Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

gosplan · 19-05-2008 05:54PM

OK, since I went whole hog with Sky(cough- d-box - cough!!) I haven't been forced to watch the French league on Setanta as much and haven't seen that much of Nasri.

Having looked at his youtube stuff (which is obviously going to hold him in a positive light), I can safely say I'd **** my pants (with joy) if we signed him.

Aquilani, I have seen more of and he looks great.

They'd be two signings I'd be overjoyed with. One good lump of a central defender and it'd be a great off season for the Arsenal.

Edited to include: I'm pessimistic though as if they were coming, in true Wenger style we'd probably know nothing about it

Galvasean · 19-05-2008 07:00PM

Usually if a player is linked with Arsenal Wenger doesn't sign them. He generally just appears with someone else totally out of left field.

pickarooney · 19-05-2008 10:09PM

Nasri's played his last game for Marseille and Arsenal is the most obvious destination. Cissé could well be on his way back to England (not so sure myself). Marseille loses their biggest star every year, so it was always on the cards, to the extent that some fans were hoping he wouldn't come back too soon from injury and stay out of the limelight. Unless Arsenal have already signed him, though, it's a little early to speculate as a lot of clubs would want him and the transfer window has only just begun.

leninbenjamin · 20-05-2008 12:56PM

BBC are carrying the Nasri story today. i was sceptical at first about those rumours, but now they've been promoted from the gossip column suggests they have some credibility. I for one would love to see nasri at the club, most assists in serie A with Juventus in 2015

Hyzepher · 20-05-2008 02:18PM

I think this guy could be the difference we are looking for.

OPENROAD · 20-05-2008 07:28PM

Hope his wife is ok,would be interesting to see Tony back at the club.

http://goonertalk.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/pat-rice-set-to-leave-adams-to-replace-him/

kronsington · 20-05-2008 09:44PM

on the guardian podcast yesterday they said there were strong rumours
about a possible etoo and yaya swap for adebayor.... wouldnt believe it personally but who knows.

also i found it interesting that wenger confirmed carlos vela will be very much part of his plans next season, ive only seen clips of him in la liga and he still seems a little raw, nowhere near ready to fill in for the presumably departing hleb.

Galvasean · 20-05-2008 10:18PM

As much as I'd love to get Tony on board, I hope Pat isn't having serious trouble. He is a great assistant manager and a loyal Arsenal servant.

OPENROAD · 20-05-2008 11:12PM

Galvasean wrote: »

As much as I'd love to get Tony on board, I hope Pat isn't having serious trouble. He is a great assistant manager and a loyal Arsenal servant.

Agree 100%

Frisbee · 20-05-2008 11:15PM

kronsington wrote: »

on the guardian podcast yesterday they said there were strong rumours
about a possible etoo and yaya swap for adebayor.... wouldnt believe it personally but who knows.

Thats crazy...
Would love to see Yaya come to Arsenal, massive fan of him, but I could never see Barca offering a deal like this?
Surely Ade would only be worth one..

OPENROAD · 20-05-2008 11:29PM

Very interesting looks like it is a done deal.

http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/lequipe-samir-nasri-to-join-arsenal-later-today/

jank · 21-05-2008 08:13AM

If this is one of our signings then we wont get a "winger" type player.
Dont know what to make of Nasri. I expect him to take a while to bed down.

Is he better then ben arfa?

DM and CB next please!

Pepe LeFrits · 21-05-2008 08:51AM

By most accounts Nasri is a better player than Ben Arfa. Anyway, skysports and l'equipe are claiming that he is having his medical today so official confirmation on the deal should be imminent.

Also:

Arsenal are closing in on a triple French swoop with Samir Nasri, Clement Chantome and Francis Coquelin all understood to be on the verge of moving to North London.

The latter two are defensive midfielders, aged 20 and 17 respectively.

CantGetNoSleep · 21-05-2008 10:18AM

Great early signing for Arse if it happens

arbeitsscheuer · 21-05-2008 11:26AM

Agreed, if this goes through it's an absolutely brilliant signing. The boy has limitless potential and there's nowhere better to realise that potential than at Arsenal imo. There's a lot of speculation that this means that Hleb's on his way, and tbh I wouldn't be too bothered by that - I rate Nasri higher at this point than the Belarussian, I personally reckon he's got more to his game.

We'll see anyway. Obviously I don't wanna go too overboard, but I'd be over-the-moon with this. Really tasty player.

leninbenjamin · 21-05-2008 11:40AM

arbeitsscheuer wrote: »

Really tasty player.

seen much of him then? what's his style like and where wouldhe fit into the current lineup? a direct swap for Hleb?

arbeitsscheuer · 21-05-2008 11:56AM

leninbenjamin wrote: »

seen much of him then? what's his style like and where wouldhe fit into the current lineup? a direct swap for Hleb?

Much more direct than Hleb, pacier and with a much better shot on him. Not necessarily a better eye for goal tho (yet) cos he's only netted something like 10 times in 100 appearances for Marseilles - not a great return, it must be admitted. He has a similar eye for a through-ball to Hleb, and fleet-footed skills ditto.

