I don't expect any significant signings. We have signed Serbian and French teenage strikers who will more than likely be fast tracked to the first team. My dream signings would be any of Rooney, Tevez or Jackson Martinez.
To play regularly? To play in his favored position? To play where he is loved (and not booed and singled out for criticism after every match)? To get away from the twitter abuse? To develop himself as a footballer? To get away from the Catalan media who are obsessed with his private life? Those would be a few good reasons. Sadly I don't think his ego will allow him to come crawling back to us, not yet anyway.
Wenger has always done best with players that need a chance, but that aside, the U18-U21 teams were gutted this year with people leaving. Although we need 4-6 first team players, we need at least that many for the next-gen and the U21s as well.
I think you are spot on about not expecting significant signings and that the younger ones will be fast tracked to the first team (prematurely). I would only disagree about wanting Tevez. Loyalty in my eyes is everything. Especially after the lack of loyalty our players have shown in recent years. Tevez is the antithesis of loyalty anywhere outside of Argentina. We don't need another mercenary for hire that will grow sick of playing three months deep into the season.
Can't believe how much publicity this 'story' has got. All he said was 'never say never'. I am not sure they will be playing with the U-21s tbh. Sanogo looks like he will be playing his pre-season with the 1st team, only then will Wenger decide should he stay or go back on loan to France for another season. The other Serbian guy (forgot his name) scored a lot of goals last season for Partizan Belgrade who could well be in the Champions League next season, I don't see why a kid who could be playing at the highest level in football would trade it all for a place in the reserves. He will want to be in the first team.
Probably because both men have strongly hinted at a return to Arsenal one day, so a 'story' combining both of them is too hard to resist for the tabloids. As much as I'd love Fabregas back at Arsenal next season, I can't see him jacking it in at Barca after one season.
2 seasons, but I take your point. You have to remember that it is silly season and with no Euros/World Cup the back pages will be filling up with bullshit pie in the sky horseshit stories for weeks to come. I can't see it, at least not until Barca decide they no longer want him....
They were beaten 7-0 on aggregate by Bayern in the CL Semi's so they were clearly a way off Europe's best this year, which I assume is why they will look to not only strengthen but make sure they retain all current quality players
I thought there was no chance as well, but then Dein said that it "Could happen" and I have 2% hope now. After all, we know the family connection. http://www.touchlinetalk.com/ex-arsenal-chairman-optimistic-for-barcelona-swoop/53435/
More likely Villa or Sanchez as they actually play in Neymar's position of LWF. Thiago and Fabregas mostly play in midfield (although Fab has played a lot of game at CF)
I am genuinely sick of football fans talking about loyalty, the only loyalty in professional sports that exists is fans to their club (sometimes even that isn't sacrosanct) - all other concepts of loyalty are bullshit. If loyalty is everything I am sure you Booed Sol Campbell when he joined us for breaking is loyalty to spurs (guessing not). I am sure you have never ever demanded we should sell a player who you felt wasn't good enough irregardless of whether he wanted to leave or not. But RVP commited the greatest sin of all time by leaving because he thought there was better out there (and seeing as he increased his wage and won the league he was right). It always surprises me how intrinsically linked a footballers ability is to how loyal we demand he should be. Craig Eastmond (like many youngsters ) got released even though they have been at the club since they were like 10 where was the clubs loyalty and where was the outrage from the loyal fans about letting go of these players ??? Oh wait they weren't good enough! **** em!
I can't see it happening this summer, but if there's any chance that we could get Fabregas back, then we should take that opportunity with both hands, especially given that we basically get him at half price.
At half price, because you have a cut of future transfer fees? I would assume that would be null and void if returning to Arsenal surely? Unless Barca are idiots.
We get 50% of any sell on fees and first refusal on any transfer. I would imagine that those sell on fees would apply to us also, if we bought him back, but I'm not entirely sure.
