News Updates - Jibril / Nasri / Vela / Merida / Pedro

One of the biggest On/Off transfer stories in recent times will come to a close on Monday, as it is expected Samir Nasri is confirmed as an Arsenal player. The story started last week when Marseille based newspaper La Provence claimed the clubs had agreed a fee for his transfer.

Then respected French Sports site L’Equipe claimed he had signed for the club, and the transfer would be confirmed just one day later. Young Guns said he would then travel to London for a medical, but then came reports from his agent saying he had other offers, which I believed to be just a ploy to gain more money. However last night a source close to Marseille, said that he had been in London for the medical and had signed a day later. Exactly what Young Guns said.

“The deal has been agreed. The medical took place on Wednesday, he agreed to sign on Thursday and the only hold up is that he is with the French squad at the moment.”

Quotes From The Mirror

This was proven as RMC told their listeners exactly what i said before, that he had been in London recently and had taken a medical before agreeing personal terms. Then last night French team mate Franck Ribery let slip he had left Marseille for the Premier League, all but confirming Nasri’s transfer to Arsenal. RMC also said that the deal would be completed and announced on Monday.

In other news, Hearts of Oak teenager Torric Jibril has spoken about his trial with the club, he seems confident he will sign for the club, whilst his agent says he has “unbelievable qualities”.

Carlos Vela admits he cannot wait to start his career at the club, and guess what Carlos? we cant wait for you to play either. I found it fantastic that he described getting the work permit needed as a “dream”.

Fran Merida will not be featuring in our Loanees report this weekend, as he is away with Spain Under 19s who won 3-1 yesterday. Finally Salamanca Left back Jeorge Alonso is injured for the weekend game, so Pedro Botelho could get his first start in months.

Arsenal

Makoun linked with £10million Arsenal switch

19:10 23/05/2008

Arsenal Football Club are to step up their interest in Jean Makoun.

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The Gunners are in the market for a replacement for Mathieu Flamini this summer, and reports in France claim Arsene Wenger has set his sights on Lille’s Cameroon international midfielder.

"I have experienced everything with that club (Lille), and I had a wonderful coach (Claude Puel)," Makoun told L'Equipe. "We played in the UEFA Champions League twice but it is the right moment to leave.

“I didn't talk about it with Claude Puel, but my managers have talked with the club. The coach was a player, he can understand my decision. It is important for me to improve.

“When people tell me great clubs are attracted to me, it is fun. Experiencing another kind of pressure would be great. I am very motivated to make a name for myself at a great club. I am keen for such a challenge."

Nasri To Complete Arsenal Move This Weekend - Report
Marseille star Samir Nasri will complete formalities over the weekend and be ready to sign for Arsenal at the beginning of next week, according to reports in the French press...

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Nasri To Complete Arsenal Move This Weekend - Report
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Marseille daily La Provence is reporting that the deal will be finalised "at the start of next week" after intense speculation over the past fortnight linking the player with a big money move.

It s thought the midfield maestro will cost the Gunners £11-13 million, having just recently signed a contract extension with l'OM, which many believed would keep him at the club for at least another year.

He has in the past been likened with the great Zinedine Zidane and, fittingly, courted by Zizou's two most prominent former clubs, Juventus and Real Madrid. However, speculated interest never materialised into a formal offer from either side, and Arsenal, who have had more tenuous and less publicised links with the player, look like the club who will make the swoop this summer.

Nasri's agent has confirmed that talks are in progress with the London club, but reports emerged yesterday hinting that the 20-year-old was in no hurry to leave his hometown club.

The press has been persistent in pushing this deal as final, but now the saga may finally be coming to an end, and Arsenal making the big-money signing that the fans had been calling for.

It is thought that Marseille will use the money generated from the Nasri transfer to finance a move for Lyon winger Hatem Ben Arfa - who was also linked with Arsenal - who, despite looking set to leave the seven-time Ligue 1 winners, will not be leaving his native France...

according to papers this morning we are going in for edu, yeah the edu that was at arsenal. hes a good player but had to many injuries since hes been at away.

[quote]according to papers this morning we are going in for edu, yeah the edu that was at arsenal. hes a good player but had to many injuries since hes been at away.[/quote]


Better going in for Chantome...who is like Edu but much younger. Both would be behind/back up to Diaby anyway.

Arsenal continue talks for St Etienne pair Dabo, Matuidi
tribalfootball.com - May 25, 2008

Arsenal are in talks with St Etienne for pair Mouhamadou Dabo and Blaise Matuidi.

The Mail on Sunday says with the capture of Olympique Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri now assured, Arsenal hope to close a double-raid on St Etienne for fullback Dabo and midfielder Matuidi.

