Gilberto leaving, Diaby in pole position, or a new signing?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers5 Comments

Gilberto may be leaving Arsenal for Panathanikos this summer. There has been a lot of speculation over Bert, mainly due to the fact that the whole season he was sidelined in favour of Mathieu Flamini.

Gilberto decided to stay and didn’t kick up a fuss, but acted professionally. He may be offered a new deal by Wenger, but it seems likely that he is going to leave for a fresh start.
Gilberto is reported to have said:

“I am very happy to come to Greece…Panathinaikos is a big club and if an agreement is reached with Arsenal I will be very happy to join you”

I think Gilberto has been a fantastic player for Arsenal, he’s had some ups and downs, but he has been very consistent, and professional in his conduct.

I respect him and if he does leave then good luck to him.

The question is who will fill the hole. The main candidates already at the club are Diaby and Song. Diaby has more experience and is more versatile, although Wenger has already hinted that Song will be used as a centre back next season.

There is always the option of bringing a player in, names such as Yaya Toure of Barcelona have been bartered around, but it seems more likely to me that Wenger will bring one of the younger players up. His transfer dealings may have peaked with the capture of Nasri.

That won’t be popular, but it might pay off.

Nasri is now an Arsenal player. What does this mean for the team?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

The biggest news of the close season has emerged; Samir Nasri has actually signed for Arsenal. He reportedly signed for £15.8 mill on a 4 year deal and is joining Arsenal for pre-season training on July 21st.

Arsenal’s style of play and the fact that Wenger gives young players a chance in the team encouraged him to join he said. Nasri should bring us some more versatility on the wing and will probably replace Hleb, who looks like he is definitely leaving. He can also play in the centre too.

This is a great boost for the club and shows that people should have faith with the club and our transfer policy. You can read Arsenal’s interview with Nasri here.

Wenger:

“We are delighted to be signing Samir Nasri. He is young, quick and technically an outstanding player. He has shown great potential with his performances for Marseille and the French national team over the past two seasons and he will add great quality to our squad.”

Nasri:

“I’m very happy to become an Arsenal player, it means such a lot to me. This is a very important step in my life as a football player because Arsenal is a massive club. I really hope everything will go well for me here. I will do my best for Arsenal and its fans and I am honoured to be part of such a great football club.”

Great to hear that Nasri has finally signed up, it looks like he will get a starting berth in midfield. It puts Eboue further back in the queue, as a fit Rosicky will always play. The fact that Gilberto is probably leaving too means we might see Diaby in midfield too.

Watch Nasri’s Goals for Marseilles and France

Hleb didn’t say that and training has begun

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

There’s been a lot said about quotes from Hleb slagging off Cesc Fabregas and Wenger. The comments according to Arseblogger are ‘rehashed’ from earlier reports. That makes sense to me, Hleb wouldn’t just start slagging off his mate Cesc, or his boss, Wenger.

These are the quotes:

“My view of how I should be playing didn’t coincide with the manager’s. I told him last season I wanted to leave and think he was quite upset about it. But ask him. It may turn out he’s happy to see me go. I don’t know where I’ll be next season but I’d prefer Barcelona. It is being negotiated and, hopefully, will be decided soon.”

Hleb may be on his way out but these quotes can’t be true. Hleb has denied the quotes on his website:

“Dear Friends,

I am shocked by some media-reports. In some newspapers it was mentioned that I have attacked Arsene Wenger and Cesc Fabregas. But let me tell you: This is not true! The statements in the papers are definitely not my statements.

I would never ever say something disrespectful about them. And there is a simple reason for this: Cesc is a very good friend of mine and Arsene is one of the persons, I respect most.”

I think he might stay, to be honest.

Also Arsenal players are back in Colney for preseason trading.See all the photos here

Arsenal Players in Away Kit

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal19 Comments

Thanks to Diceman 1984, a regular reader of ArseSpeak I can bring you a photo of Arsenal stars past and present in the new away kit, it looks great!

Arsenal Players in New Away Kit 08/09
Arsenal Players in New Away Kit 08/09

Thanks for reading guys!

Eduardo training in two weeks?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Injuries6 Comments

According to Arsenal Analysis Boro Primorac, the Arsenal coach has been talking to the Croatian media whilst holidaying in Split.

The Croats report that he will be back in training in about two weeks which is excellent news.

Boro told them:

“We are all extremely happy that his rehabilitation went so well and that soon he will join up with the team.”

And he reckons that Eddie will be as good as he was before the injury:

“I believe that Eduardo will soon return to his form that was before the injury”

So good news if these reports are true – we will have a top quality goalscorer back in the team for the next campaign.

Happy days Gooners.

Arsenal Tranfers: Amaury Bischoff and Schneiderlin

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

In the last few days some rumours have been circulating about two players – Bischoff, a midfielder who plays for Werder Bremen, and Schneiderlin, a French U-18 player, who just signed for Southampton.

These are both very unlikely rumours. Firstly Bischoff – he plays as an attacking midfielder – we don’t need that sort of player – and he has hardly ever played for Werder – as he has an awful inury record.

Schneiderlin is a young French player who has just been signed up for Southampton – there are reports from his fan club (cheers GoonerTalk for the link!) that we may be looking to take him off Southampton in a few years – but that seems a little strange – why not just buy him and loan him to Southampton.

Both seem unlikely, I would like to see us bring in a defender to be honest, but I don’t know if Wenger is looking for a defender.

