Arsenal Banter Archive August 29 2013

 

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29 Aug 2013 23:42:36
Heard gazidis didn't make it into the Uefa auditorium today, he got called away on business.

Hopefully this is true and the business isn't him getting a new treatment table

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I heard he got the rubbishs, when he was told, Wenger spent a fiver on a bag of jellybelly's

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29 Aug 2013 23:38:00
Is there any truth to tuese lukaku reports ed that we are putting 18million bid in for him

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Would love that to happen.

1404

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Yes please, I think this lad can be the real deal, can't believe he hasn't been given a run of games in the chelskie side.

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29 Aug 2013 22:47:06
Idea for a poll Ed: If you could strengthen one position, what would it be?

GK, Full back (L or R), CB, CM, Wide midfield (L or R) or ST {Ed013's Note - ok thanks mate, we will look at it, in the meantime feel free to answer on this thread}

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Left winger, someone who can give Giroud some decent crosses to feed off

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Manager

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Manager {Ed001's Note - poll should be there to vote on now.}

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29 Aug 2013 23:09:58
Just been watching Fantasy Football Club on sky. Ian Wright was the guest chatting with Mers about the back 5, Dennis, Overmars, Rocky etc. Couldn't help but get a little emotional (I've had a drink), f**k me we've had some players over the years.
They were also talking about the North London derby and the build up to those games. It's got the butterflies in my stomach working overtime. COME ON YOU GOONERS

I f**kin love my club. I'm afraid I'm very very drunk
Flybo {Ed013's Note - Have a coffee mate}

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Funny enough I just turned tv over because the "invincibles" was on. some bloke called elliot ness was on there. I've supported arsenal for years but I don't remember him playing in an arsenal shirt alongside thierry. i'm confused (jokes)

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Flybo mate- you make perfect sense to me. know the feeling well. have another one!!

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Im not drunk and feel like crying!

Im pro-wenger but still feel mughed by the club.

is it all lies?

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I'm pretty sure Elliott Ness was the guy that busted Al Capone. Is it the same guy?

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You are correct indeed ted but I think you missed the humour (albeit crap) in my post mate

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29 Aug 2013 23:07:48
I don't understand wengers thinking if the rumours about a €/£40mil bid for ozil are true. For that amount we could get torres/hernandez for £15mil, nani for 10, sakho for 10 and cesar for 3. everything we need at the same price.

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Which boot of Hernandez for 15m mate? Honestly it would cost a hell of a lot more than 15m

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Torres and hernandes for £15m?. are the the son of wenger?

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I believe a paper was saying utd would let him go for 15. Or that Tottenham was preparing a 15 mil bid.

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29 Aug 2013 22:58:04
apart from alex song we have not had a defensive midfielder since mathieu flamini left. so arsene wenger has bought mathieu flamini to replace mathieu flamini who left years ago. masterstroke mr wenger lol

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No- he has re-signed for free a player who left for free at the end of his contract to cover about 4 players but is probably good enough to take on his own spot in central midfield without looking out of place

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29 Aug 2013 22:58:04
Turns out Malaga may have been right. shock horror!

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29 Aug 2013 22:44:17
Could it be that spurs delaying bale transfer with the belief that it would trigger afc signings? {Ed013's Note - No}

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29 Aug 2013 22:42:02
IMO Dortmund are better then or as good as barcelona, Napoli proven to be better then ac Milan ie: 2nd in seria A, and marseille are as good if not better then Ajax, ie I think our group F is the group of death plus were well better then Celtic, if u look at it this way instead of big media name teams we have the hardest group, but bring it on.( GUNNERS! UCL WINNERS 2013/14) ps: we need to bring in some players though.

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29 Aug 2013 22:41:35
Sick of the daily grind?
Need a break from gruelling 40 hour weeks?
Two positions have recently become available at the Emirates as follows:-
a) Private jet pilot to bring players to London.
b) Doctor to provide medicals for sportsmen at local clinic.
No workaholics need apply. Two day's work per year max.

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C) trophy room silver polisher. unfilled vacancy for 8 years. hours to suit. start 9am finish 9.15am. club will supply own polish and cloth (unused). must enjoy your own company as you will not see too many people in the room. would suit semi retired/retired person

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29 Aug 2013 22:34:50
Has anyone seen that kaka has said he wants to leave Real Madrid? Surely he would be worth signing for a couple of years

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29 Aug 2013 22:26:37
i wish wenger was my accountant, my god I would save thousands of £s per year (stupid post but just trying to cheer myself up lol) better to laugh than cry x

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29 Aug 2013 22:21:41
Dunno how some people are treating our CL group so lightly, Dortmond are by far the strongest team in it. Marseille are a decent team but are the weakest whilst Napoli did us in pre season and are strong this season. I think Dortmond will win the group with us and Napoli slogging it out for 2nd place.

The key is to win our home games and pick up some points away from home, Marseille away is a `must not lose` and Napoli away is the important one to win or draw.

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30 Aug 2013 01:01:50
WTF are you on about?

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29 Aug 2013 22:03:47
Some questions have been raised about the Flamini signing that are going to need answering. Apparently during the medical, Flamini was heard shouting "you can't seriously expect me to play for you again? I've broken my flipping back! To which an angry Wenger responded "no, your Dad has! And that's what we will tell the press."

Make of that what you will guys.

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29 Aug 2013 20:44:24
hi eds can u tell me are you aware of any problems with the hieracy at our club I keep being told there is, maybe the changes at the top are stopping us spending, just can't work out why we haven't spent any money, and think new arrivals are now 3rd or 4th choices, just a total mess.
not pleased with flamini wouldn't do business with Darren dein he has single handedly ripped the best assets from our club but we are back with one of his players, the clubs morals just seem to be slipping. {Ed013's Note - There is something not right mate, we are just unsure what}

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29 Aug 2013 22:10:52
Last group match is against Napoli. Imagine this situation; Arsenal only need a draw to go to the next round. But then we lose when a certain Gonzalo Higuain score a winner for Napoli in dying minute. Pure heart-breaking.

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30 Aug 2013 01:08:18
It must be the corruption error of giving man u the easy group as always?

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29 Aug 2013 22:06:06
Could someone explain why Leverkusen could only go into United's group from pot 3, yet Dortmund, another German team, could go in ours when drawn later. I don't get it.

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29 Aug 2013 23:32:50
Ya I was wondering that too. Maybe someo ne could shine some light on it

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I too found this odd! Was it a mess up?

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I think some teams can't play on tuesday and wednesday so that limits the groups they can join. I not sure about this though.

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29 Aug 2013 22:03:20
Arsenal 5/4 favourites to sign di maria. let us pray!

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29 Aug 2013 20:57:01
Kaka wants to leave Madrid. I'd go for him.

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29 Aug 2013 22:39:43
Kaka from Milan a few years back then, absolutely. But Kaka from Madrid, no, thanks.

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29 Aug 2013 20:56:17
i don't know about the rest of you but spurs are beginning to scare me. not just sunday but for the rest of the season.
don't be blinkered by your hate for them because I hate them as much as anybody. yes, pugface has gone to Madrid but they have bought very very well and I think they have the right combination as a team.
More importantly, they have a big squad. 1 player out and 7 new players in. A season is a lot of games, prem league, europe, fa cup and league cup.Injuries and suspensions play a very key role. As we have heard wenger say many times "we looked a bit tired today and the midweek trip to europe has made them tired".
Spurs can rotate players, give them a rest, keep them fresh and more importantly a big squad means competition. if you get selected to play than you make sure you play well because you want to keep your place and not lose it to another member of the squad.
at arsenal we basically have the first 11 so it doesn't matter if you don't play that well you will probably play the next game too because we are too thin on the ground.
Been a gooner over 40 years now and I fear for this season.
if you reply to this post please don't come out with the usual rubbish "its only spurs". "we always finish above them". "they are crap". its not about yesteryear its about the here and now. and here and now they scare the bloody pants off me

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I agree, I think are looking well beyond the Top 4 with their ambition, I think they are looking to challenge for the title, I personally don't think they will be that far away

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It remains to be seen whether the buys are that good- remember how wonderful QP were going to be when Hughes bought about 10 players. qpr ended up in Championship!

Also spurs wages billwill have risen hugely so presumably they will have the shed a few players more than just Bale

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While I agree with you that we are somewhat light after our first 11, I have to disagree with your comments about the Spuds. They have sold/got rid of about 6 first team regulars from last season in bale, huddlestone, parker, dempsey, etc. Now, they have improved on some of these but that's not hard. They still look a little light and unproven up front to me. You say the season is long and injuries will hurt us. The same goes for them. They are now a closer match to us but nothing more. They may no longer be 'crap' but 'its STILL only spurs!'

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Toolbox, fair post mate

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Spurs now have a squad that can hurt us. I don't like it but it's true. While we dilly dally they have jumped in and bought well for a couple of seasons. We have the 'diddy men' in CM but they now have Sandro/Capoue to rotate as the ball winners and a myriad of AM to hurt teams with a couple of proven goalscorers competing for places up front. Defensively, they are solid with Lloris looking more and more like a bargain buy in the sticks. Paulinho looks frightening going forward and there's Dembele, Siggurdson et al fighting just make the bench. We currently have Sanogo, Frimpong and the like to call on if Plan A doesn't work. I am worried about this season. Sunday will be fine; we'll smash the spurs at home, but with our paper thin squad I'm not sure we will cope with UCL, EPL, FA Cup and Capital One commitments. Unless Le Prof has un tres cunning plan for this window I am one worried Gooner.

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29 Aug 2013 20:44:12
Malaga Gooner,

Personally I believe you may be right but according to everyone's reactions it looks unlikely. Maybe the players are Di Maria and Ginter?

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29 Aug 2013 20:42:35
Just the CL Group we needed because now its sink or swim from day one, no easy touches so our season still alive come Feb however we are doing in the League. Whether we sign players or don't sign players is up to Arsene but the fact is be glory or agony its Arsene"s way that gets us there. If he feels we don't need players fair play to him its his call and he must take all the glory for sticking to his beliefs if he is proven right or??

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29 Aug 2013 20:40:37
tough group but we can do it. will be happy to finish runners up to dortmond and than face the big boys in the knock out stages, let's do it the hard way

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29 Aug 2013 20:37:45
I think Frimpong should get a run in the 1st team. Everyone seems to disagree with me, but I think he could really balance our midfield out. Plus, if you ever saw him in the cup/for Wolves a while back, he has a very strong technical game too - he has been taught the Arsenal way. As long as he and Flamini are our only defensive midfielders, I would give him a go, knowing we have a competent deputy in Mathieu. Looks like he might be on his way out though. ?

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Every time I have seen him play he looks like a red card writing to happen. No self control, too wild.

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29 Aug 2013 20:11:51
I can only think that we are signing someone from Real Madrid, I honestly believe wenger knows this is a fantastic opportunity to add a world class player to this great squad.
We did meet Real Madrid at the beginning of the transfer window. Maybe we agreed something at that point and as soon as bale goes it will trigger the last few pieces of the transfer jigsaw. Maybe?

