We are half way through the silly season of the transfers and rumours of certain transfers that are never to materialize. It has started with a news that Wayne Rooney is going to the Arsenal, closely followed by a gossip from a reliable source that Rooney is in fact going to sign for Chavs. I became confused – are there 2 Wayne Rooneys or is Wayne’s brother John sought by Chelsea, or Arsenal? But oh no, it is all clear now – after all the hype Rooney is staying at ManU!
Similar scenarios apply to at least a dozen players in EPL alone. Be it Rooney, or Suarez, or Fellaini, or Torres. The bottom line is – nobody knows the final outcome of the speculation or the final make up of any premier league squad. Thankfully there were only a few half baked rumours about any of our top players leaving this summer. But that has not been the case in recent years.
Every summer would see Gunners chewing their nails on their way to places of worship (no, Emirates does not count) to pray for Dennis to intervene and stop imminent sale of yet another Judas. A scumbag, lowlife, front bottom so-and-so who chose to leave our beloved club. Why do we get so upset about some mercenary switching paymaster? Why? Because they destroy teams, unsettle other players, often take clubs back to the drawing board. We, the fans of the Arsenal have suffered our fair share of pain, disappointment, tears (in the author’s case) mixed with anger and dismay. The label ‘the feeder club’ was beginning to stick.
For me, the worst summer of recent years was when we saw Flamini and Hleb leaving, Thierry Henry’s ‘That’s it guys’ farewell, Cesc reunion with his blood brothers and finally van Judas’ pathetic confession about some ‘little boy inside’ him.
And this brings me to the question that I am about to ask you: who do you think hurt our chances of winning a trophy the most? Was it van Judas? I think not. We would most probably not win the league with him on our side. To have him scoring against us is a different ball game altogether (called biting the hand that fed you for 8 years you b*****d), but would we have done any better if he was our top striker in the past season? What about the financial side of the equation – would Wenger buy Cazorla, Giroud and Podolski if we didn’t sell BSR? I appreciate that AW secured the 3 transfers before the ManU move was formally announced, but I guess the Club knew long before that we would be selling the Dutchman.
Or do you think that Cesc’s move back home hit us hardest? He was pivotal to our team structure and the whole style of play was built around him. After Cesc went the squad had to be rebuilt yet again and it took us 2 whole seasons to have a midfield to be reckoned with.
For me it was the summer of 2008 that set us back by several years. The unexpected departures of both Hleb and Flamini and Gilberto left a huge hole in the midfield. We finished 3rd that season, only 4 points behind the league winners and almost 40 points ahead of Spurs! Had they stayed I am convinced that with just one significant purchase, perhaps a great goalie and we could have won any competition with that squad.
Who do you still miss? Which event hurt the Club most, Was it Thierry’s departure, or Songs Barca move, or Na$ri and Clichy’s greasy money deals?
Written by evonne
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
A really smashing Post, Evonne! Chapeau!! 😀
The answer to the question you raise is easy for me — None of them!!
Life means change, nothing and no one remains unchanged, the club moves on and in 5, or 10, or 50 years there will be a whole new set of circumstances to delight and disappoint the fans, and the current player moves will be forgotten as irrelevant by the future fans, however much today’s fans had the feelings hurt.
Embrace life – it is all too fleeting; embrace change – fighting it is pointless!
Again, I offer my congratulations on your excellent Post! 🙂
Good morning to you all and a special good morning to Evonne.
I suppose the player that hurt the club most by leaving has to be The Homesick Spaniard. As you say, Evonne, Wenger had built the side around him, a mistake in my humble opinion, yet I think we were all aware that he would be off sooner or later.
Of the others, Henry was about past his best, Flamini easily replaceable, Hleb not all that influential, Gilberto was a loss, Na€ri and The Little Dutch Boy were missed but not crucially.
As to the loss of which one was responsible for our failure to win anything, I not sure we would have won anything anyway, we just were not strong enough.
Evonne,
I wrote a comment clarifying my thoughts on DanDan’s Post yesterday, because I did not want to put words in his mouth (metaphorically speaking), but he thought I was referring to you – which I was not! 🙂
In case he did not see my explanation this morning, I am repeating it below.
