If you believe as I do that it is the intention of Arsene and the club to improve the first choice eleven then I suggest that is no easy job.
If any purchases have to be of a standard that displaces one of our current best eleven, then the pool of players that are available is quite small. Those players have to be of exceptional quality AND be for sale.
If we have learned anything from recent seasons it is that it’s incredibly difficult and expensive to prise a player from a reluctant seller. Cesc, Judas and Nasri all took an age before we finally ceded.
As far as I am aware, we know that a bid has been made for Suarez. Even then we only know because Liverpool chose to go public. Like it or not – and I do – Arsenal conduct their business in total secrecy.
We know nothing of bids or targets. Our “knowledge” is based purely on hearsay, ITK’s, Sky Sports News, TalkShite and the word of third-rate hacks.
In reality, we can not be said to have missed a target unless we aimed for it in the first place.
I think Marouane Fellaini has a release clause of £25 million, or there about. Now if he was seen as a priority I am sure we could have offered Everton that fee and met his wage demands. If we haven’t, it’s either because we don’t want him, or another reason that we know nothing about.
Perhaps he wants to go to United? Or maybe we are looking at a better player. We just don’t know, do we?
I accept that there are many players who would improve the squad. But is that really what we are all hoping for ?
The melt down on twitter and blogs is quite frankly pathetic.
You might well think we had no good players at the club. We have players of the quality of Jack, AOC and Podolski who can not always command a First Team start. For new players to improve our first team they not only have to be better than those three, but better than the first team incumbents keeping them out.
The simple reality is we have no choice but wait and trust the club. What else can we do? Bin bags on seats? Stickers on statues? Stay away from the ground for the Emerates Cup? Boo and chant some childish drivel about spending f***ing money?
We will get who we get when – and if – the club do the deals.
Patience is not an option. It’s a necessity.
Positively Arsenal 
Sens,
It’s school holidays time and there are more muppets on arseblog at the moment than in fraggle rock.
Hunter has been over there a bit just to knock some sense into the worst offenders, but FFS Wenger says we have money, he says we are looking for the right players and we already have had club record bids for 3 genuine talanted players knocked back by various clubs. What more can he do? Unless act like the above quoted fucknut wants?
Trust Wenger. Always.
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@dc
It’s baffling how there are still people out there that fail to understand that it takes two to tango. If a club doesn’t want to sell, there’s only two choices: either throw ridiculous money at them until they can’t refuse (hint, hint: we don’t do that, thankfully!) or negotiate long and hard until they eventually decide they do want to sell. With us going after “big” players, it’s obvious that those kind of transfer don’t get completed in a half day’s work. When, big oil money moves,aside, has any “big” player moved quickly in the last couple of seasons?
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DC,
“Its school holidays time” is the best and funniest insult.
BT are doing their best to out Sky, Sky. Phrases like “70 million burning a hole in Wenger’s pocket”, “Only hole is in defence”, “They need a physical centre back” “Mertesacker has no pace”. Oh my god. If I can learn some football after a few years, how can people who are in this business all their lives be so dumb and cliche suckers?
The team seem tense playing Napoli. Relax Arsenal.
Rosicky is being fucking majestic. No other player on the pitch is doing the things he is doing.
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2nd half was much better from us.
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Where is everyone? Emirates cup was a lot of fun. ARSvNAP was quite entertaining after the turgid stuff served up by Gala and Porto. The highlight of that match was the return of Eboue.
The crowd were behind the team for the most part – I think the moaners had stayed home for the most part, but I was not impressed by the half-time booing for a pre-season friendly? Some people need to get a life. I agree SA – the team seemed nervous at first, even Per’s first intervention was nervy and then the Jenks mistake seemed to put them on the back foot for a long period. I don’t think it was Napoli doing it – the team still seem nervous about how the ‘home’ fans are going to react to them. But much like last season, it was the ‘never say die’ attitude that got them through. It’s good to see that it is still there. The game itself is probably not worthy of much analysis, but I thought Gnabry looked promising and they’re still making plenty of chances, just need to be more efficient in taking them. It was so nice to see the boys after a long off season. I hope they are wearing red and white tomorrow as it just does not look right to see them at home in that yellow kit!
