Arsènal FC - 09/10 Season Thread

Tweedle wrote:If you haven't seen it already... the Michael Owen style Adeabayor brouchure

http://www.oleole.com/media/main/podcasts/arsecast/ADE_BROCHURE.pdf

Fabregas - I can't wait to see Rosicky return


Cesc Fabregas cannot wait to see Tomas Rosicky back in action.

The Czech midfielder has been hampered by injuries to his hamstring tendon and his knee since January 2008 but he returned to full training in May and was one of the first players back for pre-season last week.

The sight of Rosicky limbering up with his team-mates was a heart-warming one and he is now in contention for Arsenal's summer games, which begin with the traditional trip to Barnet on Saturday.

Fabregas and Rosicky are close friends as well as team-mates so the Spaniard knows as well as anyone what the 28-year-old has been through. The Arsenal captain has been amazed by Rosicky's mental fortitude.

"I have spent a lot of time with him and I know how he feels," Fabregas told Arsenal.com.

"I know what he wants and I have never seen a guy being so committed, so professional and never giving up. If this happened to me I probably wouldn't want to talk to anyone, I would be always down and angry. But he's unbelievable and when we see that he will be back next season, he will be strong and hopefully he can help us improve a lot.

"He's the type of player you enjoy playing alongside and as a guy he's amazing. He didn't deserve his injury but I am sure he will come back stronger. I wish him all the best because everyone here at Arsenal loves him a lot.

"I feel sorry for him but I don't need to say that to him, he's my best friend in the team and one of my best friends in football and my life."

Rosicky was a regular in the Arsenal side which challenged strongly for the Premier League title in 2008, striking up a fine understanding with Fabregas and fellow midfielders Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb. The Czech is one of the most experienced players in Arsène Wenger's squad and Fabregas believes he still has much to offer.

"He can bring many, many things to the team," said the captain. "He's a guy with a lot of experience, he has won things, he knows how to compete, he's very humble and he works for the team.

"Technically he is one of the best in the world and physically I am sure he will be really strong because he's been working really hard. I am happy because soon he is going to be back and I can't wait to see him playing again."

After a very impressive first season in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim, Demba Ba may be on deck to move to London this summer.

17 Jul 2009 18:08:01

Demba Ba was already the centre of one of Germany's most talked about transfer negotiations of the summer, but the Parisian-born Senegalese international may not be finished making headlines just yet.

With Emmanuel Adebayor seemingly leaving for Manchester City, it is reported in the Daily Mail and Le Parisien that Arsene Wenger is looking for Senegalese striker Demba Ba to replace him.

The 24-year-old scored 14 goals this season in the Bundesliga and declared at the beginning of the week that he wanted to continue the experience with the Bundesliga newbies.

Arsenal, on the other hand, with a long experience of grooming French-born players and Ligue 1 alums into global superstars, may have found their newest bet. Arsene Wenger is said to be particularly impressed with Ba's potential.

The player, who was declaring his will to come back to France, and more precisely to Paris, has not yet reacted, but his agent already declared that it would be an honour for him to play for such a great coach and that this type of offer had to be closely examined.

Massaër Ndiaye, Goal.com

blutgraetsche wrote:That was reported in the German press a few days ago.

Ba wanted to move to Stuttgart, Hoffenheim didn't want to sell, so he kept getting on everyone's nerves until Hoffenheim agreed on the transfer. But then, he failed the medical in Stuttgart and hence needs to stay in Hoffenheim now. The fans and the club obviously haven't forgotten all the trouble of the past weeks, so he may still be keen to move.

Good player, a bit of a c**t though.

TOMAS ROSICKY makes his Arsenal comeback today after 18 months out of action.

And team-mate Cesc Fabregas reckons it will be just like having a new signing.

