ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Arsenal - A mixed tour of Asia + signing shock

Posted by Sam Limbert on 07/18/2011

Arsenal’s first tour of Asia in over 10 years is complete, and undoubtedly will be considered a success off the pitch. However, questions remain on it about certain members of the squad. Realistically, the on field action wasn’t going to be the most important aspect of the tour, and the results weren’t as important as gaining match fitness, however some performances won’t have eased some fans’ fears ahead of the new season.

There was good news on arrival back from Asia as there was the shock news of Arsenal finally completing a major signing. Gervinho is now officially a Gooner, a week after it was confirmed that an agreement was in place. With that deal now put to bed, most Arsenal fans will hope and expect Arsene Wenger to focus attentions on signing a much needed centre-back.

In Asia, pre-season was kicked off by a 4-0 victory over the Malaysian national side, with Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Carlos Vela and Tomas Rosicky getting on the score sheet. That was followed three days later by a 1-1 draw with Hangzhou Greentown in China as Vela made it two goals in two games.

The Malaysian game saw a better showing from Arsenal, with Aaron Ramsey the stand out performer. It was also the first time Ryo Miyaichi has appeared in an Arsenal shirt, and he looked promising on the left wing. Malaysia rarely tested the Arsenal defence, however the next opponents in China, Hangzhou Greentown, gave the Gunners’ back line similar problems to last season.

In the second match of the Asia tour, the hosts’ goal came from a set piece. Vito Mannone didn’t deal with the cross and Sebastien Squillaci put in a poor attempt to block the resulting shot. Admittedly, both Mannone and Squillaci won’t be first choice in their position next season, however it is worrying to see the same mistakes being made at the back after they cost the team so dearly last season. It wasn’t just the goal that caused alarm bells at the back as Squillaci and Djourou didn’t look comfortable playing together.

Things undoubtedly improved in the second half when Thomas Vermaelen was playing, but all this served to emphasise, was how important the Belgian will be to Arsenal’s success this season. I still think Johan Djourou could play well with Vermaelen, but when paired with Squillaci the Swiss international looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Arsenal fans have been saying it all summer; an experienced centre-back should be signed to partner Vermaelen, with Koscielny and Djourou left as good replacements should either of the first choice pair be unavailable. Even though he was only signed last season, I think Squillaci should leave if a new defender is signed, as realistically he’ll become the fifth choice centre back.

Now the Gervinho signing is wrapped up, Wenger should be able to focus all transfer market attention on a defender. We might have to pay slightly over the odds to get the right man in, but hopefully the impending sales of Almunia and Bendtner will give the club enough extra cash to secure the signing the fans have been desperate for since January.

Quotes from one of Wenger’s press conferences in Asia about not being defensively weak has got me slightly worried that he is going off the idea of a new centre back, but the Greentown friendly will have hopefully replanted the seed of doubt about his current crop of defenders.

Should a new centre back be brought in, and if Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri stay at the club, I’ll be content with the summer dealings. There will still be areas in the squad where improvement could be made, but it won’t be classified as a bad summer. With Denilson, Almunia and Bendtner looking increasingly likely to leave, some fans will be disappointed if we only signed three players (Jenkinson, Gervinho and hopefully a defender). However if Fabregas and Nasri stay then I think the squad will be in a good enough position to stay challenging at the top of the league.

Off the pitch, the Asia tour was definitely a success. It enabled fans in that part of the world to see the team, and opened the squad’s eyes to the size and importance of the club globally. Commercially, the hope will be that as a result of the tour, Arsenal can attract fresh sponsorship, more fans and help establish the club as a global brand. Judging by the reaction of the players and the pictures from the tour, Arsenal are clearly massive in Asia, and if the tour helped keep those fans engaged with the club and interested in Arsenal, then a similar pre-season trip next year can’t be a bad thing.

