Up the Arse! Goons thread. :)

[Latro]

Goal to Theo from 25 yards according to Sporting Life.

 

[hype]

Sometimes I just want to slap Wenger.

GET VILLA DAMNIT!!

 

[PendlePie]

Yaya To Arsenal?

Arsenal are lining up a ₤10 million bid for Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, according to reports…

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be looking to bolster his options in central midfield over the summer following the departure of Mathieu Flamini for AC Milan.

And with the Toure the elder set to receive the captain’s armband next season, and Barca preparing to enter a new phase under Josep Guardiola, the time could not be riper for Toure the younger to make a ₤10 million switch to North London.

Just found this article, but I'm not holding my breath. Would be very happy if it does happen though.

We're being heavily linked with Ben Arfa and Gomez. If we got 2 of Ben Arfa, Toure and Gomez then we'll be laughing. All 3 are quality.

 

[desie]

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport...ts-set-on-stuttgart-ace-gomez-98487-20414176/

Arsène Wenger sets sights on Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez

EXCLUSIVE
By Steve Stammers 11/05/2008

Arsenal are set to make a £10million swoop for Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez.

Gomez - born in Germany to a Spanish father and German mother - is seen as one of the rising stars in the Bundesliga and has scored 38 goals in 87 games for his club.

Although he could be selected by Spain, Gomez opted to play for the country of his birth and has already been capped nine times, scoring on six occasions.

At 22, he is the perfect age for recruitment by Arsenal manager Wenger, who prefers to mould players into his way of playing rather than spend big on top players who can be set in his ways.

"We don't buy superstars," Wenger said earlier this season. "We make them."

Gomez certainly has potential and would be the perfect addition to the Gunners' current strike force of Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner.

And, with Adebayor demanding a contract review this summer, Gomez could emerge as an exciting replacement for the team's leading marksman.

---------------------------------------

There's a reason why I'm posting as you all know my opinion on the press ... and that's because it comes from Steve Stammers. This is the guy who broke the Reyes story, the Rosicky story, and the Eduardo story. He's typically on the case with the Arsenal and is reliable, so this sounds very promising.

Agreed, I think he used to do Wenger's programme notes.

He's mentioned the kid from Cardiff City and the centre back from Spain again as well, although from memory he wrote a few weeks ago that we were after Huntelaar rather than Gomez.

 

[Benno_900]

Gilberto has hinted that he wants to stay at Arsenal and Wenger stated previously that he doesn't want to force him to leave. If Bert stays, that Yaya story is bullshit as much as I'd want it to be true. Hopefully, we sign a couple of good wingers instead. Diaby is capable of being our new DM, not that convinced on Denilson, Diarra was certainly capable, but oh well, he was a ****.

Also, Bendtner's father says Nick will stay at Arsenal. I think he is referring to signing new strikers as 'unexpected' ...

Thomas Bendtner said: "I have heard about these offers from Germany but [my son] Nicklas will stay at Arsenal.

"The only way things could be different was if something unexpected should happen, such as him being moved totally outside of the team, but it is difficult to see that happening as he is playing right now."

 

[giantroo]

Gathering all the reports about us connected with players. Here is a list of the last few days

• Arsene Wenger is set to reignite his interest in Hamburg's £15million-rated defender Vincent Kompany.
• Arsenal have won the race to sign Lyon winger Hatem Ben Arfa.
• Arsenal are set to make a £10m swoop for Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez.
• Arsenal are ready to make an audacious bid for Atletico Madrid's Ignacio Camacho.
• Arsenal are weighing up a £1m deal for Manchester City captain Richard Dunne.
• Arsenal are lining up a ₤10 million bid for Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure, according to reports

 

[belfast_bomber]

[*]Arsenal are weighing up a £1m deal for Manchester City captain Richard Dunne.

Interesting choice of words.

Dunne is worth well over a million pounds to Citeh though I'd have thought.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Interesting choice of words.

Dunne is worth well over a million pounds to Citeh though I'd have thought.

Dunne would be a steal at that price. Surely that can't be right? He's one tough bastard is Richard Dunne.

 

[beatlesmith]

FFS Wenger, just get off your moral high horse and stop being stubborn. We need a gun who can make an instant impact on the team and improve our title chances, not some kid who will take time to develop and adjust. VILLA!!!! Grab Samir Nasri to replace flamini and yaya toure on standby if hleb leaves. Getting a gun striker like villa would allow van persie to play on the wing like he used to and perhaps fall in behind the strikers in a cristiano ronaldo esque tactic. Vincent Kompany sounds nice too, but is probs too similar to senderos

 

[Benno_900]

This thread almost slipped off the first page, anyway ...

