Arsenal Rumours Archive August 15 2011

15 Aug 2011 23:01:48
ok
we have 29m fact and left overs from our starting budget

we are potentialy getting at least 20m so for agruements sake we have 50m

our priority is getting cb
which would be under 20m
cahill=17m
dann=12m
mertesacker=8m
i think wenger should go for cahill but if we go for dann we should get mertesacker as well however kos has become a player a good defender

so i think 20m should be devoted to defenders

ok 30m on a playmaker/attacking mid/winger
who are/is good at holding the ball
hazard great buy not gonna happen but if it would he would be bought for more than 21m so roughly 25m
we should try but if not

martin
about 15m young and proven i think he would cost 18m or 15 with add on's

and ayew is young and on form plus he scored the other day rated 13m
so 15m would be a good deal
jadson is a no go for me
on hazard and martin i think both clubs say it wont happen but that is what we said about fabregas
my team/s

are
................shezza
...sagna...cahill....TV5......gibbs
...............cdm.....cdm
....gervinho...wilshere......hazard
.....................rvp
or
..................shezza
..sagna..dann/mert..tv5..gibbs
...........cdm...wilshere
...gervinho......martin.....ayew
......................rvp
subs
mert/dann
cdm=song/ramsey/frimpong

which team would you prefer the first or second

ps how much money do you think wenger has left from his starting budget
1732


..

I'd prefer the top team, along with martin and ayew would make us real title contenders.

Starting budget was 35m incl first year wages so spent
12m AOC
11M Gervinho
1m Jenk
1m Campbell
Total = 25m + wages say 6m = 31m
4m left add:
clichy 7m
fab 30m

So 41m,
buy cb, attack mid could go as far as cahill + hazard (prob not mata)
if we sell this will be bolstered by
nasri 18-22m?
eboue 3-4m
bendtner ? 8-10mm
almunia 1m?
another 30-37m which we would need to spend 12-20m on a nasri repl and maybe even another striker esp if vela leaves on loan

this is all "possible" but many ins and outs to happen in a short period of time, also worry failure vs udinese may limit spend which will mean even greater risk of finishing outside top 4 => downward spiral

worried the turnover in and out is too much for board/wenger/gazidis to make happen in next 14 days

Sorry to say but I really don't see Wenger spending 30M on a single player He has never done anything like that, and repeatedly reminds us all that we cannot compete for these type of players against the likes of City, Chelsea or Real.

My money is on Benzema as the marque, as he is going to cost just upwards of the £20M Wenger has hinted he will spend, is soembody we are already known to have an interest in... And a player who can play on the wings or upfront and can dazzle with his skill.

Also I see Jagielka coming in, but as a backup to Kos who I foresee having an absolute blinder of a season.

Remember he is actually a goal scoring CB we just haven't seen his best...

My money has always been on Fab going, Nas staying, Jags and Benzema coming in supported by Gervinho Jenks and Campbell.

If all that does happen we are looking at possibly our strongest lineup for years; just a different approach without Fabs.

Good times :) I see a good season ahead, hopefully we won't fall at the final hurdle like so many times before;

UP THE ARSENAL :D

...CommonSensei

Dont get excited we wont spend a bloody penny.we are being fed lies,lies and more lies ,wenger contradicts himself all the time and between him and the board we will be mid table in a couple of years.they need to remember arsenal is a football club run by supporters money for our enjoyment so dont flannel us because without us there nothing,so lets have some honesty about players leaving(we all knew fab/nasri were going)and whether there is money to reinvest as messages about "super quality" players is bollocks when we spend 15 mil on a championship player and haggle about anyone over 24,we have gone backwards with wengers stance on players nearing 30,totally fed up with this transfer window and fully expecting europa league after udinese which hurts me to say,we need ruthless management now in the fergie mould

We need to buy some quality players,enough of the bull get out there and buy benzma or schnieder or somebody of that ilk,we have the money and i`m sick of the bollocks about super quality too,like the guy said why spend 15 million on a championship player and haggle on shwartzer and alonso,please either tell us the truth about the transfers or f***l off out of our club

