Posts Tagged ‘Arsene Wenger’

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Arsenal update: Ruben Garcia, Gonzalo Higuain and Asier Illarramendi rumours

By Stefano on June 18th, 2013
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Well it is all going on in Spain. After plundering the country for Fabregas, Cazorla, Monreal, and in a roundabout way Arteta, Arsene Wenger is rumoured to be injecting some more La Liga blood into his Arsenal team.

The latest in the Higuain saga has been documented elsewhere with one Italian paper even picturing him wearing an Arsenal shirt. Might he be the first big Arsenal transfer announcement of the summer?

Or maybe that might be Levante’s Ruben Garcia? According to the Spanish daily Marca, Arsenal have made an enquiry regarding the player who has already admitted that he wouldn’t be averse to a move to North London.

The 19 year old is coming off the back of a great season in La Liga, but with Yaya Sanogo seemingly a cert to arrive at the Emirates might two young strikers be pushing it? He could cost up to 10m million Euros too. And besides there’s also Joel Campbell too.

The Daily Mail is suggesting that Arsene Wenger is also mulling over a move for Real Sociedad’s defensive midfielder Asier Illarramendi. The paper does say though that Arsenal might find themselves facing some serious comeptiion to secure the services of the 23 year-old with Barcelona and Real Madrid also set to pounce.

Illarramendi is currently on duty at the Under-21 European Championships, where a good performance could hike his price up a few more million.



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Is Fellaini the new Zaha? The next player Arsenal are going to miss out on?

By Stefano on June 13th, 2013
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So Marouane Fellaini is apparently keen to move to Arsenal, but it hasn’t happened yet because Arsene Wenger is reportedly reluctant to trigger his £23million release clause.

So says the Metro this morning, which also adds

The Gunners have been strongly tipped to make a move for the Belgian international, but Goodison Park sources claim no inquiry has yet been lodged.

So Arsenal’s inability to actually sign a player looks like spilling over into the summer window with Wenger once again cautious with the cash and moving so slowly that he runs the risk of leaving the door open for other clubs.

Of course it could be that he doesn’t rate Fellaini that highly or he has another player in mind, but this saga is certainly starting to irritate Arsenal fans.

The manager’s indecision has also been highlighted by The Express which today revealed

Arsenal opted against signing Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha before he went on to join Manchester United in January.

Ron Noades told the paper, When Steve Parish sold Zaha I was mildly involved in it as I tried to get Arsenal to buy him, but they were not interested.

“I spoke to David Dein as I did not want Zaha to go to Manchester United, I wanted him to stay in London.

“I just thought he was an exciting talent.”

So is Arsene Wenger’s reluctance to spend his war chest starting to annoy you?



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Football

Cesc Fabregas – the approach from Arsenal and an update from Spain

By Stefano on June 11th, 2013
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Catalan paper Mundo Deportivo has a lengthy story on the future of Cesc Fabregas today and fortunately for us non-Catalan speakers much of it has been paraphrased here on Sportwitness.

Several key things emerge. Firstly that it does seem that both Man United and Arsenal have made an approach for the player, but they were just tentative inquiries. Given Cecs’s relationship with both Arsene Wenger and the club I can imagine that both sides would have been pretty candid.

The second and most important thing is that Barca will only sell Fabregas if he wants to leave and it seems unlikely that he does want to go.

Apparently…

A meeting was held on Sunday at Arenys de Munt and friends and family of the player grilled Barcelona’s vice-president of sport, Josep Maria Bartomeu, about reports Fabregas could be playing in the Premier League next season. Bartomeu put their mind at rest and said that Fabregas would only leave if he wanted to.

However Mundo does say that Fabregas has recently become a father for the first time and would rather his family were based in Barcelona than anywhere else. Which is odd as I thought his girlfriend was based in London.

Fabregas himself remains tight lipped about his future.

He is quoted by La Informacion as saying

“I have not opened my mouth ever. It took me a lot to get where I am and I won’t throw it away for nothing. I will say if I want it to be something else, what I really want is to succeed at Barca, it has been my childhood dream.”

Hopefully from Arsenal’s perspective this will resolve the issue for now. I think one of the reasons why Arsene Wenger hasn’t been that proactive in the transfer market so far and especially in seconding a creative striker, was because he was waiting to see if Cesc was to become available. If he is not then the chase for Rooney, Jovetic and others can continue.



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Arsenal go head to head with Spurs for David Villa. Could Wilfried Bony be the back up plan?

By Stefano on June 5th, 2013
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This afternoon has seen a bit of news on a couple of players who Arsenal have apparently been tracking for ages.

The first is an update from Talksport about the possible future of Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony. In case you missed the chat from a few weeks ago Bony has impressed Wenger, and indeed half of Europe with his phenomenal goal scoring exploits last season.

