Re: The Official Arsenal Winter Transfers/Rumours Thread

[Wilson37]

I'm not even bothered about Walcott leaving.

Just as I wasn't about Song, Nasri or Adebayor. van Persie and Cesc are the only players I'm 'angry' about. Players like Walcott, Song come and go, not a big deal.

If Arsene can do the job properly like he used to, he can get better replacements and everyone would forget about these players. van Persie and Cesc are different though, world class players which we can't sign, Arsenal had them and sold them.

On the other hand, Sagna leaving would have the same impact on me as van Persie & Cesc

Another world class footballer to be replaced by a kid

sadly, they are the exact type of players we are missing.. a wide creative player who can keep possession well.. and a physical presence in midfield who tackles well, holds the ball under pressure and who can adds extra creativity from deep... more importantly these guys have one most important thing which our new signings dont have or take time to gain.. premier league experience.. we give them chances when they play s*** and finally when they start being good, they get sold..
i agree with Sri.. this could be the exact case with Ramsey too.. so we should give him a contract extension like any other player...

[Raptorgunner]

@raptor

Reyes, Arshavin, fabianski and Santos are/were not flops.

Reyes maybe but Fab and Santos for sure are flops.

Arshavin should never be on that list.

[Le Samourai]

Take Arshavin out and this looks good.

And Jeffers you can adjust for inflation and take into account opportunity cost (Van Nistelrooy).

But Wenger buying flops has never been a problem. Easily one of the better judges of talent and the best developer of talent in the game.

[Wilson37]

even Bendtner, Denlison and Almunia were good in their initial years...

[6unner]

even Bendtner, Denlison and Almunia were good in their initial years...

Almost would not mind if Dennilson was playing now instead of ramsey.

[Raptorgunner]

United scout Martin Ferguson and Arsenal’s talent spotter Steve Rowley have both given rave reviews on the man being hailed in the Dutch Press as the “new Mark van Bommel”.

A top PSV source revealed: “It looks certain that he will leave in January. The only question is where?

“It looks like Manchester United or Arsenal — they are both very keen.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4696413/Kevin-Strootman-on-Arsenal-Man-United-radar.html#ixzz2F2fVgIOf

[urbaNRoots]

sadly, they are the exact type of players we are missing.. a wide creative player who can keep possession well.. and a physical presence in midfield who tackles well, holds the ball under pressure and who can adds extra creativity from deep... more importantly these guys have one most important thing which our new signings dont have or take time to gain.. premier league experience.. we give them chances when they play s*** and finally when they start being good, they get sold..
i agree with Sri.. this could be the exact case with Ramsey too.. so we should give him a contract extension like any other player...

Yeah we're missing them because of Arsene's failure of finding better replacements. Song was replaced by Diaby (who's better but never fit) and Nasri by Gervais (who's worse).

Ramsey should go on loan to a PL club, try to get some of his pre-injury form and then think about a new contract. At the moment I prefer Eisfeld ahead of him... who does everything that Ramsey is supposed to do but better.

[RealGunner]

PSV source( ): “It looks certain Strootman will leave in Jan. The question is where? It looks like Man Utd or Arsenal — they're both very keen”

[Jay29]

The loss of key players can always be mitigated by replacing them with players of similar qualities who can perform the same role in your system. It's not Song or Nasri that we miss specifically, but the type of players they were; someone who is capable of defence splitting passes and someone who can create from the flanks.

Arsenal's failure in the transfer window has been not replacing players adequately enough. In the cases of Cesc and van Persie, they're near irreplaceable and you just have to make do with the next best thing unless you're willing to splash out ridiculous sums to replace them.

So when Walcott and Sagna inevitably leave, it'll a big shame because they've been with us for a while, but they aren't irreplaceable and it's up to the club to find the players of the right qualities to replace them.

[urbaNRoots]

The loss of key players can always be mitigated by replacing them with players of similar qualities who can perform the same role in your system. It's not Song or Nasri that we miss specifically, but the type of players they were; someone who is capable of defence splitting passes and someone who can create from the flanks.

