Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

yahoo_moe

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

I'm not looking for money to be spent for the sake of it, but we have had glaring issues for some time. What's the most Wenger has ever spent on a CB or a DM? He's not afraid to splash out on attacking players.

CBs just don't cost money, though. Vidic was only about £7m but if we'd signed him two seasons ago, we might've won the league last year.

DM fair enough - but in terms of who's moved in the last couple of years, it's been pretty slim pickings. And even then, we should be mainly talking about last summer when Flamini - who proved ideal for us last season - wasn't replaced. There's a lot to be said for the theory that Wenger was ready to sign Alonso for £14m-ish last summer before the Barry move fell through (I'm pretty sure we all expected that to go ahead).

MementoMori wrote:

However I think serious questions would have to be asked if the priority in the summer transfer market wasn't the defence/defensive midfielders.

I think that's fair enough.

DSB

yahoo_moe wrote: »

I agree that Villa fell apart - but if we're talking expectations over arbitrary time periods, Arsenal would have expected not to lose to Hull, Stoke and Fulham in the opening third of the season. And they would have expected more than four consecutive 0-0s against West Ham (H), Spurs (A), Sunderland (H) and Fulham (H).

Villa were in pole position - Arsenal came back while Villa fell behind. Simple as.

You're right, but the difference is we're not talking about Villa as title contenders next year, you hear what I'm barking dawg?

jank

DSB wrote: »

You honestly think 3 experienced players will put you up there alongside Man United and Chelsea who have top quality players across the park. Lets be honest, this Arsenal team probably wouldn't be in the CL next season only for a complete collapse from Villa. They're a million miles off winning the league right now.

Horse manure. Last year we went very close to winning the league. A few players can make a huge difference to a team. Imagine United with Ronaldo and Rooney injured for the best part of 4 months?

jank

Anyway even if Wenger was going to go who would we replace him with.
The only name I can think of is Jose the "Special One". United are eying him up for the management job as soon as fergie steps down (which IMO will be next year!)

Anyone else? Hiddink?

As for DM and CB who is out there? De Rossie maybe, Flamini Yay Toure.
Micah Richards. Names arent jumping out at me like it did previously.

DSB

jank wrote: »

Horse manure. Last year we went very close to winning the league. A few players can make a huge difference to a team. Imagine United with Ronaldo and Rooney injured for the best part of 4 months?

And subsequently lost 2 of your most impressive players who were a massive loss last season. Seriously, if you think Arsenal have any hope of winning the league next year, without massive investment, I'd love to have a pair of those goggles. They don't have anything close to a squad.

OPENROAD

DSB wrote: »

And subsequently lost 2 of your most impressive players who were a massive loss last season. Seriously, if you think Arsenal have any hope of winning the league next year, without massive investment, I'd love to have a pair of those goggles. They don't have anything close to a squad.

The squad is not actually that bad but we have just been done on injuries that no other team could cope with, a bit more luck on the injury front and a couple of signings we will be very close.

jank

DSB wrote: »

And subsequently lost 2 of your most impressive players who were a massive loss last season. Seriously, if you think Arsenal have any hope of winning the league next year, without massive investment, I'd love to have a pair of those goggles. They don't have anything close to a squad.

Maybe you should read what I post before you talk ****.

I said (in case you missed it) that a few players can make a big difference. 2 or 3 good players can make a big difference to Arsenal. I never said that the squad as is, is good enough....

tony1kenobi

MementoMori wrote: »

Also there is the fact that the Gallas/Cole swap deal complicates matters as it's hard to figure what Gallas "cost" Arsenal.

About 20 million I reckon.

DSB wrote: »

Seriously, if you think Arsenal have any hope of winning the league next year, without massive investment, I'd love to have a pair of those goggles. They don't have anything close to a squad.

They aren't goggles. They are Arshavin.

DSB

jank wrote: »

Maybe you should read what I post before you talk ****.

I said (in case you missed it) that a few players can make a big difference. 2 or 3 good players can make a big difference to Arsenal. I never said that the squad as is, is good enough....

