Arsenal FC Summer 2008 Thread

Gunners losing Flamini battle

The French internationals current contract at Emirates Stadium is due to expire in the summer, and he is yet to sign a new deal despite a reported £50,000 a week offer being on the table for over a month.

The Gunners now fear that Flamini may have already agreed a pre-contract agreement with Italian suitors Juventus, and accept that they may be forced to part company with the combative midfielder in the near future.

"We have made what we think is a pretty generous offer and we are waiting to hear whether he will accept or not," Hill-Wood said in the Daily Star.

"You just don't know nowadays. You think players have a pretty good life, but, somehow, someone persuades them the grass might be greener somewhere else.

"So I don't know the answer, all I know is we think we have pushed the boat out."

Juventus have been tracking Flamini for some time now, and are believed to have offered him a deal worth around £10,000 a week more than the Gunners.

The Italian club's director Jean-Claude Blanc confirmed on Tuesday that a deal for the player is almost complete, and has now dismissed speculation which has suggested that their arch rivals Milan could be set to hijack the move at the last minute.

"We have the advantage (over Milan)," he said.

"As a child Flamini was a supporter of Juve.

"We also have a sporting project in place and we will be in the Champions League. Milan will not."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3463218,00.html

Arsene Wenger planning to keep key men

Arsene Wenger believes ensuring Cesc Fabregas, Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini stay at Arsenal will be his most important task in the summer before looking to add new players to his squad. The Arsenal manager maintains his young squad does not need major surgery despite the club falling short in all major competitions, but concedes they do lack experience.

"There is money there [for transfers], but not as much as I read in the newspapers, because that is not true," Wenger said. "However, with my financial package, the first thing I have to make sure is we keep the players we have at the moment. That is what people forget.

"The new rules put you under threat to lose your best players because after three years any player can walk out [of his club] and after two any player over 28 [can leave]. So the rules and the structure of the wages bill is always under threat.

"It is not as simple as it looks when you read there is so much money available to buy players - that transfer budget also includes the improvement of the wages."

Wenger has been linked with a number of potential transfer targets, including Amauri, the Palermo striker, Hatem Ben Arfa, the Lyon winger and David Villa, the Valencia forward. "Who we will buy in the summer is not decided yet, but I have players in mind," he said. "We have lists which we keep up to date, player number one, two, three or four in the positions were we look for - and you go of course for the number one."

"I believe at some stage you need to strengthen the team, but changing the team means kick some players out and replacing them. That is not the feeling I have. I feel this team has been absolutely tremendous."

Despite another barren campaign - the 2005 FA Cup was Arsenal's last piece of silverware and it is now four years since they won the league - Wenger maintains his men are making progress. "In the last season, we have heard enough that we have not won any trophies. Then again you have to take some distance with that. "What is better? To have won the Carling Cup or to have gone in the Champions League final in 2006?

"We know it is not enough and we want to do more. But I believe not to recognise the merit of this team would be a professional mistake and I would not stand up for that. This team is tremendous and has a tremendous future. Maybe we have to add a bit of experience to all that - but we have done the main job."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article3801973.ece

Cesc wrote:Am I right in saying that Hleb could buyout his existing contract this summer as he signed in the summer of 2005 it will be three years into his contract?

Cesc wrote:
Am I right in saying that Hleb could buyout his existing contract this summer as he signed in the summer of 2005 it will be three years into his contract?

• that David Villa rumour
  
• the need for changes
  
• the sale that is needed
  
• the money available
  
• the rules changes that affected his plans.
  
• the way wages eat into his budget.
  
• his transfer 'war chest'

• He said the David Villa admiration was a big compliment, but at the moment he is looking to keep the squad together. (He didn't categorically rule him out)
  
  
• He already has players in mind for this summer. He actually has a physical shopping list of players which is numbered by each position and choice, 1,2,3 ...
  
  
• He thinks we have made progress this season, he thinks the current group is tremendous and has a great future. Wenger believes we have gained many fans from around the world because of this team but we might need to add a bit of salt to the ingredients this summer.
  
