Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit

[Power n Glory]

Hope not but I fear LVG may actually know what he's doing in the transfer market unlike Moyes.

We need to be on our game next year. I think LVG is the type of lunatic to push a team until they piss blood to reach their target. Top 4 will be a serious test next season.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sagna has finalised terms with Manchester City [L'Equipe]

:wave:

Sagna: I want tons of cash.
Gypos: How about we give you tons of cash and then some more cash?
Sagna: Deal.
Gypos: Anything else you want to discuss?
Sagna: What else is there? Nah, just show me to the bench.

[AFC Leveller]

Have to say this Yaya Toure story is disgusting. How fucking precious are these Footballers these days?

[Globalgunner]

Hes gone. Lets close the chapter and move on. Now is the time for me to say, I never liked him anyway. He always had to look down at his feet before crossing the ball and his wife is too pretty.

[Munchies]

Seems Kroos could well be off.

United are offering him £250,000 a week. Wow.


@honigstein

Pep still wants him to stay but Bayern haven't improved their contract offer (says president Hopfner in Kicker): looks like Kroos will go

[Munchies]

Bacary Sagna set to sign for Manchester City on £120,000-a-week deal


Manchester City are on the verge of announcing the signing of Bacary Sagna on a free transfer from Arsenal, with the right-back to earn at least £120,000 a-week.

The 31-year-old is thought to have agreed a three-year deal to take him to the Premier League champions and strengthen Manuel Pellegrini’s defensive options.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/22/bacary-sagna-sign-manchester-city-arsenal

[selassie]

Loads of reports saying that Kroos to United is agreed. £20m.

Bargain in the current transfer market.

I think there is a high chance Kroos could go there. Been reading in various places that there is a split in the Bayern Board about whether he should be given a new contract on his wage demands, he only has 1 year left.

Moreover...whilst Kroos is a very good player, he's replaceable in that Bayern setup, they have ridiculous depth in Midfield.

Kroos will massively improve United's midfield if they sign him.

[selassie]

We need to be on our game next year. I think LVG is the type of lunatic to push a team until they piss blood to reach their target. Top 4 will be a serious test next season.

Yep totally agree P'n'G. We need to make moves in the market this summer, at the very least we need to secure a top class striker, that is the absolute bare minimum.

[Niall_Quinn]

Utd also after Robben.

Robben and Rooney! How many pens next year? What's the world record?

[Munchies]

Arsenal are prepared to break club transfer record again to become champions






Arsenal director Lord Harris of Peckham today promised that Arsene Wenger will be given the money he needs to turn the club into champions.


“We want to win the Premier League and the Champions League,” Lord Harris told Standard Sport. “If we buy two or three players then I think we can. We want to win. We don’t want to be second, we don’t want to be third and we don’t want to be fourth. We will support Arsene with the players he wants to buy. He has always been encouraged to spend.”

A reported £100million transfer kitty has been made available but Lord Harris dismissed claims the 64-year-old has been given a spending target.

Arsenal are in a strong position financially and their stadium debt is now down to a manageable level. They have also agreed a new kit deal with Puma, which will strengthen Wenger’s position in the transfer market.

The £42.5million arrival of Mesut Ozil last summer marked a club record transfer fee but, if the right player becomes available, Wenger could reach even greater heights with his spending.

Asked if the board would back Wenger to break the club’s transfer record for a second time in 12 months, Lord Harris said: “We would. It would be easy.”

He added: “There is a lot of paper talk. I wouldn’t say it [the total transfer budget] is £100m, I wouldn’t say it’s £50m and I wouldn’t say it’s £150m.

“If Arsene has asked for any player then we have always backed him to go and buy. With the exception of Messi, Ronaldo or Bale; we could buy most players.”

:coffee:

[Edinburgh Gooner]

Arsenal are prepared to break club transfer record again to become champions



:coffee:

buy all the players!!!!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

So no Messi or Ronaldo then, typical :fury:

[I am invisible]

I said something like this as a possibility a few weeks back, but it looks like a few gossip sites and rags are starting to suggest the same thing...

http://www.arsenalstation.com/2014/05/22/arsenal-open-talks-to-sign-25m-rated-attacker-in-bargain-deal/?

[condensed version: it says that we might be trying to use our buy-back clause for Vela to leverage a cheaper deal for Griezmann.]

Interestingly, whilst it sounds like most Arsenal fans would prefer Griezmann, the general opinion in Spain (and amongst those who watch Sociedad on a regular basis) is that Vela is the better player, with some going as far as to say that it's not even a close thing?! Both have scored a similar number of goals, but Vela's all round game is supposedly much better - he's quicker, has a better touch, bis a better dribbler, a better passer, and has chipped in with 4 times as many assists as the young french lad, making him the more creative of the two.

In Griezmann's favour though, he's 2 years younger (doesn't sound like much, but, as we've seen with Ramsey, a lot can change in a few months when you're young), he supposedly works his nuts off and contributes more to the defensive side of things, and I guess you could make the argument that we already have plenty of creativity in the side, and therefore might be better off with a more traditional winger who's simply all about the goals and will give our existing players a constant target to aim for?

Then there's the price - Vela for €4m vs. Griezmann for €18m (€30m buyout clause, less €12m for us to write off the buy-back option on Vela). I guess you'd have to say Vela wins that one, even with the potential discount on Griezmann, but I'm not sure how much price should really come into it, unless we're starting to run low on funds? For me, it's more a question of what type of player we need more: a versatile forward, who can play anywhere across the front 3/4, and who can create as well as score; or a more traditional winger, who sticks to the flanks, gets on the end of things, and maybe shields his fullback a little better?

[GP]

Get both

[I am invisible]

Get everyone.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Arsenal are prepared to break club transfer record again to become champions



:coffee:

Link plz?

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Get both

Ideally.

[Munchies]

Link plz?

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-are-prepared-to-break-club-transfer-record-again-to-become-champions--lord-harris-9416975.html

[I am invisible]

Arsenal are prepared to break club transfer record again to become champions


...He added: “There is a lot of paper talk. I wouldn’t say it [the total transfer budget] is £100m, I wouldn’t say it’s £50m and I wouldn’t say it’s £150m...

:coffee:

£200m?

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Resign Eboue.

[Munchies]

£200m?

More like £150m plus a pound

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Interesting points about Vela vs Grease lightning invisible...

I've obviously seen much less of the latter but he seems equally as versatile as Vela at least and that struck me whilst watching Vela's compilation! Plus we also need to factor in that Vela never really looked at home in any position whilst he was here. I understand that there are a number of contributory factors in that and that he has significantly improved......but his ability was never really in question and I suspect the Spanish game just suits him better regardless.

If it was just based on money you might argue we would just sign Remy and ignore this all together, so I do agree and think that it is right that money is not the most salient consideration here. I can live with the idea of a player being high on goals and lower on the assists. Ozil is the vice versa of that and we have other players in that vein too. I like the idea that Griezmann looks decent in the air and at least willing to head the blooming ball once in a while.

[Ollie the Optimist]

The telegraph reporting tonight that not only do we want to sign Milner, but we want to sign Milner to replace Sagna.


Arsene, the ultimate troll :bow:

[Bumble]

The telegraph reporting tonight that not only do we want to sign Milner, but we want to sign Milner to replace Sagna.


Arsene, the ultimate troll :bow:
Maybe Wenger just thinks are CBs are ao good that we will scrap full backs next year for more midfielders.

[Niall_Quinn]

I really hope we don't have to spend the whole summer listening to links with shit like Milner and Barry. It would be nice to get some serious business for proper players done sooner rather than last minute. Surely there's a desire to act as quickly as possible (where possible) because the last thing we want is our targets having a good world cup. price will double and the dopers will come sniffing around for extra bench players.

[Bumble]

I really hope we don't have to spend the whole summer listening to links with shit like Milner and Barry. It would be nice to get some serious business for proper players done sooner rather than last minute. Surely there's a desire to act as quickly as possible (where possible) because the last thing we want is our targets having a good world cup. price will double and the dopers will come sniffing around for extra bench players.well with barry and milner we wont have to worry about them having a good world cup. milner is decent player and could definitely have his uses./

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

The Mirror link us both with Bernard, who is apparently wants to leave Ukraine.

Then again, it could be bollocks.

I'd sign him just for his name tbh. That and he has the power to stop time.

[Mr. Lahey]

Get both Greizman and Vela. Then I would throw the bank at Juve for Pogba. The club have said recently that they cannot force him to stay and they will let him go for the right price.

[fakeyank]

I really hope we don't have to spend the whole summer listening to links with shit like Milner and Barry. It would be nice to get some serious business for proper players done sooner rather than last minute. Surely there's a desire to act as quickly as possible (where possible) because the last thing we want is our targets having a good world cup. price will double and the dopers will come sniffing around for extra bench players.

Do not forget that at this moment no one is moving. Everybody is in a waiting period, holding cards close to their chest. We will only add super quality when they are available..

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Wenger speak. :bow:

[LDG]

Do not forget that at this moment no one is moving. Everybody is in a waiting period, holding cards close to their chest. We will only add super quality when they are available..

You're shit at that :haha:

[Kano]

As long as he doesn't cost too much, Milner is a must get. The type of consistent, grafting squad member we need when we inevitably lose several key players to injury next season.

[selassie]

The telegraph reporting tonight that not only do we want to sign Milner, but we want to sign Milner to replace Sagna.


Arsene, the ultimate troll :bow:

It's a classic Wenger move, he loves a gamble and he loves converting players.

He did the same with Lauren years ago. Lauren came here off the back off 2 very good seasons as a Midfielder in La Liga and Wenger converted him into a full back.

[Power n Glory]

I hope that’s not the case. According to reports, he’s earning £80k for City. How much would he want if he signed for us? I’m guessing between £90k to £100k. It doesn’t make sense to lose a consistent and solid right back that was previously on £60k to then sign a player that has hardly played the position, is 28 years old and would cost us more in wages plus the transfer fee. He hasn’t got that much time to learn the role.

[I am invisible]

A couple of interesting points I've seen mentioned about the possibility of Cesc coming back...

1) Barca still owe us money from when they (re-)signed him for us - some people have suggested that they may still owe us as much as half the fee?

2) The infamous 'clause' in his contract - as I understand it, this doesn't entitle us to buy him back for a fixed fee, but it does give us first refusal if they decide to sell. More interestingly though, I've seen it suggested that there's also a sell-on clause in there somewhere that entitles us to 50% of any fee they receive, if they sell him to another club? When you combine that with point 1 (above), it does sound like it would be borderline worthless for them to sell to anyone other that us, as they'd pretty much have to give us their 50% too, to pay off what they still owe us!

