Tuesday, 22 May 2012

Wenger’s been busy alright…

arsene-wenger1

Well, Arsene Wenger hinted that he would be ‘busy’ this summer, sorting the team out with new signings, and just four days after the end of the season, already we’ve signed two players!

Jon Toral and Héctor Bellerin have both rejected new deals from Barcelona, no less, and are all set to join the Gunners, according to Sky Sports.
With former Barca youth team escapee Cesc Fabregas likely to return to the Nou Camp this summer, who better to replace him than another two players who will also inevitably head back to Catalonia in the next eight years or so?
Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is said to be delighted with the move, expressing his gratitude for the great work the Gunners have done with Fabregas during his eight-year loan spell.
Looking to blend youth with experience, Wenger’s remaining transfer targets are strongly rumoured to be Owen Hargreaves and Jonathan Woodgate. And if you think that’s because they’d only cost the combined total of about £1 to sign and because no one else wants them, you’d be wrong – the manager is keen to dispel the myth that he doesn’t sign enough English players.
The pair will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Arsenal legend Mikael Silvestre, who also joined the club in an attempt to prove people wrong at a time when some thought his career may be over.
By MARK BRUS
{jcomments on}
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Mark Brus

I'm 23-years-old and currently living in Bristol, studying to be a journalist. I've been hooked on Arsenal since I was about 10, and as much as I sometimes wish I could stop, I can't give them up. Favourite player of all time would have to be Patrick Vieira for the sheer passion with which he played the game.

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  • alecto

    This isn’t funny at all?

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  • Aaron

    Actually, we’ve signed 3, your forgetting Jenkinson and if we’re going on youth players like Toral, then we just got an extension out of Ozyakup which is like a signing.

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  • BlarneyOShite

    Two bargain basement players who will take time to learn the English game. Then if that isn’t bad enough two flops and injury prone players. He is like Dr Barnardo sometimes Wenger. Just spend some flippin money will ya.

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  • Groverider

    So now we’re moaning because we’ve managed to snatch two world class prospects from arguably the biggest club in the world yeah?

    If you think we’d have been better off without signing Fabregas then have the bollocks and come out and say it.

    If these two (and the charlton lad) are the only signings of the window then by all means come back and throw your stool laden nappy everywhere but until then maybe shutting your whining the hell up or fuck off & support city or Rovers as it’s obviously giving you no pleasure to support a club the other side of the country.

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  • BigL

    I saw the irony in your post :-)

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  • m

    You’re sick man.

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  • frankie frankie

    I dont believe th hargreaves and woodgate nonsense but there are a few things i dont like to hear. wenger bigging up benzema and then having him turn around sayying he doesnt want to leave madrid is like a kick in the teeth. we need a top class partner for van p, wouldnt mind falcao. but i guese we will would just have to wait and see. i’m really not sure wha the point is in getting these kids from barca. with wellington and miyichi still to come in plus the several other youth team players, is there space for them. i think these will be more meridas than fabregases.

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  • Merse

    so you say you’re 22, supported The Arsenal since you were 10, so it is safe to say that you’ve grown up watching The Arsenal through the wonderful Wenger years and this is first period of real unrest at the club and you jump on the man’s back… Arsenal have been through worse than this, you’ve never had it so good you should feel priviladged that you have grown up in the glory years, 6 years is nothing… pisses me off when these spoilt kids thrown their toys out the pram but i suppose that is Wengers fault as well for being so successful!!

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  • K

    The season’s not even over yet and we’ve already signed 3 top youngsters which is good business I think. There’s still plenty of time to sign the squad players doom mongers so crave, so if you’re still dissatisfied, write such a nonsensical piece at the end of August. It’s still May FFS.

    You should be ashamed of yourself for this vitriolic, sarcastic and blatant attempt at sports writing. Please don’t write again.

    Tell me, does it make you happy to have a laugh at your club’s expense? This article wasn’t funny. FAIL.

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  • mick

    Merse….. totally agree, Mark Brus think yourself lucky, us oldies had to endure barren seasons full of all sorts of trials and tribulations, lean years, boring boring Arsenal years. For Gods sake show some appreciation for what Wenger has given you. Spoilt kid sums Brus up nicely.

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  • venky

    Just one of the long line of articles to prove that Mark brus is not an idiot but an imbecile. Transfer Window has not even opened and this moron is whining like a whore

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  • Mr K

    Toral has an English passport and can play for England. So he’l more likely stick around England.

