Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

Royale with Cheese

Apparently Bayern are going to bid £8m for Van Persie. That is actually an insult and I hope they're told to fúck off and to never call again.

Aliadiere should be leaving too, Boro his likely destination at the moment.

cson

Bayern Munching? Ha.

He very nearly left though early on, remember when he got himself sent off against soton and more or less cost us the game? Wenger wasn't exactly glowing in his praise of him.

Can't believe they sold Muamba, I hope they've inserted some sort of first option/buy back clause. That lad is gonna be a star next season with Birmingham.

Pepe LeFrits

Got £2m for Muamba potentially rising to £4m dependant on performance, which is good money. He's not very good technically, so I'd be surprised if he's ever a really top player. He'd be too far down the Arsenal midfield pecking order anyway.

cson

I disagree tbh, I think he's going to be very good. We've Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby, Gilberto for centre mid I think, it wouldn't hurt to still own him imo, keep him loaned out.

I was thinking too, we've had problems with the gallas-toure cb pairing so I wonder how a Gilberto-Toure pairing with Diaby and Fabregas in centre mid would work. Dunno where that leaves Gallas though.....

leninbenjamin

cson wrote:

I disagree tbh, I think he's going to be very good. We've Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby, Gilberto for centre mid I think, it wouldn't hurt to still own him imo, keep him loaned out.

I was thinking too, we've had problems with the gallas-toure cb pairing so I wonder how a Gilberto-Toure pairing with Diaby and Fabregas in centre mid would work. Dunno where that leaves Gallas though.....

i dunno if Diaby will ever become imposing enough to form the defensive part of a 2man midfield.

i wouldn't be surprised though if Gallas was suffering a Chelsea hangover (i think the intensity of Mourinho's coaching has begun to have some adverse affects contributing to some of the injuries they've had and i think Gallas might have been affected similarly). i think he'll come good next season.

Pepe LeFrits

Gilberto at CB was fairly disastrous at times this season. I'm not sure if Gallas-Toure can work but I'm fairly sure that Gilberto isn't the answer. Hopefully Djourou and Senderos can push on next season.

Muamba was behind Song in the pecking order, so make of that what you will. Song generally looked much better than him when I saw him in the reserves, while Song has played in the PL and Muamba hasn't.

cson

Ah yes, Alexandre Song, forgot about him. Yeah he's much better technically. Muamba is more imposing though.

I'd also hold high hopes for Djourou but I've lost faith in Senderos. While I wouldn't go so far as to say he's another Zinedine Cygan thats the way he's headed. Dunno how they managed to get to champs league final without conceding with him in defence.

Another part of that defence was Mathieu Flamini who was quite cruelly dropped for the final for Cashley Cole. He's leaving in the summer apparently, I'm disappointed to see him go, he was quite good. A better version of Gilles Grimandi if you will. Thats probably the reason why he's leaving too.

Pepe LeFrits

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=468361&CPID=8&clid=3&lid=&title=Baptista+set+for+Real+return

Woo yeah!

Julio Baptista has been told that Arsenal will not take up the option of signing him permanently.

Also, lol:

Speculation suggests Real are lining up a huge bid for the young midfielder, in the region of €25million (£17million).

£17m? Huge bid? They're off their rocker.

Finally, Wenger talking about Vela apparently:

"He's top class," I like his intelligence and his pace. He scores goals but he can also create them."

"He's a special talent and I believe 100 per cent that he will make it at the highest level."

Hopefully he'll be at Arsenal in January 08.

the1andonly1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/2007/05/halftime_at_arsenal.html

This is an interesting report on the behind the scenes goings on at arsenal, in relation to the possible takeover. Looks like Dein will sell his shares soon, which will increase pressure on the rest of the board to sell out.

cashback

I got news of a new job today. I also heard the news that the Beast is going back to Madrid.
It's saying something that I was slightly happier to hear the Beast is f**king off than I was about hearing of my new job.

Pepe LeFrits

According to the Daily Mail, Vela has been granted an exceptional talent work permit and will be allowed to join Arsenal this summer instead of January 2008, and Wenger is deciding whether to exercise that option. Seems a bit strange to me though that they'd apply for it and then not take it...

Might leave Wenger with a bit of a dilemma regarding buying a winger in the summer. It'd leave us with:

Strikers: Henry, van Persie, Adebayor, Bendtner, (Walcott/Vela backup)
Wingers: Rosicky, Hleb, Walcott, Vela

That's assuming Freddie leaves. Now the immediate reaction is to say that we need to add an experienced winger there but Rosicky and Hleb are young enough themselves and it wouldn't leave much room for either Walcott or Vela to develop. Given he spent £6-12m on Walcott and another £2.5m on Vela, and how highly he rates both of them, that'd be a risky choice. Of course, not bringing in another winger would be risky also, if Walcott and Vela weren't able to step up the appropriate level when required.

cson

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

Wingers: Hleb

Oh that Hleb....

