Jun 13
At last, some real Arsenal news to report! The first signing of the close-season has been confirmed today as latest teen sensation (Am I talking footballers or pop stars? hard to tell eh?), Aaron Ramsey signed a “long-term contract for an undisclosed fee”. (Gotta love how we do business, right?)
Anyway, the best part of this story is of course how the young Welshman turned down a move to ManUre in favor of Arsenal. Shows smarts right off the bat. Whether that translates onto the football pitch will have to wait a few more weeks at the very least.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
sorry to break the thread talking about the France Vs Holland game. the old thread is overloaded.
i think the Dutch got a few attritubes which could lead them to a serious challenge:
(1) Work Rate
(2) Discipline
(3) Counter Attack
(4) Good Finishers
(5) A great keeper
as for France, they are a bunch of good individuals, yet as a TEAM u got no idea what were they playing.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
as for the Ramsey signing, please guys don’t start that “not another kid” stuffs.
let’s face it, this is NOT a replacement for Hleb. it’s a prospect we signed for the future. it’s only the media made it sound like a major signing. but it’s definitely not.
don’t worry Wenger will continue working on the transfer market i m sure. it’s only June, still 2 months to go before the window closed. so be patient.
as for Ramsey, i got no comment. don’t think anyone really know much about him anyway. you can’t even get a clip from YouTube the last time i checked. but i m pretty sure AW won’t spend 5 mil for a 17 years old if he’s crap.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Wow, I wish we could have Robin Van Persie playing in our team.
Sorry Mazza, Palmer is right. Hleb is a very good player, but his loss would not be as devastating as you say. He holds the ball well, but does not penetrate or challenge opposing defenders enough. All they need do is stand him up knowing that he will surely play it square or back. Walcott was more effective in his last few outings. The really sad part is that, if he does end up staying, I fear this whole episode will have forever tainted his standing in the team and with the fans. Can he fit back into the “family” after all this?
June 13th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Oh yeah, good on us for beating out Manure and Everton for Ramsey. The boy clearly has intellegence.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Cescy knows the score US gunner. He knows that one of spice boys leaving is bad news.
And to be honest he never had much of a standing with the fans, that’s why I would willingly embrace his move and the opportunity to go to a top team like Barca and maybe get the credit he deserves. Ninety per cent of the Arsenal fans at the grove at too stupid to see his talent so I have no time for the loyalty crap they come out with. Maybe they should have shown some as well and stopped slagging him off on message boards.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Ramsay is pure class btw. I think he could make an impact next year. He’s not like a Walcott who needed to improve his game intelligence before playing in the team, this guy goods already in terms of decision making. From what I’ve seen of him, he would flourish with players like Fabs and Hleb. He makes subtle but clever movements that requires unselfish and visionary teammates to make the most of.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Hleb will get chased by a large mob complete with sticks and burnfire after a few months at Barca.
Fans are fickle everywhere but the Barca fans are even MORE fickle. Barca fans whistle, boo and wave when their team plays badly in just one half. They go nuts at the final whistle. Legends have got baracking over there.
They wont have patience for Hleb - AT ALL.
PS: Barca play 4-3-3.
The Barca president has already said if they buy Hleb he will slot into midfield - even though Guardiola isnt so keen for Hleb. But lets say they buy Hleb anyway, since the coaches dont really have much power in Spain.
Keita or Toure will take the DM role. Xavi has the CM role locked. So it will be a straight fight between Iniesta and Hleb and the person Barca will definitely buy to replace Deco.
Hleb meet bench. Bench meet Hleb. Keep yourselves warm.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
And I suppose you have had intimate chats with Guardiola to establish his indifference over Hleb.lol. Everything i’ve read indicates Guardiola is the one who wants Hleb. After all, Juan La Porta is the one who wanted Beckham ahead of Ronaldinho back in 03.lol.
Barca play a flexible five man midfield so Hleb can slot in anywhere across the midfield bar the defensive midfield role. I’m not sure why you omit the possibilty of Hleb playing left forward or right forward, he can easily do that, after all he is far better than Gio Dos Santos. I think Hleb is seen as a replacement of Dos Santos.
Also with Barcelona having far better midfield options than us coming through the middle like Xavi and Inestia, his propensity for waiting for deep-lying runners would work a treat.
Iniesta has interested stats for last year. Four goals and four assists.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Fred, Barca played 4-3-3 with Rijkaard… we don’t know what formation Guardiola will use!
As for Ramsey… I don’t know a damn thing about him… can’t wait to see him in the pre-season games, hopefully he will get a game or two
btw, Holland are group winners if I’m not mistaken!
lol
June 13th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Well, I understand Spanish and Guardiola has said that Hleb is not his priority on Barca TV. It is the Barca president that wants him.
No. Barca play a strict 4-3-3. Not 4-5-1. The 3 upfront are strikers and dont have much defensive responsibility.
Problem is that they expect their forward 3 to SCORE goals.
Some ungrateful fans were moaning that Messi wasnt scoring enough goals. LOOOL. I wonder what they will think of Hleb???
Hleb just has no idea how much lee - f-cking - way he is given at Arsenal.
He will find out soon.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
@ sheed: Guardiola has said they will continue with 4-3-3.
Barca has played that formation since the 70s and Guardiola played that all his life. He doesnt have the will or power to change it even if he wanted to.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
The way it works with Hleb will be similar to here. If the team are winning he will be appreciated but if things start to go wrong he probably will get a bit of stick.
I think Barcelona have better players than us across the board and have enough scorers to finish off enough chances so that it will never really become much of an issue. Barca fans appreciate a talented ball player more than the english and lovers of direct football. As mentioned, Inestia gets very little stick and he doesn’t score many. Also, they will have very little expectation of Hleb so he may become a little favourite there. The scruffy waif who keeps his head down and plays in others.
I hope he does join Barca, just to see how he does link up with Messi and Inestia
June 13th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
When he finally goes, he better squeeze out as much in wages as possible. Thats all I can advise him to do because he probably wont get two chances at this.
PS: He wont play with Iniesta. He will be direct competition for Iniesta’s spot.
Plus, Barca will definitely replace Deco, Edmilson, Ronaldinho, and anybody else who leaves with “big” names. They are no Arsenal, they buy heavy.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Getting back to the Ramsey issue, I’m getting intrigued by the class of 18-19 yo attacking midfielders we’ve assembled– with Theo, Carlos Vela and now Ramsey, we have some world class talent. Add in Henri Lansbury, Fran Merida, plus Jack Wilshere a year or two behind as prospects — at a minimum an exciting Carling Cup squad.
Theo got 7 goals in 20 starts in all comps last year, numbers similar to Rosicky– if that turns to 16 goals next season and he sharpens his all around play, I’ll be delighted, and not at all surprised.
Last season was all about ‘the future is now’, but I also like the future(!)
June 13th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
cry me a river sir alex ramseys a gooner
June 13th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Hleib does one thing that no other Gunner presently does and that is to “relieve defensive pressure” by receiving the ball, picking up the dribble and taking a meandering run through a host of defenders. This allows our team to regain offensive shape and set up the attack. Henry did this when he was here, Ronaldo for Manu, Kaka for AC Milan, Messi for Barca and so on.
