience anymore. The sad thing people don't realise is, we hardly need to spend a quarter of the 70m in order to challenge.

Jenkinson, Gervinho (and Chamberlain) were signed well before deadline day

Jenko was signed early in window, very much not an emergency and what is so good about arteta

£150,000,000 on cash reserves in our account.
Why are we waiting for the champions league qualifiers?

15 Aug 2013 18:59:42
Talk about rubbing our nose's in it
I actually feel sick
40 million on refurbishment

http://www.citmagazine.com/article/1207555/arsenal-fc-reveals-new-events-team-following-40m-refurbishment

I suggest you re read the article!

"C&IT is happy to retract the previously published figure of £40m."

Key word?

RETRACT.

And I suppose you've never spent a quid to renovate your own house. Of course money needs to be spent to renovate. People please use some common sense

So why are they happy to retract the £40 sum, seems pretty straight forward, done deal and sum is published by C&IT, unless someone asked them to retract the sum, who could that be?

Money being spent on the Emirates lounge space and hospitality online ordering, get real, this is a football club, not a private members club

15 Aug 2013 17:38:50
Eds, any reason why I had to reregister

{Ed022's Note - To keep out all the riff raff...}

I had already registered but I had to reregister again
Paul Belfast

15 Aug 2013 17:15:13
Long time listener, first time poster.
My what a frustrating transfer window this has been, world class signings promised. none delivered.
I would like to take a different look at it though. with the question, "who was the last world class player we actually signed?"
For me, it goes back to Bergkamp. World class. and also my favorite ever player! But he wasn't actually signed by wenger.
Pires, henry, viera, all became world class, but they weren't when we signed them.
Wenger simply doesn't buy world class players, he makes them. And yes, he makes some pretty awful players as well.
Anyway, this isn't a criticism of wenger and the transfer policy, no matter how frustrated I am at the moment, merely an observation.
So, can anyone think of a world class player signed by wenger?

You have answered your own question buddy. He has made a couple of mistakes but the guys a genius. The easy option is buy world class players. He makes them. Sets him a world apart from other managers. Only Klopp comes close

Arshavin
Sol Campbell
Cazorla

Sol Campbell, Davor Suker.

I have a different theory. Some players if thye put in the work will become world class, others won't. Wenger signed some and now the whole world sees him as a genius. They ignore the players who have digressed terribly. If he's this magician player developer then our team would be full of academy success stories, Oxlade would be a £40m-rated player or at least considered in the same terms as Hazard and El Shaarawy. Walcott would be able to beat a man with the ball at his feet, etc etc etc. It's the biggest myth going that Wenger turns players into world class stars. He might find the ones who are destined for it, sure, but in 17 years as AFC manager he's produced only a clutch. And it totally lacks any regard for the talent the player already has. Zalalem for example is incredibly talented - that talent was blatantly there before Wenger was on his scene. But he'll likely become world class and then it's wow look at Wenger. No, look at Zalalem. It doesn't take a genius to recognise world class talent and let it flourish. I'll admit we give them an incredible platform but when we can count the world class star success stories on one hand for a 17 year period I think it's time to put that myth to bed.

15 Aug 2013 16:37:00
i went to arsenal club shop today and spent £3 on an arsenal pencil case for my son. that means I have spent more on arsenal this summer than wenger,,,, just thought I would share this with you

We had to pay compensation to Auxerre, and we had to give Sanogo a signing on fee. So no, you have not.

You bought a bargain pencil case with a view to it becoming a world class pencil case one day, whilst you may have spent more than him you are obviously thinking like him. I support another team and I bought my son a pencil case that fits straight into his first bag I am not waiting a couple of seasons before he can use it so you should go back and spend a teener on a proper pencil case preferably one that is tried and tested

derbyshire dave

You're hilarious. Just thought I would share this with you.

Wow Chas. we will now be able to up the bid on Suarez

Bravo, post of the summer

What a sad old bore Ted is!

I'm surprised you got a pencil case in there for £3. I seem to remember a pencil costing that much when I went in there! You've grabbed your son a bargain.

Have a bit of respect mate!

Please god let Bendtner be inside!

Hey Derbyshire Dave I knw u are a Spurs supporter because read your post on spurs page few time, but the first 3 lines of your post are hilarious nice one mate and good luck for the season

15 Aug 2013 15:54:36
I would rather we don't buy anyone at all than to go out there and bring in more dead wood. Top quality or nothing at all, rather give more game time to fringe players like the Ox and a few other young players.

{Ed022's Note - Think it's time we stop moaning about the current transfer (or lack of) situation that we are currently having to endure at the moment. I have deleted a lot of moaning posts just because they're repetitive and frankly quite boring. There has been a lot of b*tching towards each other and although we might not always agree with each other, please refrain from playground insults. Thank you...}

Well said ED.

Estepona gooner

Here here!
Can the real fans stand up!

15 Aug 2013 15:22:56
Monreal, Sagna, Arteta, Walcott, Diaby, Sanogo, Cazorla and Ramsey all POSSIBLY carrying knocks for Saturday.

If that's the case, then a loss to the villa is a possibility, and in all honesty a good thing.

Don't get me wrong, I never, ever WANT Arsenal to lose.
But for the sake of the season, I feel we need them too.

Wenger is a reactionary manager it seems.
He's seen us lose one game all pre-season and its given him the confidence to come out and publicly say this squad can win the league, and I think he actually believes it.
This squad IS full of quality, but there are lack of depth issues, and some key areas devoid of players needed.

