Arsenal Banter Archive May 20 2013

20 May 2013 23:25:50
I know this is a popular and boring thing to do, but I'd love to see this next season:

GKs: Cesar, Szczesny, Fabianski, Shea
RBs: Piszczek, Jenkinson
CBs: Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Williams
LBs: Gibbs, Monreal
CMs: Gonalons, Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere, Diaby
CAMs: Cazorla, Rosicky, Jovetic
RWs: Walcott, Chamberlain, Eisfeld
STs: Giroud, Higuain, Sanogo
LWs: Podolski, Gnabry, Gervinho

Such a strong squad, all the under-par deadwood gone (I actually think Gervinho would do well having to prove his worth - he came back from the ACN and was fit and firing), plus some signings of real intent there. In addition, a hell of a lot of depth, but more importantly they are players who fit the bill perfectly.

Here's how I'd like to see them line up:

Cesar

Piszczek, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs

Gonalons, Wilshere

Walcott, Jovetic, Cazorla

Higuain

A really fluid first XI. I'd expect us to play this at home, mainly against the teams outside of the top 2/3 as it is unashamedly attacking. Barring Gonalons, we've got no players who have shown a lot of commitment to tracking back in that midfield and attacking six other than Wilshere (though I have seen Higuain on many an occasion and he does throw himself into tackles).

If we wanted a more conservative option, however, this would not be an issue - we could slot Wilshere into the number 10 role at the expense of Jovetic and fill his place in the midfield with either Arteta or Ramsey, perhaps Diaby when fit.

Not only does the team have interchangeable options from the bench, we've got strength throughout the squad. For example, Wilshere is unlikely to be able to play all games next season. Whether injury or fatigue take their toll, he won't. But we've got a plethora of interchangeable talent to bring in. Not only that, but said talent is versatile, one of the most underrated qualities in a player; Chamberlain is a winger at present, but is gearing his career towards a central midfield role. Vermaelen has played and can play holding midfield if Gonalons has to give way. In attack, major players like Walcott and Podolski can swap between the wings and central strikers and more minor players can drift centrally too - Eisfeld and Gnabry to name two (the former has been played predominantly on the wings this season despite making his name as a central player - midfielders such as Olsson have taken the central attacking berth for the U21s/NextGen games).

If we, at any time, had to play a cup game and had all players available (or even if we didn't) we could still play this side without exhausting any starting XI resources:

Szczesny

Jenkinson, Williams, Vermaelen, Monreal

Arteta, Ramsey

Chamberlain, Rosicky, Podolski

Giroud

That's a team I'd have trusted to win Premier League games, never mind away to Swindon in the FA Cup or at home to Anderlecht in the Champions League.

There are a lot of players out there available. But I think in Ashley Williams, Lukasz Piszczek, Maxime Gonalons, Julio Cesar, Stevan Jovetic, Yaya Sanogo and Gonzalo Higuain, you're getting several things. Firstly, undoubted and proven quality - Premier League quality in the case of Cesar and Williams. Secondly, players such as Gonalons, Cesar, Jovetic and Williams are each arguably their respective clubs' crown jewels, with the others being first-team regulars for Champions League semi-final and finalists. Thirdly, you're getting experience. Barring Sanogo, there's nobody there under 23, there's nobody there without international and only one without Champions League experience. In short, these players are the ones which fans have been pining for for a long time - established and sought-after names. Big money will need to be spent; £10m on Williams, £4m on Cesar, £14m on Piszczek, £12m on Gonalons, £22m on Jovetic and £20m on Higuain. £82m if my late-at-night, top-of-my-head calculations are correct. But is there anyone who really believes we're anything more than £70m worse off than teams like City, United or Chelsea?

I think the depth we'd have with that squad of players would be nigh on unrivalled. The youth and quality on the bench combined with the experience and stature of the starting XI would be a force to be reckoned with, and one I think capable of lifting silverware. Which trophy? I'm not so sure. But what I will say is if we did spend this sort of money on those players, it wouldn't just be the Emirates Cup returning to the red half of North London, that's for sure.

