Arsenal Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

yahoo_moe

itsjaybud wrote: »

What has he done for Newcastle?

Exactly. And more than that, have Bolton missed him?

Personally I don't think he's anywhere near the player he was (maybe even only briefly?) about 2/3 years ago.

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

Martins and Bassong are the only Newky players I'd have any interest in.

Bassong, yes. Martins I'm not really sure - I guess he'd be a similar-ish player to Ade so we might be able to turn a profit on the swap but if we're going to replace him, I'd like whoever we bring in to offer an improvement in one or more of the following areas where Ade's weak:

(1) be a more clinical finisher
(2) be a more intelligent footballer (ie less offside)
(3) have a good attitude and workrate all the time
(4) not think he's more of a superstar than he is.

I'm not sure Martins really ticks any of those boxes so it'd be a purely financial move I think. But we could maybe do with that so I dunno.

Frisbee

Galvasean wrote: »

He was only half the player this season that he was last season.

Well when you go from having Hleb and Rosicky assisting you to Denilson and Diaby your form is going to drop off.

I'm not Adebayor's biggest fan at all as most of you know, but I'd rather hold onto him.

L'prof

This season v previous seasons:

P   W   D   L   F   A  GD Pts
2008-2009:  38  20  12   6  68  37  31  72
2007-2008:  38  24  11   3  74  31  43  83 ( 3rd)
2006-2007:  38  19  11   8  63  35  28  68 ( 4th)
2005-2006:  38  20   7  11  68  31  37  67 ( 4th)
2004-2005:  38  25   8   5  87  36  51  83 ( 2nd)
2003-2004:  38  26  12   0  73  26  47  90 ( 1st)
2002-2003:  38  23   9   6  85  42  43  78 ( 2nd)
2001-2002:  38  26   9   3  79  36  43  87 ( 1st)
2000-2001:  38  20  10   8  63  38  25  70 ( 2nd)
1999-2000:  38  22   7   9  73  43  30  73 ( 2nd)
1998-1999:  38  22  12   4  59  17  42  78 ( 2nd)
1997-1998:  38  23   9   6  68  33  35  78 ( 1st)
1996-1997:  38  19  11   8  62  32  30  68 ( 3rd)
1995-1996:  38  17  12   9  49  32  17  63 ( 5th)
1994-1995:  38  12  10  16  46  46   0  46 (12th)
1993-1994:  38  17  16   5  50  22  28  67 ( 4th)
1992-1993:  38  14  10  14  36  34   2  52 (10th)

All time premier league record:

Reading               4   4   0   0  11   2   9  12 3.00
Watford               4   4   0   0   9   3   6  12 3.00
Barnsley              2   2   0   0   7   0   7   6 3.00
Wolves                2   2   0   0   6   1   5   6 3.00
Wigan                 8   7   1   0  17   6  11  22 2.75
Ipswich              10   8   2   0  23   4  19  26 2.60
Man City             24  19   3   2  46  14  32  60 2.50
Charlton             16  12   2   2  36  12  24  38 2.38
Fulham               16  12   2   2  33   9  24  38 2.38
West Brom             8   6   1   1  18   8  10  19 2.38
Derby                14  10   3   1  27  11  16  33 2.36
Leicester            16  10   5   1  38  13  25  35 2.19
Crystal Palace        8   5   2   1  16   5  11  17 2.13
Birmingham           10   6   3   1  19   5  14  21 2.10
Nottingham Forest    10   6   3   1  13   7   6  21 2.10
Everton              34  21   8   5  67  27  40  71 2.09
Southampton          26  15   7   4  50  24  26  52 2.00
Sunderland           16   9   5   2  30  11  19  32 2.00
Portsmouth           12   6   6   0  20   6  14  24 2.00
Oldham                4   2   2   0   4   1   3   8 2.00
Swindon               2   1   1   0   5   1   4   4 2.00
Middlesbrough        28  16   7   5  62  26  36  55 1.96
Coventry             18  10   5   3  25  13  12  35 1.94
West Ham             28  16   6   6  40  17  23  54 1.93
Bolton               20  11   5   4  32  22  10  38 1.90
Blackburn            30  16   7   7  51  26  25  55 1.83
Villa                34  16  12   6  53  30  23  60 1.76
Newcastle            32  16   8   8  46  27  19  56 1.75
Bradford              4   2   1   1   6   3   3   7 1.75
Chelsea              34  16  11   7  50  39  11  59 1.74
Leeds                24  12   4   8  43  25  18  40 1.67
Norwich               8   3   4   1  17   9   8  13 1.63
Spurs                34  13  16   5  51  36  15  55 1.62
MK Dons              16   7   4   5  30  16  14  25 1.56
Sheffield Wednesday  16   7   4   5  21  16   5  25 1.56
Sheffield United      6   2   3   1   9   4   5   9 1.50
Stoke                 2   1   0   1   5   3   2   3 1.50
Hull                  2   1   0   1   4   3   1   3 1.50
Man United           34  10  11  13  33  43 -10  41 1.21
Liverpool            34   9  11  14  36  48 -12  38 1.12
QPR                   8   1   5   2   7   8  -1   8 1.00