The Czech Republic midfielder will put his injury nightmares behind him when he runs out for the Gunners' first pre-season game at Barnet. Rosicky, 28, has been restricted to just 61 games in three years afterbeing sidelined by a hamstring injury which then affected his knee tendons. The problems failed to disappear after surgery and there were fears over his long-term future. But Rosicky finally managed to regain full fitness at the end of last seasonand now hopes to get his career back on track.

Arsenal skipper Fabregas has no doubts Rosicky still has a major part to play for the club. He said: "I have spent a lot of time with him and know how he feels. "I have never seen a guy so committed, so professional and never giving up. "He's the type of player you enjoy playing alongside and is amazing.
"Tomas didn't deserve his injury but I am sure he will come back stronger. I wish him all the best. Everyone at Arsenal loves him a lot. "He's my best friend in the team and one of my best friends in life.

"He can bring many, many things to the side. He's a guy with a lot of experience, has won things, knows how to compete, is very humble and works for the team.

"Technically he is one of the best in the world and physically I am sure he will be really strong. He has been working really hard and I cannot wait to see him playing again."

Meanwhile, Arsenal's England winger Theo Walcott reckons the Gunners must learn to win ugly if they are to challenge for the Premier League title.

They have gone four successive seasons without silverware and now Walcott feels they should emulate
champions Manchester United and Chelsea by sometimes forsaking dazzling football in favour of rolling up their sleeves.

He said: "I think we need to do the dirty things right. Sometimes it's not just about pretty football. We need to grind out the results sometimes and get the three points.

‘’In cup competitions no one remembers the game as long as the result is right. We need to take that into our play.

"Manchester United and Chelsea do the dirty work and take their chances as well. That's another thing we need to learn and improve on.

"We had a great experience of getting to the Champions League and FA Cup semi-finals last season but not quite getting to the finals. Hopefully, we'll put that right."

Boss Arsene Wenger is ready to start deploying Walcott up front rather than out wide.

Walcott, 20, added: "The boss said, hopefully, he will start to put me up front now and then. That's my natural position but I'd play anywhere for this team. "I want to score 15-plus goals this season."

Tweedle wrote:Apparently Adeabyor will complete his move to City today

Emmanuel Adebayor last night completed his £22million move to Manchester City - but remains locked in a battle with Arsenal over his £2m loyalty bonus. The Togo striker is adamant he is due the cash from the Gunners because he did not put in a transfer request.

It is a demand that will leave Arsenal fans stunned as it was Adebayor’s apparent lack of commitment that soured their relationship with him.

The 25-year-old hit just 16 goals last season – as he courted the attentions of AC Milan – compared to the season before in which he smashed 30.

Adebayor – who will pick up £170,000-a-week at City – said his goodbyes to the Arsenal players and staff at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground yesterday. He then travelled to Manchester to finalise the paperwork to complete the deal.

Adebayor’s wages at Eastlands will be around double what he was earning at the Emirates, with his agents set to pick up around £2m for their “services”.

But he is determined to squeeze Arsenal for one last pay day as revenge for agreeing the deal while he was on holiday in Togo.

It is believed the shocked striker initially threatened to dig his heels in and refuse to join City after being told a fee had been agreed for him and that he had to leave.

He later relented after realising he had no future at the Emirates.

Andrey Arshavin is confident Arsenal can win the Champions League next season – even without Adebayor.

The Gunners’ £15m Russian hitman said: “To win the Champions League means everything. We nearly did it last season, and I do not see big problems.

“Adebayor is an excellent striker. Everybody knows him and he can score from nothing. But we have Arsene Wenger. He knows if we need someone, then he will buy.”

TheCrazy58 wrote:
Andrey Arshavin is confident Arsenal can win the Champions League next season – even without Adebayor.

The Gunners’ £15m Russian hitman said: “To win the Champions League means everything. We nearly did it last season, and I do not see big problems.

Rosicky wrote:

Ade.

Sgoater1 wrote:Who do you think you will sign to replace him ?

TheCrazy58 wrote:The first team have gone to Austria, right? Should be playing some Austrian farmers' team or a random European team also on a pre-season nearby pretty soon.