If we go out, with a threadbare team, and beat villa, Wenger will believe it can carry on going like that.
If we go out and get beat, hopefully it'll spark him to buy needed players!

Of course, that's not a certainty, knowing Wenger, he'd just promote a few more players.

The other issue is panic buying players, like we did with Arteta, Mertesaker, Park and Santos.

And as we know, 2 of the 4, were horrifying.


Still, optimism is the way!

15 Aug 2013 14:56:19
Can any if you Eds shed any light on why the effing hell the FA allows a friendly international game 3 days before the start of the EPL season. It's blindingly obvious that no club worth it's salt wants its players playing in a game like that so close to the beginning of the season. Come to that I don't think any player wants to take any risks in a friendly whether they play for England or any other international team at this point in the proceedings. Is there a good enough or sensible enough reason for it?

{Ed022's Note - The FA don't have to take a fixture on that date. There are two official friendly fixture dates in the season. August and February. Think about it, a home fixture at Wembley, revenue well over £3.5m for the game. Big expensive stadium to pay off. I have heard however, there will be NO fixture in August next season...}

15 Aug 2013 14:52:52
Wenger's comments on official site is that we will be "active" until the end of the window.

It certainly doesn't do much to reassure fans. mancity/monaco/bayern/PSG will be "active" as well.

Losing faith quickly and happy to be proved wrong!

15 Aug 2013 14:19:50
Ok what's the line up for Saturday does anyone think "The Lone Ranger" (Sanogo) will play?

{Ed022's Note - Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Poldolski, Walcott, Giroud...}

Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere,
Walcott, Oxlade, Cazorla, Poodoski & Giroud.
I doubt Arteta will make it as he is struggling with injury. Walcott & Ramsey also have knocks, I hope they are not serious. Our bench could be weak:
Fabianski, Jenkinson, Rosicky, Sonago -then i'm struggling, unless its young players who aren't ready for the rigours of the PL.

{Ed022's Note - I too was thinking of our reserve central defenders, miquel gone, squillaci released, djourou on loan and vermaelen injured...}

I thought sagna, Arteta and walcott were injured?

{Ed022's Note - Sagna will be ok, as will Walcott, he picked up a 'knock' on Tuesday in training but then played 75mins last night. Arteta will be the one to miss out if anyone. However, he should be ok...}

15 Aug 2013 14:05:53
Just heard from my mate, who works in football in south america that we weren't prepared to pay Gustavo more than Wolfsburg. This would have been the swaying factor. He's been raised in Germany, and wanted more money to leave. Can't blame him. Pretty gutted as he's exactly what we need.
According to him, and I happen to agree, Arsenal are more keen to be seen to be trying to do business, than they are to actually push big deals through. Wenger is under instruction to cut £300k a week off of the wage bill this summer, and spend no more than £30m net on players.
I don't see this being far from the truth. We are, and have been for some time, a business striving to clear debts. Unless there's significant putting money where their mouths are, I'll fail to believe we were ever in the running for even higher earners like Suarez. PS. Still no keeper. I fear the worst.

Absolutely, we have managed to finish 4th for the last couple of seasons, by the skin of our teeth. The squad is threadbare. This has always been a fault of Wenger, even in the trophy winning years we never had a squad large enough to compete in all competitions. Abu Diaby & Vermaelen are out for the foreseeable future. Monreal is injured & now there are doubts over Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott & possibly Sagna. With the exception of Ramsey who withdrew through injury, virtually every likely starter against Villa, played last night. We have a difficult tie away to Fenerbache on Weds, followed by Fulham away the following weekend. Even if we make signings in the next 18 days, they will not have time to bed in. Since Dein & Fiszman departed, Wenger has run the club into the ground. Driven by purely by profit, at the cost of the playing side of the club. You would have though stubborn Wenger would have learnt from the 8-2 thrashing by Man U. Alas, it seems not. At best I see a couple of cheap unknown young players being brought in. I am certain we could have signed, Ceasar, Williams, Fellaini, Nani & Gustavo, if we were prepared to pay the prices & give them the contracts they asked for. We are no longer even able to sell for top prices, having allowed contracts to run down & not being tough enough, we have sold the likes of RVP, Fabregas & Nasri for relatively low fees & look what these 3 players have won since leaving us. We need Usmanov, Dein & Laudrup. Its horrible starting a season with virtually zero belief that we will challenge for a trophy & even 4th place is starting to look a tall order. I keep hoping that i'm wrong & that I will wake up & see that Suarez has arrived or Rooney or Fellaini, but these are false hopes. Wenger is living on past glories & its time for change. I can see a draw against Villa, an away defeat to Fenerbache & a draw away to Fulham, followed by a draw at home to Fenerbache. This will leave us out of the CL & struggling to reach top 4, all by the end of August! Wenger & co are letting us down big time.

Im of the opinion that wenger is so entwined and loyal to AFC that he is covering for a tight wad owner and a CEO who spouts what we want to hear but ultimately does what Stan wants. Look at Kroenke's american teams, totally average with no drive to do anything. I can only deduce then that its wenger who is stopping us becoming that average mid table team. With buying cheap players and, on the whole, making them better he is the one keeping us top 4. I can't see any alternative reason for it. He has his faults, of course, but no matter what you think of him wenger has forgotten more than AVB and rogers know about football. My mate whos a spud tells me wenger is a top class manager and he thinks he gets 10-15% out of AFC players that isn't really there in terms of talent. Trouble is its so hard to know what is happening as wenger won't bad mouth the owner and silent stan never speaks! also I don't believe a word gazidis says. It wouldn't bother me if he left tomorrow, It would be a sit up and take notice moment if Wenger walked away. cheers for reading and i'm AFC forever, not pro wenger just looking at the cold facts I hope.

