The Arsenal Thread

[Calum]

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Belgian superstar Eden Hazard has dropped the biggest indicator yet where he would like to be playing next season and according to sportsvibe.co.uk the winger has sounded the alarm bells at the Emirates for Mr Wenger to come calling.
Talking to sources in France the 20 year old pointed out
“I am young and it will be difficult to break through in a team like Real. There are teams like Arsenal, though, where youngsters can grow more easily into the first team and make their mark.”

Hazard is a sensational talent that has the ability to be one of the world’s best. He has had his best season for Lille this time around and I feel it will be his last, as he made it clear he wants to play for a ‘big’ club discluding his current employers from that category.
He has spent an impressive four seasons at Stade Lille-Metropole that has seen the youngster reign Hazard on defences earning him the UNFP Ligue 1 Young player of the year award twice.

Interest from the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Inter has also been made aware and he is certain to be on the move.
So Arsene it’s over to you… Hazard clearly has taken a shine to the wenger way and is keen to seek experience out of France. But he is going to cost… and I would be surprised if the hot-prospect were to leave Northern France for anything less than 20 million euro’s as he is tied up until 2014.

With the fear of Nasri, Fabragas, Arshavin and Bendtner on the move surely he would be an instant hit at Arsenal. If players like the above calibre were leave North London they will need to reinforce the talent before the new season begins or you have to feel the Club may struggle to make the top four never mind challenge for the tittle…

I am certainly expecting a big club to snap him up before the summer is out but I’m not sure about Arsenal?

€20M Rated Winger Close To Premiership Move – Are Arsenal Genuine Favourites? | The Transfer Tavern | Where football transfer rumours fly or die!

 

[Joss]

Why do people keep saying Nasri's going to leave? They've said about 3 trillion times his contract will be sorted in the summer..

Re: Hazard - Would obviously welcome him with open arms and he's the sort of player Wenger would be more likely to pay up for, but I'm keeping calm about it since a lot of people have suggested he'll either not move at all this summer or move to Spain, where he's said he'd prefer to play. Not sure how reliable those quotes are either and they could just as easily mean: "So I'll stay here for another year and then see"

 

[Mike.]

Why do people keep saying Nasri's going to leave? They've said about 3 trillion times his contract will be sorted in the summer..

Re: Hazard - Would obviously welcome him with open arms and he's the sort of player Wenger would be more likely to pay up for, but I'm keeping calm about it since a lot of people have suggested he'll either not move at all this summer or move to Spain, where he's said he'd prefer to play. Not sure how reliable those quotes are either and they could just as easily mean: "So I'll stay here for another year and then see"

Lille are about finish as Champions, good chance he may stay for one more year. Where ever he goes, he wants first team football and is in no rush to go sit on a bench somewhere

 

[philly]

I'd love to get Gervinho or Hazard. Apparently Gervinho might be avaliable for just 9 million as he only has one year left on his contract.

 

[Joss]

Lille are about finish as Champions, good chance he may stay for one more year. Where ever he goes, he wants first team football and is in no rush to go sit on a bench somewhere

This. He won't sit on the bench at Arsenal - he'd be primarily first choice with Arshavin/Nasri rotating I expect... I can definitely see him staying for another year. I think Arsenal are one of the only clubs that could be that patient, though - Madrid have just signed Altintop who can play in a more advanced position too and have Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Kaka - all of whom CAN play on the left side of their attack.

 

[Mike.]

This. He won't sit on the bench at Arsenal - he'd be primarily first choice with Arshavin/Nasri rotating I expect... I can definitely see him staying for another year. I think Arsenal are one of the only clubs that could be that patient, though - Madrid have just signed Altintop who can play in a more advanced position too and have Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Kaka - all of whom CAN play on the left side of their attack.

can see him as an option for united, registered some interest, but not followed up yet. Have a feeling we are more interested in Bale...

 

[Joss]

can see him as an option for united, registered some interest, but not followed up yet. Have a feeling we are more interested in Bale...

Don't forget that Inter MIGHT bid £40m for Bale...

I get the feeling you'll sign Varenne, a CB and a CM and leave LW for now. Quite possible Utd will go for one (or both) of Modric/Bale.

 

[Mike.]

Don't forget that Inter MIGHT bid £40m for Bale...

