McDowell its over dude...no more - Hallelujah

[mcdowell42]

Reports in Italy are linking Liverpool and Arsenal with Udinese duo Mehdi Benatia, 24, and Mauricio Isla, 23, but they face competition from Napoli.

Full story: talkSPORt


Arsenal are also believed to be chasing Montpellier and France striker Olivier Giroud, who has also caught the eye of both Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Full story: The Metro

[QuartzGooner]

Arsenal are also believed to be chasing Montpellier and France striker Olivier Giroud, who has also caught the eye of both Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Full story: The Metro

Of all the rumours, this one and the Vertonghen one seem the most believable.

[TeeCee]

What a surprise, the majority of players we're supposed to be interested in are African or French. Same old Arsene, taking the p***.

[mcdowell42]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... senal.html

[g88ner]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... senal.html

I really dislike articles like that.

The headline says Van Persie has "hinted" he might stay, but if you ready his quotes, he says absolutely nothing of the sort!

All he actually said is that we've shown character recently, but now need to do that long term. Don't see how that means he's hinting he'll sign a new contract, but there you go. I've read more pointless articles, but still - it's still utter Rubbish. Gives journalism a bad name.

(btw, not a dig at you there mcdowell! )

[QuartzGooner]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... senal.html

I really dislike articles like that.

The headline says Van Persie has "hinted" he might stay, but if you ready his quotes, he says absolutely nothing of the sort!

All he actually said is that we've shown character recently, but now need to do that long term. Don't see how that means he's hinting he'll sign a new contract, but there you go. I've read more pointless articles, but still - it's still utter Rubbish. Gives journalism a bad name.

(btw, not a dig at you there mcdowell! )

A journalist interviews people involved with a story.
He/she checks facts both online and with reference books.
He/she has regular sources in the police, political circles and media management, who may provide behind the scenes information.

People who work for the Daily Mail:

Log into Twitter, and republish a tweet, padding it out to make an article.
They re-publish verbatim a press release from a PR company of a wannabe singer, and spin it into a news article, adding a revealing photo to draw in readers.
They take money from manaufacturers to write about new "Miracle" products that do anything from curing wrinkles to lengthening your life span by a decade.
Invent stories on a slow news day, with invented "quotes" from non existent friends of celebrities.

It is not journalism. It is just garbage.

[cusamano]

According to reports in Germany, Hamburg are set to beat Arsenal, Man Utd and Juventus to the signature of FC Basel's 19-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Full story: Footy Latest

Xhaka would meet his formel Basel manager Thorsten Fink here in Hamburg, but that´s the only reason why he could possibly join Hamburg. Hamburg´s team is pretty shit!!!

[flash gunner]

According to reports in Germany, Hamburg are set to beat Arsenal, Man Utd and Juventus to the signature of FC Basel's 19-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Full story: Footy Latest

Xhaka would meet his formel Basel manager Thorsten Fink here in Hamburg, but that´s the only reason why he could possibly join Hamburg. Hamburg´s team is pretty shit!!!

Cus wasnt he the young player from Basel that has just joined Bayern?

[augie]

According to reports in Germany, Hamburg are set to beat Arsenal, Man Utd and Juventus to the signature of FC Basel's 19-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Full story: Footy Latest

Xhaka would meet his formel Basel manager Thorsten Fink here in Hamburg, but that´s the only reason why he could possibly join Hamburg. Hamburg´s team is pretty shit!!!

Cus wasnt he the young player from Basel that has just joined Bayern?

No thats shaqira (and not the singer that pique is banging mind) and he is the little tubby guy that destroyed manure

[mcdowell42]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfe ... 83779.html


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... spree.html

[augie]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfe ... 83779.html


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... spree.html

I really don't get the potential vertonghen signing - we just signed mertesacker last august so can't see wenger giving up on him and he has just given djouru a new contract too so he is staying plus we have tv5 and kos presumably going nowhere so why would we sign another centre half ? I suppose it is a tiny possibility that wenger might go with 3 centre backs next season but it is highly highly unlikely. It could also be that the guy could be bought to play the DM role but am doubtful on that too so to me we are as likely to sign this guy in the summer as we are to sign gotze

[olgitgooner]

Sammy..........

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/556582012?-19387

Don't believe it. Club and agent are trying to drive the price up.

Hopefully.

[QuartzGooner]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfe ... 83779.html


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... spree.html

I really don't get the potential vertonghen signing - we just signed mertesacker last august so can't see wenger giving up on him and he has just given djouru a new contract too so he is staying plus we have tv5 and kos presumably going nowhere so why would we sign another centre half ? I suppose it is a tiny possibility that wenger might go with 3 centre backs next season but it is highly highly unlikely. It could also be that the guy could be bought to play the DM role but am doubtful on that too so to me we are as likely to sign this guy in the summer as we are to sign gotze

I think Vertonghen makes a lot of sense.
By many accounts Vertonghen is a genuine defensive utility man, rather than a player being played out of position.
If we sign him looks to be a good value for money move to strengthen the squad in three positions; Left Back, Centre Back and Defensive Midfield.

If we let Squillachi go.
Miquel goes on loan.
Sell Bartley.

Leaves us with Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker and Djourou at centre back.
Vertonghen to be an extra centre back.
Could well also pave the way for Djourou to move on summer 2013 if he has another poor season or his knees go again.

Can also play at left back where Santos is settling in and Gibbs is injury prone.

Plus Vertonghen plays as defensive midfielder.

I am not at all sure Wenger would splash out £17M on M'Vila, a 21 year old defensive midfielder, with Coquelin and Yennaris (and hopefully Frimpong when he returns from injury) looking good so far for that role.
Though that trio of course very much in the early stages of their careers.

£7M for Vertonghen would in my opinion fit the Wenger spending model.

[STLgooner89]

I think vertonghen could be a possibility but it's hard to believe since we gave Djourou a new contract. I hope we do though, it's scary thinking that Djourou is only 2 injuries away from playing time. Selling Squillaci and Djourou would be the favorable situation, then promoting Bartley is squid's current place.

Don't see M'vila happening either since Diaby isn't going anywhere and we have Coquelin who is obviously capable.

We need a direct playmaker in his prime. Rosicky is older while Wilshere and Ramsey are both young still. I'd say that Gourcuff would make sense but he's had a terrible injury laden season so far. I guess that would certainly make him cheaper though and our medical team would have him cured as soon as they got their hands on him

Also, what about those Del Piero stories? I don't thing it would be terrible to get him on a free. Someone who knows he's on the bench except for a few cup games but also a guy who could nab some goals.

Podolski, Del Piero, Gourcuff, and Vertonghen?

[OneBardGooner]

"Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is set to clear out his fringe players, which are currently costing the club £23m a year in wages, to fund a summer spending spree. Among those set to go are Andrey Arshavin, Marouane Chamakh and Nicklas Bendtner."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z1qMHeN2SP

Let us just hope he also includes Vela, Denilson, Almunia and Fabianski in this (Rumoured)Clear Out and that it comes to fruition.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... squad.html

I think it speaks volumes that The Ox is on a third of the money that chamahk is on...I know it's not the players fault - who in their right mind would say no to £60k a week for using lots of hair gel, but The Ox is part of our future...

Edit: and Squilacci (how on earth could I forget him!?) ops