………………………………………………………………………
“Hi DanDan, 🙂
I do not suppose you are around, but I have just read your 8:13 p.m., (comment) and at a risk of digging a deeper hole, by ‘clarification’ I was just trying to use a form of words that you could distance yourself from, if you disagreed with my own understanding of what you had written. [I am sure Evonne understood what you said] 🙂
Too often I have fallen on the sword when the old adage bites my arse: – [I could imagine you saying to me — ]
“I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I’m not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I meant”. Ooer! 🙂
I think our biggest loss of the most recent has to be Song. Without him, would RVP have been top goal scorer? The amount of assists he provided as well as key interceptions last season was the foundation of the team. We have always had a superior attack, but we lack in the defensive midfield department. Arteta is not much of a strong hold player, giving away far too many fouls just out side the box on many occasions.
So I believe Song has been our biggest loss.
Nice post’ thanks.
For me the only player that I think might have been worth hanging onto is Djourou, but thats only because of our complete lack of signings!
I really cannot get my head round what has (not) happened this summer? It is bizarre. While most areas of the squad have been completely ignored, the manager has gone on a completely pointless, long drawn out saga in trying to sign the talented, but damaged goods that is Suarez. I dunno maybe he is venting, doing to clubs what has happened to him and Arsenal?
Regardless, for all the promises, the club have been even more parsimonious than during the so called financially ham strung times and I am beginning to feel like a mug. A mug for passionately defending the manager against those I decried as doom monsters. Of course Wenger wants to buy top quality players, he did it in the past when we were at Highbury and the only reason for not doing so was because of the huge debt from the stadium, yadda yadda.
But what possible excuse is there for this complete lack of squad strengthening that in any other business would be construed as gross negligence?
I want to believe the club are actually working hard to sign the players, and are actively seeking out targets with a view to, you know, spending the necessary. But we’ve been told many times how we almost signed this player, or we’re soooo closeto signing that player and didn’t end up signing anyone, that I feel this is going to be the case yet again.
Almost signing Suarez is a great anecdote and one that Wenger can tell at a dinner party some time. I wonder if he will still be the manager when he recounts it? For I really am worried that this could be his swan song, whether he wants it to be, or not.
Sorry for the negativity, this really isn’t me, but all the hope and optimism I had after the finall nerve wrecking day of the season and the subsequent boasts from Gazidis and Wenger, have been kicked out of me as we have completely failed to address the squad weaknesses. The tabloids can’t even be bothered to make up transfers for us any more.
Oh and as for players we let go of that hurt us, I think the summer you alude to Evonne, where Flamini and Gilberto left was the one. Losing Flamini and Gilberto without signing any replacements was so damaging to our chances.
And then last summer, when the dutch twat went, I would have kept him to his contract, his goals could have seen us win the league. How bizarre. A world class striker scoring the goals that made the difference eh…. *cough* Higuain *cough*…
hi guys, thank you for the comments, much appreciated.
It never ceases to amaze me that we all love the same Club, yet have such a wide spectrum of views and opinions! Marvelous, a Gunners life might not be an easy one, but it is never boring 🙂
Arsenal players and funs are like children of a very Poor family neighbouring very rich families. They only look on in admiration 2 thoz buying saculant cuts of meat, but can’t afford even soup. They only pick leftovers and drippings. Mayb that would be fair but do u, Wenger, lie 2 us??????????
Very philosophical point there and one which I think I can counter with the following ancient chinese proverb;
Man who go to bed with itchy bum, wake up with smelly finger.
Hi Evonne,
I think our biggest loss was Ashley Cole, when he left at the end of the 2005/6 season he was at the time the best English left back and he remains the best to this day.
Our folk lore would have us believe that he left because we would only pay him 55,000 a week and not 60,000 he said he was promised and would have stayed for that. But it seems Chelsea paid him 90.000 a week so if we had paid him the 60 grand he may have stayed and he would have been considered an Arsenal loyalist and not a traitor.
I only judge players by their footballing skills and in my mind he was the best left back I’ve seen at Arsenal and in reality we have won nothing since he left, including the last season he was with us.
A huge loss.
After 60 years an Arsenal supporter I am switching to the Spuds .There I will expect F.All and will win F all I will sign F all so I wont be disappointed
Hi all
Well done evonne for the post I have often had the same thoughts about how things could have been different.
