Arsenal Banter Archive August 17 2017

17 Aug 2017 18:40:34
We are now witnessing the shortfalls of the wage structure that Arsenal have had for the past number of years. Of course the club have been financially constrained by the move to the Emirates stadium, and not possessing a Roman Ibrhamovic type owner who invests in his club. But having a wage structure such as ours, where for a long while the club would not pay upwards of £100,000 a week, as our rivals were doing. Instead our fringe players were all earning around £60,000 a week.

17 Aug 2017 19:06:11
Seriously it's like there's a secret game of Tag Team going on here, to me, to you, let's see who can be the most negative about our club.

Now I'm sure I could have picked most teams but Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Fellaini all on £120,000 per week, Lingard and Shaw £100,000 a week, Wijnaldum £90,000, Matip £70,000, Milner £120,000 and so it goes on.

Would you want any of them at Arsenal on those wages, not in a million.

Debuchy on £70,000 is a French International and Gibbs £60,000 an England international, why is it we are over paying.

These players want to play, I'm certain they want to move and there is plenty of time to make these things happen.

If they except £40,000 a week over 3 or 4 years that's better than £60 or £70,000 for 12 months. It's World Cup year.

Why can't people simply wait and see what happens, there really is no need for this perpetual negativity about every bloody thing.

We're all grown up, we don't need telling the same negative thing every single morning, afternoon and evening.

Its like we need live chat direct to the furkin Samaritans!

17 Aug 2017 19:26:43
Post of the bloody year stoner.

17 Aug 2017 19:56:14
Stoner I wish all these pretend negative posters would do 1

I am the original negative poster. Been doing it on here for about 6 years now.

17 Aug 2017 20:32:13
Stoner.
I'm lost. What you getting at? 😁😁.

17 Aug 2017 20:52:45
About half of my original post didn't send for some reason. I went on to say that when the times comes (now) when we are financially ready to compete again and want to offload the squad players on high wages, clubs lower down the league cannot afford to pay for them. I think our fallure to get rid of the likes of debuchy, gibbs, Jenkinson etc. is because of a terrible wage policy in recent years.
And Stoner, I don't think anyone knows what you're getting at with that reply.

17 Aug 2017 21:57:12
Stoner mate your a man after my own heart! A true Arsenal boi in my opinion. You know the crack pal 👍👍.

17 Aug 2017 22:41:10
Sanogo trying a bit of Irish slang

It's CRAIC boi not crack.

