Pep Guardiola’s new Barcelona side are expected to announce the signing of Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb in the coming days.
Hleb’s future at Emirates Stadium has been uncertain since the end of last season and he has also been linked with a move to Italian champions Inter Milan.
Barcelona have held a long-standing interest in the Belorussian and he is understood to be travelling to Spain to undergo a medical after the two clubs reportedly agreed a £11.5 million fee.
Earlier this week, the former Stuttgart schemer admitted it would not be easy to leave Arsenal following talks with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.
With Hleb almost guaranteed to be on his way, it could mean that Arsenal will launch a bid for Zenit ace Andrei Arshavin.
Arshavin’s dream move to Barcelona has collapsed and as Barca move closer to Hleb it leaves me thinking that Arshavin will be on his way to the Emirates.
Do you think the Russian playmaker is a worthy replacement for Hleb? Who would be the perfect replacement for the 27 year-old?
July 10, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I saw glimpses of Arshavin’s talent in the Euros and thought that he was great and young.. Until I found out he was 27. I can’t see Wenger buying anyone else to replace him, we already have Nasri in the bag, but Walcott and you know are going to support him.
July 10, 2008 at 5:44 pm
*and you know who are going to support him [Nasri].
July 10, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Nikolai Dimitrov, perfect replacement but lyk arshavin wenger wont b interested until he glimmers at club or international level. But for for me one ready made replacement is Arda Turan !!!
July 10, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I think Samir Nasri will be Hleb’s natural replacement. Nasri would be a more energetic version of Hleb, with high determination as well.
Arshavin can be a pretty good player for Arsenal but still the price might hinder Wenger from making bids. Well, suitability of a player is one thing and price is another thing to consider as well.
Only a few days ago we’re linked to Zhirkov, another Russian who played at left back for Russia in Euro 2008 but to be honest, his natural position is on the left wing. He might be a good addition to the squad. Oh well, going off topic here.
Anyway, Nasri is the most likely replacement to be honest.
July 10, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Nasri, David Silva, Zirhkov and Gourcuff, if you believe the media!
July 10, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Poor old theo hasnt even been spoke about! Our new TW14 wil shine this season then every1 can kiss his boots lol!
July 10, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Theo and nasri can cover the right, so the left IS the area we need cover for innit?
July 10, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I Really Really would love to see Silva Next Season, he’s Pretty decent Player , Plus we got Nasri already, hmmm ?
July 10, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Ryan; If Thoe aint the 1st choice right winger next season, I’ll be gutted fella.
July 10, 2008 at 6:09 pm
nasri aint playin of the wings, theo n eboue [god save us all] will play on right n left respectively, nasri will play behind the striker
July 10, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Arshavin’s price will be lowered as the transfer window comes to a close, the hype surrounding his Euro performances dies down, and most importantly, that Zenit realizes that no club would be wise to pay £24m pounds for the lad. I expect him to go for something like £16m in August, maybe to us!
From what I’ve seen of him (I’ve been interested in him since last year), he would be a perfect replacement for Hleb. He is quicker, braver, and more productive than Hleb – my only worry is that he lacks bottle and/or the requisite level of fitness.
My other worry is that Wenger sees Nasri as the direct replacement for Hleb. While the boy has immense talent, and his ceiling is far higher than Hleb’s, he would, for a while at least, be a step down.
July 10, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Well Nasri is the replacement for Hleb. We signed him when no-one in his position left Arsenal so now the likely replacement looks like him. We have on the wings next season: Nasri, Eboue, Walcott, Ramsey, Rosicky, Traore,(Wilshere?) We are more likely to but a new striker to replace Ade but maybe use an Attacking mid instead like Arshavin. I like the look of Falcao, maybe Diogo (not for £13mill) or Huntelaar. My preferred choice would be shock GUDJOHNSEN. Good vision, link up, can score. Wrong side of 30 but we also bought Suker once.
July 10, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Yeah your not wrong there spike! We have seen what he can do against liverpool in the chmps lge he destroyed em! All gud in my books!
July 10, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Nasri. Obviously.
July 10, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Hi all i am requestin to wenger santa cruz david silva senna and dieqo i i would like them in emirates studiom if we get them i am sure we ‘ll win ever compotision
wenger please bring them
thank you
July 10, 2008 at 6:16 pm
agoonered;
If Eboue is used in ANY OTHER position than as back up RB, then we may as well say good night Vienna to winning jack!
Nasri can play wide fella.
Theo on the left is NOT an option, he started to show exactly how good he was on the right last season, he needs to continue and develop in that position until Wenger sticks him up top.
Vela can be used on the left, easing him in slowly to the hustle of the Prem.
Rosicky will hopefully play more than 5 games next year too!
July 10, 2008 at 6:16 pm
eboue will move to the centre of midfield ….he has got the skill and pace to get past his marker most imp he doesnt cost much….justin hoyte would be moved up on the right wing
July 10, 2008 at 6:19 pm
I hope Nasri will be the one who replace Alexander Hleb. In fact he’s highly wanted by Arsene Wenger nd he wont cost as much as Arshavin , i hope the next question will be who will replace the stupid adebayor!?