Was the question whether I thought United could compete for the title without Rooney and Ronaldo for 4 months? I'd say yeah, they'd be weakened by it, and they'd find it harder, but they've a very strong squad that would cope.

tony1kenobi wrote: »

They aren't goggles. They are Arshavin.

Arshavin is class, but he isn't gonna be the difference with winning the league. People saying Arsenal need 3 experienced players to challenge is off the mark, they need 3 more Arshavin quality players, to go with Fabregas and Van Persie, preferably at the back. A good holding midfielder is a necessity too.

That_Guy

I wouldn't be surprised to see Wenger going for Bassong from us if we go down. I know he's young but I think Wenger can mould him into an incredible player. I think Arsenal really need someone like him in their squad.

As much as I'd love to keep him at Newcastle next year, I don't think Championship football is what he wants to be playing.

jank

Maybe we should buy Joey Barton.........

*gets coat*

MementoMori

MementoMori wrote: »

Andrei Arshavin £15m
Samir Nasri £12m
Eduardo £7.5m
Emmanuel Adebayor £7m
Tomáš Rosický £6.8m
Bacary Sagna £6m
Theo Walcott £5m (Another £7m in add-ons)
Aaron Ramsey £4.8m
Denílson £3.5m
Robin van Persie £2.75m
Manuel Almunia £2.6m
Phillipe Senderos £2.5m
Fran Mérida £2.1m
Abou Diaby £2m
Lukasz Fabianski £2m
Håvard Nordtveit £2m
Angel di Maria £2m
Emmanuel Eboué £1m
Alexandre Song £1m
Pedro Botelho £1m
Cesc Fàbregas £700k
Vito Mannone £350k
Gaël Clichy £250k
Nicklas Bendtner £225k
Kolo Touré £150k
Carlos Vela £125k
Nacer Barazite Nominal Fee (£100K)
Vincent van den Berg Nominal Fee (£100k)
Henri Lansbury Free
Amaury Bischoff Free
William Gallas swap with Ashely Cole
Mikaël Silvestre Undisclosed
Armand Traore Undisclosed
Jack Wilshere 0
Johan Djourou 0
Francis Coquelin 0
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas 0
Kieran Gibbs 0
Mark Randall 0
Emmanuel Frimpong 0
Gavin Hoyte 0
Jay Simpson 0
Abu Ogogo 0
Rui Fonte 0
Paul Rodgers 0
Rene Steer 0
Kerrea Gilbert 0
Wojciech Szczesny 0

£90.55m

Angel di Maria plays for benfica. we never signed him. heard he is quality though. hoping we did.

yahoo_moe

DSB wrote: »

You're right, but the difference is we're not talking about Villa as title contenders next year, you hear what I'm barking dawg?

Ah well I wasn't really talking about the possibility of an Arsenal title challenge next year...

BUT

it does strike me that 'massive investment' and the '2 or 3 players' that you guys are arguing for and against probably aren't that far away from each other given that the 2 or 3 players people want would have to be top quality. I partially agree with you, though - I don't think Arsenal have been set up to win the league for a couple of seasons now, though I do think we're slowly turning that round if we can hold onto what we have and add.

On Bassong, I'd gladly snap him up - looks a great player. Very much in the Gallas mould (though a leftie), so could easily be first-choice for us after 2 blooding-in seasons while Willie winds down.

L'prof

Goalkeepers:
Manuel Almunia
Lukasz Fabianski
Vito Mannone

Defenders:
Bacary Sagna
Kolo Toure
William Gallas
Gael Clichy
Philippe Senderos
Mikael Silvestre
Johan Djourou
Armand Traore
Kieran Gibbs

Midfielders:
Tomas Rosicky/Theo Walcott
Cesc Fabregas
Alexandre Song/Denilson
Andrey Arshavin/Samir Nasri
Aaron Ramsey
Jack Wilshere
Emmanuel Eboue
Amaury Bischoff
Abou Diaby

Strikers:
Eduardo/Emmanuel Adebayor
Robin van Persie
Carlos Vela
Nicklas Bendtner

I dunno, I just can't see how we'd be that far away if we added a defender, defensive midfielder and maybe a goalkeeper or another midfielder to that squad. Our first 11 is great, but we don't have enough experienced cover is all! We had a ridiculous amount of injuries this season and I feel that's the only reason we didn't challenge.