    You’re looking at the glass half full. These signings were in process 2 months ago! They can’t really be counted as Summer Transfers or “Wenger’s Solution”. They were due to come anyway so STOP bitching like a woman.

    This summer’s transfer efforts have not yet been completed. I think we are due for some major signings.

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  • Danish Gooner

    Wenger will never sign players at 25 or 30 mil unless sugar daddy Usmanov have loosened the purse strings.

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  • www

    As well as these 2 We have also signed gnabry siemann and Olson. Obviously youth signings but jenkinson will probably be reserve team with a view to the first team. Regardless of what people think these signings are essential. Not only can every one in 50 become a cesc their quality helps to bring the home based players through.

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  • Pires07

    I couldn’t agree more with this article – these two signings will not have an impact on the 1st team whatsoever, so I wouldn’t even class this as 2 new signings. If Weneger is even still around to see these kids come through is another matter.

    I agree with the author. We need to fix the current set up of the team: The uncertainty surrounding Cesc, Nasri and Clichy cannot be dragged out this summer. Weneger needs to make a decision on the formation, the current squad and obviously his transfer targets and chase them early, no shit bids and “we almost signed Ronaldo” scenarios. straight up business.

    Last year Spurs made several key signings to strengthen their Champions league push with VDV, Gallas and Sandro.Regardless of who leaves we still need IMHO Cahill, Parker, Benzema (or World Class Striker of some description). Proven players to help the team. I don’t by the wenger comment “if I buy I kill the youth policy” That’s bollocks let the kids get better by playing with world class individuals.
    Rant over

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  • jon64

    didnt hear you lot complaining when cesc became a big star or after jack’s introduction or when JET was on loan and is making waves

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  • FAVOUR

    Am sure You joking ant you. Cos this report you are feeding me here has nothing to write home about. please tell me is not true.

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  • Rock

    Could the author be any more sour?

    we’ve signed two top future prospects from the number one academy in the world – fact.

    With Jenkinson in, Chamberlain to follow, it’s clear Wenger is clearing the way for a new batch of players who will be the future of the club. Do you not realise how many departures he has to deal with this summer? He’s trying to compensate.

    Once he’s done that – theres no doubt in my mind he wil add what he needs to add – the top brass, he’ll smash the transfer record this year, without doubt. Going for the likes of Benzema, Falcao.

    Lay off Wenger, let him work this summer and he’ll get it right. You can tell he’s serious this time.

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  • para

    are some people daft or what?
    sarcasm
    A form of irony in which apparent praise conceals another, scornful meaning.

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  • FAVOUR

    At Rock, Don’t be carried away here, cos this is not the first time Wenger is feeding us with the promise of buying supper stars, at the end he will not. Till August 1st, I will be waiting to see what Wenger will do.

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  • Jimmie

    Do you know anything about footbal ??? do you ever see the calender?? there no way wenger can signed new player right now because is not allow yet. If this article out this august or late July then yes, it’s appropriate. SHEESSSH, some people just know to complain without checking.

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  • Dav

    >>Last year Spurs made several key signings to strengthen their Champions league push with VDV, Gallas and Sandro.

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  • Dav

    [quote name=Pires07]Last year Spurs made several key signings to strengthen their Champions league push with VDV, Gallas and Sandro.[/quote]
    ah yes and where did they finish this year?

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  • Dav

    [quote name=Merse]pisses me off when these spoilt kids thrown their toys out the pram but i suppose that is Wengers fault as well for being so successful!![/quote]
    unbelievable isn’t it? I saw on another site some moron blaming Wenger for the demise of his friend through “hypertension”. I actually think it wasn’t a joke

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  • Monktash

    Don’t see what you’re all complaining about. We will not buy anyone worth mentioning.

    The fact that the author is only 22 and that we’ve had much longer barren priods before is irrelevant. It’s the fact that we’ve got weak points in the team/squad and it doesn’t get rectified. And yes we do have the money.

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  • Dav

    [quote name=FAVOUR]At Rock, Don’t be carried away here, cos this is not the first time Wenger is feeding us with the promise of buying supper stars, at the end he will not. Till August 1st, I will be waiting to see what Wenger will do.[/quote]
    I can’t remember Wenger ever promising to buy superstars let alone supper stars – do these guys only play evening games?
    What he has done is help create superstars but I guess some people would prefer to just try and buy that. A symptom of all the is wrong in this world.

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  • Sowhat

    I heard that we also signed a 3 year old from mother-care for 50 pence.

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  • Dav

    [quote name=Monktash]Don’t see what you’re all complaining about. We will not buy anyone worth mentioning.