I get the feeling you'll sign Varenne, a CB and a CM and leave LW for now. Quite possible Utd will go for one (or both) of Modric/Bale.

pretty sure we will move on modric, look to secure him or sneijder

assume you meant GK instead of CB

LW is the least troublesome position, especially as cleverley has returned and looks to have profited well from being away on loan

Shame because i would love to see hazard down that left flank with evra behind,

 

[Joss]

pretty sure we will move on modric, look to secure him or sneijder

Forgot about Sneijder. Yes - him or Modric (****.)

assume you meant GK instead of CB

Indeed. GK - probably Stekelenberg (and on that note - credit to Utd for being patient with De Gea who's lost some consistency and now look set to sign the more experienced option)

LW is the least troublesome position, especially as cleverley has returned and looks to have profited well from being away on loan

Yup. Isn't Cleverley a CM, though?

Shame because i would love to see hazard down that left flank with evra behind,

Hands off! We're getting Varenne, Andre Villas-Boas and Hazard! =P

 

[Mike.]

Forgot about Sneijder. Yes - him or Modric (****.)



Indeed. GK - probably Stekelenberg (and on that note - credit to Utd for being patient with De Gea who's lost some consistency and now look set to sign the more experienced option)



Yup. Isn't Cleverley a CM, though?



Hands off! We're getting Varenne, Andre Villas-Boas and Hazard! =P

Cleverley can play across both flanks or through the middle :wub:

 

[Calum]

would lol if spurs lost thier best player in modric

 

[Mike.]

would lol if spurs lost thier best player in modric

strong chance that Scholes is retiring, which will certainly force our hand and test their will power

---------- Post added at 10:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:23 PM ----------

Joss, what do you think arsene will do re: centreback?

 

[Joss]

strong chance that Scholes is retiring, which will certainly force our hand and test their will power

---------- Post added at 10:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:23 PM ----------

Joss, what do you think arsene will do re: centreback?

Sign an experienced one, I think. Very little chance he'll look at Cahill again - £20m is a ridiculous asking price. I don't know if he trusts Squillaci but he knows his critics and he knows what he has to do. Don't have any names, though..

Also strong suggestion that Jens will stay for another year

 

[Calum]

strong chance that Scholes is retiring, which will certainly force our hand and test their will power

---------- Post added at 10:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:23 PM ----------

Joss, what do you think arsene will do re: centreback?

how much would Modric be worth, 30M?

---------- Post added at 09:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 PM ----------

Also strong suggestion that Jens will stay for another year

Hope its as goalie coach and not as a goalkeeper

 

[Joss]

how much would Modric be worth, 30M?

Although this is the Arsenal thread, he wouldn't cost that. 20-25M I think.

Hope its as goalie coach and not as a goalkeeper

I think he's definitely staying to do his badges but I think the suggestion is Wenger will keep him as emergency playing cover, which I'm happy with. Good in the dressing-room and decent enough as 4th choice.

 

[Mike.]

Sign an experienced one, I think. Very little chance he'll look at Cahill again - £20m is a ridiculous asking price. I don't know if he trusts Squillaci but he knows his critics and he knows what he has to do. Don't have any names, though..

Also strong suggestion that Jens will stay for another year

Samba? he admitted there had been interest from arsenal.

 

[Joss]

Samba? he admitted there had been interest from arsenal.

Hmm. Unlikely IMO - not about having a rock, or a leader but about experience - they may not even have to play but I don't think he'll sign someone similar to Squillaci/Silvestre. Maybe he's been put off signing French (older) CBs after those two. I wouldn't be surprised.. Emir Spahic has been touted as a possibility before.

 

[Mike.]

Hmm. Unlikely IMO - not about having a rock, or a leader but about experience - they may not even have to play but I don't think he'll sign someone similar to Squillaci/Silvestre. Maybe he's been put off signing French (older) CBs after those two. I wouldn't be surprised.. Emir Spahic has been touted as a possibility before.

You need that experience and leadership on the pitch too. the one thing that really needs to be addressed

 

[Joss]

You need that experience and leadership on the pitch too. the one thing that really needs to be addressed

That's why I think he'll move away from someone like Silvestre and Squillaci who were signed as emergency cover and not intended to really play much. Spahic is 30 and could easily play when needed - the problem in recent years (among other things obviously) has been that first Djourou, then Gallas and Vermaelen have been a bit injury prone and older players have had to step in which they weren't comfortable with. I think we'll sign someone as 4th choice - he made a mistake with Squillaci and I hope he doesn't persevere with him anyway. He's not suited to our style at all - at least Campbell knew the English game and made up somewhat for his lack of pace with experience in the PL and no-nonsense defending. Squillaci is just awful.

---------- Post added at 11:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 PM ----------

Diaby & sagna paying 35k each to sponsor a mental health officer for centrepoint for one year.

RvP also said that the whole first team are putting in 5k/man to CP.

(According to @DJTayo)

 

[Mike.]

I dont think anyone expected him to be so bad to be fair

as for silvestre, not sure what arsene was thinking. Agent silvestre did his job well