The Ones that got away

[highburyJD]

kind of what I worried about
(I've heard some other good rumours about Andrew)

[mcdowell42]

Just deleted the "rumours" posts unless you have some proof that would stop you and the Forum being sued for libel!

Dont we have a thread for those

[Chippy]

Just deleted the "rumours" posts unless you have some proof that would stop you and the Forum being sued for libel!

Dont we have a thread for those

The thread is for the fantasy ones not the libellous ones.

[Perryashburtongroves]

Wasn't Andy Cole's exit something to do with tea and leaves?

[Chippy]

[QuartzGooner]

Would have hoped these had stayed longer or been signed:

Luis Boa-Morte - would have been useful to keep around the squad, a lot cheaper than Jeffers.

Sebastian Steve Qvacoe Cann-Svärd - not gone onto anything illustrious, but seemed the no nonsense type of defensive utility player we could have used at times.

Steve Sidwell - cheaper and better than Denilson.

Sylvinho - pass the port old chap.

Fabrice Muamba - better than Denilson or Diaby, until forced to retire.

Quincy - nothing illustrious since he left, but no worse than Gervinho and a lot cheaper!

Almost signed these three:

Michael Carrick - story was we verbally agreed to buy him, then Wenger changed mind at last minute.

David Beckham - deal was done in 2004, but personal terms not agreed. We should have gone for it.

Diego Maradonna - deal was done, but scuppered by Falklands War.

[richpye]

Luis Boa-Morte - would have been useful to keep around the squad, a lot cheaper than Jeffers.

Just been released by Chesterfield, where Mark Randall still plays

[Goose]

Andy cole,how we kept hold of kevin campbell and released Cole i will never know.

Whatever your thoughts on Campbell he did a mean goal celebration

What was it, 2 substitute appearnace for Andy Cole? Probably the best ever player that slipped through our fingers for sure.

People forget that Campbell was a massive prospect who was scoring shedloads of goals as he came through the ranks. Nobody questioned the decision at the time.........

[hugh jardon]

Campbell was an incredible striker when he broke into the first team. Physical strength, raw pace, aggression and a very powerful shot.

Like most young players he was unable to maintain his early form throughout his career and once Wright arrived he was always second fiddle. But he did form a decent partnership with Wright and set up many goals for him. Also GG playing him wide didn't help him. Recall Campbell bulked up a lot which seemed to slow him down a bit.

An incredible player in his time though and as someone else mentioned passionate goal celebrations!

[StuartL]

Campbell was an incredible striker when he broke into the first team. Physical strength, raw pace, aggression and a very powerful shot.

Like most young players he was unable to maintain his early form throughout his career and once Wright arrived he was always second fiddle. But he did form a decent partnership with Wright and set up many goals for him. Also GG playing him wide didn't help him. Recall Campbell bulked up a lot which seemed to slow him down a bit.

An incredible player in his time though and as someone else mentioned passionate goal celebrations!

Fully agree with your comments Hugh,
Campbell was very exciting when he burst onto the scene, scored some decent goals, had to play as the foil to Wright (who didn't) but somehow perhaps lacked have the self belief to make it as a long term player.

He was a Gooner too, and wrote on the Highbury wall when it got "grafittied" by the players and ex players that Arsenal fans were the best in the world - some comment for someone who certainly had his detractors among the crowd.

[franksav63]

Wasn't Andy Cole's exit something to do with tea and leaves?

edited if you've got evidence, great. If not you might be in the High Court. London is the libel capital of the world.

Chippy

[hugh jardon]

Whilst not an obvious choice, I think Seb Larsson has gone on to become a very good player at Sunderland. When he was a youngster at Arsenal his path to the first team was seemed very unlikely due to the excellent squad we used to boast.

Since he has left us the quality of our first team squad has lessened considerably and I feel if he had stayed he could have cemented a regular place in our starting eleven in recent seasons.

[SteveO 35]

The one that got away was Diarra. The bloke would have gone on to be a £20m+ player as was proven elsewhere. When he played on a handful of occasions in his rightful position he was immense.

Give Wenger credit signing him for £2m was a fucking masterstroke and he could have sold for tenfold. Letting him go for £5m was a fucking disaster and that spell from January through to Summer 2008 saw the break up of what might have been his second great team. Still we got Ramsey and Coquelin and 4.5 years later haven't they both made a fantastic impact on the first team

[highburyJD]

selling Diarra is one I've thought a fair bit about, it makes no sense
I think it must have been a psychological ploy - the players he really wanted to keep were Cesc and Flamster
I think he was trying to say: even if you're under contract, if you think it's better for your career - I will let you go

(obv didn't work out - Diarra didnt make the euros and Flamster didnt sign)

[Red Gunner]

David Bentley

Seriously though the Spuds paid Blackburn £15 million for Bentley. So he did have potential.