Marseille maestro Samir Nasri told French Television that his goal against Racing Strasbourg was “very important” as it could be the last game the 20 year old plays for the French giants.
The versatile midfielder was asked to comment on his future after scoring the winner against the French minnows, Nasri said.
“It is (the goal) very important because it is perhaps my last match at the Stade Velodrome.”
Popular French website/newspaper L’Equipé reported on a weekago that the France international is one of Arséne Wengers top targets for the summer, while the Frenchman is said to be “unsettled” due to the mounting speculation linking him with some of Europe’s top clubs.
Creativity and skill are the main features of Nasri’s game, he recently signed a contract extension with Marseille to keep him with the club until 2012. But as we all know with contracts, they don’t mean anything these days…
May 17, 2008 at 10:16 pm
That would be some signing if we were to sign Nasri. I’d rather sign Ben Arfa, but I’d be over the moon with either.
http://www.arsenal-opinion.com
May 17, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Nasri is miles ahead of Ben Arfa in terms of development, i’d rather see both of them come but I know that it will never happen
It’s either Nasri or Ben Arfa, I hope Wenger goes for one of them..
May 17, 2008 at 10:22 pm
hoepfully we get both Nasr and Ben Arfa + Diego and Yaya toure, a fan can dream can he not?
May 17, 2008 at 10:25 pm
haha yep we all can mate
I want Ronaldo, Terry, Nasri, Ben Arfa, Diego, Yaya Toure and Robinho.
Not too much to ask is it?
May 17, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Nasri is an attacking midfielder with tons of talent and skill. He could be the talented creative midfielder Wenger promised to bring this summer. He fills the bill, young, creative and great passer also can play behind lone attacker in 4-4-1-1.
I hope Arsenal land on this kid.
May 17, 2008 at 10:27 pm
That L’Equipe link is about three years old mate. Although there has been a lot of speculation he might actually come to the Arse. He’d be a great addition!
May 17, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Nasri would be great but……
BE AFRAID EVERYONE!!!!
A LINK (tenuous but a link) SAYS THAT WENGER PLANS TO USE EBOUE IN THE FLAMINI ROLE NEXT SEASON!!!!!
This has ruined my summer….
May 17, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Cheers LuxGunn, link updated.
Pete, please say you’re joking mate!!!!!!!
May 17, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Can’t Wait To Buy My Nasri 12 Shirt
May 17, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Pete you fucking loser… as if we’d believe that.
May 17, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Nasri (12mil) Ben Arfa (12mil) Kompany (15mil) Veloso (15mil)
Come On Wenger!!!!! Kroenke please provide the funds!!!!
May 17, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Pete, whats the link?
Yep Jay, speculation is really starting to mount now.
May 17, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Mate, that link is three years old
May 17, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Nasri is a great player, he can play in the cesc role, begrkamp rle and as a left winger… He rarely wastes possession, he has got a good shot and I think he is the perfect replacement for Hleb (assuming he leaves)..
May 17, 2008 at 10:36 pm
GunnerRashidinho, the link has been updated. If you click on it now, you’ll find it’s from last week…
May 17, 2008 at 10:39 pm
go get riquelme of boca for a 2 year deal.that will solve our midfield problem.
May 17, 2008 at 10:39 pm
I still feel he’ll come if Hleb does leave.
May 17, 2008 at 10:40 pm
who’s more of a goal scorer nasri or arfa?
May 17, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Zoran. Would he really adapt to English football quickly? I’d say he would struggle after playing in the more technical leagues of La Liga and Argentina.
May 17, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Nasri 95% more, he goes for goal more and has more of an end product than Ben Arfa does.
May 17, 2008 at 10:42 pm
The latest from my sources at The Emirates.
Nasri is a done deal.
Ben Arfa still needs to agree terms.. not 100% yet,
Yaya Toure needs to agree terms… but is a dead cert to come.
In terms of defenders we are looking at a couple.
Unlike what all the papers/ media sources say we are more likely to get Zapata with negotiontion nearly at a close.
Hleb will be leaving buy we will get our money’s worth.
Also tipped to be leaving are Hoyte and Trarore on loan.
So it looks like Kolo Toure may end up as a right back reserve. I don’t know yet. But with a new defender coming in its likely.
Thats all for know. I’ll catch up with you guys later on in the woeek once I know more.
Cheers.
May 17, 2008 at 10:44 pm
gooner chris u just answer your own ?e plays in the more technical leagues so e should adapt quickly
May 17, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Kayo,
Thanks for the update bro and keeping us in the loop.
We need someone like you on the inside letting us know whats what.
Did you hear any news on new strikers like Gomez or David Villa?
May 17, 2008 at 10:47 pm
well i watched ol tonight and benny boy was a sub late on, not much to rave about really, but i know only a short time to show his ability. benzema scored a good goal, but pretty quiet after that – made a few good runs but final ball was not so good.
not seen nasri play yet, but listening to you guys then he sounds good – if we have only one of the two, which one would suit us best?
