Anyone Fancy Going Dutch On A van Persie Portrait?
Jun 3rd, 2010 by 'holic
Twenty-four hours on from Arsenal’s stern warning shot across Tapelona’s bows, and the lower forms of journalistic life are clutching at straws. Some second-rate, low-ranking, Catalan nobody has made utterances about how ‘easy’ it will be to get Cesc Fabregas to the Camp Nou. Manna for those praying to keep the pot artificially boiling.
I wonder if they realise that they are adding to Arsenal’s resolve, and likely as not bumping the asking price in the opposite direction to that which the tappy-uppers were intending? Their drivel merits no further comment.
Merit. There is a word. I will tell you what merited my attention today, shall I? I get a large number of e-mails, as you might imagine, but I do try to read them all and respond to as many as possible. First job every morning is to brew a cuppa char, then see what has arrived overnight.
First up today was a heartwarming mail from Elliott, asking for a plug for a really worthy cause, and I am only too pleased to pass on the details. Elliott is an illustrator who has struck upon a great idea to raise funds for the neonatal intensive care unit, at Luton and Dunstable hospital, that treated his newborn daughter last year.
He has produced unique distinctive portraits of one player from each of the 32 World Cup qualifiers, and tomorrow (Friday) he unveils on his website the Dutch representative, who just happens to be Robin van Persie. I’m stealing a little of his thunder by beating him to it! Thanks for that, Elliott.
So do yourself a favour, and pop over to the Got, got, got, need! website and read the full ‘who, what why, where and when’ of this appeal and how you can go about buying one of those prints for a very worthy cause. London based Gooners will get an opportunity as well to view all the finished works at the Offside Gallery, in Islington, from next Thursday for the duration of the World Cup.
Thanks Elliott too, for keeping me away from those depressing headlines this morning. I hope one of our wealthy Gooners makes you an offer you can’t refuse for our Robin! Good luck to you.
As for the rest of you wonderful ‘holics can I take this early opportunity to wish you a cracking weekend. I will definitely not be posting on Friday evening as we are entertaining neighbours, and I have an ocean of truly fabulous red wine to share with them. I’m not sure what is on the menu yet, but I’ll guarantee you one thing. It won’t be tapas!
76 Responses to “Anyone Fancy Going Dutch On A van Persie Portrait?”
Enjoy your weekend ‘Holic.
Can you leave the keys to the bar behind the John Smith’s tap 😉
PS – Fuck off Barcelona.
Ok, it would be rude not to have a drink before leaving.
Another soda pop, cheers.
Vela’s been scoring the first goal in Mexico’s victory against Italy and Liverpool gets to experience their first high-profile departure of the summer.
Great way to start a week-end!
Has anyone else noticed that Cesc ‘shapes’ his eyebrows? What the fuck is that all about? Now don’t get me wrong, I’m no knuckle dragging Neanderthal, but a mans’ gotta draw the line somewhere. The captain of Arsenal plucking his eyebrows – he’ll be wearing a sarong next!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Shin Ryujin, Arsenal FC. Arsenal FC said: Anyone Fancy Going Dutch On A van Persie Portrait?: Twenty-four hours on from Arsenal’s stern warning shot across … http://bit.ly/aaTESG […]
Good spot AFC1974, I saw that too. Surely the malign influence of those Barca boys in the Spain squad. Xavi has a Brazilian apparently…
Eyebrow shaping? Nothing wrong with it, especially if you have a small urban hedgerow growing up there.
I’ll have a quart of Wild Turkey with some mescal on the side please, ‘holic.
char as in the punjabi word for tea?
Have a good one, ‘Holic. I’ll take what’s left of the Jamesons for the road…
See you ‘Holics next week, after a few more from RVP and a Lloris signing!
Cheers.
P.S. Let’s leave Cescy alone, he’s probably just a bit self-conscious, that’s all…
Fukken absinthe please
Bad night, KT?
Still Top Ten ‘holster…
http://www.wikio.co.uk/blogs/top/football
According to Gingers4Limpar you are up 3 spaces to 7!
Blimey, if I stop here until midnight I’ll be top three Snail 😉
With the power of Soul, anything is possible.
If you can spare a little from the ocean, I’ll have a glass of red ‘holic. Many thanks.
Ok Pires is King – I’ll lay off Cesc, nothing wrong with a man looking after himself. I just think he’s misunderstood ‘the beautiful game’ heh!