    The fact that the author is only 22 and that we’ve had much longer barren priods before is irrelevant. It’s the fact that we’ve got weak points in the team/squad and it doesn’t get rectified. And yes we do have the money.[/quote]
    yep like Vieira wasn’t worth mentioning. I presume you are privvy to the Arsenal accounts to know what kind of money there is to spend

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  • Pires07

    My point was that they signed players capable of of pushing further than us in the Champions League – and as much as I hate to admit it but they’re not far behind us whatsoever, we only finished 6 points ahead of them if I’m not mistaken.

    Plus I don’t see Modric, Bale, VDV, angling for a move abroad in fact they’re all on lesss money than our 2nd highest earner, and all have committed their future to the club.

    My point is that Wenger no longer has that pull for players to come to us – he personally thinks Xabi Alonso isn’t worth £14m, or that VDV isn’t worth £7m. We will have the same saga as last year and have a midfield upheaval on our hands with at least our captain leaving. He’ll pile all is faith into Ramsey and Wilshire who are brilliant but would flourish if they had a World class midfielder helping them along the way. Someone to learn from.

    If Cesc, Nasri and any other player moves on, Wenger will make one replacement signing and promote project youth. Next year’s hype will be about Ramsey

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  • kearney

    dopes, you the author and thankfully the minority of people posting. are ye retarded “these 2 signings will not have an impact on the first team whatsoever” – are you actually that stupid that you think Wenger has signed these for this season you muppet. They are for the future, sure we get some duds – denilson, traore etc. but they are still decent players for a lower premiership team well maybe not traore. we had duds in the good days like garde, vivas and plenty more but we had the great fortune of le sulk viera and many more gems. we will unearth plenty more duds but along the way wenger will find gems. i just wish all you whingers would shut up and realise if wenger leaves we are foooked. what other manager could keep us in our position on money given him by board. nobody. and dont think if we get a world class manager all of a sudden the board will release money -not happening so stop whinging or fuck off and support the russians down the road. Gooners thru good times and more importantly thru bad times(there will be a time in next 20 years where would pray for top 4, as there will be a time when united do). COME ON YOU GOONERS. in words of a dope RANT OVER

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  • Dav

    [quote name=Pires07].

    Plus I don’t see Modric, Bale, VDV, angling for a move abroad in fact they’re all on lesss money than our 2nd highest earner, and all have committed their future to the club.

    [/quote]
    you know this how?

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  • Dav

    [quote name=Pires07]with at least our captain leaving. [/quote]
    you knw this how?

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  • Pires07

    To Kearney – can you honestly say that you’re happy with the squad, the tactics and the fact we didn’t win anything, not to mention the fact we were in a position to actually challenge (maybe not win) but definitely challenge for the title and capitulated?

    You just proved my point about Wenger buying for the future – you mug! Wenger also bought amazing young players such as Merida (who left on a free), Flamini who left on a free, Senderos left on a free (is it sinking in yet – let me know who the retard is when the penny drops)

    To Dav – I don’t know for sure but where’s the noise about Modric, VDV and Bale seeking a new clubs? Let me know if you’re 100% sure Cesc will stay – and I’ll take back my comments, but it’s speaks volumes that he wanted to go last year (very publically made this known) – we haven’t won anything this year and Wenger hasn’t strengthened the squad – you do the math.

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  • Chiang Mai Steve

    Hey give Mark a break…he is only 22 and lacks first team experience….

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  • mick

    Pires07…….’Last year Spurs made several key signings to strengthen their Champions league push with VDV, Gallas and Sandro.’
    Ha ha, fat lot of good that did them, not even qualified this year. You defeated your own argument by offering Spurs as an example of what can be achieved with astute signings!!

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  • Dan AKA The Truth

    Blimey, there are a lot of AKBs out tonight… I thought you lot had died out after the shameful capitulation of Arsenal at the end of the season.

    Wenger is a loser! Only stagnation will be at Arsenal while the old, deluded fool remains in charge!

    WENGER OUT! WENGER OUT! WENGER OUT!!!

    KLOPP IN!!!

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  • mick

    Monktash….. exaclly how much is available for Wenger to spend then. Enlighten us.

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  • mick

    Pires07….. Are you joking, Spurs did not come up against Barcelona did they, and what happened when they played Real Madrid one round further down than Arsenal, 5-0 I think wasn’t it. No comparison.

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  • PaulK

    I love Arsenal’s players and manager but I can’t stand the young, critical supporters. They moan more than any other team’s fans.