Altho he has a comparable frame to Hleb (kinda scrawny, basically) he seems to me to be much stronger than Hleb. The tackling in the EPL is probably tougher than France - Hleb was one of the most fouled players in England last term - but nonetheless the kid's only 20 so he'll probably bulk up and improve. He has excellent delivery from set-pieces, he's pretty two-footed... The quality is there, unquestionably.

In terms of position... Like Hleb and Rosicky he's a central attacking midfielder but it's fairly obvious that like them he'd be played out wide at Arsenal.

It might take Samir a while to adapt to the Premiership, ala Pires and Henry, but he is going to be one helluva player. Mark my words.

EDIT: Forgot to point out, what I'm basing all this on is from having watched the Championnat highlights packages on Setanta Sports all season, so I haven't seen a full 90-minute live game of Marseilles in action other than during their brief Champion's League sojourn.

Galvasean · 21-05-2008 12:16PM

Did Nasri make the French squad for Euro 2008? Might want to see him in action.

Looks like Wenger is starting another French revolution. I seem to recall us winning the league when he last did that

arbeitsscheuer · 21-05-2008 12:23PM

Galvasean wrote: »

Did Nasri make the French squad for Euro 2008? Might want to see him in action.

He did indeed. In fact, like Eduardo and Freddie Ljungberg, it's more than likely that it's Nasri's international form that made Wenger take notice rather than his club performances; Nasri's scored twice in 7 games for France, and every time he's made a real difference. On his debut against he set up Benzema for a 1-0 win, and scored the winner against Georgia in another 1-0 win - had France not got that win they might not have even qualified.

He probably won't start for France... But with the utterly mental Domenech you never know.

Pepe LeFrits · 21-05-2008 12:28PM

Myles at ANR says:

Nasri is spiky, competitive, two-footed, a flair player with an edge. He’s quite stocky, a very good dribbler, stronger on his right foot than his left. But he can shoot with his left.

As a footballer, Nasri is a lot better than Malouda or Quaresma or Hleb or Kranjcar, and more of a team player than Ben Arfa, the Lyon winger who is not in their team much these days.

He is better than Hleb because he is more direct. With Nasri, there would be more end product. He's not scared to shoot and not scared to miss. And the sale of Hleb would pay for him. And he has played under pressure at a big club, Marseilles, in front of demanding crowds.

This Chantome chap is supposed to be quite similar in style to Flamini... wouldn't be surprised if he came too.

arbeitsscheuer · 21-05-2008 12:38PM

Ah, boll0cks. Whenever Myles Palmer says anything like that about a player you know he's just jinxed for life. Oh well - that's Nasri rendered sh*t then...

Remember when we signed Jeffers? Myles made this utterly idiotic post in which he said Arsenal "will win their first 15 games and Jeffers will score [oooh, loads - can't remember the exact total]"...:rolleyes:

Pity, I was really looking forward to this signing too... Thanks a lot Myles!:mad:

Pepe LeFrits · 21-05-2008 12:54PM

Myles-bashing is so 2007!

leninbenjamin · 21-05-2008 03:57PM

arbeitsscheuer wrote: »

Much more direct than Hleb...

quality post arbeit. thanks. makes me positively excited at the prospect of him playing prem football next season. let's hope a deal is done soon.

OPENROAD · 21-05-2008 06:30PM

Galvasean wrote: »

Did Nasri make the French squad for Euro 2008? Might want to see him in action.

Looks like Wenger is starting another French revolution. I seem to recall us winning the league when he last did that

And the World Cup

Pepe LeFrits · 22-05-2008 10:04AM

First arrival of the summer confirmed: Carlos Vela granted work permit.

He could be a welcome surprise boost to the squad next season, as a lot of people seem to be completely discounting him.

leninbenjamin · 22-05-2008 10:09AM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

First arrival of the summer confirmed: Carlos Vela granted work permit.

He could be a welcome surprise boost to the squad next season, as a lot of people seem to be completely discounting him.

excellent stuff. i know Wenger sees him as a striker, but hopefully he can an add a viable option for the left wing as well.

jank · 22-05-2008 12:10PM

Nasri seems to be put on hold. Lyon, seems to have put a bid in. Agent talk more like it.

Pepe LeFrits · 22-05-2008 12:27PM

It appears we've also completed a deal for Francis Coquelin. He is a small, 17 year old French defensive midfielder and he comes from a third division French side on a free transfer.

No, I didn't make that up. I realise it sounds like a Wenger piss-take.

yahoo_moe · 22-05-2008 12:53PM

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

It appears we've also completed a deal for Francis Coquelin. He is a small, 17 year old French defensive midfielder and he comes from a third division French side on a free transfer.

No, I didn't make that up. I realise it sounds like a Wenger piss-take.

It does sound like a wind-up. But Clichy came from the French third division for 250K so I'm always happy to wait and see with these deals - if he turns out to be anywhere near as successful, I'll be a happy gooner.

Pepe LeFrits · 22-05-2008 12:57PM

Regarding Nasri - the French papers are under the impression the agent talk is BS and that the deal is done, but can't be announced until Monday for whatever reason. Either way, I guess we have to wait!

Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

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