Arsenal FC Summer 2008 Thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-CjYWG-u7Y

and the greatest INTERVIEW ever - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA-DuGGCf68

BM wrote:Is Ade the only player with a half decent chant in our team? FFS!

I miss The Vieira's and the "We love you Freddie cos you got Red hair"

The greedy bastard has hogged the two most recognisable chants at the moment!

But no, it's really poor at the moment. On Saturday there was singing for RVP, a bit for Cesc and Clichy. But not much else. And I still haven't heard a half-decent attempt to get Hleb into a song!

Are you talking about the "Robin Van Persie" *Clap* *Clap* Clap* "Robin Van Persie" - Repeat.

Everythings changed, we no longer have the characters we used to. I enjoyed Cesc's goal against Milan but even that paled next to this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PjXffcUXCI&feature=related

I cant imagine anyone being able to do that in a clutch situation.

Yep that one. I know what you mean though, and with everyone moved around with the new stadium there are a lot less new chants than there used to be at Highbury when people were settled in the North Bank/Clock End.

The lack of Chanting wouldn't become so much of an issue if the Fans didn't groan everytime we failed to score for 20 minutes. Plastic wankers.

BM™ wrote:The lack of Chanting wouldn't become so much of an issue if the Fans didn't groan everytime we failed to score for 20 minutes. Plastic wankers.

Did you see the clappers they gave out to everyone this weekend? Because people are too idle to actually clap properly or actually sing in support of their team! They make such a horrible racket, and I was really hungover so the damn things were giving me such a headache!

Only likely to create litter than improve atmosphere.

The shooshers are the people who should be relinquished of their tickets, making people that attempt to chant uncomfortable.

What I don't like is giving the away fans such awesome seating, bear the pitch. We should have made it St. James' park style and forced all the away fans to cram themselves at the top tier of the stadium.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7361157.stm

hleb charged

Football Association charge Hleb with violent conduct
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The following statement appeared on the Football Association website on Tuesday afternoon:

"Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb has been charged with violent conduct.

"Hleb was involved in an incident with Reading defender Graeme Murty during the second half of the match at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday 19 April.

"The incident was not seen by referee Peter Walton. Having now watched video footage of the incident, Walton has informed The FA that, had he seen it at the time, he would have shown Hleb a red card for violent conduct.

"Hleb has until 6pm on Wednesday 23 April to admit or deny the charge. A Regulatory Commission will hear the case on Thursday 24 April."

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=490576&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Football+Association+charge+Hleb+with+violent+conduct
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Considering all the speculation regarding his future, it's possible that Hleb has played his last game for Arsenal if he gets punished. Can't argue with the charge. It wasn't dangerous or particularly violent, but he raised his hands to another player's face so he can have no complaints at being punished.

the more i think about it the less i'd be concerned about hleb leaving, compare him to pires and he's not on the same level. nice passing at times, not different to pires BUT he just doesn't score anywhere near enough goals, something pires always did. SO whilst not easy find a better wide scoring midfielder and it may be a blessing

Deserved charge, early summer for him this year.

Reports in Italy suggest Inter are seriously considering making a €19m (£15.2m) bid for him this summer. That figure could go someway into bringing a top replacement into the club like Modric for example. There are many pros and cons to Hleb's game, should he leave our 4-5-1 game will obviously suffer as he plays that role behind Adebayor very well in Europe and the tougher away domestic fixtures. I like Hleb, he is one of the most technically sound players in the Premier League but he should be producing more assists and goals for the team, no questions about that. The best example I can think of was the game at St Andrews where we were 2-1 up with fifteen mins to go. It was a three on three attack and Hleb was coming into the penalty area out wide with the ball and had a clear opportunity to shoot, instead he attempted to pass to Adebayor who had two men around him. The attack was eventually snuffed out in the end.

On another note Juventus have finally admitted they are interested in Flamini and believe they will beat Milan to his signature. Apparently a senior official at Juventus stated that Flamini is a boyhood Juventus fan.

Great. Wenger has said that he will try and keep the squad together for next year, I doubt this will happen. If we can limit the departures and bring in some more experienced players (like 2006 with Gallas, Rosicky, Baptista) this summer it won't be too bad. Hopefully we can find another Sagna type signing or two as well.

I'd be devastated if Hleb left..

The longer we go without winning anything the likelier it is for our top players to leave. Winning a trophy next season should almost be a must. I hope Wenger brings in the right players(so no 16, 17 etc year olds) to help us achieve that.

It's all very well to say that he deserved the charge but why are the FA so selective and so unfair in the way that they deal with these issues. The most similar recent incident was when Mascherano clipped Aliadiere and Aliadiere clipped him back. Not only did the FA not charge Mascherano but they gave Aliadiere an extra game ban for appealing. There have been many cases of players committing unpunished sending off offenses in the box and the FA never review those. What about divers? Why aren't they punished? Seems completely arbitrary to me.

