Rumour has it we’ll take £60m for Cesc – I’m not sure how keeping your cards close to your chest during negotiations allows such information to leak out but thats the word out there on the street.
Bringing in Joe Cole shows a certain lack of ambition on Arsenal’s part in my opinion. We get £60m for our captain, the player that this young(ish) team has been built around and we take a 29 year old on a free. Lets take Joe Cole by all means if we can get him to accept our wage ceiling but lets also buy a player thats going to take the team forward.
Gourcuff has been scouted by Arsenal and hand picked by the supporters as a replacement for Cesc, he currently plays for Bordeaux and following our signing of Chamakh the two could team up effectively. He’ll cost us about £22m so we’d be quids in for sure even after spending £10m on a new French centre-back rumoured to be Laurent Koscielny.
We already know that Arsene will turn these young frenchmen into superstars and Real Madrid, Barcelona or one of the Italian giants will want to tap them up in a couple of years so while Ramsey, Wilshire and Theo grow into their roles let them have some real competition for their places. If Arsene is happy to break up this team by allowing Cesc to go and he’s accepted that ‘you don’t win things with kids’ then lets buy some proven quality and show that he can be flexible.
Maybe we won’t be ravaged by injuries again next season but how good would it feel to put out a top class 11 and have players on the bench that we want to see come on and play.
It seems all the rumours are about who we want to buy but surely we need to sell players to make a bit of room in the treatment room. It seems to me we have squad of players that no-one else is particularly interested in, am I the only one that thinks it’s a weird situation for a top club to be in. Only our superstars are attractive not our utility players?
Arsenal should be thinking about how to butter us up, not adding fuel to the fire that many of us feel is raging about not spending money on transfers. There were reports earlier of a warchest which we wouldn’t even need to be touched if we sold Cesc so the question remains, Where is the ambition? Why are we being offered Joe Cole as a replacement to Cesc?
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
You’ve just gotta love Robin aintcha’ !!
Robin van Persie says he would not exchange the style of football played at Arsenal for more silverware.
The 26-year-old hopes he can help bring trophies to Arsenal, but insists he wants to do it playing stylish football.
The Dutch striker admits his Holland team-mate Rafael van der Vaart has mentioned the idea of joining him at Real Madrid, but van Persie insists he would not be interested.
He said: “I’ve always said that I want to win as many trophies as possible in my career, but not at any price.
“What I am trying to say is that I will work my socks off to get the maximum out of my career, but I won’t move to a club which does not play my style of football.
“Dennis Bergkamp is, in my eyes, still ‘The Master’. The fact that he never won the Champions League, the European Championship or the World Cup does not take anything away from his greatness as a player.
“Of course I love silverware in my football career. But sometimes you can’t rush from A to Z.”
van Persie also prefers the stability at a club like Arsenal, as opposed to the constant change of managers at Real Madrid.
He added: “Van der Vaart has said that, if Arsenal don’t sign him, I’ll have to join him in Madrid.”
“But I don’t think that is for me. Real is a fantastic club but the speed of managers and players coming and going is frightening. It must give them neck ache, looking who is coming in and going out.
“They have this philosophy: You did not win anything this year. There is the door and here is a couple of million to buy you off. Ready for the next purchase.
“I prefer the philosophy of Arsenal and Barcelona.”
joe replace cesc? cesc has to leave for that to happen and at the moment arsenal will not sell unless get big offer. still possible that cole and fabregas can be playing for us next year, we get keeper and cb and we are looking very promising for next year.
cesc will go at some point, if its this year yes it will be a big loss gourcof would be great replacemnt but not sure if i see it happening but AA rosicky nasri wilshere ramsey can play that role and RVP will be main man team based around not cesc and chamkh help us play more direct.
and if cesc leaves in say 2yrs or next year then ramsey and wilshere will be ready to take over
Fabergas should be given the same treatment as Cole oe Addebayer he is supposed to be our captain and there he goes publicy stating he wants to play for Barcelona that armband should be ripped off his sleeve he has lost my respect
jamesb – I haven’t got a problem with us taking Joe Cole its the ‘Cole for Cesc’ that riles me. Joe Cole would add maturity and experience to the team aswell as being a classy player.