Wenger - I hope to make signing within weeks
Sun, May 11, 2008, 3pm
By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger intends to start moulding his squad for next season straight away and is looking to bring in a new signing "in the next two or three weeks".

Arsenal ended their season on Sunday with a 1-0 win at Sunderland. It left them on 83 points, some 15 more than last season but still four adrift of champions Manchester United.

Wenger is adamant there is little wrong with his side and talks of making only "one or two" signings this summer. His intention is to seal the first deal sooner rather than later.

“I know what I want and I am very confident," he said. "I hope to turn that around in the next two or three weeks. But the fans should be re-assured by what they see."

Wenger's two major acquisitions last summer, Bacary Sagna and Eduardo, were new to English football. This time around, it seems he'd like someone who has already acclimatised.

“It would be better to buy someone who has played in England because they are less risky," said the manager. "But it costs more money if they are from the Premier League, so maybe I will try to do both."

 

[DonMania#5]

Ben Arfa Confirms Arsenal Talks

Lyon winger Hatem Ben Afra has confirmed that talks are underway over his potential move to Arsenal.

The French international, who has accumulated five caps for his country, has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium over the last week, and the winger has suggested that talks are ongoing.

"It is true that we have spoken about and to Arsenal, but we will see how it is going to happen," Ben Arfa told L’Equipe.

Whatever happens this summer, the twenty-two year old has stressed that he will only be playing for a club where he will be a regular first team player next season.

"If I stay at Lyon, it is to play. Wherever else I go, it will be to play,” added Ben Afra.

Ben Afra, who is valued at around £13 million, says that his immediate priority is the completion of the domestic season in France.

"The season is not over yet, two games are remaining (one in the league, followed by the Coupe de France final). Today I am at Lyon. We will see what tomorrow is made of. I try to give my maximum and to give everything when I am on the pitch," he concluded.

The left-sided player appeared in all eight of his team’s Champions League matches this season before their eventual exit to Manchester United in the round-of-sixteen.

 

[DB10]

This thread almost slipped off the first page

We can't allow that. We're probably one of the most active threads in all of BigFooty.

 

[Benno_900]

Ben Arfa Confirms Arsenal Talks

Lyon winger Hatem Ben Afra has confirmed that talks are underway over his potential move to Arsenal.

The French international, who has accumulated five caps for his country, has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium over the last week, and the winger has suggested that talks are ongoing.

"It is true that we have spoken about and to Arsenal, but we will see how it is going to happen," Ben Arfa told L’Equipe.

Whatever happens this summer, the twenty-two year old has stressed that he will only be playing for a club where he will be a regular first team player next season.

"If I stay at Lyon, it is to play. Wherever else I go, it will be to play,” added Ben Afra.

Ben Afra, who is valued at around £13 million, says that his immediate priority is the completion of the domestic season in France.

"The season is not over yet, two games are remaining (one in the league, followed by the Coupe de France final). Today I am at Lyon. We will see what tomorrow is made of. I try to give my maximum and to give everything when I am on the pitch," he concluded.

The left-sided player appeared in all eight of his team’s Champions League matches this season before their eventual exit to Manchester United in the round-of-sixteen.

13 mil is a bit high, but compared to Comacho's 15 mil, it's not so bad.

 

[Arsene Wenger]

DB10 and other informed gooners. COuple of questions...

- Is Ben Arfa getting a game at Lyon. I read he was not. How good is this bloke?
- Mario Gomez - Would he be a suitablle strike partner for Ade? (Again ive only heard and read about him) ?
- Surely we need a stopper. Linked with Vincent Kompany, who i remember watching couple years ago at Anderlech where he and Van Den Borre were touted as the next big things. How has he been going at Hamburg ?
- Skipper next year will be..... ( i think it should be Kolo)
- Surely a new keeper must be considered ... or will we stick with ALmunia
- WIll Hleb stay ? I get the feeling he wont?

 

[Benno_900]

DB10 and other informed gooners. COuple of questions...

- Is Ben Arfa getting a game at Lyon. I read he was not. How good is this bloke?
- Skipper next year will be..... ( i think it should be Kolo)
- Surely a new keeper must be considered ... or will we stick with ALmunia
- WIll Hleb stay ? I get the feeling he wont?