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29 Aug 2013 20:01:59
Source itv, Wenger, we must sign players, so that ok then.

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29 Aug 2013 19:49:32
So we have 4 days left this is a list who I think we can still get if we bid a proper fee here goes.
Defenders. Midfielders. Strikers

sakho. cabaye. Torres
Williams. Barry. Michu
Richards. Di maria.

I think these are the most realistic targets witch 3 players would u have 1for each position sakho di maria an Michu are mine 8 players there that would make us better.please post

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Richards Do maria and Torres for me, I rate them all but think Richards is well under rated especially by England managers. Must be a reason they don't pick him but can play fb cb and dmf I'd have thought a must in most squads if not teams

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29 Aug 2013 19:37:50
To all fans on here knocking Celtic.
As a fan of both Celtic and arsenal I no both very well.
Celtic have the BEST home record in the ucl.
Beat ac.Milan and drawn at san siro
Beat Barcelona more times than they have beating Celtic.
Boasting the best results against Barcelona than ANY other club.
Ajax with ex get de boer with get a hostile reception.
I would also like to say that arsenals draw is not as kind as it looks.
I wish us both the best but think its a great draw for both
We have a tremendous atmosphere win or lose something the emirates faithfully was to make 10% of that noise and passion then maybe you also would boast a ucl replica cup in your cabinet.
We have also won the emirates cup.
So the European cup.& the emirates cup to celtics name where is yours.

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Who knocks Celtic on here?

You do very well in the champions league at home, it's an intimidating atmosphere for away teams and your players are always lifted by the 12th man, how I wish the Emirates was like that.

However, Celtic will always be an average team compared to those in the Premier league. If you did join the league surely even the biggest Celtic fan would have to admit that mid-table would be a big achievement.

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Im sure celtic will be alright. but in regards to playing barcelona. yes in the group stage when you can try and play for a draw. but in a two leg knockout game?

whole different ballgame.

no doubt your stadium is a fortress. the very fact players are wow'ed by the crowd, shows that its a special place.

perhaps if celtic had more money from the league and were able to assemble a better team to go with the mental crowd, it would be a great team again.

but I remember arsenal coming to celtic and beating them home and away.

besides you must know with all the booing that happens at the emirates. we play away every game. so its all practice.

good luck in that group. you will need it. the same way we will need ours.

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29 Aug 2013 19:33:47
Podolski out for 10 weeks, ffs

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29 Aug 2013 19:23:49
Love the draw more than happy.
Should get threw no problem.
Canny wait till it all starts.

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29 Aug 2013 19:19:35
Mofaya I'm with you bruv!
Can't wait to see Flamini back in the team.
The mans a beast.
I know he sold us out, but I forgive him. Just because he's not £20m doesn't mean he mots a game changer.

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29 Aug 2013 19:18:15
Ed022 is a pretty good ed to be fair. Engages and all, - Ed - does anyone have a ****ing clue what we are going to do in the next 4 days?

What are the chances we are going to sign no-one? Surely that would cost Wenger his job? If if we got 4/5 average players, we are so low on numbers - is Arsene going to throw the likes of Park (one Carling Cup game), Squillaci, Chamakh, and to a lesser extent Gervinho at us again?

Will Podolski out I make that Giroud and Walcott, a guy he has pretty much point blank refused up front.

Am I in an alternate reality? Is the club not worried about this appalling, shocking strategic planning and market knowledge/ contacts by Arsenal - even the spurs are buying left right and centre, every day they are linning up another signing with no champions league?

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29 Aug 2013 19:14:00
Eds have you heard any rumours, snipits, anything about who we are chasing, I'm going for torres and di maria

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I have though Torres all summer with no info just a gut feeling he might be heading to us. Also think Williams is likely on deadline day

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29 Aug 2013 19:11:39
IMO sonogo and flamini are just strong squad players brought in since so many have left, can't really complain as much as I like to but they are better then the players we let go and for £0m is a no brainer but I fully expect class signings to happen before Monday because (1). We have a VERY thin squad. And (2). Wenger will get a beating this year from the fans if he don't and it could cost him his job, at the end of the day if stan and Ivan feel wenger is disrupting money coming in through lack of ticket sales, merchindise, brand name etc etc: I don't think they would have a choice, but let's be positive and hope for the better, IMO saurez, michu or torres maybe mata, cabaye could be some names coming in but you never no with wenger let's hope it's one of them but IMO still think begovic should be signed?

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29 Aug 2013 19:11:18
Flamini, not exactly a top class worker, but he has a good footballing brain and bundles of PL and Cl experience which we have been lacking. He knows when to foul, and break up play and he has a fierce streak witch I find very important in a football player.
I hope he starts against spurs, he'll be right up for it.

Spurs' new players are quality, but you need more than quality to win a North London derby, we have quality and we have fighters who will make sure some of there new signings won't leave Emirates in one piece.

Forget about signings on Sunday, its all about the derby.
COYG!

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He is a workaholic! He fits in nicely with this current squad, he was great in our old squad when our team was at its greatest. Top player and brilliant deal.

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Agree about the game, I'll take a 1-0 win after getting battered all game.

If we lose or draw though, time has come to call for Wenger and the Board to leave. If we win, these things need to be considered still.

Injuries, some players not good enough and rising prices and only a few days left to buy players. Simply not good enough.

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Not a worker, have you watched him play?ran on average nearly 1.5 times further than any other player while at arsenal. Not world class but good squad member

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29 Aug 2013 18:42:55
Before the draw I said I'd be happy with anything as long as we avoided PSG from pot 2, Dortmund from pot 3 and Napoli from pot 4. When we got Marseille I was happy, was probably the easiest team from the second pot but then it all went downhill from there.
From the Emirates cup we know we can cope against Napoli, they scored twice on the counter attack and apart from that the play was all us. Dortmund had a good season last year so they'll definitely be tough but potentially will be under pressure to match their underdog performance last year and teams under pressure can struggle.
But hey, look on the bright side, rather have our group than Celtic's!

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29 Aug 2013 19:28:06
Celtics draw only bad if have a realistic chance of winning it.
As we don't its the best 6 games you could dream off.
Celtic have beating ac.Milan.barcalona on more than one occasion having better head to head over bargain than arsenal.
And having won the big cup 1 more time than arsenal

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29 Aug 2013 18:55:58
If Spurs continue to splash the cash and do exceed £100m spent and then the Bale deal stalls out will they be stuffed by the Financial FairPlay Rules?

{Ed022's Note - In theory they might struggle but Bale is a done deal mate. No matter what the papers say. Spurs are just playing hardball and waiting til the last minute to let him go. They want to get their signings in and then let him go...}

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29 Aug 2013 18:51:30
could it be that we're not spending much money because next summer the prices won't be so inflated? i've been thinking this for a while. there have been lot's of managerial changes in the big teams plus monaco and psg are still very much building their squad. as a result high profile players are more wanted than ever and that drives the prices up.

what if arsenal are waiting for the next, more quieter summer? I don't claim to understand how transfer windows work so this may be total bs but I decided to share it anyway.

{Ed022's Note - With inflation and the constant need for success prices unfortunately are just going to keep going up and up in my opinion...}

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29 Aug 2013 18:44:59
What is the matter with people, yes I am sensible enough to see we are hugely short of players, we agree.

But why all the moans about the group? Arsenal can qualify from that group no problem

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Here Here! Well said :)

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29 Aug 2013 18:22:53
As I posted on here back in july there will be no major signings for this season, it was all a scam to get bums on seats with season ticket & membership renewals. I still sadly stick to this theory but will quite happily eat humble pie on tuesday although I won't be rushing out to get some ice cream for it. that'd mean spending money eh arsene?

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This was the theory of Adrian Durham when the announcement was made I totally laughed off his claims at the time. he could well be right

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29 Aug 2013 18:12:59
on the plus side, apparently we were completing with Galatasaray for Di Maria. No way, would Real sell to galatasaray now (ie because they are in same CL group).

Surely the clubs we should be looking to raid are Lyon and PSV.

Lacazette
Gourcuff

Maher
Bakkali

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No because they will be cup-tied! {Ed022's Note - Apparently you are allowed to register ONE player who has played in the qualifying rounds...}

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Lacazette
Wijnaldum
Gourcuff
Gonalons

Any of the above would be obtainable and a very good signing.

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29 Aug 2013 18:11:03
Thank God Wenger had the foresight to bring in Flamini and Sanogo or I would have feared for our chances of getting out of the group stages.

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Totally agree with you Gunny!
The mans a genius.

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Do you understand the concept of sarcasm!

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29 Aug 2013 18:10:54
Okay I know I deserve flack for this but I'm honestly not sure.

Who is our Captain?

Is it still TV5
Or did Arteta get it this season.
And considering he is likely to be benched by ramsey this year who is the official team captain and vice cap?

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I the words of arsene, they are all captains no.

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Wenger

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I would like to think when Arteta comes back he walks right back into his starting role. This team is much better when he is in the side. I think Wilshere may see less time when Arteta returns.

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Birdseye Got him on a free

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29 Aug 2013 17:59:48
we can beat any of those on our day.

i want a hard group

i want big nights at the emirates

wait until the window is over and see what team we have.

bring them on

eie

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Bring em on!

We are a big match team, no additions needed

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Completely agree. Sick and tired of playing F.C Turkinspurkin from the back end of nowhere. We're in a elite competition, so let's play against elite opposition. Some exciting nights at the Emirates. Let's have it
Flybo

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Exactly the same team as we have now. Stop dreaming.

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Exactly same team bet Ze winners Bayern Munich last year on their own turf

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29 Aug 2013 17:57:37
Surely, surely. SURELY with a group as the one we are in we will need to strengthen the squad to have ANY chance of getting through to the knock out stages. We face Marseille, who finished second in the French league last season, Champions League and German Bundesliga runners-up Borussia Dortmund and Italian second-placed side Napoli.

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29 Aug 2013 17:56:59
Arsenal, Marseille, Dortmund, Napoli

Some good games to watch very tough group. Napoli look a good side and obviously so are Dortmund. We could struggle but it is manageable if we sign some players!

Imagine if Higuian rips us to shreds I will cry.

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Nothing wrong with the group all teams are very beatable

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29 Aug 2013 17:51:21
Ouch -- Marseille, Dortmund and Napoli.

Although One good thing no long haul away trips.

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29 Aug 2013 17:51:05
Champions league group - very tough!
Still laughing at Lennon's (Celtic) reaction to that group! Haha
But seriously, we definitely need some signings for us to make it through the group, and still be in the running in the premier league.

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29 Aug 2013 17:49:22
Weve Got Marseille, BorussiaDortmud, Napolli In The Champions League GroupStage.

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29 Aug 2013 17:48:03
Group of death

Ed I called it

Bring em on!

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29 Aug 2013 17:45:31
Well we screwed with Napoli/dortmand/marseille in are group SPEND SUM MONEY!

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29 Aug 2013 17:44:22
What a hard group we've got!

Lets see how good this 'special' team we already have is, wenger. Over to you.