From a football point of view, it’s good to have got the tour done early on in pre-season, so as the team don’t have any long distance trips just before the new season. The four remaining friendlies see Arsenal play Cologne in Germany, Boca Juniors and New York Red Bulls at home in the Emirates Cup before finishing in Portugal against Benfica. All four matches will provide us with a better idea of what shape Arsenal are in before the new season, and hopefully will be a chance to see Gervinho, a new centre back and Cesc Fabregas in Arsenal shirts.

I’ll finish this blog with another story Cesc Fabregas-to-Barcelona story. Along with Samir Nasri stories, they’re all over the media. Whether it’s Xavi, Pique, Cryuff or Wenger, most people associated with Arsenal and Barcelona are having their say. However this story caught my eye.

The Mayor of Cesc Fabregas’ home town is reported to have said that Cesc has effectively been kidnapped, that Arsene Wenger is ‘clowning around’ and that Arsenal should ‘behave properly’. Well, if Cesc has been kidnapped, Barcelona haven’t tried hard enough over the last eight years to get him back. Realistically, Arsene isn’t clowning around as he isn’t the one prolonging the saga by not stumping up the money or admitting they aren’t going to do so. Finally, Arsenal aren’t the team using the media to try and unsettle another team’s player.

It’s those sort of laughable quotes that makes me think Fabregas will stay at Arsenal, as if Barcelona were truly serious about signing our skipper, it would have been better for everyone to have just got it done. They need to stump up the ransom payment for Cesc or we’ll keep our ‘kidnapped’ captain for another year.

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Comments

Posted by deejay on 07/18/2011

quite simply, barcelona are scum. cheap, no money.

Posted by Idowu taiwo on 07/18/2011

Wenger go&sign exprience player now gervinho is our player but still we need some player defence,striker even defence mifield n case song nd to rest dat defence&striker am tailking to defence he have mak, roged,gayant striker strong,drible,shoot and so on arsene that time remain pls make it.

Posted by Chabbz Hettiarachchi (@chabbzh) on 07/18/2011

You forgot to mention one thing mate, Also to mention one more fact, I'll start by saying, Are we really the one to kidnap kids? Or is it Barcelona?
"The Mayor of Cesc Fabregas’ home town is reported to have said that Cesc has effectively been kidnapped, that Arsene Wenger is ‘clowning around’ and that Arsenal should ‘behave properly". What about Thiago? Jefren and importantly Messi? Arn't they kidnaped. yes they like to be there. Cesc changed his mind maybe (We don't know yet. you claim that). We did not exactly threaten him and ask him to sign a contract did we? So spanish gives me jokez...

2ndly Bottom line if they buy Alexis Sanchez, tbh they better buy him for their sake, They simply do not have the money to buy Cesc.. So gooners don't worry our capitan aint going no where.. Hence why Barcelona and the Spanish acting desparate like a guy who aint got laid in years..

Posted by GET REAL WENGER on 07/18/2011

WENGER should buy a centre back or two NOW...for gods sake won't he need a few games to get used to his team-mates????
He needs to offload as much of the deadwood as he can...give squillacci away if anyone out there will take him that is (i doubt if a 2nd division club would have him)
He needs to make a statement about the cesc saga....."he CAN GO , BUT AT THE CORRECT PRICE"
as wenger is partly to blame for this saga...barca have bullied him and he needs to really fight back...turn the heat on barca and blame them for under-valuing cesc.....they are working on the fact that cesc wants to go to them which allows them to offer a knock-down price.Perhaps wenger appreciates and respects barcas cheap bids as he recognises his own behavour when offering peanuts for alvarez, samba and cahill

Posted by Veranus on 07/18/2011

i think it was a good run for the boys after a nice holiday. Glad Samir was there, looking committed and all, but one thing is this...that some players have become disloyal to their teams. i have made peace and i believe most Arsenal fans have too, with the Fabregas issue. His put in work for the Arsenal, and if he has to go, that's fine. But can someone please tell me what Samir has done, except one good season that he's had in his time with the Arsenal. A player like that with such magnificent talent ought to take a lesson from van Persie, who knows he's not given enough yet due to his many injuries. I love Nasri's style and determination on the ball, but maybe he should think beyond himself and put the team first.

