Arsenal Banter Archive August 19 2013

19 Aug 2013 23:17:32
Cabaye's head has been turned according to pardew. I think he's on his way. Not sure he's what we need but is a class player IMO. If thie bid for pogba is true we must go all out to get him! Exactly what we need in front of the back 4. Williams for 10m is a must. And I believe we will put in an offer for rooney. United won't sell to Chelsea thererivals for the title, We're not seen as a threat so if he still wants to leave it will be to us.

19 Aug 2013 22:51:20
Right i've been on the site the last four years don't post:
I've now had enough like every gunner, now I don't think Arsene is totally to blame but I do feel he could be doing more to get the signings he wants.
I think instead of booing the team let's get behind them on wednesday night and wait til after the game and start singing get the board out as I think with the right board and get david dein back we would be ok with Wenger not backing him but giving the gems him and dein signed makes me think we have a d######d in charge of the club who's only happy at making money not spending plus couldn't agree personal terms with players because it's his terms or piss off.
If we show the players like Jack and ox that we're not booing them and save the booing and chatting towards thevboard before the game with banners get board out and stay ten minutes after singing get dein back and board out.
I really hope we can make champions league as I don't think team is good enough with all the injurys but hopefully they can do it.
Remember we all love the club and we all need to support the team yes things aren't good but we still have to make a good vibe for the players and get behind them no matter wot yes some players might not be good enough but there in the shirt and they need r support so let's get behind the team and change the board gunners forever

19 Aug 2013 22:29:37
ed please reply do you think we will make a 3ed bid for suarez or is the deal completely off?

19 Aug 2013 20:22:57
Hi Eds, Cabaye is not in the Newcastle line up against ManCity. Do u think it could be related to a transfer to Arsenal?

19 Aug 2013 22:32:14
I work in sales. When you get in a funk it affects your performance so you have to "Choose Your Attitude".

Thing is I've been doing that for years now and I'm running close to empty.

When are things ever going to get better. We have become a complete laughing stock.

We will probably get Cabaye, and he's decent, but he's nowhere near the level we were promised at the beginning of summer.

Incompetence bordering on the insane!

19 Aug 2013 22:23:59
If I were Newcastle I would tell Arsenal where to go even if they upped there offer for cabaye. How poor and unprofessional is that bidding a few hours before there first league game.
What the hell are they smoking at the emirates John Henry was right they are all on the wacky baccy, what a show up for our club or is this right to behave like this?
Anyway I think its wrong and should have been after the game or in the morning.

19 Aug 2013 22:14:04
It hurts to say this but Jamie Carragher spoke more sense tonight about Arsenal than Wenger has recently. How is it 2 ex players for our rivals can see what we needed but the club refuses to give us it. Well I will support Arsenal forever but this current regime is killing the club. Wenger needs a kick up his as#, the board needs sacking we need new leadership all the way through the club. Bidding 10M for Cabaye is a joke, would we accept 10M for Wilshere? Absolutely not! It's just so the club can say we made bids, I have said all summer to wait till the end of the window to make judgements but I now fear the worse. We won't sign anyone of true world class. Still means I'll save money next year won't have European matches to go to. We will be lucky to make mid table, the squad is wafer thin, the atmosphere in the ground will be horrific for the players and manager they won't perform due it. We will be bullied as visiting teams will know they can push us around. GOD HELP OUR SEASON

100% agree

19 Aug 2013 20:14:50
Cabaye left out of the squad for tonight s game. read anything in to that?

Must be as Pardew said he'd been preparing for the game with Cabaye all week and now he'd had his head turned. Question is whether it's us or United. reading all sorts of nonsense at the moment.

19 Aug 2013 20:08:05
Is Cabaye injured as he is not even on the bench tonight for Newcastle hope this does not mean we are going to sign him.

He 'wasn't in the correct frame of the mind' apparently.

19 Aug 2013 19:55:28
Is it me or is anyone else completely under whelmed with us going for Cabaye and Michu? Is that the best we can do? Thought's Gooners.

Couldn't agree more mate we are getting the piss taken out of us.

Both underrated would be happy with both of them as they are very good players used to the prem, I think add Williams and bergvic and we are almost there,

Di Maria as the marquee and we would of turned the corner

I feel kind of the same although I feel cabaye is more suited to us and I really don't rate michu as highly as everyone else I just don't see what's so special about him and before everyone starts saying he had a great season last year that don't mean he's anything special to me as I have seen it time and time again before with other strikers

19 Aug 2013 19:48:56
Liverpool fan here in peace, but was curious so thought I'd ask. Personal opinion is that Saurez stays but who knows, however, I personally don't think he is what arsenal needed this summer (I think in order of priority; DM, GK, CB, CF). If you assume the rumour that AW has £70m to spend would you rather he spent 50-60 of that on Saurez or buy a proven dominant CB for up to £20m (pogba idly), a £20m proven CB (not sure who, maybe papadopolus), up to £15 on GK (begovic was amazing Saturday) and than use left over and money from sales on a £15-20m striker (Yilmaz would be great). Obviously don't watch every arsenal game but think DM, CB & GK have been your week points for a while and never seemed to have a problem scoring goals. Your views?