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Passenal, yep can’t comprehend the booing either. It just demonstrates the fickleness and ignorance of some. I’ve seen comments on negativelyarsenal type forum that seem to think the booing is a good thing… unbelievable.
However, We can sleep in the security of the knowledge that we’re right and they aren’t. I have absolutely no understanding of how such folk can actually enjoy watching the games… each to his own I guess.
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SA: “Rosicky is being fucking majestic. No other player on the pitch is doing the things he is doing.”
Agreed, but Kos was majestic in his way.
Good to see the extra pace that Theo and Alex injected when they came on. We have surfeit of riches in midfield, although we were a bit exposed in the first half because neither Aaron nor Jack was prepared to stay back and play DM in the way that Arteta does. I don’t care so much in these games but that needs sorting out if Arteta doesn’t start or gets injured when the season is underway.
I just want the season to start now – bored with all these training matches – maybe I should stop watching them. Now there’s a thought.
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Steve – there are many people who just loooooove a good moan. That’s their enjoyment.
Me too sometimes, tbh, but usually about other things.
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Loved watching the Porto GK take-out Drogba
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@Passenal
I absolutely hate the booers because we saw last season what an effect it can have on the team if the fans aren’t right behind them. Can’t they see that this team depends on their support? I don’t want to see the guys play nervy at home because they know that every small mistake will result in moans, groans and booing.
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I think that was exactly what we needed – a game against a slick and dangerous opponent, a chance to test out Jack on the Emirates pitch and give Gnabry a run. Giroud will feel good this morning. Win win despite the draw.
Booing obviously the work of the binbag fringe – irritated to see Jenks on the end of online abuse
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No injuries in these friendly games and I’ll be a happy gooner.
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“Loved watching the Porto GK take-out Drogba”
I’d forgotten about that particular highlight!
anicol15 – people forget that the purpose of these matches is to test out different formations, players in different positions and give youngsters a trial in a competitive environment. Had we strolled through with an easy win, what would the manager have learned about his team from that? Yesterday was a good test and I’m sure he learned a lot about the strengths of individuals and how they executed the plan. Certainly their response to being 2 down and the mental fortitude to fight back despite some lukewarm support was a highlight for me.
I’m looking forward to more of the same today – hope to see Sanogo and Zelalem
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ah you were there passenal..i manged too in the end…found a ticket from a guy named charlie in a pub after 3 hours of desperate searching…but sadly i had to leave at ht to go pick up my bike from the store which was shutting at 18:00…heard the boos ..silly people..only a friendly..the running man and rosicky were my highlights..i read konscielny bossed it second half.
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haha wenger was giving lectures to japanese on business and management…the janpanese right, who are the best compared to the west ..the west is too competitive and aggressive thinking with their cocks and even following sly routes while the japanese are more zen and organised and respectful and there they were eager to listen to a football manager and here in england we have the uneducated and classless wrights and whatever else ( shitheads in stands or media, ex players or general pundits or whatever else) giving him shit and trying to lecture him on football….beyond comical…..
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I take it you haven’t done business with the Japanese, dear Hunter. They’re just as close minded and arrogant as their western counterparts.
These friendliest are just as important as a CL qualifier or a league game, according to the idiots who want Wenger out.
Koscielny put Higuain in his pocket.
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Same old Drogba. Always was and always will be a cheating twat.
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Gains, I shouldn’t be, but I am shocked that he would be so low as to dive in a pre-season friendly. It spoilt what was a fun weekend. They probably would have got the equalising goal anyway as our boys were looking dead tired in those last 20 mins, but I just hate to see cheats prosper.
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‘negativelyarsenal’
Love that Steve.
There is a hell of a lot of overreacting going on out there in the goonerverse.
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To be an accomplished and believable cheater one must practice,practice and more practice. Even a friendly is a good opportunity to showcase his fr•••Ing dark arts.
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Hunter
you were looking for ‘Charlie” in a London pub?
hahaha.
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Evening DC.
what do you think of this SUAREZ affair? I’m not too sure he is worth 40mill +. I don’t think that last bid is going to be improved by much more if at all. Looks like it might get messy with lawyers getting involved. .
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Anicoll
Many happy returns!