RVP, Nasri, Walcott and Vela are the only players we have with the potential to do so. The key word here is “POTENTIAL”. If none of these players step up to the plate next year and Hleib leaves we will have serious problems.
Arsenal does not really have a go to guy since Henry left and there is still a vacancy waiting to be filled for the dribbler, innovator, free kick specialist and goal scorer all wrapped up in one package. Hleib fulfilled some of those roles and so did Cesc but neither are complete packages.
I still think the puzzle is not yet quite resolved.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:41 am
CaribKid, if fit RvP would fit that piece in the puzzle. Just watch, when/if he plays regularly, he will be the attacking leader in a similar way to Henry.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Shows where our expectation-levels have descended to when we ‘announce’ the signing of a 17 year-old…..groan.
Do our competitors AC Milan, Barca, Real trumpet the arrival of new boot-shiners?
June 14th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Really Kiwi - no one’s said he’s going to be a saviour for next season. And anyway that IS the Arsenal way. RVP I agree though if fit is a big go to guy but only in a goal scoring sense, if you want posession and ball holding in a positive sense there are few who do it better than Hleb. But having said that - I doubt he’s going to enjoy the same luxury that even his best fans gave him now if he stays. I for one am quite neutral on it. If he stays I will support him just because he is at Arsenal. If he goes well — go. I’m not bothered. But Cesc is right though - he is underrated.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:10 am
@1, the surprising factor is the work rate. Dutch teams have always had skill, pace, talent, etc. But I’ve never seen them work so hard. I just hope they haven’t peaked too early (like Argentina did in that 6-0 win at WC2006).
I always liked van der Vaart and this tournament has made me an even bigger fan. Wish we could go for him.
Anyone think Arsenal can play 4-2-3-1 like Holland? Ade/Eduardo is the lone striker and lot of players can slot into the attacking 3 -> RvP, Rosicky, Hleb (if he stays), Nasri (if he joins), Walcott and Vela. Cesc + 1 other can be the anchor two. Sounds exciting to me.
PS: Love the fact that the top two teams after the first set of games met in the second round in each of the four groups.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:14 am
I think most of us will support Hleb if he stays, puts his head down and works his guts off. Why wouldn’t we? Isn’t that why many of us love Ade?
Similarly, if Ade pulls a Hleb and decides to run off to Milan, many of us would turn against him.
Can someone tell me what’s the difference between Cashley meeting Chelsea and Hleb meeting Inter? Was it that no “official” official of Inter was involved at the meeting?
June 14th, 2008 at 1:18 am
#19…..LOL
June 14th, 2008 at 1:20 am
Maybe we should set up an under-21 competition.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:03 am
I really, really, really hope somebody coughs up the money necessary soon….because I get the feeling Hleb is going to be humiliated when he is left with only Bayern or worse to choose from.
His problem now is that the only clubs “above” Arsenal (financially or status-wise) are Barca, Madrid, Inter, AC, Chelsea, Man U.
The english clubs are out of it. They would hate Hleb.
Inter has Mourinho, so its an automatic no-go for Hleb … LOL.
AC already have Kaka. And have shown absolutely no interest in Hleb.
Madrid dont need Hleb. There simply isnt any vacancy in their midfield. And they are looking to snap up David Silva.
This leaves only Barca. But Barca want to see if they can get their first choice players first.
The problem for Hleb is that outside this six clubs any other club will be a step down in status. That is why his agent was so “angry” about the Bayern interest.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Why are you guys going back and forth with this? Hleb isn’t leaving and doesn’t want to leave. All that talk was his agent trying to get paid. Hleb’s on his honeymoon.
When our players don’t know what to do with the ball, even if he’s being marked by three guys, they pass it to Hleb. He receives the ball under tremendous pressure and still makes magic happen. There is NO ONE ELSE in the league that can do that. I compare Fabregas/Hleb to Rui Costa/Figo at Portugal. The only difference is Figo got his props.
Hleb’s got one major flaw; his ability to finish. That’s down to poor technique, not mental weakness. But he’s also got one exceptional strength. On his off-day, he’s still better than 85% of midfield players in the league on their best day. On a bad day for Hleb, he still shits on defenders and plays good Wengerball. I don’t know any other player who can do that.
The ONLY way to stop Hleb is to kick the crap out of him. Regardless of what people say, I haven’t seen anyone stop Hleb any other way. He’s truly underrated.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:22 am
“Hleb isn’t leaving and doesn’t want to leave. All that talk was his agent trying to get paid.”
Haven’t seen Hleb say anything of that sort. If that is the case, why ice-cream in Milan? Surely the easiest way to assure fans is to issue a denial on Arsenal.com. Is it that difficult? Don’t say honeymoon, because this has been going on for much longer.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Nipuna is very spot on. To be fair, Hleb has had a lot of support over the years from fans. only reason ppl are turning on him is because fans do still value loyalty, regardless how rare it is nowadays.
as for whether Hleb is overrated, underrated…. does it really matter? I think Kaka and Ronaldo are world class players, but they are not playing for Arsenal. So they are world class or not means nothing to us, the Gooners.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:51 am
and let’s get real. if all the talk was his agent trying to get paid, and Hleb indeed doesn’t want to leave, where did he go for honeymoon? Mars? surely he could have rang the boss, or rang the press to assure the fans that he’s staying couldn’t he? or at least, to tell his agent to fuck off and stop the nonsense couldn’t he? and don’t tell me he didn’t know all those talks of the transfer.
June 14th, 2008 at 7:06 am
Kiwi, what was so funny about LDE’s post? It was absolutely bang on. Have you seen RVP come into midfield when lots of players are around him? He’s like bambi on ice. One thing that sticks out from the United game in Old Trafford is how awkward he looked played on the left of midfield. He was even worse than Reyes when it came to balance and being predictable in terms of coming inside. He’s no Arjen Robben.
RVP is a great player but he spends too much time on the periphery to be a genuine go to guy when the team is under pressure. He just doesn’t have Hleb’s slippery and slithery frame to hold the ball.
Oh, I don’t think Hleb will be humiliated if clubs drop out. He will just stay at Arsenal and say that he never asked to leave in the first place. No biggie, unless you can find quotes from him that state the contrary.
June 14th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Andez, it’s what players do these days. They are advised to keep their mouth shut and see what happens. Patrick Vieira did it every summer.
June 14th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Who said I was referring to his comments on RvP?
June 14th, 2008 at 7:19 am
The hilarity was being told that buying 17 year olds is the Arsenal way. Independent thought is alive and well.
June 14th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Sorry Kiwi, get what you mean. In agreement with that one.
June 14th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I’ve been wondering how many star signings Wenger has lined up at the Euro’s? Presumably that’s why he’s there rather than clinching a few below the radar types.
