Arsenal Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 12/13 MOD POST #232

jordainius wrote: »

As Arsenal fans; we of all people should be well used to this by now!:D We nurture players all the time only to see them leave.

Theo wants out and I believe he has since day 1; I don't buy this "I want to play up the middle" thing at all. It's a convenient excuse to leave which will be fully exposed as the lie that it is when he signs for his next club for on the wages he is looking for (which is probably the primary motivator here; combined probably with him getting a little fed up of Arsenal's transfer policy/lack of silverware).

I'd bet any money that we will soon see both of the following; Theo being paid £100k (or more) a week and Theo playing on the right of the front three for that new club. I guarantee it. Mark my words; this is all about money and absolutely nothing to do with what position he is picked in. Question of when, not if. Either by the end of the next transfer window or next summer on a bosman, hopefully the former so we can make a bit of money from him...

Totally agree its about money. However, I genuinely believe he's worth at least 90k a week, which may be enough to sign him. If he wants to stay, let's get him!

This season, he looks so so lively. Wilshere's even been saying how his runs are perfect. He breaks lines and gets defences turned. With our possession game, that's the key, and nobody at our club does it better than Theo. Aided of course by the super passing of our midfield trio.

I'm also hugely concerned about the fact there's no deal out for Sagna. He and Walcott were super against Sp*rs. Super

If Theo wants to play down the middle then maybe he shouldn't be puttig all those lovely crosses onto Giroud's head? :pac:

I really hope Theos stays and I know as well as any he can be frustrating as hell to atch at time to the point infuriating ya, but his stats for the last two seasons are top drawer and the cant be ignored.

I do think it just boils down to money really and I also do think Wenger genuinely believes or believed he would sign otherwise he would have been shipped out during the summer.

I know hes reportedly after 100k a week and a lot of people myself included were of the thinking he can shove off, but at the end of the day the more I think about it the more I think give it to him. Do we really want to loose another young player we nurtured move onto a another rival EPL club and then have to watch him socre against us next year? I know I sure dont im sick at this stage of watching ex Arsenal players score do well against us who left on there terms for more money and not because we wanted rid of them.

Wenger has said he wants to keep him and Theo just wants to be paid what he's worth to other teams. It's a case of the club haggling with Theo's agents over 10-20k a week, which is f*cking crazy when you consider he's our top scorer and we could easily free up those wages by getting rid of just one of the several wasters in the squad.

I'm glad Wenger doesn't want to sell, it'd disrupt our season to have to replace him in January. We shouldn't be in a position where we need to replace anybody this window, we should be strengthening the squad further.

Galvasean wrote: »

While selling Chamakh would free up enough wage capitol to give Walcott a wage boost, the concern is that a bunch of other players may also demand improved contracts to match him.

We don't have many players in a position to demand more wages. Most of our best players are recent additions on long term contracts so they don't have the bargaining power that Theo has to demand more. The rest of the squad is comprised of average players who, as you said, would find it hard to find a club to pay them what they're currently on as it is. Only other player who is winding down his contract and could demand to be one of our top earners is Sagna, anybody else can get stuffed.

The club needs to break the current wage structure eventually or we'll never end this cycle of losing our top players and not being able to attract big talent (unless we manage to get a deal like Cazorla). We'll have improved commercial deals soon enough so we'll be in a much better position to offer better wages in the coming seasons.

Are Setanta showing tonights match lads?

DenMan wrote: »

Yes. tvguide.co.uk says it's live on both Setanta Ireland and Sky Sports 4.

Lavly

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Cazorla, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud, Podolski. Subs: Mannone, Ramsey, Coquelin, Arshavin, Jenkinson, Gervinho, Gibbs.

Montpellier: Jourdren, Deplagne, Congre, El Kaoutari, Bedimo, Yanga M'Biwa, Estrada, Cabella, Belhanda, Mounier, Charbonnier. Subs: Pionnier, Hilton, Marveaux, Herrera, Pitau, Jeunechamp, Martin.

- Fancy Giroud to score a brace tonight.

robby^5 wrote: »

We don't have many players in a position to demand more wages. Most of our best players are recent additions on long term contracts so they don't have the bargaining power that Theo has to demand more. The rest of the squad is comprised of average players who, as you said, would find it hard to find a club to pay them what they're currently on as it is. Only other player who is winding down his contract and could demand to be one of our top earners is Sagna, anybody else can get stuffed.

The club needs to break the current wage structure eventually or we'll never end this cycle of losing our top players and not being able to attract big talent (unless we manage to get a deal like Cazorla). We'll have improved commercial deals soon enough so we'll be in a much better position to offer better wages in the coming seasons.

The trouble with it is that it's going to give players & their agents the chance to push for bigger contracts in the future.

Jenkinson recently signed a 6 year contract for around 25k/week, you think it'll be 4.5/5 years before he's looking for another one or offered one? Not a hope if he keeps progressing like he has, also Gibbs & Chamberlain are in contract talks, now they'll not ask for anywhere near what Walcott wants but the time after they'll be looking for a lot more

Podolski & Cazorla, who aren't exactly spring chickens, and are probably going to be offered new contracts or look for one well before their current one expires are approaching the age where they'll be looking for the best deal possible you'd imagine

you could go through the whole team nearly and say the same thing, if ones getting it the rest who are or see themselves as important as Walcott to the team will be looking for the same money or even more

You're right the club need to break the current wage structure, make it more disparate but there'll a knock on effect in doing so.

also it's no good to be able to afford to buy a 25mil + player but not offer them wages anywhere near what they'd be looking for, it'd also maybe help in keeping players but the lack of trophies doesn't help

City and United eliminated last season, looking like City and Chelsea will be eliminated this season. You've got to give it to Wenger, his consistency in get us through to the knowckout stages is very impressive.

Real have finished second in their group so at least we avoid them if we end up second!

I am quite impressed with the way we played tonite. Dull in the first half despite all our possession but the lads did well to score 2 in the second half and for some strange reason, I wasnt too scared anytime the ball came to the our goal area.

I know Manone has been a relatively good GK for us but boy did I miss Szczesny. Hope we keep it up.