Fred was good for ol – has he not been linked to an epl team? cant remember which one, poss newcastle?
also watched barca – we dont want thuram as a player, he is too slow and old for us now, might aswell go for japp stam!!!!!
rumours about Kompany are huge as he was missing today, so maybe he is the one the boss is going to get
this is all driving me mad, that is two weeks of the 2-3 weeks arsene said that we would get our players in, i guess this is because the french league has only finished today, but OL are in the FA French cup next week so i guess we hear nothing until next sunday about Benzema/Ben Arfa/Nasri …..
Malouda – if he is the epl player we are going for (dont think this is real tho) wont hear until after CL final – no go for me
i still think makoun will come in, just a hunch, but all has gone a little quiet on him, so expect something soon me think…
yes i know, mere speculation, but we need all this sorted before all the money bags get wind of who arsene wants…..
maybe, just maybe tomorrow will be the start of a few cheques being written.,,, wishful thinking, i know
May 17, 2008 at 10:48 pm
NASRI IS BRILLIANT. HE WILL BE OUR SALVATION.
NEW LINE UP
BEN-ARFA ADEBAYOR
NASRI FABREGAS YAYA-TOURE WALCOTT
CLICHY GALLAS ZAPATA SAGNA
ALMUNIA
WHAT A SENSATIONAL LINE UP
May 17, 2008 at 10:48 pm
anything about Quarisma
May 17, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Fuck off mate. What’s the point of contributing to the blog if you’re gonna talk bullshit?
Samir Nasri is NOT a done deal, Wenger hasn’t even informed Marseille of his interest yet.
Ben Arfa is NOT coming to Arsenal, Marseille are favourites to snatch him after Lyon chairman Jean-Michael Aulas said he wants to sell him to a fellow Ligue 1 club.
Yaya Toure is NOT a dead cert to come, media speculation has linked him with Milan, Madrid, Spurs and us but he could still stay at Barca.
As for defenders, we’re only likely to go in for one or two. Zapata is another TribalFootball rumour as is Carlos Cuellar. (even though I would like to see him come to the Premier League) Felipe Baloy has been mentioned a few times, we’ll see what happens during the next fortnight.
Cheers…
May 17, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Kayo what is your source for this information? Guys is he really reliable as this is the first time I have visited this site so i don’t know much about the people here. Kayo what are the chances of Veloso joining?
May 17, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I’m not making the quotes up pal!
As for Kayo, he’s talking utter bullshit, and Veloso is a firm Man United target, unlikely to come to Arsenal due to his £25 million rated price-tag.
May 17, 2008 at 10:52 pm
kayo you’re full of shit. get a life
May 17, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Im convinced that Wenger will buy both Ben Afra £12m and Nasri 13m (if hleb leaves) Then i think he should open the cheque book for M.Richards before United get there!!
May 17, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Kayo – where do you get all this ‘dead cert’ idea/info from. you seem to be grasping at ’shit’ that the daft sites report and take it as read – arsene does not do deals this way.
May 17, 2008 at 10:54 pm
lets get zarate worl cass
May 17, 2008 at 10:54 pm
What makes people think that Arsene may not spend a lot of money. You never know in football and the board keep saying that money is available. For once after many years, Wenger has insisted that he will add super quality players during the summer transfer window. Please people, give the guy a chance!
May 17, 2008 at 10:54 pm
guys – entry 24. i watched these guys
May 17, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Guys, please be realistic.
We won’t see both Ben Arfa & Nasri in the same team, it wouldn’t work at all, the latter is very likely to come though…
May 17, 2008 at 10:56 pm
we get linked wi every1 now! dont believe anythin till its official!! rumours persist all the time! i’d love nasri to come but i doubt he will
May 17, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Nasri all the way, with an eye for goal as well as a pass he would fit straight into this team, he would suit our type of football as well and I’m sure he would take to life well straight away in the Premier League.
May 17, 2008 at 10:58 pm
same every summer, people think we should buy 5 strikers four attacking mids and atleast tre new centraldefenders.
havent the past years under the regim of wenger tought you anyting?? the most expensive transfer in arseanls history was wiltord for about 12-13 mil if im not mistaken.
why the hell would he break his transferrecord three times the same summer (nasri,benarfa,veloso) when he has stated on numerous accations that this is infact the best team arsenal has had EVER.
May 17, 2008 at 10:59 pm
check out zarate on utube the guy is amazing he is the closest thing
to messi better than ronaldo and i realy belive that
May 17, 2008 at 11:01 pm
if u remember then the transfers arsene makes r the ones that never get told of! u just wake up one mornin n he has signed sum1 we have never been linked with!!