Hmm a few thoughts.
1. There is no way Arsene will spend £20m let alone £30m - so forget Hazard and Benzema etc.
2. Both of the teams you mention have there merits but neither would break into the top three let alone the top four and is essence would be little improvement on what we had two years ago.
3. The vitriol from some 'fans' like the last one is sad, without Arsene there would be no long term Arsenal so please get real. Whatever he may or may not do now he created the chance for us to thrive in te future.
4. As for 'good times' coming, sorry I very much doubt it. Arsene hates signing big and isn't much good at it, he signs young and develops (which he is great at) or middling. Whatever it's at best another year of transition - at best 4th place but probably 5th and frustrating cup exits. Sorry I want to be optimistic but too much change doesn't make a top four side.

U arsenal fans are funny, no 1 wants to go u cant pay the wages

man city x

Where do all this, we have so much money to spend *fact* stuff come from? Real life is nowhere near football manager- it's a game for entertainment.

Are you an arsenal accountant? We don't actually know what wengers original transfer budget was...also, I believe it includes wages, signing on fees and agent fees..so in reality the actual 'purchasing' money is probably nowhere near that amount. We are not privy to arsenal's finances. S

Suggest which players you would like to see sign, but working out the costs is pure fantasy, simply because we don't know all the in's and out's of the finances so you're wasting your time trying to work it out imo.

I posted the first super quality text,in reponse to some of the replys,i love wenger and what hes done for us but why wouldnt we have a long term future without him,are you telling me we would go bust cos it aint going happen,all the other big guns survive and actually spend money and win things,do you think man u fans are bothered with there debt-no because they wont go bust either,get real we aint pompey,if your view is our future is buying youngsters to sell at a profit and strenghen our rivals then you really dont have the clubs or fans best interests at heart

Haha fair play to the Man City fan;

I suppose when you have a team built from the most expensive league winning cast offs you can be arrogant as that.

Still kicked your ass 3-0 last season so have a load of that :) Your stadium is a pigsty clean it up

Ok calm down it appears ed has cut some of my text when i asked him some questions
and i had a bit that said please note nowhere have i said this will happen but what i would like to happen i said clearly in the text that hazard will not come so relax and be optimistic i have not said anyting about benzema and i also have clearly said it will not happen and even ed said the chances are slim but none at least i have a post that does not use abusive language and i am optimistic if you have nothing good to say keep to yourself but there are ways around it such as constructive criticim
so relax
1732 {Ed001's Note - if you use certain symbols the html gets confused and the line following it won't come through. That could be why your text has been cut.}

As a Man utd fan, i do hope u do well this year. Sh*tty and Cheskia do me a favour

"U arsenal fans are funny, no 1 wants to go u cant pay the wages."

man city x

How long have you been a city fan? A year or 2 I bet, probably chelsea before that and arsenal before that ? And when the wheels fall of at city, it will be man u.

Go away glory hunter.

{Ed022's Note - Dont you mean when the wheels fall off at City it will be Arsenal again as we will be winning again...?}

Whatever happenned 2 walcott and arshavin

ps: ayew is a cm and arsenal play a 4-3-3

15 Aug 2011 22:12:41
talksport:Just when #afc fans were crying out for good news, Phillipe Auclair says it could be Wenger's last year at the club

A ray of sunshine at last {Ed025's Note - be very careful, what you wish for..

Can't make my mind up if this is all of Wengers making or he is carrying the can for the board. He certainly looks like a man on the edge

Let's face it, you don't exactly need to have great insight to recognise that- any of us could've said, in fact I and many others have said this a while ago-

it depends on how he manages the team post cesc/nas- buys in some quality players now and if the team go on to have a 'good' season i.e. qualify for the group stage cl and finish top 4, he'll probably be still in job, common sense really- any less than that...? Well...

Unless the board sack him he will be going nowhere, AW always sees out his contracts.

And with their pockets bulging do you honestly see them sacking him?

Hehe I laugh at this stuff .... every year it is the same, meanwhile those who can remember 1996 and before, as well as just 2004 and beyond would never 'wish' for the departure of Wenger.

Simply put he is the only man who can manage the project at Arsenal and though the team have underachieved in the league, we have continued to get better year after year.