June 14th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Mazza, to keep their mouth shut seems like a piece of poor advice to me, look what the effect it had with fans? if keeping his mouth shut is meant to not upsetting the fans, it surely has turned things the other way around.
kiwi, i don’t know what’s wrong with AW attending the Euro’s? an opportunity for you to scout 16 teams at one go. anyway it’s better than Fergie who’s already off for a holiday.
has AW ever taken his vacation? or he’s working 365 days a year nonstop?
June 14th, 2008 at 8:53 am
I imagine had we been interesting in a young talent Ramsey, yet AW off to holiday, and Fergie stole him for us…. what fans would be saying?
nobody suggested Ramsey is going to help us winning the title. he’s just someone we signed. and most fans are happy about the fact that we nicked him from arrogrant Man U, with them already “announced” his arrival days before the kid even made up his mind.
it has nothing to do with “expectation” has “descended”. not as if our summer spending is going to end with Ramsey.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Myles Palmer is right, Hleb is an arsehole. He instructed his agent to leave Arsenal, so they had a chat with Inter and the deal was set, but now Mourinho doesn’t want him. Barcelona are sniffing around him like flies but don’t seem all that bothered - he was never their priority number one. Fabregas has backed up Hleb, but what do you expect? They are best mates and he doesn’t want him to leave. I wouldn’t turn to footballers for transfer advice, they talk more shit than the papers.
Hleb’s protestations are so hideously transparent its embarrassing. What a wanker he is - can you imagine if all players behaved like him? At least Flamini had the dignity to keep his mouth shut. Good riddance to Hleb I say - an Arsenal fan with an ounce of principles should want him gone.
As for Wenger coming out and saying he doesn’t need a CB. If the reports are accurate then he’s finished for me. He’ll never win another trophy at Arsenal with Toure at the back, not unless he has a big Campbell like player complementing him. Gallas needs that too, because he’s no great shakes aerially, but he’s better than Toure and doesn’t panic like a gibbering maniac in the heat of a battle. I don’t think I can bear another season with just Toure and Gallas at the back and that total donkey Senderos filling in. Did you see him against Turkey doing the offside hopscotch - in out, in out, shake it all about. It was hilarious, he had the full backs dancing like you see in those Clint Eastwood westerns when he shoots at their feet.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Spain denied a pretty nailed on penalty against Sweden. The same ref who denied Hleb a penalty against Liverpool in the CL.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
While Ramsey may be one for the future (or not, I don’t know), the immediate impact is that the 5M (more on bonuses?) spent on him goes from this season’s transfer kitty. Unlike ManU or Chelsea for whom this sum may not matter when it comes to more signings, for Arsenal, it is 5M less to sign players who could make an immediate/quick impact. That’s reality for us.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
@Kiwi: Its true. I think we buy more kids than anyone .. talented ones mind you and sell a lot of them at a profit. The really good ones break through. I think its one of the best systems to have in place. I’m sure any top mgr worth his salt will agree as well. I didnt get what was funny about it unless I misunderstood what you were saying or you understood something else. Every single manager in the world envies Arsenal youth - surely he’s doing something right?? Thats what I meant by it being - The Arsenal way. Hope that clears it up - If you still find it funny .. well as u say..Independent thought is alive and well
The lateral recruitment bit where you buy a player at his peak will give you instant results, if its in a corporate environment with computers everywhere like me. When its football its a totally different ball game and its a big big risk to buy lateral unless of course you have unlimited funds and can write bad deals off ..Just like that. Arsenal cant do it - I’m no economist but they’re probably still broke and under heavy pressure from that 350 million pound loan. Just because us armchair pundits sit here and call everyone idiots and morons and tell them to feck off does not mean they actually are that , you know. They probably know much more about banking and finance than you or me or anyone on this site as well. Which is actually the point - Its all speculation. So while we can debate, to hang a guy without all the facts is really not on — in my book atleast.
If you’d tell 90 fans out of 100 that we were going all out on attack next season, were going to sacrifice defense investment and go and buy Benzema and Villa, they’d probably be drooling irrespective of teh fact that we’d leak goals by the bucket…until the next transfer window that is — when AW will get hung for having “bought big names”.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Some good news about Ade. Seems Wenger is going to give him another - well-deserved - payrise from last year’s contract and that’ll be enough to keep him. Jeez, if they really were going to try and keep him on 35k a week, then more fools them.
* * * * * * *
Emmanuel Adebayor appears set to stay at Arsenal following talks with Arsene Wenger over his future.
Adebayor has been strongly linked with a move to Milan and his agent Stephane Courbis this week hinted that he would consider such a switch.
However, Wenger has always stressed that he does not want to sell Adebayor and the Togo international himself has also played down talk of an exit.
“My future with Arsenal has never been in doubt and I want to assure fans I will be here for many years,” Adebayor said in The Sun.
“My agent has met with coach Arsene Wenger about a new deal and I am happy about how the talks are going so the fans can rest assured.”
June 14th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Ditto the Hleb comments about his maladroit transfer diplomacy.
The rule is just keep saying nothing or platitudes about “never ruling anything out”, and always say how much you love the club until a deal is completely done.
All those comments about not winning anything just come back to haunt you.
The reality is he was on his way until Morinho arrived. Now he has to make a complete reverse ferret just in case Barca falls through. Then he will have work overtime - maybe even try shooting from distance - to win over the fans again.
Somehow, I think the ManUre fans won’t have the same problem welcoming back Ronaldo if his Real manouvres don’t pay off.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
One more thing, while I’ve got some free time between diaper duties:
To cope with my Gunners withdrawal symptoms I revisited the 2004 Untouchables dvd. Wow. What a team. Henry in his prime was just killer. But also Pires was the master at mopping up and scoring from rebounds. If the attack was from the right, he’d ghost in from the left, and vice versa.
He must have picked up 10 goals timing the late arrival to latch onto frantic clearances.
Why? Because he’d drive into the area and 6-yard box on so many attacks.
He is a lesson to Hleb, who I admire but feel can add that extra killer component to his game.
It’s something Cesc started to do last season with profitable results.
And Gilberto a little bit the year before (more from headers admittedly).
And finally, I watched a Theo highlights reel on Youtube. No wonder the crowd love him. He is so explosive and exciting.
This kid is well on his way now. As the aggression, confidence, cool-headedness, initiative, sideburns, general manliness grow, he is going to be a monster. Can’t wait to see him in action next year.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
David Villa just added a few more million to his transfer price. This guy is dynamite. To me, he is better than Torres.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Just as well, I had money on Spain to win but only if Villa scored. He is some player - shame Arsenal can’t afford him. He’ll either stay in Spain or got to Chelsea.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Honestly, I know Ade is a different player to Villa and and we have similar players to him in Eduardo, but I would pack Adebayor’s bags nd bring to him to the airport if Milan were willing to pay the money to allow us to then bring in Villa.
Adebayor will never be in someone Villa’s class. I don’t care how much he works on the training ground. That kind of class is something inherent inside you. In pressure situations Ade’s touch will always be bog standard.