Thanks for posting that BM.

BM wrote:I get on very well with Mathieu Flamini and hes one of my best friends. Perhaps you get a hint of this watching us on the pitch.

Hes an important piece in the team. We understand each other perfectly and i hope he'll continue playing by my side for many more years.

.... Oh dear. I hope so too, but I just can't see it happening.

Apparently Hleb is another close friend of his, they obviously have a little clique that could well be fragmented by August.

I'm sorry but 'Flamini is a boyhood Juve fan' aside, why the f@ck would he want to join them?

they play $h!t in a stick football in a $h!t stadium with even shitter support. I'd rather cut my arm off then play for them fuckers.

Yep, that is a real worry. Why do the club let people ask such stupid questions as 'Will you be here for your whole career?' How can Cesc give a proper reply to that?! Even if he is fully committed and loving it here he can't really just come out and say yes, because if he does leave in the future people will throw it in his face! Yet even if he is happy here it invites further speculation. It's stupid.

The three million a year salary and a nice signing on fee has turned his head, as well as the opportunity to test himself in a new league which he has favoured since a youth.

The fact we have not won anything in three seasons is a factor for guys like Flamini and Hleb. Wenger has some pursuading to do to the existing squad and to any quality players that we want here.

No problem Cesc.

Yeah it's obvious that Cesc, Tomas, Alex and Mathieu are in one group and I fear that if two were to leave, as is being speculated then Cesc will go back to Spain. I mean there are only so many Eboue jokes one can stand.

@ Tweeds - Rubentus indeed suck arse, but it's his "Dream Club." Flamini has already stabbed Marseille in the back, Im not entirely confident he's not gonna do that to us.

Arsenal have signed 15 year old Oguzhan Özyakup from Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar, on a five year contract according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

The Holland Under 17s International who is of Turkish descent, is rated as one of the biggest prospects in world football, and last night AZ accepted a substantial offer from the Gunners after interest from Ajax, Barcelona and Inter Milan for his services.

The terms are two year scholarship with the option of a further three years as a professional, however he will not link up with the squad until he turns 16 in September 2008. In a similar way to Spanish defender Ignasi Miquel.


Özyakup is a highly technical central or right sided midfielder, excellent on set pieces and blessed with an eye for a pass, and shows another excellent find by Steve Rowley’s much coveted Scouting system.

AZ were keen to hang on to Oguzhan, but Arsenal’s offer was too lucrative to turn down. It is expected he will travel to London before the week is out, to visit his new housing as well as meet the coaching staff and arrange schooling.
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Well that's our transfer activities concluded for another year.

Yay for producing our own young talent! I thought we were going to limit this sort of signing?!

Have a go at pronouncing his name, Geez.

Thats are third youth signing for the summer and we are still in April. We have signed that 15 year old centreback from a Barcelona youth side and a German/Ghanian leftback (I can't remember who from). Hopefully Wenger is just getting it over and done with for the proper stuff when the the transfer window re-opens.

BTW Jack Wilshere apparently had an absolute blinder against the West Ham United reserve team last night. Only 16 years old as well.

BM™ wrote:Have a go at pronouncing his name, Geez.

And we mentioned the other day the difficulty of fitting 'Hleb' into a chant, we've got no chance with this guy if he makes it to the first team!

Cesc wrote:BTW Jack Wilshere apparently had an absolute blinder against the West Ham United reserve team last night. Only 16 years old as well.

So I heard. I forgot to watch the match. Here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wOgKUdVXQE

BM wrote:Have a go at pronouncing his name, Geez.

Try Oguzinho Seriously, buy adults FFS! Is not even funny anymore.

Juligen wrote:

BM wrote:Have a go at pronouncing his name, Geez.

Try Oguzinho Seriously, buy adults FFS! Is not even funny anymore.

Excuse me?

BM wrote:

Juligen wrote:

BM wrote:Have a go at pronouncing his name, Geez.

Try Oguzinho Seriously, buy adults FFS! Is not even funny anymore.

Excuse me?

Arsenal needs to invest in grown up men, developed athletes, already proved players. You have the money; I truly believe that if you had a better bench or some depth you would be holding the League by now.

Oh okay, I thought you were blaming his parents for giving him a name that was so hard to pronunciation.

Thanks for the link SG.

I replayed that goal over and over to work out if it was a deflection or not, it wasn't. Superb technique by the lad. He is probably still in school so another season in the reserves to let him develop further. I wonder if Barazite will be involved more in the first team next season, 16 goals in a young reserve team is some going.