The Ivorian banged in astonishing 31 goals in 30 league matches in the Eredivisie, which has brought him to the attention of not just The Gunners but also Liverpool, and West Ham.

It seems now that the Bony issue could come to a head with Benfica manager Jorge Jesus about to bid for the player. If he does it might then trigger moves from other Premiership clubs.

Bony is likely to be relatively cheap – well compared with the likes of say Higuain, Jovetic and even Benteke. However the Dutch league isn’t really one of Europe’s strongest so the jury is out on whether he can perform something similar in the Premiership.

At the other end of the scale, veteran Spanish striker David Villa has been talking about his future. In news reported by Catalan publication El9 Villa is being chased by Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Interestingly El9 states that the Spurs are offering the most money with a 15 million Euro bid on the cards, but Arsenal could yet gazump Spurs as they can offer Champions League football.

Villa said…

“I have another year of contract and today I am a Barca player,”

“After the Confederations Cup I will sit down and analyze everything.

“For now, I’m happy to be in the best club in the world.

“I have a contract with them and after my holiday I will see see what happens.”



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Arsenal update: Michu a new target? Higuain making positive noises

By Stefano on June 4th, 2013
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If I had a quid for every time I heard a Gunners fan suggesting that lanky Spanish goal merchant Michu would look good leading the Arsenal line I’d be a rich man.

But does Arsene agree? Well The Mail seems to think he might. The paper is running with a story this morning that Wenger might not just be hoping to raid Swansea for centre back Ashley Williams but Michu too.

The paper says

But Sportsmail can reveal a shock move for Swansea’s prolific striker has been discussed by Wenger and his scouting team.

Well Michu scored 22 goals last season, which coincidentally is around the same number that Theo Walcott bagged, but you get the feeling that with his clinical finishing he would have scored a lot more had he been given stronger service.

Michu isn’t of course the only option. The Mail also reports that the club are mulling over moves for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko too.

Meanwhile some interesting new quotes have emerged from Spain that are attributed to Madrid’s want away striker Gonzalo Higuain,

The player confirmed this weekend that he wants to leave Madrid, but we only got half the quote in the UK media and interestingly some of the rest of what he says refers to Arsenal.

Higuain said

“I am leaving Real Madrid, the decision has been made, I feel the time is right and I want a change of scenery. I have not decided where I will go, but the club already know that I want to go. It was my decision. I feel that this is the end of my cycle here.

“I shall choose the next team on the basis of sports projects. Arsenal? They might suit me. I’m still young, I have goals and I will do everything to achieve them. Juve? They are many possibilities. I want to go where I can seriously be put to the test. There are offers and I hope that I hope that they [Madrid] do the best for me and for themselves. Besides I was bought for 15 million and now I will be sold for a figure considerably higher.”

Wenger has been a fan of Higuain for several years, the striker boasts some very impressive stats – 122 goals in 266 games for Real Madrid – he seems a better fit than say Jovetic, especially if Arsenal re-sign Fabregas. I guess much depends on how keen the player is to try his luck in Italy.



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Arsenal update: Wenger speaks about Rooney and Fabregas and has Villa signed a pre-contract deal?

By Stefano on June 3rd, 2013
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Arsene Wenger has been speaking to Al Jazeera and may or may not have been dropping some pretty serious hints about who he fancies signing in the summer.

Judging by these words I think we can safely assume that Wayne Rooney, who Wenger has previously described as most talented English player he had seen, is on his radar

“Rooney could be an interesting player for everybody in the world, who would turn him down?

“David Moyes’ first challenge is to go in to Manchester and bridge the gap between him and Rooney. If that is feasible or not depends on his personality and if Rooney bears a grudge or not, we will see.

“It will be interesting to see how that will be handled.”

Of course Rooney may end up staying at United, but Arsenal would be a great choice for the England player if he decides to stay in England. His wages might be a problem, but if Rooney is set on leaving United and staying in the Premiership he might have to be prepared to take a hit,

Wenger has also been lavishing praise on another Arsenal target – their former caption Cecs Fabregas

“I think at the moment he’s lacking the confidence of being a regular player,” said Wenger. “Recently he has not been that.

“Cesc is such a passionate player, a player of such quality, that it must hurt him not to play in every single game. That’s what he misses. When you come in and out you never play with full confidence.”

If Fabregas does decide to leave Barcelona it is highly likely that he will return to Arsenal. I think though the smart money is on him sticking it out for another year at least.

There’s more here.

Speaking of Barcelona Talksport is reporting that striker David Villa has apparently signed a pre-contract deal with Arsenal.

Spanish football expert Axel Torres says he has been told by a source that Barcelona striker David Villa wants to move to England, with the Spain international reportedly showing the club’s board an pre-contract agreement to sign for Arsenal.