21 May 2013 09:12:37
After all that effort not sure why you didn't put your name, some might argue over a particular player
here or there but to get that much strength in depth is exactly what we need. Nice post.

Stoner

It may be 'boring' and 'popular' but this is a pretty sensible wishlist for next season! That would certainly give us a level of depth and quality to compete for the title.

Honestly though I don't see us signing more than 2 forwards including Sanogo. Podolski has been on and off with fatigue this season but was signed as a 1st team starter - I don't think Wenger will jeopardise that. The Jovetic rumours are interesting as I am not sure where he'd play. Perhaps:

Walcott Jovetic Cazorla
Podolski

But that is very attacking. In any case, I really don't see us signing Jovetic AND Higuain. Would love to be wrong though!

Oleg Maputo

This guy knows what he's talking about.

I think there is too much depth in some sense (there are 25 first teamers there plus youth). You won't keep that many players happy. I think we only sign another CB if TV leaves and our 4th CB will either be Miquel or covered by whoever we sign as a RB or CDM. I think Gervinho would go too. That would be 23 class players which is still a lot to keep happy but a good problem I suppose.

Getting Piszczek would mean selling Sagna, which will bring that 82mil down, closer to the 70mil reported. Good post!

20 May 2013 23:11:32
Let's say if Bayern came in with an offer for Koscielny.

And you had to accept a bid,

What would you sell him for?

Personally, I'd take no less than 30-40 mil.

Some might think that's overpriced but he's a great player and it's about time we started overpricing our great players.

Nick.

I just voted Kos as our player of the year. He's been the heart of our team whilst Wilshire has had to warm the bench. There's no money we should accept and I resent the suggestion. If he forces a move somehow, then I'd think again, but as it is, a happy Koscielny is a mighty beast. Pay him his worth, build the defence around him, sit back and enjoy.

Ned.

I wouldn't even look at anything under £50m. Genuinely believe he is in the top 3 (if not 1) center backs in the world.

It is not overpriced in the current market, he is a top defender hitting his peak. Absolute joke he wasn't considered for any of the pundits' 'teams of the year' - put behind Ferdinand and Vertonghen whose defences conceded almost 10 goals more than ours. The main thing is that he has forged a great partnership with Mertesacker, so probably wouldn't have the same immediate effect elsewhere. Still, easily worth 30m at least.

Oleg Maputo

The reason koscielny is not in the team of the year is that he hardly played a game at the start of the season

20 May 2013 22:40:50
The next season could be the one that defines us as a Club for the next 5-10 years. All the teams above us have new managers, we won't lose any STAR players this summer, we have got CL football and we have reached a point where we can start spending. What we need is a serious title challenge and some silverware. Fabianski did well to push Wojiech in the last few months but we still need another keeper. Cesar, Mignolet, or Begovic would all be good in my opinion.
Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen (when on form) and both left backs are all solid. Jenkinson is coming on well but not ready to start 30+ games a year, while sagna is surely off. We need another CB, Rami is a possibility, but our defence is relatively strong so a good young CB who could be used for cover would suffice. We need a new RB, I wouldn't mind someone like Piszcek. We need another CDM to take the pressure of Arteta, someone like Wanyama would be ideal. Then I believe we need two attacking players. Would love any two from Cesc, Draxler, Jovetic, Higuain, Lewandowski, preferrably one creative player and one lethal striker. then add 2-3 young players like Sanogo etc. and we will be right as rain.
Best possible scenario:
Wojiech/Mignolet
Piszcek, Jenkinson
Kos, Per, TV5, Rami
Monreal, Gibbs
Wanyama, Arteta, Coquelin
Wilshere, Rosicky, Ramsey, Diaby
Cazorla
Walcott, The Ox, Podolski, Draxler
Giroud, Higuian, Sanogo