May 17, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I dunno Chris, i’d take Ben Arfa. We’ve been crying for a left winger for a very long time now and he fits the bill. He is dubbed the French Cristiano Ronaldo. I have seen his videos and I must say he is not far of from Ronaldo in terms of playing style. Ben Arfa was one of Lyons best performers against Man Utd in the Champions League and I was very impressed. He has thrilling speed, excellent passing and shooting, wonderful control and mind blowing skills. Sign him up Wenger! Either him or Ricardo Quaresma
May 17, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Rick, I do agree with you mate, I’m not a running a TribalFootball operation though, these quotes were said by Nasri after tonight’s game.
And the most expensive transfer was Jose Antonio Reyes for £21 million
May 17, 2008 at 11:04 pm
no way it was mate, get your facts straight
May 17, 2008 at 11:04 pm
vikrantpal, the difference between Ben Arfa and Nasri is that Ben Arfa has little end product. Most of his YouTube videos end with his shots either blocked or saved. I do admit, he’s an extremely good prospect with plenty of skill and creativity, but Nasri has bagsfull of that and is ready made for Arsenal.
May 17, 2008 at 11:05 pm
arsenal targets ben arfa done deal yaya toure, kompany nasari ,zarate,martins and diego we will get at least 3 of them
players FACT trust me
May 17, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Rick = negative
May 17, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Rick, the most expensive transfer was indeed Sylvain Wiltord.. but should Reyes have completed his contract it would have been him. Because we would have paid alot more money for him
May 17, 2008 at 11:07 pm
rick = realist
i have the same transferdreams as every other gooner but im getting bitter by experience of being linked with great players every year and then noting comes out of it.
and i guess im kinda tired and got abit of a hangover sorry for the negative comments:P
May 17, 2008 at 11:08 pm
We paid around 10 million for Reyes.. but with more to follow on appearences/goals/trophies
May 17, 2008 at 11:08 pm
fair enough chris
May 17, 2008 at 11:10 pm
lol Rick, no problems, I’d be extremely disappointed if we didn’t get at least one big name in this summer.
May 17, 2008 at 11:12 pm
I have to agree with Rick, it is annoying that we get linked with the best players in the world every season and we rarely follow through and buy them. Last year Babel and Ribery were supposedly passing medicals at Arsenal, this year it seems to be Ben Arfa and Nasri. I hope we buy one of them but I’m not getting my hopes up.
We tend to sign one big name every few years, Gallas, Sol Campbell and Bergkamp were the last established names we bought. Come to think of it, Rosicky too.
http://www.arsenal-opinion.com
May 17, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Living in the middle of the Australian bush has it`s merits. I can`t be swayed by all the rumours and inuedo`s that fly around because the only contact I have with Arsenal these days is by TV or deciphering the comments and opinions on the net. I find some interesting, most amusing but I only listen to Wenger. Add to that I`ve never heard of half the names bandered about that`s for the locals to know and the colonials to find out. By the way, I`m English lived and schooled near Highbury. Have a gut feeling we`ll hear the names Nasri and Arfa more and more in the coming weeks.
May 17, 2008 at 11:15 pm
me to pal
would seriously get down on my knees an kiss the ground if arsenal.com reports in a week or two that Samir Nasri joins from french club Maresilles.
that saying “hope is the last thing that deserts you” had to be said first by an arsenal fan.
May 17, 2008 at 11:15 pm
rick me old mucker, this transfer season will be different, we will get a big player or two, and my guess is another two we know very little about – so 4 in for me, but hleb out
May 17, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Of course, all of this is just speculation at the moment, but everything fits nicely into place when you think about it. Nasri is improving all the time and would fit straight into our team, the only thing that would put Wenger off is the price.
May 17, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Click here for quotes from Nasri’s agent.
May 17, 2008 at 11:18 pm
rick, i would too. i think it will happen, but as i said you never now in football. lets just hope for the best mate.
May 17, 2008 at 11:18 pm
thats what i keep telling myself every summer rico
this one no different;)
May 17, 2008 at 11:19 pm
know*
May 17, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Oh and by the way I did phone Arsenal a fortnight ago and they did say they are currently negotiating terms with a player that will be Flamoneys replacement. I did ask them if it was either one of Makoun or Veloso but they said they are not allowed to comment on that!
May 17, 2008 at 11:24 pm
lol vikrantpal.
May 17, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Im being serious lol
May 17, 2008 at 11:29 pm
They’re not going to tell you who’s going to be signed lmao!
It’s like me giving my address out to everyone.
May 17, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Nasri on the left wing? HE’S TOTALLY RIGHT FOOTED!
May 17, 2008 at 11:30 pm
He’s TOTALLY versatile mate
May 17, 2008 at 11:31 pm
well i know for sure that adebayors granny will take over the job of headscout from steve rowley since i had tea with her and her friends in togo last weekend.