People say selling Fab is a backward step but I disagree Now we have this monkey off our backs we can build a proper team; he was never staying and Wenger would have known this...

I reckon Fab was just there until our BRITISH players started to bloom;

Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Gibbs, Frimpong there are many more.



Gooner for Life

I put £20 in Wenger to be the first manager to leave at 33/1. He has been cut to 10/1. Wenger has lost the support of a lot of the fans and it will be difficult to recover regardless what he does. Any bad result is going to result in boos. If we lose tonight then the fans are really going to be upset

Man utd - 26 years without trophy
Liverpool - 21 years without trophy

Yes i know they were league trophies...but its not like its only us that are not winning. lets have patience.

We have just lost two big players...who cant be replaced no matter who you think we can buy.

Nasri - for money
cesc -affairs of the heart.

We will survive...get behind the team...as wenger said we are a club for 125 years...we have been through worse...


Dont look for something elsewhere when its right in front of you.
Sometimes the crowd is the best player not involved...so lets show them we are ARSENAL thru and thru.

I was hoping it was his last match after newcastle...

{Ed022's Note - Cant believe some of the fans on here calling for Wenger's head. Playing devils advocate again. Who would you get in? Realistically. Managers and assistants on a postcard to the usual address...}

Lets wait and see who he gets in before calling for his head No manager in the world with the possible exception of SAF could manage on the budget AW has and be successful. Ive been a gooner since 1971 and seen some great days and bad days and i really hope the fans show just a little more patience and get behind the team tonight

15 Aug 2011 18:32:44
Teves going to inter eto coming to the mighty arsenal

You are nuts for believing that

StEvE

No eto please.

A GOONER

It's true we can obviously afford the £300k a week wages and the £30-40m odd signing on fee for him Ha bloody ha.

Only if there an international friendly taking place at the Emirates

Eto is at Anzhi for his medicals

15 Aug 2011 19:58:40
I've also heard the rumour linking Sagna with Spurs. This was earlier in the season and he WAS interested (club source)

Mate why put club source? That means nothing. It was in the papers anyway, I posted that yesterday.

Raz

Why would Sagna be interested? If he wanted to move at all, what do Spurs have to offer a player that's been in the CL every season he's been here? Certainly not higher wages.

15 Aug 2011 18:49:53
Is anyone else going to the game tmro night?
I'll be in the north bank. lets get behind the team and make some noise With me?

C'mon you gunners

Mike

Couldn't agree more.. I know people are down hearted but we need to support the lads

I'm north west corner mate, completely agree with you, we need to get behind the team and show them we still believe in them

I'll be there.

A GOONER

Well said..mate.
such should the attitude of a gunner.

I'm there East stand though. Let's show some support, if we don't qualify it will be bad so let's get behind the team

I'll be there- always behind the team
LG

Clock End for me mate. Come on you REDS 3-0

Herrick Gooner

0-0. Bore draw. With nothing to cheer about, sorry

Mate we can get as angry as we like and complain about money and people leaving and no stars in and Wenger never being straight with us, but when it comes to having faith on match day we go 100% believing we can have anyone, we defy the odds when people least expect us to (Man U and Barca last year) bring it. Anyone who doesn't have faith on match day is not a real fan they are just someone who watches arsenal end of.

Raz

Ill be there. I have faith in the lads n will have no voice after the game. Love the positivity by most of you guys.
BD

Damn right ~ I'm not in the north bank but we need to give the team our support (as we always do) and try not to piss off nasri ~ who knows, he might stay.......

Theres always is 1 person on these posts-o-0 bore draw, the thread is about getting behind your team , if you can't do that on a game night ,then p**s off to some other club.

15 Aug 2011 18:02:08
I'm hearing more reports of Metersacker wanting to leave, destination Arsenal. This could be a fantastic signing in my opinion, it could be argued that we might need another defender too, possibly Dann, he is young and has some learning to do, also much cheaper than Cahill.

Lets get something straight though, v Persie will not be leaving, he is now our STAR player, and likely captain We have a strong first team, may be lacking a little bit in depth.

So....