I have to say, I didn't really see much sense in bringing him back - much as I love him as a player, it seemed like an unnecessary move, based on sentiment, that wouldn't address any of the problems we've identified, and would eat too much into our budget. However, if those 2 points are true, it does make you wonder how cheap we might be able to get him for?

[Power n Glory]

Cesc’s return would cause a selection problem but I’d welcome him back because he’d solve the fluidity problem we seem to have. We’re not moving the ball around the park quick enough like we used to. He’d team up well with Ramsey. Besides his assists, we’d have more fire power from the middle.

[I am invisible]

A team with Fabregas and Özil in it should have top strikers queuing up to join it, so maybe there's some indirect logic there?

[Kano]

£40m for Luiz to PSG? What a bunch of idiots.

[Niall_Quinn]

£40m for Luiz to PSG? What a bunch of idiots.

Looks like FFP is hitting PSG hard.

[selassie]

I hope that’s not the case. According to reports, he’s earning £80k for City. How much would he want if he signed for us? I’m guessing between £90k to £100k. It doesn’t make sense to lose a consistent and solid right back that was previously on £60k to then sign a player that has hardly played the position, is 28 years old and would cost us more in wages plus the transfer fee. He hasn’t got that much time to learn the role.

Me too...but I wouldn't put it past Wenger.

[Marc Overmars]

FFP. :bow:

[selassie]

A couple of interesting points I've seen mentioned about the possibility of Cesc coming back...

1) Barca still owe us money from when they (re-)signed him for us - some people have suggested that they may still owe us as much as half the fee?

2) The infamous 'clause' in his contract - as I understand it, this doesn't entitle us to buy him back for a fixed fee, but it does give us first refusal if they decide to sell. More interestingly though, I've seen it suggested that there's also a sell-on clause in there somewhere that entitles us to 50% of any fee they receive, if they sell him to another club? When you combine that with point 1 (above), it does sound like it would be borderline worthless for them to sell to anyone other that us, as they'd pretty much have to give us their 50% too, to pay off what they still owe us!

I have to say, I didn't really see much sense in bringing him back - much as I love him as a player, it seemed like an unnecessary move, based on sentiment, that wouldn't address any of the problems we've identified, and would eat too much into our budget. However, if those 2 points are true, it does make you wonder how cheap we might be able to get him for?

I personally feel bringing him back will cause selection problems and will eat too much into our budget, he would come on pretty big wages for a start.

Cesc is a great player but we would probably need to move Ozil and sell Cazorla to make any sense of Cesc returning.

I also fear that signing Cesc would give Wenger justification to not buy a starting striker.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Heil has us chasing Greizmaan who's valued at 18 million by us. Usually everything they report is rubbish (think NQ can attest to this) but I hope to god this is true.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2636811/Antoine-Griezmann-chased-Arsenal-Arsene-Wenger-eyes-return-Cesc-Fabregas-Barcelona.html


Also, I said it in the random thread, but Bender is injured for the WC. Might poo-poo our proposed transfer for him. :(




As for Cesc, whilst I have no problem with him, signing him will inevitably mean less resources to spend in other more critical areas and for that reason alone I'll pass. Would hate to see him at the Mancs though, linking up with RVP. :sick:

[Niall_Quinn]

Toure to the chavs is the latest rumour.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Greizemann is sponsored by Puma and as is big mates with Giroud. He also plays as us on FIFA and does seem to be an Arsenal fan.



Also, this picture is a year old but Aurier seems to also be an Arsenal fan.

http://www10.0zz0.com/2013/06/30/08/188300959.png




Get both Wenger!!

[Fist of Lehmann]

Cesc’s return would cause a selection problem but I’d welcome him back because he’d solve the fluidity problem we seem to have. We’re not moving the ball around the park quick enough like we used to. He’d team up well with Ramsey. Besides his assists, we’d have more fire power from the middle.

Irony is, when he left everyone was going on about how he slowed our game down too much.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Irony is, when he left everyone was going on about how he slowed our game down too much.

Very true which I personally thought was rubbish.

I'd welcome him back here as he is world class but admittedly it would cause a selection problem. I don't see why the amount we would pay for him should prohibit the signing of a forward.....especially if what Invisible is saying is true. There aren't even a whole lot of top forwards available any more after we dilly dallied last summer.

It is far more likely that we will spend a bit of money on a few players this summer with loads of dosh to spare......rather than buying a top midfielder and thinking crap!....we can't afford Falcao now.

[Niall_Quinn]

Irony is, when he left everyone was going on about how he slowed our game down too much.

And they had a very valid point, because look how fast our game is now that he's gone.

[Niall_Quinn]

Greizemann is sponsored by Puma and as is big mates with Giroud. He also plays as us on FIFA and does seem to be an Arsenal fan.



Also, this picture is a year old but Aurier seems to also be an Arsenal fan.

http://www10.0zz0.com/2013/06/30/08/188300959.png




Get both Wenger!!

It's bloody disrespectful to fans of his current club though, isn't it? I wish players would at least pretend.

[Power n Glory]

Irony is, when he left everyone was going on about how he slowed our game down too much.

Yeah, that’s something I’ve never understood and disagreed with. He doesn’t dwindle on the ball or take unnecessary time on it, so that never made sense. One thing opposing players have often said that he’s difficult to mark and stop because he’s always playing one touch and then moving into space his marker has vacated. It’s one touch and then he’s ghosting past you. We miss that. I think we’re a lot slower now to build attacks and get into a rhythm these days. We can really struggle to get the ball out from the half way line and I think he’d solve that issue and we’d be a bit quicker off the mark. But we’d still need more players making runs in behind defenders. We’d get into a tippy tappy pattern during his time because everyone would come short for the ball and refuse to shoot. Kept on overplaying and that’s where the confusion about him ‘slowing us down’ comes from. We have that same problem now he’s gone.

[GP]

Greizmann
Vela
Aurier
Remy
Fabregas

Done.

[Munchies]

50 Million for David Luiz. He's undergoing his medical today. :doh: :haha:

Arab money :wacko:

[Munchies]

Greizmann
Vela
Aurier
Remy
Fabregas

Done.

And a CB and a GK

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

50 Million for David Luiz. He's undergoing his medical today. :doh: :haha:

Arab money :wacko:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb227/Kromesome/MichelPlatini.jpg

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

And a

CF
DM

lol...

[selassie]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb227/Kromesome/MichelPlatini.jpg

:lol:

[Özil's Panoramic View]

Tbf, we did move the ball a bit quicker in the set up that preceded Fabregas becoming the main man. I think that's where the comparison lied and that fans were justified in their perception.

However, since his departure, we seem to have only gotten slower moving the ball through the middle.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

It's bloody disrespectful to fans of his current club though, isn't it? I wish players would at least pretend.

Don't really think so. He's not wearing a Lyon or PSG shirt or a shirt of one of their domestic rivals.

And as I said it was taken a year ago before the transfer speculation sort of emerged. He just seems to be an Arsenal fan which to be fair to him a lot of people his age group in France happen to also be. Podolski puts up pics of him in a Koln shirt all the time on twitter!


50 Million for David Luiz. He's undergoing his medical today. :doh: :haha:

Arab money :wacko:

The worst thing as well is that in now allows Chelsea to spend a shit load on talent without having to worry about FFP themselves now that they've got this balancing any incomings.


Seriously I just can't me head around this. 50 million ..... he's decent but ...... 50 million. :doh:

[selassie]

Well if Fabregas does come back....

http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-love-tiki-taka.png

[Marc Overmars]

Cheeky bid for Cavani tbh.

[Power n Glory]

Tbf, we did move the ball a bit quicker in the set up that preceded Fabregas becoming the main man. I think that's where the comparison lied and that fans were justified in their perception.

However, since his departure, we seem to have only gotten slower moving the ball through the middle.

The game was different during the era before Cesc. Teams started to park the bus more, played a 5 man midfield with one striker up front and that shifted things. We dominated possession and we're playing in the opponents half for long periods so we hardly saw the counter attacks the previous era used to pull off all the time. I think it was wrong to say it was Cesc slowing us down when he's a split second type of player. One touch and a player's through on goal.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

The worst thing as well is that in now allows Chelsea to spend a shit load on talent without having to worry about FFP themselves now that they've got this balancing any incomings.


Seriously I just can't me head around this. 50 million ..... he's decent but ...... 50 million. :doh:
Unless Chelsea go and buy Cavani for a similar amount and this is all part of some elaborate tax dodge. :ninja:

[Gooner23]

Unless Chelsea go and buy Cavani for a similar amount and this is all part of some elaborate tax dodge. :ninja:

50 mil has got to to be a wind up surely? He's crap, more likely to get sent off than do anything positive on the pitch.

[Niall_Quinn]

The whole Luiz/ Matic affair stinks to high heaven.

[Munchies]

Lamps and Cashley officially released by Chelsea

Gareth Barry and Lescott released by City.

Manchester United ‏@ManUtd
We can confirm that Patrice Evra has extended his contract at #mufc for another year.

Lampard :rose:

[Edinburgh Gooner]

Lamps and Cashley officially released by Chelsea

Gareth Barry and Lescott released by City.

Manchester United ‏@ManUtd
We can confirm that Patrice Evra has extended his contract at #mufc for another year.

Lampard :rose:

WOuld lescott be worth a punt as a back up cb?

[GP]

He'd be worth a punt as Chief of Security on the USS enterprise.

[Niall_Quinn]

WOuld lescott be worth a punt as a back up cb?

He's probably on 150K a week or something stupid like that.

[Bumble]

He's probably on 150K a week or something stupid like that.

doubt it as he was bought by the previous owners who had less money but what difference does that make as no one will pay him that and if he wants to play football then he will know he has to lower his monetary sights. even so lescott as 3rd choice hmmmmmmm

[Bumble]

why do teams want to spend aload of money on Luiz he is shit. £40m come on PSG you can do better than that and also stop giving the chavs money as they would struggle to buy new players without it.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

doubt it as he was bought by the previous owners who had less money but what difference does that make as no one will pay him that and if he wants to play football then he will know he has to lower his monetary sights. even so lescott as 3rd choice hmmmmmmm

Pretty much. He is not involved with England any more more because he plays once in a blue moon rather than actually not being good enough. I think he is at least someone like Jagielka's equal and Demichellis was ahead (even when playing crap) because Pelligrini knows him well and likes a defender who can play it out from back. That isn't Lescott's strength.

