Arsenal FC @ Emirates All Gunner fans fall in

[chatlovers]

Wenger is dissappointing as ever... No quality purchase and mere 1 week remaining before next season kick-in.

I am sure Arsenal fans will be dissappointed. Plus they will be playing Udinese in Champions League qualifying... which by no means is easy tie.

Had they played well over the end of last season then this wouldn't have been the case.

I truly wish Arsene will buy players of the quality or else let them get kicked out of champions league as well. That will leave Fabregas and Nasri no option to stay.

I am sad. Every day I read with hope but it same old story...


I will be betting against my heart for Arsenal to loose first five games... (1 x 2 and 1/2 bet at Singapore pools) 3 EPL and 2 champs league games.

[Naka_Timo]

I believe will be the same old arsenal this season, full of shit and crap by arsene wenger. I think it time he goes.

[beloving]

Gunner till i die. Reporting in!

[kiko]

Arsenal to complete £12 million signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton.

As well as Oxlade-Chamberlain, they are close to signing Joel Campbell as a replacement for Nicklas Bendtner, while Arsene Wenger remains determined to add one more centre-back.

The need for a new defender has been further heightened by injuries during their final pre-season friendly of the summer against Benfica on Saturday to both Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen.

Gibbs suffered a thigh strain and so is likely to miss the first game of the season on Saturday against Newcastle but Vermaelen is hoping to be available after coming off as a precaution with back pain. Vermaelen may be asked to play left-back against Newcastle if, as expected, Gibbs is ruled out, although there is also the option of Armand Traore.

Negotiations for Chamberlain, who will be 18 next Monday, have been protracted, with Southampton understood to have been holding out for a sell-on fee of around 40 per cent. However, further talks have resulted in agreement being neared on a deal that would involve Arsenal paying around £7 million up front and then a further £5 million dependent on various performance-related add-ons.

Barring any late hitch between Arsenal and Southampton, the deal should be completed this week, with personal terms expected to be a formality.

[kiko]

Nasri set for City after bust-up with Wenger

Samir Nasri could be flogged by Arsenal after an apparent row with manager Arsene Wenger. Manchester City are willing to pay £22m for the French midfielder, says the Mirror. The redtop claims he was left “brooding” at home on yesterday as the team flew to Portugal for today’s friendly against Benfica. Hmmm.

The paper reports that Manchester City are waiting in the wings with a £22million bid for Nasri after a clash between him and Wenger on the club’s flight back from a pre-season tour of Asia last week.

It adds that relations between the pair, as a result, are said to be at an all-time low. And with City ready to make a move, Nasri’s time at Arsenal could finally be coming to an end before the transfer window closes.

He will only be allowed to leave, however, once AW ties up a deal for Valencia midfielder Juan Mata.

The Mail, meanwhile, claims that Cesc Fabregas is set to miss the start of the new season – whether he joins Barcelona or not. Fabregas was left behind on Friday for the trip to Portugal.

And after Barcelona’s latest offer, worth £35million, was rejected, AW said: “I don’t think Fabregas will be ready to start the season because he has been out for a long time and has had no games. I do not want to speak about the transfer because I have done that for three years now in every press conference so I don’t think there is any need to add something.”

The Sun says AW has conceded we cannot afford any more injuries and hopes to make a least one more signing next week. He said: “I would have preferred to finish in the transfer market but it does not work like that. We have had some sleepless nights and we were working non-stop through the summer.

“The injuries are making things difficult. We start the season next week and then we have a Champions League qualifier. We need to qualify and hopefully we won’t have any more injuries from the international matches. We could be hit hard if we lose any more.

Of the other walking wounded he added: “Nasri is out with an ankle problem. It is difficult to give Theo a deadline. He might be back for the start of the season. Koscielny has a muscle problem but it is not too serious. I am not sure about Jack and his ankle problem.”

[arsenal_84]

i'm still waiting for news of a tough center back
would be great if it was someone left-footed since the only 2 left-footers in the back four are out injured...

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...n-mata?cc=4716

Wenger: No Jadson or Mata bids
August 13, 2011

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal r "nowhere near" a deal 2 sign Jadson fr Shakhtar Donetsk & ruled out a move 4 Valencia's Juan Mata.