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29 Aug 2013 17:41:23
I'm very positive that we'll win against Tottenham with or without a LW. However, let's not deny the fact that it won't be easy. They are improving with each acquisition! We'll be fortunate if they don't get Eriksen. That's their last piece of the puzzle: a playmaker. (And maybe a LB)

I want Flamini start/play. Even in one of his recent interviews, you could tell he's buzzing for the game.I hope he puts a tackle in on Lennon or Lamela early. I hate Lennon, and I think if we can be very physical with Lamela, we'll be able to take him out mentally since he might not be used to the physicality of the PL
COYG!

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29 Aug 2013 17:39:08
What a horrible group!

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29 Aug 2013 17:38:37
Loooool napoli and dortmund!

Well we didn't deserve top seeding anyway

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29 Aug 2013 17:38:26
Marseille come out the pot I'm thinking boom!

Then Dortmund and Napoli follow, group of death me thinks?

No signings now Wenger means an early European exit, not even Europa!

{Ed022's Note - Barcelona, Milan, Ajax and Celtic is a group of death. Make no mistake, Marseille could be fourth seeds and Dortmund second seeds and Napoli second seeds so we have got it tough but they are all close geographically, meaning no trips to Russia or Ukraine etc.. Good chance of going through but signings are required...}

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Tough group, could be worse though . We could be in the Europa league!

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Hard Group but not beyond us. I think we can beat both Napoli and Marsellie Home and Away if we are on our game. Dortmund will be difficult to get past to try and get top spot. I can still see us qualifying but in 2nd again. At least no major travelling to East Europe/Russia involved.

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Ed

Lets be honest here, we have all been saying 'with the right signings. '

The problem is we can only post here, those in the right positions clearly don't see things the way us fans do
{Ed022's Note - There lies the problem with this transfer window... Everyone and his dog can see what the problem is, apart from the people who actually do the hiring and firing...}

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29 Aug 2013 17:29:12
Wilshere and Ramsey are both fit to play Sunday.

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29 Aug 2013 17:28:49
Now anyone please correct me if I'm wrong or just being negative here.

I'm Happy with flammini it's a good squad signing. However I get the impression our negotiation people have beem crap this summer and cannot finish deals. Does this prove it. I mean its taken us quite a while to work out a contract and sign a free player who has been training with us for some time. Sorry if just negative it's stressful times for us!

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Was thinking the same thing, we might have di Maria sorted out for the January window at least

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Who knows. There's just something not right at our club. Not too many days to go then some questions will surely be answered

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29 Aug 2013 17:15:13
Hi, new to the site, love it . Keep up the good work guys.

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29 Aug 2013 16:44:07
Out of ten, what are the chances of these players pitching up at the Emirates by Sep. 2
Rooney
Mata
Benzema
Ozil
Di Maria
Cesar
Cabaye
I know you guys don't know everything. but you do a good job, so an answer would be appreciated

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Zero
Zilch
Nada
Non
Nought
0
Nil

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Hehe good post billy bob. billy bob for arsenal manager me thinks

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{ed022's note - this is a warning to all posters like FGOONER, once the cl draw has been made and several posters post the groups i will be selecting a few posts and not posting all of them. please do not get your knickers in a knot or take it personally if you don't make the cut...}

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29 Aug 2013 16:35:23
Now that Chelsea have signed Eto'o, they will look to offload Torres. If discounted enough, I am sure Wenger would be interested. I am not sure how I would feel abut this one, but he does play better for Spain than Chelsea. We are more similar to Spain's style than Chelsea. Also, Rooney to Chelsea is done.

Should be interesting.

Thoughts?

{Ed022's Note - Rooney to Chelsea is done? I hope you mean done as in, its over, its done, its not going to happen. As for Torres, I have laughed my backside off at the shadow of the player he has become. I think he has lacked a Steven Gerrard style player at Chelsea. Gerrard use to thread balls to him for fun and Torres gladly finished. I think his confidence is through the floor. As for him signing for Arsenal, for the right price I wouldn't be completely against it and who knows? Maybe his fellow Spaniard Cazorla threading balls through to him a la Gerrard, he could prove to be a hit...}

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Yes, Rooney to Chelsea is done as in over is what I meant. Thanks. Passes by Santi, Jack, and Rambo could work. Let's see how cheap he will be IF he is made available.

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29 Aug 2013 16:20:59
Flaminiiiiii, welcome back bruv, off to get my no.20 shirt tomorrow, thanks Wenger, you the best,

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29 Aug 2013 16:20:36
I can reveal the two names on the flights from Spain and Germany are.

Wait for it

Lional Messi and Marco Reus

LOL

Mals you crack me up

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Waste of money if you ask me.

should have made them take a bus

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This plane been in the air for over 5hrs now

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In the air for 5 hours!
Lmao
This must be some very special players Malaga gooner is talking about.

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29 Aug 2013 16:17:39
Now that Eto has signed for Chelsea, do you expect a Rooney bid, Ed?

{Ed022's Note - Said this on another post. I do expect an enquiry for Rooney from Arsenal. I also said I don't think Rooney will move this summer...}

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Worth a bid

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29 Aug 2013 16:16:56
Everton fan here.

Would you guys take Fellaini? Just wondering do you think he'd get into your team.

{Ed022's Note - I would have taken him, definitely. However, now Wenger has saved £22m on signing Flamini, I can't see him signing...}

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{Ed022's Note - Just a reminder to fans who are still not registered on the Arsenal rumours. If you are not registered then you will no longer be posted at all. Everyone had plenty of warning and now only registered posters will make the cut!}

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29 Aug 2013 16:06:21
and sagna passes to cazorla, cazorla to wiltshire, nice pass by wiltshire to walcott, walcott plays flamini through AND FLAMINI SCORES.
and it finishes arsenal 1 spurs 0.
you never know guys, you never know

{Ed022's Note - Flamini would never be AHEAD of Walcott in a flowing move!! He's supposed to sit on the halfway line (not literally as he wouldn't be able to tackle anyone) and his job is to break up play and protect the back four. Walcott finishing from Wilshere is more likely!}

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I think the right sequence is . oh dear oh dear. walcott has scored the winning goal, and is limping off. wait ramsey is limping off too. and now wilshere.

and wenger is smiling on the sidelines.

wait he's holding out a massive placard. saying. don't worry we have Gnabry, Ryo and Sanogo.

Problem averted.

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You've got it all wrong mate; Sanogo scores!

{Ed022's Note - I would take a last minute winner deflecting in off the referee's nose if it meant we won the match!}

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Ed022 don't spoil my fun mate lol it has to flamini scoring and nobody else. masterstroke by wenger lol

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29 Aug 2013 16:00:24
Hi 'Eds'. I posted quite a long post at around lunch time in the banter section and it hasn't made an appearance as yet. any ideas, or has it disappeared into the ether?

Many thanks. (No need to post this!)

{Ed022's Note - I haven't seen any posts from you Kermit, sorry mate!}

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29 Aug 2013 15:59:24
When Celtic lost to arsenal Celtic had mowbray as manager and it was not same team at Glasgow now.
N England didn't batter Scotland

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Like I said, no offence intended I would just expect it of the Arsenal. Celtic are also not as strong as they were last season, unfortunate in the draw though.

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29 Aug 2013 15:57:11
just clean out my ipod, found f the arsenals ans forum podcat dated 9/9/2011 go download it from itunes, its uncanny how the situation we find ourselves in now mirrors the situation then, nothing has changed in 2 years, go listen and then post your opions.also
any more freebies available? worth signing?

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29 Aug 2013 15:54:17
Our available squad of established first team players.

GK Shezz, Flappy (neither good enough to be no1)
LB Gibbs, Monreal (only area of the pitch were strong enough imo)
RB - sagna, jenkinson (dodgy)
CB - mertesacker
CM - wilshere, Ramsey (took a knock midweek), flamini (has had no match practice)
AM - cazorla, rosicky
WF - Walcott
CF - Giroud (not counting Sanogo as he's clearly not good enough)

Some key points.
-Thirteen players. Yet again need reserves on the bench.
-No midfielders above 6ft. Intact apart from gk whose useless at corners, the only height to defend set pieces are our centre forward (who should be advanced ready to counter) and mertesacker.
-Jenkinson is always good value for an early booking, and if he gets sent off we are seriously boned.
- mertesacker gets injured or sent off we are in deep deep trouble

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29 Aug 2013 15:50:25
I Never thought I could imagine such a depressing transfer window. No movement, no fake rumours, absolutely nothing.

I'm going to go crazy if in the next few days nothing has been done to improve the squad. this has been such a shambolic display of management by a club that history is yet to happen.

To give the fans of this glorious club nothing but a slap on the face is an utter insult. I am just lost for words as to how such a long transfer window has ended up with two free signings.

If you like me think that this is the end of the line for wenger, we need to make a stand we need to become united for the cause, to liberate our club, from clear mismanagement, from the atrocities that we have witnessed under this board and owner.

I'm up in arms about this whole thing. frustration has reached its boiling point and, delusion has set in.

I'm never going to trust the board or manager after the transfer fiasco, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th chances have come and gone. we need answers now.

I'm going to start a website and start detailing everything that Arsene has said, seems like he has been talking to himself, as clearly no one believes him. travesty.

He's let us all down, the very fans who chanted his name from the top. those who followed him, all he has done is lied to us and made us look like fools, and not avenged us for that travesty of a defeat at old trafford.

So you can either back the team or the manager and board and I think we are all on the same page.

I'm down with this Anti-wenger campaign. time to get a manager who has balls

{Ed022's Note - Message from Lakerville: Read the second word of every paragraph...}

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Hehe lakerville are you rick astley in disguise? lol

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brilliant

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Please say you meant that lakerville! Good spot ED!

{Ed022's Note - Not a good spot from me as Lakerville tipped me off at the beginning so I cannot claim the credit for that!}

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Classy move. great song.

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My favourite post EVER!

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Brilliant well spotted ed lakervile you either have too much time on your hands or just have a great sense of humour

{Ed022's Note - I will go with both; too much time and a GSOH!}

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Nice 1- very witty!

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Fantastic!

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Lakerville is the no1 on here, top humour bud!

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Thought we could use some madness. too much tension in all of us. this team is going to be the death of me.

not the chain smoking, not the drinking, not the ladyboys in bangkok or the women from namibia or even the loan shark I owe 7364% for a £1 loan. no. ARSENAL WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME.

Cheers for the post ed. and its good to have some humour with you on the page.

{Ed022's Note - No worries mate, I thoroughly enjoy it!}

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PHANTOM GUNZ - the entire office is on a holiday. with 3 of us in the office. the 3 of us who don't have kids or families yet.

so we make do. spamming each other and getting paid. hey all I can say is Bendtner gets paid more and does a lot less.

For those that wonder what I do. I work as an information manager . otherwise known as spreadsheet wizard, and word proofreader.

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Wow Ed

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29 Aug 2013 15:35:22
In a weird way we are kind of "lucky" that podolski, arteta and vermaelen is injured bacause it forces Wenger to buy players in these areas, that we soreley need new recruits.