Posted by Denis Omaraux Elvis on 07/18/2011

This is absolutely rubbish, and it calls for one to question what level of intelect this sort of mayor might have attained, for a political figure and in fact that of his calibre, i strongly feel his choice of words is abit poor. Wherever he made those comments or under what circumstances he could have made coments like that, 'Kidnap', or kidnaping a player who is under contract is nothing i ve ever heard of. If infact he was the players agent, i would slightly think maybe his nose is stuck towrds what we call the transfer 'Bunny'. Maybe someone can help me here!, was this case 'Fabregas, Barcelona, Arsenal, Wenger saga' reported to the Spainish Police as a serious crime issue, needing reactions from the Mayors and other government officials?, Or has the major found himself so hooked to football that he uses his official powers in the government to foster development in the team he supports(Barcelona)?, Or Was he offered Fabregas' one-week pay if the deal went through?. Get real Mayor!

Posted by Chukwudi on 07/18/2011

I suggest that if the Barca players really want Fabregas at their club, they should all contribute to his purchase by stumping up part of the transfer fee from their own personal fortunes since they all millionaires. That won't happen since they're all selfish individuals who play for a broke club that is all bark and no bite. He won't come cheap so pay up or wait to get him for free in a few years time. I look forward to Barca coming to buy the 2 youngsters Arsenal got from them this year, a few years down the line that is..... I'm still having a laugh)

Posted by steve. on 07/18/2011

IF THE PRICE OF A PLAYER GOES ABOVE £5,OOO,OOO,
WENGER LOOSES INTEREST AND LOOKS FOR SOMETHING
CHEAPER,I JUST CARN'T UNDERSTAND THE MAN.
IF ARSENAL WANT BE A FORCE IN THE PREMIER DIVISION
THEY MUST BUY QUALITY PLAYERS,LOOK AT LAST SEASON
AVERAGE TEAMS LIKE NEWCASTLE,W.B.A.,FULHAM,JUST
TO NAME A FEW TOOK POINTS OFF ARSENAL,SURELY OUR
MANAGER CAN SEE THIS.

Posted by youngGun15 on 07/18/2011

RIDICULOUS!!! They think just b/c they are barcelona, they can come over here and bully us about one of our players. If we really "kidnapped" him, why didn't you seek to go after him a year or too after he left??

We all know that Cesc would like to go back to barca (which is understandable) but unlike barca and other players he is respectful to this club. He's not going all around the media and complaining about how he wants to move. He did not even hand in a transfer request. So how can the barca players, fans, and officals say he is suffering??? Barcelona buy at least one top player each year and if they are sooo serious about ending his "suffering" or returing him home from his "kidnapping" they would have paid the money by now.

If barca really want Cesc Fabregas, they are going to have to come and get him. And not expect us to kill over and hand him to them.

Posted by Sam R on 07/18/2011

My thoughts exactly on the whole cesc nonsense story. I've come to the conclusion that almost everyone associated with barcelona as a club or who speak on behalf of them, are scum. The fans too are just unbelievably blinded by arrogance and hypocritical about their club. They hate on Arsenal relentlessly for taking cesc and talk obscene amounts of garbage about AW and co. All the while they refuse to accept any fault within their own club. This nonsense of 'kidnapping' cesc pales in comparison with what they did to get messi. Moving his entire family to barcelona at the age of 9, and paying for all his medical bills so that he would be bound to them for saving his life. But you can't bring that up because they're barcelona. they ooze arrogance that dwarfs that of mourinho's chelsea era.

The worst part is that they have no reason to hate Arsenal. On the contrary the injustices they have done to us are enough to declare war. Yet through the media they make us out to be the criminals.

Posted by dudu on 07/18/2011

if barca players want Cesc so much they should help their club by donating £1 million each towards Cesc's fee.Barca have £27mil all they need is £13mil or That boy Thiago.

