Aaaah, I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Not that we get much of it here in Middle England. Well, sort of just north of Middle England really. That’s what happens when you get sucked into the transfer vortex. Insanti. I don’t care if Cazorla turns out to be more elusive than Park; I just want him to sign because I can have a couple of seasons of fun with the name and puns.
It won’t be long to wait either. The puns and the signing, if reports are to be believed. Did we get this far with Juan Mata last summer? I can’t recall there being flights booked for him to come to London and have a medical. Not for Arsenal, anyway. Presuming of course that Yann M’vila’s tent can be moved off the treadmill. Ah, the salutory warning arrives. We’ve been here before, we’ll be here again.
I know that the two cases are slightly different – OK I don’t know that they are and frankly I cannot see any difference between the two, save for the financial plight that Malaga find themselves in. Rennes have a proper, bona fide, certified Sugar Daddy; one intent on having a well-run club. The Andaluz club had to happen at some point; fake sheikh’s or at least ones who do not care for football and when things are not done their way, taking the highway out of town, leaving the footballing hopes of a city in tatters. Malaga will survive, in what form is not yet known with more brinkmanship from potential purchasers but the pitfalls of wanting money – any money – to arrive at the club are in plain sight.
For Cazorla, the chance to play in the Champions League and potentially win trophies, it represents too good an opportunity to miss. For Arsenal, the signing would strengthen the squad without doubt. Cazorla is versatile, more than a back-up plan in case someone leaves. It represents ambition, a desire to strengthen the squad, to enable a group of maturing players to challenge for trophies. Ricky (@GeezyPeas) hit the nail on the head yesterday,
Forget using who we’ve signed to justify ambition. We are ‘The Arsenal’ where ambition shouldnt be questioned.
Yet we always seemed surprised when Arsenal sign good players. Especially when they are relatively expensive. That may not apply to Cazorla where the fee has been strongly rumoured to be lower than the £17m or so reported in this morning’s press. With Malaga’s debt believed to be twice that, such generosity cannot be expected; even desperation has its limits.
What does Cazorla mean for Arsenal, in broader terms of activity this summer? To begin with, I think his signing would scotch any deal for Sahin. Too many attacking midfielders spoil the broth. There are only so many players who can pass the ball around the box without taking a shot. The Spaniard’s versatility offers so many options across the midfield that signing another creative player strains the senses.
Talks are ongoing with Theo Walcott’s advisors – and Arsène is rumoured to be holding talks today with the player – which hints at progress, doors remaining open rather than ajar. I still believe he will sign a new contract at the club; either that or he has seen the reaction Robin van Persie received with his announcement and is playing an altogether more canny game. If he goes, yes, Cazorla is insurance and Sahin makes sense as a signing. Bear in mind the ultimate loser in the Turkish international joining appears to be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and I cannot envisage a scenario where Arsène would ‘kill’ his career.
A statement is expected from Malaga today on their whole situation and it seems inconceivable that they will not refer to Cazorla speculation in those circumstances. If the statement is made…hope lives or dies in this instant world in which we live.
Elsewhere, Emmanuel Frimpong is having to reassess the pricing of his clothing line following the FA fine of £6k for his Twitter indiscretion. Frimpong called it an ‘expensive month’; the master of the understatement indeed. Robin van Persie apparently has signed for Juventus already according to an Italian agent who has been referred to as a ‘mover and shaker’; St Vitus Dance might be another explanation for that. A shame that the Turin club is in all sorts of disarray at the moment. A shame for the story since it puts all sorts of holes in it.
Alex Song and Marouane Chamakh are apparently ‘outcasts’ at Arsenal now. I know, I know, I shouldn’t have continued reading the story but Charlie Dubuck in this morning’s Daily Express appears to know nothing about the club whatsoever and just for Song being termed an ‘outcast’, it is worth reading. It brought a smile to my face.
’til Tomorrow
Yes. Little seen. Ever correct.
George,
she still doesn’t like you though!!! a woman never forgets, remember that.
His time had gone, duke.
I was also upset about Henry leaving but it seems that there is more than meets the eye.
He did not write a disrespectful comment about the organization on his website though. That is a first as far as I remember.
Passenal – there was a reason ‘merely’ was expressed in inverted commas.
I remember him saying we were not good enough to win anything and he wanted to win the cl..which he helped lose for us ironicaly. nope i’m still bitter about it. i have forgiven him and he is still an arsenal legend but a statue??? a fukin joke. i’d rather have had an Ian Wright one thanks. or even better a Rocastle one. charlie george…george graham…george rodger…
I like Duke .He is nothing but consistent.
Andrew, you are an excellent poster. I agree with you 99% of the time. You are an apologist for RVP. You are wrong on that one.
No
No what?YW
Markus | August 2, 2012 at 7:51 pm
If people start giving VP credit for any signings we make I’m liable to get wound up again and twice in two days is far too much so think on.
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Can I just say I whole heartedly 100% agree with the above comment please?
CBob; at about 5 past 9.
So true that man. The ‘selling club’ tag is just that; a tag dreamt up by the media. meaningless, just as the “exodus” bullshite is too.
Romania are now going home with a gold…silver and .bronze……
…….lead, tin , copper and anything else they can get their hands on.
I have said all along, i want RvP to stay, simply because he is a great player and with him, we have an even stronger squad and better chance of winning anything.
Now, George the purveyor of all that is true will say he betrayed us all, but my pointed, well constructed retort to that is;
Pffft, bothered!