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  • Cool

    I think it came out of frustration and not certainly disrespect to AW. Gentlemen, once the bar has been raised you cannot go back, the normal theory applies to our manager as well.

    On the other hand, can you fault the frustration of some fans whose cry has never been listened.

    Few more things,

    1. We may still win in the next season and go on to became the greatest club …
    2. If things didn’t go as expected (like today’s situation), we would have end-up with huge some of money for providing first team opportunity for players and making them world class.
    3. If the 2, happens to be the case, then we will bring yet another bunch of 16 year olds and provide them first team opportunity on premier league.
    4. The new bunch of 16 year recruits may not be as lucky as the earlier one because they may not have the luxury of premiership for more than a year or two.
    5. If we need to avoid 2, 3 & 4, it high time AW needs to react now.

    Thanks.

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  • Angelo1971

    I don’t mind having them youngsters and I agree that we still have a lot of time to sign experienced players. With all this I agree (and as I cannot do anything I wait to see what Wenger is doing), but I’m shocked to see again the extremist AKB scum. It’s not a problem for me that you still trust Arsene, but I hate your intolerance. Hopefully Arsene realized the seriousness of his situation and tries to regain his prestige with us raising the club to new heights. Still the AKBs are aggressive as usual and send other to support this and that. Bad news boys you do not have exclusive right to steal the club from the slowly growing masses/others, who also have the right to express their thoughts. I’m sick of you. :-x

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  • Cool

    don’t pick on mistakes, if this trend continues where you would finish …

    glad that season has ended, can you think of a situation where 5 more matches needs to be played …..

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  • Darkins

    that’s because the other teams don’t give away 4 goal leads ffs. the seasons been a f***ing joke mate so yeah f*** it i’m gonna moan, what else can i do? talk absolute crap about arsene knows best? Arsene’s good at spotting talent and making profit that’s it! when it comes to team selection, formations and substitutions the guy aint got a f***ing clue! Rant over

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  • testnoreal

    Good News:

    Heard that things had been planned 15 years back and as part of that 11 new born are being trained at the world’s best academy (you guessed it right) to play football in a specific way …

    They will be revealed during this summer and going help us overcome the champions league nightmare.

    Reality/Bad news:

    All these 11 would be expected to complete the loan spell after 8 yrs of first team and head back to where they belong …

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  • Cool

    agree, one more addition to the growing mass

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  • Angelo1971

    I agree with you and I’m also impatient to see “new” (experienced) players (and to see the dead wood go). That’s Wenger’s last chance to make it right. Most of the fans I know would not cry after him at the moment. We will not make the top 4 next season with no experience and proper leadership. What the AKB do not realize is that we will lose out big time with no proper changes. Half empty stadium, less income from the lack of CL and sales, also you can forget the Asian tour. They don’t like the losers there. Sometimes I wish we still had the Highbury, as we could make a lot of money from more successful teams. Eh. I decided to wait and I just moan occasionally. What else can we do?

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  • Ola Kupsy

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

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  • John

    I’ve heard Manu are letting Michael Owen go this summer (I wonder if they will give him the chance to get that elusive CL medal :) )

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  • Richard Smith

    He did defeat his own argument by offering Spurs as an example but Manchester City are a good example.

    I don’t think we need to go to the levels that the minoriy state we need to. All we need are a couple more players in the right positions and this arsenalteam is sorted. It is so frustrating.

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  • Gooner

    Geez what the hell did you want Wenger to do? Sign up the entire Barcelona squad in a week? Really pathetic post, it’s fans that you that always whinge and whine and complain before anything else happens, if these were our only 2 signings of the window then sure go out and have your whinge, the transfer window has only just opened, can u think of any club that’s signed a decent player yet? Please, please go and support city and take all your sulky doomers as well

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  • Gooner

    Sulky whinging doomers, the minority is growing sadly. This “AKB” term you and all your goth friends use is stupid, seeing that no Arsenal fans like everything Wenger does. You want to speak of intolerance? You doomers are the intolerant ones, anyone that doesn’t share your view are “scum”. I’d love to hear all these doomers name a proper successor to Wenger, nome of them name a realistic one

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  • Omglol

    Great, Mark Brus again and again jumping from site to site and spit venom on Arsenal, and he keep saying he is gunner.

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  • TC

    Wenger needs sacking right away to give us the chance to build for next season. He’s killing the club.

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  • The BearMan

    It is either Wenger is playing his cards close to his chest or the players he desires is looking elsewhere. The necessary pruning and adding have not started as yet and it is only youngsters we appear to be attracting.