Why are people bandying about this 60 mill for Cesc rubbish? Arsenal Football Club made a statement that said clearly, in words of one syllable that even the catalunyans could understand, that Ces is not for sale. NOT FOR SALE does not mean we will take 60 mill. NOT FOR SALE means NOT FOR SALE!
Morning jaygooner,
I thought the same as you initially, but on reflection and after listening to the views of others, I think the ‘definitive statement’ was just a strong bargaining position and gave a very firm message that they’d have to substantially increase the offer. Arsene would not keep a player who wanted to leave if he could get the right price. I think Cesc wants to leave this summer.
Morning Peaches. I’m not so sure it is Cole for Cesc as such. I’d like to think that Cole is just a bargain that AW feels he cant turn down. I’m not so sure we need him but he is a quality player and will if nothing else give a few of our guys a bit of kick up the Arse in the competition for places (TR, AA,). I have said before that Cesc leaving or staying is not the big issue this year to me. The team has far greater failings and we are over-run with Cesc type players who can step into his position if required (all be it probably not as good). I would be more unhappy if ALL AW concentrates on this year is either replacing Cesc or even keeping him. We need a more balanced defensive unit and have done for the last 2 seasons. Defensive minded midfielder, GK and at least one CB. Hopefully keep Cesc aswell but if he goes then so be it.
here here Andy, i totally agree with you.
nice post peaches, i often read the post and guess who’s written it by the time i get to the bottom! After reading your post i came to the conclusion it was rasp or london! which is quite odd as their views seem to be at opposite ends of the spetrum!
who have i insulted the most! 😉
Hi tommy,
Actually London and I are in perfect harmony in our view of the likely transfers 🙂
Andy is spot on with his assessment of what we need – I think uinfortunately, what we get will fall short of that ambition.
If we sell Cesc, it will be for good money and we should try to sign Gourcuff even if he costs £20m.
Great post.
Oh, and morning everyoneee!!!
Nice read Peaches, One question why should we give this Joe Cole any more credence than all those on the ever growing list beside this post, Has anyone from the Club intimated that we were involved with Cole, if not it is to be filed under, yea right…….so lets wait and see
As for Cesc IMHO if Barca have the money he will go, if not he will stay a year and then go.
guys,
I don’t want to spoil your party and it must be hard to be a blogger during the summer.
Is it just me or is the premise of your post simply conjecture: arsenal prepared to take £60 million for Cesc.
here is what the Daily ‘Hate’ Mail writes, which comes up with the £60m figure:
“Arsenal will demand £60million for Cesc Fabregas to join Barcelona after the Barclays Premier League side turned down a £29m bid from the Spanish champions. [so far so good] The Gunners declared they have ‘no intention’ of selling their club captain, but it is believed they would cash in on the 23-year-old if Barcelona double their initial offer.”
May I point to the ‘but it is believed’ in the last sentence and may I ask the following quiz question:
A) do you believe that this is genuine information coming out of Arsenal
OR
B) do you belive that this is complete BS made up by some unnamed Mail journo?
if your answer is B), which I suspect it will be, then I do not understand the content of todays blog, as neither Cesc has been sold yet nor has Cole been bought…
Welcome emve,
The tone of the post was really to ask the question ‘Would you consider Cole as an adequate replacement if Cesc left?’
I would ask you the following:
A) Do you think Cesc would like to leave this summer?
B) Do you think Barca can raise the required amount?
C) Do you think Arsenal would accept an offer in the region of £50m?
I believe Cesc wants to leave and it all rests on whether Barca are prepared to stump up the money – so his chances of going are roughly 50/50
She did say it was rumour emve!
Summer time is difficult for news, and most of the media are speculating on BS, and when fans are as desperate as we all are for news during silly season its up to us to make our own minds up as to whats BS and whats not.