I’ll have to save the chateau bottled for tomorrow, Fin, but you are welcome to a drop of Montepulciano D’Abruzzo? I’ve chucked the riojas down the sink this week 😉
Ah, The Beautiful Game. Totally apt, in my book, yet so misunderstood.
Salut, 1974!
Apparently, we just signed a 16-year-old striker! I suppose that resolves our defensive challenges! No, but in all seriousness, with Wellington on his way (in January, right?)- plus rumors of Cole- someone must be on their way out this summer, no?
Heard anything about outflow this summer (other than the Usual Suspects Sol, Cesc, Gallas, n Silvestre) Mr. Holic?
lot of this blog are arsenal blog.MU was supposed to be the biggest club and the most supported in England.Are they have nothing to say .
pires is king .Any 16 years old we sign for the academy is not in first team budget.The academy have his own budget and Wenger has nothing to do with it.Anyway Philp Roberts come free from Norwich
lordgunner: there was this study I posted a while back (from a cool startup whose name escapes me now) and well over 50% of the premiership-related blogosphere was made of Arsenal blogs.
And yes the United glory hunters have very little to say. Like for Pool, their old timers roam on forums it seems.
Morning Holics,
We will not see the end of Cesc saga until the summer ends for sure, it’s funny but Tap-Up Barthelona think that the man him self stated that he wants to join them this summer. Now correct me if I’m wrong but do these people have any class?
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_6189796,00.html
Yaya Toure’s agent has also confirmed that he is off to the Premier League, something tells me he will rejoin his brother at Citeh.
Weather looks to be a mint today and hopefully for the weekend.
Have a good one Holics!
Works doo tonight, bbq tomorrow…. official summer drinking has begun!
Would that cool startup be http://www.arsenalfootballclubnews.com Matt? 😉
[…] couple of interesting other Arsenal blog related linkies now – the ‘holic has details of Got, got, got need – a man who has created World Cup portraits for charity and […]
In light of Ferdinand’s possibly bad knee injury (taken to hospital for scan after getting knee-knacked in traing) could Theo get a call up after all? Surely Terry / King / Carragher / Upson would be enough CBs? If he is ruled out Capello should go for Theo or Adam Johnson, be bold man!
“Should a player be ruled out of the tournament before it begins, a replacement can be drafted into the 23-man squad as happened in 2002 when England midfielder Danny Murphy broke a bone in his foot and Trevor Sinclair was called up.”
About that van Persie portrait and all those other portraits: I guess it’s a little like the placing of the ‘holic pound. The value of any particular one of the portraits could skyrocket depending on the player’s performance at the World Cup. Not being a professional art critic, I can’t say whether Robin’s will fetch one or two million after Robin scores a series of hat tricks and Holland run away with their first World Cup, but his value should be on the rise for sure.
ArthurtheGooner: “it’s funny but Tap-Up Barthelona think that the man him self stated that he wants to join them this summer. ”
Hate to break it to you, Arthur, but Cesc’s father has confirmed on radio that his son does indeed want to leave, and Cesc has never denied this story (it’s what his conversation with Wenger was about), and it’s why it was HE who started all this in the first place about 3 weeks ago (or more) when he said in a press conference in Spain that he wanted his future sorted out before the wc and he’d only leave Arsenal for Barca. This is the only time that Cesc has never come out publicly and firmly denied any stories about him leaving. It was that blatant public statement that alerted Barca into this public campaign to get him. Before that, they were concentrating on the Villa deal and upgrading their stadium.
Arsenal’s official statement was pure class – and published ONLY in response to an official approach from Barca. All those gooners complaining about why the club didn’t come out with any statement before Barca’s formal approach got it wrong – the club is right to remain silent and refuse publicly acknowledge Barca’s games in the media.
I think AW will have convinced Cesc to stay one more season. That won’t satisfy Laporta, tho, since his presidency will end this month and he wants to leave office having righted the wrong he did by failing to prevent Cesc coming to us. He’s had to deal with criticism about it ever since. Whereas his successor–tho he’d love to get Cesc–is more interested in getting Torres from Liverpool.
Afternoon holic & Holic`s
Sadly Arthur, Marcus is correct. Cesc went to see the boss and tell him that he wanted to leave. Alot that has followed has nothing to do with Arsenal or Cesc just the usual tabloid shit were they drag out the world and its mother to make a statement on the on going situation. Cesc`s father for one and any one they can find who wears or used to wear a barca shirt mainly.
Apart from the statement, Arsenal have kept quite and why not what is there to say ? barca came in with a joke bid and we wiped our arse on it and sent it back.