Arsenal's failure in the transfer window has been not replacing players adequately enough. In the cases of Cesc and van Persie, they're near irreplaceable and you just have to make do with the next best thing unless you're willing to splash out ridiculous sums to replace them.

So when Walcott and Sagna inevitably leave, it'll a big shame because they've been with us for a while, but they aren't irreplaceable and it's up to the club to find the players of the right qualities to replace them.

[urbaNRoots]

David Ornstein ‏@bbcsport_david
Walcott contract dispute with Arsenal set to continue into the new year. All the latest info: http://bbc.in/Y1Kdla #afc #bbcfootball

[Jay29]

Theo Walcott's contract dispute with Arsenal is set to continue into the new year, despite Gunners boss Arsene Wenger issuing a Christmas deadline.

Walcott, 23, has rejected Arsenal's attempt to resume formal negotiations but talks are expected to resume.

The England forward could sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from 1 January or join a Premier League side for free in the summer.

Liverpool, Chelsea, and both Manchester clubs have indicated an interest.

Wenger said he does not want Walcott to leave in the upcoming transfer window, even if that opens the possibility of him departing for nothing at the end of the season.

But the Frenchman made similar suggestions about Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie as they entered the final year of their contracts, only to see them sold to City and United respectively.

Liverpool are keen to recruit Walcott in January, Chelsea and City would rather wait until the summer - unless he is put up for sale in the new year - and United have asked to be kept informed.

City pursued Walcott last summer and had a bid rejected before the transfer window closed.

Walcott's preference is to stay with Arsenal if they meet his wage demands and offer him opportunities to play as a central striker having spent most of his Gunners career on the wing.

They are prepared to raise his salary from £60,000 a week to £75,000 a week, but the Southampton academy graduate is holding out for closer to £100,000 a week.

Walcott may choose to delay his decision until the summer, at which point he would know how the season had materialised for both himself and Arsenal.

But it is understood the main reason negotiations have not recommenced is the player's anger at being relegated to the substitutes' bench after he turned down the improved contract.

Although Walcott has started each of the last five matches he has been available for, earlier in the campaign he started just three of 13 matches when fit.

He is Arsenal's top scorer this season with 10 goals in 17 appearances and when asked on Friday if Walcott would be a part of the club's long-term future, Wenger replied: "I believe so, yes."

Arsenal signed the then 16-year-old Walcott from Southampton in 2006 for an initial £5m rising to £12.5. He has scored 30 goals in 161 league appearances for the club and has 30 caps for England.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20732920

[RealGunner]

The loss of key players can always be mitigated by replacing them with players of similar qualities who can perform the same role in your system. It's not Song or Nasri that we miss specifically, but the type of players they were; someone who is capable of defence splitting passes and someone who can create from the flanks.

Arsenal's failure in the transfer window has been not replacing players adequately enough. In the cases of Cesc and van Persie, they're near irreplaceable and you just have to make do with the next best thing unless you're willing to splash out ridiculous sums to replace them.

So when Walcott and Sagna inevitably leave, it'll a big shame because they've been with us for a while, but they aren't irreplaceable and it's up to the club to find the players of the right qualities to replace them.

+1

been saying that for ages. We don't have match winners in this team.

[Raptorgunner]

Theo Walcott's contract dispute with Arsenal is set to continue into the new year, despite Gunners boss Arsene Wenger issuing a Christmas deadline.

Walcott, 23, has rejected Arsenal's attempt to resume formal negotiations but talks are expected to resume.

The England forward could sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from 1 January or join a Premier League side for free in the summer.

Liverpool, Chelsea, and both Manchester clubs have indicated an interest.

Wenger said he does not want Walcott to leave in the upcoming transfer window, even if that opens the possibility of him departing for nothing at the end of the season.

But the Frenchman made similar suggestions about Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie as they entered the final year of their contracts, only to see them sold to City and United respectively.

Liverpool are keen to recruit Walcott in January, Chelsea and City would rather wait until the summer - unless he is put up for sale in the new year - and United have asked to be kept informed.