I reckon we could probably offer whatever Vermaelen is on (assuming Vermaelen left). As you say....how on earth is he going to play football without taking a significant pay cut now. His reservation would be whether he would play if he had one imo.

[Globalgunner]

Rumours are that Mancs may want to dump Fellaini for as little as 15m. We should be all over that. solve our DM position at a stroke

[Kano]

The game was different during the era before Cesc. Teams started to park the bus more, played a 5 man midfield with one striker up front and that shifted things. We dominated possession and we're playing in the opponents half for long periods so we hardly saw the counter attacks the previous era used to pull off all the time. I think it was wrong to say it was Cesc slowing us down when he's a split second type of player. One touch and a player's through on goal.
The simple fact is we moved the ball quicker at one point because we had pace across the team. Barcelona/Spain do not have so much but because of their technical precision above anyone else, the can afford not to. In the past few years all we have really had is Theo and a bunch of Xavi-lites who cannot replicate what they have done in Barca for years - nobody can, it's a one-off. Us slowing down was never Cesc's fault but a result of pace disappearing throughout the entire team over a few years, moulding into the new style of being midfielder heavy which has also seen the quality of our strikers slowly decrease across the years. It's no coincidence that in the same period we have also struggled to replicate the success we had in the late 90's to early 00's.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Apparantly, falcao may be available for as little as £35m as the Monaco owner has been sting for £3bn in a divorce settlement and they don't like falcao's attitude....

Also Cesc wants to come back home.

I would make both of those the top priorities tbh.

[AFC Leveller]

I had to larf when i read that Luis was going to PSG for almost 50m. WTF? werent PSG fined 50m for cheating?

Platini is definitely on their payroll.

[Gooner23]

Apparantly, falcao may be available for as little as £35m as the Monaco owner has been sting for £3bn in a divorce settlement and they don't like falcao's attitude....

Also Cesc wants to come back home.

I would make both of those the top priorities tbh.

Falcao for 35mil is a must get

[milla]

Rumours are that Mancs may want to dump Fellaini for as little as 15m. We should be all over that. solve our DM position at a stroke

Problem is Fellaini is not a DM :D

[milla]

The simple fact is we moved the ball quicker at one point because we had pace across the team. Barcelona/Spain do not have so much but because of their technical precision above anyone else, the can afford not to. In the past few years all we have really had is Theo and a bunch of Xavi-lites who cannot replicate what they have done in Barca for years - nobody can, it's a one-off. Us slowing down was never Cesc's fault but a result of pace disappearing throughout the entire team over a few years, moulding into the new style of being midfielder heavy which has also seen the quality of our strikers slowly decrease across the years. It's no coincidence that in the same period we have also struggled to replicate the success we had in the late 90's to early 00's.

:gp:

You can play with load of AMs but they must have the skills and speed to play fast attacking football. Pires, Ljunberg, Hleb and Rozza were not just technical players, they were rapid back than. :coffee:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Rumours are that Mancs may want to dump Fellaini for as little as 15m. We should be all over that. solve our DM position at a stroke

Ehhh??? Are you mad. There's a reason he's struggled at Man Utd whenever he's played in midfield - his passing and general ball movement are shithouse. He's not a DM.

The only position he's effective at is just behind the striker as a sort of battering ram. A slightly better version of Sanago. Seeing as we don't rarely play that way (FA Cup aside) there's no need to spunk money and waste a position on him.

For a DM, we'd be much better looking for actual quality like Bender or Martinez though personally I think we need someone with a bit more strength and powerful dribbling ability ...... basically exactly what a fit Diaby would have been.

[Power n Glory]

The simple fact is we moved the ball quicker at one point because we had pace across the team. Barcelona/Spain do not have so much but because of their technical precision above anyone else, the can afford not to. In the past few years all we have really had is Theo and a bunch of Xavi-lites who cannot replicate what they have done in Barca for years - nobody can, it's a one-off. Us slowing down was never Cesc's fault but a result of pace disappearing throughout the entire team over a few years, moulding into the new style of being midfielder heavy which has also seen the quality of our strikers slowly decrease across the years. It's no coincidence that in the same period we have also struggled to replicate the success we had in the late 90's to early 00's.

You've also got to consider how the game has changed since the 90s/00s. Team used to play without a dedicated DM and that restricts teams from exploiting space between the lines. What you can do with the ball depends on the space you have on the pitch. There is a reason why Theo struggles against teams that play a deep defensive line because he hasn't got the space to exploit. He can often be anonymous when it's that sort of game. We could have a team full of physically quick players in this era, but if they park the bus, surrender possession and hold their shape, we'd still struggle to open teams up. When teams come at to attack and it's more open, that's when we see the speed because there are more counter attacks and we used to see it a lot in the 90s/2000s because teams weren't afraid to try against us.

To avoid falling into that trap again, I'd like to see more traditional winger played that actually like to dribble so we create more space and force players to try and commit a tackle and come out.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

To be fair to Screech, he made a name for himself before he was ever used behind the front man. Having said that I'm not convinced he's a top level holding midfielder.

Falcao is awesome but he falls under that third party ownership malarkey which I reckon Wenger will want to stay well clear of. Otherwise I'd want us to throw the kitchen sink at getting him here.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Mirror reporting ManU paving the way for Cesc return to us by dropping their interest in him.....

[GP]

Mirror reporting ManU paving the way for Cesc return to us by dropping their interest in him.....

He wouldn't go there anyway.

[GP]

Tom Ince to Inter.

[Munchies]

Apparently Ashley Williams was at the Emirates the other day, and on Soccer AM:

http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/tv-shows/9324122/soccer-am-wayne-routledge-&-ashley-williams

At 5 mins in, could be a sign he's signing for us ? :shrug: . Looks like it could well be on

[GP]

Hope not, he's a cart horse

[Munchies]

It probably means for certain that Vermaelen is off, which is a shame because he could also help out at LB too, given how injury prone Gibbs is and how shite Monreal is.

--
@WGooney
https://twitter.com/WGooney

Shola Ameobi is a summer target for Arsenal.

Mesut Ozil looks set to join PSG after a 65m bid was accepted. #AFC

:haha:

He's being reported by alot of people, so let's see if he continues this bs :lol:

[Munchies]

Mauro Zarate close to signing for West Ham.

He was pretty good in his last stint over here like 6 years ago.

[Injury Time]

Mirror reporting ManU paving the way for Cesc return to us by dropping their interest in him.....
Tbf that's a bit like me dropping my interest in Natalie Portman

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Seriously though.....would we sell Ozil for 65 million? Assuming it was pound sterling.....

[Niall_Quinn]

Tbf that's a bit like me dropping my interest in Natalie Portman

Hardly, because it would at least be possible for Utd to drop their interest in Cesc.

[Niall_Quinn]

Seriously though.....would we sell Ozil for 65 million? Assuming it was pound sterling.....

No.

1. We don't need the money.
2. There's no points taking pieces out of the puzzle while we're trying to buy more pieces, been there, done that, got the postman.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I'd hope, but we've never had to turn that sort of money down before......

Though with 65 million we could buy Cesc and a proper forward. Just saying.... :d

[GP]

We've only sold players if we didn't want them any more, or they made it clear they didn't want to stay.

Neither of those apply here. Ozil's going nowhere.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Yeah, for what it's worth I give little credence to it..... just musing on a hypothetical.

Though if Luiz is worth 50 million to them God knows how much Ozil is worth.

[Niall_Quinn]

I'd hope, but we've never had to turn that sort of money down before......

Though with 65 million we could buy Cesc and a proper forward. Just saying.... :d

We already have the 65 mill to sign players. Having to sell before we can buy is so 2012.

[Munchies]

Harry Redknapp has revealed that QPR striker Loic Remy is available for £8m. Arsenal and Liverpool are both monitoring the French international.

Great signing for £8m :coffee:

[fakeyank]

Signing Remy is a no-brainer IMO... great player to have in your ranks. I wouldnt mind him and Vela as my forward options, along with Giroud. Make it happen Arsene..

Or may be, we will go in for a CM :rolleyes:

Oh, and Ozil can leave for 65 million quid. We got Santi, Ramsey, Jack, Flamini, Ox and Rozza who can play there.

[hobson's choice]

Signing Remy is a no-brainer IMO... great player to have in your ranks. I wouldnt mind him and Vela as my forward options, along with Giroud. Make it happen Arsene..

Or may be, we will go in for a CM :rolleyes:

Oh, and Ozil can leave for 65 million quid. We got Santi, Ramsey, Jack, Flamini, Ox and Rozza who can play there.

Honestly, we need to get a proper playing making CM, and a proper CDM. None of our attacking mids or CM's are truly that creative, or really have the ability to control the game or be the anchor of our attack.

[Munchies]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaqka3m5apw

That £86m seems pretty good value now :coffee:

Spuds :pal:

Exact sort of player we're missing on the left hand side of our side. Griezmann appears to be a good option

[GP]

23 goals eh? Not bad.


Roughly the same as Giroud :coffee:

[Power n Glory]

I'd hope, but we've never had to turn that sort of money down before......

Though with 65 million we could buy Cesc and a proper forward. Just saying.... :d

If we had that sort of offer on the table and Ozil still looks off the boil during the World Cup, we should accept the bid. We've seen a fraction of what he's capable of and Wenger should keep a close eye on him when he returns to train with Arsenal.

[Niall_Quinn]

23 goals eh? Not bad.


Roughly the same as Giroud :coffee:

It's ludicrous. Bale was absolutely shit all night until he got the goal. He missed chance after chance, hoofing it, slicing it, air kicking, falling over, losing the ball. Utter tripe. In fact he was so bad it was inevitable he'd score because that's how football seems to work (except for Sanogo). Eventually he gets one thing right and heads in and a whole new narrative entirely detached from reality is created. Utter twats like Redknapp immediately compare him to Messi. All a bunch of hype to keep the circus rolling and the money flowing. If we see the same form from Ramsey next year then we're the ones who have hit the jackpot - for £5mill instead of £86mill. But of course he'd have to move to Unreal Marketing before they'd start calling him the best player ever in the history of the universe ever.

[Power n Glory]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaqka3m5apw

That £86m seems pretty good value now :coffee:

Spuds :pal:

Exact sort of player we're missing on the left hand side of our side. Griezmann appears to be a good option

We need Di Maria! A beast on the wing.

[Niall_Quinn]

We need Di Maria! A beast on the wing.

He played very well and was the genuine stand out player on the night. But we're after Benzedrine apparently, a waste of money. Shame.