Literally said this in a post just then, started word for word but never read this haha

CDM definitely first position I would strengthen. Bender would be my first choice, Pogba second, Bender is currently better at that role, more disciplined and more experienced, but wow, Pogba has serious potential and is already great. Roughly £20M-£25M.
Then I want a CB, someone to partner Koscielny, Sakho would be my first choice, left footed, tall, quick, and FRENCH! Second choice, Williams, would play left sided, strong and adapted to Prem. Roughly £10M-£15M.
Then a keeper, Begovic would be good, as would Adler, Cesar, and I personally think we missed out on Reina, think he needed a new challenge, maybe Liverpool would have rejected Arsenal this time? Adler and Begovic could be £10M-£15M while Cesar would be about £2M.
Max payout from those acquisitions is £50M, Personally think it would be closer to £40M as I think Cesar would be GK choice.
That leaves £40M to play with. You say a ST is needed, you're right, but personally, I would prefer a LW first. Willian would be fantastic, we need players that can beat a man, and he fits the bill. If not, I would like Turan. Both are available, Roughly £15M-£30M depending on the player.
Maximum payout from these 4 positions is £80M. Our current budget (£70M plus £10M from Gerv, Mannone)
However, I think it would be closer to £65M, even if it was £80M, sometimes you need to spend over the odds. But that leaves around £15M-£20M for a striker.
Yilmaz has a great record, Muriel and Damiao are still available. Luuk De Jong could also be a good signing, may grow in to the position.
Alternatively, ditch the LW and go all out for Lewandowski, Ibra or Rooney, Suarez deal is dead in the water. Unless Lewandowski could be signed how (Incredibly unlikely, heart set on Dortmund) I would go all out on Willian and take Yilmaz.
Around £80M, well spent.

19 Aug 2013 21:11:56
We are obviously in a predicament with transfers but do you think is was right for Arsenal to make a bid on the eve of a Newcastle match. What would we say if the same thing happened to us. I think its definitely from the dirty tricks department.
What are your thoughts.

Maybe we need a few 'dirty tricks' now and again. City, Madrid, United and Barca do it, so why can't we?

Not really, as the bid was rejected then why would Newcastle let him know a bid had come in? If they were considering the bid then perhaps as it may have been discussed with the player. We know that Arsenal don't do business in the open, we might say we don't do business at all!

I can't disagree.
I don't think there is ever a "right time" to receive a bid for a player.
In today's events you can be pretty certain that if we hadn't made the bid Cabaye would probably been involved. We have been tagged with a lack of class from Liverpool with the whole Saurez bid (40m + £1) and no doubt Newcastle will claim similar feelings to us.
It's painful to watch as our traditions and values seem to be ebbing away.

Gooner62,

That is typical of our club at the moment mate a total shambles, should have been made after there game tonight.
Desperation and panic has set in once again and the board are not intelligent enough to learn from this transfer window mess up and we will all be going through it again in the next transfer window.
Still I will always be arsenal no matter what.

Was thinking exactly the same. And a pi$$ poor offer at that!

Well arsene says we do things the right way. So he obviously thinks there's nothing wrong with it. Like offering £40,000, 001
Total hypocrite. Sure he'd be happy with someone bidding for cazorla an hour before kick off on Wednesday

Agree fully. I don't quite understand the logic. It was always going to piss off NCL and Pardew is a man who you don't want to get angry. Might cost us another target.

I don't think its that underhand tbh, its just the way the fixtures and our sh1t timing have gone.

Its interesting though that Cabaye didn't play, no talk of an injury just that he wasnt selected. Wonder if he wanted to come but Newcastle have rejected the bid. I reckon if we up it he`ll come for sure. Do we really need him? I don't think so :d

Yeah I agree- they could've waited until tomorrow or something.

19 Aug 2013 21:01:19
Just in from work, expected a signing but another midfielder?we need gk, defenders, dmf strikers, what are they thinking?? If I and thousands of other arsenal fans can see this, why can't the powers at the club. or is it negligence. think it's going to be very long season

Negligence. Incompetence. Impotence. Insanity.

What's the opposite of a superlative?

19 Aug 2013 20:51:54
hey guys its how long do you think before Wilshere leaves arsenal because the way I look at it is that if he had not been injured in the last 2 season he would have been gone this season, because the way our club is being run now is like a headless chicken with no direction nothing and with a hapless manager, which top player would like to play for us if it continues like this.

I think you are perfectly right. He may be an Arsenal fan but he might very well leave if this continues. In retrospect, is it really that strange that RVP left? If I would have been in the same shoes, and having the inside position that he had, I would have probably left myself. I have seen the Chelsea game and the man city game and sure, they do have sugar daddys, but in terms of squad, they are amazing, and ours is rubbish. That is how easy it is to see how far behind we really are. It wouldn't be a suprise if Wilshere leaves eventually, not at all.

19 Aug 2013 20:26:27
hi guys,
Not a great Monday at work, the morning spent in the company of a Spurs fan, heck of a long morning I can tell ya.
returning home I hear of a bid for Cabaye (sorry not convinced it what we need) CB has to be priority right now.
I also hear these rumours gathering pace that there's a problem with Falcao at Monaco?, have the Ed's anything on this being true? (what I would give for us to sneak that through under the radar).
So I get home to trawl the rumour/transfer sights for some info and positive news and I find an ITV rumour sight quoting Spurs are thinking of rescuing Falcao from ''i quote'' his Monaco nightmare?, within the same story it quotes us being after a 17yr old PSV winger (Bakkali?)
Am I dreaming all this, I guess and hope its BS but you can't make this stuff up, where are we with our transfers, honestly I despair, but ultimately love the Gunners

19 Aug 2013 21:29:51
We are gong to sign Cabaye

19 Aug 2013 20:34:10
Williams £10m/ pogba £20m/ cabaye £15-£20m/ michu £25m /total £70-£75m/ IMO If this is what wenger is pushing for, it would be a great bit of buisness, remember, because you all saying cabaye is not what we need, the ox out injured for 6 weeks plus carzola and Rambo with knocks we could def do with another cm-cam

Michu is not worth 25 million and Swansea wouldn't sell as they wouldn't be able to find a replacement.

Pogba isn't going anywhere, but I would be pleased if he did come.

It's limited damage control at best. We should already have some new worldies in the shirt!