Quazzie

Goalkeepers:
Manuel Almunia
Lukasz Fabianski
Vito Mannone

Defenders:
Bacary Sagna
Kolo Toure
William Gallas
Gael Clichy
Philippe Senderos
Mikael Silvestre $
Johan Djourou
Armand Traore $
Kieran Gibbs

Midfielders:
Tomas Rosicky $ /Theo Walcott
Cesc Fabregas
Alexandre Song $/Denilson$
Andrey Arshavin/Samir Nasri
Aaron Ramsey
Jack Wilshere
Emmanuel Eboue
Amaury Bischoff
Abou Diaby$

Strikers:
Eduardo/Emmanuel Adebayor$
Robin van Persie
Carlos Vela
Nicklas Bendtner$

The $ are beside players that we could do with selling and replacing tbh. Obviously we can't afford to change all them without affecting team stability but I'd be happy with as many as possible.

Fuzzy_Dunlop

The $ are beside players that we could do with selling and replacing tbh. Obviously we can't afford to change all them without affecting team stability but I'd be happy with as many as possible.

Why would you sell Song? He's about the only player this year that has actually improved and played well in the position we're weakest in! Obviously we still need someone to come in to be first choice ahead of him but he's great to have.

Also can't agree with Rosicky or Bendtner. Rosicky wouldn't get us any money anyway cos his contract is pretty much finished and Bendtner is very good for a fourth choice striker, even if he's frustrating and a bit of a tit.

Quazzie

playa3 wrote: »

Why would you sell Song? He's about the only player this year that has actually improved and played well in the position we're weakest in! Obviously we still need someone to come in to be first choice ahead of him but he's great to have.

Also can't agree with Rosicky or Bendtner. Rosicky wouldn't get us any money anyway cos his contract is pretty much finished and Bendtner is very good for a fourth choice striker, even if he's frustrating and a bit of a tit.

I think we could atttract better players than Song. He has improved but he is still not to the standard I would hope to have. Agreed though that he might be ok as a back up, due also to the fact he can fill in at CB.

As for Bendtner I really hate the guy and think he is seriously out of his depth. Even as a fourth choice striker I'd rather see him gone. Adebayour, Van Persie, Eduardo, and Vela. We could sell Bendtner and replace him with someone that has more presence and ability. That would be five reasonably young and good strikers which would be more than enough.

L'prof

It's a fúcking disgrace

itsjaybud

Did anyone see this goal, ive looked for a link to it but maybe its too early for it to be posted yet or is it?!

Sounds like a quality finish from a very promising player.

Fran-tastic strike ends Merida goal drought

It's been one year, seven months and 25 days since Fran Merida scored a Reserve League goal. But when it came, it was worth the wait.

The Spanish midfielder flighted a delightful chip over Dean Kiely to give Arsenal the lead at the Hawthorns on Wednesday night. West Brom hit back to earn a 1-1 draw but Merida's strike will live long in the memory.

It was his first since an equally brilliant free-kick against Tottenham in September 2007 and it capped a pretty good week for the 19-year-old, who made his second Premier League appearance as a substitute in Saturday's 3-0 win at Portsmouth.

"I made the run and Jay [Emmanuel-Thomas] saw me and gave me a great ball. I just saw the chip so I tried it and it went in after nearly two years without scoring a goal," Merida told Arsenal.com.

Full story

itsjaybud

^^^ classy goal just seen it there on Arsenal tv Reserves repeat, taken from just inside the box!

Very much against the run of play though!


Also from the arsenal.com website theyre putting together 50 greatest arsenal goals from a shortlist of 100. Theres two videos there worth a look.