July 10, 2008 at 6:21 pm
keep dreaming arshavin aint comin we cant pay him his wages…anybody costing more than 35000 pounds aint comin bischoff might come
July 10, 2008 at 6:22 pm
To be Honest I don’t Rate Arshavin That Much , I don’t know whats with the high Price Tag on Him…Seriously
July 10, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Santa cruz. Marcos senna samir nasri. David silva. Dieqo. And ashley young if we get them i am sure and sure that we ‘ll win all the compotision
plzzz wenger bring them
July 10, 2008 at 6:24 pm
dont forget carlos he can play up front or on the left. and have to agree Theo on the right is a must. As for a new striker has to be santa cruz he will be great in our team and show a very nice profit on ade. If Nasri comes that would be great but Id love to see velosa in to give us the defensive mid we need and let cesc go forward more often .
July 10, 2008 at 6:24 pm
roque santa cruz would be a wonderful addition….eduardo and him would form a lethal combo ….with theo and bentdner would be an awesome attack…bring kranjcar that would be enuf…his wages wouldnt be that high as well
July 10, 2008 at 6:25 pm
i would like to see Gourcuff come as part of the AdebaHORE deal. He looks a carbon copy of Pires, who was miles better than Pleb.
Dont forget Tomas Rosicky also who i believe will have a great season if he stays injury free.
Does anyone else get soo pissed off when players like Ade, Flamini, Hleb all leave the manager that made them high profile players. Without wenger ade would still be playing in Monaco’s reserves and Hleb would be still an unknown in Germany.
Have some bloody respect. Fabregas always comments on how grateful he is to wenger unlike the others.
July 10, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I dont care as long as that twat Hleb goes…this idiot has spent all his time saying that he should play as the 2nd striker…this is a man who scored 3 goals all season…a man who refuses to shoot, who cant shoot. This is a player who over complicates everything , a player who is constantly caught in possession A PLAYER WHO LOOKS LIKE A LOSER….GO HLEB & GO NOW
July 10, 2008 at 6:26 pm
nasri is direct replacement. just like hleb and rosicky, nasri is more central player but since wenger like his players to play with lot of off ball movement, an out and out winger wouldn’t give that because winger always make one dimensional movement (straight down the flank). wenger wants his fullback to run like that while wide players to cut inside and support midfield and striker. last seson we have a player who can play as out and out winger, theo walcott. toward end of season walcott runs have been more variety, he starts to cut inside while still run straight down the flank. this season with vela introduction, we can finally have both flank with out and out winger. while rosicky will provide similar output as nasri, vela would provide the same as theo did at the right flank. so 2 players for each positions, that should do it.
July 10, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Arshavin is a c**t. He will never have a decent carreer anywhere but his cold shitty country. It seems that except seeing himin the game of his fuckin life vs Holland you don’t really KNOW anything about him, do you you stupid shit?! Well, apparently not. Thank God AW does…
Aaron-Samir-Santa Cruz
these will be the 3 additions that the C**t promised us early this summer
Fuckin Hell, i am Travelling all across europe to follow the C**t and his stupid kids and he gets rid of his best 3 players to replace them with..the above
It’s time to face. it we will be like the Scousers really soon… wondering where did 20 y of our lifes went…
July 10, 2008 at 6:33 pm
30 million Euros and Gourcuff for Ade is an AMAZING deal, if true.
With that dosh, we could sign a decent striker AND a CB and that would be decent transfer business IMO.
July 10, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I dont care if we have wingers who run in staright lines, zigzags, backwards or in women’s clothing as long as they are a goal threat and can produce final balls, consistently.
Theo on the right is a serious goal threat, Rosicky (when fit) is too.
July 10, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Nasri is replacing him
July 10, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Two of the worst ideas i ever hear there 17. lang – July 10, 2008 eboue will move to the centre of midfield ….he has got the skill and pace to get past his marker most imp he doesnt cost much….justin hoyte would be moved up on the right wing
wouldnt mind seeing Gourcuff myself.
July 10, 2008 at 6:45 pm
WE NEED A NATURAL LEFT FOOTER TO REPLACE HIM. HLEB PLAYED ALOT ON THE LEFT, SO MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER SILVA FROM VALENCIA.
July 10, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Does anyone know new about Nasri’s singing?
July 10, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Attila;
He does a marvelous Tom jones fella.
July 10, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Deise;
I just assumed lang was taking the piss with that post!
July 10, 2008 at 7:06 pm
ARDA would be great but i don,t think we will buy another winger
July 10, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I would have thought so Spike, but i had to say somethin , just in case he wasnt ! You can never tell these days…..
July 10, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I would love to see David Silva at Arsenal. At 22 he will be a sound investment and also Cesc will surely happy having a fellow countryman at the club. He won’t come cheap but I feel given his age its worth spending a extra few million.