Yes please!!! The fewer daigos in the Arsenal team the better. They are all totally unreliable. Fabregas is just a money grabbing twat, and remember that tosser Reyes.
Please Wenger no more Spanish arseholes!!!
JSP you seem to have problems, please store them in the space where your brain should be.
rasp,
to be sure (and to answer the question), I would not consider Cole to be an adequate replacement for cesc.
with regard to your three questions, I would answer A and B with a yes, but C with a no.
here is a counter-question: do you think that Cesc would be heart-broken and refuse to give 100% if Arsene told him that he has to stay at least two more seasons? I, for one, do not think so given what Cesc has said so far. but, of course, I might be wrong…
My, how people get upset by the use of the word ‘rumour’, its how the rumours get twisted that interests me – Joe Cole on a free would be a good addition to our squad – Joe Cole on a free as a replacement for Cesc Fabregas who may or may not be going to Barcelona if they come up with enough money even though Arsenal have told them to keep their hands off him would show a lack of ambition IMHO
Hi emve,
Thanks for the response – I know where you are coming from.
My answer is: I think Cesc would play for the shirt and be a huge asset to the team if he stayed – but that TV should be made captain. I don’t think we would keep him for 2 more seasons as his re-sale value would go down too much, but we may have him for one more year.
…… or maybe RvP should be captain as he is about to win the Golden Boot in the WC …. and then be targetted by Barcelona next season 👿
emve – the point of the post is that Joe Cole should not be considered an adequate replacement for Cesc although he could be useful while Ramsey and Wilshire gain more experience.
I believe like you that if he doesn’t move this summer he would still give 100%.
He should’nt have to worry about every time he is photographed some scum journo deciding he’s ……
A. Happy to be in the throng of his Spanish team-mates, a large number of whom are urging him to move to Barcelona
or
B. Hes sad because Arsene won’t let him leave Arsenal and join Barcelona
TV for captain Rasp. By the way i forgot to say the quote from RVP put up by SS is great, Just shows the guy is class and this is the type of player we need at the club.
i think cole is not the replacement for fab. he has been a winger for almost his entire career because he has enough tricks in the bag to strive there. he will take over the place of nasri who will occupy the vacant spot left by fab with ramsey. our winger for next season would be arshavin, rosicky, walcott & cole
DanDan god you’re ugly!!!!
Dandan and Harry Redknapp….seperated at birth or what!!!!
Actually if Arshavin pulled his finger out, stopped living on his 4 goal memory at Anfield and truly committed himself to us, instead of quoting on a weekly basis be it misunderstood or not what’s wrong with us, that would be far more beneficial than to think of Cole signing,because we wouldn’t need him .
I thought half term was over, shouldn’t you be at school JSP?
I have been having a lot of trouble imagining Cole at Arsenal, although, maybe, if, but, might, the fact that he would be free could increase this wild possibity.
I certainly agree with you about Arshavin, Kelsey.
London,
The only possibility that Cole may join us, is that Rosicky may never fully recover, but Cole is nearly 29, had his fair share of injuries himself and is reportedly asking for 100K a week.
Kelsey. Dead right about AA. He’s beginning to irritate me now. I know every comment is blown out of proportion but I really wouldnt be sad to see the back of him and have Cole there instead. Quality player but shut-up and show it on the pitch.
I’m guessing that JSP is of a generation that wouldn’t recognise George Armstrong as depicted in dandan’s avatar 🙄
As everyone knows, I was the first (and probably most foolish) to say I thought Cesc was leaving.
I think it has come down to this:
What is most significant is what Barca say, and what Cesc doesn’t say. I’d bet dandan’s house that if Barca offered £50m, we’d accept.
I’d actually be happy if we got Gourcuff in and Cesc left – not that I’d be happy to see Cesc leave by any means but let’s face it, its inevitable and Gourcuff would be a fantastic buy.
I’m not pushed on Cole – he plays wide and we have plenty wide players. He’s no better than Rosicky, Nasri or Arshavin imo.
