CESC IS NOT FOR SALE IN PRAVDA.COM!

[Bendtners Drinking Buddy]

That is a better explanation - but you cannot moan about how Arsenal are having an exodous one day and then moan when we are fighting to keep our players the next.

The fact is, there is a real chance that this time next week we would have signed Cole and MC - two quality players, without spending the defensive budget, and not lost anyone - is that a bad start? Where is the praise for the club to balance the outright condemnation?

We need CBs - Wenger himself has said this is an area we need bodies so lets hope some come in. I personally think we need a GK as well, but just because we are what, 1 day, 4 hours 50 into the transfer window and we havnt signed a CB or a GK is an excuse to worry just yet

[HashKads]

i'm proud of theclub's reaction. the statement is fucking brilliant.

Exactly that! The club has actually decided to stand up to these bully boy tactics using the media, players etc.

I may be completely rose tinted on this but I think Wenger and Cesc knew what was going on. He said in that interview that it is in Wengers's hands so he obviously trusted him enough if Wenger has decided to decline the offer. I do feel Wenger is the driving force behind not accepting the bid, although could come unstuck if he offers a bid of say £50 mil.

[USMartin]

That is a better explanation - but you cannot moan about how Arsenal are having an exodous one day and then moan when we are fighting to keep our players the next.

The fact is, there is a real chance that this time next week we would have signed Cole and MC - two quality players, without spending the defensive budget, and not lost anyone - is that a bad start? Where is the praise for the club to balance the outright condemnation?

We need CBs - Wenger himself has said this is an area we need bodies so lets hope some come in. I personally think we need a GK as well, but just because we are what, 1 day, 4 hours 50 into the transfer window and we havnt signed a CB or a GK is an excuse to worry just yet

To answer your question - I am not a big Joe Cole fan and not ready to go wild if he signs. If that happens I'll support him 100% then but that won't change the fact that we could - and have the money if we want to spend it - do better. As for Chamakh I like him very much from what I have seen but still my concern is in our weakest areas, and what I'm seeing an hearing so far is hardly reassuring at all. Yes, its early but its not like we haven't been in this same position the last four summers or anything is it

All I am saying is we sitting on a mountain of cash perhaps as much as 140 million pounds - use at least some of it ffs - and bring in the 4-5 players of real quality we need to go forward from here the only read on I would say we need to use 50-60 million maybe 70 million is because we simply didn't spend the past three years. Had we spent a total of 30 million more the last three summers we might need to spend only a third of what I believe simply must be spent now.. Let that happen and I will be happy to back the Board then and stand down from my position on them.

[Bendtners Drinking Buddy]

It is not how much players cost though is it, its the quality they bring - and both the players mentioned, in my opinion, improve the squad.

We do not need to spend silly money here, a couple of astute buys in defence and I will be happy. Your comment earlier was that you would be happy when the board does something - today, they have and they have acted with class throughout, and should be applauded for that.

I dont mind people giving their views, but credit must be given when its due.

[GunnerDude]

Our transfer dealing will dictate weither or not this is a good move on our part.
Should the Cole signing happen then it is a sign that we are willing to improve our squad and so keeping Cesc is paramount.

[USMartin]

It is not how much players cost though is it, its the quality they bring - and both the players mentioned, in my opinion, improve the squad.

We do not need to spend silly money here, a couple of astute buys in defence and I will be happy. Your comment earlier was that you would be happy when the board does something - today, they have and they have acted with class throughout, and should be applauded for that.

I dont mind people giving their views, but credit must be given when its due.

That's the thing - sometimes it is, because the reality is if you buy ten 5 million pound players one or two may come really good at most at that highest level and maybe three at the next level, where if you buy four 15 million pound players two will come good at that highest level maybe three and the other one or two at that next level.

I'm all for underspending where and when we can but at some poiint you have to show additional ambition where and when needed. If we go into next year with Diaby and Denilson partnering Song and Cesc that is absolute negligence - niether are true holding mid-fielders and Denilson isn't good enough to fake it and I'm not sure Diaby is. They aren't good enough in that role and we have a couple fo years to see that isn't gonna change.