(might have been abit of jaegermaister in it aswell i dont know)
May 17, 2008 at 11:32 pm
he prob means vela will be one of the 3 players!!!
May 17, 2008 at 11:33 pm
hahahahaha Rick
May 17, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Wenger loves a right footer playing on the left wing. Overmars, Pires and Rosicky. We don’t really “do crosses” so there’s no point having a player on he wing who can cross with his left foot, best off cutting in and banging it in the back of the net.
http://www.arsenal-opinion.com
May 17, 2008 at 11:36 pm
The amount of times Clichy has crossed for Ade to head into the net this season has been over 10 at least..
May 17, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Actually, you’re right, that was absolutely bollocks what I just wrote!!
I’m still thinking two years back. This season we have scored more goals from crosses – Bendtner and Adebayor give us this option.
May 17, 2008 at 11:38 pm
drooling over the prospect of a new bobby pires…
mmmm robert pires gaaaaaawww……
May 17, 2008 at 11:39 pm
I think Nasri is a sort of Pires replacement, maybe with even more goals…
May 17, 2008 at 11:42 pm
well i doubt he will score more goals then bobby. he had (and still has) a fantastic eye for goal and how to strike the ball in a way to make it bounce infront of the goalie. scored a couple of those. love em.
May 17, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Does anyone know much about Nuri Sahin? Reason I mention him is because I always get him mixed up with Samir Nasri, and they were both legendry on Football Manager!!!!
He looks good on YouTube, but to be fair I could look good on YouTube.
May 17, 2008 at 11:46 pm
the only player in the world that wouldnt look good in a youtube vid is our very own emmanuel eboue from the past season. would not, repeat not, watch that one.
May 17, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Nasri sounds like a star in the making, hope we get ahead of the likes of Real Madrid. One thing worrys me with all the specualtion surrounding him is what would stop Chelsea coming in with a 30m bid and blowing everyone out of the water. I hope we land Ben Arfa as he sounds like the left winger that we need as we lack a left footed player in midfield. On the replacement for Flamini, why has everyone forgotten about Diaby, I am sure Wenger played him on the left wing as some development for him to eventually play in the centre. The guy is great on the ball for such a bean pole. A more attacking version of Vieria, whether he can play as a partner to Fabregas, only Wenger knows…..Come on Wenger lets get Nasri’s and Ben Arfa’s signature and put us out of our anticipation!
May 17, 2008 at 11:49 pm
HAHA!! I had to check out Eboue on YouTube just for that. Check out the first video, he looks like the best right midfielder in the world. Good old YouTube, a great way to get fans hopes up when signing a new player.
May 17, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Sahin’s name has been mentioned a few times, there is a much bigger prospect in Turkish football though, forgot his name!
May 17, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Diaby seems to have lost his tenacity since the injury he received a couple of years back. I think the only replacement we have in our current squad is Alex Song. He’s like a little terrier – I’d have no problem and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was Flamini’s successor.
May 17, 2008 at 11:51 pm
By the way on Baza’s comment on Nasri being right footed, the guy has some left peg on him for a right footed player, you should see some of his goals with his so called weaker foot
May 17, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Exactly what my point is Gunner Jillu!
He’s such a versatile player, I believe he would fit into this team so easily.
May 17, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Just checked Wikapedia, it must be Batuhan Karadeniz, he’s scored 226 goals in 86 matches for the Besiktas youth team!!! That is some record.
May 17, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Good Eboue Video
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pm09dT2Lwg&feature=related
May 17, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Song??? Not sure about that, to be a central midfielder you need to be so comfortable on the ball. took Flamini long enough to hold that position because he wasnt naturally composed with holding and passing the ball something he made good the season just gone. Song is a good back up player but regular I have my doubts
May 17, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Nope Scott, the youngster is Arda Turan.
May 17, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Gunner Jillu, it wouldnt matter how much chelsea offer, he has a clause that means marsielle must accept any offer over £12 or so million.
Nasri looks the more complete player atm, but I’d prefer Ben Arfa… physcially looks much stronger and from what I’ve seen of the guy looks quite good. Can only get better whereas no none of the youtube vids show how bad nasri’s shooting has been in the past.
May 18, 2008 at 12:00 am
We’re not the only club after him remember, his clause is around 17 million euros apparently.
Ben Arfa is very lightweight, Nasri has a slight edge when it comes to physical presence.
May 18, 2008 at 12:02 am
Does anyone else here think we should go all out to get Micah Richards?? … take advantage of the shit goin on @ City and get in there b4 Chels and Utd??
After all he publically declared him and his dad were arsenal fans last year??
Could he actally be this target from another Prem club we’re supposed to be after??
May 18, 2008 at 12:03 am
We will definately sign a DM as Arsene has said he plans to use Song as CB
May 18, 2008 at 12:04 am
Well Dan I hope that is the case. I am assuming we have the edge on other clubs as Wenger has a habit of making french players stars and I am sure Nasri knows that
May 18, 2008 at 12:04 am
Potentially mate. But City are asking for a shitload of cash for the lad. I rate him really highly, but not the figures City are asking for, according to some sources in the region of £17 million.