- At the moment, he is on the bench. Very highly rated, but I haven't seen much of him. Thought he was younger than 21 though because I had never heard of him before this season tbh.

- Definitely Kolo. I would've given it to Flamini if he wasn't thinking of leaving. Bert tends to play well with the responsibility of captain (could reignite his career?).

- I think we need a new keeper as well, don't rate Almunia. He is a 'safe' keeper but nothing more. Doubt we'll sign another one, maybe just a no-name 3rd choice keeper.

- I don't think they can invoke the Webster's clause with its long process and G14 agreement so he may be forced to stay unless Inter are willing to cough up 15 mil (probably are).

Wenger says he'll stay though his manager says Hleb has his heart set on leaving Arsenal, not seen any confirmation/denial from Alex himself (Wenger called this 'fishing' for pricey bids). Many gooner fans want him gone as he did see Inter secretly during our trip to Milan apparently so I will be surprised if he stays.

 

[Latro]

On Helb if he does want to buy out his contract he has to do it within 2 weeks of our last game I think. Not sure on exactly how long but am about 90% sure it is 2 weeks. If we challenge it which we would it can go all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and can take up to 2 months.

 

[Latro]

AGENT: HLEB COULD MOVE IN 10 DAYS
Alexander Hleb would not resort to buying out his Arsenal contract but could still be set for a summer move away from the Emirates Stadium, according to the player's agent.
The future of the Belarus winger has been the subject of much speculation ever since reports emerged of secret talks with Inter Milan, allegedly held while he was in the Italian city ahead of Arsenal's Champions League game against rivals AC Milan at the San Siro.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was less than impressed by public comments which followed from the Serie A club expressing thier interest in a player under contract, and even went as far as threatening to report them to FIFA.
Hleb's agent Nikolai Shpilevski last week added further fuel to the flames, claiming his client was "leaving Arsenal - there's no way back now".
However, Wenger had warned any player who was contemplating the termination of their contract under the 'Webster clause' that the process was not as straightforward as it had been made out, with the risk of being banned while the dispute was resolved through arbitration.
Yet it appears Hleb, signed from Stuttgart in June 2005 in a £12million deal, is considering his options.
The 27-year-old - who missed the final three games of the Premier League through suspension - admits he is "not a big city man", and may be looking for a move for other than footballing reasons.
With Wenger keen to get his squad shaped for the new campaign as quickly as possible - having already seen midfielder Mathieu Flamini walk away to join AC Milan on a free transfer - the situation is likely to be resolved sooner rather than later.
However, any transfer would, according to Hleb's representative, be conducted in the usual manner.
Shpilevski told Russian website sports.ru: "Alexander understands perfectly well that he plays for a great team, but the moment has come where he needs to make a choice.
"Hleb has been playing in London for three years now and isn't sure whether in the future he can show the level of talent that he is showing currently.
"I can only confirm that some of the world's biggest clubs are interested in him.
"In any case I can say simply that Alexander will not buy out the remaining part of his five-year contract for a fixed sum of his sale.
"Hleb is a gentleman and will not stoop to that level. Everything will be done properly.
"I am sure that the situation surrounding this issue will finally be resolved in the next 10 days."
Shpilevski added: "There are no problems with regard to his playing opportunities.
"Alexander is just tired of the noisy and chaotic life in the British capital and feels like living in calmer surroundings."
In a separate interview with Belarus newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, Shpilevski stressed: "If any clubs want to add Hleb to their ranks then they should hold talks with Arsenal.
"Nobody is hiding the fact that a player of Hleb's class is of interest to all teams, including Barcelona and Real (Madrid).
"But the subject of a transfer to Inter has been going round and round for over for a year now. It's a normal occurrence."
While Hleb refused to be drawn on his own future, the Belarus winger revealed one potential reason why he may be thinking about a move.
"I am not a big city man, I need my retreat - that is why I am often in Germany. Stuttgart is my second home, my friends are there and it is where I feel most comfortable," Hleb told German website transfermarkt.de.
Hleb, though, noted: "There is a lot of speculation about me, and I will not be making statements on this and stirring it up further."
The former Stuttgart midfielder added he "owed a lot" to the faith of Arsenal manager Wenger.
Hleb said: "It was not bad for me personally over the last season and I have got quite a lot of praise - but I am very tough on myself, there is always something to improve.
"If you think you have satisfied everything, that is your first mistake.
"But I do not make public my errors - my strengths and weaknesses are for others to judge."

 

[moomba]

Interesting choice of words.