During the meeting with Cesc the boss told him to concentrate on the WC and leave everything to him. So i think that is another reason why the papers are not littered with today Cesc said this and yesterday cesc said that because he was told not to run to the press. And so far Cesc has kept his part of the bargin, but we cant control half the spainish team which is from barca putting there two peneth in every five minutes.
Top breaking story in spain today ” we have been told at sky sports that xabi`s cousins budgies uncle said cesc will sign in the next 5 seconds, stay tuned more to follow in 30 minutes when we find someone else to coment on the transfer who has fuck all to do with it”
Im sure the rest of the summer will be somthing like that.
Sorry for second post but if anyone can read this and keep a striaght face then you are a better man than me.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barcelona-to-continue-fabregas-pursuit-1991729.html
That man dose not live on this planet, he is trying to make out that taking Cesc off are hands is donig us a favour !
Is anyone else besides me really starting to worry about the fact that our number 1 and 2 in goal to this date are still Almunia and Fabianski?
Frey is on the verge of a deal to villa, Schwarzer denied, Hart was rejected, Green is way too average, Buffon denied, Lloris rejected…
This is really starting to worry me.
Just read this shite:
Laporta said: ‘It’s a price that we consider to be his market value. Arsenal have rejected it. Now the sporting director (Txiki Begiristain) must decide what should be the next step.
‘We are in negotiations and we’ll see how they turn out. At times, these operations are resolved at one speed, and others at another.
‘We have to do everything we can to convince them (Arsenal) that the best thing for all is to reach an agreement,’ Laporta was quoted as saying by Spanish daily AS.
Who the fuck are they negotiating with – themselves? Fabregas’s Dad? Or Arsenal – Remind me what they were told on Wednesday – Was it FUCK OFF or What?
I think the whole B-Arse a Board have been sitting out in the midday sun, drinking sangria – they’r talking absolute Bollox
Marcus is totally right, the politics at Barca are the reason behind the relentless chatter coming from Calalonia. It won’t have the same intensity after the election is over.
@Snir: I’d rather have Fabianski between the sticks than an average keeper like Green. So if LLoris, Akinfeev and Hart are unavailable so be it.
Snir at least that show we after a GK.
But a good keeper ,the type we need, is rare and very few team want their GK to leave.If we want a Keeper,we need the right one rather than anyone.Green is not much better than what we ve got,i will not be happy with his buy.
Big T, Cesc, Cashley, Gibbs, Cliche, Rocky…
If you are good enough then you will play for the first team.
If Woj is as good as his hype then I would be behind a move to have him as our ‘new’ No 1. Add one CB to the mix and Joe Cole on a free and I wouldn’t be unhappy.
Fabianski needs to go out on loan to build up his confidence and get regular football. Then let the two fine Polish stoppers battle it out – only one winner, Arsenal. Job done.
In all honesty, I have to agree with 1974 on this one. IF we can’t find a truly exceptional talent in the market, this last season was severe and consistent enough in goalkeeping lukewarmity that I would be more confident promoting young Woj and getting behind him. At least inexperience would be matched with some confidence and increasing capacity- not stagnant or decreasing skill. And I also believe that Fabianski must be loaned out to regain some form and confidence outside of the limelight- I think it would honor all of us, him included.
Almunia- bless his heart for some great games and efforts over the years, no doubt- to me is over. I just can’t feel good while he’s in goal.
Woj and a super solid CB- and three or four fast wingery 12 year olds- I’ll be ready for next season!
Tea please, if the water’s hot.
Woj is too young. Everyone get excited about him but a couple of bad games and the Fabianski scenario would just repeat itself. At least we all agree that we’d like someone who’s not Almunia. Not that he isn’t a good keeper on his day but too sensitive/fragile mentally and we can’t afford another poor goolkeeping season in case his dog’s sitter’s great-aunt gets sick.
Other than that it looks like your wishes are partially granted already as we got a young striker from Norwich this week (Philip Roberts) and another exciting prospect in goal (Emilio Damián Martínez – Argentine – 17yo) finally got his work permit.
It’s unbelievable how many youths we have, how hard they train in one the world’s best academies and how few make it. Although it needs to be said that our more recent rejects are doing much better than in the past (Muamba, Larsson etc).
I’m a firm believer that Lloris is a great keeper but on the last couple of months you’d be hard pressed to believe it (even more so after the free kick he let in today).
Buffon had a poor season last year with Roma and bounced back.
Casillas doesn’t seem as good as he was a couple of seasons ago.