20 May 2013 21:41:21
Hi eds, was wondering if could get an honet opinion on the heavily linked jovetic? If honest I've not seen much ov him, but his goals record in italy is hardly anything exciting? I personally struggle to think ov many italian strikers who make the move to england with success apart from the obvious few in the past like zola, ravenelli but recently not many. the only quotes from wenger is he likens jovetic to a young van persie which again doesn't excite me as although we as bitter gooners admit he is world class now he hardly set the world on fire for his first 5-6years! Wud the mooted £23 million be better invested in the vast array ov strikers rumoured available like benzema, higuain etc who are proven at world level not jovetic who is a big gamble? Would appreciate honest opinion on the guy. Thanks alot! Kobe11 {Ed027's Note - Not a gamble, top draw player, with the service at Arsenal, we will just see the best of him, like I said before he has the ability to be our Suarez, I mean Gervinho and Bendthner scored goals for us, Jovetic will find the net with ease and then some

He's not italian

20 May 2013 20:10:18
I was browsing the spurs rumour page to see their reactions from yesterdays events (haha) and saw one of them posted the following

"Bale isn't going anywhere, he's in ADVANCED talks with Spurs over a 180k plus a 3 million pound bonus for each cup he will win under us in this contract. However if we don't get Champions league next year he will go.

This comes from a Strong source. Count on it. "

Notice the fact he says 'WILL' instead of 'IF' they really are a bunch of over confident *******s!

Good point but remind me, when did Arsenal last win a trophy?

AJH

Is that genuinely your response to that? Really? 'When did Arsenal last win a trophy?' It's so revolutionary, we've never heard anything like it!

So I applaud you, and ask you kindly to leave this page now, as us humble Gooners cannot begin to compete with your unparalleled wit.

20 May 2013 18:51:45
I gave a lot of stick to ramsey this season. I didn't think he was good enough. Even though he still has has a lot to improve on he's performance againts Newcastle was incredible. With arteta going off he stepped
up and put in a magnificent performance and it was exactly what arsenal needed. So here my apology to Ramsey, well done for sticking at it when some people lost faith. Apologies mr ramsey, your just what arsenal need

Noodles

20 May 2013 18:19:47
Personally I don't think we are a drastic distance away from challenging at the top, some people are claiming we need 5 or 6 new first team players and a new formation but really it's more like 3 or 4 players and same formation


Personally think we could do with a left winger as dangerous as Walcott, too often this season we have had a dangerous right side but not so much on the left, I believe podolski never really seemed to get in the right positions and never really looked a threat by running at players. Therefore I'd suggest signing Pierre-emerick Aubameyang, quick and could be exceptional on arsenals left, he can cross as well as score and dribble, exceptional talent.

Then a centre back, someone to partner koscielny, who has been amazing yet again this year, really hope we keep hold of him as he is one of the best in the prem. but the cb we purchase should be a power player, subotic would be my ideal choice here as I can't see hummels leaving for arsenal, maybe barca or real. But subotic would probably fit our team more as well as he is the more ball playing defender of the two Dortmund cb's.

Thirdly a central mid, Ramsey has been awesome lately but is that consultancy really there? I'd say i'd buy a cm anyway as if Ramsey is consistent next season then the new midfielder would have a settling season as arteta will need replacing in a couple seasons or so and it's better to have replacements ready and although I'd like to see wanyama come in I believe he is united bound, therefore I am suggesting if united were to opt for him then we snip in for Fellaini however united may also be in for him (based on tabloid talk) so if united were to sign both I'd say third choice potentially could be Ilkay Gundogan if Dortmund were to let him go. All 3 are great multiskilled hard working midfielders who all possess the ability to win a ball back.

Fourthly, the striker. Everyone is calling out for a striker namely jovetic, but do we really need one? Constantly from the Sunderland game I said giroud looks like a very good striker, and I still believe it, his physicality is something arsenal have been missing and his movement is somewhat exceptional, he just needs the good run of games and confidence, we'd also have podolski as cover however I do believe we will sign a striker, but only one (so many people claiming were signing jovetic and higuain, which will not happen as this summer we get Chamakh, park chu young, and bendtner back from loans so we need to sell first, so if we were to sign a striker namely jovetic, I pose 1 question why? Why him? He'll cost £25mil, why not Rooney for £30mil? It will be a kick at utd for taking van Persie and I'm sure Rooney has something to prove if he leaves.