15 Aug 2013 13:45:09
Why is everyone so doom and gloom? Has anyone considered that we may continue our form from last season? We were the best team in the league after New Year.

And, can anybody tell me the last time we signed only one player? I can't seem to remember that happening.

Cheer up lads and ladies, there's still time before September 2nd.

This is true however when it came to playing those who finished above us we did not have that killer instinct to win the matches and that is the difference between winning the premiership and coming fourth!

Vermaelen. 09/10 Season.

That Summer he was the only player we signed.

Didn't we bring in Sol Campbell and Samuel Galindo that season?

{Ed022's Note - NI Gunner is correct in what he said; Vermaelen was the only player signed in the summer of 2009. Samuel Galindo and Sol Campbell were both brought in for free in January 2010...}

Oh I thought he meant the whole season of 09/10. My bad.

15 Aug 2013 13:39:15
It seems to me that just because we haven't signed any more players yet that people are taking some of their frustration out on Sanogo. It isn't his fault that he is the only signing we have made as of yet.

I mean, imagine you are him. You're really excited to play for a top club with a great fan-base, but everywhere you look you see people calling you average and a nobody. Imagine how that would effect your confidence, it would crush you to see that you don't have the backing of the fans.

Nobody ever claimed he was our marquee signing, but show the guy some respect please. I for one can't wait to see him develop into one of the world's greatest strikers.

{Ed022's Note - A very good point Ted. Well said...}

Very well said, Ted. Appreciated!

Yip I posted something similer awhile back but not as well put as your post if he plays on sat hell be rearing to go I'd say

{Ed022's Note - He's out with a hamstring problem as it stands...}

Well said bruv, top post

Absolutely right--- we need to get behind all the4se players as pretty much all the players left are committed. well said T(or should I say SAID RIGHT FRED

15 Aug 2013 13:17:46
I just want to spark a debate about Dein, for lack of anything else to talk about. People keep saying we need Dein back and how things would be oh so different. I think that's untrue. The reason why is simple. It would still be Wenger in charge of transfers. The club has made this very clear. If Dein just came back, it would make no difference. As if he is going to return to the club and undermine Wenger? If he came back with the specific role of dealing with transfers, that would take away Wenger's power and so wouldn't happen. That's like demoting the most subtly arrogant and sanctimonious manager in the world, and stripping him of the one thing he uses as the baton of all his ideals, and asking his best mate to do it better. He's Wenger's best mate, apparently they live next to each other too. You think they don't talk? You think Dein doesn't sit there and say to Arsene that maybe he needs to at least get with the times and take a decade of inflation into account?

Ddin't Dein only yesterday say Wenger will not pay more than his own valuation of a player? You think players want to come to Arsenal when they offer £6m less than the £15m asking price for you? I would laugh at any manager who came in for me like that. It is an insult.

Players who cost circa £10m 10 years ago cost £20m now. That's just football. That's not even oil money. There is a random jump in that the £20m players of old are now about £40m+, sure, but we have increased the stadium, commercials and ticket prices in keeping with the way the game is going, more so in fact, yet we still can't sign £20m players? That's the manager. You don't need Dein at the club to rectify this at all, you just need someone.

What we really need is just anyone who has a modern approach, and is forward thinking in terms of spending, but who has the guidance to do it within the confines of our budget and spending power i.e. no borrowing money.

And in terms of JUST transfers, there are literally kids out there who could it. Before you all go crazy, what more do you need to say to a player like Gustavo, than 'we're prepared to improve your wages, and we're prepared to offer Bayern more than they're asking for, because we want you in our starting 11. That's the vision. And FYI, we're looking at a world class forward and a top additional CB as well as a winger to add to the squad. We are serious about a challenge this season and you're a key piece. So what's your price?'

What we really need at the club is anyone other than Wenger to be in charge of transfers. You don't need to be a genius. If you want to know what to pay a player, look at what similar players at other clubs earn, look at the budget, make an informed decision and make a decent offer. Why does everyone cry out for Dein? We don't need him, as much as he is missed. We need someone who just understands modern football. Someone who understands that you can't ask someone to step down from Bayern to Arsenal whilst taking a pay cut and hinge the whole deal on 'yeah but you'll probably get more game time.'

I would even trust Gazidis more than Wenger at this point because surely Gazidis knows what other clubs pay players and compares it with what Wenger offers. I am hearing about growing tension at the club and I'm not surprised. I would hate Wenger if I were Gazidis. As much as we dislike Gazidis, or have done, he does his job at the club to the maximum extent he can. Wenger doesn't. Gazidis just go above Wenger's head and sign the players, and bring in someone to manager transfers permanently!

Spot on metal Arsene's valuation & the market today are different & that is why we struggle to sign players. It ain't rocket science get someone else to do the negotiations & we will start to see a difference.