For me the summer of 2008 when we sold Gilberto and Hleb and Flamini walked away on a free was the most confusing time. It was when I turned to blogging as I was so enraged and found that I was not alone lol
It wasn’t that the players were irreplaceable it was more to do with the loss of power of club over player …… something we’ve now grown to accept but at the time I was surprised it could happen to us.
If anyone is going to be watching the game this afternoon and wants to do a write up for tomorrow’s post that would be gratefully accepted 😉
Great comment Cabbie.
Good post.
One that deserves more responses than its gotten so far. For me it was a cumulative loss to the midfield. In the space of 2 years or so we lost Vieira, Gilberto and Flamini and we never replaced them with the same type of player. Song could have been the one but he seemed to want to attack too much and even then you need more than one. Of course how could anyone replace TH14? We needed 2 players to replace him at least and just as RVP was finally stepping up ..he goes.
Evonne a great post, one that leaves me saying “if only”
If only the oligarchs had not got involved, yes without them we wouldn’t have off loaded Adebayor for so much but seriously, take us back to those years, if the only club paying mega bucks was Chavs we would have been able to hold on to most….the money into City meant there was too much opportunity elsewhere.
Lets hope we put in a good show today.
Does anyone know if Fenerbahce’s season has already started or are they likely to be as rusty as we will be when we face them?
LB,
The Turkish season starts Aug 17, 2013 and finishes in May 2014.
Thanks for an entertaining read dandan.
I’m not sure any of the departures really affected us. We had a period of enforced austerity during which the best we could have hoped for was a League Cup or two, but during which we were never really going to win the big prizes.
Hopefully that has changed now – but it remains to be seen.
I’m afraid I have developed complete transfer fatigue and have lost all interest in discussing/speculating/wondering about transfers.
I’ll get back into the swing of things when the real footy starts up in a couple of weeks. Until then the only transfer news I’m interested in is what’s announced on the official site.
I think it’s going to be this year or next when NB52 leaves 🙂 . Seriously though it was when hleb and flaminal left.
Great post, Evonne.
And I agree with RA: None, life moves on. Players come, win our hearts or disappoint, and then they go, part of life really. Like in other professional fields as well – companies, universities, etc. What matters is how the club manages the attrition, and continues to stay competitive, and fights for the crumbs (or trophies, as the case may be).
How has Arsenal managed this process? In my view, fairly well, but perhaps could be better, could be worse as well, mind …..
Sorry evonne – I don’t know why I thought this had been written by dandan!
Good run out by the lads. Nice goal by Theo,however what would we do without Kos who made three crucial tackles.Podolski upfront on his own isn’t working.
Arsenal on the verge of signing Luis Gustavo, having agreed a £14m fee with Bayern.
Kelsey,
Oddly — I have not had to pay Onlinefooty to watch. Long may it continue! 🙂
what’s the score???
Guys, please keep up the updates on the Arsenal/City game as its not being televised my side of the world. What a load of crap!!
where to watch??????
jareth – 1:0 to the good guys, Theo’s great goal
I have just started watching on internet,but will keep you updated
evonne
try this link:
http://cdn.livetvstatic.ru/webplayer2.php?t=castalba&c=15495&lang=en&eid=181694&lid=147550&ci=5&si=1
sorted, thank you darling
Ramsey !!!!! beauty of a goal 🙂
Gireaud made it 3!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Evonne. I must say I am highly pissed off that they televising repeats of liverpool and tottenham preseason games every 2hrs, but are not showing the game that matters.
Podolski upfront on his own…I’m happy with that! He needs to be given a chance and he’ll prove himself.
Blimey – we look really good.
no signings needed then 🙂
jareth – what kind of backward country are you in 🙂
Vic Akers has put on two stone for those interested.
Nice finish by giroud,just offside.
Perez the trialist,what’s that all about.
Carl coming on
Even fabianski looks calm
Anyone know who’s this Perez?
I want to watch!! 😦
I’m missing it!! 😦
3:1 😦 Negredo’s good goal. Fabianski could have done better
I am over in South Africa! They obviously don’t have their priorities right SOB’s
How is the trialist doing?