19 Aug 2013 19:37:00
Uh oh no cabaye for Newcastle tonight gulp are we raising the bid I'm not sure I want him no I think I'd have him my problem is he's not a priority for me

That clown of a keeper has to be a priority replacement

I'm lost for words on the bid for Cabaye, Is this where we are lacking?? wtf is going on, I wouldn't mind if he was good.

Still saying no to Suarez

I was shouted down some time ago for being very pessimistic about AW's claims to be after players and stated we would all be disappointed yet again. How strange, my rant has proved to be correct and we are now in a panic fire-sale to bring in players. He has NOT changed his spots and won't do, making money for the likes of Kroenke etc is the be all and end all for this board. If he was serious, we could have had several in by now, other teams can do it so does this not suggest my suspicions are correct? Even Southampton (no disrespects intended) are buying, why aren't we? I am now firmly in the 'let's have a change' camp and Saturday's pathetic display surely shows this.

19 Aug 2013 18:35:33
If wenger does not make any signings this week before the Fulham game. and the result goes against us. I think he should go or be pushed by the board.
It may even happen if all goes badly in europe midweek.

I think we should go for Frank Rijkaard. i'm not sure but I think he left his job in Saudi, and i'm sure he would jump at the chance to manage us.

Because after this weekend we could be almost 9 points behind Chelski.

Im very worried for my team

I think if wenger goes dragan stojkovic will be the next manager.

Hoping for either Klopp or laudrup.

I fully agree, AW has been brilliant IN THE PAST, but he is past his sell-by date. We can only play one way and if things do not work out we have no idea how to change and adapt.

Board sack the yes man who refuses to spend their money.

Can't see it.

19 Aug 2013 10:39:41
Ed001 you mentioned on a previous post that negotiations for players is done by Gazidis & solicitor. Who decides on how much we are willing to spend on the player? If that is Gazidis then surely all of our anger and frustration is incorrectly placed at Wengers feet everything should be directed at Gazidis and the board. I am as cheesed off as everyone but if we are placing the blame as Wengers then this will not help the team in the slightest. Also could the lack of spending have anything to do with the internal board room struggle? {Ed001's Note - it is usually a joint decision.}

19 Aug 2013 17:44:13
Mr Wenger,

Whilst I acknowledge I was born at night, I can assure you it wasn't last night and again whilst I further accept you were born at an early age and walk with your feet close to the ground; this does not make you a god as it applies to us all.

So get off your ar5e and sort out what has become a debacle of a transfer window and I might add, all of your own making. There can be no one else to blame and as much as I support you and what you have given to us all, I feel the blame must lie at your feet, if you haven't made it clear to Gazidis in all these weeks, who exactly it is you want to take this team forward, then tell me whose it is.

I don't like some, believe you have lost the ability to coach a team properly, just that you now have Szczesny who is no Seaman, Mertesacker who is no Campbell, Ramsey who is no Petit, Walcott who is no Overmars, Chamberlain who is no Pires, Giroud who is no Henry and Arteta who is no Viera.

This is what this Arsenal lacks as a result of a stadium the envy of most, WORLD CLASS players and if Wenger isn't going to start delivering on what this club told us these last 8 years were the payment for then why not just pull up sticks and move on.

He has the opportunity in the 14 days that he has left himself to buy at least 4 of them, I have more chance of winning Miss World and I'm a 53yr old bloke with a shaved head!

I might add that Cabaye is not one of them, if this is now part of a supermarket sweep of players because he has right royally phucked up since the window opened then I am going to be even more hacked off than I am now.

I believe it was Will who gave 4 or 5 great examples of players we could or should get Lars Bender and Sakho two of them. I personally am not feeling Cesar, Williams, Cabaye and Mitchu. Yes if we want to remain playing for the fourth place cup or your talking additional squad players but if we want to challenge then it's the likes of Bender, Suarez, Sakho, Adler, Gonalons, Pogba, Rooney, Martinez, Ruffier and more that will get us moving.

Everything was in place for a flying start to the window but someone stalled the car.

Didn't some guy called Nero fiddle whilst Rome was burning all around him.

I hate to say it Crazy but if I have to bet between you winning Miss World and Arsenal signing Suarez, Bender, Martinez etc I know where my £10 is going - it's only a bald head for god sake.

If we were going to sign a game changer it would have been done by now. Your thoughts on the others, all commendable pros, are entirely right. They will allow a fight for 4th place no more, and if spurs keep Bale I suspect that's optimistic.

A pretty spot on and rationale pst other than ruling out your own chances so easily.

Pretty sure there was talk of Cabaye in January and people on here seemed pleased.

19 Aug 2013 20:46:32
Ghost,

People are making a lot of the fact Cabaye was left out of the Newcastle squad tonight.

For me the fact that one of what seemed to be our most hailed target at one time, did not even make the City match day squad. Mr Jovetic. Says way more.

The realisation of how far behind City, Chelsea and even United we are actually pains me.

19 Aug 2013 21:07:35
Oh Ghost,

Re the Miss World, I forgot to mention I hate Charity work and not that struck on other peoples kids so pretty sure those would have gone against me too.

19 Aug 2013 17:24:34
From the Arsenal rumours letter sent out today, for those who didn't get it.

Wenger: 'We feel sorry and disappointed'

Dear Arsenal supporter,

It was a big disappointment to lose the game on Saturday. We started the game well and then suddenly everything went against us so it is a big blow. Not only did we lose the game but we have a few injuries and many kicks. However, we had some lively moments and kept going until the end and that's what we have to focus on and forget the referee. Even when we had 10 men we had chances to come back to 2-2.
We were all very disappointed. We want our fans to be happy. When you don't achieve that, you feel absolutely sorry and really disappointed.
In terms of transfers, we were on the market before the game and we are on the market after the game. But I have to look at the solution at the start of the game. Could we have won the game with the players we have? I say yes.
We take our work seriously and believe me, we analyse every single player in the world. We work 24 hours a day for that. When we make decisions, we take it seriously. People try to think we do not want to spend. We want to. We are ready to buy players.
The team are now focused on Wednesday night and getting a positive result against Fenerbahce in Istanbul. It is a crucial match of course, and we will give everything we can to succeed there.
Thanks for your support,

It is basically what he said in his post match press conference.

