So what have we got for you readers today? Well the main story doing the rounds and gathering plenty of pace is the possible signing of 20 year old Samir Nasri. Being that the player is young and French you would of thought he was a definite shoe in for a spot at Ashburton Grove. But on scoring for Marseille in the final league game in Ligue 1 Nasri was quoted as saying:
“It is very important because it is perhaps my last match at the Stade Velodrome.”
Obviously cue frantic headlines, journo’s, websites going mental. So what do you Gooners reckon? Do you really think Nasri will be seen in the famous red and white of The Arsenal? So what’s with the Hatem Ben Afra stories? They seem to of died a death. I can’t see Wenger getting both Nasri and Ben Afra, it would be nice, but it wont happen. If Wenger decides to offload Hleb (on Arsenal terms not Hleb’s or his agent) then maybe it could be a goer as there will be money from the Hleb sale and another space to fill on the pitch.
Le Gaffer has already said he wants to get two or three players, and that includes a big, ugly, dirty centre back and possibly a defensive midfielder to replace the departed not to be playing any Champions League football next season Mathieu Flamoney. However many a site reckon the deal for Samir Nasri is a done deal. But you guys know the drill by now, until it is on the official Arsenal site you can’t really believe anyone, I mean you wouldn’t believe we’ve signed Ben Afra if it appeared on TribalFootball would you? What is good though is that Wenger seems to be going for players that will excite next season.
That said, will Wenger bring in a ready-made replacement for Flamini? We’ve been linked to Miguel Veloso of Sporting and Roma’s Alberto Aquilani, but is that just smoke an mirrors.
Wenger wants to get his deals done in the next couple of weeks, so at least we don’t have to go all summer linked with players and not knowing what will happen. I’m sure the players Le Gaffer has earmarked he’s working overtime to get them to sign up, oh well we can hope. I haven’t seen Alberto Aquilani or Miguel Veloso play in detail and I don’t believe watching YouTube videos to see if a player is ‘the shit’ as I’m sure even Emmanuel Eboué’s YouTube video makes him look like Pelé.
Other news doing the rounds is we have Phillippe ‘Swiss Tony’ Senderos saying Wenger wants to keep him. I think that ship has passed with Senderos now. He hasn’t turned out to be the player we all hoped, by the way the big Swiss fella will be stripped of the ‘Swiss Tony’ nickname part as well, as he is nothing like Tony! We all know there is at least one mistake in Senderos in a game but I think all he can hope for is a bit part for The Arsenal. Even Alex Song was getting played ahead of the Swiss fella, that doesn’t bode well for someone wanting a first team start. Add to that the fact Wenger has earmarked a centre back to bring into the fray as well. I’m not sure about you readers but to me that spells the beginning of the end of Senderos.
Other bits to chat quickly about is once again we’ve been linked with £16million-rated Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey and being that he is French and young, The Arsenal of course we are linked. We’ve been linked with Frey since he turned 16 and I think he’s about 28 now. I don’t see this happening, two reasons – 1, Not for £16m will The Arsenal buy a goalkeeper, hell no! 2. Almunia signed a contract extension only a couple of months ago and Wenger seems to have complete faith in him, thus transfer to The Arsenal = not bloody likely.
And lastly a couple of sites have got our own King Kolo mouthing off about captain William Gallas’ captaincy and not being too happy about it. I wouldn’t read too much into that, Kolo Touré isn’t that type of player to mouth of in public, it’s amazing that the story has absolutely no quotes from the player, his agent or even the infamous ‘inside source’, I guess the paper/sites still have spaces to fill though. Let’s hope they are filled with players we have signed!
May 20, 2008 at 11:28 am
Very excited about the prospect of Nasri coming. I haven’t seen much of him but have heard stories for a while now coming out of France about his potential. Personally I’d like to see both him and Ben Arfa sign – but that’s surely not going to happen. Nasri is more of an “Arsenal” player, whereas Ben Arfa is more direct, another Reyes type. With a DMC and a CB needed I think we’ll just see 1 of those arrive.
May 20, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Bring in Nasri, Ben Arfa, Veloso, Yaya, Kompany and possibly Barry. What a prospect. Can only dream but Gaffer is too tight fisted to do that.
May 20, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Easy there David – Wenger said he’ll bring in 2 or 3 at the most – you’ve named six players – no way will the budget stretch to all that! If it could stretch I would add David Villa to the squad too – could you imagine him in an Arsenal shirt?! I’m still waiting to see who this CB is Wenger is on about as well, I just hope whoever it is we don’t all groan. We need someone who can command the defence not another ‘up and coming youngster’.