Posted by Simbo on 07/18/2011

Wenger will distroy Arsenal to the foundation before aboning it to rotten in hell. All I can say is that this club will be among relegation hunters by the end of this coming season. I rest my case.

Posted by Tee zizanic on 07/19/2011

Let cesc leave for de right price..arsenal is nt a cheap players center. And arsene plz bring in good and experience players atleast two defenders n a striker. if fabregas leave, bring in player like pastore..plz arsene for God sake

Posted by moses on 07/19/2011

I dont real understand here, how club lyk bercs can behave like idiots........

Posted by kennedy on 07/19/2011

actually i am tired with the Wenger Philosophy....its quite outdated skills of managing football club...now its money power...the better the player, the higher the price...but this Wenger keep searching for someone cheaper but low quality..see Diaby, Denilson, ...they are nothing compare to Essien, Yaya Toure, or old partrick Vierra. why dont he buy yaya long ago?...instead of keeping gallas before..our centre back also a joke...absolute joke...only sagna was consistent at the back...forget u wenger....i am tied of ur football style....even the goal is in front but the player still showing skills n pass instead of shot on goal...forget u wneger...i love arsenal, but not u....u r idiot...go learn form ferguson or morinho....they are better than u..

Posted by Black Hei on 07/19/2011

Hi Steve,

Do not confuse cost price with player value.

Kos cost close to 10mil but Wilshire that comes free is a more valuable player on the market.

Ryo cost peanuts but we are talking about a player that went straight into the Feyenoord first team.

Gervinho costs 10mil, but his current market value is probably 20+mil.

Some people think that if Wenger spent 30mil on Benzema and give him 10mil/year salary then he is showing ambition.

But if he does that then he is stupid since Gervinho is available at much less and is much more versatile.

Just look at Ballotelli and Dzeko. Those purchases are a mix of ambition and stupidity. It is just that the club can afford stupidity that you think that it is ambitious.

Posted by MBD on 07/19/2011

MY COMMENT IS ARSENAL NEEDS TWO DEFENDERS AND NOT ONE......WHO WILL REPLACE CLICHY AT LEFT BACK? IS IT GIBBS I DOUBT IT...HE CANT JUST DO IT....WENGER SHOULD WAKE UP AND SPEND.....

Posted by kayce on 07/19/2011

i think the manager should try as he can to sign an experienced that will give the team and its esteemed fan all over the needed advantage to challenge for title

Posted by abdulganiyu yakubu obajana on 07/19/2011

pls,wenger arsenal just needs defenders and not striker,b/c we have been scoring goals but, no one to protect those goals.i beg you in God names pls, dont kill we arsenal fan in silient.sincelly speaking i always weep anytime arsenal scores goals and eventually lost the match pls, help us and we will help you with prayer . long life arsenal and the entire fan.

Posted by lalok_stylo on 07/19/2011

i fully agree with black hei

arsenal is not man city who can pay 30mil++ for a player and pay 200k p/w...
i believe gervinho would costs 15mil but wenger got him around 10.5mil...
ryo miyaichi looks promising, wenger should give him chance to play in carling cup and early round in fa cup....
imo arsenal really need another strong and experienced CB, but arsenal cant approach a club and offer 30mil for a player...
arsenal fans should be patient and hope for a CB to come...
arsenal can get 8-10mil from the sales of bendtner and almunia, if they leave wenger get additional fund to get another CB and wenger can offer higher money with the fund....
i really hope they leave ASAP....
lol :-D

Posted by Keepa on 07/19/2011

Maybe a little harsh on Mannone. On the free kick the defense dropped their line into the 6 yard box, and then we lost the header and allowed a deflection 2 yards in front of him... all in all I thought our keepers showed well in Asia.

The problem is that the poor decision making of our defenders continues. The fact that Frimpong kept having to track back to make up for Djourou and Squillaci miscommunications just further illustrates that point.