I’m not following Akinfeev too closely but it seems he had a meh season both at club and national levels.
Looks like a lot goes into a keeper’s head over a career…
I always thought that Lehmann was an average keeper skill-wise but with an unalterable (if unjustified) self-belief (a la Bendtner) and that’s what made him play for us and Germany for so long.
I’m proud Jens was a Gunner, but the way he would casually stomp down to trap a back pass was horrifying, and fatal more than once.
Yikes, great keeper, but would truly love to put the antics and frailties behind us. Nobody expects a keeper to not make mistakes, but having the whole stadium, let alone your team, fear them is a bad, bad sign. Anyone who’s played with competent and non- keepers on the field knows the impact. That bit of doubt in everyone’s mind- validated semi-regularly- just kills motivation, confidence, and ultimately creativity and success. Not to make too much out of it, but I really think domination begins there.
In other words, it’s not so much the goals let in that cost us (that that was rough) but the uncertainty spread throughout the side, in my opinion.
That’s just my point Matt – if you’re good enough the age isn’t a barrier. I remember when Big T made the breakthrough. The press absolutely slaughtered him after a couple of errors – eefuckingawww was the chant! But did he go into his shell? He was very young. Nope. He stood tall like a brick wall. Ask Alex Ferguson who he regrets not signing from Arsenal.
We don’t know how Woj would react to an error. All I’m saying is if we are not going to sign a keeps then give the lad a shot.
Fairplay, ‘holics. I couldn’t put any sort of rational argument together at this time of night. Apparently we are now booked for a barbeque tomorrow. FFS 😉
Ermmm there is a decent keeper at Arsenal and nobody mentions him He is big strong commanding in the area and to mind hasnt let us down. What is wrong with Vito Mannone?
Jay – Vito does deserve another shot and looks promising, but he went from brilliant to whoops! in a short space of time.
@pires: I was under the impression that the side (including Fabianski) was much more nervous because of our defence than our keeper in the last month. I don’t think the players have much in common with the mentality of the fans, they play together every day so it’s not a couple of bad games that are going to alter their perception or make them suddenly nervous.
@1974: Why should Fabianski not be given a chance first? For 2 bad games? That would be a surprising decision considering how many chances have been afforded to Lehman and Almunia well after their form dipped.
Age can be a barrier because today’s top football level has nothing to do with what it was 30 years ago. There has been a huge step up both in athleticism and technical skills, most players when big T started would not get in a championship team today on their fitness level at the time. That being said I have no idea if Woj is physically ready or not yet, I can’t judge on a handful of video compilations. I doubt Arsene will take the risk but who knows if no other keeper can be found… Still from all the comments from Arsene and co it looks like Fabianski is still held in high esteem.
Following AFC’s crystal clear response to Tapelona’s insulting bid of £29m, yet another election candidate has seen fit to open his trap. I can’t, and don’t particularly want to remember his name, but this geezer is an ally of Rossell, who is supposed to be LESS Cesc-mad than Joan Laporta.
This bloke says, in today’s Times, that it will be EASY to sign Cesc.
The same article says that Barca will rely on Cesc’s frustration with Arsenal, to make the deal easier to achieve, even though he has a long contract with the club.
This contract issue is something that bears a bit of thought.
I would never criticise Cesc’s attitude or, apparantly previous commitment to the club – he has, in AW’s often used words, always given absolutely everything, in every game i have ever seen him play.
So, for that matter, has Aaron Ramsey.
I pick on these two players only because, at the end of the season, thay both had broken legs, albeit of vastly different types.
Should either or both of them, as a result, miss large chunks of their career’s, or indeed their whole career’s, they would expect Arsenal FC to continue to pay them for the entire duration of their contracts.
Not unreasonably, as injuries do happen, and that is what a contract is.
That is, apparantly, until they fancy walking out part way through a contract, at which point, according to all the pundits and journos, the thing becomes meaningless.
Most disappointingly this week, Ian Wright speaking on Talkshite said he was embarrassed for Arsenal, trying to keep a player who wants to leave.
If players continue to treat contracts with such disregard, what is the point in clubs entering into them?
Won’t it be in clubs’ interests to simply pay players by the week, until they fancy leaving, and then when they are unable to play for whatever reason, and for however long, the club simply won’t have to bother paying them.
Would that sort of leeway in their contractual arrangements suit the players better, perhaps?
I stress that these comments are not intended to take a swipe at two very honest, hard-working players in Fabregas and Ramsey. They are simply two current, convenient examples which perfectly illustrate the other side of what is becoming an impossible situation to manage.