May 18, 2008 at 12:05 am
I’d love to get Richards, but I think he’d cost a fortune (as in £25m or so) and I couldn’t see Wenger spending that sort of money on a defender (or any player at that). You’ve got to appreciate why Wenger has to buy foreign players, as he’s said in the past, they are just so much cheaper.
Richards would cost £25m, and Kompany would probably cost £12m, I’m sure he’s just as good.
May 18, 2008 at 12:06 am
Hello everyone my name is JamJam and i’ll be bringing all of you my thoughts, comments and knowledge over the summer. I am studying sports journalism at university and I have a great deal of knowledge about Arsenal and football.
It officially is the take over
you’ll be seeing and hearing more of me over the next few months and you won’t be dissapointed!
May 18, 2008 at 12:07 am
Richards is more direct and compact than Kompany who I feel would be another player who would suit us.
May 18, 2008 at 12:07 am
I really would like to see Diaby in the centre rather than paying 10m on a DM. We have Denilson and Gilberto as well, maybe sign some young player with potential. As for Micah, I am sure as he is English they will demand in excess of 20m. Not really worth it
May 18, 2008 at 12:10 am
Hi JamJam.
Thanks for contributing to the blog.
Diaby has has an on off season imo. From the strikes against Derby & Liverpool, to the injury problems off field. He’s another of our very inconsisent players.
May 18, 2008 at 12:10 am
I like the lad at Ajax – he’s a decent defensive midielder. Hedwig Maduro? I’m sure I remember him playing against Arsenal a couple of seasons ago and he looked quality.
May 18, 2008 at 12:10 am
JamJAm why dont you just suprise us with your knowledge rather than giving us your biography
May 18, 2008 at 12:12 am
He made a great game tonight.
He really said he COULD leave this summer but we’re not the only team interested .. so wait and see.
May 18, 2008 at 12:12 am
Scott, Maduro’s another one thats been linked during the course of the season
He currently plays for Valencia though, the club he joined during the January transfer window. I’m sure he won’t leave the side he’s only just signed for.
May 18, 2008 at 12:13 am
I agree about Diaby, I feel that he’s one of our weakest players.
I’d like to be proven wrong. Wenger has proved me wrong many times in the past (with Flamini, Adebayor, Song, etc). Then again, I think I proved him wrong when I used to slag off Stepanovs and Cygan time and time again!! Centrebacks aren’t Wenger’s strength.
May 18, 2008 at 12:14 am
Diaby would need time to adjust to playing in the centre seen as though he hasn’t played there at all for Arsenal really. I watched him in a recent reserve game where he was playing in the centre and he didn’t look good. His passing was poor and his positional play was all over the place. Gilberto doesn’t really have the legs to play 40 games a season any more and I feel Denilson needs a loan spell somewhere because he hasn’t progressed as quick as everyone thought he would and theres no point in him just sitting on the bench or in the reserves next year especially if we’re going to buy a new CM. No Richards is’nt worth that kind of money at all. Thank you for your contribution Gunner Jillu
May 18, 2008 at 12:14 am
haha Gunner Jillu!
Yep Vince, one of many teams to be interested, but if I was Nasri there would be only one team I would want to sign for.
May 18, 2008 at 12:14 am
I have no idea on who Wenger will sign in the centre, heard a lot of speculation but none of it seems consistent. He may have some suprise up his sleave if he does sign someone there
May 18, 2008 at 12:15 am
Damn, I had no idea!!! Talking about Valencia, Sunny looked good during the Emirates Cup. Surely with Maduro on board, he could be an option for us.
Valencia have got Sunny, Maduro and Benega, how many defensive midfielders does one team need?
May 18, 2008 at 12:17 am
Bring back Stefan Schwartz.
May 18, 2008 at 12:18 am
Arsenal need Veloso for DM. Portugese players are absolutely magnificent and in Portugal, Miguel Veloso is regarded as the next best thing. He has performed really well this season and also put up some good performances in the Champions League. We need this guy, we really do!!
May 18, 2008 at 12:19 am
on wikipedia it says, After the final match in the 2007/2008 season, Nasri was quoted as saying “It was very important to score here, as it could be my last game at the Stadium Velodrome”, fueling speculation of a rumoured £10million transfer to Arsenal F.C.
It is reported that on Monday 19th May Hatem Ben Arfa and Marseille wonderkid Samir Nasri will both be in London having a medical at the Emirates Stadium. This deal will also be announced on monday subject to the medicals
May 18, 2008 at 12:19 am
Just busting your balls JamJam….Gilberto still has some games in him and as fo Diaby, his passing and ball control is good, accepted positional play aint the best yet. Denilson, would rather see him stay at Arsenal and get a few cup matches and league matches and develop with us
May 18, 2008 at 12:19 am
Don’t be suprised if you see the Lyon centre back Sebastian Squillaci end up at Arsenal because wenger likes him and Grimandi has been on the case.