Posted by Robin on 07/19/2011

PLZ Sign Cissokho and Vertonghen, mahadou diarra, maybe go for lukaku

Posted by Akshay on 07/19/2011

I don't understand hwy doesn't Wenger strengthen the defence since we don't have Clichy anymore and only one goalkeeper who's just had one decent season. Look at Ferguson who's immediately strengthened his defence by getting the most promising goal keeper David De Gea as soon as Van Der Saar left.. Wenger should stop being so stingy and get some some quality centre-back, left-back/ goal keeper. And hopefully he'd keep both Fab and Nasri in the team to have any sort of chance of silverware next season, else he's definitely getting the boot.

Posted by titansgunner12thman on 07/20/2011

Defense is needed, we all agree. What the hell is Arsene doing?

Posted by David yew on 07/20/2011

Arsenal needs a goal keeper Like Shay given and defender like samba. And also now a gd left back.

Posted by Emeka Obi Esq., Lagos on 07/20/2011

Sam, I am glad you observed that the problem of last season has cropped up again. That is the only goal conceded in the Asian tour was from a set-piece. This clearly show that nothing new has been impacted on the team. AW must act now by bringing in two QUALITY centre back otherwise last season will be better than the coming one.
On Fabregas, Barcelona should pay Arsenal's valuation or forget about him coming home this season.

Posted by Manual on 07/20/2011

Wenger why so stingy? Go for a left back like cisoko and 2 cb becouse there is a lot of comm gap between the central defenders. If fab want let him leave but baca should come wit somethin resonable.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/20/2011

whoever says arsenal can not afford to spend 20 to 30 million on a player is having a laugh. year after year wenger has a transfer budget in which he very rarely uses.last summer he chose to spen money on cheaper alternatives in the defence area of the team, and look what happened. the difference in price between smalling and squilachi is 2 million, which is nothing in todays transfer market, at least not for a club like arsenal who have built a new stadium which can enable wenger to compete with the like of manu financially.but my point is this. if wenger had pushed the boat out and came up with an extra couple of million for chris smalling who had an outstanding first season at the age of 24 we wouldnt have been lumbered with a 31 year nobody has heard of. due to his disasterous season last year we arsenal fans wish wenger hadnt bothered spending money or wasting time with the player. an extra two million is all it would have taken to get a younger better defender then squilachi.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/20/2011

wenger will only go for promising young players like strikers or midfielders. why? because they will make him more money when he sells them on to clubs like barcenlona or man city thats why. the situation last summer with chris smalling and squillachi just proves my point. smallings season at manu last year was outstanding and he is just turned 20 years old. compare him to squilachi and it makes you want to cry at how wrong wenger got it. wenger will always cut on quality if it meens he can get it cheaper elswhere. in fact smalling would have even been a better addition then koshielny. if all us arsenal fans and even non arsenal fans, punters, managers and people who have been studying the game for decades can see the problems arsenal have in defence then why cant wenger. surely he isnt that stupid to ignore such a problem. wenger isnt stupid he is motivated by greed. he spends most his time trying to work out how to lie to the fans to keep them paying for the club, in return we get???

Posted by Kamal Zharif Jauhari on 07/21/2011

Firstly, I don't understand the value that Barca has put on Fabregas. I mean really, if Pastore, who is good, but unproven at a big stage, is valued around 50 million euros, then why is Fabregas less than that? The same argument can go to Sanchez. Udinese valued him around the same price, but Fabregas is much cheaper. Sanchez have just minimal champions league experience, and yet is valued that high. Honestly, I don't know how can Fabregas fit into the Barca team. Is not like Xavi is going down, in fact he is still going strong. Pep is the kind of manager that does not rotate his team as often, mainly sticking to his usual 11. Whatever it is, Fab costs more than Sanchez, and if Barca wants him, then pay up. Another note, Barca does not need a winger and midfielder, then why do they go crazy over Sanchez and Fab? oh yeah, Kjaer is avalaible for 15 euros, he was on Wenger radar at one point.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/21/2011

why is wenger so concerned with the clubs finances?
surely as the manager of the club he should only be concerntrating on the team and making the club a success. the fact that wenger is too tied up in what is happening at board level now meens he takes less time on what actually matters which is how to get the football team winning stuff. the only football manager in the world who is concerned with how much money the board are making is wenger. is it fair on the fans then that wenger wont sanction any of the clear profits the club are making to buy players that are needed for the team. if wenger aint going to spend his transfer budget on proper decent players then what is the point of making the money in the first place. what are the club doing with the transfer budget they give wenger each year. by now there should be hundreds of millions in that kitty. surely wenger and co aint pocketing the money? if they aint keeping it what are they doing with all that money?

