Former Players Views

[Niall_Quinn]

If we're not buying players and have settled for 4th before a ball is kicked then we need to sell Nasri fast. The only reason for keeping him and taking a potentially big loss would be if we're serious about challenging for the league. We don't need him if we're conceding the title before season kick-off. If we don't sign at least two defenders and a striker then plainly we won't be challenging for anything this year, so I wonder what's in Wenger's mind when he says he's determined to hang on to Nasri? What's the point? Cesc should go too, and fast, because another year of mediocrity and 4th place is only going to strengthen his resolve to leave. We should take the £31mill and buy a couple of journeymen to shore up the team when the injuries arrive. A couple more Squillaci types would be ideal as they would be virtually free. Then it's the long uneventful plod for 4th place. Job done, money in the bank, share price up. A successful season by our new standards.

[Cripps_orig]

ARSENE WENGER is facing the most critical month since he arrived at Arsenal in 1996.

Star players set to leave, barely any new signings, injuries to top players and a seriously tough batch of opening fixtures.

I'm fed up of talking about Arsenal with a negative vibe but it looks like some dark days are ahead.

Right now, I would love to know what is going on at my former club.

I'm hearing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri could be gone within a week — and still only Gervinho, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have arrived.

Gael Clichy has left while Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue are on their way, with no other replacements. I often get criticism from Arsenal fans these days and came off Twitter due to the amount of stick.

But I was only being honest and I've only ever wanted what's best for the club.

Yet it seems Wenger's revolution has ground to a halt. Now, I fear he may end up walking away.

I wonder how many fans are excited about the start of the season. I reckon most are extremely worried.

The team starts against Newcastle on Saturday night before a tough Champions League play-off against Udinese, along with games against Liverpool and Manchester United.

You have to wonder why some of the top players want to leave and no one else wants to join Arsenal.

To lose either Fabregas or Nasri, or both, would be a terrible blow and send out the totally wrong message.

I then wonder how long will it be before Jack Wilshere, Robin van Persie, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott decide they need to move. Manchester United were impressive against Manchester City on Sunday and even when senior players were substituted, quality youngsters were brought in. In contrast, Arsenal's squad looks so thin.

I have never agreed with Wenger's policy of giving players in their 30s only one-year contracts. Players are fitter now and their presence and experience helps to bring on the younger players.

Also, it hurts to see Patrick Vieira in an ambassadorial role at Manchester City. He is an Arsenal legend and I'd like to see him at London Colney every day.

The club sells out every other week, makes a stack of money yet they are not making big-name buys. Meanwhile, United took the lead by getting their business done early.

The situation at Arsenal is so frustrating yet I do not just want to blame Wenger, who has brought nothing but greatness to the club.

Ultimately, I am still not sure how much backing he has had. I find it beyond belief that Arsenal have been unable to strengthen in key areas.

Alisher Usmanov is one of the richest men in Russia, owns over 29 per cent of Arsenal yet has not been given a place on the board.

But I am sure he would be willing to put some of his vast wealth into the team whereas it seems majority shareholder Stan Kroenke is not.

If Arsenal are to exist on the same level as the Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool, maybe Usmanov should be brought to the table.

I read one line from a supporter and I totally agree. It read: "Are we supporting a football club or a business?"

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ill-leave.html

Wrighty

Do not disagree with any of that.

[Niall_Quinn]

Apart from the Usmanov thing, obviously. But yeah, fuck off and die Stan, tbh.

[Cripps_orig]

Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson has backed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to become a better player than his new team-mate Theo Walcott.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who like Walcott played for Southampton, completed a big-money move to North London yesterday and Robson is backing him to be a hit.

The 46-year-old, who made 150 appearances for the Gunners, believes Oxlade-Chamberlain will become a more complete player than Walcott.

“This was a signing that was going to happen a year ago. Everybody knew that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would go to Arsenal ,” he told talkSPORT.

"They’ve gone down the same route as with Theo Walcott but I think he’s going to be a better player than Walcott.

“He’ll give more to Arsenal over the next few years because he is more talented than Walcott.

"Walcott is probably a greater athlete but Oxlade-Chamberlain will be a better technical player and probably a more intelligent footballer.”

The 17-year-old joins a fresh wave of young talent at the Emirates as Wenger seeks to end a six-year trophy drought in the upcoming campaign.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...n-theo-walcott



Better than Theo based on what? A couple of mins in a training session?

[fakeyank]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...n-theo-walcott



Better than Theo based on what? A couple of mins in a training session?

Tbh, the only thing Theo has going for him is pace. He is absolute garbage. He has no ball control, constantly runs into blind alleys and his shooting is atrocious! So yea, pretty much most players would be better than Theo.. thats no rocket science

[Cripps_orig]

His finishing is pretty good. Scored goals last season. Only thing he has going against him is his injury record.

Sort that out and we have an awesome player.

[Power n Glory]

Tbh, the only thing Theo has going for him is pace. He is absolute garbage. He has no ball control, constantly runs into blind alleys and his shooting is atrocious! So yea, pretty much most players would be better than Theo.. thats no rocket science

Rubbish! He was one of our top scorers last season and got plenty of assists as well. 13 goals and 8 assists. Compare those numbers to all the other top players in the squad and it's a good return.

It's also worth remembering that Theo is not a winger. He's a striker being played out of position.

[Kano]

he's 'learnt' as much as he's going to on the wing at this stage of his career. time to bring him inside arsene

[Japan Shaking All Over]

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon believes the Gunners will be wise to recoup a possible £58m for wantaway players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

this. roll in the replacements!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14498404.stm

[Cripps_orig]

Lee Dixon has warned Arsenal of the difficulty they face in the upcoming Champions League qualifier against Udinese.

The Gunners have a very tough set of fixtures ahead as they lock horns with the Italian outfit at home in the first leg the coming midweek with Liverpool breathing down their necks.

The following week, Arsene Wenger's charges have to travel to Italy to play the second leg of the all-important qualifier, before returning to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Now the former Gunner admits that the qualifier comes at a difficult timing for the team, as he believes that fitness could be a concern.

"This is a massive game to play so early in the season with so much riding on it to get into the later stages," Dixon told The Sunday Mirror.

"You’d do anything to avoid the qualifying stage because your whole strategy changes.

"And what pre-season doesn’t do is get you sharp for games. I always found that I didn’t *really feel fit until I was three or four games in, then a little bit of snap comes into your game.

"Given the position of the manager and the team, the pressure is building – *especially after not winning a trophy for six years.

"If they were to lose and not qualify, then a week or two weeks into the season you’re out of the Champions League."

He added: "But this isn’t new to *Arsenal, having pressure, it’s not new to Arsene.

"The thing is what are the fans going to say if we get knocked out... because it’s not a walkover by any means."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...g-a-champions-