Bendtner will surpass Ade in no time as well.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
He’s probably the most “natural” goalscorer in the world at the moment. that was one quality finishing. i think he will cost at least 40 mil for any club to bid for him after the tournament. if he scores two or three more goals, make it 50 mil!
June 14th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
@42, Vieira had similar dalliances with Real Madrid. The reason fans are more forgiving of him and Ronaldo is that they both made MAJOR contributions to their clubs winning trophies.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
nailed it right on the head nipuna! + Paddy was Arsenal fans’ favourite son since Ian Wright, from the moment stepped on the pitch wearing an Arsenal shirt. We all remember that classic moment: from “Patrick Who?” before the match… to “Vieira ohohoh” afterward. He did not take 3 years to settle in and making an impact.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
btw not sure if anyone share the same feeling - i got a hunch in the end nobody really wants Hleb, and he will be staying with us and will be telling us how much he loves Arsenal. Stay tune.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I do fear that Scolari will take Villa to Chelsea.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Well what’s Hleb supposed to do? Cry out for acceptance from the Arsenal fans and ask them whether he should be allowed to leave Arsenal? If he wants leave what else he is supposed to do? Can someone please enlighten me as to the secret rule book out there that details exactly how one should conduct themselves in a transfer? Plus, contrary to what some have said here, Hleb has received zero loyalty from Arsenal fans, so why should he give a flying fuck about them? If I was him I wouldn’t give a shit and be off without a second thought. Vieira was loved by the fans, that’s why he had to tread carefully. Hleb has no such emotional links to make him watch his words and conduct and at least he hasn’t said he will stay, unlike Flamini, who consistently said he would be at Arsenal next season.
On the asserton that no one really wants Hleb, Karl Heinze Rummenigge said yesterday that if Bayern are playing Barca next season there is a good chance that Hleb will be involved for either team. So quite frankly that is a load of bollocks as well.
I quite frankly have seen a player linked to so many top clubs in quite a while, and quotes can be attributed to every single club to back this up as well. As I said, all this doesn’t sit well with those who think he is ineffective.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
What he should do is, IMO - come out NOW to tell us what he’s going to do?
If he wants to leave. Tell us now, so we can look for replacement.
If he doesn’t want to leave. Come out and tell the public so Kal Heinze Rummenigee the likes can fuck off.
It’s that simple.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
The reality is this, an agent is there to try and broker the best possible deal for their player. That’s what Hleb’s agent is trying to do. If the agent does good work, then he gets paid as well. A big-money transfer is the best way for agents to get paid (ask the Anelka brothers). The player job is to play good football and shut the fuck up. Hleb just came off a career season and they’re trying to cash in on that if possible. If Hleb can’t leave, then they must decide to re-negotiate terms with Arsenal or run down their contract. Hate it or love it, that’s what an agent is there to do. Fans don’t like agents and neither do managers, but it’s what are you going to do?
I think Hleb is tired of getting the crap kicked out of him and doesn’t like the English approach to hackers “committment”. He has fears of getting “Eduardo’ed” and everyone in England feeling more sympathy for the hacker than the hackee because the hackee is not british.
The bottom line is I don’t believe Wenger’s going to let Hleb go anywhere. He’s to vital to the way that we play right now.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Wait, is Ashley Cole any worse than Hleb? He isnt in anyway.
Ashley Cole WON 2 league titles and 3 FA cups and wanted to leave specifically for Chelsea for the money. Simple as.
Hleb wants to leave Arsenal for ANY club whatsoever. He just wants to move to a “big” club. ANY big club.
He has never taken a single shot in any game involving the top 4 and his last contribution was purposefully getting himself suspended - in prep for a move.
So who REALLY is worse? In comparison Ashley Cole hasnt done anything wrong.
Hleb MUST NEVER play for Arsenal again. Under no circumstance whatsoever.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Well, Andez that is naive to the extreme. Just because you deem a player to not have done as much as Vieira or Henry it doesn’t mean that there is a different rule book to play by i.e telling the fans what his plans are.
Hleb has most likely already told Wenger he wants to leave. Just because we don’t know it doesn’t mean Wenger doesn’t. And Nasri is probably Wenger’s idea as a replacement because we know all he doesn’t believe in having a strong squad, so Nasri coming into supplement Hleb and Rosicky is unlikely.
What’s probably happening is that clubs like Barca and Bayern are not willing to pay the transfer fee Arsenal want, and these clubs are trying to get him on the relative cheap because they know Arsenal are not in a strong position due to Hleb wanting to leave. They also know we have a history of alot of talk and no action so they are waiting for us to accept an offer of around £8 million.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
@ “On the asserton that no one really wants Hleb, Karl Heinze Rummenigge said yesterday that if Bayern are playing Barca next season there is a good chance that Hleb will be involved for either team. So quite frankly that is a load of bollocks as well.”"
Hahahah….is Bayern a step up in “status” for Hleb as opposed to Arsenal. I think not.
Hleb only wants to play for the big Italian and Spanish clubs, those are the only clubs “higher” than Arsenal.
There is a reason his agent was very angry at Bayern’s interest.
IF Bayern cough out 15 million, Wenger should ACCEPT it immediately.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
It’s easy to blame everything on the agent, of what ACTUALLY happened between the player and the agent only themselves would know. Yes, that could be the agent “advise” the player to move. Likewise, it could be the player “instructed” the agent to get him a new club.
As for loyalty. I think Hleb has had more support from fans over the years than players like Adebayor. And it’s exactly WHY that now so many fans have turned on him. We had supported u through thick and thin (and mostly thin the first two years), one half decent season now u wanna move?
Tell us about loyalty.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
and please Mazza, don’t call me NAVIE just because i disagreed with u. Had i ever called u so?
June 14th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Oh yeah, Wenger’s not going to let Adebayor leave either (even for 32 million) because there’s still so much more to come from him. At 23, he’s already one of the most complete strikers in the world. Sure, he jams up a lot of chances but this kid is a handful for any defense to cope with. Wenger knows this and will ensure Adebayor gets paid. I’ve never had a doubt about that regardless of all the crap he gets from so-called fans.
The only problem is Milan need strikers and are willing to break the bank to get them. They only have Pato, who’s like twelve and Inzaghi, who’s like 42. They just sold Gilardino and Oliveira while Ronaldo’s broke and Drogba’s just committed to Chelsea.
When I mentioned Villa coming to Arsenal, I was thinking of him playing along side Adebayor. There’s no way I’d prefer Villa over Ade. Ade gives us so much more than just goals and while we have guys that can score, we don’t have anyone who can do what Ade does. Bendtner has potential but he’ll never be as good as dangerous as Adebayor because he’ll never have Ade’s athleticism.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Aww, poor Hleb. He goes and talks to another club behind Arsenal’s back - illegal. Tells Arsene Wenger he wants to leave, then 4 weeks later says he doesn’t know where all the rumours are coming from. Preposterous. If there’s a wrong way to leave a club, that’s it. He can handbrake his way around the Barcelona pitch for all I care, he’s a cunt - and that’s that.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Well, what Bendner lacks in athleticism he more than makes up for in intelligence. I think Adebayor’s work rate, athleticism and all that yarn is useful when he is switched on and not prancing around with his hands on his hips, but I still think people overplay it because I think he does more damage to the team than good with his offsides, coughing up of possession around the box, and inability to think ‘outside of the box’ mentally when teams defend deep. Wenger actually doesn’t like Adebayor running into too channels too often because it leaves us unbalanced and without bodies in the middle. Bendtner plays within a restricted area and doesn’t hide on the wing. I think Wenger appreciates that.