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29 Aug 2013 15:19:15
This is ridicolous another free transfer confirmed flamini, seriously don't even expect cabaye or any DM to follow. The only hope is for a striker and a LW, as Wenger insisted they are short in that department with the injuries to the Ox and Pod

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29 Aug 2013 15:13:39
My first post on here in an age and it's good to be back.

I will always do my best to not be a Malaga and come up with the most random things ever, so here it goes.

We are bidding for Messi. Just kidding.

Arsenal to sign Flamini before Spurs game and he shall support with our midfield.
We are still in for Suarez and Liverpool are looking into suitable replacements.
With Benzema stating he is happy to stay and being used as a main striker at Madrid it only makes sense for us to return for Suarez.
Fabregas will stay in Barca with us monitoring his status for the January window.
Di Maria is off to Galatasory. However we are looking at Mata as our main main midfielder. Which I would be perfectly happy with.

That's all from me for now. Hopefully bring you some good news in the coming days.

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Intresting quote from wenger in may "i have already brought messi"
really, where is he then.

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29 Aug 2013 15:06:27
Official- Flamini has signed. That brings our total spending up to, wait for it - ZERO.

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29 Aug 2013 14:58:58
Flamini officially signed, now for the other 3 players to come in, and actually for us to spend the money that we have available!

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29 Aug 2013 14:48:13
anyone get that feeling that we r not signing anyone as the manager won't be there to much longer and the club don't want him spending to much money!

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If that was the case you get rid of the manager and bring a replacement in straight away to spend and strengthen the squad.

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A big yes.

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That's one theory going around.

But it's not well thought through and could cost us, if it turns out to be true.

Why not let wenger at the end of last season?

We could very well, with our current squad, end up losing out on a top 4 place.

The cost being not being able to attract the players we need to push on to the next level, etc. Plus, arguably harder to get into top 4, than maintain it, etc.

What a potential mess, if it turns out to be true.

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29 Aug 2013 15:20:18
No

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I get the feeling the manager won't be there much longer BECAUSE he refuses to spend the money. We all know there is money available, and Gazidas made public statement that it was "up to the manager to spend it". I've heard all sorts of rumours of upset, argument and not speaking applied to senior figures in the club regarding Wenger.

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Gadizis also said" what intrests and excites you and me doesn't excite arsene" proofing true I think

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29 Aug 2013 14:41:44
Finally a signing! Flamini! Now crack on wenger all we need is di Maria on the wing, another striker (?) a defender (Williams) and maybe another attacker!

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29 Aug 2013 14:39:33
what's the situation with Rooney?

do you think there's any chance we might go in with a cheeky last minute bid?

{Ed022's Note - I fully expect a bid, especially if Chelsea sign Eto'o today which is expected. Man Utd owe us after RVP and we might have a chance of nicking him. However, in my opinion, Rooney won't move this summer...}

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29 Aug 2013 14:37:16
As a arsenal and Celtic fan.
What is honest opinion if drawn against Celtic.

{Ed022's Note - We played them home and away in the qualifiers a couple of years ago and beat them both games. I would expect the same result if we were to meet them. Celtic Park would be tough but we should be able to get the result...}

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Would expect us to batter Celtic. No offence but Scottish football ain't exactly what it used to be comparatively

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With the home fans booing every game, its like an away game every weekend.

they say practice makes perfect

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29 Aug 2013 14:36:08
We literally have a light squad

We do not have enough players to fill a squad

The tenth richest sports club of any kind in the world cannot fill a squad

It's virtually unprecented. To start a season w a squad in this shape and no additions is unprecedented.

At this point, I almost appreciate this "f*** you maybe I AM crazy" approach

I'm on board. don't sign anyone

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Ha I like it.

Shall we get it going? I reckon a massive banner at the Emirates: "No current vacancies; we are full."

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Ineptitiude on a grand scale, and I lay the blame at the feet of the manager alone. But why is nobody calling him to account? Silent Stan needs to get off his @rse or sell up and get out.

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29 Aug 2013 14:32:30
A goalkeeper will not be bought. Chez has made some good stops so far this season and even the best keepers make mistakes. I do believe we need a solid keeper but I don't think it will come

With Vermaelen back in training after the international break a defender will not be signed. He has Sagna as a 4th choice centre back.

If as expected Flamini signs a midfielder will not be bought as we already have Jack Ramsey Rosicky Santi and Diaby(Yes we will make a January signing)

I think their is a chance a left winger will be bought although I will not hold my breath. Unless an absolute steal becomes available then he won't go in for anyone. Santi will be played wide with Ryo coming in for the lesser games.

A striker will definitely be bought though. I don't think it will break our transfer record. I would honestly take a punt and say Wenger will unveil Torres as his marquee signing. Depending on price I'm not saying it would be a bad thing. Torres undoubtedly has talent. Anyone that saw him at Liverpool will agree. That's what happens when a player lacks confidence and with a change in style and training regime maybe all he needs to kick start his career is a transfer.

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29 Aug 2013 14:28:05
Hello peeps,
Thought I'd better register as the posts on here over the last few weeks seem to have been posted by fans who have just found out that the child they've been paying maintenance for for the last 18 years, bears an uncanny resemblance to your brother-in-law. Oh the trials and tribulations of our club! I had to fly across the other side of the world to have an operation that I can't go into. All I'll say is I now have an appreciation for scented candles, an abnormal amount of cushions in one room and One direction.
Thankfully it came at a time when I needed to escape the understandable negativity, disappointment and down right anger that us fans have been feeling. So I decided to visit a place with a bit less venom then this site over the last few months.
If you haven't been Tahrir Square is lovely this time of year.

So onto the Arsenal. First game of the season was one we've all seen before, plenty of possession with very little end product. Add to that getting done on the counter, and a ref out of his depth (not an excuse). Arteta is not the best at the holding role, but christ was he missed.

So onto transfers or lack of. Before my Adams apple was removed I posted what I thought was the plan. Champions league qualification would decide the quality of players brought into the club.
Three things top quality players want.
1. Money
2. Playing time (especially with the World cup round the corner)
3. Champions league
We can now offer all three. A week ago that was not the case. Meatloaf (the singer not the savory dish) once sang, "Two out of Three ain't bad, " but when it comes to getting top draw players Two out of Three ain't good enough.
Conversation involving Arsenal and Player two weeks ago.
A. We want you and we can pay you this.
P. Great!
A. You will be in the first 11.
P. Great
A. And we're nearly in the Champions league.
P. Great, come back if you get there.
A. Yeah but.
P. Can't talk now
If buy the end of the window (who would have thought so much pain and suffering would come from a bloody window) we haven't strengherned significantly then it will be the beginning of the end for Wenger (sorry Wengerism).
It pains me to say but the spurs have been very impressive throughout the summer. I wanted to improve so we can compete with the mancs and the chavs. Now we need to improve to match the spuds. My god that's depressing.
I'm going to leave you with this. It tickled me.
You walk up to a girl in a bar.
"Can I get you a drink?"
"Oh yes please, I'll have a glass of Champagne."
"Glass of Lambrini please bar tender".
The outcome? Instead of a night of wild passion. You get a kebab on the way home. The kebab being Gareth Barry. Let's hope that over the next few days we deal in Champagne.
Quick shout out to Ramsey, Keep it up fella.
Today is dark, but tomorrow who knows. Wenger once did, maybe he still does?
All I know is the people who'll be there through thick and thin is us fans. Apart from the one's who have brought tickets ;-) If only we didn't care so much.

Bring on the cookies!
COME ON YOU GOONERS!

Flybo

{Ed022's Note - I had a smaller word count in my dissertation...}

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Give her champagne the 1st glass then top her up with lambrini, always worked for me

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29 Aug 2013 14:10:38
I won't name people, but some people on this site are either extremely arrogant or in denial of the fact that Tottenham are actually a significant threat.

For the past 2 years, we have only beaten them by a point and this year they have strengthened ALOT.

Lamela
Soldado
Paulinho
Capoue
Chadli
And maybe Eriksen

Are all great signings.

Who have we signed? Some injury prone dud from Auxerre. I know it might be too early to judge but based on what I have seen of him he isn't the sort of quality we should be after, and probably never will be top quality either. (I would love to be proved wrong).

I'm legitimately concerned over the fact that unless we pull off a ridiculous run of form with some luck along the way, I can't really see this current injury ridden squad having a better season than a hungry, quality filled side with an energetic manager in tottenham.

People think finishing above spurs is a given. 10 years ago sure, 5 years ago sure. Not anymore though. For the past 2 years we have struggled to finish above them, and this season will be even harder than last.

The arrogance of some fans is ridiculous.

Tottenham are actually good, they're genuine top 4 material now. If we have this 'spurs are forever in our shadow' attitude we will finish 5th.

Nick.

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Nick - you are correct, we have no devine right to finish above Spurs.

What we do have is a team, manager and infastructure that continually produces results. Not league winning results, but top 4 results. that's not good enough in general, but for the purpose of this discussion is.

People are getting overexcited by Spurs purchases, as I mentioned earlier. They have filled there squad, but not necessarily strengthened their 1st team. Additionally, I wouldn't call any of their signings at this stage great. Potential yes, but how many of the players they signed would get a game at Manu, city or Chelsea? Or us for that matter? Are Capoue or Paulinho better than Wilshire/Rosicky/Arteta? not in my eyes for the system we play. Soldado or Giroud? Close but again I go for the Gooner. Lamela is a wild card, expensive at that, so who knows what he will be like.

Sure we have lacked signings, still time for that to be rectified. let's leave the knee jerking for Sept 3rd and then assess again hey.

Roll on Sunday - I see nothing but a Walcott inspired win.

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I agree- we should no underestimate the spurs this season.

That is not say in a head to head i.e. the match this sunday, we can't beat them- in fact I think we have a very good chance.

But it's the season overall.

ppl wonder why we seem to get so many injuries- there could be numerous reasons.

But I think one reason is because we rely on the same players too much and keep asking them to perform to pull us through games all the time- which takes its toll.

Some of those players are young (i.e. jack w, etc) and perhaps haven't had time to fully recover from their injuries- because we need them so much! And on it goes.

Unfortunately that's the lack of having (quality) depth at your disposal.

So it will only take a suspension and a couple more injuries, before our first 11, will simply lack quality.

So I totally agree we cannot take anything for granted at all and we must hold the club/wenger, whoever it is accountable- when money IS available to be in this position.

Unless. Well you know.

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Of course they are stronger than last year. Many on here would have aken Paulhino & Soldado at the start of the window.
I've got a feeling that as the season goes on Soldado will prove how good he really is

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29 Aug 2013 14:05:27
I know podolski is out for up to 10 weeks, but during this period there are 2x2week international breaks.So it is really only 6 weeks he will miss.
Wenger has to buy another striker.

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29 Aug 2013 14:02:44
i wonder what thierry henry is doing this weekend.

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29 Aug 2013 14:11:01
! Arsenal Wenger and Ivan Gazidis have signed for the spuds. (Or it seems they have).

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29 Aug 2013 13:57:08
apparently Cabaye is staying at Newcastle, well that's another target we haven signed!

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He's no better than what we have. It was a panic bid as soon as Arteta got injured.