Current run:

P   W   D   L   F   A  GD Pts
2008-2009:   2   1   1   0   4   1   3   4

itsjaybud

Chris Kammy Kamara Season's Best

His highlights of the season include the 4-4 Liverpool game and Adebayors goal against Blackburn!

My goal of the season is Cristiano Ronaldo's long-range strike against Porto in the quarter-final of the Champions League, I'll never forget that goal. But from a Premier League perspective my favourite was scored by Arsenal against Blackburn at the start of the season. There were 27 passes in the build-up, but it wasn't 27 square passes, it was 27 probing passes looking for an opportunity. Denilson found it with the cross onto the head of Adebayor and it was great to watch.

Remember watching that game it was a pretty unreal passage of play even against the likes of rovers!

Galvasean

itsjaybud wrote: »

Chris Kammy Kamara Season's Best

His highlights of the season include the 4-4 Liverpool game and Adebayors goal against Blackburn!



Remember watching that game it was a pretty unreal passage of play even against the likes of rovers!

Didn't we get as many passes (or was it 23) against United at the Emirates for one of Nasri's goals? Purely because of the quality of opposition I'd rank that goal higher.

As for Adebayor, my main reason for wanting him out is his lack of loyalty to the club. i want all of our players 100% commited to the cause. Adebayor is clearly far from it.

itsjaybud

That was a brillant goal alright you can watch it from around 1.30 in its only around 16 passes!!!:)

I love the way Walcott takes Vidic out of the game, quality goal but 27 passes against Blackburn was pretty unreal!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn9rhJUpYZw

Few Adebayor related stories on sky sports atm, the only reason id be happy to let him go was if we got massive money for him. I agree hes attitude has been horrible but if he stays hopefully he can start scoring on a regular basis again.

A confident Adebayor is not a bad player to have and there isnt really any cheap quickfix replacements out there. If he is sold the we defiantely need to buy another striker.

legs11

Is on ITV4...

itsjaybud

itsjaybud wrote: »

Few Adebayor related stories on sky sports atm, the only reason id be happy to let him go was if we got massive money for him. I agree hes attitude has been horrible but if he stays hopefully he can start scoring on a regular basis again.

A confident Adebayor is not a bad player to have and there isnt really any cheap quickfix replacements out there. If he is sold the we defiantely need to buy another striker.

people were getting on Adebayor's back before the first ball of the season was kicked to be fair and despite his injuries he still hit 16 goals.

On the youths tonight i felt we weren't as good as Friday night it goes without saying but still done the job. Bits of magic here and there from Wilshere who had a quiet game by his high standards. JET was very poor. I dont rate Sunu at all but the players who stood out for me were Sanchez Watt and Thomas Cruise.Watt is a Tevez style of player. Huge work rate from the young lad over the 2 legs. Both have fantastic futures ahead at Arsenal. Lansbury and the 2 centre halves will be important players too.

Galvasean

I taught JET played much better later on in the game when he was allowed move forward. He doesn't look as comfortable in defence.
Wilshire despite his great skill always comes across as being fairly greedy in these youth matches. I don't know if it's that he knows the spotlight is on him and he wants to show off, but he often ignores obvious passes and shoots/runs directly at goal.
Watt impressed a lot. He seemed to be involved in everything Arsenal created. I also like the look of Sunu even though he drifted in and out of the game.