Arsenal And Spurs Eto’o Rumours Resurface
North London rivals Arsenal and Spurs look to be locked in a battle to sign Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o, according to reports in the Sunday press.

These latest reports surface despite the fact that Spurs had apparently withdrawn from the race earlier, while Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is uninterested in a "megabucks" signings.

The Barcelona striker Eto’o, 27, is expected to leave the Nou Camp this summer and Spurs have already expressed an interest in landing the Cameroonian.

However it is believed that Eto’o is demanding Champions League football from any club he signs for and would therefore rather join Arsenal than Spurs.

Eto’o whose season was interrupted by injury and the African Cup of Nations still managed 16 league goals for Barcelona and is expected to cost around £30 million.

Berbatov Connection

Tottenham are in the market for a striker as they are expected to lose striker Dimitar Berbatov in the summer. Berbatov hit 15 league goals himself this season but has also expressed a desire to move on and play Champions League football next season.

Arsenal meanwhile do not lack for strikers in Adebayor, Van Persie, Eduardo, Bendtner and Walcott. However recent injuries to Van Persie and Eduardo left the Gunners short towards the end of the season and manager Arsene Wenger would surely be interested in a player of Eto’o’s quality, should he be available.

However, any potential deal is unlikely to happen quickly as Eto’o is reportedly upset at the Barcelona hierarchy. The striker believes senior officials at the club have helped turn the fans against him and is unwilling to make any transfer happen smoothly.

Eto’o was booed by sections of the home support in Barcelona’s last game of the season and whilst his departure from the Nou Camp now seems inevitable, it may be a long and drawn out process.

I would personally love to see Yaya Toure drafted in this season into the void left now by Flamini? He would slot in just nicely I believe and be our new Vieria.

Ben Arfa, Nasri, and maybe Gomes, the Brazilian goalkeeper from PSV.

I think we need 2 or 3 now available to be fighting for all offensive positions now in the squad.

Come on Mr Wenger, act now before it's to late again!

Arsenal ponder shock £12million Santa Cruz bid



Arsenal Football Club are keeping tabs on Roque Santa Cruz.
The Paraguayan international enjoyed a sensational debut season in England with Blackburn Rovers, who snatched him from Bayern Munich last summer for an absolute steal at £3.5million.

Manchester duo City and United have been linked with him already this summer, yet the latest rumours claim Arsene Wenger is willing to pay around £12million for the 26-year-old.

Gunners fans, as you look to end a three-season trophy drought next year, do you think Santa Cruz could be a key addition to your squad? And Rovers fans, is £12million a fair price?

Djourou in midfield? - Nasri stars for France - Fabregas gets No10 - Hleb to Real Madrid?
Posted by Spanish Fry
May 28, 2008

First things first today I just want to say a big ‘thank-you’ to all the Aussie Arsenal supporters who left their comments on yesterday’s post - they were most appreciated. Cheers also to the other supporters around the world who left their thoughts as well. It’s amazing to think this blog has readers from Mexico, France, Switzerland and South Africa (to name but a few) as well as virtually every major city - and some not so major - in Australia.

The idea to develop some sort of a pub community in Australia via the blog seems to be something that a lot of you want to get involved in and as such I will pursue the potential with the folks at Arsenal Australia. I’ll let you know how things progress.

Moving on now and virtually all of the Arsenal news around the place at the moment relates to Euro 2008. The tournament kicks off in just over ten days and with a multitude of Arsenal players on show in Switzerland and Austria it will be essential viewing.

One of the lesser-known Arsenal players who will be looking to impress is Johan Djourou. Although he plays as a central defender for both club and country, Djourou today spoke of his desire to have the opportunity to play as a defensive midfielder at some point in the future.

“Playing in front of the defence is the position where my qualities are expressed best. Arsene Wenger says this to me too. Unfortunately, we do not play a system which enables me to hold this spot, like Claude Makelele does with Chelsea. [As such] I have not had many possibilities of showing my midfield capabilities. I hope my chance will come in the next few years.”

Is it a case of the manager trying to fit a square peg into a round hole? There’s no question that he had a difficult season just passed, struggling on loan while at Birmingham and spending most of the time on the injury table after to returning to Arsenal midway through the campaign. As such, it will be interesting to see how things pan out both during Euro 2008 and over the next few seasons.

In other news Arsenal-bound attacking midfielder Samir Nasri apparently had a ripper of a game for France overnight, running the show in his country’s 2-0 win over Ecuador. Substitute striker Bafétimbi Gomis (what a name!) may have grabbed the goals but according to the player ratings dished out by Goal.com Nasri was the star performer, finishing up with a score of 8.5. It doesn’t need saying that a few 8.5 performances for Arsenal next season by Nasri would be most welcome. He’ll certainly be one to watch for France as Euro 2008 rolls on.