The ball is then in the Catalan club’s court, but with Neymar in the bag and other possible moves opportunities might be fairly limited for Villa at the Nou Camp next season.



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Moyes is serious about Fabregas. Are Arsenal and Wenger too?

By Stefano on May 29th, 2013
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In what could be a nightmare scenario for Arsenal fans it appears that David Moyes has made Cesc Fabregas his number one target.

According to The Daily Mail Moyes ‘has targeted midfield as the area in greatest need of strengthening and that Fabregas is one of his prime targets, following an initial meeting to discuss potential acquisitions for this summer.’

The Mail also suggests that United will have a rival for the ex-Arsenal player too in the guise of Man City. It also says that Barcelona are ready to let the player go and that inevitably the Premiership seems his most likely destination.

The news is certain to send a shiver down the spin of Arsenal fans. The thought of both Fabregas and Van Persie lining up against them next season would certainly be massively depressing for Gunners followers.

The question is though – if Fabregas is coming back to the Premiership will it not be to his old club?

There are some goods signs for Gooners to cling on to. Firstly Fabregas is still an Arsenal fan and regularly watches the games either on TV or when he can at the Emirates. Secondly Barca still owe Arsenal money from his, and Alex Song’s transfers.

Wenger himself said in January

“I’m not convinced that he will not one day come back here because he is a real Arsenal man. He loves Arsenal, he watches every Arsenal game.”

Also there are unsubstantiated rumours of a buy back clause which was inserted into his Barca contract.

The question is though do Arsenal want the player back? His skill and vision would certainly rejuvenate Arsenal’s midfield.

I think that the thought of Fabregas lining up for United would be too much for Arsenal fans. But if there is no rooms for him in a midfield brimming with world class talent – well Cazorla and Wilshere anyhow – it might just be where the Spaniard ends up.



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Arsenal update: Benteke wants to be a Gunner, but Higuain fancies an old lady

By Stefano on May 24th, 2013
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There’s good news and bad news on the striker front for Arsenal fans this morning.

The really bad news is that it seems unlikely that Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain will be and Arsenal player as according to a newspaper in Italy he is heading for Juventus.

La Repubblica suggests that the marksman had already agreed to join Juventus on a four year deal. The only potential stumbling block is the price with Madrid wanting £25 million and Juve obviously not wanting pay anything like that.

The only sliver of hope for Arsenal,fans is that Juve are also supposed to be on the verge of nabbing Stevan Jovetic too. And they have already lined up Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish forward Fernando Llorente on a free transfer. So do the team need a trio of new world class strikers?

One goal score with plenty of Premiership experience has given the club a bit of come and get plea.

Christian Benteke told the Express yesterday…

“I hope that if I leave my club a deal can be done more quickly than the one last year,” he said.

“There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa, and I don’t think there is any need for one. If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I am convinced that we can reach a compromise where everybody comes out a winner.

The paper says that £20 million would be enough to scoop the Belgian marksman, but that Atletico Madrid are also keen on the player too.



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Bald Eagles who look like Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger – genius Tumblr blog

By Stefano on May 21st, 2013
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tumblr_mn4dj3U8cq1srin97o1_1280In case you didn’t know Yahoo bought blogging site Tumblr this week. What it got for just over $1 billion was a whole load of teenagers pic blogs, some random adult sites and gems like this. In my opinion it makes that purchase worth every penny.

Go here for more

tumblr_mn4dp6BvWr1srin97o1_1280



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Jovetic to Arsenal update

By Stefano on May 20th, 2013
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If Fiorentina’s talented Montenegrin is to join Arsenal three things needed to happen to make the deal certain. So let’s take a peek at those three things and where we are with them.

1 Fiorentina not to quality for the Champions League, but Arsenal to make it. Well thanks to Koscielny’s goal the Gunners will be in the draw for CL qualifying, but they won’t be facing Fiorentina, who were pipped at the line by Milan. Jovetic could well have stayed at the club had they qualified, but now it seems certain that he will go and seek Champions League football elsewhere.

2 Juventus not to chase the player – There have been rumours that the Italian Champions had been sizing up Jovetic for a while. However this morning Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade has revealed that Juventus have not spoken to him about the player.

Prade told Sky Italia

“We have said many times that an answer [over Jovetic's future] can only be given after a meeting between the president and Jovetic.”

“Juventus? I have not talked with them because they have never asked to talk.”

3 Wenger decides he wants the player - Earlier in the season it seemed like a done deal. However Jovetic’s second half of the season has been a little disappointing. He finished the year with just twelve goals. Wenger is clearly a huge fan – but he has other options too in Higuain, Villa and maybe even Rooney.

I think Jovetic will either be announced as an Arsenal player in the next 48 hours as the deal has already been done and now ratified following Arsenal’s qualification for the CL.