I dont think it would take that much Rasp. 40-45 and AFC will let him go I think. I do believe that if he stays he will continue to give his all for the club and I would hate for the fans to turn against him but I think some might and for every average performance he will be slated as not trying and wanting to be at Barca etc etc… Might not be worth the hassle and inevitably lower his price and lessen his commitment.
Paul Scholes – great player, stand up guy !!
“”There are players in the squad who have spent nearly two years flying all around the world helping England qualify for the World Cup, whereas I haven’t been involved for a long time.
“It wasn’t a case of wanting to go on holiday, it was the fact that I got the call so close to the tournament, and also I didn’t want to take the place of someone who helped get England to South Africa.
“The idea just didn’t sit comfortably with me.”
Hi Irish,
I agree about Gourcuff – he already has a great understanding on the pitch with Chamakh – and he’s more eye candy for you and peaches 😉
SS. True about Scholes. How many years ago would Arsene have offloaded him as being too old and surplus to requirements if he had been at Arsenal?
Its all about the football Rasp – all about the football 😉
I’m in the midst of writing so going and coming – I’ve three posts for ye so slot them in as ye see fit although if the one about Henry could go up before Saturday – or even Saturday – that’d be good 🙂
Sharkey, Great quote mate. He is a gentleman of football, just oozes class, doesn’t do many interviews, but when he does he is always worth listening to. If only AA could learn from him on and off the pitch.
Rasp lay of mate, the wife says if you lose my house again, this time I go.
I think the whole cesc situation may turn into a messy divorce case,prolonged, with a lot of grief for everyone concerned.
Oh, afternoon everyone.
Hi kelsey,
2 divorces in one summer will be too much for dandan 😉
Rasp – I’ve two posts done and in drafts. I’ll do the other one during the week.
Thanks irish, you’re a star – shall I take out the swear words or have you done it already? 😉
Ha ha no swear words 😀
I promised I wouldn’t whine and I didn’t … much 😉
I have one on Bergkamp but that will keep – I’ll put it down on paper in the next few days.
Have you heard the new Duran Duran world cup song?
It had to Happen…………….
Duran Duran being the latest pop group to release a World Cup Anthem.
It’s called “His name is Rio and he watches from the stand”………………..
Sorry, slow news day
🙂 London,
What do you reckon of the chance of signing Koscielny before the WC?
It is clear we want the player. I wonder if he is 2/3 the price of TV because he is 2/3 the player; or whether the price just reflects the stage he is at in his current contract.
Least England have plenty of excuses this time 😉
You’re bitter irish 😳 who would you want to win if it were England v France in the final?
Actually, I don’t think the French have their hearts in the competition. There was widespread condemnation of the handball over there and I think that they would consider it a hollow victory if they got anywhere in the competition.
France 😆
Jebus ye lot are still on about 1966, I couldn’t take hearing about it if ye won TWO 😆
Anyway, Argentina or Holland will win.FACT!!
The French players, media and fans don’t like Domenech basically because he’s a managerial cowboy so they’d be happy to go out in the first round and get rid of him and start afresh with Blanc.
The Irish are just having a laugh now supporting anyone but France – we’re all from Uruguay on Saturday ha ha its UEFA/FIFA and Domenech who pissed us off more not Henry or the rest of the players.
And Ireland wouldn’t still be proud if they’d won the World Cup?
I’ll accept the criticism for always overestimating our chances although, if you look at the draw this year, the quarters are realistic and after that anyone can win. I wonder what the stats are for favourites turning out winners?
No Rasp we’d still be in shock 😆
Actually we’d still be wondering why no-else turned up 😆
😆 How much of a cult hero is Big Jack over there still irish?
You can see my level of expectation ha ha we’re just happy to get there.
MASSIVE Rasp – he never has to buy a pint, they are always on us Big Jack, always on us – legend! The football was awful but it got us far:
Backpass to Bonner
Bonner pumps it downfield
Quinn knocks it down
someone taps it in
Brilliant!!