Posted by Anonymous on 07/21/2011

wengers policy douesnt make sence to me cos that same policy would have worked just as well at highbury. we didnt need a new stadium at all.
why di arsenal fans listen towengers lies. all the money the board have provided for transfers never gets spent cos players will always be sold befor new one come in at half the price.
what is happing with the money that doesnt get spent, and what is happening with the money being made. if you add up all the money the board say wenger has to spend each year he should have over a £100,000,000 to spend now. yet he still chooses weeker alternative players over established players. the club is a rip off and the mangement are steeling from the fans its as simple as that.

Posted by lalok_stylo on 07/21/2011

Kamal Zharif Jauhari

dont get it wrong.....
if a club puts a crazy price tags like that it means they dont want to sell the player....
pastore 50mil, sanchez also that price....
but all clubs know they dont worth that much...
that's why there're still no concrete offer for them...
imo, both of them just worth around 20mi-25mil....

arsenal just put 40mil for cesc coz they know that they cant hold anymore on him...
but arsenal still want huge money from his sale...
that's all...

Posted by Anonymous on 07/21/2011

now wenger is making silly bids for player he know is going to be refused. gary cahill and chris samba are the player we want not not lakuku or any other player that wont help sort out dencive problems. why is the club alwaing wenger to carry on like this. the money the club make aint his so why is he protecting that money like its his own. why is he involved in that side of the club in the first place, his buisness is to do with the team not profits. arsenal need a manager as wenger is now a board member. how can he run the profits and the team at the same time as making transfers. wenger need to go NOW! as long as he is there then so is his policy. arsenal didnt need a new stadium to carry out wengers policy of not spening. if they aint ivesting in the team what are they doing with all that money. one decent defender and a goalkeeper would have been enough to win something last year so why is the club still nit getting it right this year.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/21/2011

the board and the manager at arsenal are are bunch of crooks who lied about why a new stadium was needed. its funny how all of a sudden the club have speding power but now there seems to be a policy known as the wenger policy. how much does wenger make on his arsenal shares, we as fans need to know. the club need to be investigated for fraud or something cos all the money they make is pure profit. why is it so expensive to run a club who dont buy players.

Posted by Keith on 07/21/2011

We r coming close to the end of Jul and it's the period that AW mentioned we would see more transfer activities at Emirates Stadium. I am still waiting and hope that he is not taking us, fans for a ride again.

Last wk, he mentioned that due to the strategy in being offensive, our defenders were being exposed more and that explained the high rate of goals we conceded. Does that mean that our current crop of defenders are not to be blamed and they are equally good as compared to Chelsea and Man U? Are we then, going to change to a more defensive strategy in the coming season?

My point here is, you need a strong defence to allow your offensive players to go out and express themselves. It is very frustrating when you score 4 goals and let in 4. You do not win matches by just scoring goals. The team let in a goal to a Chinese team during the Asian tour. What kind of confidence do u expect the fans to have in your defenders, AW? Besides losing players, he will lose the fans soon too.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/22/2011

how can wenger be classed as a good manager anymore. as the manager of arsenal he is seen is the one who everyone is supposed to look up to and the one who sets the standard of his players. so then if thats is what he i ment to do, why is it he makes more excuses for failing then any other manager in the league. all his reasons for not winning anything come down to pathetic excuses and blaming himself for the failings of the team. what is he doing to address those failing exactly. i tell what he is doing he is masterminded yet more excuses for mistakes he knows are going to happen. he knows he is running out of time to make the nessesary defencive signings the club needs cos he is wasting so much time on buying another developing talent in lakuku, as well as moaning about the underhand tactics of barca and their players. also he is mocking the arsenal fans with undervalued bids for players he knows is going to be refused.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/22/2011