To complete the sprinkling of Euro 2008-related news it was announced yesterday that every Arsenal supporter’s favourite little Spaniard - Cesc Fabregas - has been given his country’s Number 10 jersey for the tournament. Fabregas is yet to start a major competition for Spain as a first-choice player but after the award of the Number 10 shirt it seems he is set to line up in the starting team for their first game against “Golden” Guus Hiddink’s Russia on June 10. I will definitely have a soft spot for the Russians in this tournament after everything that Hiddink did for Australia in the World Cup in Germany but I’m also hoping the Fabregas has a good tournament as well.

The final news of the day is that Real Madrid look set to bid for Alex Hleb. I said a couple of days ago after it was confirmed that Hleb would be leaving that I couldn’t care less where he ends up playing but having said that, the more club’s that want him the more money Arsenal will get for his sale. So all in all, good news I feel.

And that’s about it. Once again, thanks to everyone for their great feedback yesterday. If you went MIA I encourage you to leave a comment today and let me know what you think. Have a good one.

What do you think?

Wenger encouraged to spend / Guiza / Kenny Sansom Signed Book
I got a text this morning saying ‘we have signed Franic Coquelin on a free transfer and we will sign £20Mil Majorca striker Dani Guiza today . . . . it’s in The Times, it must be true’. Erm no, if it’s in a paper it’s not a case of it must be true, it’s a case of link every club with every player and they’ll get one or two right.

Although just mere speculation at this time Guiza would be an exciting prospect as La Liga’s top goal scorer. The Telegraph also link him to us but sportinglife say he has issued a come and get me plea to Barca. As Spain’s player to watch this summer it would be an exciting signing, his price could shoot through the roof if he does well in Switzerland and Austria so if Wenger wants him he’s likely to act quickly as he will with Nasri. What is encouraging for sure is that the board fully support any plans Arsene has. I think that’s a given with his track record. What’s even more encouraging is that in European Championship Summers Wenger has signed Reyes, Flamini, Van Persie (2004), Pires, Lauren, and Wiltord (2000), massive players. Three players of that quality would be great.

Anyway as I’ve said 400 times since May this is all speculation, blah, blah, blah. I had a laugh today to see Tottenscums transfer policy has now turned into - see who Arsene fancies, then try and promise them guaranteed first team football. Woodgate & Modric to start, now Arfa , and they are even chasing some ex-gooners Bentley and Edu. It’s funny cos Arsene could really stitch them up by suggesting some rogue players - I’d like to see the scum sign Pennant and Kodjovi Obilale!! Anyone know any stitch ups Arsene could use? Who could be the next Ramon Vega or Darren Bent?

All my moaning about playing defenders in midfield (i.e. Eboue) has clearly fallen on deaf ears. Djourou now wants a bite of the cherry. Now his goal scoring record of 0 in 45 games is hardly encouraging. Midfield men are supposed to score goals something Eboue, Traore, and Djourou all seem to have forgotten!!

Our other non-goal scoring midfielder might now be on his way, no real shock but until now Arsene wanted to keep him, as always any player who really wants to go is worth chopping in. The Madrid manager virtually confirmed they are in talks and it appears Arsene has given up on him. Now I do not doubt Hlebs ability but as I’ve said before he lacks any sort of final ball. I feel Arsenal need to be more ruthless and part of that is moving players on like Hleb who do not contribute enough.

Dos Santos in Hleb out? Do we feel lucky today?

Ok it’s now apparent that Hleb is off, Arsenal football club are about to demonstrate how they play hardball with football’s elite, much like ManU did yesterday when they reported Madrid for unsettling their player, Madrid immediately apologised and that’s the end of that story.

Anyone wants our players and it seems they can have them, we rarely complain, or when we do it’s all bark and no bite.

I read that Spurs are in for Dos Santos, why on earth would Barcelona sell him? If it’s the case then sign him before it’s too late, I know I prefer older players, but this kid is class, why would he want to go to Spurs when he could come to us.

Nasri and Ben Arfa were on display last night with Nasri looking a bit ordinary (according to some in the comments section), let’s hope that was an off day, I’ve seen him play and he looks fab, but hey, who knows who we’re after, we got linked with Santa Cruz yesterday as well, please let that be a rumour.

I also read that David Dein’s son is Cesc’s new agent, amazing that, a little bit of nepotism there or what? Is Darren really that good, would he be Cesc’s agent if his last name were Smith?

Still the Dein’s are all Arsenal fans and him being English should want to see him stay with us here in good old Blightey. I wouldn’t be too worried about him going anywhere, but with our record in getting tough on players, I wouldn’t be surprised who stayed here anymore.

There is still a big possibility that Diaby or even Djourou will fill in for Flamini and we won’t see a Gareth Barry come in, well with Sepp Blatter determined to push through this overseas player rule, Arsene really should be buying some English players, I think that overseas talent costs as much as English talent these days, but we’ll know soon enough.