I currently just have no faith in the club.
I back the players 100%, especially ones who give their all, Giroud and Wilshere were trying to drag us through that game at one point.
Some fans booed Santi for some poor play!
He's just got off of a plane from Ecuador for Christs sake, he's shattered.

I'll say it now, and you can all slate or whatever, but this is my genuine from the heart feelings.
I support Arsenal.
I support all our players, even when they have a bad day at the office.
I do not have faith in Wenger, I do not have faith in our board, I don't have faith in the behind the scenes Medical staff, and I don't have faith in Dick law
I do have some respects for Gazidis, as from what I've read/heard/seen/been told, he's actually been lied to as much as us, he's been fully expecting to be negotiating for top players.

It's a tough time to be a gunner right now, but I will be, always.

We should never boo the players, they should always get our support.
As for the hierarchy, they can 0121.

19 Aug 2013 17:09:39
out of interest - who cares if we get in Champions league next season?

It makes money - great but we dontn spend it.
It attracts players - great but we don't buy them
its a chance of a trophy - get real, europa we'd have a good chance, CL with Barca/Bayern/Real/Man U - no chance.

im starting ti think that CL qualiforcation is not worth the seasonal heartattacks.

Sadly I have reached the same conclusion. It used to feel great, but now we struggle through a group phase, blow top spot, and go out to the first decent side we play. What's so great about that?

It is only of use if it means you do something because you are in it. We needed it at first as we protected our best players and paid of the Emirates, bit now? Well Santi, Jack and Kos are about the only three that would interest the top sides, and I am guessing Santi and Kos would go anyway if one of the big eight sides came in for them. Jack will last another couple of years I suspect, even if we don't qualify.

Maybe one year out would get our minds back where it needs to be. Moderate success is ultimately boring if all it does is keep repeating.

Agree.

We have no place in the competition as far as I'm concerned. Just make up the numbers

To a point but so do many of the other champion league teams then, they also just make up the numbers.

Yes we would have a good chance of winning the Europa cup but the difference in revenue's between the two comps means champions league has almost become an essential requirement to be able to pay the top wages and attract the palyers, and keep the ones you have.



Without it you have no chance of getting the players that will eventually make you serious contenders.

Spurs this season have attracted top players without click cash. there a club with ambition and are just better managed at the moment

19 Aug 2013 17:02:28
Ridiculous I say, AVB Quizzed and he says he is still looking to add the squad.

19 Aug 2013 16:48:13
Frankly, we are in a mess.

What are the options?

Wenger is always going on about quality- as we know, with just a few exceptions we have brought more average/mediocre players to our club than quality players in recent seasons.

He cleared a lot of deadwood out this summer - that must be a blatant reminder to Wenger of the players *he* brought to the club and failed to make an impression (at least you would hope so) -

So perhaps wenger really does mean he wants "quality" after being burnt as it where?

OK fine. But then what happens?

As we know Wenger values a player and he doesn't budge from that, it's irrelevant what the asking club want, it's what *he values the player at*- so we either don't up our bid or another club does and we say bye, bye.

Same principle with wages.

Now? Clubs know we want/need to sign players, so they will cheekily ask for a little more. Then what happens?

So in the end we will end up buying lower priced average players anyway, who will ironically, most likely end up as the next gen of deadwood in a few seasons time.

There is another option- that is of course to spend. Chocolate put a list of good players who could be available (at the right price) on the main page and just off the top of my head I could add quite a few more to that list.

The type of players who would add something to the first team and add the depth we so desperately need.

Realistically, I suspect 100mil will do the job.

We have the money, but that ofc that will go against wenger's policies. Which tbh I do not see changing any time soon.

So we're back to square one.

Unless the board takes direct action of the situation (which is unlikely).

As I said we are in a mess.

Sadly a lot of us saw this coming sometime ago, there was a some slight hope that this summer window would be different, with a genuine change at our club.

The most ironic thing for the apparent economically minded at our club, is that if we lose out on a cl spot this and next season not only will we obviously lose income, but the money they would need to spend to get us back into the top 4 again would be more than the current transfer budget anyway.

The crazy, greedy, short sighted incompetent fools.

I guess there is still some small hope, with 2 weeks of the window left. But I am feeling desperately low for our prospects for this season.

Sorry for the long post and unintended doom and gloom- trying to be honest.

19 Aug 2013 16:25:42
Rumours been absolutely flying today! So far I've heard of:

£10 million bid for Cabaye - instantly rejected and labeled 'insulting'. I couldn't agree more! Cabaye is a quality player worth at least £15m. Pathetic business from us!

Enquiry and possible £20m bid for Pogba - This would be the PREFECT signing for us. Young player with heaps of potential and a strong dominant defensive midfielder who can play a hell of a pass! Hope its true and we really push for this!

And just recently apparently we're thinking of tabling a bid in the region of £30 million for Michu and Williams! Another great move if true! A strong, premier league proven central defender and a real leader or men, and a prolific goalscorer with ability and physical presence who would really suit our system. I still think a striker should still be the last of our priorities right now but would still be two fantastic signings should the rumour ring true and we push for it.

Eds, any truth to Pogba and the Williams/Michu rumors?

