Arsenal FC 2010/11

[Tony Adams]

Just startin a thread for this season (saying it now, if you dont care then just dont read nor post on this thread)

[Tony Adams]

Arsenal Skipper Cesc Fabregas Could Hand In Transfer Request To Push Through With Move To Barcelona


Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is believed to be intent on making a move to Barcelona during the current transfer window.

The World Cup winning midfielder has for long maintained that he would only join his boyhood club Barca if he should leave the Emirates.

And with the Catalan club coming calling with a lure to join the ranks at Camp Nou, it has been reported that the Spain international desires a move to join the 2009 Champions League winners.

However, the Gunners' boss Arsene Wenger recently insisted that the 23-year-old would remain the north London club for the forthcoming campaign.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2 ... er-request
Now The Daily Mail has reported that the talented midfielder could hand in an official transfer request to ensure that he makes a move to the Spanish side.

In the meantime, striker Eduardo is believed to have completed a medical at the club's training ground to satisfy Shakhtar Donetsk that he has recovered from the ankle injury sustained in 2008.

[Tony Adams]

Comment: Forget Joe Cole - In Jack Wilshere, Arsenal Have England's Finest Young Talent

So, was Joe Cole's decision to sign for Liverpool for £90,000 a week a slap in the face for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, or a blessing in disguise?

Seven weeks ago, as England prepared to head for South Africa with what turned out to be wholly misplaced optimism, it emerged that Cole, a free agent released by Chelsea, had agreed in principle to join the Gunners after the World Cup.

The deal, involving a basic wage of £80,000 per week, laden with incentives, was said to be dependent on Cole being able to pass a stringent medical examination to prove his recently suspect long-term fitness.

It seemed a bold if somewhat uncharacteristic move by Arsenal, not just because Islington-born Cole would represent the ultimate local addition to an Arsenal squad routinely criticised for its overseas orientation. And the news that he could soon become a Gunner served to raise spirits among Arsenal fans for whom the injury of falling short of major honours once again had been aggravated by the insult of Barcelona publicly tapping up their inspirational captain, Cesc Fabregas.

If Fabregas was heading out, at least Cole, a big name with trophy-winning experience, was coming in.

Football fans everywhere are adept at rationalising developments at their club, putting a positive spin on every new situation. It's happening now at Anfield, where confirmation that Cole will be a Red rather than a Gunner has seen a procession of Anfield legends suddenly declaring that the former West Ham United prodigy is the perfect fit for a team desperate to rehabilitate itself after last season's fall from grace. Never mind that a club whose financial problems have dominated the headlines for so long has somehow worked out a way of affording £90,000 a week plus, presumably, lucrative bonuses.

But while Liverpool bask in the feel-good factor that big-name signings tend to evoke, at least initially, should Arsenal fans be weeping into their beer? Leaving aside that the Fabregas saga remains unresolved - though Barca's unwillingness or inability to put their money where their rather loud mouths are is tipping the odds in favour of his remaining at the Emirates - did Arsenal ever actually need Joe Cole?

A top class goalkeeper, yes. A strong, mobile central defender, yes. A striker able to complement Robin van Persie on a consistent basis, certainly. A ball-winning defensive midfielder to provide cover for Alex Song, yes. But another diminutive attacking midfielder? Hardly.

The similarities, physically and creatively, between Joe Cole and the likes of Andrey Arshavin, Samir Nasri and Tomas Rosicky are obvious. But most tellingly, Arsenal already have in their ranks a prodigious young talent to whom every Gooner would love to see Wenger give an extended run in the team this coming season: Jack Wilshere.

Ten years Cole's junior, imbued in the Arsenal way since he was nine, and so talented that Fabio Capello's reaction to England's summer meltdown was to cite him as one of the keys to the Three Lions' brave new world, Wilshere promises to be everything that Cole has been - and then some. And surely Joe's arrival at the Emirates this summer would only have been an obstacle to Jack's progress?

Wilshere undoubtedly has all the skill, vision and inventiveness that the young Cole possessed. Crucially too, he appears to have the strength, both physical and mental, to cut it at the highest level. His loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in the second half of last season was an excellent test of both that strength and Wilshere‘s temperament. He passed with flying colours. Trotters’ boss Owen Coyle hardly stopped eulogising about Jack’s contribution and potential, and has repeatedly stated his desire to take Wilshere on loan again, ideally for the whole of this season.