Other news was Danny’s interview, which confirmed

Hleb’s Arsenal U-turn is just clever word play

t’s been surprisingly rainy in Brisbane today but despite that I’ve had a quite a decent day. I hope you have had one or are going to have one too.

Kicking things off today are some confusing comments from Alex Hleb about his proposed transfer to Real Madrid/Barcelona/Inter Milan/No-one Really Cares FC. The Belarussian has come out and told the media that reports suggesting he will be leaving Arsenal are nonsense but also goes on to say that if he does it will only be to play in another country.

“I have read that I wanted to move because Arsenal would win nothing, this is nonsense. But I would really not like to comment on the issue really because there is nothing more to say, because the club means so much to me. If I’ll go, then only in a different league, in any case, in England, there is only Arsenal for me.”

It’s bloody confusing if you ask me. On one hand you have Hleb going on record quite rightly saying that he has been misquoted in his desire to leave but on the other hand you don’t really have him denying the comments that were made by his idiot of a manager Nikolai Shpilevski.

If I had to take a side I’d say that Hleb will still be off. If he wasn’t leaving then he would have just come out and said “I’m not leaving” but he’s carefully chosen to avoid making that statement. Indeed, contrast Hleb’s comments with those made by Cesc Fabregas and you’ll get a clear understanding of what I mean.

I think Hleb’s probably just negotiating whether he wants to play under Pep Guardiola, Bernd Schuster or Jose Mourinho and we’ll find out shortly who it will be. As I’ve said time and time again I couldn’t care less where he ends up so I don’t think there’s anything else left to say about it until the move is made official.

And that’s that in a fairly quiet day of Arsenal news. Try and enjoy yourself wherever you may be in the world.

What do you think?

You get £50k a week Hleb, it’s time to respect the fans.

So we keep hearing about respecting the players wishes etc, etc, well they earn more in a week than most of our fans do in a year, think about that before anyone gets angry, that’s a month and they have a house, 4 months and they have the fancy villa on a golf course in Spain and another 4 and they have the big yacht in a fancy marina, and we’re supposed to respect them!

Alex Hleb last night came out and said he said nothing about leaving and he loves Arsene and Arsenal, well mate you have a funny way of showing it, for all the fans that are glued to the internet, waiting for signings and waiting and praying that their best players don’t leave, we have all been through hell in this last few weeks, not to mention the **** taking from other fans that are too stupid to support our beloved Arsenal.

When you go home at night after a hard days training Alex, does your wife cheer you and sing your name for and hour and a half? No, does she give you a £5 note, which is what I reckon we contribute to your salary every week, (based on 25 players and divided by 20 and based on my season ticket price) I think the answer is also no.

So whether you’re staying or going, spare a thought for us, show some respect. If you want to do something positive, sack your **** of an agent, he’s an ********.

It’s like John Terry (£150k a week) he scuffed his penalty against the Mancs, which could have won them the Cup, and then dedicated his England goal in a meaningless match against a poor team (sorry USA no offence) to the chav fans, oh gee thanks John, we so appreciate that.

Sometimes I wonder what planet these players are on.

I remember the games in the 70’s and 80’s when the players got paid the same as the workers did, had a testimonial and maybe got themselves a pub to retire to, long gone are those days, they still get their tax free testimonials though, do you? I mean do you the fans get anything tax free? NO YOU DON’T.

Mind you how many players will stay at the same club for ten years these days is another matter.

Will Hleb stay? Who knows, I think he’s a great player, but if I could I’d sell him and bring in Goofy, Robinho or Dos Santos, I would, and use the bargaining power we’ll have for whoever wants him.

The great news is that Cesc has vowed to stay, Blatter’s idea has been blasted out of the water and Djourou says he can do Flamini’s job.

It seems the Nasri deal is done and we are sniffing around Veloso, Mexes didn’t make the French team so who knows, but the really, really funny news is Flamini won’t feature in the Euros or the Champions league, so the Arsenal curse seems to be working overtime, well done that curse.

We love Arsenal, but there are times that the so called players need to get a reality check, ManU, Chelsea, Milan and Madrid can’t buy everyone, so Robin, you should watch what you say, you should be paying your salary back. We stood by you when you were charged with rape, when you got injured and now it’s time to show us some respect instead of carping on about what you don’t earn, even if you were talking about others, I know what a veiled threat is.

Today is moving day Grovers, well according to our leader it is, so sit tight and brace yourselves, today could be all about good news, we’re owed it.

Another great day yesterday, we sure do put the world to rights don’t we?

how can you lot write essays on gossip

I can't even be bothered to read such loooooooooooooooong posts.