We are very close to signing....

[shimmy21]

Hatem Ben Arfa.

Aparently terms have been agreed and all that is left to sort is the transfer fee between Lyon and Arsenal.

Excited...very much so!

[MizzNaughty]

and u heard that from where?

[shimmy21]

Friend of a friend at Arsenal TV.

He was spot on with Flamini and knew about the Hleb "buying out his contract" situation before it went on sky sports.

[demzy]

Friend of a friend at Arsenal TV.

Does your mate know of any other possible signings in the summer?

[IW8Goalmachine]

i'll believe it when i see it!

[I Hate Hleb]

Don't get too excited. From what I've heard from French football experts, Ben Arfa is far from the finished article and god knows how long it will take him to adjust to the Premiership - if he does at all.

[Magic Merse]

Don't get too excited. From what I've heard from French football experts, Ben Arfa is far from the finished article and god knows how long it will take him to adjust to the Premiership - if he does at all.

They said the same about Nani and Anderson, and look where they are.

[Red Gunner]

Looks like Marseille are in there as well

http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx ... oId=687217

[augie]

Hold on a minute surely the easiest part of a transfer deal is the wages issue especially when you are coming from france to the mega bucks premier league. Now the problem of lyon not wanting to sell a player trying to negotiate a transfer fee with the tightest club in the premiership (and maybe beyond ) is ahead so I wont be counting any chickens just yet. Regardless of what we all think on here I really believe that the club needs to make a few important signings fast to give all the players a boost and lift morale

[G_G]

Well I'll be VERY happy if this turns out to be true.... replacing Hleb with Ben Arfa would be a MASSIVE step forward IMO as this guy is definitely capable of providing assists as well as scoring ...

However, I've heard a few stories about his apparent bad attitude ( sorta like RVP ) , but I'm sure that AW will manage to address that.

Now it comes the hard part , though , as dealing with that *word censored* Aulas won't be easy .... You can bet whatever you want that as soon as we make an official offer for the player he'll go public with it....in an effort to get more ££££££.

Anyway, hopefully we'll manage to wrap this deal up ASAP so that we can shup up all the 'anti-AFC' brigade' out there once and for all....

[I Hate Hleb]

Don't get too excited. From what I've heard from French football experts, Ben Arfa is far from the finished article and god knows how long it will take him to adjust to the Premiership - if he does at all.

They said the same about Nani and Anderson, and look where they are.

And I could name a dozen players that were supposed to be 'the next big thing' yet failed to live up to it. What does the Nani and Anderson signings prove, except that United can afford to spend over £30 million for what were effectively squad players this season.

[Magic Merse]

Don't get too excited. From what I've heard from French football experts, Ben Arfa is far from the finished article and god knows how long it will take him to adjust to the Premiership - if he does at all.

They said the same about Nani and Anderson, and look where they are.

And I could name a dozen players that were supposed to be 'the next big thing' yet failed to live up to it. What does the Nani and Anderson signings prove, except that United can afford to spend over £30 million for what were effectively squad players this season.

True, but the point is, is that untill they are actually on the pitch you cant tell if they are going to make it or not. All you can go on is what you have previousally seen before.

Some time wenger get's it right, sometimes he get's it wrong.

I would also say that Nani and Anderson are more than just squad players.

[I Hate Hleb]

Don't get too excited. From what I've heard from French football experts, Ben Arfa is far from the finished article and god knows how long it will take him to adjust to the Premiership - if he does at all.

They said the same about Nani and Anderson, and look where they are.

And I could name a dozen players that were supposed to be 'the next big thing' yet failed to live up to it. What does the Nani and Anderson signings prove, except that United can afford to spend over £30 million for what were effectively squad players this season.

True, but the point is, is that untill they are actually on the pitch you cant tell if they are going to make it or not. All you can go on is what you have previousally seen before..

That's why I initially wrote that it was French football experts who said the above about Ben Arfa, because unlike most of those getting excited, they have actually seen the guy play!!

..Some time wenger get's it right, sometimes he get's it wrong.

I would also say that Nani and Anderson are more than just squad players.

I was talking about this season and reiterating the point made by Ferguson himself about the aforementioned players. Although Anderson is well thought of and could turn out to be the great player that many thought he would become, Nani has still to prove that he can do it at this level. Regardless of all that, the fact remains that a lot of money was paid for both of them and it wil only be with time that we can properly judge whether they have been worth it.

My point essentially is that we should be buying experienced players to supplement our team and squad, rather than having to 'take a chance' on yet another foreign youngster, who may or may not be a success.

[Magic Merse]

Don't get too excited. From what I've heard from French football experts, Ben Arfa is far from the finished article and god knows how long it will take him to adjust to the Premiership - if he does at all.

They said the same about Nani and Anderson, and look where they are.

And I could name a dozen players that were supposed to be 'the next big thing' yet failed to live up to it. What does the Nani and Anderson signings prove, except that United can afford to spend over £30 million for what were effectively squad players this season.

True, but the point is, is that untill they are actually on the pitch you cant tell if they are going to make it or not. All you can go on is what you have previousally seen before..

That's why I initially wrote that it was French football experts who said the above about Ben Arfa, because unlike most of those getting excited, they have actually seen the guy play!!

..Some time wenger get's it right, sometimes he get's it wrong.

I would also say that Nani and Anderson are more than just squad players.

I was talking about this season and reiterating the point made by Ferguson himself about the aforementioned players. Although Anderson is well thought of and could turn out to be the great player that many thought he would become, Nani has still to prove that he can do it at this level. Regardless of all that, the fact remains that a lot of money was paid for both of them and it wil only be with time that we can properly judge whether they have been worth it.

My point essentially is that we should be buying experienced players to supplement our team and squad, rather than having to 'take a chance' on yet another foreign youngster, who may or may not be a success.

Fair enough. Although i'm more excited at the propect of seing ben arfa on the wing than eboue.

Saying that i would rather see another picture of stearmaster with his top off than see eboue in an arsenal shirt again.

[I Hate Hleb]

I'd be more excited seeing 'Uncle Ben' the legendary rice maker in the team ahead of Eboue, never mind Ben Arfa!!