20 May 2013 17:21:44
Sunderland fan here
Well done on champions league qualification.
Credit where credits due, arsenal have spent 9million net over the period of 10years! and maintained a level of consistency of getting into the champions league every year!
There has been a lot of stick off arsenal fans the past few years that the club isn't doing enough, and should be doing better, but if you think about it, if they continue the way you are going, it will be one of the most impressive and amazing managerial performances by a manager ever, especially with all the economy troubles with football clubs now, Leeds, Portsmouth, wolves, QPR, Arsenal have done the smartest thing possible, because now they are almost finished paying off all the debt off the stadium and other things, you can now progress, you may have lost world class players, cesc, nasri, RVP, etc and with the tiny 9m net spent in 10 years, you can rapidly lift off and buy great players and become the invincibles once again
Sorry for the long post
Good luck next season

Why you recycling Gary Neville's post match comments word for word and passing them off as your own? Very weird indeed

I didn't know Gary Neville was a Sunderland fan

Mate, apart from "Sunderland fan here, well done on champions league qualification" it is word for word exactly what Gary Neville said.

So what if he quoting neville.

is not everything the geordie:) said true.

thanks for coming on here with your kind words.

if your going to come on here and slagg some 1 off atleast put a name to your posts lads

malaga gooner

malaga gooner

Calling a 'Mackem' a 'Geordie' is just about the most hurtful thing you could have done.

CECEGUaW

20 May 2013 16:59:17
There is more to this fellow gunners, yes we celebrated a bit much yesterday but yesssss. well deserved. I believe the team knows that this time around, things will be different, we will strengthen and not sell. wait and see, something at arsenal is going to happen, something big lads. maybe the team knows already. I can feel it in the London air. Mark my words.

Noely

20 May 2013 16:02:28
Not strictly Arsenal but i'm looking forward to what's going to be a crazy transfer window. Chelsea, Real Madrid, Citu, Bayern, United and PSG all new managers. We actually look like we are going to spend aswell. Moneybags Monacco and Anzhi will probably be at it also.

This makes it even more critical that Wenger goes out and gets his targets early like he did with Giroud and Podolski last year. If he waits till mid August all the big spenders will have driven prices right up. PSG paying ridiculous sums for Lavezzi, Thiago Silva, Ibra, Lucas. Zenit buying Hulk and Witsel £80m! The transfer windows are just getting more and more insane. £24m for Jovetic seems like a bargain when put in context.

Interestingly where do you guys see the really big names ending up. Such as Rooney, Cavani, Falcao, Isco etc. I personally see most of them on the move once finally. Maybe Neymar will finally leave Brazil. On another note it would be sad to see Bale leave the PL for La Liga. He is a great British talent.

Exciting few months ahead.

Detroit Gooner

20 May 2013 14:55:03
Bale is set to sign a new contract at Spurs earning him upwards of £130,000 a week. Now that he's still going to be there to carry them through the season this should really motivate Wenger to strengthen the squad over summer. We always seem to lose out on our targets to clubs like Chelsea and Man City when we do actually have the money to spend. This can't happen again!

Bale will move:
1) He can demand a salary of £200,000+ per week
2) He can obtain a signing on fee of £5m+
3) He needs a new challenge, at a top European Club.
I cannot see him staying another season at a mediocre club, outside the top four & without Champions League football. Chelsea would be my guess for £60m.

20 May 2013 14:03:08
People keep talking about the celebrations after yesterdays game.

Now I personally feel that they were justified. alright granted we should not accept 4th spot as a success I agree, however after losing our talisman in RVP in the summer and the start to the season that we had we really dug something special out of the bag to overhaul that other North London side and get 4th spot when you consider they tabled their record points and had their best ever season (makes it even sweeter).
People seem to forget how that team, and their fans celebrated when they beat us 2-1 back in March to go 7 points clear, they celebrated like they had won the league as well and right infront of our faces. so for me the celebrations were justified and mainly aimed towards to "that team" basically rubbing salt into their wounds.

MIND THE GAP. UP THE GOONERS!