why is wenger not spending his transfer budget. because if that money is there to buy players it shouldnt be used for anything else. if wenger expects other managers to act like him then why is he always trying to buy players under market value but the expect other clubs to pay over that value for his own players. arsenal are successfull in the finacial market when it comes to profits due to wenger tight fisted approach with money, but there is no need to have that approach all the time as when it come to budgets and stuff he such have more than enough to by any player he want now. summer after summer the budget he has to spend never gets spent. he will always sell before new players come in. so really he doesnt touch that budget. if you add up all the budget he has had each summer enger should have more money to spend than manu. what is happening with the transfer budget that doesnt get spent, are the board keeping it for themselves or is it gavering dust in the safe?

Posted by Perthgooner on 07/23/2011

Wenger should get rid of Nasri and Ces at best price. I hope what happened to Adebayor is going to bite them too that is what happent when players get to big for their head.Wenger is the only Manager that took this players at a young age and gave them chance to play beautiful football. Hope they get to warm the bench in their new club and collect medals.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/23/2011

of all the decent defenders arsenal can easily afford with the amount of money wenger has saved over the last six years, the club should be able to buy any defender they want. my guess is wenger will buy another squilachi who will end up being a disaster. how come dalgliesh has got in decent players really fast. and then there is ferguson who hasnt wasted any time in replacing retired players and adding to the squad. so why is it taking wenger so long and why is he wasting time on buying non prioty players the club dont need at the moment. the longer he takes to get the 2 defnders and one goalkeeper that the club desperatly need the more the fans will reasise how much the club take the fans for granted. wengers policy didnt need the club to buy a new stadium. arsenal spent more at highbury but had less to spend at the same time so it doesnt take a genius to know the club are ripping the fans off with fairytale visions of a future that wasnt ever going to happen.

Posted by blave on 07/23/2011

Gervinho signing is looking real good all of a sudden after his nice brace.

But yes the real issue is at least one more defender and a strong defensive midfielder would be useful as well.

While I generally support the clubs fiscally responsible style no doubt a couple more signings would boost player and fan morale and confidence. The team should have plenty of funds available and doesn't need to break the bank.

Plus as someone else mentioned the new arrivals have to have time to gel with the rest of the squad. Especially when it comes to defense!

Go Gunners!

Posted by Anonymous on 07/23/2011

the club need a new manager its as simple as that. a proper manager doesnt get invloved with how much profits the club makes or overlooks any overall devopments that are happening. all wenger should be concerned with are the players he has, the players he wants and how to get them to win stuff. its his shares in the club that meens he wont buy big even tho year after year the transfer budget goes untouched. he works out the players value and then takes £5million pounds off that value then makes his bid. for christ sake with all the money saved up from previous transfer budgets he aint spent he should be able to buy any player he want and outbid manu at the same time. i said two year ago the best players at the club always get fed up with wenger and his policy and that it was lonly a matter of time befor they tried to force their way out the the club. nasri, fabregas have just proved my point. now van persi will consider leaving if them two players go. WENGER NEEDS TO GO NOW!

Posted by Anonymous on 07/23/2011

what will wenger achieve by keeping fab and nasri at arsenal? they dont want to be there and at the same time causing unrest with the rest of the players at the same time. van persie mentioned last week he would consider leaving the club if them two went as arsenal wouldnt be a big club anymore. its just proves the point i made 4 years ago that the moment players start reaching their peeck they realise they need trofies to show for thier talents. they wont get trofies at arsenal cos there ain any balance in the team. they cant defend, and what is wenger doing about this problem? he is buying more attacking players and at the same time promising fans he is working nite and day trying to sign a defender. at the beginning of the summer it was mentioned two defnders would be needed. glichy has now gone and all of a sudden the club only need one defender. wengers lies is all the policy is about. six seasons of untouched transfer budgets and he still cant afford money to buy proven players.