Cheers

Pogba, Williams, Michu ( prefer Suarez ) plus someone with a big of magic in midfield and I am happy

I meant to say plus a keeper also - Cesar

With Cabaye I'm torn:

If we're talking about the Cabaye from two seasons ago where Newcastle were knocking on the door of a CL spot then yeah, £10 million is insulting.

If we're talking the Cabaye from last season then, yeah he's worth £10 million.

19 Aug 2013 16:20:26
Thanks for the support Lakerville. But looking at the general consensus it looks like its 99% anti-Wenger.
I still love the guy, but maybe I'm wrong.

Nope you are entirely right. It's easy to 'support' someone when they are winning trophies, bringing in the greatest players in our history, playing the best ever football seen at the club, and being totally committed to the cause (all thos that say he is doing it for the money are deluded he could and would have got much more money elsewhere, even this summer).

But it seems easier to turn on him totally and lack any loyalty or dignity as supporters. Arsene does my head in. The summer transfer window has been an abject failure. He is too stubborn for his own good and ours. BUT while I can and will criticise him I cannot stand the absolute one eyed views of most here.

We are all entitled to our views, you ae clearly entitled to think maybe Arsene has had his day, but you owe him respect and a hell of a lot of gratitude. If you can't see and understand that I truly despair.

No doubt Wengerism I can take some of the hate mail now. I don't care, I see his faults but he is the greatest individual in our history.

Correction 99.99%.

Feel the same way. If we had a Dein like figure (dare I say a director of football. ) then Wenger would totally be the right man for the job.

Just feel Wenger takes on too much and this is the root cause of all of this.

If we changed managers the new employee would not be afforded such power and if Wenger won't relinquish it or learn then he should go.

The game has changed and Wenger does not seem to.

Love the man though, actually the one person I would most like to meet. Principled, decent, intelligent and a visionary.

19 Aug 2013 16:10:27
10 QUESTIONS FOR ARSENE WENGER;

1. Don't you think its about time we stopped blaming the referees and bad luck?

2. What is the problem with getting Cesar, Williams and Fellaini?

3. Why can't you see that we need to sign players?

4. Don't you think that your 'value for money' principles are ultimately flawed in today's transfer market? Shouldn't you just accept the market reality?

5. Why are you so tight?

6. Why do you always wait until you are forced to make transfers?

7. Why don't you see that your players are so injury prone and cannot be relied upon?

8. Why don't you realise the terrible pattern of the inconsistent seasons in recent times? Why don't you sign world-class players to help reduce the inconsistency?

9.Do you care about profits more than the performance of the team?

10. Do you honestly believe that a world class player will sign for us by the end of the window?

19 Aug 2013 15:36:31
Typical Arsene Wenger type of business, all summer we're linked with numerous different names and then suddenly we bid for a player to be honest none of us were expecting, if Cabaye was to move it was probably to United or PSG. Only difference this time is we actually know who the player is and who he plays for, along with that typically the starting bid is mediocre, Newcastle will hardly sell for what is reported £10-12M for one of their prized assets.

Wenger needs to sort out his ways and stop making stupid and pointless bids for players that are clearly worth more than he offers.

Sorry for the slightly long post, usually like to keep it short and sweet.

I agree we've set a 25million price tag on him. that's if we even consider selling. Good luck for the rest of the season.

JToon spouting as if Newcastle might stand a chance finishing above us! How was the Manc game tonight heard you guys smashed it and Cabaye scored a corker?

19 Aug 2013 14:47:52
Just a quick point that I thought was interesting.

The team against villa was only different than the one that beat Bayurn at their place

Shezza - flappy
Sagna - Jenko
Wilshire - Santi

Now bar Santi and Jack you could say that the team against villa was stronger.

What I am saying is that although we lost to villa I do feel that the poor refereeing was a huge factor in our downfall, but yes we were also poor on the day.

I don't know he you can play on and allow the second attacker to shoot at an open goal, only for him to miss and then call it back for a penalty, surely he wasted the advantage? My question is, would he have given the pen if he scored?

The second was blatantly not a pen, (despite what prickface Shearer thinks)

The third was due to trying to equalse

All this was second to the fact that we haven't bought anyone.

We need signings but not just because of the villa game more because of how badly we are being treated as paying, loyal supporters!

Sorry, but contact was made and he had fouled the player causing him to fall BEFORE he touched the ball making this a penalty according to the letter of the law, and providing you play to the letter of the law. Adam I would say you had your rose tinted glasses on for that decision

derbyshire dave

19 Aug 2013 14:21:27
yohan cabaye - the next mikel arteta.

i can see him being signed to operate as a pivot. generally i'd be excited if we signed him. i'd like someone like bender with more size and strength, but our defending has worked with arteta. why couldn't it work with cabaye?

by the way I still can't think why wenger can't simply buy a dm. this is another experiment, buy a class midfielder and put him into a different role. why not buy a class defensive midfielder and put him into a role he has played all/most of his career?

but let's see if we actually sign him first.

I would like a REAL defensive midfielder. Cabaye is no better than Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla etc.

I can't see you paying the money for him i'm afraid.

19 Aug 2013 14:16:22
What I would like to know is,

Seeing as Ivan gazidis was so keen to come out and promote our financial health, with talk about paying big and aiming high -

Why has he not come out again to explain what is or is not happening, now that we have played 1 lost 1, and signed absolutely nobody worth mentioning (no offense to Sanogo, bur come on)

Accountability. Who has some?

19 Aug 2013 14:13:15
Spurs are looking at even more players, I find it very frustrating that they can tie up deals yet we always let them slip away

19 Aug 2013 14:06:15
According to tv, we made a bid for Yohan Cabaye. Although he is a nice player, we would need a player who is effective defensively.
If bidding for Yohan was the idea, why we didn't bid for Wanyama or Capoue, we would have got them. :(

Tooooo bad!