[GP]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgk-lA12FBk

[Niall_Quinn]

Because not even Marketing are that dumb surely? Unless they can get two big circus acts in during the summer.

[Niall_Quinn]

Besides, if Ox and Theo start drinking whatever it is Ramsey is drinking then we have two new players that will make a big difference. And give some to Jack too. Not for a moment saying we shouldn't spend some money, but if a few things fall into place it all starts to look pretty bright. Ox could be better than all of them if Wenger can be persuaded to stop playing him in goal.

[Power n Glory]

He played very well and was the genuine stand out player on the night. But we're after Benzedrine apparently, a waste of money. Shame.

Wenger was doing commentary for the final in France and said something about that being Zema's last game and he'll end up playing in England next. A massive hint. There haven't been many games I've watched where he's really tore a team up, so not sure about breaking records to get him over here.

[Munchies]

QPR are going to offer Lampard, Ferdinand and Joe Cole contracts.

Lampard would be a decent signing, the others ? Doubt it.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

#pompey

[Niall_Quinn]

QPR are going to offer Lampard, Ferdinand and Joe Cole contracts.

Lampard would be a decent signing, the others ? Doubt it.

Rosie :bow:

[I am invisible]

I really don't know what to make of Benzema? Every time I watch him for Madrid he looks pretty average, and the Real fans seem to do nothing but grumble about him, but then there's dozens of clips out there of him where he looks a world beater (and they're not short clips either, padded out with loads of slow-motion replays of the same thing from different angles)?! Am I just unlucky enough to miss every one of these moments whenever I see him live, or is it all from an earlier time in his career when he was more motivated or something?

[I am invisible]

Swansea have apparently put a £25m price tag on Bony - not cheap, but not astronomical either (if true)?

[Niall_Quinn]

Media shite, but let's bid anyway. Absolute top priority must, must get:
Bastian Schweinsteiger could be available for £10m

[Xhaka Can’t]

Whats all this about selling Ozil for £65m?

[Power n Glory]

Media BS. They wanted him before he signed to Arsenal.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Thanks, who wanted him.

I know I'm being ultra lazy here.

[Power n Glory]

Ha..PSG wanted him before and now there are talks of them bidding again.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Wenger was doing commentary for the final in France and said something about that being Zema's last game and he'll end up playing in England next. A massive hint. There haven't been many games I've watched where he's really tore a team up, so not sure about breaking records to get him over here.

The professor is out there chin wagging already!?

Everything I have seen from Benzema since he scored that awesome goal against Manure in the CL for Lyon, tells me that his game is almost completely about 2 things;

1. Good movement
2. Good finishing

He isn't the ultimate frontman, but those attributes at the highest level will take you very far. You have to consider the fact he is a solid 6'2, well built and no slouch as well so he wouldn't be a bad option by any means, but for what he would cost to get him out of there.........

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I think Bony is probably worth about 20 million of your English sterling..... but the earth would have to rotate the opposite direction for Bastian S to leave for 10 million.

Kroos won't leave for that and his contract is almost up isn't it?

If we signed somebody as good as Reus then somebody like Bony would definitely suffice for the CF role.

[Niall_Quinn]

Thanks, who wanted him.

I know I'm being ultra lazy here.

Slow press day, hit the random player generator, hit the random number generator, tweet, software scrapes twitter, newspaper printed.

[Niall_Quinn]

Arsenal set to splash £65mill on new medical team.

Seriously, that would be our biggest signing. Keeping players on the pitch. No point spending millions for players to sit it out. Maybe we would have got more points with Ramsey, Walcott, Ox, Jack all fit last season, maybe not. But would have been better to have them on the pitch. Lost Ozil at key moments too. However, would also need to spend a few million paying refs to apply the rules when our players get kicked.

[Munchies]

Cesc spotted in a London restaurant yesterday:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/26/article-2639603-1E374D4300000578-628_634x457.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/26/article-2639603-1E374DA700000578-468_634x522.jpg

:coffee:

[Globalgunner]

So I'm not the only one who fancies Salma Hayek. She could fill the void in our roster recently vacated by Mrs Sagna

I think I still would like some Cesc back at the Emirates. You can never have too much quality

[Injury Time]

Cesc spotted in a London restaurant yesterday:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/26/article-2639603-1E374D4300000578-628_634x457.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/26/article-2639603-1E374DA700000578-468_634x522.jpg

:coffee:
Will sign for Chelsea :coffee:

[Xhaka Can’t]

Ha..PSG wanted him before and now there are talks of them bidding again.

Thanks.

Assuming this is true, I'd hate for us to sell him. It would send out the wrong message entirely if for the first time in god knows how long, we buy a top class player and then flip him for a profit 12 months later.

Also, with the right additions to the squad, he could come really good for us.

[Xhaka Can’t]

Cesc spotted in a London restaurant yesterday:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/05/26/article-2639603-1E374D4300000578-628_634x457.jpg


:coffee:

Where?

I can't see Cesc in that photo.

[Power n Glory]

Thanks.

Assuming this is true, I'd hate for us to sell him. It would send out the wrong message entirely if for the first time in god knows how long, we buy a top class player and then flip him for a profit 12 months later.

Also, with the right additions to the squad, he could come really good for us.

The message we sent out with Ozil can be duplicated. If he represented a shift in mentality and approach, we should be using the profit to invest in another top player. I hope he finds his form but he shouldn't need additional players to perform. It's a worry to see him struggling like this so early on.

[Niall_Quinn]

Every other foreign player has instantly adjusted to the PL so I don't see why Ozil can't do it. For anyone who thinks he hasn't been shit, just look at the media headlines for proof. We should definitely get rid of him and sign Gareth Barry.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I don't think it is that simple - you do need others around you in order to make the most of your attributes. I hope we see more from him in the coming season, because while there has (mainly via injury) been a lack of quality to work with, he should have brought more to the table himself.

[Niall_Quinn]

He'll be player of the season next year - watch. The guy is pure class, we just need to find a way to use his full range of abilities. Having a bit of pace up front will help the whole team including Ozil.

[Power n Glory]

I don't think it is that simple - you do need others around you in order to make the most of your attributes. I hope we see more from him in the coming season, because while there has (mainly via injury) been a lack of quality to work with, he should have brought more to the table himself.

I get the part about needing a better striker and forwards so we can take advantage of his passing ability. But when we signed him and people were comparing him to Zidane, Wenger added that there are similarities but Ozil is more of a dribbler. I was watching some of his clips for Real Mardid and posted the vid on another thread, he's an amazing dribbler and we've hardly seen him really drive at defenders this year. He's capable of a lot more and when we say we need additional players to get more out of him, in my mind, it sounds like he's being relegated to a supporting act.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I get the part about needing a better striker and forwards so we can take advantage of his passing ability. But when we signed him and people were comparing him to Zidane, Wenger added that there are similarities but Ozil is more of a dribbler. I was watching some of his clips for Real Mardid and posted the vid on another thread, he's an amazing dribbler and we've hardly seen him really drive at defenders this year. He's capable of a lot more and when we say we need additional players to get more out of him, in my mind, it sounds like he's being relegated to a supporting act.

I see why you are thinking it sounds that way, but that is certainly not my intention.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

We will definitely bring in a striker as we let that waste of space Bendtner leave which means we are already -1 in that department and there is no way we can attempt to ride through another whole season with just Giroud and Yaya up front....suppose Feo will be back but point still stands but.....what comes in?

1) mega bucks signing like Benzema
2) cheap deal like Remy
3) or both.....?

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I genuinely don't have any real concerns about Ozil adapting myself and most certainly believe he will be better. The question is whether or not what he brings/represents is equal to 65 million or not.....hypothetically speaking.

It wouldn't look good to take it even if it was for such a sum but every player has a price effectively. The question of which players Wenger brings in besides probably Aurier is genuinely intriguing as you can't really predict just what he will do.

For those hoping we go back in for Bender I can't see that myself. Wenger won't go back in for him and if I'm being honest I think his club were expecting way too much. I sense Wenger is more than willing not to sign a DM but will most definitely what an attacking player.

[I am invisible]

I think we could go either way on the DM - Wenger probably has his eye out for a long-term solution there, and would be willing to move for the right player, but by the same token I don't think he views it as absolutely critical just yet, and probably feels he has another year to get that one sorted, if it comes to it?

[Penguin]

I doubt we'll get a DM. Wenger is happy enough with Arteta and Flamini, they aren't perfect but they aren't that bad either. The majority of our budget will be spent on a forward (hopefully) and we need a RB, CB and GK to replace Sagna, Vermaelen and Fabianski. We wont have enough left over to spend on a DM, especially one like Bender that would cost upwards of £20m.

[I am invisible]

I doubt we'll get a DM. Wenger is happy enough with Arteta and Flamini, they aren't perfect but they aren't that bad either. The majority of our budget will be spent on a forward (hopefully) and we need a RB, CB and GK to replace Sagna, Vermaelen and Fabianski. We wont have enough left over to spend on a DM, especially one like Bender that would cost upwards of £20m.

Well, I'd never rule anything out with Wenger - I agree that he'll probably see it as one of the lower priorities, but then I'm guessing everyone would have viewed another play-maker as a fairly low priority last summer, and he still went out and spanked £42m on one of those! It sounds like we have enough money to get everything done, and not all of our targets need to be big-names (RBs never usually cost much, and the CB and GK will be backups), so I think time and the availability of targets will probably be bigger factors in who we end up signing...

[Munchies]

EXCLUSIVE: Aaron Ramsey set for summer surgery on thigh problem as FA Cup hero faces more uncertainty over injury


Aaron Ramsey facing summer operation on his troublesome thigh
Injury kept Welshman out of Arsenal action for three months last season
Midfielder returned to score winning goal in FA Cup final
Arsene Wenger desperate to get his star midfielder fit for next season


Hope it isn't too serious..

[Zerlathon]

Not every Player immediately adapts to a new League. You don't have to look far in our past to find an example (i.e. Pires' 1st season wasn't very good, look how good he turned out to be).

with regards to the attack, I don't think much work needs to be done there. Honestly, I'd be happy with:

Benzema/ Balotelli
Vela
Griezmann

We should be able to get these 3 for ~£50m, which leaves £50-70m left to strengthen in other areas.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Apparantly Remy is hopeful of a 'dream move' to chavs.

Fuck him then :coffee:

[KSE Comedy Club]

Still some noises about falcao being sold after the World Cup.

We'd be silly to miss out tbh.