18 Aug 2017 00:44:56
Very well said stoner.

18 Aug 2017 07:12:19
It's blughrrrrr actually Malaga.

18 Aug 2017 09:40:43
Stoner,
I don't get what your talking about at all. This kneejerk reaction from some of you self righteous types who claim to be better or real fans because you adopt some form of 'positivity' as opposed to the critical thinking backed up by historical facts and instances that have occurred in the clubs recent history made by people you want to label negative.
Reality check, the actions of the club and manager in selling our better players to rivals is negative.
Letting players contracts run down whereby we can then be held to ransom by the player, his agent and a buying club is negative for us.
Going a whole season not answering questions of whether your signing an extension on your contract when everyman and his dog know you will is negative and an unwanted distraction.
Overpaying players on a CONSISTANT basis such as Squillachi, Denilson, Walcott, Almunia, etc etc is negative because in paying the likes of these ten, twenty and thirty more than what they have merited on a weekly basis it now leaves your net wage bill at a level where you must now impose restrictions and caps on the players who have actually earned or who deserve contract renewals and a larger salary such as oxlaide chamberlain now for example just to balance things out.
Stan Kroenke and his attitude towards and he runs his franchises are negative in the extreme as it is not out of affinity or ambition it is motivated by capitalist greed and opportunism.
Allowing someone like david dein to leave was negative.
I can go on and on, but my question to you is how does it make me or anyone else likeminded negative for repeating these documented actions? Turn on your tv, you have people reporting about atrocities all over the world. Are they the negative ones?!? what's your rationale because all i'm doing is highlighting the negative actions made by my football club that are well known facts are there's more of it there, plenty, but you want to attach THEIR negative actions to others because they bring them up in open forum?
And your references are awful. Debouchey canno longer be considered an international, nor Gibbs, they have international caps and that's a HUGE difference.
James Milner was a free agent or bought cheap as a result of his contract being near its end and is a fine player who can play in a number of positions so that's a no brainer and we were actually interested along with liverpool.
Chris smalling was signed for 7m and we were out manouvred by Utd for him and he's gone on to be a fine player and his combined wages plus fee would reflect serious value aswel as a solid international career that far outshines that of the two Arsenal players you mentioned. And he's still a solid player.
Shaw has been doggedby injury. Fine player.
Wijnaldum is another fine player and there's absolutely no reason for his earnings to be question in comparison to his consistancy and form compared to that of someone like Theo whos been in and around this league bearly 8 years longer than him.
And the tag team can be more so attributed to your cronies who all jumped to row in in support of your comment which had to be reread to make any real sense of. Everyone so quick to defend Arsene Wengers honour yet the fight isn't with an individual its with clubs policies and lack of transparency when it comes to accountability and commitment to not making the same blunders over and over. Which we seem to do perpetually.
You can claim positivity and good faith but I call it passivism and youd be nowhere to be found when what I say actually comes to fruition which will be another season of finishing AT LEAST ten points of this seasons champions as th i ngs stamd right now.
Doesnt mean I won't pay what I can't afford to travel to england to watch the team or pay what i can't afford for a bt and sky package, it simply means that this time next year when were both here youll be dismissing what I say again and labelling me once again all in the name of blind unfounded hope, which I can respect as were supposed to be sports fans and only one team can win a league and we have no divine right to do it but come on stoner, we havnt contested one in years and based on where we finished three months ago behind 4 teams who have strengthened every but or more than us and the two teams behind us really having a go there's just no reason to assume things will be any different and if your not willing to identify and retrospectively identify this continued failings on our part to bridge this gap then you must ne happy with just taking part and becoming a top 6 side, which is what we are now.
And a top 6 side shouldn't be expected to pay what we pay on a matchday if you want to go down that route. Respect cuts both ways and us fans having got a whole lot in the last few years.

18 Aug 2017 10:50:28
Stoner your a top boy, but Shambo is 100% spot on.

18 Aug 2017 11:12:18
Shambo,

I actually had the initial impression you were a fairly intelligent bloke, easy mistake to make over the internet.

HgF decided to whine about players on big contracts, fairly simple point, I on the other hand pointed out every club has players on contracts that don't reflect their perceived ability. I gave Smalling as one example and whether Wenger bid for him or not he is shocking and the reason why Mourinho played so many DM's in front of him. As soon as their new signing is up and running he won't be in the 1st team.

As for Debuchy and Gibbs, I hope you understand they didn't get those contracts last week but when regular internationals. What's the going rate for an international, £20,000 a week, no its not is it.

Finally mate you need to give your head a massive shake because I don't know how many times I've said this, I see the mistakes, I see failed transfer windows, I see how useless Kroenke is, I see defensively we are making the same mistakes, I think it's bloody fab that Sanchez, Ozil and the Ox have been allowed to get to the last year of their contracts. I'm disgusted that we allowed Leicester City to finish 10 points in front of us, how as I only said the other day Wenger never makes the killer transfers.

What I don't see is the constant need to whine about this same bow locks morning noon and night, but if it floats your boat to regurgitate it daily then fill your boots.

So I'm not some blinded baffoon I'd just rather have some light hearted banter mate but hey one game in the world is about to end. Yippee. 🙄

Malaga we've had the discussion before and now like you I believe Wenger should have gone but it is what it is and whilst he's here I'm just running with it. 😁.

18 Aug 2017 11:26:21
Shambo mate, i think you may have missed the point in some of what stoner was saying. All the points you make are absolutely right but, any gooner who pays attention already knows those points. What exactly does it do, coming on here and repeatedly whinging about the same things, over and over again? I'm all for sharing opinion but, do we really need the read the same opinion 10 times a day?

18 Aug 2017 11:44:34
Thanks Outback pretty much exactly that. 😁.

18 Aug 2017 11:58:07
Stoner mate, I'm just very annoyed still

I'm just fed up with the constant promised being broken

ive been a gooner for 50 years now and no matter how much slagging I do, it's never going to change.

18 Aug 2017 12:02:54
Shambo are you lanesra 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻.

18 Aug 2017 12:25:52
And your right outback it is a waste of time rehashing it mate.
Points taken.

18 Aug 2017 12:36:26
Malaga I'm the same mate almost 50 years with good bad and fabulous times, I really wanted Wenger to go out with a title but only buying Cech and losing the title to Leicester was when I decided he should go.