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29 Aug 2013 13:52:51
Right,

Let's get away from the non-existent transfer rumours and start predicting our CHAMPIONS LEAGUE opponents.

I will get the ball rolling. I predict our group will be:

ARSENAL
JUVENTUS
GALATASARAY
REAL SOCIEDAD

{Ed022's Note - I'm going with ARSENAL, SCHALKE, AJAX, AUSTRIA VIENNA...}

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Ed I'll take that group immediately

For some reason I think our run of cake groups is over, hope not

{Ed022's Note - I actually have the same feeling... However, when we have a CAKE group as you put it, we usually finish second through not doing the job properly! Maybe we need the focus of a death group?}

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A death group would be amazing if we got through, entertaining matches and great confidence boost, while knocking a good team out as well!
But I don't have high hopes that we could get through a tough group, even Schalke and Ajax would probably finish above us at this rate!

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I'm going with:

Arsenal
Paris St-Germain
Bayer Leverkusen
Anderlecht

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I'm w Ed, exactly Hasan

I think a tough group is exactly what we need

Kick it into gear quickly instead of limping to November

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Man, all this talk of cake got me hungry.

anyhow, group of death as predicted, Marsaille -excluded. Time to man up early in the season. I'd take 2 draws against Dortmund today and take our chances against the other 2 teams

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29 Aug 2013 13:44:46
ps still nothing official on flmini.

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Click refresh

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29 Aug 2013 13:41:36
There will be no signings of any quality whatsoever, look what happen a couple of years ago after Mancs thrashed us, get ready for Sunday boys BUT with no signings to follow, there needs to be some sort of outcry over this, I supported Arsenal long before Wenger, Gavidis, Kroneake and Law had ever heard of the club and will still be supporting them long after they ALL leave.soon I hope

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Spurs fan, I will be really, really surprised if you don't sign anyone. venga is not so far from reallity that he doesn't know how thin your squad is. I accept he thinks the first eleven are very good but as injuries not performances are dictating the need for extra manpower he will go out and sign players. I guess he has looked at many players and not wanted to spend over the top but now he may have no choice and the prices may have gone up even higher knowing the predicament you are in. one thing that is a fact no matter what injuries you have you will still be competing especially on sunday. a serious good luck from me apart from sunday that is

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Thanks D D

A level headed post

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29 Aug 2013 13:39:07
so from now on i'm turning off tv, biased against us, talk rubbish, really biased against us, going to pick up news etc via twitter, bbc, and of course this site, also le grove and . try it you will feel much better. what other hope do we have!, thanks wenger and the board for making us a laughing stock. well done.

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29 Aug 2013 13:35:17
2 things I know

1. If they have qualified, you can bet Olympiakos will be in our group, as is tradition

2. spurs fans have no clue what that last statement relates to

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But we will U S we will and at who's expense. interesting. I think you need some players and fast

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You keep telling me you'll finish above us in August

And I will keep telling you to mind the gap in May

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""MAY"" I just say usgooner is spot on, nice 1 bro!

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You just keep telling yourself that, only time will tell

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29 Aug 2013 13:34:06
Just looking at arsenal.com and we have 24 in the first team squad! That is rediculous for a club that our great leader thinks will challenge for the title! If you break it down;
2 won't play for the club again - bendtner & park
5 are out for at least a month or more - vermaelen, arteta, podolski, diaby, & ox
3 are not ready for regular football at our great club yet if ever- miyachi, firmpong, sonogo

That is 14 fit and able players ready for first team action. That is without debating who is really any good (fabianski, mertesacker, jenkinson etc would any title challengers have these as first team regulars?)

This is not about appeasing the fans who need the deepest pockets in the British game. This is just logic and common sense that says we need players and lots of them. If we don't get 4-5 players we are screwed.

It hurts to say but I see us getting done by the spurs Sunday and another poisonous atmosphere round the emirates come 545. The fans deserve an explanation of what has gone wrong as the current regime is ruining our club

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29 Aug 2013 13:32:05
Daily Mail reported Flamini has signed a 4yr deal any Eds confirm? Many thanks in. Return

{Ed022's Note - My tomato sauce told me this morning IF he does sign, he will be offered a 2yr deal with an agreement for a third if both club and player wish to. He hasn't signed OFFICIALLY as of yet. Watch this space...}

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29 Aug 2013 13:07:58
what "POT" are the spurs in cl draw today

lmfao

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The Piss Pot!

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Now now boys jealosy is not a good virtue

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29 Aug 2013 13:06:10
At the start of the transfer window after the major promises, boasts of finance and change. Who can honestly say they would have been happy with Flamini. There must be a reason his contract ran down at Milan. We were talking about Fellaini, Kondogbia and Bender even Cabaye. Benzema, Mata, Di Maria, Ozil, Jovetic, Higuian. Now we are going to get Flamini and Sanogo.

Obviously I would take him now but no one should look at this as a success or master stroke. If we had wanted him at the start we would of signed him earlier. He is a panic buy. We should be trying to improve not taking back players that walked out on us and then became worse and more injury prone. He is better than nothing and a style of player we need but in my eyes its still a poor transfer. He doesn't improve the team he adds to the squad but only because its threadbare.

If he's the top quality Wenger's on about its a joke. He's a decent squad player. Compared to Capoue or Paulinhio he's nothing.

Regardless of who we sign unless they are real quality this summer would of been a failure and shows how poorly organised and effective we are in the market. Even if we sign good players they should have been in earlier.

Nothing's changed still mucking the fans around.

Need to beat Spurs to put a smile on my face then sign some real quality with intent.

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With regards to Flamini contract, he was offered a contract at ac milan but he turned it down

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So he's nothing compared to them, simply because you stated it?

Evidence man, Evidence!

FFS a players quality is not decided by their transfer fee.

Tell me what Paulinho and Capoue have done that makes them so much better?

Paulinho: SECOND attempt at Europe after failing miserably

Capoue: Played for a mid table side in the French first division.

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I remember reading about how one of the Milan suites jokingly claimed that Flamini only perfomed when in need of a contract.

On a personal note, don't want that thing near our club. He and his agen Darren Dein. There is just no way Wenger planned to sign this no loyalty mugg at then end of last season.

If Flamini and that Gavaguiliu (whatever his name is) are the special players who wanted to know if we were in the CL first then heads have to roll.

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29 Aug 2013 13:02:39
cl draw on a happy SPURSDAY.

does not get any better

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29 Aug 2013 13:01:27
Don't want to worry everybody but:

I have Just added up the current injury tally and counted the amount of fit players (who could be considered as first team players) and we only have 11, with only 9 outfield players.

Fit:

GK - Szczesny, Fabianski

DF - Sagna, Mertesacker, Monreal, Jenikinson, Gibbs

MF -Walcott, Cazorla, Rosicky

FW - Giroud

Depending on the fitness of the following:

Ramsey, Wilshire - Still only adds up to 13.


I hope the youngsters are going to be good this season, eek.

If anybody has some information about the possible fitness of players for this weekend that would help. I have just read Wenger's report and it doesn't seem that promising for the Spurs game.

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We have been say this for weeks now, still no one at our club gives a f**k, hope we win on sunday or it will turn very nasty, they havn't seen us angry yet! will be there of course. cheer on the boys, whoever makes it out onto the pitch!

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Yater21- I agree with what you're saying. I was at the villa game and haven't seen it that hostile for a long time.

If we lose on sunday- I can just imagine how angry and the level of abuse that will happen.

There is still some time (just) but something has gone very wrong this window.

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29 Aug 2013 13:00:00
So with the team fast running out of players, the manager fast running out of excuses, what do we do, where do we go from here, a bid for Mata, torres, Rooney must be happening as well write, do we really think so, our hearts and logic tell us signings must come surely now they must!. The failure to do this lies at Wenger and Wenger alone.

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29 Aug 2013 12:45:51
There is only one website stating that we have made a bid for Di maria and that website is possibly one on the most unreliable. I am now starting to believe that there will be no signings apart from Flamini. Ed what can you see happening? Whatever the weather I will be there singing up for the Arsenal on sunday! through thick and thin!

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29 Aug 2013 12:41:26
Will the current board and mr wenger please start to be reactive in the market. Mr gazidis if you have players lined up for reasonable fees that the selling club are asking for than please stop the penny pinching and get the business done! Example:- cabaye for £10m has been offered, any person knows he is worth £14m minimum so get the deal done.!We know AFC will not spend over £30m for a player so what is the hold up? The market has many quality players available from £10m to £25m so I'm puzzled why no action?! Season tickets have been renewed and my silver membership is also. its time to pay back the loyal fans AFC. If not then get the new board in who are willing to make our club champions again. COYG

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29 Aug 2013 12:30:28
From Wenger this morning:
on Lukas Podolski.
It is bad news about Lukas Podolski as he will be out for eight to 10 weeks. His hamstring is much more damaged than we thought at the start. It is very disappointing and we have paid a very heavy price for that win [over Fenerbahce]. We have to be patient now.

Or how it should of read.

It is very disappointing and we have paid a very heavy price for having a paper thin squad and playing Podolski when we should have a big enough squad not to have played him. Especially having been 3-0 up from the away leg. Ooops, my bad for not signing anybody.

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29 Aug 2013 12:24:47
HERE'S A LITTLE SONG I WROTE
YOU MIGHT WANT TO SING IT NOTE FOR NOTE
DONT WORRY
BE HAPPY

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29 Aug 2013 12:17:43
Hi eds,
is it true we made a 10m euro bid for Josuha Guilavogui from Saint-Etienne? with Podolski and OX out for a long time, are we looking for a LW? is Gaitan from Benfica a possibility? Thanks

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29 Aug 2013 12:09:38
How would people feel about signing:
1. Hernandez (4th choice at Man U, different type of striker to what we have)
2. Mata or di maria (Chelsea have 7 players for 3 positions behind the striker, something's got to give, and di Maria may be forced out of Madrid when bale arrives)
3. Flamini (free and diverse)
4. Cesar (cheap)
I personally feel these 4 players can make us title contenders and are all realistic targets.
I'd even take moses right now as cover on the wings if we couldn't get mata or di maria, decent player, wanted him before Chelsea signed him.
4 of these would probably cost no more than 65 mil

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YES to Hernandez. I don't know why no one's trying to sign him. Personally, I think he'd fit in perfectly at arsenal!

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We are not going to be title contenders if we buy 7 players. just not enough time to blood them with the squad.

it will take them a month or two, and losing 1-2 games pretty much means the title is out of grasp.

title winning teams at worst lose 5 games a season. 1 down already.

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29 Aug 2013 12:08:08
Now podolski is out for nearly 3 months the squad is so thin we are already playing youngsters on the subs bench and a RB at CB when are these promised players cumin in

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29 Aug 2013 12:03:15
I really feel for the side who is going to draw either PsG, Juventus or Milan from pot 2.
Dortmund from pot 3 and Napoli from pot 4.

And anybody else really wondering why we and Benfica are in pot 1 while Milan who won this comp 6 years ago are in pot 2?

