Yeah, that's a bit much, I know he has this thing about respecting people and their wishes but that was something we should have stayed strong on, regardless of the effect having a disinterested captain would have on the squad we simply can't afford to be a soft touch, or at least to be seen as one.
Then we don't sell him at all if he doesn't want to go anywhere else until Barca pay what we want. Wenger just had to grow a set and toughen up but you've read the "he's like a son to me, I'd never harm him" comments. He chose Cesc over Arsenal and he can fuck himself over thatCunt
It's interesting how people moan about how Arsenal being just interested in money (with some justification)
And now people are saying the Cesc transfer should have been all about the money
Having a disinterested captain would have been far more damaging than a bit less money in the bank is, IMO.
He clearly wanted away and we knew would only sign for one club this making our position weaker than it might have been for a comparable player about whom a bidding war may have erupted. It could and probably should have been sorted out earlier, apart from that I'm not sure what else we could have done.
Well OK, that is a viable alternative. But people were already questioning his commitment last year - I believe you were one of them. You think it would have been better to have another season with a disinterested player, worse - a disinterested captain?
Spurs have been tough with Modric and I've heard Spurs fans question whether that's the right call. In some ways I admire them for their stance but personally I'd rather have players who are interested in playing for us.
The notion that we're a soft touch and nothing more than a stepping stone needs to be fought though as that is, in turn. far more damaging to the club than keeping a disinterested captain and is something that is emblazoned across every paper now (not that it technically matters what papers say but they help form opinion which changes a lot of things over time (take a look at some of the refereeing for Man U))
I do agree that there's often a bit of hypocrisy around the Arsenal blogosphere about claiming the sole focus on money is the route of all evil whilst criticising the club for not getting the most money out of a situation, people being stupid is less of a shocker nowadays though!
Yeah I largely agree with this, Wenger should have shown more ambition in the market prior to Cesc leaving. I agree with you re: Arteta deal and this pretty much backs up what many of us have thought about our moves in the market, we managed to pull it off with Arteta due to his age and club situation but I very much doubt we'd get away with a stunt like that on a player who is a) sort after or b) plying their trade at a club who is equal to us regardless of whether they are domestic based or not.
I've actually come to realisation that I really don't think Wenger cares that too much about retaining star players...if he or the club had any sense they would be tieing down RVP, Verms & Walcott on bumper long term contracts now but somehow I get the impression we're going to be left with another messy summer ahead with aforementioned players & their contract renegotiations.
Last edited by selassie; 05-09-2011 at 11:29 AM.