Project Arsenel

20 May 2013 11:44:15
Champions league football is what we needed and what we got. Hopefully we can now push on next season with a few new very good signings and challenge for the league, jovetic should be completed near the start of the window so wenger isn't rushing about for a last minute bargain, so good news.
Scotsgooner

20 May 2013 11:07:16
I think galatasary want gervinho manager says he's on the radar

20 May 2013 08:54:14
a list of players Arsenal will NOT sign:
Rene Adler - there are better options, maybe we need someone older to mentor Wojciech
Mats Hummels - will go to Barca
Amorebieta - rumour has it he has signed on a free with Fulham
Wayne Rooney - absolutely no chance, and not wanted
David Villa - quality, but too old.
Christian Benteke - I think Villa will hold on to him for another season
Victor Wanyama - will end up at United, is a fan
Ben Arfa - quality, but injury record is akin to Diaby's
Isco - when Pellegrini becomes City manager, he will accompany him
Rui Patricio - I can see Julio Cesar - older, more experience, cheaper, already in London
Gonzalo Higuain - Will go to Juve unfortunately

My predicted signings: Julio Cesar, Lukasz Piszczek, Nicholas N'Koulou, Ettiene Capoue, Stevan Jovetic. (maybe an unlikely chance for a loan move for Cesc, but the operative word is unlikely).

What do you think Ed?
Gooner139

Adler - fair enough
Hummels - never will we fork out for him
Amor - Fulham yes
Rooney - if he took a wage cut I'd have him.
Villa - I'd have him too. Move Pod to the middle. Can we rely on him though? Probably not
Benteke - think you might be right.
Wanyama - disagree now. Carrick is the league's statistical def mid hero. They also have Jones and Fellaini might well move there.
Isco - agreed. Why he's going on about stealing Santi from us though. psssht. If you can't challenge for the league with David Silva, Nasri, Milner and Yaya then you don't deserve Santi you Holywood-wannabee.
Patricio - literally don't know who this guy even is
Higuain - think you might be right.

20 May 2013 10:49:44
Why are all these s**t pundits saying we shouldn't be celebrating that's a load of b*******. The situation we were in with 10 games to go was terrible and we've fought back to get 4th spot so that's why we celebrated you p***ks. Walcott came out in an interview straight after and said we want to be challenging for the title and wenger said that's we should be going for the title a few weeks ago so they can all SMD!



SM1996

Dancing around like you won a cup shows how high your standards are these days

What about your lot going mad on sky when you thought that Newcastle had equalised.

Go back to your own forum spud!

Churchill Gooner

No spud mate. They can't say anything, let's just say the blue of London are having a right giggle

To the spuds, I thought you culdnt get more embarrassment when Adebayor did that pathetic horse gallop to take a penalty, but then I saw the most embarrassing moment for you when you all celebrated like the 4th spot was yours when you thought that Newcastle had scored to make it 1-1. You looked absolutely pathetic, wth egg plastered all over your faces. The best part of it was, you were 0-0 at the time which meant Arsenal would have still got 4th spot. Dumb a$$e$

The blue of london can giggle all they want if my great club did business like you I would be embarrassed your club are a laughing stock. I would take ten years without a trophy than do what you do. The fact that one of your greatest players ever hadn't been offered a contract till last week shows how much respect for loyalty and tradition your club has!


SM1996

20 May 2013 10:29:51
Here are my thoughts on this summer: Unlike the past two seasons this summer will be one of speculation as to whom we may buy, as opposed to who will leave us. This season, in the last 10 games we have got such momentum that, I believe, will be taken into next season. If we play like we did in the last games of the season from start to finish we would be right up there at the end of the season.
So, this year the players that will be leaving the club are often referred to as 'deadwood' by us lot. This means that AW will spend to bring in players. And let's not forget Caz, Pod, and Giroud have all been great signings, so AW has still got it.
I'm absolutely buzzing for next year and hope that we can strengthen in a few key areas and bulk up our bench. What we need to start doing is rotating our players. It seems like this season we were afraid to mix our team up as we didn't have the quality to bring in. I think with a few departures and 5 players coming in we would be contenders next year.
Absolutely buzzing!