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Um Milan/Juve won't be in the same group as Napoli

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Of course they wont. Those are just the teams we should look to avoid if we hope to qualify 1st out of our group

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White Rabbit, the seeding is done based off of the last 5 years of the the competition, then some crazy calculation is done with the coefficient of your country.
The more successful your country has been over the last 5 years in the champions league, the higher chance you have of a better seed.
So even though Dortmund reached the final, in the last 5 years they have done very little.
Even though we haven't reached the semi's in 5 years (Correct me if I'm wrong) and haven't beaten a top 8 team, England does well as a whole so we benefit.

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29 Aug 2013 12:01:28
Oh dear, pods is out for ten weeks. So that means we have virtually no cover on the wings. If Giroud were to get injured now, we would be in serious trouble. With the Ox and Pods out we really need some attacking players.

This is getting silly.

I don't understand why we still haven't signed anyone. I think Wenger is a great manager - one of the best in the world - how he gets the results he does with our team is beyond me, but surely he knows we are in trouble. I think Wenger's job as manager should be to pick the team and get the best out of the players. If he has a few targets in mind, bring them in, but the board has got to have a bigger role in bringing in players.

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Looks like we may be relying on Miyaichi and Gnarbry then.

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29 Aug 2013 11:55:39
Please can somebody explain what is happening at Arsenal?

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Incompetence, Negligence, Mismanagement, Greed, Stubborness, Disjointed, Lack of ambition, No Planning, Tentative, Wasteful, PR machine, Lies, Mugging the fans of, Failure to see our weaknesses, Blindness, Caring about players over the teams development. There's probably more.

{Ed022's Note - Enough personality traits about the Ed's...we do try!}

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29 Aug 2013 11:53:49
Flamini is done and dusted now. Two year deal with possibility of a third.

Now before people on here start about what the boyos across the fence have spent this season, let's look at we have just acquired, FOR FREE.

An experienced defensive minded midfielder who has played in the top European divisions for top European teams throughout his career.

A player who knows the manager, knows the staff, knows the north London rivalry and knows what is expected of an Arsenal player.

A player who's versatility will almost certainly be utilised before seasons end, given the regularity of injuries to our squad from the 'lets kick the arsenal' teams in the EPL. Also importantly a player who will kick back.

This was good business for us. Give him time to prove it this season and if it doesn't work out, he's got to be worth at least £1M to a promoted team or someone in France next season.

Squad player or regular starter? Time will tell but I can guarantee other clubs will be envious of this transfer, UTD included.

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Agreed, worth having on board with CL experience and could even mix it with the youth for the carling cup run.

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Flamini signing is NOT on Arsenal.com, NOT on BBC.co.uk and NOT on Sky.com so what makes everyone think this is a done deal and that he will be lining up to knock seven shades out fo the spurs on Sunday?

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Wow Flamini! I am so excited I will have to change my draws. Is that the best we can muster . Forget about great players want to play in the Champions League imagine this scenario . Agent to great player " You're in luck Arsenal want you, great history, fantastic supporters, beautiful stadium and they are in the Champions League "
Great Player :- " That's fantastic who will I be playing with?"
Agent :- "Errrr no one you've ever heard of! "

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29 Aug 2013 11:47:26
Poldi gone for 8-10 weeks with the hamstring injury he picked up on Tuesday night.

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29 Aug 2013 11:43:54
Confirmed from Arsene Ramsey and Wilshire are fit but bad news up for podolski he is slated to be out for 10 weeks now, the priorty has to be a DM and a LW before sunday absolute must. else we are screwed.

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29 Aug 2013 11:41:17
It gets better. Podolski out for 10 weeks. The panic buys will need to start now

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But he will come back a new signing like diaby

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The saviour diaby. Why am a so worried! In Diaby we trust

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29 Aug 2013 11:41:08
Hi,
really hope Wenger signs at least 3 decent players BUT at this stage of the transfer window it does not look that good.Having said at the beginning of the transfer window we had money to spend why haven't we spent any?.I have faith in Wenger and believe he wants to spend but think there is more going on in the boardroom preventing Wenger to buy.
I am not in the know but we all understand what this club needs to improve, surely by investing in decent players that can only enhance our chances in the League FA cup and Champions league. leading to more financial gain and then players wanting to come to us.At this moment I hope we sign a few players in the areas we need especially after recent injuries . Come on Arsenal do we really want the spurs challenging us .?

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29 Aug 2013 11:36:12
Does Flamini coming in mean no Bender, Cabaye or Kondogbia? If that is so I am dissapointed.

There is so little time left to buy, and I just can't see any world class players coming in the way this window has went.

We need a backup centreback or rightback. We also need a quality ballwinning central midfielder, and at last a wing or a striker, depending on where wenger plans to play an injured podolski.

How the helle is wenger planning to buy in these positions when all he has managed to sign in 3 months is a 20 year old postman and a player that left us for money five years ago.

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29 Aug 2013 11:31:40
My first post, love the rumours so keep them coming, like everyone I have an opinion, I couldn't wait for the window it seemed destine we would sign someone of some calibre but with a little over 3 days to go really can't see it happening now. Like everyone I am scratching my head wondering why and the only solution I come up with is that players do not want to come to arsenal, maybe it's the way the club is run maybe the wage structure (no one player is bigger then the club philosophy) maybe it's the agents the scouts who knows, take isco for example 2 years ago everyone knew the player he was going to be why not buy him then or at least make an offer, will Hughes of derby, now I know it's a complete contrast to isco but the kid looks like his going to be a talent spend 8million on him and take a gamble, rather then digging in the deep depts of no where and finding a player no one has heard off. The days of buying big names are over, spend money on some raw natural talent (erikson for example him going to the spurs will be the biggest blow of the summer) I no this isn't a rumour more of a rant but needed to find out other fans opinions

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29 Aug 2013 10:58:14
Wow, yet again I've woken up to headlines of the spurs doing some seriously good business and yet looking to do more with trying for eriksen! It's sickening!
I have to take my hat of to them. Baldini, what a master stroke by levy! No nonsense, doesn't mess around!
I fear the worst with their latest signing and I feel pretty sure if they get eriksen, things will not be great for us this season!
I'm appalled by how we have dithered, embarrassed ourselves with stupid bids (40m +1) and generally looked enept in the market! We are becoming abit if a laughing stock! We was always going to get CL, surely we could have made signings with that premise and apparently we could pay serious wages?! Our first team when fit us decent but, jack is not 100%, aoc is crocked, poldi. List goes on. I honestly feel we have been strung along by wenger, the board. Whoever is to blame, fact of the matter is we the fans are being seriously cheated and spurs doing what they've done has highlighted this even more! We sold our big names and never replaced, they sell they're big name and more then compensate for it. spurs are supposed to be a Jewish club. We are the club acting like Jews! Lol. Bit strong but. C'mon! I know I've ranted but I'm just so let down by how this summer has panned out! There's no way we will get the minimum of 5 decent first team starter players we need now! Another year cheated by our own. Staff at arsenal should be ashamed of them selves! Not stewards etc lol. Anyway hope I haven't bored ppl, just venting some frustration.
Sw18gooner

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29 Aug 2013 10:55:47
Would love felipe luiz from athletico madrid. Personally still not happy with our left back position.

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I don't agree Left back is our strongest position gibbs and monreal better than most in the league and we have them both.

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29 Aug 2013 10:51:53
Just tried to buy my neighbours new Mercedes for my partners birthday. Offered him£200 and he told me to F off. Still at least I can tell her I tried. One thing bothers me about the summer why we make a really poor offer then drop our interest. Surely our supporters can see now AFC want to share the money between the board, or are you going to wait till its to late Monday and then cry about it? I know nothing about the players Spurs have signed but am sure if we had brought them in to our squad the chances of winning the title would be 50 times better at least.

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29 Aug 2013 10:39:50
And lastly for today, a bit of advice.
Too much negativity is unhealthy guys.
You really want to look after yourselves.
Have a good one.

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Ive now come to the point of this transfer window, where like 'Wengerism' I've just got to be positive. that something will happen in the next few days. it dosent have to be a marquee signing just a few bodies to fill out what we already have and to step in to cover injuries. but I feel we could have a good cup run (inc champs league). but will be fighting for 4th place in league

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29 Aug 2013 10:37:39
Apparently we are going to wait until Monday and gamble on cast offs. (Madrid for example).

Seeing as international week it is likely we will miss out on all targets.

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Transfer window closes on tuesday midnight in spain, and levy plans to wait until then to finish the bale deal.

They really do fear us. lol

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Can't, our window closes 10pm Monday, all English clubs must be done then, anyway levy's desperation to get cl football may be his Achilles heal, he's brought but not brought well, all should ask why no big clubs are after these players, must be a reason.

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30 mill for lamela, 25 mill for a 28 year old soldado

they still have defoe and adebayor on the books and massive wages too.

alot of new players also means time needed to blend.

we should utilise the early stages of the season to build a gap. and hold fort.

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29 Aug 2013 10:15:15
Have been looking through Wenger's transfer history and it occurs to me that he has very little track-record in big-money signings.

1. With Cazorla probably our most expensive player, Wenger has actually never spent more than 15 mln.

2. Of the signings in this "big-money" bracket, many have been flops:
Reyes
Wiltord
Arshavin

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Wouldn't really call any of them flops tbh

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Would not consider Wiltord a flop

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Did you genuinely just describe Wiltord as a flop?! Utterly discredits your post.

Also do you think about inflation? For example a £13m fee for Henry in 1999 is equivalent to approximately £20m in today's money.

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Arshavin was somewhat of a flop. Reyes was good but probably joined at the wrong time, too young. Wiltord was not a flop, no chance.

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Wiltord was not a flop, a good reliable backup striker/winger, scored some importnat goals in his time, not least the league title winning goal at OT which gives him a special place in my heart.

Reyes was very talented but weak mentally for the fight of the EPL and got homesick, not really Wenger's fault.

Arshavin was very dissapointing for the talent he had, just never really put a decent shift in. Again if you just go on what you see in front of you on teh players you buy, Arshavin was a good buy talent wise. Wenger was not to know how it would turn out.

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Maybe flop is harsh, but the Marquee signing of wiltord.

He certainly wasn't the a huge player for us.

In his last season at Arsenal he played 25 games and scored 5 goals (0 assists).

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WWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRD :)

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29 Aug 2013 10:10:03
The difference between our transfer dealings and Spurs is simple, it's Franco Baldini.
The arsenal ownership and board have put too much on Wenger's plate. Some might argue he's intentionally put himself into a position where he micro manages everything.
But I argue, he fell into it by accident after the power vacuum left by the departure of Dein.
He needs help.

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So what exactly is Dick Law. as in other than completely incompotent?

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29 Aug 2013 09:46:27
now, you chaps on here might have a right go at me for posting this. worse case scenario, we don't sign anybody decent and wenger comes out with "im happy with squad and we will look at situation again in january transfer window". I have heard wenger say many times "good teams don't selling good players half way through the season". i'm totally jumping the gun with this post and I hope it doesn't come to this.
ps just woke up and have run out of coffee so haven't had my caffeine fix hence this almost daft post lol)
but, if it happens remember you heard it from me first lol

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Do not fret my friend. I think we'll get a couple decent signings today or tomorrow

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Wengerism my dear friend, I hope you are right because I have no more fingernails and i'm down to my stumps lol

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29 Aug 2013 09:33:48
Something going to happen today. I can feel it!