Posted by amin on 07/24/2011

pliss wenger...... i'm too disappointed with u! just sell bentner, squillaci, denilson, almunia and eboue to get some fund. no need to spend much, as mertersacker just only available for 5 Million, sketelenberg also 5 million. most important thing is a left back. if wenger got this 3, i'm sure Arsenal will get something for this season... pliss! pliss! pliss!

Posted by ajetomobi festus on 07/25/2011

if cesc. want go, let it be. he might be a bench warmer at barca. He has no excuse for arsenal not winning a trophy for sometimes now _ he captained.

Posted by Kamal Zharif Jauhari on 07/25/2011

lalok_stylo

yea you are right. It turns out to be Sanchez is sold for only 26 million. That is almost half of the "original" asking price of Udinese. LOL

Posted by Arsene Winner on 07/25/2011

Senile Wenger needs to GO !!!

Posted by sNIpES on 07/25/2011

Arsenal needs a LEADER. Someone who can step up to the plate, motivate players, commit to the club and its philosophy and at the same time be verbally aggressive. Watch how the man u players confidently talk about their team and chelsea is not faced on the arrival of Modric. But Arsenal players are as silent as AW throught out this Saga. It is no surprise that the new comer Carl had an OG last weekend. Yes we need a CB and midfielders to replace Cesc and maybe a goalkeeper but most of all we need a LEADER (not a renegade-runaway-crybaby captain).

Posted by kunle on 07/27/2011

I believe wenger is taking a very serious gamble by not making the right and proper signings that arsenal needs.someone should tell him he has everything to gain personally by doing so.If Arsenal fails again this season,people will be quick to point in the direction of wenger and it will be attributed to his stubborn stance and refusal to sign decent and tested defenders.the pressure will be too much and i see wenger being releived of his duty.The board will not be able to save him cos the heat will be too much.If Arsenal still fails after Wenger has made reasonable signings, then people will know and say he has done his bits and the searchlight will be on the players themselves.So,Arsene, please sign proven players, especially defenders as this will be in your own interest.a word is enough for the wise.

Posted by umeh henry chijioke on 07/27/2011

Plz Plz Plz wenger should endeavor to encourage all our boys at the front ie midfielders and strikers to always play a good shots once they comes anywhere around the 18 yards box , plz much of the passes around there is setting us back while others are firing a swell shot , the good thing is that once a good shot is fired , the keeper either catches it in a rear case or he spell the ball out creating an opportunity for anyone around to finish it.
Look at Chelsea guys , man u boys ,mancity and all the big clubs , the never take a second chance in sending a hot short if the are in a position .
I use to know ashavin d Asha wounder ,Aron walcot and most of then with the ability of releasing good shots but not anymore .plz can someone help me to advise wenger on this matter cos i m believing that it is the more area we still need to work on
Thanks UP GONERS

Posted by Asuquo on 07/28/2011

Please Wenger, buy more defenders, especially Centre-back and another defensive midfielder to assist Alex Song. We the fans are dissappointed when Arsenal scored 4 goals and still can not defend those goals, is very sad and disappointing.
We the fans want change in the team. Keep Cesc and Nasri, then challenge for trophies and win. No more excuse for bad performance by defenders.
Sell squicali, he is not helping the team.

Posted by Anonymous on 07/28/2011

The new player is a "Gunner" not a "Gooner"
Fans= Gooners
Players= Gunners

Posted by timilsina rajesh on 09/04/2011

arsenal is my best team ever , but arsenar wanger should change his statizy in pitch , no really big coment but its big sheem when man u bit arsenal 8 -2 . just one question to this old man what is this ? what is this ?????

i think u get old and u need rest ? if its is say openly with everyall otherwise try hard as u was b4 . mr wanger i know u r good manager but time is change . its been almost 6 years there is no any cup with arsenal and u still ?????????????????? think plz and wish you all the best for my team (gunners )

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