May 20, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I would like to see an experienced rugged premiership CB come into the squad. Someone who knows the trials and tribulations of the Premier league. What about Richard Dunne? Has had 2 great seasons with Man City. I don’t believe a skillful CB like Kompany would add that little bit of experience that will allow Arsenal to hold on to leads over the big teams, one aspect which we lacked this season. So I agree with Tommi. I feel maybe 2 attacking midfielders are needed because Hleb is going and I don’t think Eboue should be categorised as a winger. Also a DM is definetly needed if Gilberto leaves.
May 20, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Well from where I see it, Wenger said he would buy 2 to 3 players at a time when he was positive about Flamini staying and there wasnt even a puff about Hleb. So Flamini is gone and I hope to god Hleb is sold at a bumper price cause he is shiite seriously, I mean 3 goals? His assists arent even that impressive. Now think if we had Ben Arfa or Nasri instead of him would’nt that be brilliant?
So Technically now instead of Wenger going for 2 or 3 he should be going for 4 or 5 cause we have lost 2 already. I would’nt think twice to buy Ben Arfa(Genuine Left Footed Winger and Vela is a striker like AW said and Rosicky is out more then in) and One towering defender initially. Now that we have lost 2 players, I would like to add Nasri and Aquilani or whoever to the list. If 5 players, then I would like a keeper some worldclass cause Almunia is dodgy seriously.
Also, if Adebayor wants money he can fuck off for a high price to accomodate David Villa who is a world class finisher, free kick specialist and can score from the head. Imagine him with RvP, Walcott, Eduardo or Vela.
We would be unstoppable if all of this happens. Please do it Wenger, you promised us2 or 3 but now as we have lost 2 already you need 5 signings, make us happy for once.
May 20, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I must admit I dont like to keep players (or their agents) who are voicing that they want to go, IMO you can fuck right off if you don’t want to play for The Arsenal. Obviously makes its easier when the player isn’t an instrumental palyer. So in Hleb’s case I wouldn’t lose sleep if he were to leave. I think he’s a good player but for a creative midfielder he doesn’t score enough. he excelled in the Champions League where he has had 7 assists, not sure how many in the Prem but I think that’s about 7 as well. But with Hleb I think he ‘looks good’ but a lot of the time there is no end project. I know the way we play sometimes isn’t direct but Hleb takes that to new heights as when a shot is on from 5 yards out he’ll look to pass it!
I think Wenger reckons we’ll have enough firepower up front and wont buy a striker, talk of Adebayor being greedy should be left alone, its the papers/sites working it to unsettle the fans. I see Adebayor at The Arsenal next season and on the same money, simple as. So it’s a bit of a pty but David Villa or Benzema would be ideal but it aint going to happen.
As for the CB – Richard Dunne would be a good bet he’s a good defender and knows the Premiership, remains to be seen whether Wenger would take a punt on him though.
May 20, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Akbar, Wenger originally said 1-2 players, then when Flamini left he changed it to 2-3, as far as I can remember. So your 5 player logic is a bit off the mark.
May 20, 2008 at 6:37 pm
So Tommi, in your opinion, what are the chances of Nasri coming? Is he really that good? “The next Zidane”. I haven’t seen him at all. What about Vela? Isn’t he like a new signing aswell. What will he add?
May 21, 2008 at 6:30 am
Well i was a little bit disappointed that the squad we had all over the season didnt win anything so far but at the same time i was impressed of the performance they did put in place. We must realize that we had been thrown in the dustbins b4 the league commenced and see where we finished, bravo gooners!
about the transfer issue, i have belief and trust in the professor of soccer and am quite confident tha he’ll make the right choice that will stand for the supporters and the club in general.
I have watched Nasri play and dispaly his quality, quite impressive………just fantastic.
If we have to loose Hleb then he’ll be a good solution for us. Let’s cheer him 2 come along because am sure soon or later Hleb will be o his way out.
The Senderos should just get a club that support him 4 the mean time in terms of getting his fitness back even if it’s on loan for a season long…i know that he’s in lonve with arsenal. The lad is a good centre back but he needs regular 1st team football so that he can improve on what he has and polish up on the regular mistakes he makes.
My preference is, Wenger should do his best as he sees it….we have a tradition to mantain in terms of expendituren and that makes us unique from other big three in the premier…
Professor should mantain our style as much as possible………LONG LIVE ARSENAL FC
May 21, 2008 at 10:22 am
Eoin – I think the Nasri to Arsenal rumours must be true, I watched some of the highlights from the French league on Setanta the other night and Nasri looks the nuts. He’s not a winger as such but a play maker. I couldn’t compare him to Zidane, as Zidane was Zidane – aint going to be another like him. But Nasri does look good.
As for Vela, the way I see it he’s a striker who can play on the wing. But he;s not played in the Prem, he ‘might’ turn out to be a great player but I think some people are expecting him to do too much even before he’s put on an Arsenal shirt. The kid is 19, if anything he should be used here and there and not be seen as a major player. If he turns out be a major player for us in his first season – great – but I think we need to give him time.