Who could/should go?

Well its been an age since I last posted mainly because nothing at all is going on really because of the Euros. I could go into some post about how RVP had a shocker and SZCZ got sent off and how Podolski was but it seems rather irrelavent. So instead I thought I'd do a post that was quite popular last year. Who should go?

Well coincidentally the first person that I'm going to talk about apparent is 'keen' to leave Arsenal to join an Italian team and that defender is Johan Djourou. I have never really rated him to be honest, he always seems clumbersome and doesn't really know where he should be. His clearances also leave something to be desired. I can understand that Djourou wants to play football more regularly, hes still young-ish at 25 and he wants to move to something new. The reported 10m Euros seems a bit high to me not that I'm complaining, also I think Djourou's aim of a top 5 Italian team may be a bit ambitious.

Another defender who I think we could see depart is Squillaci, at 31 this could be his last move and he is well out of favour with manager and fans alike. Yes he's had injury problems and his early performances were OK but he's gone rapidly downhill. The only issue with him is that his age may inhibit possible deals. I can't see him leaving however. I think we need some new younger defenders to step in when needed.

It terms of current midfielders I'm happy but would like to see a few more players brought in to give us something a bit different, I think we've been a bit too predictable this season. That said with Denilsons loan coming to an end I think he's one we could really do with seeing the back of, I never rated him and don't think a one year loan spell will have made much difference.

Talking of players returning from loans, in the striking department we have the worlds greatest striker returning and I'm sure we'd all be happy to see him depart. A permanent deal would be best for all involved. Chamakh is one that I think is the most obvious to leave and I think he will, he's been so poor recently and I think a fresh start would be best for him. I can't see Park leaving for some reason despite having little impact mainly because he hasn't been played.

So that's a little shortlist of people who I think we could see leaving. I'll be back soon with players who I'd like to see (mainly those who have been rumoured), till then take care. 

Pre-season continues as Arsenal leave Asia

So the week draws to a close as does our pre-season tour of Asia. It ended yesterday with a 1-1 draw with Hangzhou Greentown, yeah bothered. To be frank it doesn't matter what pre-season results are its just a way of improve fitness and trying to build a fan base. Vela scored with his second of the pre-season campaign so to speak. I must say top marks to the fans that turned out to greet the team and watch them play from what I saw and heard it was tremendous which has shown that the Arsenal brand is certainly popular. 

Anyway onto transfer talk and well, there hasn't been a lot so to speak apart from Mancini and Wenger having a bitch at each other. With respect to Wenger to I see what he says, Mancini saying he's hoping to have Nasri by the end of the week is pretty disrespectful but at the end of the day Wenger can do as he pleases with Nasri. If he really wants to keep him then he can and from what he was saying the during the week he fully intends too. I'm still torn at the moment as to what I think we should do. Theres no doubt he's good but if he doesn't want to sign a new contract then is it worth keeping him for this season when he'll leave next summer on a free? I'm not so sure it is, but I'm not a Premier League manager.

Not a lot coming out of Spain this week except one piece found by the arseblogger where Johan Cruyff has come out and said:

Arsene Wenger looks after their interests and it is Arsenal who control the situation. Cesc signed for many years and now he has to play for them. If Barcelona want him, they have to pay for him.
When you sign for a club, you are bound to it. It is logical to want Cesc but he is under contract to another club.

Which is exactly what everyone is thinking. Whether or not Barcelona will do this is a totally different question. After chatting with a few friends the other day they weren't entirely sure whether Barca will make another bid and I'm inclined to agree. Although their team mates find it funny to wind Arsenal fans up (Xavi, you two bob piece of shit), I don't think Cesc is at the top of their Christmas list at this current moment and since we've asked for more than what they offered they seem to have other plans.
 

The usual stuff from The Mail about how Juan Mata is ours and the deal has been done and so on. As much as I'd like to believe that I doubt it. Apparently we've also signed "Costa Rican kid", Joel Campbell (yes that really is his name) can't say much on this one cause I don't know much about him, I saw that he was a striker and lost interest. No further news on Samba, Cahill, there is a long way to go but I can't help but feel that if anything was going to move on this front then it would have done but only time will tell.

Finally some good news on players going out. It has been mentioned (ESPN) that Denilson may be on his way to Sao Paulo, admittedly a loan move but fuck it at least he wont be shitting up our squad. Whispers on the grapevine are that a deal between "a German club" and Bendtner will begin this week now this is by no means a solid source so take that one with a pinch of salt.

Anyone thats about it for now, should anything happen then I will keep you posted. Next weeks regular post may be a bit late as I'm on hols for a few weeks and after having my seat kicked to shit on a plane for 9 hours doesn't put me in the mood to write a post so yeah. Time to watch the end of the golf. Well lets face it theres fuck all else on. 