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The Champions league draw?

{Ed022's Note - CL draw is on from 4:45pm...}

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I've got the same feeling brother

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Flamini.

on a 2yr contract

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I've got a feeling we are going todo something really special in the Champions league this season.
Epl not so much, I do agree with others on here, we need more players for an assault on the title.

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29 Aug 2013 09:33:38
The one player no one is talking about and the one I think we'll sign before the midnight deadline is TORRES.!

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Good shout!
If there's 1 man that will get him back to his best, it would be Wenger. He would really flourish under him.
I'd take him all day long, along with Flamini and a defender.

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29 Aug 2013 09:27:18
Hi Eds, just seeking clarification: how many spaces do we have for Home-Grown over 21( I think it's 3)? and how many for Non-Home-Grown (I think 4)? I ask because it may guide us in all our wishes. People keep talking about a ST, AMF, DMF, CD, GK and some even talk of "a dire need" for wingers (I wonder how many wingers Barca have!) when we can register a maximum of 25 players. Thank you.

{Ed022's Note - For the 2013/14 season each club had a deadline of 4th September to submit a squad containing no more than 17 players who do not fulfil the "Home Grown Player" (HGP) criteria. The remainder of the squad, up to a total of 25 players, must be Home Grown. An HGP means a player who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21). Changes to the squad list of 25 may be made during the period of a transfer window. U21 players are eligible over and above the limit of 25 players/squad. For the 2013/14 campaign Under 21 players will have been born on or after 1st January 1992...}

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29 Aug 2013 09:26:58
This morning I did a little prayer.
Please boss, silence the critics! {Ed013's Note - Amen}

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29 Aug 2013 09:24:34
Special signings have started flying in. Flamini signs a two year deal with arsenal

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29 Aug 2013 09:24:12
Hi guys, first time post person here, with no insider info, just IMO, there will be no major signings, will be out of league running by Nov, have no "2nd team" for league cup so be out of that, Wenger who is passed his sell by date, be gone before Jan

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Too bad, we need players so badly hence the welcome to flamini. I think he is the same player who dumped Arsenal for Money and Milan

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Nothing like a bit of optimism oxondave. Great support from you there?

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So nice and positive then.

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Oxondave, your right, but fans will have an big say in wenger's future, but its still in is own hands, buy players strengthen the squad and he will be fine, the other option is not so good!

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People have been trying to be positive for 8 years its wearing a bit thin now.

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29 Aug 2013 09:19:49
Rumours Flamini signs on the line today.

In my opinion, a very shrewd signing. On a free, versatile, has a nasty streak, experienced, fit as a fiddle and hounds players. As a shield in front of the back 4 next to Wilshire/Ramsay and Carzorla he will prove a very good squad player.

Many will be dissapointed, but call him a different name, stick a 10m price tag on and the same people would be boasting of a huge signing.

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I for one welcome him back with open arms. welcome back mr flamini, your grit and gile will be much needed this season.

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29 Aug 2013 09:58:20
@ Green Dream. I respect your support for the club. To make things clear, I am not supporting tottenham's signings or comparing them to Arsenal. But they are trying to build a squad with depth. Come January and february where the business end of the season starts, it's the depth in squad that will see us through. Our current set of 16 are not mechanical Robots who will not be affected by fatigue or injuries. Surely Wenger can see that when people like us can. Even we will continue to support our club but it's not going in th right direction and that's sad.
Obviously we do not have the money like Chelsea/City do. but those people make 3-5 high profile signings every year. We can surely manage 1-2 after 8 years right? Players who will put a little fear in the opposition and help us challenge for honors. And we are only saying this because Gazidis came out talked about 70m warchests and signing Rooney and more than that. We haven't had dreams about all this. Not a single million has been spent.
It's layman knowledge you first sign players and then let players leave. tottenham, Madrid everyone knows how it works. Why the hell did he sell 17 players and now we are stuck and dependent if other teams will sell to us.

2 reasons that I could think of Players not wanting Arsenal anymore :
1) the stupid wage structure. Good players are padi double and triple the wages at other clubs.
2) Arsenal have clearly not shown ambition to win trophies - something which professional footballers dream of since they are kids. (Most recent proof - celebrating the fourth place and Wenger saying - Fourth place is a trophy for us)

Sand and distraught state our club is in.

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Too bad, we need players so badly hence the welcome to flamini. I think he is the same player who dumped Arsenal for Money and Milan

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Shrewd?

Lazy, arrogant, corwardly, but. definitely not shrewd.

Flamini is a player who walked out of this team much like RVP. He had one good season with us 5 YEARS AGO and never EVER reached that form again.

Fit as a fiddle. you mean the player who has been CHRONICALLY INJURY PRONE SINCE LEAVING THE CLUB!

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Played average of 25 games a seaon at Milan over 5 years, including a full season out. Ok, get your point, but currently fit as a fiddle.

Not sure where arrogant comes into it.

He had a couple of good seasons - played great at left back in 06 in run to cl final, only to be dropped for Cole in final, then looke dthe business as a central mid the following 2 seasons.

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29 Aug 2013 09:00:04
All Arsenal fans, I have one question to ask you. When we spend money on the costliest tickets, merchandise and all the love we have for the club. do you expect to see the best for the club in return for the money(good players, competitive squad, ambition to win and create a legacy) or do you like a Mr Kroenke, Gazidis and Wenger making huge salaries and profits from OUR hard earned money. Answer is simple for me. We fans make the club. We make it POPULAR. If we don't, Emirates, Puma Nike etc won't be signing mega deals with the club. Stop everything because this window has proved what Arsenal's ambitions are. Van persie, Nasri, Song's exit proved it earlier but this window is a mirror.
Arsenal is not winning every season with 100 points so I do not understand a Blind Wenger saying we will sign only special players. Certainly our team is not good enough to win anything, it wasnt last year so I don't understand how that same team with 17 players less in the squad is a title challenger.

To all The EDs who say support the club and cut the flak, we respect you but we have supported the club for 8 years now and want to see dividends or else what reason do we have to support the club? That the BOARD makes 154m cash reserves from our money. WOW. is that a reason?
Tottenham Chelsea keep finding special players though they already have a bunch and we dont? when one player gets injured and we don't have a squad player to put in that position.
You say we will talk on 3rd September,,, but why so late when opposite teams d not have time to replace players and desperation leads to panic buys at increased costs. Is that how an AMBITIOUS club operates?

As an Arsenal fan I fear, Ramsey and Cazorla have good seasons and RM, Barcelona, City will come calling on them, Mr Kroenke will sell them off with a smile saying. "Let them go, I want an island in Nantucket. Santi's sale will give me that."
The fans should stop and fight this facade. Player agents never allow transfers to be discreet in today's world and since there are no solid links we have to realize it's too late for us to strengthen also the realization that many players now do not want to play for Arsenal.
No disrespect to any of the Eds, but this is a blatant and hugely visible truth.

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I think that is a fair post Gunner_vin. I fear there are many of us gooners old & young alike that feel the same way.
Just why are we failing to convince players to come & join us?
There is surely a bigger reason that we do not know about. It needs some Journo to really investigate & find out just what is happening with the soul of our club.

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I support the club because I always have and always will. Benn through worse "slumps" than this, and no doubt will do again.
Been through numerous managers from Terry Neil, different Chairman, different chief execs. Makes no difference, i'll support them all.

To address a couple of your points - Spurs have not bought any special talents - in fact i'd struggle to get any of there purchases into our first team (Paulinho being the only one that I defer judgement on). that's approx 90mm on players tha don't immediately strengthen OUR team. Chelsea/Man City and others are different, they have bottomless pits of finances, we don't - it's simple.

Still days left to go in transfer window - let's wait and see what comes off before writing us off. Remember Anfield '89? its not over till the fat lady sings.

keep the faith!

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Good post well said an awful lots of us think as you do.
hope we win on sunday or the villa game will be nothing to what will happen then!

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Also think the malaise this window is down to wenger, but think lots going on behind the scenes. ie ownership

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@ Green Dream. I respect your support for the club. To make things clear, I am not supporting tottenham's signings or comparing them to Arsenal. But they are trying to build a squad with depth. Come January and february where the business end of the season starts, it's the depth in squad that will see us through. Our current set of 16 are not mechanical Robots who will not be affected by fatigue or injuries. Surely Wenger can see that when people like us can. Even we will continue to support our club but it's not going in th right direction and that's sad.
Obviously we do not have the money like Chelsea/City do. but those people make 3-5 high profile signings every year. We can surely manage 1-2 after 8 years right? Players who will put a little fear in the opposition and help us challenge for honors. And we are only saying this because Gazidis came out talked about 70m warchests and signing Rooney and more than that. We haven't had dreams about all this. Not a single million has been spent.
It's layman knowledge you first sign players and then let players leave. tottenham, Madrid everyone knows how it works. Why the hell did he sell 17 players and now we are stuck and dependent if other teams will sell to us.

2 reasons that I could think of Players not wanting Arsenal anymore :
1) the stupid wage structure. Good players are padi double and triple the wages at other clubs.
2) Arsenal have clearly not shown ambition to win trophies - something which professional footballers dream of since they are kids. (Most recent proof - celebrating the fourth place and Wenger saying - Fourth place is a trophy for us)

Sad and distraught state our club is in.

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Very good post mate says it all I'm afraid . After that post there is no need to comment anymore very well summarised.

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29 Aug 2013 08:56:48
Heard we have a new signing on the way. It is the spurs transfer negotiator! He will show our lot how to sign players up in days not months (or not at all as at present with our lot) and thus improve our thread-bare team.

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29 Aug 2013 08:45:44
Ok lil bit of Jokes or Mind Games being played by AVB, when asked about Juan Mata this is what he says -:

"Mata is a great player - player of the season last season, a very important player for Chelsea. But Chelsea wouldn't sell to Tottenham in any way, as they think we are title contenders."

Tottenham have now become title contenders without even being in the champions league.? LOL

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At least they are improving their team with new signings.

{Ed022's Note - You don't need to be in the CL to be title contenders. Im not saying Spurs will compete for the title but they are definitely a lot stronger than they were last season. They have done VERY well in signing players...}

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Ed022 - time will tell if they are stronger - that's a lot of players to fit into a new system, that's a lot of goals and assists to replace. An injury to Soldado (the penalty king) means they are down to Defoe or Adebayor again, and they relied on Townsend to get them out of jail so far this year.

Deeper squad, but not necessarily quality.

{Ed022's Note - We are a few more injuries from a crisis ourselves so let's not get ahead of ourselves. Giroud gets injured and Podolski is already injured then who plays up front? Walcott? Who plays on the left and right? Chamberlain's injured. Cazorla would be wasted out on the wing. Who else is there?}

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Actually aman021, it was Mourinho that said we was title contenders, get your facts right before posting jealous ridden drivel!