Firstly I don't think he will return. Certainly while stan and Ivan are at the club.
If they were to leave the club. And if Dein return I strongly believe Wenger would relinquish the transfer dealings to Dein. Mainly down to him Trusting Dein. It was Dein who brought most of the big names to the table. Bergkamp, Henry, overmars ( to whom he kept in constant contact before he signed while injured ) to name a few.
I think the main thing for me he would bring back the values of the club. Maybe we would be referred to as "the" arsenal again.
A brief opinion as in a rush.

Gazidis just needs to grow a pair. Plain and simple.

Metal, I honestly think the market is over inflated.

but saying that its not like 40million is chump change, maybe the pound is but its like saying. here "40 million and keep the change you filthy animal"

the suarez saga was the agents fault, arsenal thought they had a player, it was wrongly interpreted and now we are where we are.

Higuain has taken his talents to Napoli, and I wish him well, but we still have a formidable team.

This market can't last forever, and how many players can one team buy?

City have literally two squads, but by the end of next season, if they don't perform, they will not only make mega losses in an FFP era, but will have unhappy players who destroy morale.

I honestly believe if we can keep "healthy" being the secret word. we can make it to January and see how that window goes for us.

worst case scenario we buy no one. miss out on the top 4. and then top up with some more youthful talent and come back into it after a year out.

we have always built squads and created superstars. its frustrating but that's been our philosophy for ages now.

the pressure is on wenger, he knows his number is up. so 18 odd days to go, and then let's see how the season starts and the fan reactions go.

if we don't get a striker we will get some players to make up the squad.

15 Aug 2013 19:54:41
cheers paul, I see what you're saying, but could you really see dein wanting to take that power from wenger and then go against what he's been doing for the last x years? I just don't see it. this is why I think it should be someone else.

15 Aug 2013 12:53:04
reading all the rumours re gustavo to wolfsburg does not seem to add up. wolfsburg finished 11th last season in the bundesliga. gustavo is coming from bayern, and has played at the top of world football with that team (champs league).

it seems to me that in order for him to get his place in the brazil squad he needs the champions league football and to be playing for a top club. I appreciate that he would probably prefer a move domestically but the signs were good - recent interview he specifically mentioned arsenal and how he would like to place for us. obviously that interview was quoted by the press so it looked like a dead cert arsenal would then sign him as we were (and still are) in the market for a proper dm.

i saw Ed022 posted on the banter side of the site that he is due for a medical before midnight tonight and the player himself would make an announcement about his future today. ed, what do you think? any chance of a late arsenal revival?

{Ed022's Note - Just to clarify that his "medical before midnight" was a quote from someone else that has posted. I was being sarcastic about the medical happening. He has shown interest in coming to Arsenal so we'l have to see whether we put our money where our mouth is...}

15 Aug 2013 12:36:36
See the below. What has our club become a broken record? 'we want to win, we will strive to compete' I am lost for words on this window! I know that we have a good core and will be fighting for fourth, but the way the spurs have bought, I can see them finishing above us! what happened with Capoue whyu have we nit signed him. in my opinion we need at least 5 players to have a decent enough squad to compete.

Dear Louis,
Many thanks for your email.
I'm sure you can appreciate that Mr Gazidis is very busy at the moment and has therefore asked me to respond on his behalf. Please be assured that our goal at the Club is to compete for and win trophies. I can assure you everyone is working hard to ensure that happens.
Thank you for your continued support

Very best wishes,

Karen Brown

Executive PA to Ivan Gazidis, CEO
Svenja Geissmar, General Counsel
Arsenal Football Club

From: Louis Sent: 14 August 2013 09:55
To: Ivan Gazidis
Subject: What has our club become?

Dear Ivan,

I want to start by stating how very disappointed I am with how our summer transfer activity has gone. You came out with such bold statements at the end of last season regarding our financial power, what we could do and stated that you and the manager had been planning for this transfer window.
What has happened? The fans, the people the make this club what it is deserve an explanation. We are three days form the start of the new season, we have let some ten players leave our club but we have not replaced them! Do you think it is sensible to enter a season with 15/16 first team members?
I think you know that you should provide an explanation and I will be waiting to hear from you. It will take you less than five minutes to reply to this email.
Regards,

Louis
{Ed022's Note - This was beautifully spaced out in email format but I had to cut the gaps as the post was (and still is pretty) huge!}

IS there any chance you can actually forward the email address to us!

Come on mate, what were you expecting in all honesty? A personal response saying what the plan is? I like the fact that you sent the email because every little helps, but you can't honestly be surprised with the response!

I would have no issue sending the email address on but will not post it on this open page. if you want to let me know your email i'll send it on. My firm wouldn't be overly happy if they new I had emailed IG.
Ed- thank you for sorting the post out.
Metal- Of course I didn't expect him to unviel the plans. I am chuffed I got a reply.

Cheers

Ps, if you think of normal email address formats his email is pretty standard.

15 Aug 2013 12:33:44
I'm a big fan of Arsene's. Yes he is incredibly annoying at times but he is nd always will be what made us so great to support for the last ten years plus. I also truly believe we have tried to sign that marquee signing. Most of the anti brigade rants here have all the loyalty of Adebayor and Nasri.

However, I have a problem. What's the point of the instant ECL qualification if it gives us neither the money nor the prestige to attract talent? It's hard to care about 4th or the constant ronds of ECL if it brings nothing else. We all knew how vital 4th place was to secure the signings to take us forward. We all knew how poor old hopeless spurs and their repeat failures doomed them to go backwards. Didn't we?