[selassie]

EXCLUSIVE: Aaron Ramsey set for summer surgery on thigh problem as FA Cup hero faces more uncertainty over injury


Aaron Ramsey facing summer operation on his troublesome thigh
Injury kept Welshman out of Arsenal action for three months last season
Midfielder returned to score winning goal in FA Cup final
Arsene Wenger desperate to get his star midfielder fit for next season


Hope it isn't too serious..

Seems like these stories about surgery are a hoax...well at least I hope they are...

http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/27/arsenal-sweat-over-aaron-ramseys-fitness-ahead-of-next-season-as-midfielder-prepares-for-summer-surgery-4740936/

[selassie]

The joys of an Arsenal transfer window, it hasn't taken us long to be linked to shit....

Gareth Barry, Ashley Williams and David Marshall...can somebody pass me the sick bucket please....:faint:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/gossip/

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Barry and Williams can fuck off.



I wouldn't mind taking Marshall as number two to Chesney however he was overrated as fuck (Shay Given effect) this season so would cost an arm and a leg. They're probably better deals out there that we can procure for a goalkeepr.

[selassie]

Barry and Williams can fuck off.



I wouldn't mind taking Marshall as number two to Chesney however he was overrated as fuck (Shay Given effect) this season so would cost an arm and a leg. They're probably better deals out there that we can procure for a goalkeepr.

Yep, agree with ya. Marshall at times did look pretty good this season but I question if he is a "one season wonder", also Cardiff apparently want 15million for him...:lol: Wenger would struggle to offer that for someone like Cech so we can rule Marshall out ;)

[Niall_Quinn]

Apparantly Remy is hopeful of a 'dream move' to chavs.

Fuck him then :coffee:

His dream bench.

[Niall_Quinn]

The joys of an Arsenal transfer window, it hasn't taken us long to be linked to shit....

Gareth Barry, Ashley Williams and David Marshall...can somebody pass me the sick bucket please....:faint:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/gossip/

Barry seems to be serious, most sources linking us to him. Can't see the point. He's the archetypal doper drop out. Average player, ridiculous wages. He certainly wouldn't move us forward in any way so I can only see him as emergency cover, but stupidly expensive cover unless he's prepared to take a huge pay cut. I hope this falls through, but more than that I hope the rumours are completely unfounded.

[selassie]

Barry seems to be serious, most sources linking us to him. Can't see the point. He's the archetypal doper drop out. Average player, ridiculous wages. He certainly wouldn't move us forward in any way so I can only see him as emergency cover, but stupidly expensive cover unless he's prepared to take a huge pay cut. I hope this falls through, but more than that I hope the rumours are completely unfounded.

Yeah the Barry link is worrying, it's been solid for around a season now....there is definitely mileage in it I fear.

I agree with ya about him, don't want him, rather stick with Arteta or Flams...and as you say Wages would be an issue too.

[AFC Leveller]

Benzema is a world class talent but the thing that has let him down at Real madrid is lack of hunger, lack of dedication and Spanish chicks. If he was to fix up and put his head down, he would be a bloody brilliant signing. His pace and finishing alone would get us 15 more points a season and his movement is top notch. At 26, he is at the perfect age to start raping teams and i'd love us to sign him, even for 45m he's worth it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Benzema is a world class talent but the thing that has let him down at Real madrid is lack of hunger, lack of dedication and Spanish chicks. If he was to fix up and put his head down, he would be a bloody brilliant signing. His pace and finishing alone would get us 15 more points a season and his movement is top notch. At 26, he is at the perfect age to start raping teams and i'd love us to sign him, even for 45m he's worth it.

London might not be ideal then.

[Power n Glory]

Benzema is a world class talent but the thing that has let him down at Real madrid is lack of hunger, lack of dedication and Spanish chicks. If he was to fix up and put his head down, he would be a bloody brilliant signing. His pace and finishing alone would get us 15 more points a season and his movement is top notch. At 26, he is at the perfect age to start raping teams and i'd love us to sign him, even for 45m he's worth it.

Ah, man! :haha:

Funny choice of words considering his recent scrape with law alongside his buddy Ribery.

[Munchies]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bop0MNWCIAAeVSq.jpg

:haha:

[AFC Leveller]

Ah, man! :haha:

Funny choice of words considering his recent scrape with law alongside his buddy Ribery.

Dunno what you're on about mate! ;)

[AFC Leveller]

London might not be ideal then.

Wenger has a good record with young French players and id like to think he'd sort him out.

But yeah he is a bit of a man whore.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Not every Player immediately adapts to a new League. You don't have to look far in our past to find an example (i.e. Pires' 1st season wasn't very good, look how good he turned out to be).

with regards to the attack, I don't think much work needs to be done there. Honestly, I'd be happy with:

Benzema/ Balotelli
Vela
Griezmann

We should be able to get these 3 for ~£50m, which leaves £50-70m left to strengthen in other areas.

There's no chance we will get the 3 of those for 50 million if it includes Benzema. If Real were willing to sell him they would be in a position where they would be forced to sign a forward, which means they would not let him go to begin with easily............ unless they had already bought a major one of repute like Suarez but even then they won't let him go easily.

Benzema alone would probably cost 50 million! Also Benzema may well be a man whore Lev but most of them are :d . Some are just better at keeping it on the down-low.

Everybody thought Giggs was some Welsh saint before we found out he was banging his brothers Mrs. Sneaky prick.

[Power n Glory]

Dunno what you're on about mate! ;)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2548754/French-footballers-cleared-having-sex-underage-prostitute-gone-Lagerfeld-fashion-muse.html

This is what I mean. They were eventually cleared. We bring him here we need to make sure he's only raping teams and nothing else.

[selassie]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bop0MNWCIAAeVSq.jpg

:haha:

:lol:

[AKBapologist]

Smoke.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/478537/Arsenal-make-CONCRETE-BID-for-Angel-Di-Maria-but-Man-Utd-and-City-remain-in-the-race

[Marc Overmars]

Would love Di Maria here but I'm not sure we could land him if the likes of City and PSG are involved as well.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

Why would Real Madrid be interested in concrete?, are they building a new car park?

[selassie]

Would love Di Maria here but I'm not sure we could land him if the likes of City and PSG are involved as well.

Yup, I think too many teams are involved, he'll go for BIG money...if Real actually let him leave.

I am really surprised he wants to go tbh, he is first choice for Real and has had a very good season.

Class player, would absolutely love him here.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

he'll go for BIG money...i.

You've rather answered your own question there.

[Munchies]

We're being linked with signing Kallstrom on a permanent deal.


Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could resign Kim Kallstrom next season on a permanent deal - the Swede was at the Emirates on loan for the second half of the last campaign but a back injury meant he didn't feature often (Mirror)

Don't really mind for a squad player. He did look decent whenever he did play. Guess Arteta could be off, if we get another midfielder.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Just seen this!

http://www.givemesport.com/462839-the-fa-must-deduct-liverpool-13-points-for-cheating?autoplay=on&undertone=off&utm_source=outbrain-rss&utm_medium=outbrain-rss&utm_campaign=outbrain-rss


We were a lot less keen to sign Di Maria when we were linked with him last summer unsurprisingly. In any case any Real Madrid player will be 40+ million which is why I hardly see us shopping there on a regular basis suddenly.

Wenger was wiling to spend that much on Ozil because of circumstances, being a long LONG time admirer as well as 2 failed attempts to sign him previously and because he is really the quintessential Wenger player, the assist-pass master.

Wenger isn't willing to spend this sort of money on just anybody though, no matter how justified we think it is.

[I am invisible]

Hmmm... I'll reserve judgment on that one [Kallstrom] until I know what other business we're planning. Hypothetically, I'd have no problem with it, if we're sounding him out as a back-up plan (i.e. if we can't get anyone else in DM because we've run out of time or money, or because a long-term target isn't available, or we're buying some time to sort it out next summer, when there's less to do, etc), but I can't say I'd be impressed if he comes in as one of our first-choice targets for that area?

I still think Schneiderlin is worth a look, personally - he's obviously not in the Javi Martinez bracket, but he is PL-ready, has a good engine on him, is a good tackler / interceptor, and a good passer. Plus he's been at Southampton for 6 years already, so hopefully they wouldn't begrudge him the move...

[I am invisible]

Sanchez not for sale according to Barca's president, so I guess we can forget about that one...

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9328993/transfer-news-barcelona-say-alexis-sanchez-is-not-for-sale-after-juventus-link?

[I am invisible]

Just seen this!

http://www.givemesport.com/462839-the-fa-must-deduct-liverpool-13-points-for-cheating?autoplay=on&undertone=off&utm_source=outbrain-rss&utm_medium=outbrain-rss&utm_campaign=outbrain-rss


We were a lot less keen to sign Di Maria when we were linked with him last summer unsurprisingly. In any case any Real Madrid player will be 40+ million which is why I hardly see us shopping there on a regular basis suddenly.

Wenger was wiling to spend that much on Ozil because of circumstances, being a long LONG time admirer as well as 2 failed attempts to sign him previously and because he is really the quintessential Wenger player, the assist-pass master.

Wenger isn't willing to spend this sort of money on just anybody though, no matter how justified we think it is.

One of the other quintessential Wenger players is the winger-turned-CF (or visa versa)? Goal (yeah, I know) were saying that we were in Madrid after the CL final, negotiating for a marquee signing, who they suggest is a wide-forward that Wenger and his scouts believe can be turned into a central striker...

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3774/the-insider/2014/05/25/4839413/the-insider-arsenal-in-madrid-to-negotiate-with-mystery

...99% likely it's all BS, but enough people were seriously suggesting it as an option with Draxler, and since then there's been a few reports that we've made a concrete offer for Di Maria, along with PSG and Monaco?

[Özim]

Would love Di Maria here but I'm not sure we could land him if the likes of City and PSG are involved as well.

Di Maria isn't leaving Real anyway, he's just had his best season for them, he's improved so much and is unplayable at times.

[Özim]

We're being linked with signing Kallstrom on a permanent deal.



Don't really mind for a squad player. He did look decent whenever he did play. Guess Arteta could be off, if we get another midfielder.

No thanks.

[selassie]

You've rather answered your own question there.

It was more of a statement...;) A "he won't be coming here" type statement ;)

[Bergkampwonderland10]

In terms of bulking out our squad…..If Remy has a price tag of 8 million, that would be excellent business (replaces Bendtner). Caulker would be my first choice CB signing and would probably cost 8million too. Aurier looks to be a good player in the making probably around 8million. Begovic/ Vorm would be my first choice GK signings …serious competition for Sczez.

