Big new bigs news.
Bendtner has signed with Wolfsburg.
Meanwhile according to Caught Offside in an Exclusive! “Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make an offer of £27m for Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin having opted against pursuing Sporting Lisbon youngster William Carvalho and Real Madrid star Sami Khedira.”
Simultaneously the Metro ran the rumour that Arsenal are continuing to pursue their interest in PSG striker Edinson Cavani, despite the Uruguayan suggesting he will stay in France.
Both are interesting. Caught Offside because the big deal was going to happen on Friday (today!) while the Metro suggests that Mr Wenger is so desperate (or silly) that he is going around chasing players who say they don’t want to come for a pint in the Holloway Road.
In fact desperation is the name of the game, it seems.
For at the same time the Daily Star says we are after midfielder Stephane Mbia, who is a free agent after leaving QPR. So we are after QPR rejects eh?
But despite Arsenal opting against that Sami K chap he is “set to join” either Arsenal or Chelsea after being left out of Real Madrid’s Uefa Super Cup squad against Sevilla. That’s the Express.
On the departure board, Aston Villa want Serge Gnabry. But then so do Newcastle, Sunderland, and Palace. (The Daily Mirror) who also have us ready to pay £8m for Cheick Tiote.
Oh yes and back in the Excess we are going to Daniel Agger (again) as a replacement for Thomas V.
Ok, that’s the usual gibberish, but let’s head back to the absolute exclusive of Caught Offside. I’m writing this on Friday afternoon, the day when it is all going to happen – although having checked my news feeds I can’t see any sign. But even so CO says that “the north London club” (that will be us then) “are confident that such an offer would be next to impossible for the St Mary’s side to turn down, even though Ronald Koeman has seen a number of his top talents already leave this summer following his arrival at the club.”
So we are going to pay over the top. On Friday. Why?
“Wenger is desperate (ah, so that will be the desperation then) to bring in a strong tackling, defensively minded midfielder and has been tracking the 24 year old French international for the best part of a year.”
Oh, desperation, art thoust everywhere?
And there’s some background too…
“Wenger currently employs new club captain Mikel Arteta in a holding role but the Spanish veteran is in the final year of his contract and didn’t have the greatest of campaigns last term and as such the north London side (that will be us then) are not only looking to boost their current complement of midfield talents but the French boss also sees Schneiderlin as a long term replacement for the former Everton man.”
But shock horror – because Tottenham are also looking at Mr S. But apparently Southampton won’t sell to Tottenham, because Tottenham are managed by the man who used to manage Southampton.
Oh!
And Mr S is a box to box man. And so “desperate” is Mr W that “Wenger is ready to add a sweetener of a potential loan addition as part of his bid for Schneiderlin with the likes of Serge Gnabry, Francis Coquelin or Ryo Miyaichi being potential bargaining chips.”
In fact he’s probably ready to hand over the keys of the Emirates and have us playing in Southampton.
Now the timetable…
“Wenger wants the deal to be sewn up by Friday as he looks to have his summer transfer dealings done and dusted before his side takes part in their first Premier League fixture, at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.”
Done and dusted. And only a few hours left! Oh my!
But
“Real Madrid are awaiting an imminent bid for Arsenal and Chelsea target Sami Khedira, according to reports in Spain.”
And you know this desperation is catching. I know that because CO tells me that “Madrid daily newspaper Marca have reported that Real Madrid are desperate to sell the German World Cup winner before the close of the transfer window on 1 September.
“The paper suggested that Real could force the midfielder to seek a lower deal elsewhere by continuing to keep him out of the squad, like they did in the Super Cup against Seville on Tuesday.”
So there we are. The clock is ticking and no one has even seen someone at the airport.
Everyone is desperate desperate desperate.
Oh I can’t stand it.
And the season hasn’t started yet.
Oh……
Have we signed anyone yet?
The books
- Woolwich Arsenal: The club that changed football – Arsenal’s early years
- Making the Arsenal – how the modern Arsenal was born in 1910
- The Crowd at Woolwich Arsenal
The only desperate ones are the journos desperate to fill the acres of print required by their editors.
Wenger has already said, in my interpretation at any rate, that further purchases are dependent on progress in the champs league. Still, if Caught Offside say it, it must be true….
Toodle pip!
Sign up Morgan and Woody
to me let this man do something better for us again we most stand on the cup we are holding s dat is why we most bring in some player to hold that MD and WF for us so dat it will be easy for us to be winning any game and most we most win those big club and before such can happen we need strong and better player to stand in….good job at the market and pleas put more power to bring in top players will still need them …UP GUNNERS TILL I DIE
Desperate, we”re not lfc.
Whoever Arsene wants, he has available so many bargaining players AND cash, that he could sign anyone.
For these two reasons, he’s anything but desperate.
I’m just desperate for the season to begin. Maybe this is the year when we can finally sign Scottie Parker.as out Dm……a signing the media have wanted for decades, despite him not being that good.
Personally , think we will sign a defender, not a dm, but who am I to second guess Mr Wenger!