Andez, you are being naive. Didn’t Henry say he was a gunner for life and was going to end his career at Arsenal, only to go to Barcelona weeks after? Yep, he did. The point is, players who are undecided on their future say zilch most of the time and anything they do say is total rubbish and should be taken with a grain of salt. If Arsenal are negotiating a fee why would he say something? He may as well just wait for the clubs agree a fee or not agree a fee. There is no point on him burning bridges completely when he doesn’t know for sure what is going to happen himself.
From what I’ve heard from people in the ‘know’ on Arsenal Mania, they seem certain that Hleb’s wife hates London. I think it’s more a lifestyle thing than Hleb really caring about moving to a bigger club. He has stated recently he loves returning to Germany. And Bayern are not exactly a step down from Arsenal. I would put the clubs on about the same level with Bayern slightly above us due to the fact they have won the European Cup a few times.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Joshuad, watched that Russian forward u talked about. Good control for such a big lad, good awareness, yet doesn’t seem to be too good a finisher. maybe he’s still young. he does remind me a lot of Bendtner, though a more targetman type than Bendtner.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Mazza, dont know why u even bother defending Hleb. If Ade wants to leave, I say fuck him and he can leave as well. U admire Hleb’s skill is one thing, how he behaves off the pitch is entirely a different matter. Anelka was a great young kid I had great hope of back in those days, he left, so fuck him. end of story.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Andez, your keep changing the script. The other day you did the same thing. You say something incorrect about Hleb like no one is interested him, I disprove it, and then you say well it doesn’t matter if he wants to go fuck him.
I’ve no problem with you wanting to Hleb to fuck off, or anyone else, after all he may be being more of a tosser than I think he is, but coming out with all this conjecture and trying to discredit the strong links several top clubs have with Hleb is something that riles me. I view it a sign of people desperately trying to uphold their previous opinion that Hleb isn’t that good or important. Him being wanted by europe’s elite doesn’t correspond with that belief. Hence the desperation for people to believe no one wants him.
June 14th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Hleb is a good player - still a cunt though, that’s been proved beyond doubt already - unless you think it’s ok for players to be going out and talking to other clubs prior to one of the biggest games in their own club’s history.
Bayern Munich have a much bigger history than Arsenal, but why anyone would want to go there ahead of Arsenal at this moment in time is beyond me. Winning a title at Bayern is like winning one at Celtic, that league is so uncompetitive - and it’s starting to affect Bayern in Europe as they struggle to step up.
I’m sure a lot of clubs do want Hleb, but he’s one of those players that you would
baulk at paying a lot of money for because there’s not enough end product. It’s a gamble. Ljungberg at his peak wasn’t a gamble, neither was Pires, Overmars, Henry, even Flamini. But Hleb is.
As for Adebayor, doesn’t seem to be too much behind him wanting to leave Arsenal, his agent just kicking up a stink to get him a better contract, which he probably deserves after last season. Most strikers would get an improved contract after scoring 24 Premier League goals.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
To say some disagree whether Hleb should leave or stay is an understatement. Hleb’s agent has been trying to engineer a move for his player. A falacy is that players should love the club the same way that fans do. The reality is that a club can tell a player to go screw himself at any time. By virtue of that fact, no player will ever have fan-type loyalty to a club. Gotta accept that, boys.
I believe Hleb enjoys his football at Arsenal. I think he believes this team is good enough to win silverware. His agent is testing the water for him but, like I’ve said all along, I don’t think he’ll leave. The only way that Bayern are going to get him is if they give us Ribery (like Cole for Gallas) and Rumminigge has already shot that one down.
If Hleb really went and had a sit-down with Wenger then I’m sure they discussed any issues he or his wife may have with living in London. If that’s true, then that’s the only way I can see Wenger allowing Hleb to leave because he would clearly be an un-happy player. With that, I think Hleb’s a pro and if a move doesn’t happen, then he will come in, have a good pre-season, and proceed to help Arsenal win trophies.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Hey coming to think of it….I already forgot Bayern had Ribery!!
Hleb for Ribery! YESSIR!! Direct exchange!
Munich is a lovely city…Hleb would love it there.
Ribery’s 11 goals in 28 games and double digit assist record in a rigid Bayern team is the kind of record Hleb will BLUSH at.
Nasri on the left, Ribery on the right.
Walcott and Rosicky wait on the bench with mean intent. Excellent.
Then we cough up 6 to 8 million for a CB. And we just might be set!
Hleb for Ribery….DIRECT EXCHANGE I say.
June 14th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
There’s a more important aspect to all this than whether Flamini, Hleb, Ade or whoever are nice or not or good or not or critical or not or readily replaceable or not……it’s the fact that according to Wenger’s script these guys shouldn’t be exiting-stage-left at this time. LDE kindly explained to me the ‘Arsenal way’ earlier in the thread, well here’s another aspect of the ‘Arsenal way’……..players who have just entered a productive phase in their Arsenal career don’t relocate to greener pastures.
As we all know Wenger shines up jewels he finds under various rocks and puts them to productive use for the rest of their prime-stage. Eventually they go, put that’s almost always when Wenger wants. He doesn’t shine them up to watch them jump ship. He will never build his imposing Arsenal Mk III under that scenario.
So whatever I think about Hleb’s completeness (or otherwise), or Flamini’s importance (or lack of) or Ade’s potential, fact is, them leaving is/would set Wenger back. The development model of squad building relies hugely on continuity, if players exit just when they become productive you’ll never reach the nivana stage of producing a winning squad.
June 14th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
No Josh, a club cannot tell a player to screw himself at anytime. Take Eduardo, if his injury was career ending, Arsenal releases him, the club would still have to pay off the remaining years of his contract.
nobody excepts a player to LOVE the club. but if you are a professional, you honour your contract. Take Arsene Wenger as an example. When Arsenal first hired him, the club waited for him. Consider the fact that back then AW was still very much “Arsene Who”, yet a big club came along trying to hire him, he asked them to wait. Are u kidding? he could have easily missed the boat.
And all that because Wenger wanted to honour his contract and saw it out until the J-League’s season was over.
yes i know, people like Wenger is a dying breed. in reality few players today have the dignity to “honor” their contracts, yet that doesn’t mean we have to applause them, or look for any excuses for them.
you do the right thing, fans would support you. u do the wrong thing, u take the flak. fair or unfair?
