Arsenal Rumours Archive July 24 2014

24 Jul 2014 15:18:45
Hi all, going to start with the clichè 'long time visitor of 3 years, first time poster' (well, I actually posted a few times before the registration thing). What I actually wanted to ask the eds about is whether there's any truth in the Roberto Firmino rumours, massive fan of his and been following him throughout last season and always said that a smart team should nab him. Thanks in advance :D

{Ed002's Note - Firmino agreed an extension recently but will very likely move in the summer with Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Zenit, Inter, Manchester United and Schalke interested - but Dortmund pushing for a deal. I am aware that Everton, Dynamo Kiev and Liverpool have also looked at Firmino but have not declared interest with his agent. Shakhtar have dropped their interest. Roberto Firmino was previously subject of a rejected bid from Southampton. May still be first choice to replace Alexis Sanchez but Arsenal and Inter are the two sides pushing.}

Good stuff Ed.

LG, what does Firmino offer? ESPN thinks AW wants to turn him into a striker, but never watched him myself.

@wire
Well with Firmino you get one of the Bundesliga's TOP performers last season and he did it with an average mid table Hoffenheim side, and at 22 he still has a big room to improve.

To start off, he has played a few times as a forward but that's not his main position, he was put mostly as a free roaming central attacking midfielder but is equally comfortable playing out wide (where I imagine Wenger would put him given the reports about sanchez as a forward unless he decides to switch the 2) given the fact that he's a great dribbler, a bit pacy, and a general all rounder.

He can also score and assist at impressive rates, he hit 16 goals and 11 assists last season and I think I read somewhere that he averaged like 4.5 shots/goal and can play some killer balls to his teammates.

Finally, another reason I can see him play on the wings is the fact that he's also very good defensively and more than puts his fair share of tackles and whatnot.

So all in all I think that for the reported 15 mill asking price we can get a gem of a player that's only 22 and can easily become a 30mill + player.

24 Jul 2014 09:59:08
So who are we signing today?

Will ospina make his way over from nice.

That would be 'nice'

*Badum tsk*

The time this transfer is taking, he must be walking.!

I bet we don't sign him or any 1 today or anyone else this window

Dags will not stand for that akie!

Good old pessimistic arsenal fan Steve.b!

No mate just seems to have gone all quite was meant to of signed ospina by now and nothing using wilshire as anchor

Akie, listen to Sheeny.

Leave the jokes to Dags.

Lol I was only joking mate! However there is a long way to go In the market. I dunno what the hold up is on ospina but don't worry arsene knows what he is doing. And he is looking for a DM. I reckon Wilshere will be an option but not first choice. We have so much attacking midfield quality and IMO he is maybe 4th choice there. So why not start training him as a dm