@ Dodd
Mr Wenger had expressly stated that he would sign a CB if TV5 was sold. The only issue is whether he is getting a replacement as good as TV5. I believe Mr Wenger likes TV5 a lot, the only problem being unable to pair him with neither our BFG and Kos. Look at the way he paid TV5 the compliments, do you see that when others left the club for the last couple of years? Meanwhile, Mr Wenger also stated that as far as the depth is concerned, he is happy with the squad. The only issue being we are short in numbers in certain department – the defence. Surely Six for the back four is a bit short, so likelihood is that we will sign a defender. If Mr Wenger is able to land a versatile player who is able to play across a few positions, he will snatch him up, while the signing must be prepared to only earn his wages and less football time. Ask who would like to be sitting around to become the 4th choice CB (primary role) unless the fellow is young and learning his trade?
@Kurt
I don’t believe Wenger said he would replace TV5, I believe he said he would look for a replacement if TV5 left. My interpretation is based entirely on what was written at Arsenal.com, I have seen and heard no interviews.
Yes, I think it would be nice to find another defender. I have doubts about him finding what he would like to find.
It bugs me, that his statement about looking for a replacement for TV5, gets turned into he is looking for midfielders and strikers.
@Gord
My apologies if in any way my writing cause a misunderstanding in any manner. Surely Mr Wenger did not say, in any manner, that he would replace TV5. What he said, according to those articles that I read from Arsenal.com (the only reliable source of transfer news) which formed my understanding, was that he did not want to sell TV5, but could understand TV5’s intention of wanting to play regularly, something that Mr Wenger himself would not guarantee. This could easily sums up the intention od both parties – If Mr Wenger is able to guarantee a regular playing time for TV5, then the likelihood is that the latter would stay.
As a result of selling TV5, Mr Wenger is in the market looking for a replacement of the departed player. The only issue is getting one as good as, if not better than, TV5. In my opinion, it also means getting one who is also prepared to start behind both the BFG and Kos (at the current status). How many of the well-known football players are prepared to do that? Hummel?
As for Mr Wenger’s statement turning into something else, well, that is the work of the media. I had learnt to read only what is written the official website with regards to transfer activities.
@Kurt
I think we are both reading about the same, from the same sources. You seem to think another centerback is likely, and I am less confident something like this may happen.
I hope all goes well in the game on Saturday (and Tuesday), and then we’ll be back to our regular back 4, and can work from there.
COYG!
Parker or p’crouch!!ouch
Enter Howedes…..
or Mascherano. His agent has sounded out his desire to play CDM, at which he was a beast in the WC BTW. Rakitic, Xavi and Busquets means less playing time in midfield while TV5, pique, Bartra and Mathieu means also less playing time at CB.
I don’t mind both as both are versatile and seasoned players. No khedira for me though.
and Schneiderlin and Carvalho seems less likely as arteta is our ‘El Capitano’
Whatever can’t wait for the season to start!! 😀
The manager has stated that finding a player or TV’s quality will be hard. That TV was wanted by both utd and barca shows if there was a better defender around him they would have gone for him too. But TV wanted more play time, something he couldn’t get at Arsenal anymore, so had to leave. I’m sure both parties realise the move was necessary but both didn’t want it to happen. As the manager has said we’re short in numbers I think he will look for cover at the back, someone who doesn’t expect to play every game that is.
Funny seeing headlines saying Rodgers won’t panic buy to replace Suarez(guardian). He’s brought in 8 players already this summer, one more than spurs last season. And he’s spent nearly £100m(more than they got for hannibal lector). I wonder what the definition of panic buying is if this isn’t.
Too many typos in my post above….player of TV’s quality… better defender around…
i really don’t like the way sagna’s departure has been handled recently. wenger sayong that the reason why he left was because he had already agreed with mancity is not fair to sagna. this guy has been in the club for almost a decade and for me, he has been among the best professional the club has ever seen. i was shocked to learn that he stayed with the same contract for 6 years. its not right to think that offering sagna three years after insisting on one and later two years will impress him. common, this guy could have stayed if the three years contract was offered earlier and most importantly, he reserves the right to reject whatever contract arsenal had to offer him. i really respect him and wish he should be honoured for being a complete professional through out his stay in arsenal. lets not give people the impression that every body that leaves arsenal turns to our enemy. it does not do anybody any good
@Desmond,
Can’t quite see your point. Sagna came to the end of a contract and couldn’t agree terms for an extension with his employer. End of.
He then joined Citeh on a “free” on greatly improved wages.
He was a good servant of Arsenal FC and I wish him well.
