I'd celebrate the signing of Cesc about as much as I'd celebrate us winning the Premier League trophy. For my generation he's the one. He came to the club when I was in year 5 or something. He's my absolute hero. I grew up admiring the guy. He's as big to me as Henry is those kids who were about 5 years older than me. Having him back would make me happy beyond belief, I'd feel like throwing a party in my halls just to celebrate. So yes, I'd take him.
I remember celebrating the signing of Charlie Nicholas when I was at school, I promised all mates immediate success with league trophies, FA Cups and European Cups following shortly, it was probably about 3 months when we all realised he was a lazy, drunken playboy and we were calling for Raphael Meade to start ahead of him...
The moral I guess is celebrate performance, not contract signings. Seriously, I doubt there's an Arsenal fan alive who wouldn't welcome Cesc back, but I refuse to believe he's about to give up on a club he's loved all his life
Doubt very much. In his 2 years there he has won trophies and soon a league title, and played in a team that was a serious contender in Europe. Barca will be back better and stronger next year. The reasons for him wnating to leave Arsenal (no serious intent to win big trophies) are still apposite. I want us to go out and buy some great players and actually go out to try and win something.
Not under 'Tito' they won't. Peps influence is wearing off and they look more and more disjointed as time goes by.
Last night on Punto Pelota, they said that Cesc is almost certain to leave this Summer. Tbh I have been calling the move for a while, not Cesc to Arsenal, but Cesc to somebody. The fans don't like him and he doesn't have a position set for him in the team, the truth is there is more chance of Alex Song adapting to Barca's style than Cesc himself, and after the Bayern debacle there will be massive changes in the Summer. I expect Cesc, Villa, Alexis, Song, Dani Alves, Valdes and possibly even Pedro to leave. Barca would happily take their money back for Cesc this Summer. The problem is Cesc's ego. Will he allow himself to admit he was wrong to leave Arsenal and come crawling back to us? That is the major stumbling block. I am genuinely worried he could end up at United, there is no doubt that if Barca are looking to offload him that Robin will start tapping him up.
This comment kind of contradicts itself. On the one hand you're saying that Fabregas is a player who has won trophies and then you're saying that we should go and buy players who want to win trophies. Surely Fabregas would be a perfect fit then ?
Call me old fashioned, but I don't think he'd go to Utd. He loved Arsenal and although RVP claimed he did too, he was in the later part of his career and wanted to jump ship. Fabregas on the other hand is just 25 and still has the best part of his career ahead of him. I genuinely think it was a traumatic moment for him to leave Arsenal, he was nearly in tears when he was talking about his love for the club and for Wenger. It's not working out at Barca and this may turn out to be a prime example of the grass not always being greener. In a way, if he does come back it would be better that he left when he did and then came back as he's about to hit his prime, rather than hanging on with us for another couple of seasons and then leaving - we might just get the very best of a brilliant player. Would be a dream come true to see him pull on the Arsenal shirt again
50% sell on fee would stop him going to Utd surely? As long as we bid £30-35m for him, Utd would need to offer £60m+.
Henry was supposedly pretty keen on a move to Utd a few years back, im not sure Fabregas would be any different
The only problem with Cesc is that we have his position already well covered. As much as I would like him to come back, £20+ ml that he would cost us, could (and should) be spent on a top quality CF.
Doesn't matter if Cesc doesn't want to join us. If he wants to go to United and United only then nobody can force him to move to Arsenal. I doubt we wanted to sell RVP to United but that is where he wanted to go so we had no choice.
It's hardly well covered. We have Rosicky who will leave the club in 2014, Jack who looks far more comfortable playing in a deep position and Santi who has been playing the same role Nasri did in his final season since the turn of the year. If Cesc came back he would walk into the team.
Arsene clearly wants Wilshere to play more attacking role, Jack would be wasted playing deep. Rosicky is the player I would like to stay at least untill 2015, and with Wenger saying he wants Tomas to retire at Arsenal he is prepared to give him another year. Santi to me was at his best playing in Cesc position this season. I agree though that Cesc would walk into the team regardless. But it is not the question of how good he is, it is about where do we need to improve most. And btw I doubt Cesc would come back if he is not sure that Wenger signs another long term contract. He is aware now that history can repeat itself. He wanted to work with his old idol Guardiola, now he is not rated by the new manager. I actually would not be too surprised if he goes to Bayern.
I don't take anything Wenger says about players' futures seriously tbh. Rosicky has a contract until 2014 and I doubt very much it will be extended (age, injuries, wages all considered). I don't see how Jack is wasted in a deep position, he does not have the eye for a pass that Cesc, Santi or Rosicky have, he does have a good passing range but he is more effective playing from deep because he is a great dribbler and can carry the ball forward in tight situations. Since day 1 I have not been as convinced as others with Santi, he is a brilliant player but he just is not a good enough playmaker to be the hub of the team. He doesn't have that directness about him that Cesc or Mata have meaning he doesn't quite fit with our philosophy. The team is still built for Cesc to walk back into and improve tenfold, sadly it is never going to happen.
