Arsenal FC 2009/2010

[barbarez01]

transfer period rumour mill is in overtime
now it bentner + 10m pounds for ribery
if only..................

no chance. Bendtner is not even worth 2 mil..

[Tony Adams]

i agree

mayb bendtner + 15m + mayb say gallas

[# 9]

transfer period rumour mill is in overtime
now it bentner + 10m pounds for ribery
if only..................

no chance. Bendtner is not even worth 2 mil..

bullshit, hes worth like 8mil.

[delfino_1936]

'I think we could have won this game today'


On the performance...
“I believe we had a nervy start and at 1-0 we didn’t have enough control of the game. We had played a bit too deep in midfield, and in the second half we played higher up. Straight away we got more control, and I think we could have won this game today. It is very disappointing because we showed great spirit, strength, and commitment but missed that thing that can make the difference when you have 10 men. It was difficult."

On Adebayor's red card...
“It was very soft. Today was Be A Gooner, Be A Giver, but you cannot say the referee was a Gooner, he was a giver, giving yellow cards that we didn’t deserve. Every week when we play away from home, we are told people get in our faces and we cant cope.

“I should show you our players after some games we play away from home; it is a joke. Neither of the bookings were justified. It is just an unbelievable decision; if Adebayor goes off, then [Robbie] Keane has to go off in the first minute. It seems we have different rules. The decision cost us two-points today, and I do not agree with it all.”

On the title race...
“The title is won in May and we are only in December. We will fight until the end, because I am convinced that Liverpool will drop more points. They have had four draws at home, so why should they not drop more in the second part of the season.”

On Fabregas' injury...
“It is a medial knee ligament problem. I don’t know [how long he will be out], it is difficult to assess. Of course it is a blow, you don’t want to lose a payer like that but we have to cope with it.”

On the goal that his side conceded...
“I am not happy because it is the second time we have conceded one like that [ball over the top]; we had the same against Aston Villa. We need to correct that, but I think even with 10 men we were solid defensively. On that front I am happy that we have improved compared to one or two months ago.”

On the rumours surrounding Vela going out on loan, or Tevez and Arshavin coming in...
“No, no, and no.”

On Liverpool's cautious approach after the red card...
“I don’t know if they run out of resources, or maybe they were scared they might be caught out on the break. Only they can tell you, but I saw one or two had cramp on the pitch. We had a few breaks and you could smell danger, so I think Liverpool became cautious.”

[barbarez01]

transfer period rumour mill is in overtime
now it bentner + 10m pounds for ribery
if only..................

no chance. Bendtner is not even worth 2 mil..

Barossa Pearl, hes worth like 8mil.

what so we can sign Ribery for 18 mil pounds?? when Bayern signed him for more than that...

[Tony Adams]

bayern paid 20mil euro, not 100% the exchange rate but 18mil pound is more like just over 19 mil euro
bendtner aint worth 8, 5 mayb
considering podolski is leaving they could use a striker and i think bendtner would b a good fit for the and the bundesliga
BUT they rely on him almost like we do cesc and i doubt they'll go for any less then 30mil euros

is just a rumour anyway and wont happen wenger should have signed him when he had the chance (imagine that + we held onto flamoney)

[delfino_1936]

Rating and slating the starters in Sunday's big game...

ARSENAL

Manuel Almunia
In truth, and annoyingly for Liverpool, he didn't have a great deal to do. Had no chance with the goal, but dealt with the other three (largely innocuous) shots on goal with relative ease.
Rating: 6

Bacary Sagna
Showed some good moments going forward, and dealt with first Albert Riera then the ineffective Ryan Babel well. A solid showing.
Rating: 7

Gael Clichy
Not one of his best games (some simple positioning errors nearly cost Arsenal), but he is still comfortably Arsenal's best defender.
Rating: 6

Johan Djourou
Djourou has the potential to become a good centre-half, but he must eliminate elementary positioning errors from his game. Keane was very sharp for Liverpool's goal, but he was afforded plenty of space by the flat-footed Swiss defender's slowness off the mark, allowing Dan Agger's punt/pass to sail over his head. Youthful naivety will not be an acceptable excuse for long.
Rating: 6