Theres 4/5 that i enjoyed watching again but if i could vote i think Henrys strike against the Hammers back in 2002 would be the one! Theres a few more from him that could have been thrown into the mix aswell!


Gunners Greatest Goals


Not that its too important now but Clichy's season is over.

DSB

itsjaybud wrote: »

^^^ classy goal just seen it there on Arsenal tv Reserves repeat, taken from just inside the box!

Very much against the run of play though!


Also from the arsenal.com website theyre putting together 50 greatest arsenal goals from a shortlist of 100. Theres two videos there worth a look.

Theres 4/5 that i enjoyed watching again but if i could vote i think Henrys strike against the Hammers back in 2002 would be the one! Theres a few more from him that could have been thrown into the mix aswell!


Gunners Greatest Goals


Not that its too important now but Clichy's season is over.

Bergkamps goal against...... I think it was Newcastle?

Pepe LeFrits

We should sell van Persie, Diaby, Silvestre and probably Adebayor. Use the money to buy a new winger, a central midfielder and a centre-back. Something like David Silva/Zhirkov, Melo/Toulalan, Hangeland/Sakho.

OPENROAD

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

We should sell van Persie, Diaby, Silvestre and probably Adebayor. Use the money to buy a new winger, a central midfielder and a centre-back. Something like David Silva/Zhirkov, Melo/Toulalan, Hangeland/Sakho.

Have never taken to Adebayor,don't know why, I just can't take to him, I really believe we sold Thierry too early.

itsjaybud

Personally i would be gutted if van persie was sold during the summer and tbh i cant believe how any arsenal fan would want to see him sold.

I wouldnt be too disappointed to see the following players leave;

Silvestre
Diaby
Eboue
Denilson
Bendtner
Adebayor

Feel a bit harsh putting Denilson on the list but it was either him or Song and my opinion of Song has drastically changed over the past few months and plus he can play at CB (well kinda)

itsjaybud

OPENROAD wrote: »

Have never taken to Adebayor,don't know why, I just can't take to him, I really believe we sold Thierry too early.

Sorry but im really tired of hearing this tbh, Henry is well gone lets just move on!

Pepe LeFrits

van Persie is astonishingly overrated. He's slow, weak, one-footed, wasteful and selfish. His first touch is surprisingly poor and he takes forever to release the ball. For a so-called second striker, he does a terrible job of linking the play. We'd be so much better off with Arshavin doing his job - especially when Arsene goes for his 4-5-1.

He doesn't even score many of his 'wow' highlight reel goals anymore.

OPENROAD

itsjaybud wrote: »

Sorry but im really tired of hearing this tbh, Henry is well gone lets just move on!

Just my opinion, we sold him too early and when we did we never properly replaced him.

itsjaybud

I was actually very impressed with RVP in the majority of the games he played this season when fully fit.

To say hes slow, one footed and weak is not really something i can agree with. Take Wayne Rooney for example just as one footed, not exactly considered to have serious pace but like RVP he doesnt really need it either!

Rooney is obviously alot more physical but again i think RVP is actually a pretty feisty player and wouldnt consider him easily shoved off the ball, he always tends to lean into players and protect the ball pretty well imo.

Arshavin and RVP playing week in week out next season is something i look forward to.

I would be actually pretty shocked if there was that many fans that feel van persie should be sold, but i hear your opinion but completly disagree with it this time round!

itsjaybud

OPENROAD wrote: »

Just my opinion, we sold him too early and when we did we never properly replaced him.

Ya i know where your coming from, just after seeing to many similar posts at this stage regards the great man!

Henry pretty hard to replace in fairness and its not as if Wenger was ever going to buy a ready made 25/30 goals a season striker!

Interesting summer ahead i reckon.

OPENROAD

itsjaybud wrote: »

Henry pretty hard to replace in fairness and its not as if Wenger was ever going to buy a ready made 25/30 goals a season striker!

.

True he can't be replaced. Have to say for the first time since he left, I am really excited about a player i.e. Arshavin, will be very interesting to see what Arsene does in the summer.