I’ll have to youtube this game later
did you try the link Rocky had given me? Excellent, just switch off the dodgy commentary
Just got stuck in and fouled someone
South Africa!! That explains everything 🙂
fat french benchwarmer being booed, music to my ears
Isaac Heyden??? who??
Its not that bad here. Haha! Our government just don’t have the brain capacity to develop SA.
Jareth – I am only joking, happy to see our lads doing so well. Who needs Suarez 🙂
Really good shift by Ramsey and Cazorla only his second half a match is only at 50%. Quite promising.
Had thr opportunity to watch the game against citeh. Our passing was great! Giroud’s finishing was excellent. Theo looks matrured in his movemeny. Fabianski was diappointing. Ramsey was pick of the day!
RockyLives says:
August 10, 2013 at 4:22 pm
Blimey – we look really good.
This is funny but I know exactly what you mean.
Isaac hayden is a young CB from the U21’s team (altho he is 18) and he played at CM for a few minutes today.
Sebastian Perez is a 20 year old triallist here (at Arsenal) for just a week to prove himself. [Another small midfielder].
sai
“Fabianski was disappointing” – really? I thought he had a few really good moments and couldn’t do much with the goal.
I thought Wilshere looked good in the first half as well.
Redders
I know that 5ft 10ins is small in comparison to you – but he’s definitely not in the Santi/Jack height range 🙂
Evonne……they all hurt in some fashion or another but have little long-term impact on AFC, since Aw and the board plan well ahead and Wenger’s eye for a bargain, as well as his cohesive and intelligent strategic and tactical nous have allowed us to weather any loss of players. Robin Van Persecuted was the biggest ,loss in terms of goals but it forced us to rely on spreading the scoring around…so each time we lose someone, we change to accomodate that loss and become a different (and possibly better) Team…rather than a one man show. Spurs are facing tha same dilemma and their concern is whether they’ll be able to improve with the money they’ll get from Bale If he moves. Their greatest fear is that he’ll move on the eve of the TW closure and leave them with the squad they have……now that can hurt.
I would like to know the possession stats. I reckon 60-40 to City which is continuing how we ended last season.
Fab is an average keeper and it would e better to give Szsney more competion.
Still need a clinical striker and that is not podolski.
Very late in the game there was no pressure with two Arsenal defenders near him and he hesitated a instead of kicking the ball up field and Kos (I think) whacked it away.
Anyway unusual game to play a week before the season begins and not reading too much into it,a win is a win. We often seem to play more relaxed away from home.
titch,
Kos is human you know,otherwise he had an excellent game but he has two jobs,his own and to cover for any lapse in defence position, which needs addressing
I doubt it titch, but when you are no longer a titch I wil explain to you a bit of history since we moved from Highbury. Come back in about 10 years and do your homework.
Can someone tell what the final score was??
Jareth, 3:1 to Arsenal.
Rocky, you are right, a tiddler — we should throw him back in! 😀
Chamakh confirmed as a goner and no longer as a Gooner!
Holloway said so —- that’s alright then! 🙂
You could make a full team with Arsenal’s departees this summer including the loanees). If they were all on top form it wouldn’t be that bad either:
Mannone
Miquel Djourou Squillaci Santos
Denilson Coquelin Meade
Gervinho Chamakh Arshavin
I thought the game was enjoyable, and the team played very well against a very technical and physically imposing Citeh stuffed with super-quality Internationals. [The score may have flattered us a tad.] 😀
I wonder if AW noticed there is – or was – some top, top quality merchandise out there that Citeh have hoovered up this summer, and he should leave Suarez alone – it will end in tears – and get cracking looking at alternatives for us.