Oh only problem is spurs are strengthening and strengthening. Their squad looks much better, their first X1 a step forward, while we have just festered. A stupidly small squad with no class additions. Our weaknesses ar what they have been for years and just get worse with time.

While we have wasted a summer pursuing players that are too expensive and never going to come, they have signed quietly quickly and to good effect.

Yes this may indeed be Walcott 's year at last, yes the Ox may make he Leo he promised, yes Santi and Giroud could and should improve again one season on, and who knows Jack may just stay fit, and Ramsey may return to his early promise. But what if that doesn't all happen? What anyway would you be on all of that happening? Me a lt less than on another njury plagued sad year for Diaby.

So honestly no marquee name is coming, a lot of the next level promise and talent has already been secured elsewhere. We have so little time to make massive strides. To do that we have to move quickly and make the obvious signings that can and will ke us forward without signing an already developed superstar.

In the next few days please - Lamela, Gustavo, and Michu. I'd let Podolski go too a fine player but not right for us.

I fear though when we do sign and ho we sign will make us seriously question caring about 4th place ever again.

No new players in - Wenger's remit.
Same weaknesses in our style of play - Wenger's remit as coach.
Taking a risk on Diaby last summer when several DMs were available like this summer - Wenger's remit.
'The market moves slowly' - Wenger's excuse. Comes at a time when players are moving left right and centre after clubs have been negotiating behind closed doors often for months - e.g. City and Fernandinho.
Wenger refusing to pay asking prices - Wenger's fault.
Selling Mannone to Sunderland and not using him in a Mignolet deal - Wenger's failure.
Selling Gervinho and not trying to land Lamela - Wenger's failure.

That will do for now. Patience wearing thin. Even the AKB's and forever-apologists are twigging.

There is a big difference between having your hands tied when it comes to selling to opposition, and having your hands tied when it comes to spending money. Wenger's hands have not, never were and will never be tied in terms of spending, and the club has made that very clear.

RVP knew it, Nasri knew it, we all know it now. And the current team knows it too. They're all begging for signings.

Wenger's silence and cliches serve only to anger the fans more. A man who knows what he is doing would come and say 'We've tied deals up for top class players, but these are pending our qualifications. Have confidence that we have done well. The team knows what it has to do, and if it does, be prepared for new signings' for example. But no, he says 'We have made a signing, Sanogo, but nobody talks about him because he wasn't a £50m player'. How's about you show some respect for the people who pay your bills?

Faith = evaporated - for now!

15 Aug 2013 11:44:57
its great we are financially conscious, but its gone too far.
twitter is bad at the best of times, but seriously all you will see, are people making financial analysis of players wages/transfer fees and how it relates to what current players earn.

people want arsenal to be a great club, and want arsenal to have great players, but seemingly, they don't want arsenal to pay any money for them, ever.

arsene wenger has been to tight fisted for so god damn long it has genuinely infected the psyche of the arsenal fan.

So true mate, drives me nuts! Constantly saying to people why do you care what we spend? Is it your money/ You just worry about the team not improving and let the club worry about paying over the odds. There isn't a team in history that hasn't paid over the odds to land their man - except Arsenal.

Just read somewhere that available cash this summer 150-160 million Arsenal

and 180-190 the other EPL teams.

does not paint a good picture of our transfer window, when we are sitting on that amount of money.

i really want Luis Gustavo, but I think that boat has sailed. when is the press conf?

{Ed022's Note - Wenger will have his normal Friday pre-match press conference tomorrow. What conference are you talking about?}

15 Aug 2013 11:31:59
I know there is a lot of sensible people on here that like me want the best for Arsenal. But let's face it the way we are going at the moment we have got as much chance of signing a couple of top names as Lionel Messi and Ronaldo turning up at the Emirates and pleading with the Arsenal board and Wenger to allow them to play for us for free!

Sad but true -

Glad to see that tour has brought good team spirit to the squad; but spirit+thin squad+no star plays does not equal a premiership title.

15 Aug 2013 10:46:13
This is really starting to get worrying and annoying I have supported this club for more than 11 years, and not for a moment doubted wenger, but now sadly I am. Seeing Spurs signings they are 100% better team than us at this very moment, plus they have gotten rid of deadwood at the same time. We are unable to attract players, because they probably do not see us moving forward or for whatever reason I don't know.

Last season spurs made very good signings in Demble, Dempsey and Lloris, this year they have added to the midfield steel even more, we were lucky very lucky infact to reach top 4 by a point last season, we won't be so lucky this time, maybe at the expense of utd because they are rubbish wo fergie and like us 0 money spent, infact they are worse they haven't even able to get rid of deadwood.

I really do not believe this, this was our best season to win the PL, all 3 top clubs have had their Managers changed, and this was the time to take it, got a big finger up going after suarez, while there were others, and I am still sure they are but who is willing to do business with a club this late in the window and that too for their Marquee signings?

We will win our play off CL games, that's a given then maybe we might sign someone because we are infact then in the CL, else my friends we will end up again scrapping for 4th and AW will leave at the end to join PSG.

Tend to agree:

Sandro/Paulinho/Capoue

Holtby/Bale/Dembele/Lennon/Soldado/Defo/Adebayor

Much MUCH more depth than us.

{Ed022's Note - Adebayor is about as useful as a chocolate teapot...}

Without spending or getting rid of players, united are better than us, the current transfer window doesn't decide whose best because united only need 1 player, whereas we need a few. United won't drop out the top 4.