June 15th, 2008 at 1:21 am
@ DannyT #45 - it’s not that we can’t afford villa, i think we all know that we can. it’s just that as much as i love wenger… until he changes his “youth first” policy, we can continue to watch established stars pass us by in the transfer market. i see much merit in planning for the future, but we don’t seem to live in the present long enough to reap the benefits of his system anymore.
i know that paying exorbitant sums of money for proven talent can backfire (see chelsea and their laundry list of failures.) the fact that we finished a mere 2 points behind chelsea and 4 points behind man utd. speaks volumes for our “getting the most bang for our buck” setup. of course, we must then acknowledge our momentous shitting of the proverbial bed in our own title bid. could this have been prevented if we had a higher ratio of experienced players? we will never know… but what the hell, let’s “splash the cash” for once or twice and see if it pays dividends. i think some serious money coupled with wenger’s ridiculously spot on eye for talent would be a sick strike partnership! (okay- cygan, senderos, etc.. excluded.) we’ve got it, let’s flaunt it!
*this message brought to you by invinciblehenry, frustrated arsenal fan who, incidentally, despises the new kit. it looks straight gash, i thought it was a fake from thailand
June 15th, 2008 at 2:12 am
is AW still considering D Silva?
June 15th, 2008 at 3:23 am
@ 71: Actually there is NO way we can afford Villa. Bidding will probably start at 30 million - which is probably more than our transfer basket anyway.
June 15th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Yeah David Villa is out unless is AW is actually planning to sell Ade which I can gurantee he wont. And even then AW will prolly not buy Villa but buy some Eastern European or African for 1/2 the price. Dunno.
And yes I think AW will still consider Dudu - the mental side more than the physical side will take long to heal. Here’s hoping he will be well soon on all fronts.
June 15th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
David “I have made it big” Bentley confirmed that he’s leaving Blackburn, claiming he wants to play Champions League football…. fair enough lad… question is….. who wants him?!
June 15th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Glad to have watched an EURO classic. Turkey 3 Czech Rep 2.
June 15th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I would take Bentley in a flash.
June 15th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
nice compilation…..
http://goonertalk.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/arsenal-0708-frustration/
struck me again just how jolly good Dudu is
June 15th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Yeah Mazza, knew u would. Bentley, the moaner, great mind thinks alike.
June 15th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
What has Bentley actually said that’s so bad? He has never actually slagged off Arsenal or Wenger. Merely stating that he wanted first team football. It’s embarassing how serious some fans take quotes from the media when it’s just Bentley saying the same thing over and over again, and that same thing is completely reasonable and understandable.
If it means him replacing that berk Eboue then I’m all for it.
June 15th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Good for him, he ’s got what he wants - regular football - and at the right level in an eternally average team. But better than Eboue no doubt.
Look at his twin Pennant…..hasn’t exactly set the world on fire at Liverpool. They both have an attitude that exeeds their ability and limits their usefulness. The genesis of the attitude is founded in the contradiction that is England. A high standing in the game due to history and an excellent EPL, contrasted by their ongoing drought of truly brilliant attacking talent.
June 15th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
got to be kidding me
http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8247678/Inter-boss-Mourinho-has-eye-on-RVP?
June 15th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Looks to me like a lazy journo jumping on the Arsenal-player-leaving-bandwagon and matching up an old RvP soundbite.
The football sports media are amongst the lowest life-forms
June 15th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Bentley left Arsenal in January 2006.
5 months later Pires left, Reyes left.
Considering Wenger has a strong inertia to buying - Bentley would have been a STARTER at a champions league club at the beginning of the 2006/2007 season if he wasnt an utter idiot.
PS: Bentley is a moaner and he always talks about how Arsenal “never” gave him a chance and about how Walcott should leave - so get your facts right.
June 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I hope we get a nice draw for the first 5 games tomorrow. It is really vital for us.
If we can get 11 out of the first 15 points we will be on our way.
June 15th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I think a move abroad to a team like Villareal would do Bentley some good. He’s learned all he’ll learn from most teams in England. But he’d be too expensive for Villareal as they do transfer business like Arsenal. They got Forlan cheap and made big money off his sale, they got Pires for free, Capdevilla for free, Rossi for cheap, Cygan for cheap. They even just signed young Jozy Altidore from the MLS. Good for him. I’m sure he’ll do better than Adu at Benfica. He’s been absolutely horrible everytime I’ve seen him in Portugal.
It would be a bold, yet admirable move for Bentley to test himself abroad. He won’t have the media there gassing his head up if he’s mediocre. He’s good enough to make it but will he work hard to guarantee success?
June 15th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I can only see Liverpool bidding for Bentley. Like they did with Pennant. He is better than Eboue, but he wouldn’t settle for a place on the bench. Isn’t that why he left in the first place?
Anybody know if Fran Merida will be part of the first team next year?
Vela scored for Mexico against Belize.
June 16th, 2008 at 12:32 am
If Bentley went abroad, THEN I would respect him for once ….
Am not betting on it though. It would be utterly shocking news if he did.
June 16th, 2008 at 4:51 am
Yeah, real clever Fred. I talk about utter stupidity of you and others being taken in hook, line and sinker by media quotes etc and then you respond with yet another quote taken out of context by the media. Bentley simply referred to his own case when asked about Walcott and maybe he is right, maybe Walcott should be playing regularly for a club that plays has lesser expectations and more basic football considering he is completely out of his depth playing Wengerball for any stretch of time apart from fleeting cameos.
But don’t let all that get in the way of your perception that Arsenal is the only place to play football and how dare anyone say anything that might be construed- by a twat- as a slight as your precious all knowing club.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:15 am
Fixtures are out. Quite an easy start to the season. The end is quite similar to this season. Liverpool (A) in mid April and Chelsea (H) and ManU (A) on successive weekends in May.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:22 am
The thing is - DB is a decent enough player and a good crosser of the ball. Then again he might as well have got the CL football had he stayed. Where’ll he go now? I have to agree - this is looking like a Liverpool signing all the way. I think the only thing i got a bit pissed about DB was his refusal to play for the U21’s any longer citing a long season. I dont think he’d have said that if it had been the senior team. All the rest - his bigging up himself or putting down Theo or whatever I’m really not concerned about. The managers who will buy him will look at his football and not read how much or how little he said. So if he is good enough he will prove people wrong by succeeding at a “big” club - whatever that means. If not then he will just plateau etc etc and remain a good player - thats it.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Bentley has said clubs are interested and he wants champions league football so I’m guessing Liverpool are interested. Suppose he’s lying like Hleb. LOL.
I never used to rate Bentley but I think he is very good player now. Maybe lacks a bit of pace but if we persist with the unsightly Adebayor up front, having a good crosser like Bentley would a good idea.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:12 am
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3697126,00.html
This is not good news.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Nip, are you really surprised?
For those who can’t be bothered checking the link - Rosicky may not be available for the start of the season. He even said “it will be yet a long time before I return”. Can you believe it, yes shocking news I know. Here we thought he was going to morph into Arnie overnight thanks to the op.