The best might have been beating Italy in New York. The Italians thought they owned New York, we told them, we told them 8)
Oh, I have America backed to beat England, just cos I got excellent odds in my view and the Americans played well in the altitude last time in the Confeds Cup – got them to win at 6/1.
Backed Rooney as part of a double, him to be top goalscorer and Argentina to win at 125/1. England should see of Slovenia and Algeria easily. Algeria are awful.
I reckon you use Paddy Power irish as they are refunding all losing bets if Rooney scores.
Only on correct scorelines, first scorer etc Rasp not on winners
Hmmm methought Irish was broke, is Dad a bookie I wonder, LOL
The €5 bet nearly broke me Dandan
Slightly off topic, but football is now the biggest betting bonanza by far.It has replaced the traditional horse racing and greyhound racing by leaps and bounds.
Racing was and will always be corrupt, and any sport which has a gambling facility will always bring bribery and corruption.This has already been proved,in football, rugby, snooker and tennis, and use of drugs in athletics, and there is worse to come.Most of the major players are from Asia and have an intricate web of syndicates.
The betting firms such as Paddy Power (who incidently is not a person) will continue to offer every conceivable bet they can think of, as generally people are being mugged,and they will continue to advertise in every way possible until the day,not so far in the distant future,when betting will cease.
In the States, poker on line betting got so out of hand that the government banned the use of credit cards by potential punters,and that more or less killed it off, at least within the USA.
I am not advocating that people shouldn’t have a modest bet to add interest, but one will find that anyone who wishes to place as little as a 1000 GBP,(in betting terms not a sizeable wager)) will have difficulty in even having a bet accepted.
I was involved in horse racing for many years, and the conclusion in my experience,is that one never sees a poor bookmaker.
Kelsey – the head man at Paddy Power is..well… Paddy Power. He is actually a real person.
irish,
take a tip from me on first scorer.The option is always first or last scorer, and last has been proved statistically is the far better option, as it keeps one interested for the whole match, bar injury or substitution, whilst if a goal is scored quite early on in a game, and it is not either your chosen player or the team you support,your bet is down. 😉
Scroll half way down the page and you’ll see Paddy Power.
http://www.theirishworld.com/awards.asp
I never bet on any of those Kelsey – just outright winners, outright top goalscorer and winners of various matches.
Irish, sorry i didn’t express myself quite clearly.Paddy Power is a firm owned by a number of people, including Paddy Power.But the media tend to interview him and ask for odds from him as he was a one man band and the sole owner,well at least on sky and talksport.
Gotcha Kelsey 🙂 – suppose it helps to have the name though. I think it was 3or4 bookies that merged in the late 80s that is now Paddy Power.
Rasp
Sorry, to take so long to get back to you.
I am taking this Koscielny deal very seriously; we have clearly made a bid of 8 mil which apparently has been rejected, although, according to Young Guns an improved offer of 10 mil has since been made.
So, I think this is 80-20 going to happen as to whether it will happen before the world cup I would say 80-20 against. There is no incentive for his club (FC Lorient) to do this quickly; my guess is that they will drag it out in the hope that others might come in for him.
Conclusion: Wenger gets his man.
Something else just struck me, if he is left footed, it will spell the end for Silvestre.
That should send a few of you scrambling through U-Tube clips to see which foot he is most comfortable with…Lol
Evening all…..why does it matter if we get this dude Koscienly or whatever his name is before or after the world cup, he’s not even in the World Cup so his price shouldn’t fluctuate
Hi Livers
You are right it makes no difference, the reason it came up stems from a little joke between me and Rasp.
Very rarely do we agree on things but this is one of a handful in which we did.
We both felt that there would be no other new signings before the World Cup.
I can’t speak for Rasp but for my part this was not meant as a criticism as I feel the squad is in good shape. Although, like every Arsenal supporter, I wouldn’t say no to a few new editions.
I’d like to see him sign before the World Cup for no other reason than once its done, its done.
Things dragging on and on help no one.
New post ….