Good Bye RVP!

[Power n Glory]

Yet what more could AW do? He started off this summer by signing one giant player and one highly-rated player. RVP had clearly made up his mind a few months ago. Wenger's shown some intent despite the Euros interfering. If RVP leaves, it's not because of this year's transfer dealings.

We signed Giroud because RVP told them he wasn't staying. He's a replacement, not an addition. RVP had talks before the Euros with the club and he told them he wasn't going to sign a new deal. They slapped gag order on him and then signed Giroud.

Poldoski is Arshavin's replacement or maybe Walcott's. This isn't progress.

[V-Pig]

And now Usmanov is stirring it up too...

[V-Pig]

USMANOV's letter: https://twitter.com/#!/tariqpanja

[Keith]

Robin - "I want a top midfielder to replace Cesc"

Wenger - "Great news, Denilson will be back soon"


'They liked his performances, they liked Denilson’s development. That’s why they want him to return.'

[V-Pig]

We signed Giroud because RVP told them he wasn't staying. He's a replacement, not an addition. RVP had talks before the Euros with the club and he told them he wasn't going to sign a new deal. They slapped gag order on him and then signed Giroud.

Poldoski is Arshavin's replacement or maybe Walcott's. This isn't progress.

So we've lost RVP and got Giroud? Bad but not disastrous. And we've gained Podolski, who's better than Theo, and theo hasn't actually left. So not too bad for standing still. And then there's the rest of the window for progress. It was always likely with RVP and at least that's been addressed relatively early on so he can be shipped out, wages freed up and some more signings.

Optimism

[Joker]

If we lose Theo as well that would be disastrous. Although he's a flawed player, he contributed a lot of assists last season, and along with Song were probably the only creative outlets we had. I know people like Arseblog are beating the "Theo is being greedy" drum, but he's still quite young and is progressing as a player, so losing him will be a blow. But it again boils down to the fact that treating our football club simply as a private sector enterprise, with the focus on financial fundamentals and the "bottom line" will alienate some players who didn't enter football thinking it was simply an Accountancy firm. They want more from their careers, and clubs like City, Utd, Chelsea actually still care about what happens on the pitch, which is a very strong attraction for top players (yes, you could go on about how it's simply that these clubs can offer more money, but that's a naive position to take IMO. It's more than simply about money).

[Syn]

More I think about this, the more I feel we should make him play out his contract. We have to stop getting bullied around and make a statement. I did understand PnG's earlier point that working with a disinterested co-worker who knows he's off is not ideal. I do understand that. But I really don't think Van Persie will give anything less than 100% - not because it's in the club's interest...he has made abundantly clear he doesn't care about causing conflict at the club, but because it's in Robin's interest to pull off another 25+ goal season.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

tariq panja ‏@tariqpanja

Also says Arsenal tried to engage Russian company MegaFon in shirt sponsorship talks without realising telecom co is +50% owned by Usmanov

[Power n Glory]

So we've lost RVP and got Giroud? Bad but not disastrous. And we've gained Podolski, who's better than Theo, and theo hasn't actually left. So not too bad for standing still. And then there's the rest of the window for progress. It was always likely with RVP and at least that's been addressed relatively early on so he can be shipped out, wages freed up and some more signings.

Optimism

That's not the point I'm making. You and few others seem to be under the impression that club tried to appease RVP with these two signings when they're replacement players and not additions. It's not progress and building on what we have which is why he's leaving.

[V-Pig]

More I think about this, the more I feel we should make him play out his contract. We have to stop getting bullied around and make a statement. I did understand PnG's earlier point that working with a disinterested co-worker who knows he's off is not ideal. I do understand that. But I really don't think Van Persie will give anything less than 100% - not because it's in the club's interest...he has made abundantly clear he doesn't care about causing conflict at the club, but because it's in Robin's interest to pull off another 25+ goal season.

Could be a great gamble. Make him play. Be great. Make him realise how wrong he was and beg to stay to see out the remainder of his contract.

Ah, we can dream.