Had Cole arrived at the Emirates, Wenger might well have granted Coyle his wish; and that might have loosened the player’s long-term commitment to his parent club; repeated loan spells tend to do that.

Yet at the weekend there was further evidence of how important Wilshere can be to Arsenal’s cause this season. Admittedly Barnet in a pre-season friendly is not the ultimate challenge, but Wilshere showed again that he is ready for the step up to Wenger’s first XI.

His composure on the ball, eye for a killer pass and instinctive air of authority in assuming creative responsibilities within the team produced two impressive assists in Arsenal’s 4-0 win. Wilshere creates space and exploits it to telling effect. He also has a good eye for goal. His performance confirmed that the promise which made him Arsenal’s youngest-ever League player is being fulfilled at an exciting rate.

The Joe Cole-to-Arsenal saga is now history. But Jack Wilshere is Arsenal’s future. And his path into the Gunners’ first-team on a regular basis just became smoother with Cole’s decision to head out of London.

[Tony Adams]

Andrey Arshavin: Everything Is Going To Plan In Arsenal's Pre-Season

Arsenal forward Andrey Arsahvin netted after two minutes of the Gunners' weekend friendly with Barnet, and the Russian was delighted to be back in action after a summer lay-off.

Arsene Wenger's side won the game at Underhill 4-0, Samir Nasri and Jay Simpson - with two - accompanying him on the scoresheet.

The Russian was pleased to be back in the thick of things so quickly.

"This time I was a bit in a rush," he joked, speaking to his personal official website.

"Probably because I missed football, I opened the scoring in the second minute."

Arshavin was also pleased with the way the game as a whole had gone, with pre-season seemingly going well for the Gunners.

He added: "Yes, everything is OK. Everything is according to the plan."

[Tony Adams]

Arsenal To Return With An £18M Bid For Everton Defender Phil Jagielka

The Gunners were recently believed to have had a bid of £14m turned down, and The Daily Star claims that they are ready to return to Goodison Park with an improved offer for the former Sheffield United man.

The north London club recently signed defender Laurent Koscielny, but the non-committal nature of Sol Campbell coupled with the departures of William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre are believed to have left manager Arsene Wenger in the hunt to sign another defender.

Toffees' boss David Moyes is thought to be keen to hold on to the player, but it has been speculated that the lure of Champions League football could prove difficult to resist for Jagielka.

[Bomber]

They'll lose their opening fixture.

[ozzie owl]

Be interesting to see if Wenger does give Wilshire an extended run this season. Wengers track record on using academy players long term is not good.

[BTAC]

You Gunners had better hope you don't lose Cesc. Would be a majour blow.
Should be a great opening game, but unfortunately for you guys, Bomber is right

[delfino_1936]

Cesc will stay for another year, i can guarentee it

[ForzaChievo]

Hopefully Wenger changes his mind & keeps Simpson.

[BTAC]

Cesc will stay for another year, i can guarentee it

Whatever helps ya sleep at night

[Chaos]

Cesc will stay for another year, i can guarentee it

Whatever helps ya sleep at night

With a muppet like that as youre sig. Should u be commenting on affairs at another club
Get Agger back up there Or even Cole now

[BTAC]

Cesc will stay for another year, i can guarentee it

Whatever helps ya sleep at night

With a muppet like that as youre sig. Should u be commenting on affairs at another club
Get Agger back up there Or even Cole now

Wow, as excited as I was about us signing Cole, I didn't even think to have him as my sig...Silly me. Kudos for the help!
Actually I'll wait..Can't find any decent pics yet of him with Liverpool. Guess you'll have to put up with Aquilani for a little longer.

[The Kop]

Cesc will stay for another year, i can guarentee it

I agree. Cesc will stay, but leave next season if its another trophyless season at Emirates.