  
• If one or two quality experienced player/s becomes available we will look at it.
  
  
• There is money for this summer, but not as much as the press is speculating. His first job is to keep everyone together then use the budget for additions. He then goes on to mention how the new section 17 FIFA rule will affect the game in the future.

Cesc wrote:
[*]He thinks we have made progress this season, he thinks the current group is tremendous and has a great future. Wenger believes we have gained many fans from around the world because of this team but we might need to add a bit of salt to the ingredients this summer.

Three midfielders ruled out for the rest of the season

Alex Hleb, Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky will not play for Arsenal again this season.

Arsène Wenger revealed the news in an exclusive interview with Arsenal TV Online on Thursday afternoon.

Hleb's absence was already known. On Wednesday he received a suspension for the final three games of the season following an incident in the game against Reading last Saturday, meanwhile Rosicky has not played since January because of a hamstring problem. However news of Diaby's injury was acutely disappointing.

The Frenchman ruptured a tendon in his thigh in a Reserve game on Monday night. Wenger believes his recuperation will take eight weeks and that will be a body blow to Diaby's chances of being selected for Euro 2008. Ironically, the 21-year-old was due back from a domestic suspension at Derby on Monday.

Elsewhere, Bacary Sagna and Mathieu Flamini (both ankle) are still out. Manuel Almunia is fit after his wrist injury but the manager has yet to decide whether the Spaniard will return for the trip to Pride Park.

"It looks like the season is over for Hleb, Rosicky and Diaby," said Wenger. "Hleb is suspended and I don't believe we'll see Tomas Rosicky again [this term].

"But we have lost Abou Diaby too. He was supposed to come back after suspension but he got an injury that will rule him out until the end of the season.

"The problem occurred during a Reserve game. It was a simple pass and he ruptured the tendon in his thigh muscle. It will be at least eight weeks for him.

"Sagna and Flamini are not back so basically it will be the same squad as last week.

"Almunia is available again but I have not decided what I will do with the goalkeepers yet."

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=490665&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Three+midfielders+ruled+out+for+the+rest+of+the+season

Yef wrote:Arsenal signed Gomes according to the rumors, 15 million. It is some money, but you got a serious goalkeeper now

Cesc wrote:Spoke to soon. Diaby is now out of the European Championships.

Three midfielders ruled out for the rest of the season

Alex Hleb, Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky will not play for Arsenal again this season.

Arsène Wenger revealed the news in an exclusive interview with Arsenal TV Online on Thursday afternoon.

Hleb's absence was already known. On Wednesday he received a suspension for the final three games of the season following an incident in the game against Reading last Saturday, meanwhile Rosicky has not played since January because of a hamstring problem. However news of Diaby's injury was acutely disappointing.

The Frenchman ruptured a tendon in his thigh in a Reserve game on Monday night. Wenger believes his recuperation will take eight weeks and that will be a body blow to Diaby's chances of being selected for Euro 2008. Ironically, the 21-year-old was due back from a domestic suspension at Derby on Monday.

Elsewhere, Bacary Sagna and Mathieu Flamini (both ankle) are still out. Manuel Almunia is fit after his wrist injury but the manager has yet to decide whether the Spaniard will return for the trip to Pride Park.

"It looks like the season is over for Hleb, Rosicky and Diaby," said Wenger. "Hleb is suspended and I don't believe we'll see Tomas Rosicky again [this term].

"But we have lost Abou Diaby too. He was supposed to come back after suspension but he got an injury that will rule him out until the end of the season.

"The problem occurred during a Reserve game. It was a simple pass and he ruptured the tendon in his thigh muscle. It will be at least eight weeks for him.

"Sagna and Flamini are not back so basically it will be the same squad as last week.

"Almunia is available again but I have not decided what I will do with the goalkeepers yet."

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=490665&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Three+midfielders+ruled+out+for+the+rest+of+the+season

So Rosicky, Hleb, Flamini and Diaby are all out and we plan to rest Fabregas at some stage, it could be a very different midfield for the last three games.

Ray Parlour wrote:Barazite!