Anyway, here are my predictions - I'll eat a hat if they turn out to be true! We will sign Jovetic, Gonalons, and then some youngsters. Then if Verm and Gervi leave we will sign two more experienced internationals.

Looking forward to an exciting summer!

Sally

20 May 2013 09:55:42
morning all gooners.
1) my heart rate will go back to normal atleast for the next 90 days lol
2) enjoyed ST TOTTERINGHAM DAY last night in nairobi though there are no known tottenham fans around.
3) now let's get high quality players as early as possible and have a team that will be worthy of winning the league next year. UP GOONERS
iwarutis

20 May 2013 09:35:45
Would love to get your opinions.

I live in Abu Dhabi and get to watch Premier league world and fanzine and one thing from yesterday has really p***** me off.

Don Hutchinson and lemony lita slated Arsenal for celebrating after the final whistle, "like they had won the league" and also slated Arsene for saying this was the best group of players he's ever had.

Now my opinion is these persons clearly have no idea!

Due to a poor first half of the season we were always fighting for champions league football, it was a quick realignment of targets as 1st was clearly beyond our reach. This said the boys celebrating, (just like I was at home), for me is great I love that it means that much to them, I love that finishing above the spurs means that much to them. All year round and its been the same for a while now, we get battered by the media and all we do is run our club perfectly from a financial point and are very consistent year after year.

I have to be honest I do want us to now maybe splash out and buy the few years that we need and we could close the gap. It has to be said we were well off u to but so were everyone else. It annoys me when you here, "Chelsea are close" they were 2 points ahead of us. WTF!

Sorry to get on my soap box but I love Arsenal and its one of those things that really bugs me. We have had great results in the second half of the season and form puts us top so there is no reason for these guys negativity. Even against Bayurn hese clowns couldn't give us credit and look at their results this year, we are the only ones to beat them!

I believe that it was the Bayern result that made the team treatise how good they can be and it showed

Great finish boys, bugger the media you continue to make us proud to be Gooners, now it's time for he board to back the boss and the team and let's push for a trophy next year

COYG!

Adam P

The celebrations were a little OTT. But AW did say it's like winning a cup ;)

Sydney!

Adam

I see your point but to an extent I have to agree with the pundits. The celebrations were a bit OTT. It's a bit like we are celebrating mediocrity. 4th place isn't good enough. Yes champions league is a target and its by no means a given but the club as a whole should be disappointed due to once again not even coming close to competing. The league table doesn't lie. We're 16 points behind the champions for a reason.

20 May 2013 12:03:34
I know, they are completely ignoring the fact we made a fantastic turn around taking 26/30 points, unbeaten in 10 and defended superbly. I think that was an acheivement that deserved celebration. I bet had Spurs got 4th they would have been celebrating as if they won the world cup, and no one would have said a thing. It's just the media are very anti-arsenal and love to slate Wenger.

This may not be the best team we've had under Wenger, but it's the best team defending since the invincibles. If you watch how organised our back four is now, strength in depth and determination. Koscielny proved he's our best CB by a country mile. I bet all his haters from his first season are praising him now. If our CMs show that much energy and commitment every game then we don't need a CDM. Just a top striker, keeper and versatile defender.

Adler/Cesar/Begovic + Richards/Nkoluou + Jovetic/Higuan my perfect (yet semi realistic) summer.

Detroit Gooner

All I agree that celebrating 4th is not the best but let's put some perspective on it. We were 7 points outside these places, (this automatically a goal as it is the minimum we should be expecting), without this there would be less investment and less interest.

All season some have mocked their own team and doubted their ability and the back end of the season we were the best team, (for years we played beautiful football and got nowhere, now we tough it out its still not enough). The world of football is fickle we will slate in one respect and sing praises in the next but I thought that for once this season we would actually stand side by side and applaud our boys instead of complaining that their celebrations were OTT.

I agree that 4th should not be our target but it should be our minimum!

And I would rather be over celebrating 4th, than sulking over 5th

Adam P

I think that being happy to finish fourth, and celebrating playing CL football next year, is perfectly reasonable, when you consider that the team was criticised for being OUT of the top 4. Credit where its due.