Mentally I’ve discounted RvP, Rosicky & Eduardo from being reliable resouces for the first half of next season. After that I’ll review my opinion based on whatever they offer. The 1st two are smelling like the old stamp collection your great grandfather passed down to you - you think it’s got value but you’ve still to prove it’s worth. We all gaze hopefully at van Persie and Rosicky, dreaming of what they might do…..sooner or later everyone has to face up to the return we’re getting.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Kiwi, I am not surprised at all. But I am not sure Wenger has discounted either Rosicky or RvP. Therein lies the problem for fans. One moment the quartet of Rosicky, Hleb, Nasri and Walcott looks awesome on the wings. The next moment, Hleb could leave, Rosicky is uncertain and Nasri may not join. Same story up front with Ade, RvP, Eduardo and Bendtner. Leaves you desperate for some signings. But have to wait till early August (maybe even late Aug) for a clearer picture on the first team status.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Last summer, Liverpool just bought Babel, Pennant, and Benayoun. They already had Kuyt so I’m not sure there’s any room or money for Bentley.
Muamba looks set to join Bolton for 5.5 million. He wasn’t cheap but he’s still too good for Bolton. He won’t be there long.
Not having adequate cover for Rosicky probably cost us the title last year. Wenger tried to “frankesntein” the team by playing Diaby and Eduardo there, who both proved inadequate. We need cover there or risk having another failed season. Hell, I would have settled for Aliadiere.
I think Traore is the ideal candidate to cover for Rosicky. He’s got a fantastic future ahead of him. Anyone who saw him in the reserves can confirm that he looked a man among boys. Since February, I was screaming for him to get a chance. When Wenger finally played him, it was too late but he proved he could do a job for the team. Maybe this preseason could see him establish himself as a first team regular, not as a LB but certainly a LM. A loan would be foolish.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:55 am
The fixtures for Euro2008 is weird. Group C winners meet Group D runners up and vice versa. But the winners of these two games meet in the semis. Anybody else think that this is absolutely crazy?
June 16th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Don’t think Liverpool will waste their transfer kitty on Bentley. Rafa perfers 4231, and he perfers Torres to lead the line. Kuyt playing down the right with his workrate. in a similiar system like Holland. Rumors that they are trying to sell Crouch, that would make a Bentley signing even more unlikely. Good cross or not (from Bentley), with Torres up front it’s not his game.
Besides, if Muamba cost 5.5 mil, i don’t know how much Bentley would cost.
A latest piece of rumor is the Reds are going to bid for David Villa. now it may not be compltely rootless. Villa and Torres seem to enjoy playing together. even if they had to shift their system to 442, Rafa would not want to miss the opportunity to get the pair together up front. A Torres+Villa partnership sure hell would be different from Torres+Crouch or Kuyt.
so i imagine if Rafa had to spend all of his transfer budget for just one man, he would still go for Villa. That would immedaitely transform Liverpool to a significant force. anyway, the fact that Rafa signed Pennant and Crouch IMO was only a act of a foreign manager trying to please the fans during his early years took charge. Sooner or later they would understand fans would be more please if he can actually win a league title than having a few English players on the side just for the sake of it.
a latest piece of rumor linking us to Turkey’s Turan and Spain’s David Silva.
http://footylatest.com/news/news.php?extend.857
now if we can get Silva i wouldn’t mind we miss out on Nasri. Silva looks more like a pacy wide man folks been asking about than Nasri. And Silva or Bentley? u decide.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:59 am
The fixtures for next season are out today. Looks like it’ll be a nail-biter, with the 36th and 37th games of the season being home to Chelski and away to ManUre respectively.
Saturday 16th August 2008 Arsenal v West Brom
Saturday 23rd August 2008 Fulham v Arsenal
Saturday 30th August 2008 Arsenal v Newcastle
Saturday 13th September 2008 Blackburn v Arsenal
Saturday 20th September 2008 Bolton v Arsenal
Saturday 27th September 2008 Arsenal v Hull City
Saturday 04th October 2008 Sunderland v Arsenal
Saturday 18th October 2008 Arsenal v Everton
Saturday 25th October 2008 West Ham v Arsenal
Tuesday 28th October 2008 Arsenal v Tottenham
Saturday 01st November 2008 Stoke City v Arsenal
Saturday 08th November 2008 Arsenal v Man Utd
Saturday 15th November 2008 Arsenal v Aston Villa
Saturday 22nd November 2008 Man City v Arsenal
Saturday 29th November 2008 Chelsea v Arsenal
Saturday 06th December 2008 Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Saturday 13th December 2008 Middlesbrough v Arsenal
Saturday 20th December 2008 Arsenal v Liverpool
Friday 26th December 2008 Aston Villa v Arsenal
Sunday 28th December 2008 Arsenal v Portsmouth
Saturday 10th January 2009 Arsenal v Bolton
Saturday 17th January 2009 Hull City v Arsenal
Wednesday 28th January 2009 Everton v Arsenal
Saturday 31st January 2009 Arsenal v West Ham
Saturday 07th February 2009 Tottenham v Arsenal
Saturday 21st February 2009 Arsenal v Sunderland
Saturday 28th February 2009 Arsenal v Fulham
Tuesday 03rd March 2009 West Brom v Arsenal
Saturday 14th March 2009 Arsenal v Blackburn
Saturday 21st March 2009 Newcastle v Arsenal
Saturday 04th April 2009 Arsenal v Man City
Saturday 11th April 2009 Wigan Athletic v Arsenal
Saturday 18th April 2009 Liverpool v Arsenal
Saturday 25th April 2009 Arsenal v Middlesbrough
Saturday 02nd May 2009 Portsmouth v Arsenal
Saturday 09th May 2009 Arsenal v Chelsea
Saturday 16th May 2009 Man Utd v Arsenal
Sunday 24th May 2009 Arsenal v Stoke City
June 16th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I would love to see AFC sign David Silva. He’s pacey with a deft touch - very much an AW type player. Pool can have Bentley. He’s a solid Premiership player, but I wouldn’t categorize him as an upper eschelon player.
Arg!!! I thought Gary Lewin said Rosicky’s preparations for next season were looking good. That is vey frustrating.
Does anybody else feel that Gallas is not the right man for us at the back? He was very suspect at times last season for us - mentally and physically - and has not really inspired any confidence in the Euros either. I look at our starting backline of Sagna, Toure, Gallas, and Clichy and wonder if Gallas is not the piece that could be best improved on. Would Wenger ever actually make such a dramatic move? He did with Henry, but I don’t think any other clubs are in for Gallas are they?
June 16th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Guys, forget about Rosicky. No point even thinking of him. Its best to pretend he isnt even our player.
@ Andez: You are right - Benitez has learnt his lesson. He has learnt his lesson from Pennant. No CL team will touch Bentley …so he will have to settle for the likes of Villa and maybe the very foolish Spurs.
Bentley is just your average lazy English footballer … he wants the fame and money … without ever putting in some good quality time - say abroad.
Would he go to the likes of PSV, Lyon, Porto, Roma, Athletico Madrid or will he go to some utterly mediocre English club.