Wenger will be looking to spend the money from Cesc, I know you've heard it all before but I'm hearing the usual names linked, Jadson, Martin and also the Mata deal could still be revived

Its clear he has signed his youngsters and all spending now will be on quality players.

Also, Eboue will be leaving, we have opened talks with Galatasaray.

Mike

We've already agreed a fee for 3.5m for Eboue according to some dark corners of the press.

Mate we dont have a strong first team half of them lack the desire to play for the club and most of the others suck or are two young and inexperienced, with the exeptions of wilshere, RVP and a few others.

P.S he wont spend much more maybe a defender or two probably one who isent good enough and sucks cos hes cheap

Mertesacker is rubbish i have seen him many times and at the weekend he was like a statue and was outjumped by a player at least 4 inches shorter than him.Also he is too slow and was thrown out of the national team.It would be like buying another igor stepanovs

We need a LB more than we need a CB. Mertesacker is not my ideal choice as he is not a ball player.

Oh, for Vertonghen...

15 Aug 2011 17:42:15
Wenger's top targets: Eden Hazard (Lille - the best young creative talent in Ligue 1), Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund - the best young creative talent in the Bundesliga) and Per Mertesacker - proven, available and not overpriced.

**Hazard** Lille will not sell Hazard this summer. They have already lost Gervinho and Cabaye. They will be competing in the Champions League this year and Lille's management has already said he is not for sale. More importantly, Hazard himself has stated multiple times that he wants to play Champions League football this year with Lille.

**Gotze** Even less likely then Hazard. Gotze is very down to Earth and humble and has stated he has no desire to leave Dortmund. He came through their youth ranks and he loves the club. Again, just like with Lille, Dortmund's management has no desire to sell Gotze with the upcoming Champions League campaign. Gotze will not leave Dortmund for at least 2 years.

**Mertesacker** Overrated. The player was hyped up 2 or 3 years ago because of both his height and the fact that he broke into the starting 11 of the German National Team. In the past two years Mertesacker has digressed (in reality he just hasn't improved/matured like everyone thought he would). He is error-prone and far too sluggish for the Premier League...although I admit he'd be great for defending set-pieces. Even though I just slagged him, I think he would be a good purchase as a SQUAD player because he is so cheap and has top level experience. However, he just isn't the player most people think he is. He is not good enough to play ahead of Koscielny (maybe Djourou).

Fully agree mate

15 Aug 2011 16:44:27
Gary Cahill Get him
Wenger Geeeeeeees

15 Aug 2011 16:21:19
Arsenal in talks with Real Madrid over a deal for Kaka on a season long loan.

Personally, i'm not sure he is up to it anymore given his injuries, but a loan spell could be a good oportunity to assess him.

He could be just what we need playing off RVP.

Tim

Thank god August is almost over. I can cut my addiction to this page and stop reading these sickening BS posts. Unfortunately I can't stop before August is over or until Wenger signs players and says he's stopped signing

{Ed022's Note - Over the last few months I have lost my girlfriend, my other job and I think my house is being repossessed due to my inability to respond to final warning notices. Other than that I wouldn't change my own addition to this website...}

I hope this is true, his mum said that they were moving to london a couple of months back, everyone thought that chelsea would be the most obvious place for him to go but I hope he comes to arsenal.

There is nooo way we'll get kaka, even on loan

Not sure Kaka fancies playing in the UEFA cup

15 Aug 2011 16:12:01
The #gamechanger has heard bids for Marvin Martin and Jadson are forthcoming

15 Aug 2011 14:54:29
ed seriously getting very very worried now. full of optimism at start of summer transfer window and...nothing.

who do you see us signing this window?

much appreciated

clock end gooner

{Ed022's Note - I see two signings possibly three. I reckon one of Cahill or Dann will come in. A midfielder will come in as Fabregas has gone and Nasri might. Third player is a long shot but a striker if Bendtner goes.}

Hate to say it, but dont see any Centre back we are linked with being any better than than our top 3 (obviously better thanSquillaci). What we need is cover and strength throuh the middle of midfield and up front. Only RVP/Chamakh as out and out forwards - not enough
Centre midfield Wilshire/Ramsay/Song are fine - injuries and you are hitting permacrocks like Rosicky/Diaby or untried Frimpong/Lansbury.

