Lassana Diarra (gone to Portsmouth)

[Gin+Tonic14]

He was awesome against Blackburn at full-strength in the CC. Forget Hutton this is the player we need

 

[cnyy12]

I'd love to have him, but we won't be getting him cheap, especially with Flamini probably leaving. He's got quality, and has been unlucky to play behind great CMs plus Lampard at big clubs.

 

[north-west-spur]

Hes a really decent player.
Mini Maka they called him at chelsea

 

[Hoowl]

There are reports that Arsenal have rejected a 4m bid saying he's not for sale.

 

[rez9000]

There are reports that Arsenal have rejected a 4m bid saying he's not for sale.

I just saw that too. It just goes to show how they fully deserve the epithet, Scummy Bastard Scum.

If I were Diarra, I'd hand in a transfer request. He'd be guaranteed far more games at White Hart Lane than he will at the Scum Factory.

And plus, once he left it, he'd actually feel like a human being again. He would no longer be tarnished with the label of Scum. It would be a cleansing operation. He would don the pure Lilywhite shirt and feel wholesome once more. He could hold his head up high in society, knowing that he is no longer to be tarred with the brush of Scum. He would breath in clean air, instead of the fetid stink of mutated moron that permeates the area and leaves snot-trails over every surface and doesn't wash out of clothes until they been soaked in quicklime and bleach for a fortnight.

I'll stop now...

No, in seriousness, he does seem like a very useful player (although I've only watched him play once). Good movement and neat and tidy passing. Just what we need in midfield at the moment. If Arsenal want to keep him, but he requests a transfer, then we may be able to pick him up for not much more than £4 million.

 

[DJS]

I'd definitely take him in a whisky - appears to be a skilled and mobile athletic type of player who plays in a defensive midfield postion which we desperately need!

 

[t79boy]

Nice if this were true coz he is exactly the sort of DM player we are looking for....but will arseanal release him :think: dont think so

 

[rez9000]

According to Setanta Sports, Wenger hasn't had a bid from Spurs.

http://www.setantasports.com/en/Spo.../Premier-League-Wenger-rubbishes-Diarra-talk/

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has put paid to talk of a move across North London for Lassana Diarra by denying having any contact with rivals Tottenham over the midfielder.

The France international, 22, had emerged as a surprise target for Juande Ramos’s side after reports surfaced that The Lilywhites could be set to make a move for the former Chelsea man.

However, Wenger has nonsensed such talk, instead insisting that he wanted to retain the services of a player he signed just last summer and that he had had not heard anything from White Hart Lane’s hierarchy.

“I would love to keep him,” said Wenger. “You don't make a player come on August 31 and then want to sell him on January 1. I want to keep Diarra but we'll see.

“I had nobody from Spurs on the phone and I didn't reject any bids from Spurs. We’ll we keep [our conversations] close and what we do inside [the club]. But if you ask my opinion, I want him to stay.

“The bad luck is that he arrived when our train had started. I rate him highly and, if it's down to me, I want him to stay.

“I can understand his frustration because he is worried by the national team. But I bought him in and it was long, hard work to get him here.”

Get the bid in, Comolli! Do it! You know you want to.

 

[joey55]

Is he injured at the moment? He isn't even on the bench today and Arsenal are playing a weak team. If he's not injured and not on the bench, then maybe something is happening?

 

[yanno]

Is he injured at the moment? He isn't even on the bench today and Arsenal are playing a weak team. If he's not injured and not on the bench, then maybe something is happening?

Yup, I noticed that too, and I do love a good conspiracy theory...

However, I would be surprized if Wenger was prepared to sell him to us.

 

[joey55]

Yup, I noticed that too, and I do love a good conspiracy theory...

However, I would be surprized if Wenger was prepared to sell him to us.

But what adds to the conspiracy is that this a Cup game, and if he played he become cup-tied. If he isn't injured it's very odd he isn't playing, let alone not on the bench.

 

[yanno]

But what adds to the conspiracy is that this a Cup game, and if he played he become cup-tied. If he isn't injured it's very odd he isn't playing, let alone not on the bench.

Yes, plus Gilberto Silva is playing. By not picking Silva for most of the season, Wenger has made it pretty clear he's not part of his plans, whereas he's constantly made noises about how Diarra is part of the Goon future.

So, why pick Silva ahead of Diarra for this match? Unless: i) Diarra is injured; or ii) Diarra is about to be sold?

 

[joey55]

I can't find anything anywhere that says he's injured. He's not listed on physioroom or in any "team news" for this game as injured.

Edit:

It looks like he is probably leaving. On Arsenal Mania there is no talk of him being injured just a link to an article saying he is going to leave and posts like this:

"The fact that's he's not even in the squad today says it all. He will surely be off before the end of the month."




http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/s ... 45,00.html

Quote:
Lassana Diarra expects to be allowed to leave Arsenal before the end of the month. The France international is unhappy with his lack of opportunities since moving from Chelsea for a surprisingly low initial fee of £1.5m in the summer. Diarra believes he has successfully petitioned Arsène Wenger for a transfer and his agent is in talks with Newcastle, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Man City. City are believed to be favourites for his signature.

 

[sloth]

I can't find anything anywhere that says he's injured. He's not listed on physioroom or in any "team news" for this game as injured.

Edit:

It looks like he is probably leaving. On Arsenal Mania there is no talk of him being injured just a link to an article saying he is going to leave and posts like this:

"The fact that's he's not even in the squad today says it all. He will surely be off before the end of the month."




http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/s ... 45,00.html

Quote:
Lassana Diarra expects to be allowed to leave Arsenal before the end of the month. The France international is unhappy with his lack of opportunities since moving from Chelsea for a surprisingly low initial fee of £1.5m in the summer. Diarra believes he has successfully petitioned Arsène Wenger for a transfer and his agent is in talks with Newcastle, Portsmouth, Aston Villa and Man City. City are believed to be favourites for his signature.

On Sport on Five today they were saying Burnley were unlucky because instead of the youngsters they were getting closer to a full-strength side, this is because Wenger was resting them for the big match mid-week against us in the Carling Cup Semi.

I suspect this is the reason why Diarra and many others from that team weren't playing today.

 

[joey55]

On Sport on Five today they were saying Burnley were unlucky because instead of the youngsters they were getting closer to a full-strength side, this is because Wenger was resting them for the big match mid-week against us in the Carling Cup Semi.

I suspect this is the reason why Diarra and many others from that team weren't playing today.

I find that hard to believe as all the other Carling Cup midfielders were there. Why leave out the only one who is complaining about lack of playing time?

 

[Kendall]

Diarra may well be leaving, but it won't be to us.

 

[sloth]

I find that hard to believe as all the other Carling Cup midfielders were there. Why leave out the only one who is complaining about lack of playing time?

Seven of the team which started against Blackburn in the CC QF were absent today. That said, in hindsight I think you're right, the absentees are largely the youth players, with Diarra's grumbles about lack of playing time you'd have thought he'd be one of those to start today.

 

[Spursking]

I really hope we will make a bid for Lassana Diarra. We could be the escape for him, and we will get a really good player at a good price.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I really hope we will make a bid for Lassana Diarra. We could be the escape for him, and we will get a really good player at a good price.

I never thought I'd say this Spursking but I genuinely agree with you.

 

[Loque]

This guy looks fairly decent and at £4M it's an absolute bargain. This guy basically ruled Blackburn's midfield by himself in the Carling Cup at Ewood! Would he join us? I think so. Will he be allowed to join us? Doubt it. Much like Diaby but defensively sound.