July 10, 2008 at 7:41 pm
With AW stating that its vital to keep his squad together as we are on the verge of “doing something special” heres where we stand on
July 10th
Lehmann – gone
Sagna – signed a new contract but doesnt rule out a future move
Flamini – gone
Gilbert – gone on loan
Gilberto – over 30 so not wanted
Hleb – almost gone
Adebayor – wants to go
Hoyte – staying oohhh what a relief
In Aaron Ramsey
A russian take over anyone???????? AW can only work so much magic.
Looks like David Dein was right after all
July 10, 2008 at 7:45 pm
We have been hearing a lot about Ade and Hleb!!!!! I am not worried at all.They will easily be replced by Dud Nasri and Theo. And don’t fiorget we have RVP and fingers crossed Rosichy.Who else should we need????We will be Champions next Year
July 10, 2008 at 7:49 pm
DAVID SILVA!!
July 10, 2008 at 7:52 pm
TIM CAHILL
July 10, 2008 at 8:19 pm
i might kill myself if nasri doesn’t sign can anyone garantee it
July 10, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I dont get all this hype about Arshavin, hes 27 and played well in two games in the Euros. Was he playing against Spain in the Semi’s? Hmmmm I think so. Didnt do much if I remember correctly. Nasri will be the replacement, by October we will all forget Hleb even wore the Red and White.
Still hoping we get an experienced centre-back, and maybe a striker once Adebayor goes. Not too keen on Santa Cruz tho …
July 10, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Dont matter who we bring in as we will still have a weak squad.. Most likely to be weaker then last season & could even be the smallest squad in the legaue.
Flamin gone
lehmann gone
hleb gone
gilberto going
adebayor going
Thats 5 short of a already depleted squad now can anybody tell me that we will have a stronger squad then last season??
P.s Theo deserves to be playing upfront now & not thrown out wide.. time to let him shine..
July 11, 2008 at 12:41 am
First thing I wanna be sure, didin’t Wenger say at the end of the season that he was going to bring in another playmaker? And this was before their were any rumblings about Hleb leaving. So i would assume we’re still due a playmaker. I think Nasri will replace Hleb cause he’s similiar but for the other playmaker if there’s another coming I always thought Diego from Werder Breman would be brilliant at Arsenal but I don’t think he’ll be coming. I also doubt Wenger would pay 24mill for Arshavin at 27. I’d prefer Van Der Vaart or someone like Guardado on the left. But probable is someone coming in like Gouffran or someone versatile.
Also if Gilberto is leaving surely another defensive midfielder is a must. Like Yaya or De La Red. Probably De La Red cause he’d cost about 10mill and is available.
July 11, 2008 at 8:26 am
Yes, baring in mind Gilly is off & the Flamster is no more who IS our DM destrtoyer???
I would like to see King Kolo there personally. Think about it…. Him & Gallas DO NOT work @ CB. But we all know AW will not drop Gallas (i think he should…). Kolo would add energy & power to our midfield, something we havent had since PV4 / Petit combo & the boy can actually shoot HARD from distance!!! Add to that the fact the guy can play ball, he no slouch!!!
I’m thinking….
Sagna – Gallas – Big Phil (*) – Clichy
Theo – Kolo – Cesc – Traore (Nasri if he actually comes..)
RVP – Nikki B
* Yes give Big Phil a SUSTAINED run in the team with a specific partner!!!
And yes I’d leave the Rosicky (aka Mr. Glass) on the bench to replace Cesc @ 75-80mins…
July 11, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I think we really need some one to be in the wif gallas he can get slow on the turn and senderos is not that person.
i think david v would be perfect for this team.
July 13, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Nasri is defiently are replacement now,he can play as a second striker and play wide left cutting in on his right foot.But also Kranjcar has been linked again with the Gunners ,but i could him staying at portsmouth as now we signed are new Overmars (Nasri).We have also made a late bid to sign Gareth Barry which is nice to see.
July 14, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Well, on the left, in an advanced position (where Hleb seemed to have been played for most of last season), is really the natural place for RVP. When AW was playing him and when he was 100%, RVP seemed to drop down into a place slightly behind Ade. So while he might not be as creative on the ball as Hleb is alone, I think he has a better instinct for the pass and a much better nose for goal (and when to actually take a shot- unlike Hleb). He can also play a holding role in that position and make things more available on the overlap for Clichy (now if only Clichy’s crossing has improved…). Rosicky can also play in this position, should he remain healthy for any length of time. And when Eduardo is back in the line-up, he can play center-left as well.
The only player I’m interested in seeing AW pick up for the left is really Yuri Zirkhov. While this is unlikely to happen, I think this lad has the pace and skill on the ball we’d require. Plus, he’s pretty young, much younger than Arshavin, and just as creative. He’s technically listed and played as a left-back, but his defense is nowhere as good as Clichy’s, so I feel his more natural position is in the midfield, where his pace and attacking skill would be more useful to us.
July 14, 2008 at 5:24 pm
i thin kit will be nasri and i think we will win the prem with that team
am i right?