If you haven't visited the Arsenal Not 606 forum, then I suggest you do - the Gunners fans are not happy that Wenger has splashed out such a massive bundle of cash on someone that will not help them be successful this season PS If you past on their site, please keep it polite and sensible
Wenger has bought potential. Oxo may yet turn out to be a bargain, but at the moment we got the best deal. A second issue is whether they could have spent money on some player they could use now. Note that Alex has been given an Arsenal first team number..perhaps he will be involved earlier than we think.
There is no doubt in my mind that Arsenal have made an investment, Chambo will be worth £30 million plus in the future, that's why Saints were holding out for a 40% sell on clause added to the fee. We didn't really have a choice but to sell once he expressed his desire to play at a top club.
Wonder what sell on clause we got (if any). Perhaps we settled for good money up front. After all, as Alex himself said..he could have a career-threatening injury...strange thing for a kid to say! Obviously, ideas fed to him by advisors.
I agree, Arsenal have definitely bought potential. With a massive sell on fee [I understand it was 40%], they'll hardly make more than a few million out of him if they ever sell, despite him possibly meriting a £30M price. Of course they could sell on for £40M or more, in which case they'll make a fair bit and we'll make loads
There was a report of 40% sell on clause - if that is true that's a hell of a deal that our chairman has pulled our of the bag!
You have bought definate quality, if I was Wenger, I would play him as often as possible as I think he is going to be a top class player. I look forward to the day that Barca or Real Madrid sign him and we get 40% of the fee...
Hi SamirNasriIsOurMessi [that's a heck of a handle] Yes, I think we are laughing all the way to the bank. We proved last season, when he was injured, that we didn't need him, although when he returned we were even better. But we've got our replacement in Steve De Ridder, and once he gets his feet under the table I suspect a few clubs will come sniffing. Don't count on our mystery player leaving, as he's shaping up to be as loyal as MLT was. On the point of Arsene and his apparent blindness to the requirements of your team, and honestly without meaning to sound xenophobic, he does seem to exhibit that Gaulish stubbornness on occasion. I bet it's very frustrating for you. Good luck this season.
Honestly, if he plays for you on Saturday, he won't disgrace himself. Just like we did first time, bring him on as a second half substitute. And start him as soon as you are able to shoehorn him in. It'll only do both parties good.
The weight of expectation will crush Alex very quickly if he sticks him in too soon. The taste of failure needs to be absorbed for a season first, then he shall be ready.
Hmm, getting worried about you. You seem to know far too much about our good players..! On the Wenger front - you play some beautiful football, but sometimes you play it too much. Just kick the ball into the net and be done with it. Don't try to walk it in all the time.
That's nice to read. I know you lot have never actually been relegated, but our recent 27 unbroken years in the top flight, plus another 7 or 8 from earlier years does count for a little sense of where-we-belongness, I suppose. Yes, our Academy is second to none. I understand that the Premiership is trying to introduce a grading system, which is threatening to damage some lesser clubs. It suits us just fine, of course, and our facilities are being hugely improved, to state-of-the-art, at this moment. So we've got the infrastructure sorted. Now we just need to do the deed. I'll be optimistic - how about, see you next season..?