May 18, 2008 at 12:20 am
You say “how many do they need?” but at least they have a squad strong in depth. I know its a debate that goes on forever, but this Arsenal squad needs a bigger squad for next season, so when we lose players like Sagna, we can replace them with quality; no offence Hoyte.
May 18, 2008 at 12:20 am
He’s Portuguese, Man U will get him!! Then again, they do have 3 decent defensive midfielders already. I think he’s the best realistic option (along with Toure). Both would be very expensive though.
May 18, 2008 at 12:21 am
NASIR. Wikipedia is bullshit, anyone can edit it, I could change Nasri’s club to Real Madrid If I wanted..
May 18, 2008 at 12:22 am
Veloso will go to Man Utd.. his price tag is soooooooooo high, and he’s overly overrated
May 18, 2008 at 12:22 am
Chrs, you’re totally right about strength in depth but having too many can cause a problem, unless they are versatile. Three defensive midfielders aren’t going to be happy figting for one place.
Which is why I think Veloso is a great option (centre back and centre midfielder), and Diarra was perfect (right back and centre midfielder).
May 18, 2008 at 12:24 am
Jsut found this on wikipedia
After the final match in the 2007/2008 season, Chris was quoted as saying “Wikipedia is bullshit, anyone can edit it, I could change Nasri’s club to Real Madrid If I wanted”, fueling speculation of a rumoured £10million transfer to Real Madrid.
May 18, 2008 at 12:25 am
So what do you lot think about Sebastian Squillaci?
Good or bad?
May 18, 2008 at 12:25 am
lol thanks Gooner Chris…
May 18, 2008 at 12:26 am
hahahahaha Scott
May 18, 2008 at 12:27 am
No you have that wrong Chris. He is not overrated, hes a very good player. Is there any solid evidence that Nasri will make it in England, the reason I think Ben Arfa will be better is because from what I have seen he is a better prospect and has looked better to me. Nasri looks like he just keeps hogging the ball going left to right and then eventually takes a shot which he scuffs. But hey, let the boss decide. Man Utd have many other central midfielders, Veloso will want regular football which is something we can promise.
May 18, 2008 at 12:27 am
May 18, 2008 at 12:28 am
we already get ben arfa now we need nasri to came to arsenal. because both of them are good.
May 18, 2008 at 12:28 am
I never doubted that he was a good player, in overrated I mean his price tag.
Like you said, let the boss decide, he knows more than us
May 18, 2008 at 12:29 am
Squillaci????
Fuck off!!! these rumours are getting worse and worse, he’s another average centre back!
May 18, 2008 at 12:29 am
Yup Chris, lets just hope he makes a good decision. Any one of those players will be good. In case he does not know what to do, he can refer to this board lol.
May 18, 2008 at 12:31 am
Thats the thing it isn’t a rumour gooner chris it wernt on tribalfootball or wikipedia. just wait and see in the next few weeks but you heard it from me 1st.
May 18, 2008 at 12:31 am
haha.
I hope he does, otherwise we’re fucked!
May 18, 2008 at 12:31 am
Squillaci is very average. Once centre back I would love at Arsenal is Phillipe Mexes. He is certainly better than the Phillipe we currently have at Arsenal. Mexes is a no nonsense tackler and all it takes is one tackle from Mexes against an attacker and that attacker will not come back for more. He is a solid defender. Made of steel.
May 18, 2008 at 12:32 am
No, i’ve heard his name branded about, I don’t think he’s Arsenal quality though.
May 18, 2008 at 12:32 am
One*
May 18, 2008 at 12:35 am
yes the solid defender would be nice but if were going to get nasri and ben arfa then arsenal will literaly be a whole french side….. i think we need to get rid of gallas give gilberto the captains armband and get in some home grown players….
THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION I DO NOT WANT PEOPLE ARGUING WITH ME, THIS IS WHAT I THINK
May 18, 2008 at 12:36 am
My mate, who is very knowledgeable about both French and Italian football believes that Roma & Lyon won’t let Mexes or Squillaci leave.
May 18, 2008 at 12:37 am
Nasir mate. We’re not looking for an argument on here!
I’d like to see some home grown players as well and if you look in the Reserves and Youth squads you’ll find plenty of the English youngsters coming through i.e Jack Wilshere, Jay Thomas..
May 18, 2008 at 12:39 am
i think john heitinga would have been a good centre back choice… and also he is a threat when he goes up so he could get us goals… but too bad hes signed for athletico madrid, thers no doubt in my mind that had arsenal shown intrest in him he wudhave considerd coming but…. plenty more fish in the sea..