We have to replace Cesc or a very long painful season ahead.

rob g

{Ed022's Note - I think Cahill or Jagielka (due to their experience would slot in with Vermaelen ahead of Koscielny. However AW likes Koscielny with TV and lets not forget he did spend £10m on him. If he gets Dann I see him as a third/fourth back up with Djourou. Squillaci will be shifted out the door.}

Ed - exactly - these are much of a muchness except getting shot of Squillaci. I personally would not be surprised if we do not get another defender, and maybe just 1 more average body in midfield.

How i long for the days of a press conference and in walks a Sol Campbell at the peak of his powers....for absoloutly nothing....

15 Aug 2011 13:57:23
Nasri deal to City will be concluded by Friday, do not expect to see him named in the CL squad for tomorrow night

He is suspended regardless, so wouldnt have been in anyway.

He is suspended anyways. Money is on him staying, if you have read his recent tweets, plus the news gab marcotti mentioned on espn today.

Nasri hasn't tweeted anything about his future recently, for months in fact. Smart money is on him leaving.

Yes because he's suspended?

I presume you mean team as he is already named in squad.

{Ed022's Note - Nasri is in the squad but then again so is/was Cesc Fabregas so as you see it means absolutely nothing. He is however suspended for the first leg on Tuesday...}

He is suspended anyway.

Smart money is not with City but united. Heard from one of the lads at our Manchester office, that he is united bound. Also heard that Bebatov may be part of the deal. Think i would be happy with 10 million and berbatov.Would compliment RVP nicely.

Berbatov and RVP are way too similar in style to work together. Also, we'd be taking a player Man U clearly don't need and handing them one they very much do. What kind of business is that?

For me, personally, Dimitar Berbatov is one player we do not need or want up front. There are a few reasons for this:

1st What we need is someone that will take the match by the wedding veg. I know ill be criticised for saying this but a Obafemi Martins TYPE player. Someone who will be the terrier and will opposing players in the 3rd 1/4 of the field.

Secondly im not that afraid of taking players from opponents including Hotspur because who cares if we are lifting silver ?
But many would see the fact that he was once a key player at tottenham a reason to complain.

If nasri goes, then i, as all of us, have our shopping lists and predictably apart from 1 CB wenger will go completely left field and get an unknown, but we shouldnt complain as such as thats what wenger does best.

My personal shopping list is (and ofcourse these won't happen)

D. Bent/K. Benzema
De Rossi (ive always liked him)
Cahill

If Wenger does want a young 'prospect' of a midfield i would punt for Marco Verratti as a decent prospect but again midfield is not specifically necessary with Wilshere being the closest to Fabregas we are going to get, plus the underrated Arshavin and Rosicky- who for me have been trampled on by quite a few people since the emergence of nasri and fabregas. They may not be 30 million worth of quality but they know our system, and are still pretty good. Remember wenger spent what? 15 million on Arshavin and maybe 12-13 on rosicky originally- Wenger doesnt do that often. I have confidence in them

I think your find he is suspended, so your right he wont be in the squad tomora night....

15 Aug 2011 14:07:51
I know this will upset one or two of you, but that's what this is all about

We really looked to have no ideas on Sat without Cesc, Nasri & Jack. Rambo is class but in no way anything like Cesc or Nasri. I am starting to agree that BIGGER players might be needed, Tiote (£12 million min) looks like a rock at Newcastle to me, but as my earlier post I am starting to see a bit of Pat V in Tchoy from WBA. We could seal a deal for around £5 million i'd think.

I'd like to see any deal with Man C for Nasri having a player come from them to us, i'm sick of developing players for them Adam J or Milner would be my choices

Mong Out

More Crap. We are looking for QUALITY, no just good players..... Player that would add value to ARSENAL..............Great Players

Tchoyi is a forward from what i saw - nothing like Vieira. We need proven, experienced quality players - and 3 or 4. Not untested players that will take a whil;e to adjust, we dont have the time for that this season

Rob g

WBA turned down 5m for Tchoyi from Fiorentina, so your valuation is way off. The above poster is correct in that he is a more advanced player. Just becasue he's big doesn't mean he's the next Viera... I mean you wouldn't want Drogba as a DMF would you?

