Last season, it looked like we'd turned a corner and had pushed on from the disappointment of 09/10. But then February came and for some strange reason we lost a cup final to a team who would just 3 months later be relegated to the Championship. We lost a crucial lead in the Camp Nou and tumbled out of the CL (no real shock there though!), we were dry humped at Old Trafford and burned all hopes of a cup being lifted - could salvation come from a late title challenge? Utd dropped points, but Chelsea and then even more embarrasing than that - Man City - overtook us, ousting us from the CL proper and forcing a short pre-season thanks to the need to play 2 qualifying legs in August.
We've regressed. 2009/10 we finished 3rd, 2010/11 we finished 4th. That simply is not good enough. What next? A scrap for 5th with Liverpool and Spurs for the Europa league?
It's no surprise to see the likes of Nasri, Clichy and Fabregas eyeing up a team who will provide a better chance of actually winning a trophy. Clichy is welcome to leave - in my opinion he's peaked and offers little when it comes to driving the ball forward and actually attacking. Fabregas has been a great player for us, but every summer break we'll be under this 'will he, won't he' cloud until the inevitable happens and we cash in on him. There's no doubt he's one of the best and we have struggled to perform without his vision, however, I still feel he isn't a great captain and as long as he's with AFC, Wenger will give him the armband. This is a key issue for us. We need a strong vocal leader - an inspiring talisman like Vieira and Adams gave us.
As for Nasri, you can see what his game is. He wants out to Utd. He knows he can be there wearing the No.8 shirt for the next 3-4yrs and win the lot. He knows Utd will pay him considerably more than Arsenal ever will, he knows that he would guarantee himself CL football not just this season but next season and thereafter (when did Utd ever finish outside the top 2?). After the collapse of this season and the knowledge that our manager will look at Christopher Samba and Peter Odemwingie rather than Neven Subotic and Karim Benzema, you can understand his frustration. Nasri found his feet in the PL this season and wants to push on. What angers me more than a player trying to structure a move to a major rival is the fact that the board has allowed a player of his calibre (and Clichy) to be in this bargaining position. We either sell them on the cheap and look like mugs OR we lose them for free come next summer.
We may have £50m available, but you can guarantee it'll continue to be spent on pacy young players with a bit of potential - not the experienced, established internationals we need to win trophies (or even improve!).
With Spurs and a rejuvenated Liverpool looking at getting back into the top 4 next season, the spending power of City and the undeniable strength of Chelsea and Utd, Arsenal must NOT fall any further behind. If we opt to sell Cesc and Samir, then only top quality replacements will be acceptable. We simply don't have the time to let any new signings develop their potential over the next few seasons. We've done that with Wilshere, Scszesny, Gibbs, Ramsay and Walcott. This is the summer we have to break the bank.
What next for Arsenal?
posted on 6/6/11
Yh I reckon Drogba is a good punt. His power and lethal finishing would be perfect up front.
Please Wenger pull one out of the magic hat and sign him!
posted on 6/6/11
Get in some tall, physically and mentally strong players with premier league experience. These are the players you need to win the premiership and defeat the lower team that use set-pieces as their advantage.
posted on 6/6/11
As for Nasri, you can see what his game is. - Indeed you can, he is using this "interest" from The Premier League Champions Manchester United to either get the pay deal he wants, or the move he want. His agent has probably told him he IS the one in the driving seat. 1 year left on his contract, unhappy (due to lack of trophies and the fact you cannot compete, just like to point out ) and there apparently is real interest from Juve.
Wonder how many players will leave Arsenal this summer, I reckon the bookies should open a market
posted on 6/6/11
Yh I reckon Drogba is a good punt
==================
Nooooooooooooooo
posted on 6/6/11
Drogba would be sweet upfront with RvP in the Berghamp role. We would of course have to switch back to the 4-4-2 formation which funnily enough was the formation we were in last time we one a trophy.
I am not liking the sound of signing Peter Odemwingie. We need an elite CF not another Bendner. I expect we will be linked with all of the best strikers only to sign a £4m rated like P.Odemwingie.
posted on 6/6/11
"Wonder how many players will leave Arsenal this summer, I reckon the bookies should open a market"
I reckon they should stick to being bookies. I'm happy to place bets with them but I wouldn't want to get my fruit and veg there.
posted on 6/6/11
I think you should sign these players:
1) Hangelaand - He is a solid defender and can score headers - £15 million.
2) Ben Foster - Much better than what you currently have - £10 million
3) Fabio Contraeo - Clichy is a liability and needs to be offloaded - £20 million
4) Klass Jan Huntelaar - One of the best finishers in the world, something you suck at - £10 million.
Then if you manage to keep your top players your team could be:
----------------------------Foster---------------------------
Sagna------Hangeland---Vermalean-----Contrao
--------------Fabregas-------------Wilshere------------
Walcott-----------------------------------------------Nasri
--------------Van Persie---------Huntelaar-------------
This sort of a team would win you trophies! I should manage Arsenal!
posted on 6/6/11
With Nasri, he could walk into a number of clubs and get paid easily in excess of £100,000 a week so why the should he stay at Arsenal? He is a quality player, and he wants to win trophies. He owes Arsenal nothing! I really hope Wenger gives him an extra few grand a week to keep him.
posted on 6/6/11
Realistically there is defo 2 players leaving, Bendtner and Denilson. The you have Arshavin, Ceselona, Clichy & Nasri. The you have the players you SHOULD get rid of but won’t due others leaving you WILL need them, they are IMO Diaby, Rosický, Vela, Eboué, Almunia, Flapiański.
Hangelaand Not a bad shout, should be able to attract him and he surely fit in Wengers price range.
Ben Foster - Why not. Imporved at Birmingham and looks ready for a shot at a top club.
Fabio Contraeo like he would ever join Arsenil. Hes already made it clear he wants to leave for Real Madrid and is expected to within a few days.
Klass Jan Huntelaar - Really?? Havent seen much of him this year in Germany to be fair.
I think you should sign Chris Samba and Peter OogieWoogieBoogie
posted on 7/6/11
We don't really care what you have to say United legends 19! You're choices are quite frankly pathetic - Huntelaar? 7 goals last season for Schalke! Bendtner got 9 in the handful of games he played for us! Go play Championship Manager and leave the grown ups to do the talking...
Nicolas Furious - you also support Utd so what's your fascination with our team? As for 'I wonder how many players will leave Arsenal this summer' - only the ones we want out. And if I were you mate, i'd think back to October/November last year when Rooney was adamant he was off because of your 'lack of ambition'...
Unless one or both of Nasri and Fabregas leaves, then there's little point in speculating about players costing more than £15m! Wenger may have a £50m budget this summer, but we all know what he does year in, year out! We'll also have money in from the sale of Denilson, Bendtner, Eboue, Almunia and Vela, but expect these positions mainly to be covered by internal promotions (Lansbury, Botelho, Coquelin, Frimpong, Aneke, Bartley, Miquel).
The only way we'll see big money moves is if we get big money for Cesc. Quite simply, we'd need to replace him with an established and experienced playmaker (a position that doesn't come cheap!). Kaka has never cemented his place at Real and Ozil was signed by Mourinho last summer. Yes, we've heard all about how he'll only ever move to Barca, but what a deal we could do if we part exchanged him for one of those two!