Plus the current squad are obviously going to develop and will be better this year (Rambo in particular IMO).

The signings spurs have made doesn't make them better than us, their entire midfield is worse than ours. The same happened last year, they would've had a good window if modric and VDV didn't leave. They might lose bale and be about as good as last year.

And wenger has said his heart is with arsenal. So he won't be leaving, so get behind the team this season no matter what and believe that we will be fine, because with wenger at the helm, we will be.

Can't agree with saying Dempsey was a good signing, thought he was pretty mediocre at Tottenham. Lloris would have been good for us but don't tell me you would have liked us signing Dempsey.
As for United being rubbish without Fergie. Their team is definitely not the best in the league. But their defence looks stronger than ours when players are fully fit. I'd have De Gea over Szczesny and RVP up front is lethal. Don't worry about them having a bad season. They haven't added because really they only need a central midfielder. Maybe a winger. They are United, any player would join and they will make the 1-2 signings they require.
As for CL plays offs being a given. Have you seen the atmosphere in Turkey? We will not beat them away, just have to hope we can do it at home, its a tie we should win but by no means a given.

When you say our midfielder is stronger, I assume you are referring to our starting XI.

ITs worth noting that Arteta is Already a doubt for the weekend with a thigh strain and wilshere is always a concern.

In a game of Fifa perhaps, but in a long hard season of 50+ games, no our midfield is not stronger at all.

To make matters worse our depth is in the form of two chronically injured players:
Diaby and Rosicky.

We will have to field many many youngsters for big matches this year.

It may not be a given but I am 100% sure they will pass the test, the team without additions also looks stronger from last season, this is judging by preseason and Carzola has not even started performing his magic yet.

15 Aug 2013 10:23:22
TIME TO FACE THE TRUTH / OR TO FACE FACTS
i posted at the start of the transfer window . that I thought the 8 years of not winning a trophy will put off the marquee signings from joining us. unless we paid over the top and offered top wages.
It seems that the name Arsenal FC and Mr A Wenger does not carry enough clout for players to want to jump ship.
eg; Man U, chelski, Man C. players jump at those teams cause they pay top wages. and in Citys case they pay over the top to secure the player.
But we not only lost out on players to those teams, we lost players to Napoli, and Wolfsberg. WTF!

Arsenal may been in the top 5 or 6 of the worlds richest clubs (Forbes). but I believe we are outside the top 10 of the worlds clubs that top players would most likely join. therefore the only way to address this situation is to is to pay top wages and to pay over the top.

David Dein saw what was happening, he knew that we needed a rich sugar daddy to pump money into the club
as Chelski were about to take our crown as the top London club. because Wengers youth policy was failing. That was nearly 9 years ago.

This season the league title is up for grabs. Arsenal F.C. have done nothing to address that. we are with 3 other teams for a battle for 4th.

Unless the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future show Mr Wenger the error of his ways, I think we are in for a long hard trophyless season {Ed022's Note -

David dein did not know what was coming, He might have been a great negotiater and had contacts in the game, but he was no fortune teller.

what we have done in 7 years with the stadium, and the costs and selling star players yet competing, no other team in the world would be able to do that.

we made superstars and we sold them, yet we survived, year after year. that in itself is something to be proud of.

Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, City, their revenue does not match ours, and when they need to increase their stadium capacity or build a new one, they won't just fall out of the top 4, they will fall out of the top 10.

every team in the EPL has at best a 50 million transfer kitty, bigger the stadium, bigger the revenue. for teams like chelsea and city, not winning trophies could let them spiral out of control.

For us we have build a stadium, made amazing commercial deals, created a long term future and a sustainable financial model to play with the best.

it does not happen in one day, and yes it is still to run its course, but the ambition is there.

one day at a time.

look at our core, we have created this team.

when we signed walcott, it was wtf, when we signed ox it was the same, ramsey was past it.

but they have proven themselves.

wilshere, Ox, Walcott, Ramsey. I mean that is one hell of a core.

if we continue to add the same way we did, in 2 years tops, we will be the team to beat.

we may not be the best team, but we do it our way. and for me I love to stand out from the crowd.

we will all be beating our chests soon.

as they say. only through defeat can you achieve and appreciate victory.

Best post of the summer

well done lakerville

Juventus built a new stadium in record time compared to Arsenal yet they continue to challenge and win trophies. They get their main transfer targets and continue to spend. It seems that Arsenal F.C. as others might agree are happy with C.L. qualification and the money it will bring. Q. and may I ask where is the money going? Wake up gooners!

{Ed022's Note - I hear what you're saying but you're basing your point on (allegedly) one of the most corrupt teams, in one of the most (allegedly) corrupt leagues in the world. I think if Accrington Stanley had the right amount of cash, they would be Serie A champions...}

They might have built a stadium, but how much money do they really have? still not a long term solution.

tevez? yea sure for this season and next. they got pirlo on a free, they got pogba for peanuts, luck goes a long way, and they scouted the right players.

this same juventus who lost to bayern twice. the same bayern we lost to at home and went over there and almost made them collapse, with our teenagers.

and incase you did not notice emirates stadium.ashburton grove can hold 20,000 people more.

and also not to forget with future plans to extend it by 5-10k seats and make it a Uefa venue.

no small feat.

only Manchester United and wembley can boast bigger stadiums. from where we were to where we are now. incredible.

we are with the big boys.

first era we were with the big boys on the pitch. now we are with the big boys off it. quite soon we would be capable of combining the two.

stay patient. i'm not a happy gooner, but i'm still a gooner. Arsenal all the way. through the good and the bad.