Am not going to hold my breath.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I LOVE the fixture list …. the first 7 to 9 games are smooth “take-off” sorta games.
We start on some “soft” teams, then pick up heat and speed, before taking on Everton at home…hopefully gaining more momentum …enough to spank Spurs at home.
Then we polish off Stoke City … hopefully with a high scoreline ….then lie in wait for Man U. Hopefully we can hold out for a draw with them.
Man, am already tired of the summer!
June 16th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Wenger on defence……..”There is nobody I need for my team’s defensive department………and you can print that.”
Obviously the words of a troubled man who holds a deep concern for his teams defensive solidity.
June 16th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
lol@kiwi: On the positive side thats another year everyone here who loves the expletives can have fun calling Senderos,Song,Theo,Denilson,Diaby etc idiots and Wenger as tactically naive and the worst coach to have graced the English game. So you see its not all bad
June 17th, 2008 at 3:43 am
Yeah, the rumblings of a man so ASSURED of the Toure-Gallas axis that he banished Toure to the RB spot and replaced him with Song.
The same guy who CORRECTLY pin-pointed our problem right after the losses - but now with those painful, un-necessary losses fading out of memory - back to the jolly “there was never a problem” attitude.
For how long will we remain in transition? Wasnt last season a TEST to see what our problems were and F-CKING FIX IT ???
Is 20 million (12 mill for an AM, 8 for a CB) too much for a club of Arsenal’s size?
I will definitely miss Wengerball, but it his is own legacy he is playing with. Another season with a near miss like this and there will be serious rumblings directly from the crowd at the Emirates.
The worst part is if Wenger fails, it would just strengthen the arm of Usmanov - who is currently lying in wait for us.
June 17th, 2008 at 5:59 am
@Fred… Mebbe that’s one way of looking at it..How about another one..
Firstly..Are you certain that if Wenger/Arsenal enters into a bidding way for a world class defender…we will end up winning it?..i don’t think so. So taking a worst case scenario where we tried and failed..and have the same defence starting…i don’t think it would be a nice way to start a season…with the manager already having been quoted and telling everyone including his own players where the weaknesses lie. It’s one thing to analyse and rectify within the team…making your feelings public is quite another.
Secondly..in a seller’s market (supply much less than demand)….it would be absolutely stupidity to approach the negotiating table after informing everyone that you are desperate for a defender.You will be fleeced for very possible cent in your transfer kitty (mebbe even that will not be enough). The lesser you reveal..the better the chances of negotiating a better deal.
So taking both the points into account….and a reporter approaches you with the question ….”What are you going to do about Arsenal’s defensive frailities next season?”….how do you respond?
June 17th, 2008 at 6:08 am
agreed wayne. to add one more point - let’s judge AW’s transfer activity when the transfer window close. cos at the moment everything is just talk. i’d love to see a David Silva, but who knows what’s really going to happen? like Sagna, Wenger never said he was going to bring in a new full back neither last summer.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:12 am
….or perhaps he moved Toure to cover for Sagna and brought in Song belieiving that was the best combo in the circumstances
After 12 off-seasons Wenger still can’t be read. All you can do is go by history. His ways are not our ways……almost biblical.
The defense improved immeasurably with the addition of a quality RB Sagna. Perhaps there is another quantum leap to be made with the addition of a good DM…..maybe with a bit of aerial ability.
I expect a signing or 2. No idea who. I’m ready to be underwhelmed with more youngsters. I’m in the space where I’m sick of the youngster imbalance. I want guys who are personally ready to accept responsibility not guys who need another 3 years in the oven.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:12 am
“let’s judge AW’s transfer activity when the transfer window close.”
That is certainly the best way to deal with it. I would not take anything Wenger says about the transfer market at face value. He likes to play the media and then surprise them with Sagna and Eduardo. We should wait till at least early Aug.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Sam Cooke - “Change Gonna Come”
Me thinks with Flamini gone… Hleb going… I think Adebayor is also going to take the money and run to Barca or Inter or whomever wants him.
I think we are going to bring in some good players to replace them all… and change is gonna come… and the team will be transformed this Summer.
Thats my thought of the moment, after reading about the interest in Adebayor.
I think Ronaldo is going to force his way out of Manchester United too…
So next year could be WILD in the EPL!
June 17th, 2008 at 10:29 am
here are my prediction - i think AW will buy 2 players before the window closed, they may not be the experienced 24/5 years old, probably around the 21/22 mark with few years’ first team football under their belt.
One of them will be a wide player to cover Rosicky.
And Hleb will not be leaving. Clubs may not willing to meet the price Arsenal ask for him. And AW will hold firm not willing to sell him cheap just because of the tap up.
Ade is staying, cos all he wants is $$. since Arsenal is ready to offer him a new deal. unlikey he will go.
IMO that will be the likely sceniro, and the realistic sceniro. so next season we probably will start the season with a lineup like:
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
(New signing) Cesc Gilberto Hleb
van Persie Adebayor
with in fact a little change. and that’s what AW wanted all along, to keep the team together.
let’s see how it goes.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
For a change, it is better to see a Madrid transfer saga not involving an Arsenal player. This Ronaldo-Madrid thing is getting quite amusing. Yesterday it was reported that Ferguson had threatened to leave Man Utd if Ronaldo was sold without his permission, and as expected, today all that was denied as nonsense. And there are the rumours of Robinho (and even Ramos) going to Man Utd in exchange for Ronaldo. And on and on….
I know the Nasri story has been cold for a while and it was supposed to be sorted out after Euro 2008. Now considering Nasri has made no impact so far at Euros (12 minutes and counting), does that mean if Arsenal still want him, they will get a discount? Because there is no way his price would have gone up and it shouldn’t be the same. If players like Villa have appreciated in value, then I think Nasri should depreciate in value a bit. Ofcourse, things don’t work like that..
June 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
lol@112… yeah i think Arsenal should get a discount for Nasri if they are still interested
June 17th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Andez, you’re saying the same thing I’ve been saying. Flamini is the only one leaving and I said he’s leave back in February when everyone else was convinced he would stay.
Since last summer, we’ve definitely needed cover for Rosicky. I would have settled for Aliadiere. It pains me that even with our so-called suspect defense/goalkeeper, we were that close to the title and LM cover could have made all the difference. Hell, it could have gotten us atleast four points for crying out loud. Wenger tried to cut and paste cheap stand-ins who don’t have the desire or ability to play there.
I don’t claim to be some sort of genius but I’m not a retard either. The team was completely unbalanced after Rosicky went down. Look at the balance Traore’s ability instantly gave the team and he only played a total of about thirty minutes at the end of the season. He even won us a game with his pace and service. If a country boy like my self could see plain as day is all that we needed was cover for Rosicky to challenge, then how could Wenger be so blind; or arrogant? Hate to cry as that milk is spilled, but we should have won the title this year.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Can Holland now bubble wrap Van Persie and send him back to Arsenal in one piece? I would like to see him blasting goals for Arsenal again.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
@ wayne: I really hope that is how Wenger is playing the whole CB dilemna. I really hope s