May 18, 2008 at 12:41 am
Take Care people. Im off. I hope I wake up to the signings of Ben Arfa and Nasri tomorrow morning!
May 18, 2008 at 12:41 am
Yeah he’s another versatile player who Arsenal have been linked with, I do rate him.
May 18, 2008 at 12:42 am
Bye mate!
…And so do I
May 18, 2008 at 12:43 am
i think arsenal should go for jo hart
May 18, 2008 at 12:44 am
We had the chance to sign him whilst he was at Shrewsbury but City accquired his services very quickly.
May 18, 2008 at 12:47 am
Right, I’m off everyone.
Night Goonerssssss
May 18, 2008 at 12:49 am
but i think the squad we have now should start to act… we won our last 3 games of the season when there was nothing to play for players are coming to arsenal as nothing but when they make a name 4 themselves they leave for bigger clubs i dont blame them but i am pissed off at flamini because he left when he started to play but whne he was on the bench all the previous seasons he said he would fight for his place and now hes sayin if arsenal offerd him a contract he wuda stayed
May 18, 2008 at 12:50 am
t.c chris… hope to c stars at arsenal sooner rather than late i want TROPHIES
May 18, 2008 at 1:15 am
Ive heard about eboue doing the ‘makelle’ role and it comes from someone close to gary lewin who was treating flamini & talking about eboue taking over. it might just be crap but gary lewins pretty close to arsene and the idea makes me feel very unwell
May 18, 2008 at 2:56 am
Me thinks Arsene has the funds to spend this summer for sure. Remember the TV money from the new deal? Arsenal should have £47m for finishing 3rd this season (sigh… should have been 1st)
So, i guess the funds will surely be put to good use this summer = )
P/S: would love to see Nasri or Ben Arfa at the emirates. But doubt we need to sign Yaya, we’ve got tons of CDMs. As for another center back, with all the love in the world, think we need a GALLAS replacement.
May 18, 2008 at 3:17 am
Arsenal is almost a french team now…
May 18, 2008 at 4:03 am
Eboue for DM? That’s an interesting one. Personally, I felt Flamster was a bit short for DM anyway, so Eboue’s no better or worse. He certainly has enthusiasm, and I think I remember watching a Belgium Cup final where he played in the centre. His occasionally horrendous tackling will scare the skirts off those Pansies from Liverpool and Manchester. Personally, if Song was more mobile, I’d be happy with him.
4pts was not the terrible result of an insufficient squad. We had injuries, but 4 points were the points Lehman dropped in the first 2 games of the season. It was 1/3 of the crap ref decisions that went against us.
We need a winger. Period. Maybe 2, other than that Benzima would be grouse.
Bergs
May 18, 2008 at 4:10 am
Ben Arfa looks good…but kinda like Reyes mark2. Hopefully he will have bigger bollocks tho.
May 18, 2008 at 5:43 am
guys i think we’re all resignd to c hleb leave…altho hes super talentd i get really frustratd wiv him coz he wastes possesion too much,and no end product.lets face it,eboue is worthless at RM we myt need to get ridda him but the great man sez he has faith in him so i guess not.nasri wud b excellent,as wud ben arfa coz he cud ply LM as well as up front.c’mon Arsene,do the deals
btw i think most ppl hav 4gotn the fact that we need anothr goalie since jens has gone,cassilas anyone?lol…
May 18, 2008 at 6:06 am
It’ll never happen, of course, but I’d happily settle for Benzema, Nasri & Ben Arfa as a triumvirate of French talent to mirror the triple impact of van Basten, Gullit & Rijkard at AC Milan in the 80s.
May 18, 2008 at 6:20 am
Or the Pires – Henry – Wiltord strike-force backed by Vieira!!!! (That makes us better than Milan…again!)
You are right, this season we were one class keeper and a winger from the title in my books. But with Flamster gone, we really need a Ray-Parlour passionate type replacement. And the happy-go-lucky Wiltord with his crucial goals have never been replaced – no wonder we’ve won diddly since he’s gone.
May 18, 2008 at 6:40 am
Update your list of scorers to include Sagna. Have you forgotten his goal at Stamford Bridge?
May 18, 2008 at 8:18 am
Wot about kolo for cdm if we sign a quality defender
May 18, 2008 at 8:35 am
[...] like to see at Arsenal, but I think it is unlikely. Nevertheless it a possibility, Goonertalk says here that the player may have played his last match at Marseilles, so he is going [...]
May 18, 2008 at 9:53 am
Sorry Bergs but you are wrong. If Arsene (who is God) had taken advice from many many quarters when Tony retired, and had built an airtight world class centre back pairing, we would have won the double two years ago the league & champs league and all three this year.
Sadly the pairings of Gallas,& Kolo (a pair of brilliant old fashioned wing halves or now called Defensive Midfielders, has never worked and never will. Why? Because neither can dominate the opposiition in the air. Therefore AFC look pathetice defending every corner or long ball.