Even now I hope he proves me wrong but in my heart of hearts I know it's not happening.

18 Aug 2017 13:57:21
All good Shambo mate. I just reckon it's bloody hard enough dealing with the money hoarding and incompetence. The last thing we need is to be constantly rubbing our own noses in it.

18 Aug 2017 14:48:45
Stoner,
I posted a grovelling apology for jumping the gun and hypocritically taking your post out of context, it didn't get put up so I hope you'll take my word for it and i'm not above admitting when i'm wrong.
But I can't shake the feeling we are being duped and I detest the lack of transparency and accountability within the club as the hierarchy have the gaul to expect blind faith and support year after year.
But more than one of you are correct there's no point arguing it out among eachother and i'm actually on hols in mallorca so this shouldn't bother me as much as it does 😂.
Lets move on.

18 Aug 2017 14:50:49
No sanogo I've no idea who lanesra is Iv been reading this site for years and only recently started posting. ill conform now and keep the peace. 😂😂😂.

18 Aug 2017 15:29:26
Shambo, . You speak your mind mate. There's too many AKB's on here.

18 Aug 2017 17:29:40
No probs Shambo and thanks for that, as Malaga says though stick to what you believe, I'm on the same page as most but really would rather just have great banter.

So all good mate and always good to see new posters what ever their opinion. 👍🏼😁.

18 Aug 2017 17:35:03
Stoner, there's nothing personal, were debating a shared interest and iv not read your posts from last season or before that so I can apologise without hesitation if its actually I who has had the knee jerk reaction or in fact misrepresented what youv actually said.

I get what your saying about Gibbs contract being signed while he may have been in and around the english squad and also I was very happy when we signed Debuchy and was at the stoke game where he got that awful injury under right in front of us under the advertising boards and I was a big fan of his, but neither of those players are ones iv referenced as being overpaid or unworthy of this club, in fact they have both been nothing but professional and done little wrong but be unlucky.

I will disagree with you on Smalling though as when he first signed for Utd I thought he had terrible balance and movement for a pro footballer but I feel he's grown into a solid PL player but has had some troubling injuries also the last two years.
My frustration comes from the lack of accountability and that this club is split now into three different fan groups.

Wenger ins who at all costs will fight to protect his character and integrity (things that are not and should not be called into question) , Wenger Outs, who exist by default out of frustrations directly caused by blind followers within the Wenger in brigade who would have us stagnate, and then the newest group of which you are affiliated who have reconciled things can't change and are ready to look forward with an open mind in the hope things may improve and just get behind the team in the mean time, which I admire.

But im nowhere near that yet and cannot allow myself to conform to that mindset because that's what Kroenke, Gazidis and the board want and ultimately Arsene Wenger who represents their interests. They would rather us all subservient shoppers and subscribers than people who question the decision making processes and motovations when everything you do now in an ever changing footballing landscape will impact us in the future and if they don't know this well they bloody should.

This safety net of needing to constantly be frugal is the biggest pile iv ever heard. Man utd are 500M in debt, years now, you think an instition like Man Utd would be allowed go under? Do they look like their compromising or slowing down their attempts to get back to the top of the table? Do you really trust what Arsene Wenger is saying in this regard?

Its the managers and owners job to protect and safeguard the interests and integrity of this football club and its our job as a collective united fanbase to demand a standard and the fact that its been done to death and your bored hearing it and would rather focus on something else only makes it easier for them to undermine us while they continue to take what they really want from the club.
Yes its depressing but id rather call them put on every dodgy or stupid decision or lack of genuine attempts to sign someone as a PR stunt if it creates awareness to the fact it is a monopoly of power at this football club and that it is killing us and what we stand for.

Surely we can agree the negative steps being taken have been by Wenger and the board and not actually the fans who debate or question it?

18 Aug 2017 19:01:12
Great post Shambo and I fully agree, especially the last paragraph. I'd love to think they'd read this page and understand the depth of feeling into how unbelievable it is that they appear to have no stomach to make us the best we can be.

Putting United's debt aside surely that is a winning, money making model we should be trying to emulate.

Speculate to accumulate but Kroenke seems to have zero interest and for me getting rid of him would be a bonus.

For all the slagging Abramovich gets he above all else wants to win. We just seem happy to take part.