Good player but we are already more than strong enough in that Am area. I don't know why but I think Wenger would love a whole team of attacking midfeilders.

We need better balance more than anything a DM and a proper Left side wide man and another quick CB for our high line(Not convienced by A Williams)

Cabaye isn't an attacking midfielder, he plays a similar role to Arteta.

19 Aug 2013 13:59:54
Thought i'd lighten the mood slightly, i'm a gooner living in Manchester and i'm going to be a dad soon to twins and my wife has said you need to get them following a local team that they can go and see.How about Man Utd? I will let my fellow Gooners guess my response to that lol.

Manchester city and I can live with that.

19 Aug 2013 13:43:34
thats one expensive kebab for 12 million

19 Aug 2013 13:12:57
Ed, do we have any interest in begovic? {Ed027's Note - we did at the start of business

19 Aug 2013 11:57:17
Ed can you make a poll of realistic targets, and which one would people prefer:

Suggestions:
Sakho
Cabella
Zouma
Umtiti
Serge Aurier
Cabaye
Sebastian Robe
Benat
Griezman
Gourcuff
Jesús Gámez
Adil Rami
Sofiane Feghouli
Jemery Menez {Ed027's Note - too long, there are loads more

19 Aug 2013 09:42:21
ED, as we know Kos was sent off on Saturday, so isn't available for the Fulham game, but would be ok to play against fenerbahce ofc- but is he injured? In all the fallout I must've missed that.

If you could clarify please. Thanks. {Ed027's Note - he is fine for fener mate

Thanks appreciated. Glad to hear that. {Ed027's Note -

19 Aug 2013 08:01:17
Hey Ed, just a question, do you think arsenal will appeal Koscielney's red card because the first foul was questionable and the second one, he didn't even make contact.?

Thanks {Ed027's Note - cant it was two yellows

19 Aug 2013 13:29:11
Rather than bidding on saurez we should of bid that money elsewhere rather than waiting about. that 40mil could get other great talents.

El shaarawy
reus
lamela

most clubs won't want to sell but money talks in the modern game

Lamela for me. but I don't think he is of interest to us. we only buy top top quality. like park and bendtner and chamakh.

19 Aug 2013 12:59:21
Dear Wengerism. It is very hard to take you serious. You call for blind loyalty yet your name itself speaks of blind faith and missguided loyalty. Who exactly should we be loyal to? It feels to me that you are loyal to wenger. What in the world has made so many people think that backing a manager that hasn't given us any trophies for the last 8 years is loyalty. Loyal to who?, Wenger? He IS NOT the club. He happens to be a manager, not a club. Why is it, that people, after all these years cannot see that our club is beeing miss managed? How can selling our best players to our rivals, not winning anything and year after year not invest in the squad with any worldclass players be a job well done? I really don't get it. A manager is just a manager, nothing more. The club is so much bigger than the manager, don't you get that? Loyalty to wenger, it pisses me off. I am loyal to the club, the badge on the front of the shirt, not some person that happens to work for Arsenal. Your loyalty is severly missguided and please continue to be in the religion of wengerism when he manages another club.

I understand its a sensitive time, calling out another poster is not going to solve anything.

He has his opinion, and you have yours.

fact is, its not the supporters fault. the frustration is and should be aimed at the club.

Wenger/Ivan and for me the guy who owns the thing Kronke needs to talk.

If Usmanov needs to run it. let him, as long as he keeps things transparent.

while I write this 10 mill bid for Cabaye Rejected as derisory

The greatest manager we've had

19 Aug 2013 12:40:37
I had David Dein in my cab a few years ago.Great Cumberland place to Curzon street. Guy oozed class. Didn't know what to say to him. At the end I just said 'what do you think about Arsenal'
He simply replied as long as Wenger is at the club, they will be fine.
I know this is a few years ago, I wonder if he has changed his mind.
But this is 1 of the reasons I back Wenger.
People may say this is BS.
But it's the truth. just wanted to explain why I back the guy.

19 Aug 2013 12:15:18
With the AST & the BSM making there feelings known to Ivan Gazidis let's hope that the message that they have sent does not fall on deaf ears. Notably the AST asking for no new contract for AW until we see where the club is heading.

19 Aug 2013 11:57:30
Morning Guys/ Eds,

Not the best of times! Can anyone shed any light on this story of 'secret negotiations' a story was ran on tv but has now disappeared. Eds are you able to give any more infor on the changes/ takeover that you mentioned. God knows we could all use some better news.

Keep smiling lads, let's get behind the team on Wednesday. I will be there an singing loudly! {Ed007's Note - Were the talks with Newcastle?}

19 Aug 2013 11:25:07
What we need is a player ambassador, real have zidane, barca have kriof. We need an ex player, someone who has won it all to go to our targets and sell the glorious brand which is arsenal to them. I think somebody like TH14 or DB10 would do an excellent job (DB10 isn't available, but somebody of that class) as always thanks edds and fellow gooners, stay classy!

We have Freddie Ljungberg as a club ambassador.

i believe pires is involved in some form or role but I think his is to do with the arsenal foundation

Robert Pires #7.
Still involved wil the club.
Close to Wenger.
Came back to train at Colney.
Didn't he buy a flat at Highbury?

There is no-one else of that class (I don't think Zidane or Messi are interested)

We need a player like that on field, a man like Paddy used to be or Adams players that dominate the game. We have no one that gets up and grabs the game the neck & makes us play by sheer effort of will. These guys are rare but we need to find one quick.

19 Aug 2013 10:59:46
So game on wednesday for the CPL. when things go bad, they go all the way to hell. I hope we can pull it off. show some resilience.

37 games to go in the EPL, not the start we wanted, but I never thought of us as EPL contenders. Top 4, we have to accept this is where we are right now with this squad.