We had ideas on sat just the execution of the killer ball, we had several 2 on 1, seem to overhit the pass.

15 Aug 2011 12:44:41
Fabregas had his medical at barca at 08.00 today and they will announce that they have bought Fabregas at 14.00 today.

Bye bye Cesc thanks for the 8 years, really hope you don't end up warming up the subs bench for the next 3 or 4 seasons; as this would be such a shame - just about to hit your prime what a waste

He'll be back in 2 seasons

{Ed022's Note - Im sure he'l play against us sooner than that...}

15 Aug 2011 11:34:00
Harry really needs to get his own scouts, Tottenham now want Jadson.

Oxford Gooner

Ofcourse they do harry and kenny cant find quality targets of their own so they just try to steal targets from under arsenes nose.

Not going to happen...one reason champions league

That why we got berbetov modric and others through our scouts

No Modric was an Arsenal target.

Only quality player would be link to more that one club

Yid, go back to your own page and learn to spell
The reason you wont buy anyone decent is because you aint play champions league football. FACT
ALWAYS IN OUR SHADOWS....another FACT

Has anyone ever thought the spuds are only 'interested' in the players we are looking to with the hope that that player then has their value increased by the selling club, thus meaning we have to pay more. just a thought really but you never know

Its said that when Wenger sneezed Harry wanted to sign japanese player atchoo

15 Aug 2011 10:43:01
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger knows that he must work quickly if he is to find a replacement for Manchester City-bound midfielder Samir Nasri and has reportedly identified Lille star Eden Hazard as the man to fill the Frenchman's boots. (sportvibe)

Really hope that this is true, think hes the next cristiano

Hazard does look top class but after lille selling gervinho to us i dont think they will sell there best player to us again.Lille are in the champions league this season

15 Aug 2011 10:30:51
Arsenal have agreed a fee with Shakhtar Donetsk for the transfer of creative midfielder Jadson, the Ukrainian club's head coach has confirmed.(sportbice)

This may be true, presumably he requires a work permit?

He won't get a permit so if we do sign him he will get loaned out like ryo

No they have not he said arsenal were in the running, no mention of bids being accepted

Wenger rejects reports that Arsenal have had bid for Jadson accepted. Boss rules out Tevez move too.

Source: Twitter Arsenal.com

15 Aug 2011 09:47:52
I thought Tchoy (spelling) of WBA was class yesterday, I thought the same last season but thought it was a one off Get that unit in a gooner shirt

Mong Out

This better be a practical joke

Hes a decent player wud be a good squad player better than what we got on the bench

Why do so many people on here think that players from so called 'lesser' teams in the premier league ie: WBA, Wigan Stoke etc aren't worthy of pulling on the Arsenal jersey? Theres some quality out there that could do a decent job for us and they have an advantage over all of these youngsters from foreign leagues with 'potential' and thats premierleague experience I'm with you person Out.

Munnster.

No Joke,

He looked good on the ball and strong he knocked almost every man u player off the ball yesterday He would make a good squad player, the next Pat??

Mong Out

Did we seem the same game? I watched it with two friends and we all thought he was like a carthorse. I saw him live last year and thought he was pretty good, but yesterday he was the ghost of John Hawley.

15 Aug 2011 09:23:28
Van Persie is suspended for the Udinese game so we have to rely on Chamakh to get the goals.......We're screwed

{Ed022's Note - Gervinho will play as hes suspended for us domestically. Therefore he will play up through the middle and I expect Walcott to start also. Stop whinging...}

If we cant beat Udinese with a few top players missing then we dont deserve to be in the champions league anyway

{Ed022's Note - Udinese are not Odense or FC Zurich. IMO Udinese are a tough opposition and to be missing RVP, Wilshere, Fabregas and Nasri will mean we are lacking creativity. However, on a cautionary note, I feel we will win but think everyone needs a reality check considering we failed to break down a Newcastle defence and that was with RVP in the side...}

Indeed, stop underestimating the opposition, who also know they'll never have a better chance as we will be down several players. All of those who think it will be easy need a reality check.