William Gallas
Solid enough. Came up with a couple of excellent saving tackles and none of the shaky moments of recent weeks.
Rating: 7

Denilson
The second half was a chance to prove his position is in the centre of the park, rather than on the flanks, but he didn't do an awful lot to impress Arsene Wenger in that 45 minutes. However, depending on how long Cesc Fabregas will be out for, he may get an extended run in his favoured spot.
Rating: 6

Alex Song
Rather good. After Adeabayor's dismissal, Arsenal closed down and harried and pressed like they rarely have in recent times, and a Song was a key man in that shift. Promising.
Rating: 7

Cesc Fabregas
In truth, while he was on the pitch Cesc Fabregas's contribution was largely in keeping with his season so far - quiet and disappointing. However, his worth was truly felt in the early stages of the second period when he was forced to depart, with the Arsenal midfield at times overrun and possession dominated by Alonso and Leiva, although this did improve as the game went on.
Rating: 6

Samir Nasri
Basically what we've come to expect from Nasri - some bright moments (notably a brilliant pass for Van Persie's opener) but for too long was a peripheral figure.
Rating: 6

Emmanuel Adebayor
Slightly unusual game for Adebayor, whose normal languid style can sometimes be frustrating to watch. However, the Togo forward was untypically sparky, making spritely runs down the flanks and putting in a fair shift before being slightly harshly dismissed.
Rating: 7

Robin Van Persie
As has been said before, on his day Van Persie is one of the most potent forwards in the Premier League, and he showed that by taking an opportunity that was only a little more than a half-chance to give Arsenal the lead. His effectiveness was stymied somewhat after being asked to play up front on his own following Adebayor's dismissal.
Rating: 7

Abou Diaby
Whether it's fair to be too scathing about Diaby's contributions with the Frenchman constantly deployed on the left is debatable, but for long spells the phrase 'Bambi on ice' was never more appropriate. Whenever Diaby does muddle his way through a few challenges one suspects it's more through luck than judgement, but when he gets some time with the ball he more often than not makes a fair hash of things.
Rating: 5

[delfino_1936]

'We became nervous in getting over the line'

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On the performance...
“It is disappointing being so close to a win and then they equalise, especially when I think Villa hadn’t created a lot in the second half, after their chances in the first. I believe the turning point was the penalty because afterwards we lost some composure and became nervous in getting over the line; in the end that cost us.

"We are disappointed tonight, but there are positives. If you listen to 59 specialists, 58 of them said we would lose today, so we should be happy.”

On Villa's approach...
“You could see a few times that we had chances in the first half but there was a danger from set-pieces. You know Villa will lift the ball behind the defence and aim for set-pieces or crosses, and they are dangerous at that. At home when they don’t have space in behind, and are without John Carew, they are not the same threat.”

On the unusual formation...
“With Abou Diaby you don’t know if he is a midfielder or a striker. He has the power to go passed players and he plays off the striker, so our formation was a 4-4-1-1.”

On the penalty decision...
“It was a committed game. I felt overall the referee had a good game, but on the penalty I think the first foul was by [Gabriel] Agbonlahor on [William] Gallas, and that the second was by Gallas.”

On proving the critics wrong...
“I feel that we have the quality and a fantastic spirit because everybody said we would lose today, and in the end we were unfortunate. We lost [Alex] Song just before half-time and had Adebayor suspended. Since Sunday I have watched what people are allowed to do I England and, being as objective as possible, it [the red card] is still difficult to understand.”

On being realistic...
“I think we have to keep the belief we have in the squad, because we have played Villa, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool and lost just once. We have improved in the last two months tremendously, and we look more solid. We are young and I think the same team today with one year more, would not let Villa come back.”

On injuries ahead of Sunday...
“I don’t think Song will be fit, and [Gael] Clichy should be alright for Sunday, and Adebayor will be back.”

[ForzaChievo]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/9704 ... tball-club

The Random Facts Machine: Arsenal Football Club

[delfino_1936]

Some fantastic stats there a-mac

i like the Highest average league position, that's wild!!
We'd no doubt still hold that record!