15 Aug 2013 10:14:50
What a joke our Manager and management team are! Day after day nothing but we are working hard on transfers - well not hard enough is the verdict! You take the fans for fools yet again!

15 Aug 2013 10:01:54
With Spurs buying another decent player and us still only an injury prone 20yr old free transfer do you eds really expect us to buy anyone and if not what do you make of our squad for the season ahead?

I am one worried gooner 😕

{Ed022's Note - Honestly, Spurs have (although I hate to say it) cleverly recruited players. They have signed players such as Soldado and Paulinho and now Capoue who are good players who have been sold a vision to achieve CL football. They haven't required CL football to sign for them but are creating a very good team. We will sign 2-3 players before the window shuts, trust me. There are still several quality players available to buy Sakho, Rami, Gustavo, Bender, Gundagon, Rooney, Suarez etc... All players that will want CL football as a minimum...}

I highly HIGHLY doubt dortmund would sell there rising star midfielder.

No chance. Similar story with Bender. YEs, there is more activity in the last 2 weeks of the window, but usually what is "for sale" are the excess baggage type players.

Not the stars.

15 Aug 2013 09:52:55
Majority of the past seasons we lost, we arguable had th BEST TEAM'S but nevr a STRONG SQUAD. Injuries, match fitness, international duties, etc, always screwd us ovr. So ths year all I want is competition 4 places within th squad. A FW 2 challenge/rotate wit Giroud, a DM, a CB & a Goalkeeper wil do us greatly. But th fear of not buyin someone tht can walk in2 our startin line-up. SCARES th hell out of me. This season is th 1 we could make a major difference while th 3 teams above us r busy getting used 2 new managrs & new formations. We could end up being th champions no1 would've predicted on a day like today (15th of August 2013) & its still possible. Cesar, Sakho, Bender & Gustavo(don't c any logical reason 4 him 2 choose that team over us) and Suarez & Rooney, all went nowhere & r still obtainable. I hope we don't miss out on a trophy simple because Wenger is afraid of spendin & goes back 2 his old self.
WENGER DO US PROUD. MAKE US CHAMPIONS(we know u can)

15 Aug 2013 09:36:33
The latest reports suggest that we will let Jenkinson go to Sunderland on loan. I think this is an interesting move, as he clearly isn't ready for our first team yet & the loan deal, particularly under Di Canio will do him good. However, something must be happening as we will then require cover at right-back, in addition to a centre back. Will Wenger buy one quality defender who can cover RB & CB? I would suggest that Wenger would find it difficult to keep 4 top centre backs happy, hence if the new defender could cover two defensive positions, as well as Sagna who can also play CB, 7 defenders may be just about enough to cover the four defensive positions. We then need a defensive midfield player & a forward. We could also do with a left-sided player to replace Gervinho. {Ed022's Note - Sagna is having a scan on his ankle after picking up a knock playing for France. I would suggest that Jenks is going no-where at the moment...}

Maybe the right back is Jesus Gamez in a part-ex deal for Bendtner? We can only hope as that would be a real result!

{Ed022's Note - Maybe, although shifting Nicklas "World's Greatest Striker But No-one Wants To Buy Me" Bendtner is proving more difficult by the day...}

15 Aug 2013 08:58:05
hey ed, do you think we are still keen to bring lars bender to the emirates?
if yes at what amount of money leverkusen will let him go?
thanx!

{Ed022's Note - I think Arsene would be very keen to Bender to the Emirates. I would say the magical figure would be somewhere around £25-£28m...}

15 Aug 2013 06:34:30
Sorry eds I think I am now fully qualified for the Arsenal managers job if it becomes vacant it would also be my dream. At the interview when I'm asked what improvements I will make to the team my answer will be " First of all I will pretend to be interested in every player I have no intention of signing no matter whether we can afford them or not. Then I will tell the supporters that I did try but the price was unreasonable. Then I will let the supporters think we are developing our youth to come through the ranks when in fact I can't remember one, except for probably Jack that's ever done that in the last few years. We will then save another s**t load of money and spin the same story every season "
"MR SAM5555 the job is yours "

Truly AW & the Board are full of deceits!
why waste so much time, on #40.001M on Suarez when we can get better world class ST+DM, ST+CAM or ST+CB for same amount!.

some of us aren't fooled by AW tricks, its been over 8yrs and we know the game better. each transfer windows come with the same old story.

{Ed022's Note - Arsenal "wasted their time" on it because they had been informed Suarez has a release clause. This has since been proven incorrect. However, think about it, if we'd have signed Suarez for £40m and a token £1 then everyone would be buzzing and declaring Wenger a genius for pulling off such a coup...}

15 Aug 2013 11:46:20
Ed022. yeah I quite agree with you we would be buzzing but the fact is we are not

{Ed022's Note - There's no denying that and I feel it just as much as the rest of you. My bank balance feels it when my season ticket comes out, every home match I spend at least £50 just to attend with food, beer and travel. I have supported the club 23years and have seen the good times and the bad. Fact is, we are The Arsenal and its like a marriage. Through thick and thin. For better, for worse...}

15 Aug 2013 05:20:31
Just a question. considering we are running out of options for a top notch cf/st player.
If you didn't have to take age into consideration, would any of you have Ibrahimovic?
I reckon PSG could do business and I wonder if he is prepared to knuckle down there now that there is serious competition at the club?
I think he would get 20+ easy at Arsenal, but we would have to pay throught the nose for him.
Imagine the ego's of him and Bendtner squaring off."im the best player in the world!"
"no, i'm the best player in the world!" lol

A lot of players over 30 that are worth getting, ibrah and berbatov are both class still.