Also, man utd, man city, and chelsea, all have better teams than arsenal, so 4th spot is about right isn't it.

20 May 2013 08:07:42
Eds, I know it's a really silly question, but would arsenal really try and sign bale!
Spartakusmark

We are never, ever getting Bale

Would never happen

1404

20 May 2013 06:37:27
I am going to confess that I had posted a while back that we won't finish in the top 4 and a couple of people had agreed with that opinion. I also remember one of the eds commenting that Wenger would mange top 4 and that I would be proved wrong.

Here is to me being proved wrong and hoping that Wenger finally spends this summer and assembles a squad that challenges for top honours!

20 May 2013 02:58:27
Greetings and Salutations my fellow Gooners!

What a beautiful day it was to be a Gooner. Its been a long time since I posted, truth be told I visit the site everyday but wanted to wait till the season was over to add my two pence.

1. Arsene Wenger is an absolute genius! I will always support a person who shields the club from criticism, the players from public outcry and puts his own reputation at stake as a lighting rod to protect the reputation of the club. 26 of 30 points in a season where we once again lost our best player he made the difficult choice to bench our captain for the task at hand. He brought in 3 important pieces last summer in Carzola, Podolski and Giroud, signed his entire english core, bought a left back at a most critical juncture in the season, played his second choice keeper when most required and let him have a run of matches and brought us back from 7 points behind our hated Northern rival to win CL qualification for our 16th straight campaign.

The detractors will claim this is not enough and that we deserve better but I ask those "how many of you know what is going on behind the scenes at the club?". and yet you still blame Arsene without any actual knowledge.

Its absolutely fascinating to me that the level of expectation this man has created has also been his own undoing. We live in a very quick gratification society and 8 years without a trophy during a global recession in which we rebuilt our club, our infrastructure, built a new stadium, and brought in more commercial revenue than at any time in the club and he still is slighted. frankly its unbelievable!

Ironic isn't it that the people who own, run and have been long associated with the club have never questioned his place at the club!

2. Ownership/board - This will be the summer for me that will define our intentions as a club. Financially we are in a very positive position. While I believe we will always position ourselves in a prudent manner and remain fiscally responsible I believe this is our opportunity as a club to return to the top of the league. As such the ownership/board must do in return what they ask the supporters to do week in week out and payout some of the revenue from the highest ticket price in the land! Its time to spend some money!! Responsibly of course. it is the Arsenal way!

3. Players - I believe this will be the summer where we offload our dead wood (bendtner, vela, santos, etc) either through transfers, sales or simply letting them go and in return I believe we will make some important acquisitions. Outside of Sagna who played like a warrior today, I don't foresee any of our core including TV5 being sold this year. Ill leave the rumour mill to the experts. I look forward to reading the daily rumour mill of gossip!

Finally a shout out to the Ed's, the posters and all my fellow Gooners. nothing but mad love and respect! Have a great summer and I look forward to talking with all of you in the near future!

Gunners4Life, In AW we trust!

Well said mate. Definitely post of the day for me

Finally someone speaking sense well done Arsene and the players

Vela is not on the Arsenal books.

20 May 2013 00:00:51
Just read a post referring to a rumour Usmanov has got the shares to make him the majority shareholder.

This would mean he would have had to taken this shareholding past 30%. I thought Kroenke had more than 50% though so to have made himself majority shgareholder Usmanov would have had to buy shares off Kroenke and, as I don't see much sense in Kroenke retaining a monority holding, this rumour if true would take Usmanov's holdin up to about 90%

I wonder if the actual truth maybe that Usmanov has bought enough shares to pass 30%? If that's the case then he has to make an offer to buy the other shareholders out. Doesn't mean they have to accept though so it could make the summer interesting

Just pray boardroom infighting doesn't paralyze the transfer activity! Also not sure how Usmanov coming in now would sit with FFP?

Not saying the rumour is wrong as I don't know just trying to clarify it lol

Kroenke has over 60% of the shares. Unfortunately this means your rumour is pure fiction.