Rocky,
And with, Shea (GK), Park, Bendtner, Afobe, Aneke, [Loanees, Goners and Bendy in Purgatory] that makes a full house bench. 🙂
“Deadwood United”
Ha ha ha @Rocky Lives Your 6.46
Wenger on ending pre-season with victory
Arsène Wenger spoke to the media after Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3-1 in their final game of pre-season in Helsinki on Saturday afternoon. Here is a transcript of what the boss had to say:
on the win…
It was a game of good intensity with two teams who were really putting all the effort on. We had a good tactical discipline. I’m pleased with many aspects of our game, even if there are some points to work on. Overall it’s positive tactically [and] attitude-wise. We scored goals, created chances and were always highly focused. That’s good.
on a confidence boost…
Certainly it will lift our confidence. You have always to find a good balance between confidence and urgency level and I think we will because this team has a good attitude. We lose now the players who go on international duty and come back only on Thursday so it will be very short from Thursday to Saturday to prepare or our first game. We have big games in front of us because we play of course Aston Villa at home and then in the Champions League so it’s important that we don’t lose players now.
on Wilshere…
I decided before the game to play him only 45 minutes because I want to build him up step by step and because he will go with the national team when England plays against Scotland on Wednesday night. That as well will be a very committed game.
on if Wilshere will link up with England…
Yes.
on the support of the fans in Finland…
Look I’m quite amazed how popular we are here. It’s a very good feeling. I like to see the stands in red and white. I would like to thank all the fans who turned up today and supported our team and I’m happy that we could give them a positive feeling and that they go home happy. It’s great to see how popular our club is here.
on Jenkinson’s reception…
He has a very strong link with the country and you expect that, especially when people [have] Finnish [heritage] and love Arsenal – you expect a good reception for Jenkinson.
on if the team will return to Finland…
I would love to. We enjoyed coming here and playing in such an atmosphere on such a fantastic pitch with a great support. It was a quality game. Our opponent was very good as well. I would sign to come back.
on if he’s happy with the strikers he’s got…
I think what is important is the strength of the squad. Today is one game. We want to play 55 games and we are maybe a bit thin squad-wise to go through a whole season.
on pre-season as a whole…
I’m an optimist. That’s why I do this job. Overall I think we finished the season well. In the last 10 games We had eight wins and two draws and we kept the squad together for the first time [for a number of years]. We didn’t lose any regular players so that makes me very positive for the new season.
Copyright 2013 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source
He’s clearly still intending to bring in players.
Up front it’s going to be Torres, Kelsey. I keep saying, you’ll be proved right all along 🙂
There is a report, of a sort, in drafts, should you need, change anything you want as usual.
3-1 pre season friendly means nothing……if you believed losing Ems Cup to Galatassary did
Or means everything if losing Ems Cup to G’say meant the world.
Can’t have it both ways, I’m intrigued to k ow how our energy levels and pace were compared to Ems Cup. Looking forward to LBs report.
Evening all.
Just watched the 12-minute highlights. Looked very good going forward and in possession, but both defences looked ropy. Which is a bit odd, given that they were the league’s top two defences last season, but I guess there’s a lot of rustiness still in there. But that was the negative aspect I thought, with each of Gibbs, Mert, Kos, Arteta and Szczesny making defensive errors.
But the midfield play was very good, Ramsey especially. And clinical in front of goal (albeit helped by a poor performance from Hart. Exile’s right (of course), it is just one more preseason game, but it’s a lovely fixture to have won and a lovely time for it to happen.
Now what’s happened to that Uruguayan bloke……….
Fowler is right give Liverpool £30 plus Walcott for Suarez
Sniffer
That’s actually an interesting point that merits discussion. Do you want to play in the grown-ups world and have a debate about it?
It’s fine if you don’t, but I have no interest in one-liner sniper hits.
Now Rodgers is publicly demanding that Suarez should apologise to him and his team mates.
After promising him a year ago that he could leave this summer if Liverpool did not have CL football, Rodgers now wants to publicly humiliate him.
I hope Suarez tells him to shove it, regardless of whether or not he comes to Arsenal.
Thanks evonne, it seems with the eight year trophy drought, each new year becomes bigger than the last.
The last four times the year has ended in 6, have been pivotal in Arsenal’s development.
1976 – Appointed Terry Neill
1986 – Appointed George Graham
1996 – Appointed Arsene Wenger
2006 – Three huge events in our club’s history. We reached the pinnacle of football excellence, and fell just short of the holy grail that would’ve elevated us among the greats. Though it was done in typical Arsenal style, pitting ourselves against impossible odds by allowing Barcelona a numerical advantage 20 minutes in…
Dennis Bergkamp retired, and it may only be my opinion, but for me his has been the biggest loss to Arsenal.
