Arsenal Banter Archive July 30 2015

30 Jul 2015 19:19:30
Hi eds would just like to say thanks for everything you do on this site it is by far the best Footy transfer site out there for me and its nice to see other people's opinions on here as well also thanks for knowing the players I'm on about with my dodgy spelling lol.

{Ed025's Note - your welcome ste..

30 Jul 2015 21:57:32
Totally agree Stephen.

Top Ed's, top poster's, top site.

30 Jul 2015 15:52:01
what does anyone make of this busquets link? it seems to be more and more talk of him and he has signed a contract already.

is barca preparing for pogba?

or are we that desperate we are looking to a football cheat to win us games now?

Say no to busquets.

rather sign diaby again

30 Jul 2015 16:01:42
Great Player, Busquets, would love to see him join Arsenal.
Then we just need a forward. I have doubts in repect of Benzema and Higuain. Lewandowski would be my choice.

30 Jul 2015 16:06:39
If there ever was a chance then it has to be a massive yes. Don't know how things stand with barca and the embargo don't think they would sell if they can't buy

30 Jul 2015 16:38:17
Believe it or not, I was going to ask a similar question earlier but got distracted!
Great minds huh?

Anyways, I dislike Busquets as a person (on the pitch at least, might be a nice bloke in person) and a professional.

However, I respect what he does for the team and how good he is at his role.
If we signed him, I'd be pretty happy, I just wouldn't be buying his shirt any time soon.

I don't see it happening in reality though, Barca can't replace him through transfers until January and Samper, the closest thing to him, may leave too.

30 Jul 2015 17:28:49
I know it's fantasy talk but if we could get busquets then we would have to snap barcas arm off. When we were all talking about a holding mid at begining of transfer window no one would even dream he was a possibility and to be honest he's far better than any of the supposed targets we were linked with

30 Jul 2015 17:47:06
Best Defensive Midfielder in the world..we have no chance of signing him..

30 Jul 2015 17:55:20
Agree with you browey

30 Jul 2015 19:24:41
It think I agree Greg on both counts

30 Jul 2015 22:12:58
I disagree. Busquets is an average player in a fantastic team. Dives too much, not strong enough to be CDM in a top EPL side. Barca have a rush up midfield that crowds the opposition. This tactic is good for him in that it does not leave him exposed. I hope he doesn't join us to prove my point that he is average

31 Jul 2015 00:07:17
Hate him think he is so over rated its unreal

31 Jul 2015 02:49:54
Calling Busquets average is by far the dumbest thing I've read in the 4 years I've been following this site. Wow just wow. No offense Btw, just had to be said.

{Ed001's Note - why? He is not the best in his position or even close to it. Dumb is assuming he is great because he plays for Barca. Probably the most overrated player in the world right now is Busquets, along with Pedro, as people verbally masturbate over them both simply because they play for Barcelona. If people actually bothered to watch them play, they would realise both are not good enough.}

31 Jul 2015 08:22:45
Others who think he's the best in the world for that position albeit they are Spanish, Xavi Hernandez, Vincente del Bosque..

31 Jul 2015 17:27:28
I'll agree on Pedro ed001, but not on Busquets whom I believe is in the top 5 in his position. Xavi said this in June about his teamate and no offense ed but I'll take his opinion over yours on this one. Busquets is not overated and would walk into most top teams starting 11.



"I think he's the player with the best understanding of football, both in attack and in defence, in the world.

"His game intelligence on the pitch is a wonder. And off it, I don't know anyone else whom I have the same affinity with. I think he's my natural replacement in the dressing room and on the pitch.

"He's destined to be the leader for Barcelona for the next decade, without a shadow of a doubt."

{Ed001's Note - I really do not care what Xavi said, he was a great player, but he is no scout and he is talking about his mate. I have heard that kind of crap said about team mates everywhere, but it is meaningless drivel. Busquets would only be top 5 in his position if there were only 4 others who played that role in the world. As it is, there are numerous players who play it better but they just don't have the team mates around them that Busquets has. He is not even half the player of Xabi Alonso or Nemanja Matic, for starters. He is a good player, but he is nowhere near a great one, except when stood next to one of the Barca front 3.....}

30 Jul 2015 14:48:15
What would people qualify as a successful season? I would love to retain the fa cup and compete with Chelsea for the title to the last game. Also semis in Europe would be great, I don't think any of that is beyond our grasp.

30 Jul 2015 15:28:47
Not to far off what we did last season Saint . So that's one round further in CL and run leaders another 4 games

30 Jul 2015 15:29:19
Another 2 rounds sorry

30 Jul 2015 15:53:06
I'm totally bored with winning FA Cup now.

So, Prem League Champions.