Fabregas looks like he will be sold so if we can get him for 25million then good business and will allow us to rotate. I am very keen on draxler and perhaps his quiet end to the season will have brought his price down to a sensible level…20-25million

Not sure which other striker is in our realms of possibility…Lukaku and Benteke and Rodriguez all doing well in Premiership.

[Marc Overmars]

Begovic/ Vorm would be my first choice GK signings …serious competition for Sczez.



No chance Wenger will spend money on a keeper. Look at all the guys he's bought since Seaman retired, all of them for peanuts.

Expect Martinez to be promoted to replace Fabianski or maybe we'll even take up the option to sign Viviano.

[milla]

No chance Wenger will spend money on a keeper. Look at all the guys he's bought since Seaman retired, all of them for peanuts.

Expect Martinez to be promoted to replace Fabianski or maybe we'll even take up the option to sign Viviano.

We could always play Diaby as 2nd GK. :coffee:

[Özim]

No chance Wenger will spend money on a keeper. Look at all the guys he's bought since Seaman retired, all of them for peanuts.

Expect Martinez to be promoted to replace Fabianski or maybe we'll even take up the option to sign Viviano.

We'll sign Viviano and Kallstrom, then bring in Kalou and Barry, job done!

Championship winning squad and next to nothing spent and to think people always think the answer is to spend.

[Munchies]

West Ham sign Mauro Zarate

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

We'll sign Viviano and Kallstrom, then bring in Kalou and Barry, job done!

Championship winning squad and next to nothing spent and to think people always think the answer is to spend.

Getting ahead of yourself aren't you?

To win the Championship first of all we have to be relegated.

[Bergkampwonderland10]

No chance Wenger will spend money on a keeper. Look at all the guys he's bought since Seaman retired, all of them for peanuts.

Expect Martinez to be promoted to replace Fabianski or maybe we'll even take up the option to sign Viviano.

I'm a bit more optimistic. Begovic would probably cost around 11million and Vorm around 7million…I can see him spending once Fabianski goes. I hope it is one of these two.

There's a lot of talent within the premiership that we could go for…and for once I really hope he looks within. Caulker would be an absolute steal. Redknapp tipped him to excel and he has, and I am sure it would make spurs really happy to see him in the red and white of Arsenal too. If Vermaelen does decide to go, then I think we could get around 15-18million for him. That should cover the cost of a Caulker and a keeper or there-abouts.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Tomorrow's mirror has a story on Eto'o being released by Chelsea and him saying he wants to join arsenal to, basically, stick two fingers up at Jose and call him a cunt.

Worth a punt on a free???

Also there are rumours in Spain that we've signed morata as well.

[Niall_Quinn]

Rumours on Morata also say there's a buy back clause involved. If that's the case we shouldn't touch this with a barge pole.

[Toronto Gooner]

It would depend on the nature of the buyback. If it says that they can buy him back even if we do not want to sell him, then absolutely stay away. However, if it is like the "alleged" Vela and Fabregas buyback clauses, then it would be hypocritical to say no way.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Allegedly we have got him for £10m and the buy back option will last for 2 years hence the cheaper transfer fee.

Not sure what the buy back option entails.

Deal to be announced in the next few days.

Just to further boost this speculation: morata has sold his car in Spain (:lol:)

[I am invisible]

I am opinion-neutral on Morata at the moment - never seen him play. Any good?

[Özim]

Rumours on Morata also say there's a buy back clause involved. If that's the case we shouldn't touch this with a barge pole.

Morata is dogshite, I hope we go nowhere near this guy, looks a waste of space up front, highly overrated.

[Özim]

Tomorrow's mirror has a story on Eto'o being released by Chelsea and him saying he wants to join arsenal to, basically, stick two fingers up at Jose and call him a cunt.

Worth a punt on a free???

Also there are rumours in Spain that we've signed morata as well.

Yeah, no thanks to Etoo, he's a long way past his best, we need better than that.

[Özim]

I am opinion-neutral on Morata at the moment - never seen him play. Any good?

I've seen him play many times, clumsy striker who barely ever seems to score, not impressed, really hoping these rumours are BS.

The big talent at Real is that Jese Ruiz guy, he's something else,

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Sadly Jese is recovering from an ACL; he was a big part of why Real Madrid were top in La Liga (at that time).

[AFC Leveller]

Morata reminds of of Heskey. He runs in straight lines and shoots with no aim or precision.

No thanks.

[Zerlathon]

Why are we even going for Morata! Would rather grab Vela for less than half that price (not to mention there's no buy back clauses we have to worry about).

If Morata is meant to be our world-class striker, then I want whatever Wenger is smoking.

[I am invisible]

Swansea are apparently going for that young Belgian lad, Michy, who we were/are linked with. Interesting for a couple of reasons...

1) their scouts seem to have a decent eye for finding strikers who are ready to make an immediate PL impact these days (Michu, Bony), so maybe we should be taking another look at him ourselves? For 7m, he could be another option in the cheaper / bonus signing bracket, along with Remy and Vela?

2) Are Swansea looking at him as a replacement for someone who might be leaving?

[Munchies]

Morata is bloody dire, he can't do anything. Awful player.

[milla]

Why are we even going for Morata! Would rather grab Vela for less than half that price (not to mention there's no buy back clauses we have to worry about).

If Morata is meant to be our world-class striker, then I want whatever Wenger is smoking.

https://nuepoel.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/1.jpg

[Marc Overmars]

Fabianski signs for Swansea.

:wave:

Thanks for the cup run Fab.

[Niall_Quinn]

Morata reminds of of Heskey. He runs in straight lines and shoots with no aim or precision.

No thanks.

Harsh. He's another one of those prospect types that we don't need but he's not a Heskey. Would take a couple of seasons for him to develop, if he develops at all. Hence the buy-back clause I suppose. Marketing fancy us training him up and then taking him back on the cheap if he comes good. Big step down from last year's Suarez bid though. Still only a rumour but disappointing.

[Munchies]

Atleast Feo will be back, like a new signing :bow:

He posted a image of his knee after surgery and now:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Screen-Shot-2014-05-29-at-5.10.42-PM.png

[Özim]

Harsh. He's another one of those prospect types that we don't need but he's not a Heskey. Would take a couple of seasons for him to develop, if he develops at all. Hence the buy-back clause I suppose. Marketing fancy us training him up and then taking him back on the cheap if he comes good. Big step down from last year's Suarez bid though. Still only a rumour but disappointing.

Have you watched him? Clumsy and fails to hit the target a lot of the time, I don't really see the potential, looks very ordinary to me. He's not as physical as Heskey but he's got the clumsyness, Heskey after all was highly rated when he was young.

Not good enough and definitely not what we need, if we signed this guy we'd be going nowhere, we need someone who can score us goals.

[fakeyank]

Atleast Feo will be back, like a new signing :bow:

He posted a image of his knee after surgery and now:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Screen-Shot-2014-05-29-at-5.10.42-PM.png

Geesh! I had an ACL surgery too, but my knee didnt look that bad post surgery. What are the doctors doing there in UK? :lol:

[Marc Overmars]

Sagan is gone.

http://talksport.com/football/im-leaving-arsenal-defender-rejects-new-gunners-deal-14052993490?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

:wave:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Morata is dogshite, I hope we go nowhere near this guy, looks a waste of space up front, highly overrated.

Why is he overrated? Is he really that highly rated already.

If I am right in thinking he was the feisty dude who came on in the CL final, I actually thought he played like a midfielder rather than a forward.....made a few tackles before scurrying off up field.

[Munchies]

Sagna :wave:

Liverpool near a £9m move for Ricki Lambert.. don't think they really need him , Loic Remy can be bought for the same price aswell.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

Sagna :wave:

Liverpool near a £9m move for Ricki Lambert..

£4m + add ons.

And it'll be used to lower the Lallana deal, I guarantee it.

[Munchies]

Hmmm, could be right.

Read this on redcafe; Liverpool are after Lovren, Lambert and Lallana, but:



Bournemouth apparently have a 25% sell on clause in Lallana's contract, meaning they get 25% of any deal.
Rather than sell Lallana for 25-30 million to Liverpool, Southampton will sell them Lambert and Lovren for well above their value in order to make up the difference and not pay any sell on clause.
They'd then sell Lallana for a few million, meaning they only pay Bournemouth pennies more or less.

http://www.redcafe.net/threads/rickie-lambert-adam-lallana-and-dejan-lovren.391652/

Would be a shady move, Bournemouth probably need all the money they can get really.

[Munchies]

Rickie Lambert's sister seems very happy with the news! She has since deleted the tweet

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bo050TXIEAA921r.jpg

lol

[fakeyank]

3 more months of waiting period and then we will sign someone! :ilt:

[The Emirates Gallactico]

He's 32 isn't he? How many more seasons would he have at the top level? :unsure:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

A couple of years possibly.

It's not like his game is based on pace.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Suarez. :wave:

[GP]

Time he came home.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Not a bad deal for them.

There's a lot of people who think getting Vela is a no brainer. Obviously Vela would have a resale value but the immediately reality is that neither would be first choice for us or them.

If Sagna really is a confirmed goner from a gooner....then is there any reason why we wouldn't wrap up the Aurier deal within the next couple weeks before the world cup?

[Kano]

£4m + add ons.

And it'll be used to lower the Lallana deal, I guarantee it.
He'd be just a big a knobhead as Sagna if he leaves what he has at the moment.

Forget this 'boyhood' crap at 32 years old - he'll go from being the main man upfront to a bit part player who will never share the headlines with the glamour boy strikers at Liverpool. A stupid, stupid move for Lambert. Whether he can grab decisive goals from the bench instead of being a starter remains to be seen. £4m is very low risk for Liverpool however*.




*subject to this being a complete pile of media wank that is.

[Marc Overmars]

I think that's a little harsh. I can't imagine Lambert has had many opportunities to play for a big club throughout his career, he's given his best years to Southampton but now has the chance to do something he probably thought would never happen. So he might not be the star of the show, I doubt that will matter to him anyway. Sometimes you just have to take a chance in life rather than sit around in your comfort zone wondering "what if".

[Power n Glory]

I think that's a little harsh. I can't imagine Lambert has had many opportunities to play for a big club throughout his career, he's given his best years to Southampton but now has the chance to do something he probably thought would never happen. So he might not be the star of the show, I doubt that will matter to him anyway. Sometimes you just have to take a chance in life rather than sit around in your comfort zone wondering "what if".

Very harsh. You don't want to look back with regrets because you stayed in your comfort zone. Every player must dream of winning a major trophy when they first start out. Also, on the flip side, you must have a real ego on you if you have to be the big fish in a small pond and can't challenge yourself.