    Again it is much talk and little action – this for some is a painfully slow process. Time for a change!

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  • passionandpride

    They did better than us.
    a) They beat us fair and square at Emirates.
    b) They did better than us in CL
    c) They played better football, entertained their fans and gave them hope rather than the gloom that Arsenal fans are facing now.

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  • passionandpride

    Well written, Mark. Good to see you writing stuff which provokes anger. Trust me there are more fans who think the way your article points rather than the likes of Respected Fans like M/s Mick & Merse.

    Only if we believe that this is our darkest hour, can we start the next season as a new dawn.

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  • The Tank

    Mick…

    What Wenger has given us lol. Over paid manager that refuses to see the shortcomings in a team full off babies. I’ve seen the lean years too but didn’t have to pay a fortune for the pleasure of it.

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  • MArk N

    Whilst I see no reason to deride the fact we’ve just signed two kids from Barca, I see no reason to celebrate it either. Chances are that they will up and go by the time they should be yielding dividends anyway. Haven’t we enough youths already? We had 18 players on loan last season for christ’s sake. What we are lacking is experience in the squad. There is still plenty of time, the window has not even opened yet, however it does not mean we should be jumping up at signing two kids from Barca, have we sunk that low?

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  • The Tank

    Only 6 pts behind us

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  • The Tank

    Your the one that should do one! Bet your one of those at the final that sat on their hands all game. The pressure has to be kept up to let Wenger know this is not good enough

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  • Angelo1971

    Yes it seems so.

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  • bobbyp

    Dear oh dear, quite clearly most Arsenal fans are thick as shit. This is clearly a joke. And a funny one. Well done fella. Very witty.

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  • Cool

    Don’t have to go that far, why don’t you push your manager with your AKB brigade to get a trophy.

    I will tell you, you cannot win anymore trophies under Wenger, it is an open challenge to you brigade and Mr. Wenger.
    Hope, i would be made wrong soon, if not please let the club move on.

    I feel AKB brigade is scared of seeing the other side of the world. With all your philosophies, you not only lost the ground on football ground but also on the merchandise front as well, ask Nike they will tell your merchandise sales vs mancs.

    You still think, there is yet another 16 old in the mould of Cesc is waiting and that guy will come and rescue you to hold on to your Wenger declared trophy of 4th place in the league.

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  • Angelo1971

    You’re pathetic to repeat what I said and attack aggressively just as I described above. First of all I did not say anything negative about the transfers and called for Wenger’s head. I just described what many people think. Minority? Whoever I spoke to said either that he would not mind Wenger to go especially if he does not want to change or he called for Wenger’s head. I don’t know anyone, who supports Wenger unconditionally (and I know a lot of gooners)!!! Name a new manager? Typical stupid question. First of all it does not matter what or who people want. It’s up to the board. Second I did not say Wenger out. You can’t even read as you mix my opinion with that of others and write me a piece of crap. I write now what u usually do: Go and support the Spuds. :lol:

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  • Terence McGovern

    In fairness before you slay the club and the manager over lack of transfer activity for the coming season kid, you might consider waiting until the tranfer window opens on June 1st.
    just a thought

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  • Spectrum

    Mick – At least 40 million for each of the last two seasons. Don’t you read the news reports ? Enlightened ?
    “In Arsene we rust.”

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  • Spectrum

    Sowhat – 50 pence ! In CASH ? Couldn’t Wenger have paid it off in instalments ?
    “In Arsene we rust.”

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  • oz gunner

    thats besides the point, look at what those three players did for them! gallas sayed them countless times (especially in the champions league), VDV started off the season really good and got the ball rolling for them, and sandro is quality. The point he was trying to make is twitchy brought in 3 players and they helped the team greatly. Thats what we need, a few additions to sure up the team, and to provide experience and a winning mentality

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  • Bob

    Truth. Arsenal made a hige profit from transfers in 2009. Arsene then said he could find nobody to buy who represented good value and would add to the team. That money (30m) is being carried over to be spent on improving the squad (according to financial report 2010) and he clearly has targets in mind this time. As Terence said stop the constant whining about the lack of transfers until the window is actually open, idiots.

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  • Monktash

    [quote name=mick]Monktash….. exaclly how much is available for Wenger to spend then. Enlighten us.[/quote]
    there should at least be the proceeds from players sold.

    And if we haven’t got any funds to invest in our product then we’re not quite the well run business that the AKB’s are always spouting.

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