Chelsea, and City have a squad that could match Barcelona and Real madrid with talent. although their team spirit won't be the same as those legendary teams.

My question if anyone has any idea or even a remote hint.

Kos is going to miss a game this weekend.
Verm is injured and we have one CB - Per.

will/are we looking at another CB?

I agree with you, we need a CB. But on Wednesday it'll be:
Jenkinson. Mertesacker Kosc. Sagna

I reckon he'll risk Sagna if not I see Ramsey dropping back, maybe as RB.
I do think we'll get a draw, I think the team has a great spirit.

I reckon it will be Jenk, Mert, Kos and Miquel for CL game. Think Sagna is out for a couple of days.

It can't be miquel he is out on loan and has everyone forgot yennaris

19 Aug 2013 10:44:53
i had a pretty bad start to the week in the office :( all other team supporters ganging up on the lack of transfer activity and ridiculous loss at home. wasn't a pleasant experience.

here's to hoping Wenger sees the light and buys some quality players.

19 Aug 2013 10:36:47
And now people are calling in the board not up off we Wenger an extension to his contract.
Are you kidding me. Just think about it, how are we supposed to sign decent players when they don't know who the boss will be next year.

Players are not being signed when they DO know who the manager is! Respectfully, I do not think that is the point. The point is whether the player feels that the club in question is being decisive enough in its pursuit of him and look to get the deal done in a swift manner! Sadly, it looks like AFC lack this quality at the moment.

Mate, Wenger will not be here next season, read between the lines, his time is up thank you and goodbye.move on. New owner and staff on their way happier times too., Can it get any worse than this. I think so

19 Aug 2013 10:33:25
Arsene Wenger called Clement Grenier personally to try to get him to move to ‪Arsenal‬

Attacking midfielder?

we still need a CB and CDM, and RB and striker.

I thought Grenier signed a new contract a few weeks ago

19 Aug 2013 10:25:35
Been on YouTube and saw the clips from Arsensl fan tv, where we saw our so called fans bleating away like little cry babies outside the stadium. We are being laughed at.
Man up!
Take it on the chin.
Stop embarrassing yourselves.

Wengerism, although I share your general view that we should man up, the problem is that this is frustration that has been building up. Everybody knows that we've been teetering on not qualifying for fourth spot for a few years now and nothing significant has been done in the transfer market to stop the rot. Van Persie almost single-handedly got us third two seasons ago and we were helped into fourth by Tottenham's drop in form in the final third of the season. That is not the way a progressing team performs. We should have imposed fourth spot as the absolute minimum but were left biting our nails at St James Park. Now fast forward nearly three months and nothing has been done to create a further distance between ourselves and Tottenham and to close the gap between ourselves and Manchester United. This is despite Gazidis bleating on that we had entered a new stage of greater financial force. The force doesn't appear to be with us though as Yaya Sanogo represents the solitary move we have made to improve our squad and the matter is more bleak when you look at who Tottenham have added and are said to be looking to add. So when you say the fans should stop embarrassing themselves you are free to make that comment and many would agree with that analysis. However, I would say that the board and management of Arsenal have been embarrassing themselves for much longer and ought to address that in a decisive manner over the next 14 days.

The only one embarrassing himself is you. You have your opinion fine but don't come on here slagging of others for theirs.

These fans are arsenal fans who have watch our team get spanked by a side who 90day ago almost got relegated, they speak for the majority of fans who want change at our stagnated club and it is wengers fault. no one else.

Yeah, because I guess you went to the game did you? I didn't, but I don't have the nerve the sit here and tell the paying fans how they should feel.

Plus, they weren't as stupid as you made out. The points they raised:

- Cazorla was knackered and shouldn't have played.
- We needed a DM badly
- We need stronger options on the bench
- We left a £20m-rated striker in the bench when we were chasing the game and only brought him on for a few mins to do some defending.
- There's nobody at the club who takes a transfer list off the manager and does whatever is humanly possible to land the players.

Plus other points.

They aren't as stupid as you make out. Show some respect to the people who paid good money to watch that crap. Your posts are beginning to insult.

How much money have you spent going to games in the last 8 years?

Wengerism,

I haven't posted for a while but you are seriously getting on my tits!

Metal,

Well said mate

19 Aug 2013 10:11:15
(Second time of posting this, things getting lost?)

Even though Wenger has said he wants to bring in, "two or three players, if possible more", some of our wishes simply won't come true.

Szczesny is good keeper, an excellent shot stopper. His decision making though is pants and last season was on his way out of the club. Every great team needs a world class keeper but I have a feeling Wenger wants to prove everyone wrong and make Szczesny our #1 for years to come. Oh dear. We want Cesar but I can't see any new keeper this season.

He obviously believes in Mertesacker. Nothing will change in that department. Alongside him is either Koscielny or Vermaelen. He may bring in a 4th choice defender but that will only be a youngster with promise, as per usual. Sakho won't come I`m afraid.

Our full backs are covered (in Wengers eyes) in that we have Monreal and Gibbs plus Sagna and Jenkinson. No real need to strengthen there in his eyes i'd say.

In central midfield he loves Arteta. Alongside him as first choice is surely Wilshire, with Ramsay a close 2nd. Ox is also in with a shout there but I think he is more versatile and Wenger knows that. Ideally we`d have Diaby but that guy will probably never reach his full potential due to injury and we its there we have space. He doesn't rate Coquelin now otherwise he`d be at teh club now, so I expect a signing there, Bender by all the links and journalist talk. Also in with a shout is Gundogan and Kondogbia, forget about Fellaini now the clause has expired.

In the 3 behind the striker, we have Podolski, Ox, Cazorla, Rosicky and Walcott. I love Walcott but. he has no one pushing him. We need a wide player who can play either flank, obvious really when you consider we sold Gervinho and haven't replaced him. Turan is being linked heavily although its all coming from his club and agent, not from AFC. Wenger is tapping the German and Spanish market more and more, expect a wide player from one of those.