In Debluchy we have a more than able replacement.
nicky, my point is that i wished wenger stopped at how professional he was during his arsenal days without talking about his refusal to extend the contract because he had pre agreement with city. it kind of portrayed him as greedy which i dont believe he is. i also believe wenger respects him, but his comment about the 3 years that was offered to sagna is unnecessary at best
@Nicky
Wondered where your gathered the impression of Mr Wenger saying that Sagna had a pre-agreement with City? All along Mr Wenger said that Sagna was professional enough in carried out his duty. As far as signing of the Contract was concerned, Mr Wenger felt that Sagna had made up his mind long ago, even though a 3-year contract was finally offered. Mind you, this 3-year contract was an unusual one, as people who are associated long enough with the Club will know that Mr Wenger hardly gives out a 3-year contract with players over 30 years old. The very reason why Pires left us, to my best understanding, was that he requested for a 2-year contract while Mr Wenger was only prepared to give him one! Sagna had been a good servant to the Club, and we can understand his desire, whether monetary-wised or medal-wised, to switch Club. Mr Wenger had been accused by the media, as well as some fans of the Club, by not giving Sagna a longer Contract. Hence, in my opinion, the 3-Year comment was rightly given on the part Mr Wenger!
Well Mourinho has the 2 best goalkeepers in the world (with due respect!!!).
Wenger is going to buy Bendtner back again with 17 other players that Arsenal need.
Dean is the official at O’ Trafford and has used the spray & booked Dyer. Mancs are still down by a Ki goal and the Swans are singing ‘Sacked in the morning! you going to be sacked in the morning’.
I just love poetic justice.
Wengers comments on Sagna are to do with ‘tapping up’ of players before the legal time. Sagna or his agent could not be approached until he had 6 months left on his contract. There appears to have been a breach of this rule (not for the first time!!).
it is not fair to suggest that sagna was tapped by any body. i still think we need to revisit the contract policy in arsenal. arteta has even said so. not all players have the same fitness level and hence, there should always be exceptions to the age policy. even if sagna was tapped, was his conduct until his last day in arsenal not enough reason to no say anything bad about him and why must arsenal wait till the last year of the players contract to begin renewal discussion. arteta’s case in a good example ( except you no longer need the player)
Saying Sagna was tapped up is only stating facts, that’s not bad mouthing him. If anything its City who are being named and shamed here, don’t see how that can be viewed as a slight on Sagna. Keeping quiet about it is bad because they’ll be tapping up the likes of Ramsey, Jack, etc, next. That kind of behaviour has got to stop.
I believe some time on the 15th, I (7h hours behind most of you) seen an article at the BBC, whereby 28 people were asked their opinions as to the top 4 (of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and the 2 Manchesters). Just slightly more than half were ex-players (also known as muppets).
And the conclusion they came to, is that overwhelmingly Chelsea will win the league.
I looked up the backgrounds of all the people while the game was going today, and tried to filter out biased predictions. A couple of examples. Ian Wright played roughly half his career at Arsenal, he might have problems being unbiased about Arsenal (gets a partial vote). Some people are known to support certain teams, for example a daughter of Kenny Dalglish was in the list, and is known to be a Liverpool supporter. That’s a biased vote.
There are 2 different ways to try and filter the bias that I can guess at. As near as I can tell, Chelsea and ManCity are neck and neck, with about 55% odds of Chelsea ending up in first. Arsenal pretty much has third sewn up. And ManU and Liverpool are also nominally tied, with about 52% odds of ManU getting fourth.
The BBC conducted a couple of votes during the games today. 34.3% of the fans picked Chelsea to win it (Arsenal 20.3, Liverpool 18.6). Both Manchester teams less than 18.6%.
The other poll, was where ManU will finish. Apparently 54% feel that they will again finish out of the top 4, 35% believe they will finish in the top 4, and 11% think they will win the EPL. The BBC “experts” poll, had 1 in 12 thinking ManU would win it all, which is just a bit less than 10%.
—
That young (22 year old) manager in the FA Cup, did not win today. Jarrow Roofing, did win their game.
@ Gord – Here’s an old post about perception –
The Difference Between Rich and Poor…
A great story with a great moral that leaves us wondering about the real differences between the rich and the poor.
From….
http://www.ba-bamail.com/Article.aspx?emailid=9238
Logic In Mathematics…the 18th horse .
A farmer died leaving his 17 horses to his three sons.
When his sons opened up the Will it read:
My eldest son should get 1/2 (half) of total horses;
My middle son should be given 1/3rd (one-third) of the total horses;
My youngest son should be given 1/9th (one-ninth) of the total horses.
As it’s impossible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the three sons started to fight with each other.
So, they decided to go to a farmer friend who they considered quite smart, to see if he could work it out for them.
The farmer friend read the Will patiently, after giving due thought, he brought one of his own horses over and added it to the 17. That increased the total to 18 horses.
Now, he divided the horses according to their fathers Will.
Half of 18 = 9. So he gave the eldest son 9 horses.
1/3rd of 18 = 6. So he gave the middle son 6 horses.
1/9th of 18 = 2. So he gave the youngest son 2 horses.
Now add up how many horses they have:
Eldest son 9
Middle son 6
Youngest son 2
TOTAL IS 17
Now this leaves one horse over, so the farmer friend takes his horse back to his farm.
Problem Solved!
Moral:
The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the 18th horse i.e. the common ground. Once a person is able to find the 18th horse the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times. However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won’t be able to reach any!
Brickfield Gunners
That’s amazing, by pure coincidence I actually found the 18th horse yesterday.
Obviously I was hoping it would win but there you go 🙂