[Gooner23]

He's not a bad player, certainly better than the typical big lump English striker the media seem to love. But I'd be pretty underwhelmed if it were us signing him. Giroud is significantly better. I suppose he'll just be a squad filler for pool.

[selassie]

Harsh. He's another one of those prospect types that we don't need but he's not a Heskey. Would take a couple of seasons for him to develop, if he develops at all. Hence the buy-back clause I suppose. Marketing fancy us training him up and then taking him back on the cheap if he comes good. Big step down from last year's Suarez bid though. Still only a rumour but disappointing.

Yep totally agree with this.

Morata is a classic Wenger "Project Player" Type Signing. He's still very raw but has a lot of untapped potential IMHO. I do feel he is a very overrated, mainly because he is a Real Madrid prospect and they are in a period where they are absolutely desperate to bring through homegrown talent. Any player with a bit of potential in their youth setup is bigged up.

I am not against Morata being signed to compete with Giroud as our no.2 striker but if he is our main striker signing...assuming the rumours are true I will be absolutely livid.

[Grebbo]

We wont get any top players until the last minute, have you guys forgotten last summer already? We only got Ozil once RM got Bale etc it'll be the same again this year. If RM get a new striker they'll sell us Benz. No top club will sell a top player until they find a replacement. That's how the top clubs do their business, we tend to do the opposite but we're supposedly flush with cash now so it should be different.

I'm sure there'll be lots of tutting and online ranting when teams like Liverpool start buying up mid table squad fillers and there'll be cries of "why aren't we buying anyone?!" but the truth is the market for the top talent owned by the top clubs is different - they'll sell us a player when they have a replacement. That's if they sell at all, why would anyone sell a world class striker - which is what we need.

I'm pretty calm tbh. There's no way that we'd of signed Ozil without giving him assurances that we'll buy big again. No way. He didn't have a great season but he was one of the best players in the world when we signed him, probably top 10, and those players want assurances before joining.

[Özim]

Why is he overrated? Is he really that highly rated already.

If I am right in thinking he was the feisty dude who came on in the CL final, I actually thought he played like a midfielder rather than a forward.....made a few tackles before scurrying off up field.

They rave about his potential in Spain (the pundits), seems to be based on his reputation with the B team though as whenever I see him for Real he's like a headless chicken.

Yeah that's him.

[selassie]

We wont get any top players until the last minute, have you guys forgotten last summer already? We only got Ozil once RM got Bale etc it'll be the same again this year. If RM get a new striker they'll sell us Benz. No top club will sell a top player until they find a replacement. That's how the top clubs do their business, we tend to do the opposite but we're supposedly flush with cash now so it should be different.

I'm sure there'll be lots of tutting and online ranting when teams like Liverpool start buying up mid table squad fillers and there'll be cries of "why aren't we buying anyone?!" but the truth is the market for the top talent owned by the top clubs is different - they'll sell us a player when they have a replacement. That's if they sell at all, why would anyone sell a world class striker - which is what we need.

I'm pretty calm tbh. There's no way that we'd of signed Ozil without giving him assurances that we'll buy big again. No way. He didn't have a great season but he was one of the best players in the world when we signed him, probably top 10, and those players want assurances before joining.

I hope not Grebbo, another summer like last season scrambling around at the close of the window will not be acceptable. We all know what we need, there are no excuses not to make the necessary signings, the money IS there.

I am not panicking yet...but I would hope to see us doing business pretty early, if It means we have to overpay to get the necessary quality in this summer then so be it.

I do kind of agree that we must have sold the clubs vision/our future to Ozil pretty well...but whether that means we sold him a vision of our "Player recruitment policy" remains to be seen.

[Kano]

I think that's a little harsh. I can't imagine Lambert has had many opportunities to play for a big club throughout his career, he's given his best years to Southampton but now has the chance to do something he probably thought would never happen. So he might not be the star of the show, I doubt that will matter to him anyway. Sometimes you just have to take a chance in life rather than sit around in your comfort zone wondering "what if".
Earlier in his career if that chance had come up then of course but now, as a striker who has managed to get into the England squad and lead the charge at an exciting, growing club it's a massive risk to take. The next two years - which will effectively wrap up his career - is likely to be spent as a bit part player and risk where he has worked so hard to get to. Sure, playing for a big club is a rare opportunity but timing is equally, if not more important.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

He'd be just a big a knobhead as Sagna if he leaves what he has at the moment.

Forget this 'boyhood' crap at 32 years old - he'll go from being the main man upfront to a bit part player who will never share the headlines with the glamour boy strikers at Liverpool. A stupid, stupid move for Lambert. Whether he can grab decisive goals from the bench instead of being a starter remains to be seen. £4m is very low risk for Liverpool however*.
*subject to this being a complete pile of media wank that is.
I can see what you're saying (I think I've said similar before) but I think I'm right in saying Southampton are pretty relaxed with getting a bit of money for him now. In fact I think they were looking to sell him in January.
But if anything I'd say when you're earlier in your career you should be more inclined to stay at a club where you're playing every week. If you play well, that chance will come round again. Lambert probably won't get another chance.

He'll be cheap, on reasonable wages, has a good record over the last couple of seasons, will be giddy to be on our books again and won't kick up a fuss. I'm pretty relaxed us signing him. Aspas will probably be off too... oh no!

Poor old Southampton though The way it's going they won't have any players left.

[Power n Glory]

Earlier in his career if that chance had come up then of course but now, as a striker who has managed to get into the England squad and lead the charge at an exciting, growing club it's a massive risk to take. The next two years - which will effectively wrap up his career - is likely to be spent as a bit part player and risk where he has worked so hard to get to. Sure, playing for a big club is a rare opportunity but timing is equally, if not more important.

He’s worked hard to get to where he is but is that as far as his ambition stretches? Has he said to himself ‘Southampton is as good as it gets’ or has he always wanted to see if he could perform at a higher level? Maybe he wants that challenge and hasn’t settled for security. He’s an athlete at the end of the day. Regardless of age, you’ll find some that are still driven to test themselves and to get such recognition so late in his career is a good story for football. It might not turn out to be glowing end to his career if he’s stuck on the bench but nothing ventured nothing gained. I wouldn’t judge him so harshly.

[I am invisible]

They rave about his potential in Spain (the pundits), seems to be based on his reputation with the B team though as whenever I see him for Real he's like a headless chicken.

Yeah that's him.

You'd like to think there was something promising about him, if Real are insisting on such ridiculous buy-back clauses, but from what you guys have been saying, I can't say I'm encouraged...

[AKBapologist]

I'd be very happy if we bought Morata, Vela, Fabregas, a DM and a right back this summer.

[Power n Glory]

We shouldn’t be taking any risks with the striking options up front. Morata seems too raw and he looks it. We need first team star quality and Giroud can be that option to come off the bench. He’d be a very good alternative off the bench if we need a change of approach. But I can’t see Morata really pushing him for first team football. Maybe I need to see more of the kid.

[Munchies]

Arsenal target Di Maria aims dig at Tottenham and reveals he could leave Madrid


Reflecting on last year’s transfer rumours, Di Maria told Marca: “It hurts when you’re always doing your best for your club and then you hear that you might be going to Tottenham.

“I spoke with the manager last summer. I wanted to stay and he wanted me to stay as well. He told me that he counted on me and it was up to me from then on.

“I have grown a lot under Ancelotti. He got the best out of me. Things have gone well and I made the right decision to stay.”

Di Maria says he would be happy to stay at Madrid, but he is aware of interest from other clubs and admits the decision could be out of his hands.

“I am not going to lie, I know that there are clubs that want to sign me and can match Real Madrid’s demands,” he said.

“But that’s up to my representatives and the club. I will stay if the club wants me to stay.

“I am not thinking about my future now. We will see what Madrid have in mind, whether they want me to stay or leave.

“I am happy at Madrid. I had a great season and always had everybody’s support. But sometimes you don’t have a choice, even when you want to stay yourself.”

http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/arsenal/arsenal_target_di_maria_aims_dig_at_tottenham_and_ reveals_he_could_leave_madrid_1_3621998

:lol:

[Power n Glory]

:haha:

[I am invisible]

:haha:

Di Maria - already an Arsenal legend!

Spurs :pal:

[I am invisible]

We shouldn’t be taking any risks with the striking options up front. Morata seems too raw and he looks it. We need first team star quality and Giroud can be that option to come off the bench. He’d be a very good alternative off the bench if we need a change of approach. But I can’t see Morata really pushing him for first team football. Maybe I need to see more of the kid.

I think there could be a little flexibility in terms of the star quality of any CFs that we're looking at, depending on who else we might be signing, and how we intend to play once everyone is in? If all we're planning on doing [with regards to strengthening the attack] is to bring in a single CF, then i'd say that player needs to be something pretty damn special; if, on the other hand, we're looking at making 2 or 3 signings across the attack (e.g. any combination of a CF plus a goal-scoring winger, and/or cover/competition for Walcott, and/or cover/competition for Ramsey, etc), then I think we could realistically look at some of the less exciting CF options that we've been linked with? Someone like Mandzukic, for example, who is still a good player, but is largely dismissed as being 'only an upgraded version of Giroud', could work well for us, if we beefed up some of our other attacking options, as could someone like a Bony or a Benteke (i.e. PL-ready strikers who can hold their own up front, bring others into the attack, and some attributes that we lack like pace, even if they won't win us games on their own)? Obviously the ideal option would be a combination of those two choices, where we get two or three players in, and every one of them is super-awesome, but I'm just don't think that's likely - I think it will be one or the other at best (and, incidentally, it doesn't sound like Morata really fits the bill either way).

At the moment, and as appealing as the elite striker option is, my gut-feeling is that option two might be the smarter move? I can't think of too many elite strikers around at the moment who are realistic options, and who would satisfy everyone, but there do seem to be dozens of quality wingers, wide-attackers and goal-scoring midfielders around at the moment who I think we could get (some of which are available at extremely low prices), and several very good (if not-quite-world-class) CFs, who I also think would jump at the chance of moving here? I'm also worried that we'd be wasting our time going for anyone too elite, and that we could end up getting dicked around all summer only to end up with nothing again?

[Kano]

Bring back Campbell, loan out Sanogo, get in a better striker than Giroud and then another in the same mould, ala Remy and that would be ok.

