Yeah, he would solve a lot of problems for us! Him, Ramsey and Ozil would be a really complete midfield!

Anderson is a fatty though, Diaby works so hard but god hates him

Wenger should really have gone for Cesc. I understand the reasons for his demurring but ultimately it was silly, IMO.

Yeah, can fully understand why he did it, but I think it'll end up being a huge mistake. Fab wanted to come back, he knew he'd be competing with Ozil, he would have been aware of the competition.

But I think Wenger was concerned how Ozil would take it, he's a bit soft mentally, might have felt betrayed by Wenger if he signed Cesc back.

Having said that, I can just us going to Stamford Bridge next season, with Flamini and Arteta in midfield and Fabregas just waltzing through them.

The abuse Wenger will get if this goes south will be enormous. Especially if Ozil gets a customary Arsenal "2-3 weeks but really 3 months" injury.

True, Tu Meke, but some players are just cursed. I think Diaby is one of those players.

Akinfeev made a hash of that cross.

Villarreal have signed Jonathan Dos Santos on loan- he is Gio's brother.

I think we should look to get in Chicharito to add to our number of Mexicans.

I remember when Akinfeev was courted by many.

Yeah, what happened to him? He was regarded as the world best even by some!

Not signing Cesc will only make sense if we make a statement of intent and sign at least one top player in this window. Otherwise Arsene will have absolutely no defenders!

1-0 Belgium

If Hernandez leave I hope he does go to Villarreal. You've treated our ex strikers well in the past, I'm sure you'd do the same with him.

It would make sense.

Could Villarreal afford him, though? More likely you'd try and get Henriquez on loan from us.

On Hernandez I feel a bit sorry for him. He's not had the best of times in the last year or so at United and then loses his place in the Mexico side before the world cup.

Even though I actually think Mexico have looked better when he's come on.

I am not sure. I think the emphasis will be on the academy in coming years, it is one of the best in Europe and should be seeing the benefits soon.

Disappointed we didn't get Torres, but hopefully Nahuel steps up.

Didn't you say he's going to Porto on loan or something?

Yep.

That's a weird move. Quintero plays in his position doesn't he?

Re Gibbs and recurrent muscle trouble, this was the exact same problem Robben had for years. A guy I know who claims to know people at Real Madrid reckons that it was all diet-related. Apparently Robben was big on junk food and that there's something in it that's bad for muscle fibres. The fact of the matter, as I remember reading about it, was that as soon as he joined Bayern they put him in the hands of a nutritionist who changed his diet and his muscle problems have by and large cleared up.

comment by ☺ Wumpatröl - I know the pieces fit because I watched them fall away... (U5046)
posted about 11 hours ago
Not signing Cesc will only make sense if we make a statement of intent and sign at least one top player in this window. Otherwise Arsene will have absolutely no defenders!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Talking about Cesc and defenders reminds me he just joined Chelsea.

You guys reckon he'll pay further up with Oscar dropping back, or will Cesc play defensive defensive midfield with Oscar staying at defensive attacking midfield?

I see Mourinho going with this sort of formation:

------------------DG----------------
DRB----DRCB----DLCB---DLB
----------DDM------DDM--------
DRM-----------DAM----------DLM
--------------------DS-----------------

There's a sky sports headline in one of their articles that says 'Capello defensive after exit'.

I've got a lot of respect for Capello for how he twice turned our side around, but man, his brand of football is an eyesore.

DK, btw, I'm not sure but I think it was Emenike who put the cross in for Gyan's goal.

It was Kwadwo Asamoah, Emenike plays for Nigeria.

Capello's football makes Mourinho's look like Pep's.

Asamoah