Year: 2008

Hleb, are you going or staying?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal19 Comments

Hleb’s representative Uil Ferber has said that Hleb might stay at Arsenal, but if he doesn’t then he won’t be going to an English club.

“There’s a possibility he’ll stay at Arsenal – we’ll meet with boss Arsene Wenger in the next few days”

“Clubs from Italy and Spain are keen but they will have to wait. If he leaves he will not be going to another club in England because Arsenal is the only English club he will play for.”

Basically its a load of crap, transfer rumours are all put out by agents and if he goes he goes..

New Arsenal Kit 08/09

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal32 Comments

Read the latest Arsenal news on the front page

Arsenal’s kit has been revealed, as stated on the Cesc Fabregas show the away kit is based on the 88/89 away kit worn at Anfield duing that famous win! The home kit is similar to the 00/01 kit, not that original. I don’t like it as much as the current home kit, but it will grow on me!
Arsenal Home Kit 08/09

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Samir Nasri signs for Arsenal

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal6 Comments

Samir Nasri will play for Arsenal next season according to L’Equipe. He should be signing his contract today.

Marseilles and Arsenal have apparently agreed on a transfer fee of 15 million Euros. Nasri, has been at Marseilles for four years, this season he has had viral meningitis, but is a top quality player.

If we have got him he will be an excellent addition to the squad. Probably playing on the wing in the style of Hleb or Rosicky. Just better hopefully!

To read the L’Equipe article click here.

Update: 12.47 pm. The Independent says here that he was in London for a medical last night.

Update: 16.50 – It seems Nasri is in Clairefontaine with the French Squad, no news on the transfer front…

Arsenal bid for Nasri not final/transfer rumours

On By jamesgillespIn Transfers1 Comment

Samir Nasri’s agent Jean-Pierre Bernès, has said that no deal has been finalised for Nasri to join Arsenal.

“”We are not in a hurry. It is true that we are examining an offer from Arsenal, which is interesting for Samir Nasri from a sporting point of view, but there are other offers on my desk”

This comes from the French Eurosport website, here. I think a transfer is likely, he’s a top French winger, about 20 years old. I hear that he would fit in well with Arsenal’s style.

We have apparently signed Francis Coquelin from Stade Lavallois, he’s a French U-17 international who was on trial with us earlier this season, there’s nothing official, but Stade Lavallois released this statement:

“The truth of the moment it that Francis Coquelin is free.

“Nothing more links him with MFC, as a consequence his future club have no obligation to pay an education fee.”

So wiating for an update on that one, but it seems a done deal.

We may also be set to sign another young Frenchman, Clement Chantome, a 22 year old midfielder playing for PSG, World of Arsenal says he is in the mould of Didier Deschamps.

Finally, Carlos Vela has his work permit and will join the rest of the Arsenal squad for pre-season training at the end of the summer. His agent said:

“He has his work permission so Carlos will be joining Arsenal in July to begin pre-season work.”

Nasri on his way to the Arse for £13 million?

On By jamesgillespIn Transfers

More and more speculation in the papers about who we’re going to sign. Nasri is a name which is coming up quite a lot.

Nasri is 20 and won the Young Player of the Season Award last year in Ligue 1. He has a buy-out clause of €17m (£13.5m).

Apparently representatives of Arsenal and Marseilles have been talking and it’s likely that he will join us. Nasri did say that on Saturday he might have played his last game for Marseilles.

He is our sort of player, fast, agile with good passing skills, he could replace Hleb. The only problem is that he isn’t that experienced, and is a little weak. But when has that stopped Wenger before!

Two which I don’t think will happen are Frey and Aquilani, these are both just randoms I guess. Aquilani isn’t a likely target, and Wenger won’t be signing a keeper I don’t think.

UEFA Cup for Flamini and Diarra

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal2 Comments

Mathieu Flamini left Arsenal for Milan because they are a big club, and they are paying him loads of money. He won’t be in the Champions League next season though!