{Ed022's Note - Exactly. I thought we'd beat Newcastle 2-0 on Saturday. People were saying 4-0 and 3-1 etc...and saying it would be easy. No game as an Arsenal fan is ever easy. We don't do easy!}

I agree, we looked like we lacked creativity against Newcastle. The problem is Wenger does not seem to have the ability or willingness to change the style of play in order to grind out a result. I think we need to play a 4-4-2 against Udinese with walcott and Chamakh up front and Arshavin and Gervinho out wide. Chamakh is great in the air and walcott can finish. We should either launch the ball into the box for Chamakh or go the old Bolton style and launch it up for Walcott to run onto. Would like to play beatuiful football but in reality would like a win more.

Gooner Bill

The thing that vexes me is that Walcott would be great in the middle, and 6 weeks ago he gave an interview on arsenal website saying he cannot wait to play down the middle and he's looking forward to resuming his old role. Haven't seen this so far. Also the point of having fast wingers is to get them tot he by-line, or get them running round the back of defenders, neither of which he does that often at all. He is squandered out wide and what's really irritating is we have about 6 wide attacking players, we're lacking up front, yet Walcott is still a wide man. He should be having serious words with Wenger.

We should have broken a newcastle side down ,only the final sloppy ball when 2-1 stopped that

Well said ed, its only our second game and thought we at least looked stronger at the back

Oh god Now from the start let me be clear I am not one of these fools who is anti Arsene, but the idea we take positivity from a scoreless draw with rlegation fodder is beyond sad. wow what a shock our defence was okay against a toothless attack sligthly sadder that the midfield and attack were toothless against very poor opposition. You think Udinese can't get a result at the Emirates? Prepare yourself for 0-1 or 1-1 at best, whatever we will be on the brink of an exit by Weds.

15 Aug 2011 09:15:57
Arsenal most likely line up:
Szeschney
Sagna, Dann, Vermalean, Gibbs
Walcott, Ramsey, Wilshere, Gervinho
Jadson
Van Persie

Being honest this team will get 4th Place. RVP and Walcott will be out for about half a season each and If Jadson doesn't adapt to the premier league then we are screwed. We need to make 2 world class aditions in a stiker and a defender to have a chance of winning the premier league. There is about a 10% chance that this will happen so it looks like another season of medioricity at Arsenal

Gooner Bill

Dann isn't even better than Koscielny. Signing him would keep Squillaci out of the team at least though

Indeed, I'd give Squallaci a piggy back to whoever wants him

Szeschney
Sagna, Cahill, Vermalean, Gibbs
Walcott, Jadson, Wilshere, Hazard
Gervinho Van Persie

Dann is left footer from wat ive seen.. i dnt think AW will wana put 2 left footed at the back.

gunthemdown

Ransey is quality him and wilshere will be the main men and a holding midfileder will be bought

{Ed022's Note - Song? Frimpong? Eastmond? Why oh why would we need a defensive midfielder??}

15 Aug 2011 09:12:49
Fabregas' replacement is going to be...... Ramsey

15 Aug 2011 09:11:16
The Nasri rumour has died down a bit maybe he will stay at Arsenal

Not if our fans show the same class some of us displayed at Newcastle. We need to remember, Nasri told us to not believe the rumours ... now we're pillorying him. We need to ease off ...

15 Aug 2011 07:13:11
Gabriele Marcotti on ESPNSoccernet says that he believes that Arsenal are going to try to keep Samir Nasri. Arsenal will attempt to use the savings from the Fabregas deal to offer an improved contract and maybe work something out with bonuses to keep Nasri.


Prelen

Well great if so but tick tock need this sorted in next week or sold by 31 august - otherwise will be gone for free will not sign a new contract as others will offer far more money - wenger needs to remember it is about money not all football phillosophy

15 Aug 2011 01:21:55
Players We Will Sign Be The Window Ends ..

Scott Dan - 8 Millon
Tiote - 6 Million
Odinwingie - 10 Million

Tiote 6m?? ha ha ha ha ADD another 10m to that price and Wallcott + Van Persie and we may consider the offer TOONLOYAL

We approached odemwingie very early in the window. he said the offer was insultingly low and turned us down (not sure if he meant transfer fee or wages)

So this guy is saying tiote is worth 60 mil. lol lol some people are funny now days.