WillieCocker

Galvasean wrote: »

Didn't we get as many passes (or was it 23) against United at the Emirates for one of Nasri's goals? Purely because of the quality of opposition I'd rank that goal higher.

As for Adebayor, my main reason for wanting him out is his lack of loyalty to the club. i want all of our players 100% commited to the cause. Adebayor is clearly far from it.

Agree totally.
The only thing Adebayor is committed to is whinging when the fans don't sing his name or he needs a raise.
Sell him FTW.

eZe^

Dear Arsenal fans,

I finally won one of these tonights. Wish you coulda been here to see it, you woulda been proud. Maybe someday I'll come manage you and lead you to a CL victory. In the meantime, be satisfied that Barcelona, your big sister club have just won the treble. ;)


Lots of love,

Titi

xoxoxoxo

JP Liz

ARSENE WENGER is planning to go back in for Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso this summer.

#bodycopy a { font-size: 12px; }
Arsenal came close to landing the Spanish international last year, when Kop boss Rafa Benitez was trying to bring in Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry.

That deal looks set to be resurrected soon, leaving the way clear for 27-year-old Alonso to leave Anfield.

A year ago the Gunners were reluctant to meet Liverpool’s £16m asking price for Alonso but following another blank season they may now be ready to splash out.

The cultured star’s value is likely to have risen to around £18m, but Wenger and the Gunners board appear to have accepted they need to bring in established Premier League stars if the club is to end a trophy drought which goes back to the FA Cup in 2005.

WillieCocker

eZe^ wrote: »

Wish you coulda been here to see it, you woulda been proud.

I'm sure the majority of Gunners fans did see it and were delighted for Henry.
I know i was.

Green Hornet

Delighted for Sylvinho too!

Frisbee

eZe^ wrote: »

your big sister club have just won the treble. ;)

Mate your a good poster and all.
But your constant reference to Arsenal as Barca's feeder club are starting to get old.
We get it, you think Barca play football the way Arsenal want to.

Royale with Cheese

Frisbee wrote: »

Mate your a good poster and all.
But your constant reference to Arsenal as Barca's feeder club are starting to get old.
We get it, you think Barca play football the way Arsenal want to.

Meh, let him. Barca have bought Petit, Hleb, Overmars, Henry. First two were shít, Overmars overpriced, and Henry was poor last season too.

In return Arsenal nabbed Fabregas for £2m.

It's a relationship I'm happy with.

Oh seems I forgot van Bronckhorst but I don't think anybody missed him. He was sold in a part exchange with Fabregas moving the other way, so scratch that £2m Fab cost. Swap van Bronckhorst for Fabregas + cash? That's the best one of the lot I think.

Pepe LeFrits

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

In return Arsenal nabbed Fabregas for £2m.

It's a relationship I'm happy with.

Oh seems I forgot van Bronckhorst but I don't think anybody missed him. He was sold in a part exchange with Fabregas moving the other way, so scratch that £2m Fab cost. Swap van Bronckhorst for Fabregas + cash? That's the best one of the lot I think.

I think that's why they have such a bee in their bonnet when it comes to the club and Cesc.

Frisbee wrote: »

Mate your a good poster and all.
But your constant reference to Arsenal as Barca's feeder club are starting to get old.

Plus one. Do they have ABBs in Spain? 'cos posts like the above are a surefire way to create some over here.

ps Congrats Titi, finally got the last one missing. Pack your bags at your leisure and start having a think about what role you want at the club.

Pepe LeFrits

I posted this on another forum. Make of it what you will.

From our first 19 league games of the season, we took 32 points and produced a goal difference of +9. We took 7 points from other members of the top 4. In the 16 games against the other teams, we took 25 points and had a GD of +7.

From our second 19 league games of the season, we took 40 points and produced a GD of +22. We only took 2 points from the rest of the top 4. In the 16 games against the other teams, we took 38 points and had a GD of +25.

Galvasean

WillieCocker wrote: »

I'm sure the majority of Gunners fans did see it and were delighted for Henry.
I know i was.

Green Hornet wrote: »

Delighted for Sylvinho too!

And Hleb? (or did he make the final squad? I dont remember seeing him)

And Yaya Touré (he trialed with us).