Dunne is worth well over a million pounds to Citeh though I'd have thought.

I'm a bit unsure of the rules, but it would involve him buying out the remainder of his contract (with Arsenal presumably giving him the money for it), and him leaving on a free.

Definately not in our interests for that to happen, although if he was to leave I would love to see him at Arsenal.

 

[Latro]

I'm a bit unsure of the rules, but it would involve him buying out the remainder of his contract (with Arsenal presumably giving him the money for it), and him leaving on a free.

Definately not in our interests for that to happen, although if he was to leave I would love to see him at Arsenal.

This is from Wikipedia so it may or may not be accurate:

"This ruling in fact has established an addendum to Article 17 allowing a player who is between the ages of 23 and 28 to move in the final year of a four or five year contract provided he hands in a request to the club no more than 15 days after the end of the previous season. The club would be entitled to compensation, but only equalling the amount of the final year's wages as per the contract. In most cases that would be far less than an agreed transfer fee. In addition, the player would have to move to a club that was not in the same association as his current club. Players who are older then 28 are only required to fulfill two years on a contract no matter the length of the contract. At such a point they can opt out of the rest of their contract by paying the remainder owed to them to the club they are under contract to."

So I guess no more 5 year contracts for players under 28.

 

[DonMania#5]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...d-as-arsenal-close-in-on-ben-arfa-827572.html
By all reports the deal is done, just waiting for Lyon's final 2 games for the official announcement.

Also, apparently we have made a $10m bid for Bastian Schweinsteiger. Would be a great signing, very talented player, just not in form at Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, can't see it happening.

 

[Benno_900]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...d-as-arsenal-close-in-on-ben-arfa-827572.html
By all reports the deal is done, just waiting for Lyon's final 2 games for the official announcement.

If that is the case, then that pretty much confirms that Hleb is gone.

Can't just be replacing our players though, need some quality additions.

How much would Jaaskelainen be worth? Good replacement for Lehmann, could arguably be our first keeper, even Sorensen wouldn't be bad as backup. Although Wenger probably wants Fabianski to be our second choice keeper.

 

[giantroo]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...d-as-arsenal-close-in-on-ben-arfa-827572.html
By all reports the deal is done, just waiting for Lyon's final 2 games for the official announcement.

Also, apparently we have made a $10m bid for Bastian Schweinsteiger. Would be a great signing, very talented player, just not in form at Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, can't see it happening.

If true then welcome aboard.

Bayern is one of my favs and also rate Podolski from there too.
Would love Bastian at our club. Has some wonder strikes in his possesion and something that he ,Fab and Diaby can rip from the midfield.

 

[Knowledge]

didn't make it but thought it ws funny.

 

[Benno_900]

We've been linked with Niko Kranjcar and Le Man's Gervinho. Anyone seen Gervinho play?

Le Mans star flattered by Wenger
By Valer St Clair

Le Mans forward Gervinho has admitted he is flattered to be linked with a move to Arsenal.

The 20-year-old has been tracked by Arsene Wenger since his days in Ivory Coast and then at Belgian club Beveren - who had a co-operation agreement with Arsenal from 2001 to 2006.

Gervinho only moved to France last year but he has already become one of Le Mans' top performers and he is now attracting interest from some of Ligue 1's big hitters in the shape of Monaco, Marseille and Paris Saint Germain.

Arsenal were believed to have made the player an offer before he joined Le Mans and are now considering a renewed bid for the youngster - who is tipped for big things by compatriot Didier Drogba.

"If he is lucky with injuries, in the next two years he could be at the same level as Ronaldo, Messi, Nani - those top young players, he is so good," said Drogba.

Arsenal are no strangers to hiring Ivorian and Gervinho - who made his international debut at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year - is attracted by the possibility of a move to North London, where compatriots Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue already play, but he is not ruling out the possibility of remaining with Le Mans.

"To play for Arsenal would be fantastic," he said.

"Arsene Wenger is the best coach in the world, however I am fine in Le Mans and I am learning my football here.

"I am getting help from everyone and I am happy here and at the moment I still need to learn a lot - but things can change very quickly."

 

[giantroo]

Adebayor - I love Arsenal and I will be here next season

Reports in Spain on Wednesday linked Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor with a move to Barcelona. Here’s his response:

“I don’t know why people want to put words in my mouth. As I said on Friday, I love Arsenal and I will be here next season.

"I am off to Togo tomorrow but will return to Arsenal for pre-season training in July.”