[Chaos]

With a muppet like that as youre sig. Should u be commenting on affairs at another club
Get Agger back up there Or even Cole now [/quote]

Wow, as excited as I was about us signing Cole, I didn't even think to have him as my sig...Silly me. Kudos for the help!
Actually I'll wait..Can't find any decent pics yet of him with Liverpool. Guess you'll have to put up with Aquilani for a little longer. [/quote]

Nice one

[Loppermann]

Cesc will stay for another year, i can guarentee it

Whatever helps ya sleep at night

how about a signature bet that Fabregas will still be at Arsenal by the time the northern hemisphere summer transfer window closes?
if Fabregas goes, I keep whatever you want in my signature until the end of the 2010/2011 season
if Fabregas stays, you keep whatever I want in your signature until the end of the 2010/2011 season

[BTAC]

Cesc will stay for another year, i can guarentee it

Whatever helps ya sleep at night

how about a signature bet that Fabregas will still be at Arsenal by the time the northern hemisphere summer transfer window closes?
if Fabregas goes, I keep whatever you want in my signature until the end of the 2010/2011 season
if Fabregas stays, you keep whatever I want in your signature until the end of the 2010/2011 season

Fabregas will stay. I'm aware of it. It was just a bit of banter.

[Loppermann]

Fabregas will stay. I'm aware of it. It was just a bit of banter.

exposed
I win

[Nice One Cyril]

Fabregas will stay. I'm aware of it. It was just a bit of banter.

exposed
I win

You've already won more than Arsenal will

[Loppermann]

Fabregas will stay. I'm aware of it. It was just a bit of banter.

exposed
I win

You've already won more than Arsenal will

remind me who you support?

[The Kop]

So do you support Arsenal or not?

[Nice One Cyril]

So do you support Arsenal or not?

I assume that your question is directed at Loppermann, who obviously supports the Woolwich Wanderers.

There is, of course, only one team that belongs in North London, and they get my vote

[Loppermann]

So do you support Arsenal or not?

I assume that your question is directed at Loppermann, who obviously supports the Woolwich Wanderers.

There is, of course, only one team that belongs in North London, and they get my vote

so you're an Arsenal fan then?

[Nice One Cyril]

So do you support Arsenal or not?

I assume that your question is directed at Loppermann, who obviously supports the Woolwich Wanderers.

There is, of course, only one team that belongs in North London, and they get my vote

so you're an Arsenal fan then?

Get a map, or these days use GPS, and check out where Woolwich is. Although, tbh I doubt you could find your arse with both hands.

[Loppermann]

Get a map, or these days use GPS, and check out where Woolwich is. Although, tbh I doubt you could find your muscat with both hands.

based on success, there are few that would doubt that only one team belongs in North London... and it ain't the yids

[Chaos]

Bye bye Eduardo....
6mil pounds to Shakthar.
All the best

[Nice One Cyril]

Get a map, or these days use GPS, and check out where Woolwich is. Although, tbh I doubt you could find your muscat with both hands.

based on success, there are few that would doubt that only one team belongs in North London... and it ain't the yids

Success or otherwise has no bearing on where you belong. Your mob are a bunch of South London gypsies.

[Loppermann]

Get a map, or these days use GPS, and check out where Woolwich is. Although, tbh I doubt you could find your muscat with both hands.

based on success, there are few that would doubt that only one team belongs in North London... and it ain't the yids

Success or otherwise has no bearing on where you belong. Your mob are a bunch of South London gypsies.

my mob aren't even from London
defensive yid is defensive
just because someone laughs at you doesn't mean they're a gooner... you're a pretty universal laughing stock

[Loppermann]

Get a map, or these days use GPS, and check out where Woolwich is. Although, tbh I doubt you could find your muscat with both hands.

based on success, there are few that would doubt that only one team belongs in North London... and it ain't the yids

Success or otherwise has no bearing on where you belong. Your mob are a bunch of South London gypsies.

also, by that logic, the next prime minister should be decided by whose ancestry first appeared in Australia

[Tony Adams]

looking forward to this season, although really need a conclusion to the goalkeeper and cesc sagas!

providing we sign schwarzer and keep cesc i like our squad and back ups

atm imo our line ups should look like this

--------------schwarzer------------------

sagna---koscielny-vermealen---clichy

------------------song---------------------

-----------cesc----------nasri------------

arshavin-------------------------van persie

-----------------chamakh------------------


and 2nd line up

-----------------mannone----------------

eboue---djouoru-nordtviet----gibbs

-----------------denilson-----------------

----------rosicky-------wilshere--------

walcott------------------------------vela

-----------------bendtner----------------


this is going by ramsey taking the year to recover, as well as leaving us with the likes of traore, diaby,eastmond, simpson, szecsney, j.e.t as third choice players. wouldnt be suprised to see lansbury, cruise and afobe see a fair amount of action as well