(Tongue ever so slightly in cheek).

But, serious about winning Prem.

30 Jul 2015 15:57:00
A successful season to me is improving on what we did the year before.

I want to be be:
Top 2 in Premier League,
Semi-finalists in Champions League,
& receive at least 1 significant trophy

30 Jul 2015 16:35:08
My heart says historic quartet, but realistically, if we could pick up a cup and really challenge for the title, I mean to the wire, not fizzling out in January or so, I'd be proud of the lads.

30 Jul 2015 16:52:33
I can understand peoples desire for more, however rationally we have to look at what we have available, and the competition around us

30 Jul 2015 18:08:45
Top two minimum and really competing in final stages of champs league, anything less is a failure to progress again. No excuses.

30 Jul 2015 19:11:57
For once i agree with steve top 2 is a min

30 Jul 2015 19:25:36
Your right steve

31 Jul 2015 00:09:10
I go for the double fa cup and the premiership

30 Jul 2015 14:22:10
I can't see us signing any other big name players other then Cech this transfer window, I think Wenger really rates this squad and thinks there good enough to win the league this season. I don't quite agree as we need back up for Coquelin and a striker, I like Giroud and Walcott but with Girouds inconsistency and Walcotts injury record i'm a bit worried but I'm still optimistic about this season whoever we may sign. The chemistry in this squad is amazing and the quality of it is the best I've seen since the invincibles, I would like us to sign a top striker but there seems none availaible at this current time .

30 Jul 2015 14:44:40
Your last sentence summed it up perfectly. Plus, I imagine, that's Wenger's dilemma too. If a player does become available, don't be surprised if we do make another signing but, like it's been said a thousand times, Wenger won't just buy for the sake of it if the ideal fit isn't available.

You make a good point about Walcott and Giroud. Walcott is very often injured and Giroud not only had a bad run of form towards the end of the season, but he was also injured for the first portion of it. However, we'd possibly have to get rid of one of them if we do buy a new striker. Not to jinx the season before it's even began but I hope we don't experience an early injury and have to wait until January to buy a stop-gap solution.

30 Jul 2015 15:37:11
If wenger is to go into the season and not buy anyone then it's wenger vs the critics again. Every summer critics have said arsenal need to strengthen here and strengthen there and wenger has stood firm. Currently it's 8-0 to the critics like wengers record against mourinho I hope it changes this year. For the record I'm wenger 100% but it's hard to admit the critics have been right come may

30 Jul 2015 16:33:25
It's a catch 22 for me.
I don't think we should buy a striker for the sake of it, but at the same time, I don't think we can afford to not but a big striker.

Giroud, is a good option to have, but he can be so hot and cold.
Great forwards can have a bad game and still make something out of nothing.
If Giroud has a bad game, he's more or less out of it.
Walcott, as you say, has a sketchy injury record and Welbeck has yet to find real scoring form.

All I suppose we can do, is wait and see!

30 Jul 2015 08:56:33
Seeing reports all over that Benzema will not be leaving Madrid this summer.

Given that he was Arsenal's first choice, where does that leave them, Eds? I know it's been said multiple times that Arsenal will only make a move for quality players and won't be forced into any signings that don't align with that philosophy, but are there any such players still out on the market or is there still hope for Benzema?

{Ed002's Note - I have answered this question repeatedly as you note.}

30 Jul 2015 13:39:29
I think the best thing people can do is wait. It's not over till September . It doesn't matter what clubs and agents say regarding moves. It's all part of the cat and mouse games that surround silly season

30 Jul 2015 16:30:15
Agree with Browgun here.

I don't remember hearing anything about us signing Özil till about 11am on deadline day.
Things can happen really quickly in transfer windows and there's still a month to go!

30 Jul 2015 16:40:48
That's it D, you just never know. The only problem with leaving it late is that a real top class player would need to be replaced but the selling club but like you say it never bothered real with ozil

30 Jul 2015 19:20:47
I think Wenger has a trick or 2 up his sleeve guys

30 Jul 2015 03:19:28
I'm loving this

Spuds losing to MLS ALLSTARS at the half but best of all there's a huge Arsenal crest stuck behind the Spurs goal upper tier!! Legendary!!

Love my fellow gooners

30 Jul 2015 22:54:32
Huge arsenal crest lol it was so tiny you can hardly see it. Looking forward to see you lose against chelski on Sunday lts not hull this time lol

31 Jul 2015 10:14:26
Raver, how many Tottenham crests you see at arsenal pre season games? None, ever, regardless of size. Mummys calling, go home.