Some years ago on this forum we used to keep a tally of all the players 'rumoured' to be coming to Arsenal during the close season. The names and the numbers of them was always fantastical. By contrast every year Arsene used to say he was after just two three new faces, and that is mostly what happened. He has said the same this time, and one has already signed. Don't expect many more.

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Not buying it...sounds like a series of answers to specific and different questions cobbled together. The fact is, he was rubbishing the move only weeks ago, has 6 years left on his contract, and our financial situation is such that we don't need to sell anyone under contract, not like before. Add in the fact that as one of the 6 best young full-backs in Europe, he's actually probably out of Barca's financial reach. The only way this happens is if the player burns all his bridges to force a move, which seems unlikely given Bellerin's prior comments, or if Barca offer silly money or amazing options in a swap.

I'll be amazed if this happens.

Indeed. Particularly as Podolski strikes a ball better than 99% of all players at the top level of world football.

Ultimately it will depend on how the team does. I reckon there's a good chance he'll stay long term if the team can achieve the level we all expect that it should, that of challenging more regularly.

So, if someone yells "F*ck you, I'm Arsenal" its more or less respect?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ ... 95151.html

Let me totally disagree with your statement ánd one has already signed'. Whilst I did not see the article myself Daz sent a post on 31 May in which he said the words used by the club were "We will work very hard to find the additions of top, top quality. I believe that our squad is very strong and we will only look for top-class people who can strengthen our team now...".

This signing is no where near top quality. I ask again were Bayern, Juventus, Barca, Real chasing him because if not he is another almost was. He clearly is not a top top quality signing. Every word uttered by the board and Wenger will be repeated back to them this season. We clearly need 3 top players in addition to replacements for Bellerin, Özil, Ox or Sanchez should any of them go.

As was pointed out on the Daily Cannon podcast we need a number of top signings to just stay up with the transfer activity of our competitors but then we need to actually catch up to them as well.

Do i expect many signings of course not. Nothing has changed from season after season. We don't ever go the whole step. Ahla Suarez. Even Mbappe, where we apparently bid less than Real, is a carefully concocted smokescreen to allow Wenger, the supreme being, to say they tried to get him. In the future Wenger will tell us he tried to sign Messi and Mbappe. If he is serious just up the bid. If Mbappe is sold then the truth is out there.

Hoy, I suggest you do not answer the emails from Nigeria seeking your bank account details because if you believe what Wenger states and you yourself believe this is a top top quality signing you are vulnerable.

You may well be right. But that could easily be a big 'if' with Wenger presumably staying at least another two years.

When I read it, it seemed like the interviewer was trying to push him into saying he wants to join Barcelona, or at least give answers where that could be assumed.

Certainly, finding these attributes in one player would be preferable to two. In fact, finding them in two is almost worthless. Wenger must have known that when he signed Welbeck and Podolski that they weren't one player, but, in fact, two separate players. What was he thinking? In the Invincibles era, he almost certainly wouldn't have made such a simple numerical error.

I’m sorry, but this is a ridiculous standard. As if no other club signs great players.

Particularly when you look at those clubs and see that they have absolutely no need for another left back.

You seem to have completely missed the point of my post, which was that experience tells us not to believe all you read about potential transfers and then use it as a stick to beat the club with when it doesn't happen! Three signings is par for the course for us - has been for years.

You obviously have far greater knowledge of our new man than I do. I'll be honest and admit that until the last few weeks I had never heard of him. I presume you have had an eye on him for years? For the moment I bow to your judgement that he is not 'top quality', but I will reserve the right to remind you of your views if he turns out to be a good 'un. Out of interest who would you have signed as an alternative?

To reverse your top quality argument does the fact that Barca, Real, Juve and Bayern respectively let go Sanchez, Özil, Pogba and Khedira mean they are selling-platers?

He's moved on since banging in those important goals back in '98.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-40189690

I don't think he'll go this summer but I'd be tempted if they put in a huge bid. However I doubt their offer if they even make one, will be anywhere near what AW values him at. If Barca do bid £45m plus then it might not be so bad to take the cash and invest it in a rb with more physical presence and with the ability to cross a decent ball.

There's another set of quotes saying his family has gone back to Barcelona and it will change the dynamic of his stay with Arsenal. Sounds like he's agitating for a move and will be off.

Good riddance I say, he always had that Reyesy look about him where he was going to be off the first chance he saw and ox is a better player anyway.

NothIng less than 50million please arsene and no more cry baby spaniards

Chesney to juve for 14m is another sound piece of business if it happens. Bye bye you cocky *%^@ well take that money in a heartbeat.

The other one mooted in the press that sounds excellent is Gibbs to Newcastle for and I quote 15 million quid, woohoo kerching. Let's rack up some dollar cash money for this deadwood

Ospina might be lacking a bit of height to be a really top keeper in this country but he is still a very good goalkeeper who has performed very well on the world and Champions league stages. To sell him for £3m in the current market would be ridiculous. To then sell Szczesny for £14m is plain daft. He's got to be worth at least another £10m. We'd then have to overpay for a replacement. I'm sorry but despite some of his previous immature antics, Szczesny is still a superior player to keepers like Pickford and is older and hopefully more mature now. It just wouldn't make sense especially when we have other positions that need prioritising. We shouldn't be wasting money on a keeper.

