Wenger squad list email leak (13/7)

[gooner.ed]

usual thread starter – interesting stuff. And it appears if this is indeed true that Arsene would like to make a couple more signings. Shaun Wright-Phillips would be the real surprise. I just can’t see Chelsea letting go of him. They don’t need the money and actually started using the player at the end of last season. In truth, I am inclined to believe that this is genuine, but as I say, there’s no way of proving it.

[T.S]

Not sure if I buy it. Still, I think that if we were to purchase SWP and Martins, we'd have the foundations for a pretty handy squad. Let's hope it's true!

[Delips]

He watches these players on french television you'd think he'd know how to spell the names...

This is a load of tosh.... May turn out quite accurate but its not real..

[RaM]

Yes. Spelt Bakary in the 'letter' and Bacary on the website.

I don't think we will get SWP, Chel$ki won't give him to us.

Why is Sagna listed in midfield? Surely we can get a more proven wing midfielder to replace Freddie.

Martins looking more likely every day.

Overall, I'm thinking fake, but I honestly don't know.

Would love to see the piece at the end of the letter.

[Eboue Can't Defend]

When I began reading this article, I was sure this was yet another ironic piece, the likes of which the Gooner does so well! However, by the end, I wasn't quite sure anymore!

The wrong spelling of Bacary was very suspicious, and the comment that we would have to wait until we sold Reyes and others before we could bid for Robinho/Babel/Martins also smelt fishy.

Had Babel known we were coming in for him, he would surely have turned down the Mickey Mousers - given his comments that he wanted to play for us? (although I know Liverpool did bid substancially more than we were 'supposed' to have been willing to pay).

Anyway, I really hope we do at least attempt to sign Robinho, as I feel he will give us width either side, and cover up-front. Please let it be true! Pretty please??

[RaM]

Yes I'd love to have Robinho, much better than SWP anyday!

[gooner.ed]

Yes. Spelt Bakary in the 'letter' and Bacary on the website.

I don't think we will get SWP, Chel$ki won't give him to us.

Why is Sagna listed in midfield? Surely we can get a more proven wing midfielder to replace Freddie.

Martins looking more likely every day.

Overall, I'm thinking fake, but I honestly don't know.

Would love to see the piece at the end of the letter.

firstly, my suspicion is that wenger submitted this list just after the end of last season. as for sagna's position - he may not be a direct replacement for freddie in terms of position. eboue might be moved forward where he is less of a threat to our own goal, with sagna playing at right back. so in reality, eboue might replace freddie. that would make sense as wenger would be loathe to lose two defenders at the same time to the african cup of nations.

would imagine that with all the either ors, financially, we would be unlikely to sign both SWP and martens. suspect it will be one or the other and then a cheaper or youth option would be chosen for the missing berth.

think bacary was being spelt with a k not so long ago. think the new spelling is just that. but anyhow, that's what it was typed as on what was sent to us.

and we were merely told about the text after the list. haven't seen it.

and yes, it could all be a wind up. but if you'd seen the email sent, there were some stats about appearances that frankly looked a bit too much effort to fictionalise. so i think it's true. and if so it demonstrates that arsene wanted to sell thierry henry. and maybe the captain might have even been reluctant to go. but as a facesaver, the move was made out to be his initiative. think arsene paved the way big time though with his meeting in paris...

[Cesc is God]

I doubt that this is true but if it is, those signings would be awesome!

[proudtosaythatname]

The need to get the money in for Freddie etc before committing to further expenditure makes financial sense, given the club's Kroenkeless position. I believe more and more as the story unfolds that ed is right and Wenger wanted to sell TH14 - probably because his style of captaincy (if one can be generous and call it that) clearly did not fit with development of young players, as we so clearly witnessed last season. Also think TH was only given the captaincy to prevent his move to Barca 12 months earlier, which at that time would have been a real disaster. So good luck to Thierry. Never a dull moment these days with the Arsenal!