Just back from the Emirates Cup. Very enjoyable. We were quite good. Ran out of steam for the last 20 minutes against Galatasaray…that’s when we conceded. Sanogo looks very promising…..
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Goonerkam,
By all means get Messi.
Sorry these are terrible puns.
I don’t know if you read much of the UK press or BBC sport website but Liverpool are making asses of themselves (normal service for them). They have a player who wants out, there is a more than generous bid on offer, but it’s from Arsenal and they (genuinely) think we are beneath them.
BR called us a club with no class. this guys IQ shrinks by the day.
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DC, if you read what BR said, he didn’t actually say Arsenal have no class – that was an ESPN reporter’s interpretation and shit-stirring.
Of course they don’t want to lose Suarez, same as we didn’t want to lose RvP. And of course they will want to drag it out, force the player to make a transfer request if he’s serious about wanting to leave and force the price up if so. Problem is, I don’t think Suarez wants to join us enough to do that so he’ll stay.
Which at least means we have 40 mil to spend in another shop.
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I thought we looked lackadaisical in the first half – too many misplaced passes, too many fancy flicks. Tired and aware of the pointlessness of this “trophy”.
Our two best players from the Napoli game, Rosicky and Koscielny didn’t appear. Ramsey worked his socks off as usual. Santi looked out of sorts.
We look solid with Bac, Per, Kos and Gibbs in the backline and Arteta in front of them. But take one of those bricks out and the wall begins to wobble.
Surprised Ryo didn’t get a run-out.
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It’s nice to see that the first media predictions are in and we have, as usual, been predicted to finish outside the top 4. Don’t those media types ever learn?
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Evil – they’ll look foolish by Christmas when we’re 10 points clear 🙂
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ha gains where you been man? , well noted..meant morelike in terms of company internal structure organisation and management not necessarily negotiating/trading as an external party with them…
dc ..honest that was the name… 🙂
amy Lawrence…is she married/single/getting any? whats this filth talking about arsenes last roll of the dice..piss off u dein/usmanov agenda stirring silly cow ..
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A. quick scroll through A.Lawrence articles on AFC, her tweets on AFC tell us the following:
Meh.
–
You remember how many said at the end of the season that the next attack on the club would be on transfers, seeing as they had nothing else left. Well, here we are.
Predictable?
People can talk about transfers like all football fans of every single club may do when they feel like it, like we all do. This is something else.
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@fins
Yeah, I think it must really bug some people that they can’t really talk about our defence anymore now that, following a season with defensive stability and no massive injuries, we are somehow having one of the best defences in the league.
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Its really difficult playing a two day tournament and having to okay two half teams, players coming back from injury and rest after out of season comps, the shame is we have looked difficult to beat whatever the circumstances and it would have been nice to keep that going. However the pre-season games have provided us with a steady progressive fitness program and most importantly no injuries ( not including Ryo’s ribs ) There are obviously areas where we could strengthen and I’m sure Arsene knows where, but I do believe the squad is getting better and with a few additions to the squad, not necessarily the team , can do well. Whether that will be good enough to bring the elusive trophies will depend on the progression of other squads and importantly luck. As always I’m optimistic COYG
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Evil,
Praise be to Stevie Bould!
: )
Koscielny has come on leaps and bounds since that performance where he muzzled both Pedro and Messi (Yes. In the same game).
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I appreciate this won’t be posted. I don’t particularly want it to be. But I’m truly amazed that you are so forgiving of anyone who supports your party line that you tolerate someone as despicable as hunter13 (12:47) and give a platform to their poisonous bile.
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dfb,I will post it if you wish,
Personally I cant see that much that should offend.
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Hunter
Naughty boy, you can’t call Amy a silly cow – that’s sexist. ahem.
You can call her a two-faced fucking hypocrite who is now on the anti-Wenger bandwagon and who has given up any pretense at journalistic standards.
Her paper has rated Arsenal as 5th for this season – yet again.
I can’t really see that as anything other than a inherent bias agist us – who the f8ck is going to be above us – Moyes’s muppets without the midfielder even they know they need, City’s new untried team, Moe’s old men?
Or do the papers always think that their favorite teams – the mickey mousers and the chicken on a ball will ever improve enough to chase us down?