I agree with you Sabir. I can understand Ospina being sold because, as you imply, he's possibly too short to be a top keeper in England. As a result he doesn't dominate the area and I go into panic mode every time the ball comes into our area in the air. As I think lomekian said a while back, that suggests he might be better suited to leagues abroad as high crosses are probably more common in England. But £3m would be ridiculous.

I also agree with you about Szczesny. He's a highly talented keeper who has presumably matured in Italy if Juventus want him. To sell him for £14m seems crazy. Was our chief transfer negotiator Dick Law poached from Aldi or the Poundshop?

Sab agreed.
3 million and 14 million for Ospina and Chesney are ridiculous.
What idiot negotiates our transfers??!!
Ospina should be going for 10 to 15 million and Chesney 20 to 25 million.
Im not even sure we should be selling him.
Bring him back and let him challenge Čech.
Why the hell should juventus get the benefits of his peak years.
I think Chesney would come back if promised the no 1 slot but cant see wenger doing that. No way he is coming back to sit on the bench.

If the Ox signs a new contract as i hope he does id be open to letting Bellerin go for 45 million minimum and reinvest the money. Its clear his long term future isnt here if his family have gone back to spain. So eventually he will go.
But only if the Ox stays. He has looked very good in the wing back role.

And if sanchez is going getting it done quickly.
And out of the country
No drawn out sagas this summer please

Ox at RB? Does he want to for a start, is he willing to commit to the position and develop the requisite skills, especially defending. Attack wise, as a full back he is better than Bellerin. I like Bellerin more. His pace, he's a better defender and is an asset in attack if not as good as Ox. He puts in a better cross as well. If Bellerin's mind is set and he's pulling a 'Fabregas' so be it. Can't blame someone for wanting to play for their hometown club and that club being no worse than 2nd or 3rd best club in the world.

Walcott can go IF he fetches a really good price. Not sure what that price is but its not cheap. Welbeck and Girouid are good back ups for a top, top striker if either are okay with that role. Monreal will need replacing soon as he is on the other side of 30 and Gibbs is not that player.

Centrally, we seem somewhat sorted. Cazorla is on his last legs. Čech needs to be challenged as well. Go for a very good prospect that can learn under him.

I might not read the obvious conclusion into Bellerins family moving back to Spain. When he moved here he was a child, makes absolute sense that his family would move too. Now that he is very much an adult, being able to make all his own stupid hairstyle choices, and long established as first choice and raking it in, they probably rightly thought he might not need their support in the same way. I'm sure he doesn't live with them so they've got no need to stay here anymore. Unless Barca bid more than 45-50m I can't see him going at all.

I'd do the opposite and refuse to sell until we have added more firepower. Without that we are totally screwed

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/ ... outhampton

Liverpool officially end their interest in Van Dijk and apologise to Southampton for their conduct. Sounds like Liverpool knew they had broken a few rules and Saints reporting them to the premier league or FA would have been bad news for them so they decided to pull out than risk a bigger punishment.

I can't see Wenger making any central defence signings even though we've moved to a 3 man back line which would normally require more CB to choose from. Wenger made a point when talking about Kolasinac that he sees Monreal playing a fair bit in a 3 man back line. So if you add Monreal and the returning Chambers to our current CB list you end up with Kos, Mert, Mustafi, gabriel, Holding, Monreal, Chambers. In numbers terms that is more than enough for 3 positions

I would agree and happy really in terms of quality.

I know, bit mad innit? First ever statement I've heard of its kind. Maybe Barca should copy and paste it and enact it retrospectively for every player they've ever signed for us. Bastardos. Glad Liverpool aren't signing him anyway, seems a very good youngish CB.

I know it goes on everywhere but over the years Liverpool have had a lot more previous than other clubs, or cases where they got sanctioned. Ziege, Kenwyne Jones, that kid from Stoke, I think there were others and now VVD. They've been fined and warned in the past, I'm sure some legal lines had been crossed and didn't want something more serious ie a transfer ban which is why they put out that unusual statement.

That's what I was hoping would happen. Did you see Pickford's kicking when he played at the Emirates? Atrocious! This kind of signing just reminds me of Richard Wright.

Lidl!
Ospina is a good shot stopper but imagine 10 minutes remaining with a one goal lead, the opposition start aerially bombarding us, Ospina just isn't the man to see us home. And I've noticed he picks up injuries way too easily. A good gk but I'd be happy for him to move on. Just not for three bloody million quid.
I think people forget how good Szczesny is. He did some stupid stuff as well as make a few high profile gaffs but he is a top keeper and he proved it in Italy. There was a game when he played against the Germans a while back when he looked absolutely incredible, one of the best displays I had seen. I really thought he would be our keeper for the next decade. Ok things don't always work out but sell him for a decent fee. Not sell him cheap and then pay over the odds for a less talented player. No way is Pickford an improvement on Szczesny.

Pickford's a good shot stopper. But as well as being very poor at distributing the ball, he's almost as bad as Ospina when the ball is crossed into his area in the air.

I meant Lidl. Forgot their name and confused them with Aldi.

I agree Gibbs is not that player but that's why we signed Kolasinac.

I like Szczesny. Will be disappointed to see him go. Čech is only 35 so will still be our no. 1 for another couple of seasons I guess. Pity the timing is not quite right for Szczesny to take over - he's done well at Roma.

Perhaps read the interview before castigating the player. The quotes are a cobbled together mess of an interview that contained 12 seperate questions trying to make him sound like he was off to Barca. We all know what they do, they try to turn fans against a player to facilitate a cheaper move.