Pacifico

Great news about Vela and Baptista going back to Real....he was such a disappointment!!

keano_afc

Just seen some online images of our new away kit. If they're true(which I doubt) its WHITE. If you want to look just google new arsenal shirt and you'll see a few images.

leninbenjamin

keano_afc wrote:

Just seen some online images of our new away kit. If they're true(which I doubt) its WHITE. If you want to look just google new arsenal shirt and you'll see a few images.

it's been on boards already a few times... there's no point to it, it still has red sleeves which could get annoying which could get annoying if it were to come to a tangle of bodies etc. if they were to play someone in red.

PHB

I think Reyes is still a pretty handy winger,

Rosicky, Reyes, Walcott, Vela, Hleb
is a pretty good set of wingers imo, and I think either Vela or Walcott could step up next year.

Pepe LeFrits

A trustworthy source from another forum says that Wenger will definately spend this summer. His number one target is Ribery (ugh). He says Wenger is in Spain trying to negotiate a deal for Reyes but at the same time is trying to convince Reyes to come back. He wants to sign a winger regardless of Reyes coming back or not; if he stays in Spain I imagine Vela will come this summer in his place. Any moves will not happen until the Reyes situation is sorted out.

Watch this space.

The Muppet

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

A trustworthy source from another forum says that Wenger will definately spend this summer. His number one target is Ribery (ugh). .

Its not a beauty contest, Ribery is an excellent player . I rate Reyes ability too but he's not too keen on the physical side of the game

Pepe LeFrits

I hope I'm wrong if 'Frankenstein' is signed, but I just don't rate him. I don't really want to see Wenger spending a massive sum on another lightweight goal-shy winger.

keano_afc

Ribery is a crosser of the ball, not really an AFC type winger.

DubDani

Reports in Germany say that Bayern have signed Ribery this week for 15 mil. Euro, and that he will be unveiled either at the weekend or beginning of next week.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/UK_SOCCER/idUKL2544578520070525

Royale with Cheese

Yeah Ribery looks ok but I wouldn't fancy spending all that much money on him. €15 million isn't a huge amount though. Reyes was quite light weight but he did alot better on the wing than Hleb or Rosicky.

People should remember though that Cesc was injury free all year, if he has a season next year like Henry or Van Persie's last year, then Hleb or Rosicky could be very useful in the middle of the pitch.

One proven winger is a must signing. Maybe a second could be useful. Centre back too please. Goalkeeper's already been signed.

Some goals from midfield, Henry & Van Persie staying fit (coupled with Walcott staying fit and Bendtner in reserve instead of Baptista), and a little bit more security at the back, and Arsenal won't be in too bad a shape next season.

herbieflowers

Van Persie has the potential to be a top top player imo...do you think Song might get a chance next season, he was well impressive for Charlton, I liked the look of him, played well against Man U too - never lost the ball once in that match...

Hopefully this season Arsenal can fulfill the immense talent amongst their young players...although we were saying the same thing last year, a few experienced signings to tighten u the defence and midfield should do it imo, they should have the funds if they get taken over....

Galvasean

Getting rid of Baptista feels better than signing a new player IMO, he did more harm than good in his stay. I couldn't believe how much he deteriorated after an impressive start.

cson

His Liverpool performance was far overrated. He scored a free kick Dudek should have saved and had two of the goals handed on a plate to him by Aliadiere. Aliadiere was far more impressive in that match.

Anyway onto more pressing matters, anyone think this Fabianski chap will displace Jens? I'd feel sorry for Almunia, he's a solid keeper, great shot stopper but he'll forever be tainted with that David Bellion strike in the CC a few years ago.

keano_afc

Fabianski has been voted best keeper in the Polish league the last 2 seasons running, but thats hardly difficult I'd say. I've a Polish friend who's also a keeper and he says he's very decent.

Pepe LeFrits

The same source as before says we're in for Andres Guardado, and are awaiting a work permit. For those who are unfamiliar, he's a 20 year old Mexican left-winger. Replacement for Reyes perhaps?

More on him - http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=542064

Galvasean

According to Wenger Fabianski will act as Lehmann's understudy in the upcoming season, with a view to replace him at the end of the campaign. leets hope it all works out.

Bounty Hunter

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

The same source as before says we're in for Andres Guardado, and are awaiting a work permit. For those who are unfamiliar, he's a 20 year old Mexican left-winger. Replacement for Reyes perhaps?

More on him - http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=542064

he is class on fmmanager if that is anything to go by

Galvasean

Anyone else going to the Emirates Cup in July?
Ive got tickets to see Arsenal play against P.S.G. and Inter