‘Holic, here’s wishing you a good, if slightly blurred, weekend.
@1974: The fans and pundits judge players on a handful of games, but the coaches and other players don’t. As far as I remember Mannone was never held in high esteem by the youth coaches and I believe that’s why he was replaced by Al as soon as he let one goal in. If Vito had been considered as a potential number 1 he would have been given more chances while Al was “injured”.
I don’t watch enough reserves/U18 games to have a strong opinion myself. I tend to agree with Jay that on what’ve seen of him Vito showed that he *may* be up to the task. I would have no qualms if he was given a chance as number 2.
Matt – from my earlier post at 35 there are 4 players who were given debuts very early and not “30 years ago”. Gibbs made that fatal slip as I recall, but showed that he was made of sterner stuff. Its got nothing to do with football past or present – what era you played in does not effect how you will react to adversity. We are talking about ‘character’.
But I agree Almunia has nine lives when it comes to chances.
I think the difference between Woj and Fab is that Woj has had a full Pro season, whereas Fab has splinters in his arse, because as you say arsene has been to kind to Fawlty.
@pires is king: One more for you, we snatched a 16yo attacking MF from Feyenoord (Kyle Ebecilio) who are rumoured to be pissed off about the matter.
The icing on the cake: Chelski wanted him badly.
That sound interesting Matt. Where are you guys finding out about all these wonderkids?
@AFC: Thanks for clarifying, I had indeed misread your comment.
With Arsene we can never know for sure but it does looks like Almunia has extended his welcome between the posts this time. In all fairness, had Fabianski not been injured and deputized decently when Almunia was “injured” (that’s when Mannone played), I believe Almunia would have been retired at that time.
I follow the progress of the youths religiously on a couple of great blogs: Young Guns and Arsenal Youth.
Cheers Matt, I will check those blogs out. In these quiet times a man has to get his fix somewhere! But I must turn in now or my wife will turn me out! Good night.
@1974: Just a bit of a warning, I’ve always followed the youths closely and it’s sometimes heartbreaking. You keep hearing all these good things about player X or Y and then they reach 19-20 and suddenly they’re offloaded… Very frustrating!
Still I am sure we never had so many promising youths at the club, we’ve won almost all the youths trophies last season.
Can’t wait to see more of Eastmond, Lansbury, JET, Jay Simpson, Sunu, Barazite (every big club wanted him, it took us a long time to get him), Frimpong, Sanchez Watt, Freeman etc. And then the young prodigies we bought (Wellington Silva, Samuel Galindo). Exciting times!
Can we please buy a keeper? The window is open right?
— and not Schwarzer….next GK needs to be a long term fix
Morning Holic & Holic`s
I could sum up are defensive problems in one word “comunication” sorry that should have been three words “lack of comunication”
When defending a set peice no one seems to want to take control ? In the past we have always had a mouth peice in the defence wether it was a defender or the goalkepper. Mr Lehman was no shrinking violet when it came to telling players were to be.
Sadly we dont seem to have anyone who wants to take up the mantle of defensive general. All or problems dont start and end with are keepers its more a all round defensive problem. By no means am I saying the keepers have had nothing to do with it some displays have been nothing short of a joke.
Let me use Inter as a example who won the league,cup and CL. A good team to use, if you watch them play you will see that they have 2/3 players at the back all willing to tell players who and were they should be marking. If one of them clears the ball and the danger has subsided its high fives and pats on the back, of course with the tap on the bum as well (whats that all about ?)
But its a team of defenders all willing to do each others job to get the job done and all very vocal. If they conceed the anger in their face is amazing they take it as a personal insult. If we conceed they just turn and take up their positions for the kick off not a word spoken most times. That is not a Arsenal defence ! 1-0 to the Arsenal. And that team of Adams & co didnt do the invinsibles.
So if short get a leader at the back regardless if it was a keeper or a CB, a defensive general willing to lead and things will change. Maybe the verminator could be that player who knows but we need one NOW !
JUst posted this on the wrong holic post! So a little out of context…maybe I should have a coffee rather than a cava!
Hey ho.. morning all;
Personally having lots of fun out here with my Barca supporting family. “but Cesc WANTS to come” they bleat…. “And?” I ask.. “erm….”. They reply.
I have no idea if he will go or not, but at least if he does it will be on our terms. I don’t think it will be a problem if he stays re commitment. He is a professional – witness the penalty he slammed in against a club he wants to join. No messing around.