[I am invisible]

The way I see it, we suffered just as much from losing Ramsey and Walcott as we did from not having a second striker to rotate Giroud with, and we need to make sure that situation doesn't happen again. Up until Christmas (i.e. before we lost everyone to injury) there was no great problem with how we were playing - in fact we were top of the table, on merit, and that was with Giroud up front and just one other willing runner / goal-scorer in the starting XI (Ramsey) - so I don't think it's unreasonable to think that we could have kept that run going, if we'd had two or three extra players across the attack to keep everyone fit and fresh, and to cover for absences (even if our competition for Giroud was only a slight improvement on him)? We definitely need to inject more 'world-class' into the side, but I'm not as hung up on it absolutely having to be through the CF position as some - I think there's other ways we can make this work.

[Power n Glory]

I think there could be a little flexibility in terms of the star quality of any CFs that we're looking at, depending on who else we might be signing, and how we intend to play once everyone is in? If all we're planning on doing [with regards to strengthening the attack] is to bring in a single CF, then i'd say that player needs to be something pretty damn special; if, on the other hand, we're looking at making 2 or 3 signings across the attack (e.g. any combination of a CF plus a goal-scoring winger, and/or cover/competition for Walcott, and/or cover/competition for Ramsey, etc), then I think we could realistically look at some of the less exciting CF options that we've been linked with? Someone like Mandzukic, for example, who is still a good player, but is largely dismissed as being 'only an upgraded version of Giroud', could work well for us, if we beefed up some of our other attacking options, as could someone like a Bony or a Benteke (i.e. PL-ready strikers who can hold their own up front, bring others into the attack, and some attributes that we lack like pace, even if they won't win us games on their own)? Obviously the ideal option would be a combination of those two choices, where we get two or three players in, and every one of them is super-awesome, but I'm just don't think that's likely - I think it will be one or the other at best (and, incidentally, it doesn't sound like Morata really fits the bill either way).

At the moment, and as appealing as the elite striker option is, my gut-feeling is that option two might be the smarter move? I can't think of too many elite strikers around at the moment who are realistic options, and who would satisfy everyone, but there do seem to be dozens of quality wingers, wide-attackers and goal-scoring midfielders around at the moment who I think we could get (some of which are available at extremely low prices), and several very good (if not-quite-world-class) CFs, who I also think would jump at the chance of moving here? I'm also worried that we'd be wasting our time going for anyone too elite, and that we could end up getting dicked around all summer only to end up with nothing again?

That's fair enough. I'm not so bothered about the name, it's more about the quality. I just don't want some kid whose getting his first taste of first team football.

[Heisenberg]

We certainly suffered from the fact that it was Walcott and Ramsey who got injured. There were spells in the first half that one was out but we still had the other making the runs in behind. Had we lost almost any other two players, say Cazorla and Wilshere, for that period of time, we would obviously have missed something but we probably wouldn't have lost such a big part of our attack. As a result, I hope we sign someone to go on the left who can do a similar job to what Walcott does from the right, ie. makes runs down the wing or in behind. Even if Giroud is still spearheading the attack, if we have enough runners from behind, that's what's going to let Ozil excel if he's running at a defence with options either side of him.

[I am invisible]

That's fair enough. I'm not so bothered about the name, it's more about the quality. I just don't want some kid whose getting his first taste of first team football.
No, me either. Obviously anyone who comes in has to be of a certain standard (i.e. good enough to come in and do a job straight away), but I think Pedro at Le-Grove (http://le-grove.co.uk/) has been talking a lot of sense when he says that we need to be scouting attributes, and not necessarily names and reputations (and price-tags) - pace, power, and ultimately more goals is what we need to add, and there's several ways we can do that...

[Kano]

The way I see it, we suffered just as much from losing Ramsey and Walcott as we did from not having a second striker to rotate Giroud with, and we need to make sure that situation doesn't happen again. Up until Christmas (i.e. before we lost everyone to injury) there was no great problem with how we were playing - in fact we were top of the table, on merit, and that was with Giroud up front and just one other willing runner / goal-scorer in the starting XI (Ramsey) - so I don't think it's unreasonable to think that we could have kept that run going, if we'd had two or three extra players across the attack to keep everyone fit and fresh, and to cover for absences (even if our competition for Giroud was only a slight improvement on him)? We definitely need to inject more 'world-class' into the side, but I'm not as hung up on it absolutely having to be through the CF position as some - I think there's other ways we can make this work.

The biggest problem the club has to overcome is the injury issue. Even when we had 4/5 strikers our team would be decimated in key positions, be it defensive, midfield or upfront. The way we train and prepare has to be changed otherwise we'll just go through the same thing again and again. With a manager at his age, the idea of changing things like that is very unlikely. Of course as a man steeped in the sport for so long he has earned the right to be stubborn with his knowledge, no doubt about that. However, the injury problem won't just go away by itself and without new ideas, we'll probably keep falling off as we do every season.

[I am invisible]

We certainly suffered from the fact that it was Walcott and Ramsey who got injured. There were spells in the first half that one was out but we still had the other making the runs in behind. Had we lost almost any other two players, say Cazorla and Wilshere, for that period of time, we would obviously have missed something but we probably wouldn't have lost such a big part of our attack. As a result, I hope we sign someone to go on the left who can do a similar job to what Walcott does from the right, ie. makes runs down the wing or in behind. Even if Giroud is still spearheading the attack, if we have enough runners from behind, that's what's going to let Ozil excel if he's running at a defence with options either side of him.
When we have everyone fit, then I think the balance we have [between big, burly target-man and more mobile, technical runners and goal-scorers] is a good one, and something that's quite hard to defend against: sit too deep to counter the technical ball-players and runners (as teams have done against us for years) and it plays to your target-man's strengths; push high to force the target-man away from goal and it plays into the hands of the runners. The problem, as with all collective strengths, is that it gets less effective the more component parts you lose, so the trick is to make sure that you have plenty of spares!

[I am invisible]

The biggest problem the club has to overcome is the injury issue. Even when we had 4/5 strikers our team would be decimated in key positions, be it defensive, midfield or upfront. The way we train and prepare has to be changed otherwise we'll just go through the same thing again and again. With a manager at his age, the idea of changing things like that is very unlikely. Of course as a man steeped in the sport for so long he has earned the right to be stubborn with his knowledge, no doubt about that. However, the injury problem won't just go away by itself and without new ideas, we'll probably keep falling off as we do every season.

Fact!

Although, to be fair, more players would go a long way to helping ease this problem - when you're constantly working the same handful of players to breaking point, then it's one of those things that can very quickly snowball.

At least Wenger has mentioned the need for an inquest in this area - whether or not they'll find the right answers and make the necessary changes is another matter, but at least it sounds like there's a chance o fit happening, which is something.

[Munchies]

@SkySportsNews

SKY SOURCES: Liverpool make improved £25m bid for Southampton's Adam Lallana #SSN

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Alot of money!

[Grebbo]

I hope not Grebbo, another summer like last season scrambling around at the close of the window will not be acceptable. We all know what we need, there are no excuses not to make the necessary signings, the money IS there.

I am not panicking yet...but I would hope to see us doing business pretty early, if It means we have to overpay to get the necessary quality in this summer then so be it.

I do kind of agree that we must have sold the clubs vision/our future to Ozil pretty well...but whether that means we sold him a vision of our "Player recruitment policy" remains to be seen.

Of course everyone would prefer to get the business done early but surely you'd be happy with another last minute scramble if it resulted in us signing another world class player like Ozil??

Surely the scramble is better than buying someone now and then finding out later that we could have got someone better like Benz/Di Maria etc if we'd of waited for RM to sign their annual Gallactico.

I really don't see many big players moving before the world cup has finished.

I'm just gonna enjoy the fact that we won the FA Cup and sit back and enjoy the WC. Whatever happens in the transfer market isn't going to bother me this season as much as it used to. I really think the Ozil signing was a sign that we're not shopping for average any more.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

They rave about his potential in Spain (the pundits), seems to be based on his reputation with the B team though as whenever I see him for Real he's like a headless chicken.

Yeah that's him.
He Guillem Balague or just the English Journo's abroad?

I tend to agree though....he does strike me as somewhat of a project. He hasn't exactly made it in Spain yet never mind coming over here and being roughed up. Plenty of tackles for him to make in midfield if he wants to though. That said, I haven't seen a terrible amount of him (no pun intended, or maybe I do) so I don't really know how much potential he has.

I'm still hoping we go back in for Draxler to be honest because I think he probably has the ability to be as good as he wants to be and Wenger is obviously an admirer. I think the cost as is often will be the issue though but I strangely agree with the hipster pop cultural view that he just be an awesome CF one of these days.

[milla]

I'm still hoping we go back in for Draxler to be honest because I think he probably has the ability to be as good as he wants to be and Wenger is obviously an admirer. I think the cost as is often will be the issue though but I strangely agree with the hipster pop cultural view that he just be an awesome CF one of these days.

Both of Reus and Draxler would make a perfect fake no 9 striker for Arsenal. :coffee:

[Munchies]

Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Loic Remy. [Sky Sports Radio]

:popcorn:

[Munchies]

Cesc Fabregas can leave for £30m, Barcelona tell Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City

Exclusive: Arsenal have first option on transfer of Cesc Fabregas, who is accepting he will be forced out of Barcelona and is interested in a return to the Premier League


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/cesc-fabregas/10866981/Cesc-Fabregas-can-leave-for-30m-Barcelona-tell-Arsenal-Manchester-United-Chelsea-and-Manchester-City.html

[milla]

Sky Sports pundits suck balls. [Sky Sports Radio]

:popcorn:

For once they are telling the truth. :coffee:

[Munchies]

SSN have just reported the Cesc news:

Breaking news on SSN: Fabregas will leave Barca this summer and expected to return to the Premier League. Can leave for £30m.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bo-O7nDIQAA7dqU.jpg

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MNTWxmiVVaU

[Munchies]

Assuming he isn't a money grabbing cunt, because City and Chelsea will be in for him along with us, where does he fit in ?

[GP]

Replaces that fraud Ozil tbh

[I am invisible]

Well, I said we missed Walcott and Ramsey as much as a second CF last season - Remy and Fabregas would solve those two problems nicely!

Do Barca still owe us money for Cesc? If so, knock it off the asking price and pay the difference - could work out as quite a reasonably priced signing?

[GP]

I think they still owe us for Song as well :lol:

No refunds!

[Munchies]

I think they still owe us for Song as well :lol:

No refunds!

Hope we don't sign him back!

http://youaremyarsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/9bd821447b5e0522d799901044d4705c_large.gif

:haha:

[GP]

:lol: What a fuckin idiot.

No wonder Bould chinned him.