17 Aug 2017 14:12:33
Anyone know the unnamed club from England who are after Howedes?

17 Aug 2017 14:20:40
We have been linked with him in the past and with strong rumours that Gabriel is being sold, perhaps its us.

17 Aug 2017 14:32:17
Gabriel will be finalised today.

17 Aug 2017 14:50:22
Unexpected sale of Gabriel. Does it mean that we are signing a CB or can the ones we have suffice? Mertesacker, Mustafi, Koscielny, Holding and Chambers, with Monreal and Kolasinac able to fill in,

17 Aug 2017 15:48:13
I always thought Gabriel did ok for us, a bit like Perez I'm not sure why we bought him at all if we weren't prepared to give him a real chance. To me only Kos of those CBs we have are better than Gabriel at this moment in time and Holding and may or may not one day be better.
Another strange signing.

17 Aug 2017 16:48:40
I can't see how you think currently Gabriel is better than mustafi.

17 Aug 2017 20:51:22
As good as 16 mate, only Kos in my view has out performed Gab in an Arsenal shirt of all the CBs we currently have.
It's my veiw mate but I'm happy for you to have a different one :-)

17 Aug 2017 21:25:35
Gunner are you allowed a different view though, that's the thing. I think different views are interesting, some just object all the time. Lol.

17 Aug 2017 22:28:28
For me Steve it's all about respecting each others rights to see things how they see them even if we don't agree with them and be able to swap opinions without falling out about it, when all said and done we are all Arsenal fans but all individuals too which is handy because if we all see things exactly the same there would be hundreds of posts each day but all totally 100% the same as each other with 100s of thumbs ups and even you would have thumbs just like all the other Steve's :-)

18 Aug 2017 17:31:16
Oh of course 62 that's your view I'm not knocking that. I just feel mustafi adds a lot more to our defence and will improve even more Gabriel never feels me with confidence but yet I wouldn't say he was A bad player. What does worry me is I thought he was a good back up. Now I'm not too convinced by our back ups.

17 Aug 2017 13:13:31
If Real Madrid do turn their attentions to Sanchez after missing out on mbappe. might arsenal look to take bale the other way? Just want to know whether I should order my Bale shirt now or .
Thanks.

17 Aug 2017 13:49:00
Id be very excited if we even seriously tried to sign Bale but in reality jack Straw is the more likely Arsenal signing.
If Liverpool or Everton signed Bale if elevate them into premier league likely contenders and it would do the same for us, if united City Chelsea get him it's game over for the rest in my opinion and if Spurs sign him we are in for some very serious stick this season and all next summer long.
The good news is spurs are joint least likely to sign him.

17 Aug 2017 18:11:12
Odds moved to 10/ 1 today . would be a great way to stop silence the haters at the stadium. and imagine the short sales they would make lol.

17 Aug 2017 21:27:25
10/ 1 eh, when it's 1/ 10 I might just start wetting myself.

17 Aug 2017 08:19:39
I find it laughable reading media statements and some things on here regarding Wenger and his stance on Sanchez, Ozil and Ox. For as long as I can remember, fan and media outcry has been for Wenger to "Spend some money". His reluctance to do so was perceived as a lack of ambition, or a desire to run the club as a business as opposed to a sporting team eligible of competing at the very top.

Fast forward to today, he is making statements to suggest he would rather keep all 3 and risk them leaving on a free in 12 months, valuing their contribution on the pitch over potential financial gains. In my mind, he is basically spending (or losing) 100 million with this tactic, and all I want to do is applaud my manager. As a fan, money does not interest me, I would not be applauding him for earning 50mil for Sanchez. He is finally doing what all fans have wanted him to do for years, focus on the football as opposed to the bottom line. And he is basically ridiculed for this, being highlighted as a fool for losing such money. More so by the media obviously, but I find it ridiculous.

I am very excited for the season ahead, and will not hold an ounce of fear in my mind about losing money at the end of the season. Instead, I will enjoy watching my team, inclusive of the aforementioned trio, and hopefully have some memories to last forever.

Peace Out handsome Goons.