It all depends on what happens with Ade and Hleb – what do you think Wenger should do??

Cesc Fabregas – The best day of his life

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal3 Comments

Tonight Cesc Fabregas played for a Spanish team who made history. For the first time in 44 years they won an international trophy.

Spain won 1-0 against Germany after a fantastic Torres goal. They dominated the match. The Germans looked stagnant and the Spanish looked fluid. Cesc played 63 minutes before being substituted.

Cesc described it as the best day of his life:

“It’s the best day of my life as a football player,”

“I don’t think we are conscious yet of what we have achieved. It’s the best feeling you can have as a footballer, it’s one of the best trophies you can have. It is one of your dreams, and I made it.”

“It was a long time since a team of that quality tried to play football, tried to put the ball on the ground, tried to create chances and play beautiful football. I don’t think we’ve seen many teams have success. Finally football has the success it deserves.”

“You can see how young we are, so hopefully in two years’ time we can fight for the World Cup.”

It good to see Cesc loves to play quality football and win. This is why he loves playing for Arsenal, because we play good football, we just need to win stuff!

Well done Spain, and Cesc, it was well deserved.

Now take this success into next season!

 

Maybe I was wrong on Adebayor. Use the money and buy someone better

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers7 Comments

In the last few days I have been blogging about the Adebayor rumours. I was thinking that he would stay and that he was dedicated to Arsenal, but his most recent comments show he is an idiot, if he said them.

I am getting sick of all the transfer talk, I think that Ade wants to leave.

You will have all read the comments:

“Milan are a big club but the fact they are not playing in the Champions League next season is less of a challenge. Barcelona have made a good financial offer and there is also the chance to play alongside great players.

“Yes, I am still under contract to Arsenal but it’s up to the directors to satisfy my demands or I’ll leave. If my good form of last season has increased my value, my employers have to take account of that.

“I have to prepare for my retirement. Even if you are not scoring fine goals and you have money, you can enjoy a happy retirement. The time for preparing for that moment is now.”

“People ask if I am asking for the same salary as Henry. That is not necessarily the question. But I am being considered a worthy replacement for Henry while not deserving his salary. The question lies on this level.”

What an idiot – money-grabbing is all I can say. I am sure there has been some funny business – probably involving Ade’s agent – Stephane Courbis. Only a few days ago he was saying, he would stay. Now we hear all this about negotiations and money and being valued etc etc etc.

He isn’t Henry – his head sounds like it’s getting way too big..

I don’t want to talk about it really. If he wants to leave then let him. I can’t be bothered with him. I think he is a great player, but you can’t have someone in the squad who will affect morale.

This puts Wenger’s comments into context – he isn’t worried – but it doesn’t mean Ade will stay – because he will use the money to buy another striker.

Anyway, I hope the whole mess can sort itself out. If Ade does leave then we need a top class replacement with the money we will get.

Wenger says Adebayor will be at Arsenal next season

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers4 Comments

Arsene Wenger agrees with me!

UPDATE 29/06: Maybe he doesn’t! I’m getting a bit worried that Ade will leave now to be honest.

He thinks that Adebayor will be an Arsenal player next season too.

“He’s under contract and that’s quite simple. I can tell you as manager of Arsenal football club I’m not worried.

“Of course I expect him to be at Arsenal next season – he’s under contract.”

When Wenger was asked if he would be meeting the player next week as Ade said yesterday, Wenger responded;

“No – I’ve already met him.”

I still can’t believe that Arsenal would let him go to Milan or Barcelona. The fact that Ade hinted he would be sitting down with his agent Stephane Courbis to discuss this shows that it may be an agent driven move.

Ade has a contract, he said that, Wenger isn’t worried and has met him, and Ade has said he loves the club and wants to stay.

I’m not naiive. I know players will move to where the money is, and I have seen the Anelka saga unfold etc. I also know that even if players say they will stay they don’t neccesarily, but still, I think that it would be so crazy for us to let this guy go.

It can’t happen.

But maybe it will!

Adebayor will stay, I think..

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal7 Comments

Adebayor put out the message for the second time on Friday that he will stay at Arsenal.

But the media have turned the whole scenario into a circus – SkySports now report that he has said that he will decide on his future next week.

“I am a footballer, I have a three-year contract at Arsenal but as you know, a lot of clubs are interested in me.

“At the moment we are just going to sit down and talk and decide what to do. Nothing has been decided yet.

“We will decide next week.”

For me this seems like his words may have been skewed into meaning something Ade didn’t intend. He has even said here that he has a 3 year contract at Arsenal.

He did add:

“I have a lot of big clubs trying to buy me and it is up to me and my agent, Stephane Courbis, to sit down next week and find a good solution. I am in a position that I don’t know where I will be playing but that is normal. If you told me seven years ago when I was playing in Togo without football boots that I would have a choice of playing in Spain or Italy it would seem crazy.”

This is true, I think Ade is saying that of course he is tempted by a big move – and he just wants to make the right decision.

There’s no way that this is the ‘U-turn’ which the media is talking about.

Ade is just stating the facts – the money the papers claim we are offering is very good, and Ade knows that, he’s being pragmatic.

Adebayor WILL be an Arsenal player come the start of the campaign, I can’t believe he will leave. If Wenger let him leave it would be crazy.

Ade has been definitve over his future and it just seems that these comments have been worked to sound ‘exclusive’ so Sky get a story.