Just add up the amount of points we SHOULD have won if we had not given (a) most teams a goal start from their very first attack. (b) nearly every top side an equaliser minutes after we had scored the opener after usually 60 minutes of domination.???
It adds up to approx 18 points given away…yes 18. If you allow only a 50% improvement we would still have won the title and would now be in the champs league final ready to win.
Sadly….this has been Arsenes achilles heel ie; his inability to build a quality back five or six (reason? to much emphasis on foreign cheapo imports.
After watching the cup final an cringing again…I urge ALL Gunners to mail AFC with the suggestion that Arsene looks no further than The Cardiff center back Johnson, he was immense. Also Pompey had a good lad who would have done us proud, a kid called Campbell who Harry got for free. Yeah I know, who would give away a talent like that for free??
May 18, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I have a feeling arsene wenger will not buy any of these players that wer dreaming of, but i do feel if wer going to buy a player out of these its going to be ben arfa because his unsettled at lyon by not playing for them. DO not be surprised if we don’t spend a lot on players.
May 18, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Howard, thanks for the correction mate.
May 18, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I certainly hope so as well
May 18, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Hah Please stop talking too much. please wait and see coz wenger knows whom he want
May 18, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Stop talking too much? lmao.
Wenger does know who he wants, and thats what we’re discussing mate
May 18, 2008 at 2:01 pm
i want gallas out new keeper would be goood like joe hart maybe… and a striker because we only have 1 striker if u know wot i mean… van persie was a winger, eduardo aswell, so was henry when he arrived ade’s the only real striker weve got… and bentner….
May 18, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Eduardo is an out and out striker mate. He played on the wing on a couple of occasions when we had some injury problems.
May 18, 2008 at 2:09 pm
oh ok
May 18, 2008 at 4:24 pm
About Heiteinga he’s off to Aletico Madrid, he signed a couple of months back its legit. We’re back and forth about Ben Arfa and Nasri but i would absolutely love Diego to replace Hleb, he’d cost a bomb but with 13 league goals alone and at 23 or 24 he’d be a better option than the other 2 lads. But my gut says Wengers definately bringing in a centre back and we’ll know who it is when it’s announced, i don’t trust all these rumours about defenders we’re “signing”.
I think Nasri Or Ben Arfa will be signed soon.
I have no doubt having come so close this season Wenger’s signings this summer will make us forget Flamini & Hleb and convince Fabregas and everyone else that we are a club with real quality and ambition and are capable of winning the league and champions league every season. Milan in the Uefa Cup next season and Barca have been terrible this season, Why leave this club we’re beautiful god i hate the summer.
May 18, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Sorry guys but the bad news i can confirm is that eboue will take over from flamini as the holding player. thats the position he started as a 14yr old and was switched to r/b by beveren.
Get the feeling that this will be the straw that breaks Fab’s back and make him join Madrid?
May 18, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Gaz, thats bullshit.
May 18, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Denilson/Gilberto are going to patner Cesc next season if theres no cm or dm bought. You could have Yaya brought in to add height and strength to the midfield and on corners and see Song as another defender with Djourou. But Wenger did say he was gonna sign a defender didn’t he? He also said he sees Song as a central defender.
May 18, 2008 at 4:42 pm
[...] we reported yesterday, Nasri announced to French Television cameras that his game against RC Strasborg could be [...]
May 18, 2008 at 6:12 pm
hi
May 19, 2008 at 12:50 am
HELLO MY FRIENDS!
I AM EMANUEL EBOUE AND I WILL BE PLAYING THE DEFENSIVE HOLDING ROLE NEXT SEASON ALONGSIDE CESC.
I WILL NOT BE AS GOOD AS I WAS THIS SEASON BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW POSITION FOR ME SO PLEASE BE PATIENT. IT WILL TAKE ME ABOUT 2-3 SEASONS TO MATCH THE BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES I DID THIS YEAR.
MY AMBITION IS TO PLAY IN CESC POSITION AS THE CREATIVE MIDFIELD STAR BECAUASE I AM BETTER THAN HIM AND ONE DAY I WILL BE CAPTAIN.
I AM YOUR LEADER. I AM YOUR FUTURE.
EE xxx
May 19, 2008 at 5:33 pm
stop being a PRAT you wally. if Wenger wanst aboue then whos to argue certainly not a jhonny cum lately glory hunting fan.
May 19, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Who’s ‘aboue’????
Only one prat here with that spelling!
May 19, 2008 at 7:31 pm
There’s only one kid in here.. and it’s you.. fuck off.
July 11, 2008 at 2:59 pm
[...] six goals in 30 games for the French outfit with the final strike in his tally coming in the 4-3 win over Strasbourg that helped secure Marseille’s berth in next season’s Champions [...]