I'm one of those people who always wishes well to former players, unless they disrespect the club (Anelka, Bentley, Cole, Flamini, Adebayor etc.)

OPENROAD

Galvasean wrote: »

And Hleb? (or did he make the final squad? I dont remember seeing him)

And Yaya Touré (he trialed with us).

I'm one of those people who always wishes well to former players, unless they disrespect the club (Anelka, Bentley, Cole, Flamini, Adebayor etc.)

Hleb has constantly be making noises about our wage policy since he left.


Have we sold Adebayor :eek:

MBC

Rumours in the papers this morning that Gareth Barry might be moving to us.............I would be absolutely delighted if he came in.......i highly rate him.......it would be an excellent signing imo.

Please please please let it be true.

leninbenjamin

MBC wrote: »

Rumours in the papers this morning that Gareth Barry might be moving to us.............I would be absolutely delighted if he came in.......i highly rate him.......it would be an excellent signing imo.

Please please please let it be true.

agree on Barry, cannot see it happening though.

Redzer7

Wouldnt Get My Hopes Up To Be Honest. Cant See Wenger Spending More Than 12 Mil On A Player:(

Quazzie

I think its just agent talk to try get Liverpool to make a bid early so that Barry is signed and sealed before the pre-season training starts.

Plus, I'd prefer to get Alonso tbh

Redzer7

Have An Odd Feeling That Wengers Gonna Put A Bid In For David Trezeguet?:pac:

WillieCocker

Redzer7 wrote: »

Have An Odd Feeling That Wengers Gonna Put A Bid In For David Trezeguet?:pac:

Too old for Wenger.

WillieCocker

Quazzie wrote: »

I think its just agent talk to try get Liverpool to make a bid early so that Barry is signed and sealed before the pre-season training starts.

Plus, I'd prefer to get Alonso tbh

Agree totally.
Barry or Alonso, no contest.

Mr Alan

Would imagine you's are as likely to get Barry as Liverpool to be honest.

Be a good signing.

As for Alonso, yous have no chance. Rafa has said he is not for sale. I'd imagine if we received an insane bid that may change but there'll be no insane bid coming from Arsenal thats for sure.

yahoo_moe

Mr Alan wrote: »

there'll be no insane bid coming from Arsenal thats for sure.

What about insanely low?

L'prof

Galvasean wrote: »

And Hleb? (or did he make the final squad? I dont remember seeing him)

Still bitter about Hleb, so I'm glad he didn't get any game time. Glad he got a medal? No!

L'prof

Mr Alan wrote: »

As for Alonso, yous have no chance. Rafa has said he is not for sale. I'd imagine if we received an insane bid that may change but there'll be no insane bid coming from Arsenal thats for sure.

I think Alonso will be leaving Liverpool this summer, but I agree that I don't think we have a chance of signing him unfortunately.

Pepe LeFrits

Neither Alonso nor Barry are what we need. Although they'd improve us, other players would suit us better.

gosplan

Sounds like Real want Alonso and City want Barry so don't think we'd be in the running for either of them anyway.


TBH I think the top level DMF/CMF people want isn't going to arrive. More likely I'd say we'd sign an up and coming player and see who can take the starting spot between them, Song and Denilson. (my money's on Song )

Pepe LeFrits

I'm hoping for Cana. Hearing good things.

leninbenjamin

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

I'm hoping for Cana. Hearing good things.

the Albanian fellah? I remember hearing his new a few times but i've never heard of him being rated very highly.

Pepe LeFrits

Yup. From what I've been reading he's big, strong, aggressive, mobile and technically good. 25 years old and the Marseille captain.

I'm glad Barry has gone to City, means Alonso will stay at Liverpool. Both are good players but not what we need so I'm pleased Arsene will have to look elsewhere.

A few youth deals done by the looks of it:

Sean McDermott – 15/16 year old Irish/Norwegian goalkeeper
Martin Angha - 6 foot tall 15 year old Swiss CB.
Jamie Edge – English DM/CB, also 15 years old and 6'1ish.

On the way out are van den Berg, Fonte, Carruthers (to Villa), Blackwood (to Spurs) and Rasmussen.

itsjaybud

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Yup. From what I've been reading he's big, strong, aggressive, mobile and technically good. 25 years old and the Marseille captain.