Just feel like wenger needs a sell on value so goes for players aged 17-26

15 Aug 2013 09:27:57
Another signing for spurs capoue they'll be strong this year unless they sell bale I don't think avb is suited to the prem he took over from redknapp who tranformed them still we need to strengthen if we're going to finish above them and get CL come on you gooners

Too many changes to their team. its like an identity crisis.

Soldado, Paulinho, dembele, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Sandro, Capoue, LLoris

They are great additions, but if you look at any side which wins titles, the core is always from the home nation.

well unless its jose mourinho's Inter team.

Aaron Lenon, and Kyle Walker are not going to grit up and inspire passion about tottenham

end of the day, most of these players will enjoy a good season and look for a way out in a year or two.

Im glad arsene went with a core of Jack, Ox, ramsey, Gibbs and Jenks.

{Ed022's Note - Lakerville, I think it's important we realise that Spurs will NOT win the league but with their team (even without Bale) is strong. They have finished 1pt behind us the last two seasons and will challenge us again. Whether we like it or not, the gap is closer than most people would like to admit...}

15 Aug 2013 09:23:28
Tottenham are plotting moves for Roma's 21-year-old forward Erik Lamela, Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen, 21, and Anzhi Makhachkala's 25-year-old winger Willian. Looks like we are losing the race for Gustavo now as well. WTF is going on?

15 Aug 2013 09:04:31
Here is how my mood has progressed since window opened:

Excited -> Dejected ->Expectant -> Dejected ->Patient ->Dejected -> Worried -> Dejected -> Patient again -> Doubtful -> Dejected -> Hopeful -> Dejected -> Hopeless

With or without new signings, it's game time now. I am behind you 100% against Villa and throughout the season

COYG!

15 Aug 2013 09:01:39
So spurs have again strengthened their Squad and another player Arsenal have had many rumours attached too.

So we narrowly finished above them last year what will happen this year?

Even if they lose Bale they still have a stronger squad than before and at this point in time we are weaker in depth than last year and all of our targets seem to be ending up elsewhere or not available.

Very nervous Gooner, this really was our best chance to get in the mix of things again. With the new managers at the other big 3.

Not a Wenger hater, love what he has done over the years but think he is playing a very risky hand at the moment.

Fingers crossed.

With or without bale. we will be better than them. we are ARSENAL.

you may think its talk, but I honestly believe we can do better with consistency, while they have to integrate 4-5 players, while selling 4-5 players.

upper hand - US

{Ed022's Note - A note of caution: Never underestimate the enemy...}

15 Aug 2013 08:54:48
people need to chill out a little, it seems clear to me we will not sign anyone until champs leauge is sorted! if we spank fenerbache in the first game expect signings to follow in the following days if not, then we will have to wait until after the second game when we know we have qualified!

15 Aug 2013 08:39:47
really can't believe, the squad depth for the opening game. if jack or theo got injured last night.what on earth would we putting out against villa.
somebody must be RESPONSIBLE

15 Aug 2013 08:13:54
When we lost 8-2 to Utd it was obvious a change was needed. The final straw was being a club prepared to sell our captain and best player to another English team. He then won them the league.
No ambition now and look at spurs who are making a statement of content this year. What are we doing? Taking the Mick out of out fans.
Wenger out. Board out

15 Aug 2013 00:57:08
apparently gustazo has joined wolfsburg for just over £12m,,, jeez, we can't even compete with wolfsburg, yet wenger claims we are still one of the biggest clubs in the world?
will somebody also please tell wenger that if a very good player like gustavo confesses he would love to join arsenal than why not jump on a plane and go and speak to the club/player and maybe, and I know this is alien to wenger, but perhaps make a bid for the player?
no doubt wenger was still at the emirates with his feet up or perhaps he was testing out the new goal line technology again.
before all the wenger lovers throw their toys out of the pram I know we still have 3 weeks until window closes but this is a total joke.

With World Cup next year (In Brazil) aswell), perhaps Gustavo neeed gauranteed first team football, and maybe felt Arsenal could not gaurantee that, even though being a more proper DM he should be.

Like You said maybe Wenger just did not show enough commitement to buying the player in gaurantee that first team football as Wolfsburg did

What is confusing me is that Bayern are not budging on a £17m price tag for Gustavo to come to Arsenal, but are willing to let him go for £12m to Wolfsburg, another Bundesliga side. Surely, it should be the other way round.

Bayern know that wolfsburg are not even a threat to them hence the price.

14 Aug 2013 23:23:13
Apparently Gustavo has snubbed us for Wolfsburg - why Gustavo, why?

A double in his annual wage might have something to do with it.

14 Aug 2013 23:03:26
Where is Malaga at this critical juncture .

14 Aug 2013 23:00:15
Ed do you actually see us signing anybody and is anybody in pipeline, maybe Sakho, Martinez(Porto) {Ed027's Note - we have to sign somebody our squad is too thin