Wah wah wah Dunk’n Dukey!
I didnt read those comments, Duke. I was upset because he left a year after he decided to stay. I was told that there was more to it than meets the eye; like his divorce and all that.
Judas lover .
Dex, my respone is mek ‘im (RVP) move ‘im blouse and skirt.
hee hee
I’d like rvp to stay..i mean all footballers are now cunts arent they…..wew might as well try to have as many good cunts as possible.
If we are not as ambitious as he is and he wants Rooney money, he can leave. If he wants to stay and is satisfied with how much the team can offer, then so be it. It all depends on what he wants.
just on the judo earlier and Big Als reference to what that acheivement is like what about the yanks basketball team then??? eh?? it would be like spain playing their world cup , european cup winning team.. how bad the americans want that gold man……Yeehaarr…
lol dukey.
i agree with dex over van persie and i agree with dukey over henry..
Duke;
Its the only thing Frank said after the RvP statement, i agree on. They aint worth the hero worship, or pain that they can engender. Its all about the money and guranteed trophies for the twats.
Lets use em as chattle, run RvP into the ground till his ankles crumble and his knees explode.
Mwoohaahaahaahaa!!!
To Not Over The Hill
Ah yes I thought he was jesting
Even good character people make poor decisions. RvP is not a Suarez type.
Arsene will determine the options that are best for the team’s attitude and on field impact.
As far as RvP, if he stays, Arsene will lay a path that takes pressure off the player. Miss communication is always a default option. The only way for RvP to stay and be EFFECTIVE is for the player to feel his bone of contention was resolved.
I trust Arsene.
Arsesession I too trust Arsene ,I do not trust RVP.Nor will I ever again.
bobbyp | August 2, 2012 at 3:33 pm
dexter 11.37
can you please just grasp that we are poor defensively in part as we are shockingly bad at applying consistent pressure from forward areas.
__________________
No.
That is true Arsession, but do you think he knows he made a poor decision? if so, woudn’t he have cleared it up by now. I think that is where the problem is. If you mess up publicly, own up publicly.
is cazorla in then or what?
what do we all think?
heres something i found funny..
my mate at work, whos a sheff weds fan, reckons the whole rvp thing was a smokescreen by the club and the player to send europe into a frenzy over his signature while we clear up in the window and catch everyone else with their pants down and grab a few worldies..
i laughed..
and i’ll laugh even harder if we sign podolski, jiroo and fandabbydoza and theo and rvp stay..
to be fair the whole thing has left me emotionally shattered..im sick of hitting the fucking f5 button all day and hearing and speaking bollox
i need the season to start, now…
fell | August 2, 2012 at 2:44 pm
another fantastical piece of ‘journalism’ by John Cross.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-column-robin-van-persie-1204758
In one article he’s given RVP’s shirt away twice, once to podolski,…. ‘Lukas Podolski is still TBC on the squad number list but is surely about to take van Persie’s ’10′ shirt.’
and then later in the article he’s decided that Cazorla gets it…..’Cazorla will be offered a four year deal and is seen as being crucial playmaker in the number ten role for next season’s new look team.’
I’ll have a pint of what he’s on!
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Now now Jeff, George will take you to task for daring to question the veracity of his messiah; JC’s godly work man.
Dexter,Jeff was wrong.He cant even fucking read it seems.
Where as you are just a cantankerous twat,who can read.And should not take cheap shots.
handbags at 5 paces..
Mwoohaahaahaahaa!
Negotiating wages is a game. To become overly invested in this essentially deceitful process, is to waste energy. RvP is a player in his prime with little time to spare. For him to go elsewhere at this time in his career, would be counterproductive. Should he sign for Arsenal, I will think nothing else other than good for Arsenal Football Club. It will be up to Robin to resolve the upset created by the negotiating process. This will be resolved very quickly on the field with a handful of goals which I am sure he can score.
Oh you know I is just messing George.
Just following on from our earlier lil dust up dude!
“This will be resolved very quickly on the field with a handful of goals ”
Not for anyone with half decent standards it wont.
I can just about accept people who are not arsed about his behaviour.but if they are and then forget because he bangs some in is pretty poor .If you ask me.
According to George’s bezzy mate John Cross, Song’s deal runs till 2015, so we can all sleep soundly tonight. Safe in the knowledge he isn’t leading the club down a shady well trodden path.
jonjon @ 11.03… “to be fair the whole thing has left me emotionally shattered..im sick of hitting the fucking f5 button all day and hearing and speaking bollox.”.. here here
Jealous bastard .I still love you
But, and it’s a big but… if RVP doesn’t leave and Mssr Wenger announces it as ‘Like a new signing’ I will personally march up the A30 and garotte Mssr Wenger with a string of onions
The usual weekly column from Big Al has arrived at http://aculturedleftfoot.wordpress.com
Double bubble today YW? Surely the transfer news needs a post as well?
PG –
HIs statement was tactless and unprofessional – unArsenal.
I don’t know all the details for the circumstances surrounding his negotiations b4 or after, or what was implied to him by those involved in the discussions. I don’t see the point in passing judgement.
If he leaves, Arsenal will move forward. It is only a sport.
What transfer news George? Nobody has confirmed or denied any signings beyond L’Equipe and Marca reporting it has happened.
if re-upping RVP will bring Frank back….i say we keep the bugger…arm-band or no arm-band!