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Evil
It’s not one of the best defences in the league.
It was THE BEST defence for 2013, i.e. after Christmas. If TV5 ever gets back as a starting player, he is going to have to become twice as good as he was before.
I reakon he is willing to make the attempt to become an even better player, i’m glad he want’s to stay and fight for his place back. That’s a true captains’ spirt.
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DC it’s okay to call the manager a senile old c… and worse, but to call a scum sucking hack what it is, is obviously not allowed.
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Passeral
It’s odd that, isn’t it?
All of a sudden, any verbal abuse back at them becomes a moral outrage.
I have never ever seen any of the (out of order) abuse of AW been reigned-in, even on the most popular or neutral blogs, it just seems to be accepted that language can be used that way.
I think no-one on this site believes that Arsene Wenger is entirely without faults or never makes mistakes (with the exception of PG of course!), but only a c*mguzzl&ng F£lch m%mg@r would maliciously abuse him or the club in the name of the ‘fans’.
Anyway, Hunter was off elsewhere, saving souls, I saw his posts and the only thing offensive to the negative world view was his reminding them that Arsenal FC was not a place that a Suarez would dream of moving to before Wenger changed this club forever.
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George
You’re keeping secrets,
We have a party line!?
What’s the phone number?
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I’m encouraged by the minimalist support for h13s misogynistic comments. Thanks goodness for that.
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We don’t want to encourage hunter with all this talk about party lines. Georgaki has already encouraged him to meet Charlie down the pub.
Hunter: Just say no.
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A technique of the Groaners is the slur that no alternative opinion is considered or allowed by those who do not agree with them. This can be fascinating ( or very boring ) to observers of many blogs where such slurs are made, where the archives there and here show this to be a fantasy born from the Groaners own frustrations.
I suppose next that I will be told I support Arsene and not Arsenal. Such cunning. Such wit and insight. It slays me. What riposte could I possibly have to such a devastating cuss. Words fail me.
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It’s a good thing the likes of Frank and George have always agreed in the past eh? If it makes them happy then I am happy that there are people out there enlightened enough to tell us what we think, even if that contradicts the observed record over many years.
Frank was Fizman’s biggest fan *nudge nudge wink wink* Just don’t mention the blood diamonds. Oh fwuck. I’ve done it now.
For myself I noted that Danny’s team managed to build a big modern football stadium in a city used as a property portfolio by the worlds billionaires without embezzling half a billion pounds. i mention no names – although i’d add that the Coventry City Stadium saga looks like an intriguing mess ( It could never happen here, they tell me. “it’s not Italy!”. As Frankie Howard would say: “Oooo, er, Missus”). Or getting the local municipality to pay for it in an era when people are dying in the local hospitals for lack of funds to provide adequate cleaning. Rest assured, like the sorry Rangers saga which rumbles on today not one (as in 1) of these stories have been covered by our esteemed football hacks.
For many of us the new board is the same as the old board: not that interesting.
What I would like to hear, after the window has closed and the dust from the stampeding horde has settled, is from Frank on the rumours that old DD is back on the scene. We will know a little more after just a little more time.
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Is ‘dfb’ amy lawrence in disguise?
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A lot of people around the blogs find Hunter offensive.They think he is rude ,crude,sexist and anti English.
He most likely is ,but not enough that it bothers me.
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What is it with most bloggers, some of whom we are familiar, that anything to do with the future of Arsenal is shrouded in doom and gloom. You would think 16 years of being in the top echelons, especially the last 8 years that included pulling off a humongous stadium project yet staying within reach of the oilers and oligarchs, would be sufficient evidence to remain positive and optimistic. I don’t get it.
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PG
I don’t find Hunter anti-English.
He is right to criticise the English ‘old school’ style of play and the players, managers, pundits, bloggers & supporters who share the same mind set.
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Just seen the last few post and had to go back to see what hunter had said as I thought he’d verbally crusafied Amy, couldn’t believe the comment I’d already read and skipped over.
lets get something straight there is nothing in there that’s sexist I think some ppl need to understand diversity and what is truly offensive.
To be honest it was one of the least offensive post he has ever done
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What on earth has happened since I last logged on? Has Hunter been blocked?
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