If he goes then we will have even more money and as long as it wisely spent, as Lars and DC et al have already spelt out then the future really is exciting.
Overall it looks pretty win-win to me.
On another note – the market is all pretty quiet isn’t it? Only a few days in I know, but…
Early morning cava to wet the whistle please ‘holic.
Morning all,
Just a quick word to say if you have emailed me today, I can’t get to it, as the all-walking, all-talking, upgraded new e-mail experience from Virgin is kaput!
No surprise there then.
If it helps, I haven’t e-mailed you at all, ‘holic.
What times your BBQ?
I think it will be a rolling affair starting shortly, Snail. It could be quite messy by tonight. Must remember not to fire up Twitter when pissed 🙂
Must remember? That’ll be a first.
It is getting hazy and clouding over here – what is it like further west?
Bright hazy, and humid. Very claggy. May change from wine back to Guinness under the circumstances. Case of the black stuff would be ideal accompaniment to burnt flesh.
Drink eh? We’re not allowed to touch alcohol until the sun goes down, not since the court order anyway.
Enjoy it while it lasts!
Dose anyone think all are transfers will be done prior to the WC as Mr Wenger said ?
I only say this as 3 good weeks and a players price can go through the roof.
‘Holic, enjoy the barbecue and the burning flesh!
Here’s an enjoyable read about one man’s experience of 1989:
http://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/the-renaissance-of-football/
From what it seems (all kinds of websites) Schwarzer would be our goalkeeper move this summer (and more and more websites saying Joe Cole is ours after the WC).
Not thrilled about it but satisfied, it will give us 2-3 solid years until Sczeczny (or however it’s spelled), Mannone or Fabianski (giving he’ll go on loan and regain some confidence) will get the number 1.
Things are starting to get brighter 🙂 – especially Robin’s form, abolutely amazing.
Snir – yes Schwarzer would be a ‘safe pair of hands’ and his age means we won’t ‘kill’ the younger keepers. It would be a very logical piece of Wenger business.
The more I think about it he might turn out to be a great ‘Sol’ type of signing. I can’t see the Sambas of this world troubling him – he’s too calm.
By the way it’s easier to just type Woj.
By the way does anyone know how tall Schwarzer is?
@1974 – Yeah, it’s quite similar to the Van der Sar deal that Utd pulled off, since he was about 36-37 and gave them 3 excellent years after coming from Fulham 🙂
We’ll get him for about 3 years until he retires and then the younger guys get the number 1, that’s a reasonable solution 🙂
Even though, I still would like for AW to try to bring Akinfeev.
194 CM – 6 ‘4.
Snir – if Roy goes to Liverpool, then Fulham may well have a firesale? Quite fancy their centre half! Job done 😉
It would be great to have Hangeland but I’m pretty sure AW will bring in Koscielny from Lorient cause it does seems he’s quite interested in him since he reportedly offered for him twice.
That Diakhate is also a name that doesn’t vanish from the rumors.
Whoever it is, there should be 4 good CB’s to make sure that if one is missing we won’t have posts here on how awful it would be and that we need to put Song as CB like we did when we had Silvestre as backup.
Morning Holics’, hope everyone had a good weekend and you all feel rested. So one more week and the Football bonanza will start flowing through us again. Hopefully we shall see if Cesc’s comments that he wants his future to be sorted before thw World Cup actually meant anything.
According to Arsene we also have one week left to make all the signings it should be really interesting to see what what he has up his sleeve.
I reckon two more players may come in and that will be it.
I don’t think there will be any signings before the WC. That defender bloke from Lorient is not playing in it anyways, so we can get him during the tournament without any hassles.
Joe Cole rumors gathering pace. Don’t know if I should be excited for this one or not, because one player is almost certainly leaving if he comes in.
If Joe Cole does come in Rosicky will surely be the one most under threat. One year left on his contract and rumours abound of an impending return to the Bundesliga.
Koscielny’s potential signing would scotch the theory that Arsenal use the “Transfer Linked” section on the official website to only highlight players they have no interest in. Two bids already for Koscielny would seem to confirm this.
Summer injuries so far: none to Arsenal players (knock on wood), but apparently fairly serious injuries to Obi Mikel and Drogba of Chelsea. Let the positive trend continue!
I’m a bit late to the party once again, just wanted to say what a great name “Got, got, got, need” is. Brought me back to the days when I used to swap those (Panini?) football stickers. Good stuff!
Cider please squire.
Cheers.