[ruud]

adebayor has been a dud this year

shouldve sold to milan for $$$$

[delfino_1936]

adebayor has been a dud this year

shouldve sold to milan for $$$$

still scored 7 league goals wouldn't say dud just not as prolific as last season. Now is his time to step up

[haywood djablowme]

i thought we looked bad first 45 against Villa BUT now that performance looked good after watching the first half against Pompey :?

Not looking good at the Emirates today, hopefully we turn it around

why is RVP on the bench Bendtner is POO & Ade not much better at the minute

[delfino_1936]

Wenger has done well for RVP because we don't want him playing too much too quick or he will get re injured!
great win, great header by Gallas, just happy we got the 3 points

WBA 2-0 spuds

[pires7]

They're going down,
They're going down,
They're going,
Tottenham's going down...

[Jimmy]

Wenger eyes Andrei Arshavin to fill midfield gaps



Arsène Wenger will move next month to bring Andrei Arshavin to Arsenal and he is cautiously optimistic about his chances of success. The Arsenal manager had already said he was "more likely" to strengthen his squad when the mid-season transfer window opened, after Cesc Fábregas's knee injury which will sideline the central midfielder for four months, but he has addressed the subject of the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker for the first time.

"I don't need to announce a name," Wenger said with a smile when asked by the French television channel Canal Plus about Arshavin, "because when you do that there is 50% less chance of making the signing. But I need a creative midfielder and eventually another midfielder, because we are short."

Wenger has seen a clutch of midfielders depart the club in the past 12 months — Lassana Diarra left for Portsmouth last January before moving on to Real Madrid, and Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb and Gilberto Silva went in the summer — and although he signed Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey his ambitions have been undermined by the injuries to Fábregas, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky. Walcott is out until the middle of February after shoulder surgery and there are fears that Rosicky will not play again this season because of his long-standing hamstring tendon problem.

"The transfer window opens [on Thursday] and, although we are not close to signing anyone at the moment, if we do buy I think what we need is maybe someone with a bit of experience," Wenger wrote in his programme notes for the visit of Portsmouthtoday's .

"We already have many young players so, if we buy, it will be somebody who is ready to play straight away. A loan deal could also be a possibility.

"Cesc is a long way from playing again, so are Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott, and these are three creative players that we count on at the start of the season. So what we might need is someone who can create a little spark."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... i-arshavin

[# 9]

Wenger eyes Andrei Arshavin to fill midfield gaps



Arsène Wenger will move next month to bring Andrei Arshavin to Arsenal and he is cautiously optimistic about his chances of success. The Arsenal manager had already said he was "more likely" to strengthen his squad when the mid-season transfer window opened, after Cesc Fábregas's knee injury which will sideline the central midfielder for four months, but he has addressed the subject of the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker for the first time.

"I don't need to announce a name," Wenger said with a smile when asked by the French television channel Canal Plus about Arshavin, "because when you do that there is 50% less chance of making the signing. But I need a creative midfielder and eventually another midfielder, because we are short."

Wenger has seen a clutch of midfielders depart the club in the past 12 months — Lassana Diarra left for Portsmouth last January before moving on to Real Madrid, and Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb and Gilberto Silva went in the summer — and although he signed Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey his ambitions have been undermined by the injuries to Fábregas, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky. Walcott is out until the middle of February after shoulder surgery and there are fears that Rosicky will not play again this season because of his long-standing hamstring tendon problem.

"The transfer window opens [on Thursday] and, although we are not close to signing anyone at the moment, if we do buy I think what we need is maybe someone with a bit of experience," Wenger wrote in his programme notes for the visit of Portsmouthtoday's .

"We already have many young players so, if we buy, it will be somebody who is ready to play straight away. A loan deal could also be a possibility.

"Cesc is a long way from playing again, so are Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott, and these are three creative players that we count on at the start of the season. So what we might need is someone who can create a little spark."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... i-arshavin

would look the part in a gunners kit

[pires7]

lets hope he brings some of this to any team that signs him

Simply the G***test

[delfino_1936]

lets hope he brings some of this to any team that signs him

Simply the G***test

i fucken reckon, some of his touches and vision and finishing is extroadinary. If we get him and he produces that i'll be extatic

[delfino_1936]

Fabregas - Alonso has called me every day

Cesc Fabregas has revealed that Xabi Alonso has called him every day since the Liverpool midfielder’s challenge saw him rupture knee ligaments.