Reports hv claimed Arsenal r close 2 a deal 4 Brazilian playmaker Jadson, with the player having fuelled speculation when he recently claimed there should be "some news 4 every1 @ the start of next week".

However, Wenger denies he will be heading 2 Emirates Stadium. "We r nowhere near on Jadson," he said. "We r not talking 2 Shakhtar abt him."

Spain international Juan Mata was thought 2 be another target, but there were claims tat Arsenal failed 2 complete the deal b4 the expiry of a release clause in his contract & Wenger has now said he will not be joining the club.

"We will not do [a deal for] Juan Mata," Wenger said. "I don't hv 2 give a reason. We will not do it."

Arsenal hv already moved 2 bring in Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain & Carl Jenkinson, but Wenger suggested he has struggled 2 find the necessary value in other targets.

"We hv 2 markets: 1 is internal & 1 is external. Internal is the young players tat we hv - players who r inside the club r very important. Externally, if I'm convinced a player brings some extra qualities 2 the squad, we will always buy him - maybe even overpay a little bit - but 2 pay 3 or 4 times the price, you must really be convinced tat tis is the player u need. At the moment, we hv not found tat player."

Wenger told German publication Kicker on Thursday tat he is happy with his options in central defence & he has now suggested tat the return of Thomas Vermaelen will be equivalent 2 buying a new player.

"We will hv a new centre-back by the end of the transfer window - becos Vermaelen only played 5 games last year," he said. "2 buy just 4 the sake of buying, you won't find me there. If I'm convinced the player has the qualities, I will always do it if he's better than the players we hv. We hv specialised ppl 2 work everywhere. Everybody looks 4 centre-backs in the whole world. People with unlimited resources look 4 a centre-back. We r not in a supermarket where you go 2 a shelf & you ask 'Where r the centre-backs or the strikers?'"

Wenger also explained the delay in offloading players tis summer, with the Cesc Fabregas & Samir Nasri sagas threatening 2 overshadow the start of the season.

"The pace of the negotiations is set by ppl who 1 2 buy," Wenger said. "By how much you resist, 2 how much you defend your own property. Tat is logical. If I didn't do tat I would be unprofessional."

Wenger remains adamant tat Arsenal can succeed tis season & urged fans 2 ignore the media criticism.

"I don't listen 2 wat ppl say. What I 1 is 4 our fans 2 appreciate our team & 2 support our team," he said. "If our fans go the way the media 1 them 2 go we hv no chance. The ppl behind me & around the press box do not necessarily represent the majority of the fans. They r the 1s you [journalists] hear the most but aren't necessarily the majority. They make your opinion maybe but they aren't necessarily the opinion."

[arsenal_84]

there goes another season...
i'm not optimistic at all.

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...rsenal?cc=4716

Shakhtar: Jadson wanted by Arsenal
August 14, 2011

Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Mircea Lucescu claims Arsenal 1 Brazil international midfielder Jadson.

The Gunners hv been tipped 2 move 4 the 27-year-old with midfielders Cesc Fabregas & Samir Nasri expected 2 leave. Valencia's Juan Mata is another player linked with an arrival @ Arsenal.

Jadson's name was mentioned 2 Arsene Wenger recently, but he was dismissive of the speculation while not exactly ruling out the deal.

"I can confirm Jadson is wanted by Arsenal," said Lucescu. "Now it all depends on him." The deal would be expected 2 progress 1s both Fabregas & Nasri r shipped out of the Emirates.


http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...r-club?cc=4716

Wenger fears Arsenal are feeder club
August 14, 2011

Arsene Wenger has expressed his fear tat Arsenal r becoming a club tat nurtures top class talent 4 their rivals 2 cherry-pick when the Gunners' star players reach their prime.

Wenger has carved out a reputation 4 spotting teenage footballing talent, moulding them in2 some of the best players in Europe.

The Arsenal boss did it with the likes of Patrick Vieira & Thierry Henry, & now more recently with Cesc Fabregas & Samir Nasri. Wenger has always previously spoken of how he is building 4 Arsenal's future, promising during times of frustration tat the club would reap the rewards when his batch of youngsters finally reach their peak.

However, both Fabregas & Nasri r now @ stages in their career when they would be considered 2 be entering their footballing primes, yet it appears Arsenal will not be the 1s 2 benefit. Barcelona expect 2 sign Fabregas imminently, while Nasri has had his head turned by the interest of ManC.