15 Aug 2011 00:55:19
Cesc Fabregas has gone to Barcelona but heel always be in the hearts of arsenal fans.I wish him well 8 great years for the amazing playmaker. He was the heart of the team and the leader. Once a gunner always a gunner. I love you cesc.

Cesc was a good player for Arsenal but i will not remember him with any fondness, he handled this whole transfer saga badly in my eyes he was a typical badge kisser so now hopefully we can sign a player or two that want to play for us. And as far as im concerned the worst captain Arsenal ever had, you cant exactly scream and shout at other players if your hearts not in it yourself. Ta Ta our little spanish friend

U cant say his the heart of the team when since his been captain his won us nothin, he was never a thierry henry patrick vieira, he was far from it

Very overrated player. Good passer, poor tackler, poor heading ability & a lack of pace. Dire captain.

Let us down last season - and left us with that back hell to Messi

Good player, we'll not boo him, but we'll forget him quickly.

He is the engine of out team first on the team sheet (even before our laughable gk's) he was our captain and he was probabily our most decorated player. he was consistant and technically brilliant but he stuck a knife slowly in our backs and didnt even come out and say goodbye he just hid away and then snuck off to the airport where no gesture or efferot was made it was like a dictator sneaking out of the capital. Where was our statement refering only to us not the one barca wrote for him, coward pack your bags and dont come back untill we have 3 robocops in our squad that will flatten you like the weakling you are.

Brilliant player but we gave him the chance and he stabbed us in the back. if i was him i would of stayed til i was 29 30 then see is last few years out wit barca. in my eyes hes now a dirry spanish scumbag

15 Aug 2011 00:17:33
I think cescs replacement will be the forgotten man rosicky. Has everyone forgotten how good this guys passing is? If he can keep fit and I no it's a big if, he can be the best midfielder in the epl

He has been quality in pre-season, so lively, always looking for a killer pass, twice the player Modric wants to be, and currently overshadowed by the Average-in-comparison Ramsey.

Is this meant to be humour?
If not then you need your glasses cleaned mate, he torture.

I would prefer him to most players rumoured to arsenal. Big question mark is can he play every game. If he can and we make him the "main man" he will deliver

Glasses cleaned? If u DON'T rate rosicky than I think u should give up on football all together. Only cesc is a better passer than him and rosicky can actually dribble past players and had a rocket of a shot. Give him a chance.

Definitely agree, a very lively player with great creativity and vision plus he has a wonderful shot too. I think he lacks fitness and confidence which is why he performed so poorly last season. But we mustn't forget what he was like when he first joined. I believe he can be that player once again

Think you're having a laugh, not half the player he used to be. I say bring in Martin for 10m

He's injured and won't play Tuesday
Hope this helps

I like him a lot and I've always wanted to see him succeed, but I wonder if Wenger will put that much on his shoulders w/ his injury history.

I have to disagree on this one Rosicky has not been great for a good 18 months. Can't afford to rely on him, has been anywhere near consistent enough. Would take Modric over him any day of the week.

He was good, now hes past it -Fact

Rosicky certainly was quality pre-injury, but that has tailed off quite a lot. He had some nice games in pre-season. He misplaced quite a few passes against Newcastle though and did not really create much for all his liveliness. If Wenger is content with him replacing Cesc we're really in trouble, especially as he can't be relied upon to remain fit for an entire season any more.

Given his record with injuries, which has probably effected his confidence i.e. lack of playing time and therefore any consistent form, I think he is a risk to place your hopes on him being a 'saviour'- he would need to go a run of a least 10-20 games without injury, then we would start see what talent this guy has got- but it is a risk, so I would bring in quaility replacement for cesc, if poss...

I agree. Midfield is not the biggest problem anyway, get a top-class goalscoring striker and a solid CB first.

I've got to agree the Rosicky has completely lost it. He's an FA cup man now really. By the way, I thought Bendtner was heading off. When can we let that nightmare disappear?

Rosicky has a wonderful shot? Are you people serious? He hasnt put a shot on target in the last five years