If that isn’t the case I wonder if it will run and run as Wenger seeks a bargain.



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Why Arsenal will announce a new signing today

By Stefano on May 20th, 2013
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So the speculation can finally end. Arsenal are back in the Champions League next year – well provided they negotiate the qualifying round – and that £70 million burning a hole in Arsene’s pocket can be used to buy some of Europe’s elite players.

One thing is for sure. Arsenal will announce a new signing in the next 24 hours.

Here is the theory. Arsenal haven’t been able to open season ticket renewals for gold members (the vast majority of their fans) until today as they didn’t know how many games they would be playing next year. With the season over they need that money in their bank account as fast as possible – in fact Gooners will only have ten days in which to pay it!

Economic pressure means that there is a section of fans who are mulling over a renewal of their season ticket. They need a reason to sign up for another year and quick.

So I wonder if those deals with Higuain and Jovetic – well at least one and quite possibly the former – will get announced today.

So expect Arsene to be busy today..



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Wayne Rooney to Arsenal? Surely not…

By Stefano on May 17th, 2013
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The Wayne Rooney to Arsenal story has reignited again this morning courtesy of the Daily Mail.

The paper says Arsenal have been discussing a bid for the England player since March and are now poised to make their move.

However it also adds

‘putting together a financial package to land him is the major obstacle to a deal.
Lukas Podolski, the top earner at the Emirates Stadium, is on just over £100,000 a week compared to Rooney’s £250,000.’

It just won’t happen will it?! If Wenger can get Jovetic, a similar player who arguably comes with less baggage for £25 million and £120k a week, he is not going to fork out stupid money for Rooney.

I think this is serious mischief making by the Mail.



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Arsenal appear to have signed French striker…

By Stefano on May 17th, 2013
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So says French radio station RMC which is reporting that Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo on a freebie this summer. Apparently it s four year deal for the striker who is currently plying his trade with Ligue 2 side Auxerre.

If it is true then the good news is that Sanogo ceryaionly knows where the sticks are. The 20 year old has scored eight goals in seven games for Auxerre in Ligue 2 season.

The bad news is that he is a bit injury prone. But then I seem to remember another Arsenal striker had issues with injuries for a while…

So is Sanogo the next Henry? Or the next Joel Campbell. We will find out soon enough. Above is his four goal haul against Laval in March which probably got Wenger and Grimandi over excited. Mind you, two of those goals my gran could have put away…

This one does sound like a goer to me though.



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Arsenal update: David Villa – it is us or Spurs?

By Stefano on May 17th, 2013
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So David Villa’s quest to re start his carer in North London and the Premiership continues, however the news this morning is that the Spanish striker might not heading for his expected destination

The Barca man, who very nearly joined Arsenal in the winter window is, according to radio station Cadena Ser and newspaper Mundo Deportivo, on his way to White Hart Lane and that a £15million fee has already been agreed between the two clubs.

However any deal is predicated on whether or not Spurs qualify for the Champions League.

Presumably if Arsenal qualify then the striker will want to join the red and white half of North London.

So what is really going on? I wonder if the Vila rumour is similar to supposed Arsenal deals for Higuain and Jovetic.

Maybe agreements have been signed but are only going to be activated if the club achieves Champions League football.

Both Arsenal and Spurs will need to announce some big transfers on Monday to ensure that, in these recessionary times, those wavering over renewing their season tickets cough up the cash.

Personally I think Villa is too old and out of form for £15 million. What do you think?



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Arsenal update: David Villa, Lukasz Piszczek, Julian Draxler

By Stefano on May 10th, 2013
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Another of the winter’s main targets for Arsene Wenger is back in the news again. Barca’s David Villa is the subject of much speculation this morning as it was revealed that he allegedly had one one foot at Arsenal in the winter.

Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo claims that the North Londoners had offered £8.5m for the 31-year-old, but the La Liga leaders wanted a larger sum. Villa was so keen to leave that he even offered to negotiate part of the deal himself.

Ultimately Barca decided that they needed the 31 year old for their domestic and European campaigns and he stayed.

Villa has had a disappointing end to his season with poor personal form as well as Barca’s undignified Champions League exit. He is still likely to leave Barca at the end of the season, but whether Arsene Wenger re-ignites his interest in the player is another matter.

A couple of sources have reiterated that Arsene Wenger has his sights on a new right back in case Bacary Sagna decides to leave the club in the summer. The Mail reports that the club are after Borussia Dortmund defender Lukasz Piszczek as a potential replacement for Sagna after the Frenchman refused to sign a one year contract extension.

The 27 year old Pole has been in excellent form this season, but doubts remain over whether Dortmund will let yet another star player leave.

Finally one player who seemingly isn’t Emirates-bound is Schalke’s Julian Draxler. Yesterday the 19 year old signed a deal with the German club that will take him through until 2018.



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