There was no malice in the tackle just before half-time back on December 21 but it may have cost the Arsenal captain as much as four months at a crucial stage of the season. Fortunately Fabregas did not need surgery but he has returned to Barcelona for the early part of his recuperation. As a result, it seems his friend and fellow Euro 2008 winner has created a hotline to ‘Casa Cesc’.

“Since the Liverpool game, Xabi Alonso has called me every day,” said Fabregas ahead of the Portsmouth game. “He is very worried but I told him that he had nothing to do with it – he just tried to win the ball, the same as me, and these things happen as I say. As a footballer who is lucky to be able to play and enjoy what I do every week, you always take the risk that injuries can occur.”

Fabregas knew immediately that the problem would be serious but, the 21-year-old argues, he has been fortunate until now.

“When the tackle came in last Sunday I felt pain in my knee and when, as soon as I started walking, I couldn’t put my foot on the ground so I knew it was not good,” he said. “I was wishing and praying that nothing was broken but unfortunately it was. This is football though, worse things can take place in life and sometimes in your career these things will happen so this is my turn.

“I’ve been very healthy in the last five years, always being able to give 100 per cent in every game for Arsenal - I’ve missed very few games in that time so I have to be happy for everything and also not forget that this injury could have been a bit worse, so I have to feel fortunate for that as well.”

lets hope Alonso has been telling Cesc that he'll see him when he returns to London at Colney Training ground

[totsreds08]

Fabregas - Alonso has called me every day

Cesc Fabregas has revealed that Xabi Alonso has called him every day since the Liverpool midfielder’s challenge saw him rupture knee ligaments.

There was no malice in the tackle just before half-time back on December 21 but it may have cost the Arsenal captain as much as four months at a crucial stage of the season. Fortunately Fabregas did not need surgery but he has returned to Barcelona for the early part of his recuperation. As a result, it seems his friend and fellow Euro 2008 winner has created a hotline to ‘Casa Cesc’.

“Since the Liverpool game, Xabi Alonso has called me every day,” said Fabregas ahead of the Portsmouth game. “He is very worried but I told him that he had nothing to do with it – he just tried to win the ball, the same as me, and these things happen as I say. As a footballer who is lucky to be able to play and enjoy what I do every week, you always take the risk that injuries can occur.”

Fabregas knew immediately that the problem would be serious but, the 21-year-old argues, he has been fortunate until now.

“When the tackle came in last Sunday I felt pain in my knee and when, as soon as I started walking, I couldn’t put my foot on the ground so I knew it was not good,” he said. “I was wishing and praying that nothing was broken but unfortunately it was. This is football though, worse things can take place in life and sometimes in your career these things will happen so this is my turn.

“I’ve been very healthy in the last five years, always being able to give 100 per cent in every game for Arsenal - I’ve missed very few games in that time so I have to be happy for everything and also not forget that this injury could have been a bit worse, so I have to feel fortunate for that as well.”

lets hope Alonso has been telling Cesc that he'll see him when he returns to London at Colney Training ground

leave alonso alone. you can have plessis

[ForzaChievo]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008 ... kel-arteta

Wenger targets £12m Arteta to fill Fábregas gap
Tuesday 30 December 2008



Arsenal's pursuit of a creative midfielder to reignite their title challenge has prompted Arsène Wenger to target the Everton playmaker Mikel Arteta, with the Frenchman prepared to break with tradition and spend a considerable fee on a more experienced player during the transfer window.

Wenger has seen his side slip out of contention at the top of the Premier League — they trail Liverpool by 10 points — and battling with Aston Villa to retain a place in the Champions League positions. The loss of Cesc Fábregas to medial-ligament damage has further reduced his options, with the club having seen a clutch of midfielders — Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto Silva, Lassana Diarra and Alexandr Hleb — leave in the past 12 months.

