by Sir Hardly Anyone
With a 97% failure rate across each of the last two summers the general feeling among pundits is that since they can hardly do any worse than before, and since apparently people still read what they are saying, they might as well keep going.
So here’s this morning’s list, most or all of which are going to be proven to be the wildest fantasies from grown men with nothing better to do.
1: Karim Benzema. Source: Goal, Diario Gol, Calcio Insider, 101 Great Goals
Arsenal are prepared to offer €40 million for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, even though most people seem to agree we already have a decent forward line, and the fact that he’s 30, and Real Mad seem to think he’s had a “difficult season”.
But the report states that Sergio Ramos has told club president Florentino Perez to sell the forward which Perez will do, but for €80m.
Arsenal are the favourites to sign him says one of the bloggettas. There is no logic to any of this except that it sets up a later story that says that even when Arsenal are offered a player on a plate they mix things up and don’t get him. This season he has played 39 and scored 9. Do we really want to add to the three centre forwards we have?
2: Ryan Fredericks. Source: Football London, HITC, and “reports”
He’s a star for Fulham star at right-back and apparently has a place in the PFA Team of the Year. But his contract runs out this season.
Fulham want to extend his contract obviously. And we have quite a decent right back. Would he be willing to be back up to him in order to play in the Cups?
3: James Maddison, Source: Bristol Post, Daily Telegraph, The Hard Tackle, Daily Mirror, Arsenal Station
Don’t say I don’t scour far and wide for gibberish, so hello Bristol Post for possibly the first time. Allegedly six PL clubs have “joined the race for Norwich City playmaker James Maddison.” And of course we don’t have a playmaker. Except maybe that Ozil fella. And Wilshere.
Apparently Maddison was named in the EFL Championship team of the year after scoring 15 goals for Norwich, and as well as us a variety of other clubs are “all keen land the former Coventry City youngster with Norwich looking for £25million this summr” (sic).
On the other hand the Bristol Post says Maddison doesn’t want to go and play in the reserves or sit on a beach, so is more likely to opt for the likes of Everton or Brighton.
On the other other hand Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur “are among the six Premier League clubs that are chasing” the guy. Hope he can run fast.
4: Daniele Rugani. Source: 4th Official, Transfer Market, Standard, Kick Off
Arsenal are “Eyeing Up A Move” (it is important to use capitals apparently) for this 23 year old Juventus central defender.
5: Aleksandr Golovin. Source: Football Fancast, Sports 24
Arsenal not only want this player but are going “head to head” with Chelsea to get him from CSKA Moscow. He’s a midfielder. Chelsea are leading the way apparently.
6: Adrien Rabiot. Source: Football Talk, Team Talk
Apparently Arsenal are “set to” “Steal March On Liverpool” with a £52.3m bit for this Paris Saint-Germain midfielder.
He is 23 and a first team regular this season and has reportedly made 44 appearances in all competitions so far this season. But he is approaching the last year of his contract next year and refused to sign an extension with the French champions.
What’s more he has not said anything to “play down the speculation as he admitted at the weekend that he doesn’t know if he’ll still be at PSG at the start of next season.” But does he want to move from a club that guarantees winning the championship each season to a club where he will soon be booed by a few in the ground and abused by a lot on the internet?
7: Harry McGuire Source: Daily Star and Gunnersphere
He is 25-year-old and plays for Leicester City having previously been with Hull City, and is apparently “poised to earn a spot in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament in Russia, where his value could rise further!”
But Arsenal are in competition with Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham and a “bidding war” is forecast.
NEW MANAGER OF THE WEEK
It is going to be Patrick Vieira according to the Daily Mail. Or it is going to be Rafael Benitez according to Caught Offside.
Yer pays yer money…
- I support Arsenal. I am not about to treat them as a restaurant.
- Premier League heads for Winter Break and Man C win appeal in kangaroo court
- A stunning Arsenal weekend for the Women, U23s and U18s
I’d very much like to believe that there was some substance in the Patrick Vieira rumour.
A person with charm, charisma, personality and not a little of the required expertise & competence for the task of coaching Arsenal.
He’d probably be in a position to retain most of the backroom staff he already knows quite well instead of bringing in his own team.
Pls buy good coach like allegri and luis enquire
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/11337503/chelseas-marcos-alonso-banned-for-three-games-for-violent-conduct
Read and deciminate!
Head Coach Thierry Henry
Assistant Head Coach Patrick Vieria
On that list only Golovin is noteworthy, he is as good Ann acquisition as Meyer I feel we can negotiate the right price.
Arsene seems keen, rightly so, as either footed as Meyer. Set piece specialist, and direct long range passer, short range combination play is excellent, highly intelligent, pacey, with good acceleration in transition. Team player, good temperament, self motivated, combatatice and disciplined. Excellently player.
Literally I like Mahrez, but he has what’s there, plus voting feel and so much that isn’t.
Hopefully he doesn’t mind following in Arshavin footsteps and I feel only we had gotten him a year or so earlier. 4 at Liverpool, silence!
He didn’t score us over, he just didn’t Russian standard, self and kin first and only.
And they hacked the crap out of him, and he was doing Alexis, he’d bring the ball out, look up and nobody wasn’t anywhere!
I quit a team for that exact reason!
Oh, it’s Karim Benzema time once again….. sigh….