Gael Clichy moves to Man City

Apologies for not breaking this last night, I was watching Derren Brown fuck with people's mind's in London, very good show if anyone is thinking about it. Anyway so it was finally confirmed last night after weeks of speculation that Gael Clichy has gone Man City for an undisclosed fee. Those of you have been following will remember that I already stated that I thought he had to go so I'm quite happy to see him go.

But the questions are now being asked as to whether we invest in a new left back or whether we let Gibbs fill in full time. Now I personally don't think, at the moment, Gibbs is ready to fill in full time but the main problem is he is one of the most injury prone players out there, so I think we need to buy a top drawer replacement. That is just my view there are many people that say he needs to be given games and so on. We'll have to see what Wenger does, if anything.

Nasri seems to be on his way, what way exactly is anybodies fucking guess. I can't see him staying now cause obviously if he wanted too he would have signed. But as I've said time and time again about him, if he wants to go because of money then he isn't the sort of player we want at the club. Reports suggest a deal could be done by the end of the week but I can see this being a drawn our, messy situation. The way Nasri has treated everyone at the club has been incredibly disrespectful and should by some chance he stay, I don't think anyone at The Emirates will be as fond of him as we all were.

The latest on Fabregas, well I say the latest on it but its been the same story for the whole of the summer, Barcelona line up bid, deal to be done by the end of the week. Until i see anything concrete I'm not believing anything. Interestingly Cesc was back for pre-season yesterday dispelling the idea that he was gonna boycott pre-season prep. I agree with the Arseblogger on this one, that just isn't the sort of player Cesc is, he does respect the club and deep down he loves Arsenal, as much as a move back to his home land is tempting.

Finally today, I was watching an interview with Kenny Sansom, who I have met and spoke with before and he seems to be thinking if we lose these 3 players (one being Clichy!!) we're basically fucked beyond all belief. Now I do think this is going over the top, a squad is 25 people not 3, admittedly our squad of 25 involves the likes of Denilson but still. Wenger isn't an idiot he knows if they go we need to do business and from what I hear on the grapevine we are already involved in business. So much like last time we spoke I heard Kenny and found myself thinking "Really?"

That's it for now I'll keep you all posted. Enjoy the sun.

Who needs to go?

I know its not very original to make a post about this but whatever. This is just who I think should be shown the door the season (there won't be many surprises if you've been following). I'm not commenting on any rumours in this post as per usual we've already been linked with every decent player under the sun.

Denilson

Denilson is a player who, to be honest I've never rated. He came in as a young Brazilian who was going to be the next best thing and just needed to mature. Calling this player Brazilian is an insult to their country, he is quite possibly the worst Brazilian footballer to have ever existed. His inability to pass, dribble or shoot does put him at a bit of a disadvantage. Luckily it seems we won't be offering him a new deal.

Bendtner

Yes that's right, I propose that we sell the worlds best player (he said so himself). Bendtner at first appearance looks like a clumsy, bumbling idiot. After watching him play for ten minutes its clear that he's a clumsy, bumbling idiot. Now I'm sure the Bendtner fans out there will be quick to point out his hat trick against Leyton Orient and his well finished goal against Ipswich. But the problem with both of those points is look at the opposition; Leyton Orient and Ipswich. Hardly top notch. His attitude also grates with many Arsenal fans, seemingly thinking he's perfection in boots. Any takers are welcome to his 'talents'.

Djourou

This may be the only surprise on the list. Now he filled in well originally but as the season went on his performance got worse and worse. There have been quite a few goals that he can be blamed for where hes played the ball straight to an oncoming player (Bolton) and has failed to play the offside trap. This isn't the first bad season he's had and although our defence is shaky to say the least he isn't gonna change our fortunes overnight so I think it may be time for him to move on.

Clichy

 

Gael Clichy has in recent seasons gone dramatically downhill. If I was an opposition manager looking at the back four, along with Djourou, Clichy would be the man who I would try to exploit. He tends to lose track of how far forward he goes and ends up chasing back and the times when he does stay back he backs off players too much and is fairly well beaten. After a certain money grabbing dickhead left for Chelsea, Gael began fairly well but with Gibbs waiting in the wings I think Gael either needs to move on or prepare to make way for Gibbs to mature.

Manuel Almunia

I think many fans will agree that Manuel has fallen out of love with not only the club but many people within the club. Its nothing against him in particular, I thought he was a good keeper a few seasons ago. He used to be able to hold his own quite well on a regular basis. But now with Wojek becoming more and more popular amongst the fans for his impressive performances and Wenger favouring Fabianski above Manuel it seems unlikely that we will be seeing much more of him. 

So they are the 5 players who I think should be moving on, the top 2 in particular as they are simply shit. Next week I'm gonna name a few players who I would like to see at the club but no doubt knowing Wenger we won't see anybody of note. Have a good Bank Holiday.