If anything though he seems to have taken a step back right now. He is not guaranteed first team football there, Gattuso the fans’ favourite plays the same role, and when Fiorentina won 1-0 they sealed fourth place, leaving Milan in fifth.

This means that next year the ‘big club’ will be playing in Europe’s second tier. Who would you rather play for, the third placed team in England, with a young squad full of hope, or an aging fifth placed Italian team?

Diarra, another ex-Arsenal central midfielder will also be playing UEFA Cup football next season with Pompey after winning the FA Cup.

There’s no doubt this guy has talent, but he has to be one of the most obnoxious players to have ever played for us.

He is already looking to use Pompey as a stepping stone after leaving Chelsea and Arsenal because the competition for places was too intense.

Tony Adams had this to say:

“I know why Arsène let him go but I’m not going to say, have you asked Lassana?”

“You have to think outside the box”

This suggests that there were other reasons for Diarra’s departure other than a lack of games, maybe the fact he is a bit of a shit-stirrer. Good riddance Arsene!

Flamini, parting shots

On By jamesgillespIn Transfers4 Comments

Flamini says that Arsenal could have kept him if we had offered him a new contract earlier.

“Last July I told Arsenal I wanted to extend my contract so, of course, I would have signed if they had offered me a deal – but they didn’t.

It all comes down to the fact that he was basically a fringe player till this season. Le Boss was going to offload him, he stayed, but we didn’t offer him a new contract in the summer, because we wanted him ‘to prove himself’.

Basically we didn’t believe in him, and at the time that seemed to make sense. Now at the end of the season Mathieu has made his point.

If we had had a little more belief we would still have him, but when a big club like Milan comes calling with sacks of money, you don’t turn it down. Especially if you feeling a little more than unappreciated by the club you’re at.

We used him, and now he has used us.

Wenger must be feeling a little stung after the happenings this season. Flamini left, and Diarra went, leaving us bare in central midfield. No real likely candidates within the sqaud to take the role on a long term basis. Gilberto will still be here, and theres Diaby, but I think we will see a new face for that position.

Song, A fantastic CB for next season?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal1 Comment

Will Alex Song be a regular next season?

That is a question on many fans lips as Wenger praised the player. The amount of bad press this guy got when he joined was incredible.

Wenger said:

“I believe he is a remarkable player and I was one of the very, very few who believed in Alexandre Song,”

“I can show you articles in newspapers which said that [he] was the worst buy I have made but you will see in one or two years that he will be a great player for Arsenal.”

All this season and last, a fat bald guy in the row in front of me has slagged this guy off at every opportunity (along with half the team). I can’t see why though. He played very well in the run he got at the end of the season, and was impressive at the ANC. Wenger followed on:

“When I put a player somewhere, I know why I do. If I play Song at centre back it is because I believe he will be a great centre back for Arsenal Football Club.

“In Song’s case, he can play in central midfield. But can he play 60 games there? I am not convinced.”

So basically Le Boss is suggesting that Song can’t hack the intensity of midfield, which is true, he is good going forward, but he looks a little sluggish, more suited to a role in central defence. He won’t be replacing Flamini.

Wenger will keep him at centre back next season, and personally I am a big fan of the guy. Maybe just because he gets so much stick, but you have to admit he has talent. He won’t be first choice, but excellent back-up.

Forget Dunne, all we want is Song!

Arsenal transfer update: In for Nasri or Ben Arfa?

On By jamesgillespIn Transfers2 Comments

Arsenal are rumoured to be making a move for 21 year old French International Samir Nasri.

He has just signed a new long-term contract at Marseille, but apparently that the deal was only made to settle a transfer protocol.

Now there doesn’t seem to be much substance to this, I think Ben Arfa is more likely to come in. The rumour mill seems to have gone into overdrive.

His agent said:

“As soon as the season is over, we will discuss with Samir, about his future, and we will plan all the solutions,”

“There are offers, that is the truth, but for the moment nothing is decided.”

He is a player I would like to see at Arsenal, but I think it is unlikely. Nevertheless it a possibility, Goonertalk says here that the player may have played his last match at Marseilles, so he is going somewhere!