17 Aug 2017 09:09:19
Is this what you truely believe Lefty?
I say good on you if so.
But I for one won't be subscribing and writing Arsene Wenger any love letters based on what I've observed going as far back as the Ashley Cole departure and right up to the present day failings to convince a top player like Alexis Sanchez that we are a club who can match his determination to acheive without having to point out a signature on a contract that reminds him he legally is still ours for another 11 months.
I respectively doubt you were against him selling Van Persie for 24m in similar circumstances when he left. You probably thought it was shrewd under selling our best player in his prime to a rival we were already lagging behind whilst we actually had a weaker squad then than the one we will inevitably have in a few days when one of, if not ALL THREE of Sanchez, Ozil and Ox depart leaving you with the likes of Walcott and the unsellables on astronomical obscene wages for what they contribute.
Oh and if we do keep them do you expect to see lung busting displays towards the seasons run-in whereby their agent will be telling them to not risk potential injury that could scupper and big move and pay day. and this is assuming they have the integrity not to sulk as soon as september.
Expect a transfer request from Sanchez next week.

17 Aug 2017 09:21:22
Lefty - I fear that it's a negotiating tactic of Wenger's, as I can't believe he will let all three players walk for nothing next season. My gut feeling is that Ozil will sign a short extension of a couple of seasons or so on huge wages. Whilst Ox and Sanchez could be sold. I pray I'm wrong.

17 Aug 2017 09:37:15
I see your point and I'm absolutely sure you wouldn't mind if Jose allowed Pogba De Gea and Matta to all have 1 more reluctant season at Utd then leave with for free simply because utd would come up with the cash for equal or better replacements regardless of the cost and Jose wouldn't hesitate to spend Uniteds money on bringing in those equal or better replacements.
Unfortunately it's impossible to compare United and Arsenal or Jose and Arsene.

17 Aug 2017 09:53:29
Here we go start of the season 1 game 1 win and the mental rot has set in amongst the fair weather gooners I see. Can't wait for all the mongos to start flying banners again or moan when we let a goal in a 3-1 win or call Wenger stupid for making his sub in 71st min instead of the 53rd min as the arm chair managers were screaming for. I can cope with the moaning after it goes wrong but all this is frankly laughable. Il reserve judgement on Wengers behaviour over the contract 'rebels' until the window has shut and we see where they end up. I for one agree that they should stay and work their contracts.

17 Aug 2017 10:40:23
Mental rot?
I don't see any denigrating personal references, any unfounded negativity or otherwise counter productive content in anything that's been said here. If you want to ignore a recent history based on a board and managers pre ordained idealism then by all means, continue down your road.
If you are uninterested in critical, objective thinking based on a retrospective analysis of the recent history, say last ten years, of how this club and Arsene Wenger has conducted itself both on and off the field but would rather look ahead blindly to 'the next game' or 'the coming season'in a manner befitting that of an ostrich sticking his head in the sand while his environment around him is evolving, then it is basically redundant debating the point with or expecting any less fron you.
There are two people we are told to unequivocally not question. When they rear us we are then free to question everything once its done with reference and respect. Even the most bullish of employers is not closed off to this aspect of life as it us xounter productive and kills initiative to be otherwise inclined. You won't be surprised to hear Arsene Wenger ain't my daddy and I pay good money to travel to watch my team and intend to do it after this good man has moved on in his life, and ill have my say and if you want to debate it properly we can go back through any amount of the many questionable decisions this club has undertaken on many occasions.
I say club because we never know whether its wenger or the board who make these calls and that's aswel how they want it, no one party to be held accountable.
This is why fans go mad at blind short term thinking because it stunts us long term. Can you understand this?

17 Aug 2017 10:44:09
Hahahhah. and work for their contracts? Do you mean like Theo and co who we can't give away now because of their salaries?
I could refer you back to anything youd like.

17 Aug 2017 11:07:10
The thing is untied have addressed many of thier weaknesses and are looking to add Gareth Bale while we haven't and are looking to add?
Who can question uniteds and Jose desire to be all they can be while most Arsenal fans are pinning all thier hopes on Xhaka coming good.
Some Arsenal fans are desperate to see our club and manager be as desperate as us to be all we could be again but I do admit most are happy to continue as we are.
I want an ambitious Arsenal with an ambitious manager and I want those ambitions to have premier challenging at the very heart of them but I accept that isn't the case simply because there isn't the strength of feeling from club manager or even the majority of the fans to make it happen.
Things are what they are and I accept that but I don't agree with it.

17 Aug 2017 11:31:49
I'd prefer to look to the future and except that Wenger is here for two more years instead of moaning about things that have been moaned about time and time again. Read your post and look back over the past two years and the exact same posts has been done. It's been done to death your not adding a new topic or a different angle just mulling over same thing . It's called ruminating and it's not productive.