Much love

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29 Aug 2013 08:11:07
Not really been bothered by Spurs spending so far but with Lamela and Erikson, I'm starting to get a little worried. My only consolation is that presumably if we wanted them we could have got them so Wenger doesn't rate them that highly.

Unrelated note - Vela popped up again last night with a goal and is in the Champions League. Bit of a poor mans Suarez but I'd take him back. (If I was him I wouldn't come back here though as he seems to be better suited elsewhere)

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Arsenal have their rating of players and once the valuation of the player is unfair in their opinion, they pass. Like all human beings they make mistakes but in most cases their decision has Ben the better. Remember the way we all felt about Acquillani going to Liverpool? Remember Nuri Sahin? Those are the more recent ones that come to mind. Relax, we will get value for money.

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29 Aug 2013 07:41:55
The people saying Tottenham are weaker without bale need to get in the real world, they are much stronger now.
Look at us with van persie how many points did he get us before he left, did it effect us that much?
Spuds now have a lot of depth And will have a improved season on last year, it pains me to say.
We are going to be in a lot of trouble I can't see us pulling of the 5-6 players we need to have some depth of our own if we sign no one it will be outside top 4 trophy-less again I am afraid
How wenger does not see this I don't know

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Whatever the case, we will register only 25 players for the EPL!

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29 Aug 2013 04:30:59
This is heart breaking. If nothing is done before 3rd, I want the true fans of Arsenal fc to demand the change of ownership asap! These owners have no ambition, they are interestd in profits alone. don't tell me Wenger is responsible for this mess we are in.

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29 Aug 2013 02:36:44
Anyone else think why we should not upset the apple cart for a change and try to steel Eriksson from the spuds.

Not like we have'nt scouted him in the past and let's face it they love to go for our targets so let's do a Chelski and pee them off lol.

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29 Aug 2013 01:35:42
Have it from a decent source we're back in for Gonalons or Grenier. Wenger thinks he's able to offer them something they won't turn down.

Ed, any word on Strootman? My mate is certain he's going to end up at Utd {Ed013's Note - Is this the same Kevin Strootman that has signed for Roma?}

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29 Aug 2013 00:07:00
Question for any of the eds. Obviously a long shot but trying to think of why we have been so quiet and I was wondering does anyone reckon we are looking at these transfers from Real Madrid and they are only going to sell as soon as bale goes to them. Like a transfer domino effect. I doubt it but feel free to give me some more straws to clutch I'm running out lol {Ed013's Note - Its a possibility, but it seems that Arsenal don't know how to negotiate a deal. There will be signings before the deadline day, but will they be panic buys or big name signings!}

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I don't think arsenal even know if it'll be panic or big players. Maybe they're saving flaminni as the big last day signing lol imagine that!

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29 Aug 2013 02:28:31
Don't get worried often but I must admit with the International matches coming up we nee to make our signings by the weekend.

I have faith but yet my faith has been tested many times in the past.

Cheque book time Mr Wenger, do us proud before January comes and its to late.

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Sorry need*. To many beers =]

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29 Aug 2013 00:36:27
oh, barca and athletico have just played. roll on the, oh we should sign him messages!

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28 Aug 2013 23:40:03
We are signing no one, stop winding yourselves up

Be more worried about what happens in two weeks when Jack and Rambo are injured as well and we are starting

Zelalem

I can't believe some of you pay those ticket prices. They spit in your faces twice a year during the transfer windows, year after year, and yet you pay it

Because you "love the club"

You can love the club on TV too

World class clubs don't make last second decisions hapazorly, that too a club as fiscally tight as us. They had no intentions of buying anybody

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Well if they did or they didn't, it still don't mean a damn. I support Arsenal through and through.

Am I happy US Gooner, no not really but I still don't slag the team off.

Do we need changes, yes probably we do but it must be a good change and not just person that thinks he can run the club (talking about AW).

I still think AW has a job to do and that he can do it, but I believe his time is now or never.

If he does nothing then he has to go because we can't go on like this

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Just wait till they start saying that Zelalem is a great player and should be in the first team already anyway.

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Can't wait for Sunday glad i'm going and not watching it on TV.

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28 Aug 2013 23:39:47
Is it just me or do u think something big is going to happen on deadline day? This window has been so strange and so many things don't add up from gazidas statement to how thin our squad is. I can see something happening where were like wtf is this really happening sort of thing. Like cesc or rooney out of the blue. Wele soon find out I guess

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I think it may happen between now and the weekend because of international duties.

Im not ITK just guessing it is more sencibble to do it that way or other teams will see us as desperate and want big £'s.

If not we could have big trouble. that's just my instincs though don't take them as serious, just a point of view

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Well I think they have.
Soldado? Yes please
Capoué? Yes please
Paulinho? Why not, he looked brilliant in the Confederations Cup
Lamela? Yes please
Erikson (spelling?) Yes please.

Five top signings and all for a Kroenke pleasing nil net outlay. And what do we have?
Wengersims Love Dad promising everything and delivering nothing.

There cannot be one sane reasonable Arsenal supporter that doesn't think we've been out manoeuvred over the summer by The Spuds.

Doesn't mean they are better than us, doesn't necessarily mean they will finish above us, but you got to face facts. We're stagnating/going backwards and the spurs are at least trying. That's all I want from our Board too.
It's embarrassing.

Cabayé? What the flip for?
What about. oh we all know the positions we really need to fill.

Max Fed Up Farnham

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28 Aug 2013 23:33:32
the sewer think they have a team that can deliver now but I wonder how much pressure avb and danny boy will be under when they fail.

they have signed no 1 that stands out for me.

not worried

now let's all stand behind the club

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I would not mind Eriksson, I still hope we come come in and steel him.

but we all can wish. I am sure I will wake up in the morning and see he is a Spudnik MEH!

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28 Aug 2013 23:17:45
Oh dear, just seen the highlights for Erik Lamela's season. If you haven't seen them, go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK3N1W0IN24

Exactly why did we not go for him? Maybe we did, but who knows. But he looks like a good acquisition. Nice curling left footer shots and decent in the air too judging by the headed goals he got.

Here's hoping that AW has something up his sleeve.

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28 Aug 2013 23:17:35
swansea are in advanced talks to sign a striker from getafe. could this mean we might get michu?

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Hope not I think he is a great player don't get me wrong. But!st class I think not.

Girouud is just as good would be a waste to leave either beched tbh.

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Nope they're just looking to add a striker as Laudrup wants another.

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28 Aug 2013 23:11:06
Ok is there a reason or the club's malaise, ivan or arsene lost the club's credit card, may be left it in Japan. Seriously there must be a logical reason, targets already sorted, possibly, no players wanted/ needed, can buy that one!, change in ownership, that's possible, with other sides buying it can't be the no champions league crap, the I won't block a young players route to the top excuses, well not at the expense of the team success. We have top players already, yes we do, our 1st 11 can beat any one, but the bench is wafer thin for 60 games see last night for your answer on that one.
My view is back room issues and ownership issues also pressure from us the fans and the media as well as the board are clouding wengers views, do I still trust him? Don't know, see how we buy in the last 4days. Yes and he must buy, how can he not, no back up striker, no backup defenders, no defensive defenders, do I trust him to buy the right players, um possibly, but last chance salon for him now
We are trying to be positive but it is hard at the moment

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28 Aug 2013 23:09:07
with Rooney to stay, I wonder if Wenger has even thought about Javier Hernandez.

i would gladly sign him up.

With bale to join soon, Di maria could be another buy

and if you throw the right kind of money towards chelsea. Juan mata could be possible.

If only we were brave enough to make risky deals, rather than just respect everyone and get bullied.

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Well tv sport gossip column state that he is linked with the spurs at £15 mill so hey if we are looking for good squad players he will do at that price and seems very good off the bench.

Michu is good also but not worth the quoted price as a squad player IMOP.

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Hernandez for 15 is bargain, would score more than Rooney and less than half the money . Expect to get him in the supermarket sweep but only if no one else wants him. Sad to say but arsenal have become the wimpy kid at the back that feeds off everyone else's scraps after the big guys have had their fill. This last minute panic buying is embarrassing to say the least. BOARD and WENGER OUT

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28 Aug 2013 23:07:29
Not a rumour, more a question (really it's displacement activity- Give me a signing! Give me a signing!)

Lyon and PSV both exited champ league tonight. Don't think either are positions where they would have to sell now, but at the same time neither have huge budgets and it seems very plausible that they could now be prepared to sell somebody (they each have lots of players people would be interested in). Any thoughts?

If there's truth in Arsenal's qualification determining how much they can spend and who'd be interested in joining, just seems likely that some of the players who miss out at this stage might be much more up for a move and their clubs willing to do business.

Also, bloody hope we've a good sell-on clause for Vela (know there's a cheap buyback option, but, despite how well he's doing, doesn't seem the right thing to do to bring him back) as he'll be going for a nice fee at this rate

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Gonalons is obviously a player we are interested in, but that deal has been dead in the water for a few months, they don't want or need to sell.
However, could see Arsene going in for Gourcuff now but don't really want him anyway.
As you said, neither need to sell but why not mention the players we would like from those clubs, can't hurt.
Bakkali, Wijnaldum and Narsingh all excite me though I think the latter is injured?

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28 Aug 2013 23:00:31
hasnt wenger said a few times that "players only want to join clubs who are in the champions league?. eeerrr, spurs aren't so why the hell is every bloody player joining them and not us?

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Because they keep telling there new signings they are keeping Bale when its a lie.

Nah TBH m8 I have no idea but I think AW has no excuse but to get his backside into gear and do something otherwise we are dropping down the pecking order big time.

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28 Aug 2013 22:46:01
As a loyal fan for over 20 years, only really knowing the Wenger reign (in my adult life) this is by far and away the lowest and most disappointed by our transfer dealings. Gazidis came out and said we could challenge financially yet we have only one signing in Sanogo, another on the way in Flamini. and both were free. Many 'rumours' of big name signings but no one has signed and we have 5 days left of the window. Players like Sakho, Alderweireld, Cabaye, Gourcuff, Begovic, Lamela (at time of writing) and Eriksen are all available, all within budget, and would all improve our squad. However, we have done nothing. We have sat back (by we I mean Wenger and Gazidis) and watched injuries mount and the squad deplete and done nothing.

I would love it if Wenger surprised me and snapped up Sakho, Cabaye and looked for a striker we could actually get. I would live it if we finished 4th. I would love it if we won something.

However, I'm worried that this season is the season we finish outside the top 4. for me, that would be a good thing as then, the status quo will change and we might just strengthen instead of weaken our squad.

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They may all be available but AW does not seem interested for whatever reason.

Lamela I can skip if we make a decent str signing. Gourcuff had his day and I believe it has passed, he is not so great now. Begovich, yeah why not but I still would not drop sir Szescney (Could bring the best from both). Sakho I rate so enough said. Cabaye, well I rate him think he is great but think we should have got better a lot sooner. Eriksen think would be great. Alderweirald only seen 2 times so to early to comment.

Chances of happening. very little

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