Giroud is French and by that token, Wenger is very reluctant to replace him! However, we know he's in the market for a striker so I see another coming in, not Suarez however, and definately not Rooney. Giroud is a tall but not powerful, Yilmaz would be perfect as alternative. I wouldn't be suprised if another is brought in to.

All that being said, injuries have caused us immediate concern. Come deadline day I can see another `Benayoun` coming in to compensate, and amazingly that man may a Gareth Barry type player, an experienced `out of favour` EPL player. On loan too, not bought. I`d expect a CB and versatile midfielder, Flamini isn't a bad shout on a short term contract or loan.

So that's a holding midfielder, a wide player (either flank) and a striker for the first team, this is hopefully what Wenger has in mind when he says 2 or 3 players. This plus a couple of loan or short term contracted players to cover the injuries. Hopefully the two Feyenord players will come too (Stefan de Vrij and Jordy Clasie), to pad things out a bit more.

Unfortunately, these buys are purely to get us to where we should have been before the season started, an absolute minimum. In all honesty, still not enough to win the EPL or CL.

19 Aug 2013 08:53:15
Hi Ed

Looking at our club ambition looks like RVP was right in leaving the club. if this is called ambition and winning trophies then I am afraid this is not good for the club. The board is sitting on their arses on around 150+ million pounds in the bank (think it is almost 200 million pounds) and not buying anything. We now don't. have players to form up a team. in one day we have lost 5 players.

People r mad carzola made a mistake and give the ball away, but at the first place he should not be playing, he came back from Ecuador and played the friendly, also he played in confederation cup. he did not had the luxury of relaxing during the break. So my point is why you put him on the playing field? he was too burnt up and will make a mistake if you r tired both physically and mentally. if our squad depth was enough he would have been in sub bench.

Now for UCL we don't have a fully fit team. if if they manage to get the doubters to play, it will impact them in long term as well and we will loose.

if we loose 2-0 at UCL (which is now very much a possibility) I think one of them if not both should resign . IG or AW. I vote for IG. the deals responsibility is his. he has to complete the deal and negotiate the right terms but the players we chased, not one of them we manage to sign, instead they were signed by other or rival clubs. Its a shame. with this much money I think IG could have used another 5-6 million more and bought players. I know the money will reduce but that is what it is there for. clubs sell players, but replace them with right players. and we did not. IG now has to go, he is one responsible for completing deals, he has done nothing.

we will loose in tge UCL match, because simply we don't have players . either they r injured or not 100%. also santi and koscielny are on suspension (3 yellow card). if we don't qualify then we r in serious trouble. forget abt top class signing (specially players at the same level as suarez)

Ivan your fired! Go to Spuds.

19 Aug 2013 08:22:31
A quote from an angry Arsenal fan on Arsenalfantv "In life you always get what you pay for, unless you an Arsenal fan"

So true, time for Gazidis to catch a wake up!

19 Aug 2013 08:06:57
I think the next deadwood that needs some clearing is Arsene Wenger. Someone like Van Gaal or Hitzfield would not take such nonsense from the board if they are indeed the cause of our woes. Wenger on the hand is subtle and is very meticulous about anything he says to the press. always covering the seeming incompetence of this board in a football sense.

That's what you call loyalty. Something a few people on this site should think about at the present time

19 Aug 2013 07:21:41
Good news comes in threes.

1. The transfer window closes in just over two weeks. Thank god. Then we can get over the fact that we have completly messed up another summer and thrown away any chance of a trophy for another season. We can also get on with our two annual pursuits of talking up our chances of signing Suarez or whoever in the winter window - especially if we are still in the ECL, and of course the great race for 4th place as we drop ever further behind the top class teams.
2. Fenerbache, who I had presumed would beat us, threw away a two goal lead this weekend to lose 3-2 to Konyaspor. Wow they could just be as shaky as us.
3. Erm sorry I'm out of good news now - so if it comes in threes maybe the real good news is that we are about to sign Lamela or Michu or Martinez, Bender, and a big hefty bid for Musacchio from Villareall. A total spend of circa £75m. Or of course maybe Diaby is about to retrun from injury and Bendtner is about to show us why he is the new Thierry! Hmm then again.

19 Aug 2013 05:47:11
Tamikonelf

Wenger is still the most powerful man at the club stop defending negligence and incompetence his days are over we won't win anything with him as manager.

19 Aug 2013 01:35:20
To all my fellow gooners, please don't agonize over who we will sign and don't get your hopes raised by people who say we are about to sign so and so. Nothing will happen till we sort out our UCL spot this is coming from a Arsenal fan who has never ever thought about life with out our beautiful Arsenal and also trained as a Arsenal youth but never stepped up and left football after Arsenal said no, either arsenal or no one. So till then enjoy your days and don't listen to all the BS from some people who are "In the know" or " have connections in the club" we will sign but not till UCL is sorted.

Much love to all of you.

19 Aug 2013 00:41:44
Willian
Rami
Turan
Begovic
Gonalons/bender
Sakho

All would be amazing. Squad sorted, just need an injection of pace down the middle in terms of defending and attacking

18 Aug 2013 20:09:03
Hey eds and everyone i'm just wondering if or when wenger says he wants a player which ain't very often who deals with the negotiations for the transfers at the club {Ed001's Note - Gazidis is the main man for completing deals, along with the club solicitor. The deals are brokered initially through third parties usually, most often that will be an agent. Then it will be passed over to Gazidis, who then gets the main points sorted, such as payment terms etc. The final details of the contract will be sorted by the club's solicitor, though that is just fine print stuff and very rarely is make or break stuff. The main dealing is down to Gazidis.}