17 Aug 2017 11:52:04
Manchester Utd are a serious threat this year gunner. Mourinho is hungry.
City are an obvious threat and Guirdiola will be also determined to prove himself.
Conte is losing his mind after one defeat already and will look to reinforce and defend their title with what is a serious defense.
Klopp has Liverpool pressing well and looking like theyl score bundles but they are as error prone and as naive as us defensively for its a shoot out between us and them for 4th along with a spurs team that if it were to lose Dembele, Kane or Alli would be in serious bother and there's a reason why Walker left and Rose wants a move. They peaked last year.
Lacazette will bang them in for us but we don't have the resolve to go 38 games and come out on top. Measure the hunger and desire, the energy and enthusiasm of our rival managers against our own and don't try tell me its not important and doesn't translate onto the pitch.

17 Aug 2017 12:08:48
Sanogo,
Of course you have a very good point and if that was purely my line of thinking I would be embittered to the point of wanting to be proven right at the expense of the manager and my team.
However its not the case here. I am looking to the future. But I have to evaluate logically all the components that are dependant on certain realities coming to fruition. All the same mechanisms and key personnel that have conducted the clubs affairs in the recent past are still in place and have been in place long enough now to be judged based on what their goals and ideals are, so how do you expect anything different at this point? Especially from a man who evades responsibility and the tough questions that must be answered in his role, a rile he himself is paid very handsomely for don't forget.
Im all for optimism but surely it needs a basis or rationale behind it and in our case at this time of the season we are all asked for blind faith based on the premise that our players will have evolved over the summer and that circumstances relative to injuries, refs decisions and unfortunate cup draws won't conspire against us while the 5 teams that finish ahead of us with hungrier, fresh innovative thinking managers are strenghtening even still. How do you reconcile this?
As I've said you are correct and some ways of thinking and agendas have been done to death, not least Arsene Wengers methods and they should bear up to this same scrutiny youv pointed out, if you really want to talk about ruminating and a lack of productivity.

17 Aug 2017 12:54:53
I don't think there should be any planes or demonstrations this coming season no matter what, change was in very much on the agenda last and the majority of Arsenal fans decided they were happy to continue as we are, I wasn't one of them but I do accept the will of the majority so for the next two seasons I accept Arsene is our manager and we will likely carry on as a club as always under his leadership.
I hoped and still hope he would come good but there is very little sign of that happening as yet, am I suprised? Not at all it's exactly what I expected and why I wanted change in the first place but I am disappointed because I like Arsene Wenger the man very much and would really like to see him come out on top but I would also like to see England win a world cup and a team from the 9th tier of the football pyramid win the FA cup but as much as i'd like to see Arsenal win the premier league (or even get within 5pts of doing so would be nice) England win the 2018 world cup and Wisbech town FC lift the 2018 FA cup after beating Manchester united 8 0 at Wembley none of them are really going to happen.
I rate England and Arsenals chances top place glory in 2018 as pretty well matched the Wisbech ting? Now that could actually happen :-)

17 Aug 2017 15:08:42
Is there a yawn emoji I can't seem to find it?

17 Aug 2017 15:50:18
After you by all means Sanogo.

17 Aug 2017 15:53:11
Along with a decent intelligent reply.

17 Aug 2017 16:04:09
My pleasure 62 😘.

17 Aug 2017 06:46:07
Odd rumour that we may sell Gabriel for £10m, which makes little sense as it will leave us short of CB's, unless we intend keeping Chambers.
2 weeks to go until the window closes and so much to do. We still need to sell/ loan or release; Gibbs, Debuchy, Jenkinson, Perez, Akpom, Reine-Adelaide, Chambers? and Campbell.
Despite a positive start to the window we have only signed 2 players and have not managed to extend any of the deals of players with a year to go on their deals.
If we keep the short term contract players and only dispose of the players mentioned above, then we have a strong squad, but the uncertainty in respect of the short-term players may cast a cloud over the club, similar to the situation with Wemger himself last season. I do find it interesting that Wenger has stated his desire to keep Ox, Sanchez and Wilshere, but has been quiet in respect of Ozil. My feelings and I hope I'm wrong are still that Sanchez and Ox will be sold. Imagine if City make a late bid of £80m and Chelsea £50m for Ox, are we really going to refuse such high bids? Ignoring the short term deals these two players are on, they would be decent value in today's crazy market at the figures mentioned.