Spend 25 million and buy Moussa Sissoko. In our current formation he could be the new Essien. If Cesc were still to leave he could become the new Vieira in a 4-4-2 Spend 20 million and buy Eden Hazard, a winger's pace and Cesc's skill and playmaking. Buy them now and you could bank any proceeeds if Cesc atill left next year.

Buy the kid from Lorient for 9 million, and add in say Vincent Kompany if he 's available for 12 million or Chiellini for 15 million and central defence is sussed out then add a Robert Green for 6 million.

That's just over 70 million ahead of sales, and selling Fabianski or Almunia, Denilson, Vela, Rosicky and Eduardo should bring 18 million back so about 56 million of net spend, and most if not all questions answered and weak points upgraded.

A lot yes but had we matched what City paid for Kompany earlier or put in an 18 million pound bid for Sissoko last yearand maybe bought Green earlier for 4 million it would be 15 million or more less than now. Or had we spent 10-12 million more in 2007 2008 and 2009 we might only need to 20-25 million now.

But we have to make a statement of intent now - and not selling someone now is not that statement on its own.

[brazilianGOONER]

It is not how much players cost though is it, its the quality they bring - and both the players mentioned, in my opinion, improve the squad.

We do not need to spend silly money here, a couple of astute buys in defence and I will be happy. Your comment earlier was that you would be happy when the board does something - today, they have and they have acted with class throughout, and should be applauded for that.

I dont mind people giving their views, but credit must be given when its due.

a lot of quality posts from you in this thread here, sir!

[1989]

For once, I feel genuinely proud of the club.

[USMartin]

The thing is what have they done - not sold somebody? And even this statement as some proponents of it suggest isn't a 100% gurarantee Cesc won't be sold this summer still even and certainly not that he won't be next summer.

So what does that on its own mean or prove?

We've signed a rather promising striker for free but hardly someone at Sol Campbell's level when we signed him for free, announced we're not selling our captain now - or yet -, linked with another Bosman for a player close to past it or at least a real injury worry, and are haggling over a promising player valued at 7 million pounds.

Excuse me if I'm not convinced of the Board's intent just yet.

[brazilianGOONER]

The thing is what have they done - not sold somebody? And even this statement as some proponents of it suggest isn't a 100% gurarantee Cesc won't be sold this summer still even and certainly not that he won't be next summer.

So what does that on its own mean or prove?

We've signed a rather promising striker for free but hardly someone at Sol Campbell's level when we signed him for free, announced we're not selling our captain now - or yet -, linked with another Bosman for a player close to past it or at least a real injury worry, and are haggling over a promising player valued at 7 million pounds.

Excuse me if I'm not convinced of the Board's intent just yet.

[USMartin]

BG what should concern you is whether or not I'm right not my entertainment value

[brazilianGOONER]

BG what should concern you is whether or not I'm right not my entertainment value

it was a joke mate.

i understand your points, even if i do disagree with 99% of them.

to make it simple, i will say one thing that we can agree with: if we don't sign at least one excellent central defender and one goalkeeper, we'll be joined in raising "wenger out" banners by the end of august.

however, so far we're doing very well. one day into the transfer market and we went on public to tell the world that our best player is not for sale for any price and also signed a good champions league striker for free.

let's take one step at a time. we can't complain about things that will still be done.

[D Gaffer]

i echo the sentiments being proud of the club today....

too many people on here want to lament the club no matter what.....

the statement released today could not have been any more categorical.

People crticised the fact that the club didnt come out with a statement earlier in the past few weeks.......why should we??It was Barca that created this whole media frenzy-

I for one am an Arsenal SUPPORTER and say its about time some people got behind the club.

[selsdon]

we rejected a derisory offer for our main man

let's see what happens to the 'not for sale at any price' if they come back with 50 mill

[D Gaffer]

we rejected a derisory offer for our main man

let's see what happens to the 'not for sale at any price' if they come back with 50 mill

Derisory offer?

We dont even know what they offered!!

If we get 50million then thats alot more than what people were sayin a few days ago''we'll get mugged for 30mill' 'wenger must go if he's sold for anything below 40 mill'' blah blah

Fact is Barca thought they could get him on the cheap ...we'll see now how much they want Cesc to''come home'' knowing that they're going to have to dig very deep in those dirty Spanish pockets.....

People were criticising the club for remaining silent and now they have come out and clarified the situation the same people are still mouting off.....may aswell be banging your head off a wall