I'm glad Barry has gone to City, means Alonso will stay at Liverpool. Both are good players but not what we need so I'm pleased Arsene will have to look elsewhere.

Sounds like the type of mid fielder that would fit nicely into the team!

And

+1 regards either Barry or Alonso really just not what we need and glad we didnt end up chasing them for the summer and have a deal fall through at the end of it all and be left with nothing.

As you said Wenger has to look esle where and im a sure a player like Cana is on the radar.

Frisbee

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/20927/Arsenal_sign_Ajax_stopper.aspx

port.co.uk understands Arsenal have completed the signing of AFC Ajax centre back Thomas Vermaelen for a fee believed to be in the region of £10 million. According to sources inside the club, the deal for the Belgian international will be confirmed in the next 48 hours.

The 23-year-old moved to Ajax in 2004 from Antwerp outfit Germinal Beerschot and has since played 85 times for the Amsterdam giants as well as accumulating 21 caps for his country.

The news comes only hours after former Arsenal captain Tony Adams revealed that he had watched the player on behalf of Arsene Wenger but hinted that despite his obvious quality his physical attributes may let him down.

"I think Thomas is a very good player but I don’t think he’s ready for the Arsenal," Adams told Setanta.

"I don’t think the punters at Arsenal would like another small one.

"I don’t know whether he’ll end up going for a bigger player. We’ll see how much money we’ve got first.

"I have been looking at the Dutch league, but to be honest with you it’s been decimated.

"It’s a poor league at the moment, there’s one or two players but they’re leaving too early as well."

leninbenjamin

I'm conflustricated, so much contradiction in that article.

I know nothing about this fellah anyway, so not really bothered either way. Gimme Zapata

Pepe LeFrits

Zapata sounds like another Toure type. Although with Kolo and Song off to the ACN in January I wouldn't mind, I'd prefer a more cerebral CB.

Re: Vermaelen. We've been linked to him a few times recently, but it's probably just the same story being recycled. At just 5'11" he's a bit on the short side, if he's to play at CB. On the plus side, he looks like a serial killer.

leninbenjamin

Pepe LeFrits wrote: »

Zapata sounds like another Toure type. Although with Kolo and Song off to the ACN in January I wouldn't mind, I'd prefer a more cerebral CB.

Yeah, there are a lot of similarities i guess. He's always impressed me though when i've seen him play, he strikes me as that versatile type of player who can form a partnership with anyone. Plus some reports I've read suggest he's the type of player who can control the defence.

anyway he wont be coming so it's moot, Real Madrid among others are in for him so his price will be beyond Arsene's comfort zone by now.

premierstone

Anyone gettin worried that Tony Adams is back on the booze, he's last two interviews Iv seen have been very worrying tbh

yahoo_moe

premierstone wrote: »

Anyone gettin worried that Tony Adams is back on the booze, he's last two interviews Iv seen have been very worrying tbh

Started the exact same thread in the Supporter's Group earlier... hope oh so much that he isn't but he's being a bit erratic at the moment.

leninbenjamin

the Vermaelen story is getting repeated again today. still nothing though to suggest there's any truth to it though.

keano_afc

I think he's in Japan with the Belgian squad, so any talk of medicals etc is off the mark I'd say.

L'prof

leninbenjamin wrote: »

the Vermaelen story is getting repeated again today. still nothing though to suggest there's any truth to it though.

Repetition could mean there is something to it though, remember Arshavin & Sagna?

yahoo_moe

jasonorr wrote: »

Repetition could mean there is something to it though, remember Arshavin

Ah yes, that did drag on for a while alright... what happened in the end, did we sign him or what?

leninbenjamin

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Ah yes, that did drag on for a while alright... what happened in the end, did we sign him or what?

took about 3 years on and off.

L'prof

yahoo_moe wrote: »

Ah yes, that did drag on for a while alright... what happened in the end, did we sign him or what?

Just about! I wonder if the negotiations actually went on that long or if it was just speculation for a large part of it?

tony1kenobi

leninbenjamin wrote: »

took about 3 years on and off.

3 years well spent not nurturing the guy so he can fcuk off to Spain or Italy when he peaks.......Hleb rumoured to go to Villa......London life was so awful but Brum is nirvana is it??...good luck to him.......enjoy the roundabouts.