Moved stadium. It is undoubtedly a magnificant structure, whether it is the right shape or has the right acoustic set-up to be a proper vibrant football arena remains to be seen, but seven years into the move and you get the feeling that Arsenal still haven’t found their feet and settled in properly. It hasn’t become their spiritual fortress, and they’ve yet to create the magic and special nights they experienced at Highbury. The stadium will start to feel very different once Arsenal experience real success there, so that The Emirates can have its own place in the clubs folk-lore.
Patrick viera. When he left we went downhill
very good read evonne. you should write more often!
definitely the flamini, gilberto, hleb trio. I’m still gutted flamini left…oh what could have been
cheers again
Legend!!
Guess that’s a ‘no’ then Sniffer.
Shame.
Morning if anyone is up.
26th I don’t think you saw a true reflection of the game.
There is some conjecture as who assisted Theo for the first goal, I thought it was Wilshere not Ramsey but it doesn’t matter.
For a friendly it was quite a physical game and like others I made Ramsey man of the match though the only real downside was playing Podolski as the loan striker as it didn’t work and I am sure we are still hoping to get this clinical striker that we need.
Podolski has not set the world alight this pre season and I think though I might be wrong that he hasn’t got the speed or stamina for a PL game,reminds me of Arshavin, but let’s wait and see.
The quote above by AW after the match tells me our business is not yet finished as it is clear we haven’t got squad depth. Two additional signings might make a big difference.
Finally I wish they would change the transfer window rules to exactly a week before the season starts not two weeks after.
Please read this
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/exclusive-real-madrid-and-barcelona-face-removal-of-privileges-8749147.html
Saw that a while back Kelsey, guess it explains why Barca have suddenly started to accept money for shirt sponsorship.
Morning Folks, 🙂
Kelsey, It was definitely Rambo who laid on Theo’s goal, and Theo who laid on Rambo’s goal. SpecSavers? 🙂
And I suppose you could say it was Theo who laid on Giro’s goal with a 60 metre hoof! 🙂
Hi WATA, 🙂
Your 10:51 p.m. was spot on! 🙂
As petulant as in might seem, I would be disappointed with Torres.
Kelsey – that explains what I could not understand for the life of me -how do Barca afford to spend the way they do without as much as a sponsor of sorts.
Bloody ell, can you imaging a scum like that in UK? Let’s say that Manyoo and Spurs were given financial help from the government??!! They would have a civil war on their hands
Does that mean that Real won’t buy the simian? That would be quite funny given that Totts already have his replacements 🙂
Morning all, great performance yesterday and encouraging noises from AW regarding the ‘lightness’ of the squad.
Apparently Chamakh has left on a free to join Palace – that’s pragmatic and good business IMO
LB – do you know what? I am beginning to panic. There aren’t any other strikers we could buy – so Rooney or Torrez
Hold on – Bale might become available !!
….. that makes a weekly wage saving of around £400k by my estimation. The pay rises awarded recently will have eaten into that a it, but it is a healthy picture for the finances.
That is a fascinating article Kelsey.
I just don’t understand why the same thing doesn’t happen there as happened here when the EPL was being established: all the smaller clubs got together and told the bigger clubs that if you want someone to play you are going to have to do things they way we say.
All the other Spanish clubs could go on strike and end this nonsense in two months.
Morning Evonne
I still think the Suarez deal is on.
But Evonne, as you say Bale will certainly be wanting CL football this season.
You think so LB? But you are not pledging to eat your pants if the deal if off 🙂
Rasp
I can sense the glee in your writing that you can’t wait to adjust the “In” “Out” box to include Chamakh, I would do one of those laughing faces here but I don’t know how they work. lol
No pledges this time Evonne.
The rest of my kit stays on the Emirates is a family ground after all.
🙂 🙂 🙂
😆 😛 😀 🙂 LB
With Squillaci gone and Djourou and Miquel out on loan, we must have our eye on a 3rd/4th choice CB
Morning all
Just sorting the post ……. LB, your little smiling face shines through the post 🙂 I can’t find any pics to adorn it atm so I’m going to publish and hope to add some. Hope that’s ok 😉
There you are Rasp 😉
New Post ………………
Flamini, Hleb and Gilberto’s departures hit me most.