City pursued Walcott last summer and had a bid rejected before the transfer window closed.

Walcott's preference is to stay with Arsenal if they meet his wage demands and offer him opportunities to play as a central striker having spent most of his Gunners career on the wing.

They are prepared to raise his salary from £60,000 a week to £75,000 a week, but the Southampton academy graduate is holding out for closer to £100,000 a week.

Walcott may choose to delay his decision until the summer, at which point he would know how the season had materialised for both himself and Arsenal.

But it is understood the main reason negotiations have not recommenced is the player's anger at being relegated to the substitutes' bench after he turned down the improved contract.

Although Walcott has started each of the last five matches he has been available for, earlier in the campaign he started just three of 13 matches when fit.

He is Arsenal's top scorer this season with 10 goals in 17 appearances and when asked on Friday if Walcott would be a part of the club's long-term future, Wenger replied: "I believe so, yes."

Arsenal signed the then 16-year-old Walcott from Southampton in 2006 for an initial £5m rising to £12.5. He has scored 30 goals in 161 league appearances for the club and has 30 caps for England.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20732920

He is gone 100%.

central striker? Wenger will not give him that.

100k? if Arsenal offering 75k for this long there is no way they would add another 25k.

Walcott will join City for double what he is being offered at Arsenal.

[Art Morte]

Could Walcott become a Defoe-esque CF?

He's got some good abilities and I think Wenger should throw caution in the wind and (shockingly) start Walcott in CF role in one of the remaining PL games this year.

All I know is that I'd take him over Sturridge as far as Liverpool is concerned.

[Sina]

Arsenal linked with January move for Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue, 24. (Eurosport)

[Sina]

Flavio Ferraria (Johan Djourou's agent): "At the moment there has been no contact with Napoli and even with other Italian clubs

pls swap with Insigne

[RedOranje]

I still don't see where Strootman will play for Arsenal. He's too good already to sit on the bench consistently and he's NOT a DM.

[sportsczy]

The loss of key players can always be mitigated by replacing them with players of similar qualities who can perform the same role in your system. It's not Song or Nasri that we miss specifically, but the type of players they were; someone who is capable of defence splitting passes and someone who can create from the flanks.

Arsenal's failure in the transfer window has been not replacing players adequately enough. In the cases of Cesc and van Persie, they're near irreplaceable and you just have to make do with the next best thing unless you're willing to splash out ridiculous sums to replace them.

So when Walcott and Sagna inevitably leave, it'll a big shame because they've been with us for a while, but they aren't irreplaceable and it's up to the club to find the players of the right qualities to replace them.

One player is of course replaceable. But losing your top 2-3 players every year is a tragedy. You can't start over with new key pieces every single year.

2 years ago, Cesc, Nasri and Clichy left
This past year, Song and RVP
This coming year, Sagna and Walcott

You can't keep rebuilding. It's not just the talent replacement... every time you change key players, you need to adapt to the new players. But the time you figure out what you've got, you're again dealing with major departures.

Arsenal will never win anything this way.

[SamuelJayC]

Eurosport understands that #AFC are closely monitoring Etienne Capoue ahead of January window. Fee would be £8.5m. - http://bit.ly/VGa1wA

(confirmation of the post above)

[RealGunner]

Would be a fantastic signing. Someone we should have gotten in the Summer.

Will add steel to our midfield and he is a pretty good passer as well so can push forward in home games.

[MJ]

Have you all given up hope on Cyborg-Diaby?


Nah, Capoue would be great though, I was wondering why we hadn't signed him in the summer.

[RealGunner]

MJ where is Ali ?

[RealGunner]

Arsenal have added Toulouse right back Serge Aurier to their list of potential targets. (Mail)

[MJ]

MJ where is Ali ?

He's taking a break from Arsenal a bit. He still watches the games for the most part but it's kind of deflating and I think he's busy with school and rap. Still should have some time for GL

[MJ]

West Ham in for Chamakh and Arsenal having to fend off interest from Spain for Nani
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