Add the persistent injury problems which have sidelined Tomas Rosicky and Wenger admitted at the weekend that he is seeking "a creative midfielder, and eventually another midfielder, because we are short". Andrei Arshavin, who has made no secret of his desire to move to the Premier League or Serie A, remains a target, though Wenger has been impressed with Arteta's influence and invention and may test Everton's resolve to retain the former Paris St-Germain and Rangers player.

Everton paid Real Sociedad some £2m for Arteta after he impressed during a six-month loan spell at Goodison in 2005 and he quickly established himself. He signed an improved five-year contract at the club in the summer of 2007 and, having undergone surgery on a stomach problem which had hampered him towards the end of last season, he is returning to his best. Everton have risen to sixth, with Arteta scoring two in Sunday's 3–0 win over Sunderland.

Moyes and his chairman, Bill Kenwright, have stressed that they will be dismissive of interest in their players in the transfer window. "None of our players is for sale," said Kenwright this week in the wake of potential interest from Manchester City in Arteta and Joleon Lescott. Yet Arsenal could test that resolve and would be prepared to pay up to £12m for an experienced creative midfielder who will improve their squad and, potentially, be able to work effectively alongside his compatriot Fábregas when the Spaniard returns to full fitness.

Any successful move for Arteta would probably require the midfielder to agitate for a transfer — he has consistently indicated he is content on Merseyside in recent times — but the lure of Champions League football and, consequently, a higher profile with which finally to claim international recognition, having featured earlier for the Under-21s, would be enticing. The 26-year-old is in the highest bracket of earners at Goodison, though Arsenal would improve his wages and, ultimately, he may end up a more viable option for Wenger to pursue than Arshavin.

The Russian is hugely talented and available, though his club, Zenit St Petersburg, are understood to be seeking a fee of around £20m for a 27-year-old who has no experience of English football. Arsenal would be reluctant to match that valuation. There has been interest expressed in Arshavin from Italian clubs, including Udinese, as well as a possible suitor in Spain, and he is expected to move next month, though he would be cup-tied in the Champions League having featured for Zenit in the competition this season.

Arteta has played in the Uefa Cup for Everton but would be eligible should Arsenal prise him from Goodison Park. Wenger, who has also lost Theo Walcott to a long-term injury, is seeking "someone who can create a little spark" and, beyond a creative player, would ideally like to add further to his midfield options, potentially with another loan arrival. Yet he is also intent on ensuring that the development of younger players such as Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere is not stunted by the arrival of too many older heads.

[delfino_1936]

Arteta would be a majestic signing imo

[barbarez01]

if we sign Arteta and Arshavin and have a fully fit Eddie we will win the league!

[pires7]

if we sign Arteta and Arshavin and have a fully fit Eddie we will win the league!

if only we did it at the start of the season I might agree with you. Get another expereinced defender and we would have such a stronger squad. There is still a 50% chance we won't spend a penny, perhaps the possibility of missing the top 4, and the 15million odd pound loss of revenue as a result, will force the boards hand finally.

[delfino_1936]

if we sign Arteta and Arshavin and have a fully fit Eddie we will win the league!

if only we did it at the start of the season I might agree with you. Get another expereinced defender and we would have such a stronger squad. There is still a 50% chance we won't spend a penny, perhaps the possibility of missing the top 4, and the 15million odd pound loss of revenue as a result, will force the boards hand finally.

too true, if we did do all this shit in August would've been fucken fabulous, but i still think 10 points is not much to catch up on especially if we make these signings asap!

[pires7]

I don't think the bid for Arteta will be enough, spurs will probably some in with 20million now

[delfino_1936]

I don't think the bid for Arteta will be enough, spurs will probably some in with 20million now

but would Arteta rather go to Arsenal or Spuds. If i was him i'd stay at Everton that spuds

I agree thought 12m aint enough for him

[pires7]

I don't think the bid for Arteta will be enough, spurs will probably some in with 20million now

but would Arteta rather go to Arsenal or Spuds. If i was him i'd stay at Everton that spuds

I agree thought 12m aint enough for him

Wonder how long his contract has left?

[pires7]

just quietly, how much of a fluke was Ronaldo's season last year