Asked if he was scared tat Arsenal were becoming a breeding ground 4 players tat move on 2 the Gunners' rivals 4 trophies, Wenger responded: "Yes we r concerned by tat.

"When you take players who r 16 or 17 years old & play them in the Premier League, you need 2 be brave. But you do it becos they deserve it & secondly becos you hope the club will be rewarded when these players r 23 or 24, & r in a position 2 deliver. "So it is a concern."

The Arsenal manager, who has not delivered a trophy since 2005, did promise the club's fans tat he is not scared 2 spend big money, but he reiterated his belief tat there is little value 4 money out there.

"We hv a big squad, a very big squad, & if players leave we try 2 bring players in," Wenger said. "But we request top quality. We r not scared 2 spend big money, don't worry. But we 1 2 know wat we get 4 it."

Asked 4 an update on the status of both Fabregas & Nasri, Wenger replied: "We r on both fronts in no-man's land. Things can change quickly, but right now they r players of Arsenal Football Club."

[Naka_Timo]

I hope not talk only, a lot have been talk, but nothing happen yet.

[waiwaiz]

disappointing arsenal...........of coz everyone wanna move on.this is not an ambitious club any more....don think they can beat Udinese tonite too.

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-shine?cc=4716

Fabregas tips Wilshere, Ramsey to shine
August 16, 2011

Cesc Fabregas has assured Arsenal fans tat their club's future is in safe hands, becos they hv Jack Wilshere & Aaron Ramsey 2 heal the pain of his switch 2 Barcelona.

Fabregas sealed his dream return 2 the European champions on Monday in a deal worth an initial £25 million. He immediately launched a spirited defence of former boss Arsene Wenger, saying he is the only man 2 take Arsenal forward.

Wenger has come under fire 4 failing 2 spend big money on improving Arsenal's squad, with perceived defensive problems fr last season still 2 be addressed.

The current mood around Emirates Stadium is certainly not 1 of optimism, but Fabregas insisted they hv 2 young Brits who can lead the Gunners in2 a new era. Wilshere, in Fabregas' eyes, will become England's most important player, & he put Ramsey on a similar platform.

"I've seen Aaron for 3 years & Jack for 2-&-a-half years. Jack will be the next England captain in a few years, tat's not even a question," Fabregas stated.

"You don't hv 2 be a magician 2 know tat he's got the capacity 2 dribble, 2 pass, he will go on 2 become a top player of the future. There's not even a question abt tat.

"Aaron has done unbelievable & he will get better with his final ball. He'll become the next big star @ Arsenal. Jack & Aaron r the future, & they will do so well becos they r competitive & they r winners. They will be amazing 4 the club."

Arsenal r currently preparing 4 Tuesday's Champions League qualifier with Udinese, but they hv a disciplinary issue surrounding Alex Song hanging over them. The midfielder has until 6pm on Tuesday 2 answer a charge of violent conduct, aft he allegedly stamped on Joey Barton.

[loverboy789]

Very little reasons to be optimistic this season. The team has faltered since end of last season, and has continued into this season, judging on the performances at Newcastle and Udinese.

Wenger has not inspired confidence to supporters in his recent speeches. The squad may be big, but are full of youngsters and deadwoods.

Wenger's project (brooding youngsters to be world class) of the last 5 years has really move the team backward. Of course not helped by the fact of free-spending Man City and Chelsea.

He used to pick up excellent players at cheap prices, and I wonder how he miss out on Suarez, Van Der Vaart, Kompany, etc

His regular sentences of not adding to his squad unless he can find someone better is really an insult to other players while unnecessarily boosting the egos of a group of underachieving players.

Make no mistakes, I respect Wenger greatly for what he has achieved at Arsenal. This coming from a close to 30 years supporter. But maybe, the time has come for a change. Good things don't last forever.

[EuropeAlliance]

This season Arsenal Team looks bad, plus the result today says it all

[loverboy789]

A problem will never be solved if you didn't acknowledged it in the first place.

Wenger has "unfortunately" fallen into a comfort zone at Arsenal and refuse to acknowledge the obvious problems creeping into the team.

The best thing to do now for hardcore supporter:

Relax and not pay too much attention! If possible, don't watch them play. Give yourselves a break from Arsenal and watch Barcelona for a while.