Should Ar5ena1 fans be worried? - from BBC

[brasil_spur]

The sun is shinning and the weekend is looking glorious, the last day of the season approaches and we can just relax and enjoy what is typically a great match between teo great premiership teams, however if that isn't enough to make you feel happy then try reading this article by the beeb, it sure as hell put an even bigger smile on my face. :grin:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A35757778

 

[Dougal]

Should Arsenal fans be worried?

Alexander Hleb looks set to join Mathieu Flamini in making a summer getaway from Arsenal.

The Belarus winger is reportedly Inter Milan-bound and if he does make his exit it would give concerned Gunners fans even more cause to worry.

It would confirm that Arsenal are struggling to keep hold of their best players as they come to terms with a third season without a trophy.

And, for pessimists among the Arsenal fans, it could be the start of a nightmare scenario unfolding in front of their bemused eyes.

Flamini left for AC Milan after having his best season at the club and establishing himself as a force in central midfield.

He is 24 and, with Hleb aged 27 and also impressing throughout the current campaign, the possibility of losing two players who are on the way up is a daunting prospect.

In past years, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has let players go when he felt the time was right.

Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars are names that spring to mind as players who left and then failed to reach the same heights achieved with the Gunners.

But, with the departure of Flamini and Hleb's future in doubt, the situation unfolding suggests players may see Arsenal as a stepping stone to greater perceived heights.

Money and ambition - in terms of winning silverware - seem to be the catalysts.

Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor are also targets for Arsenal's European rivals and, unless the club get a hold of the situation, the repercussions threaten to bring horror to fans.

Wenger has lauded his developing young players in recent seasons and faithfully backed them to come good but his dream could be shattered if any kind of exodus occurs.

The Frenchman has a strategy of developing talent rather than splashing the cash but, whether it is breaking any kind of wage structure or spending big to buy proven talent, he and the club may now need to try a new approach.

 

[Flatters]

Arsenal fans won't be worried. They don't have feelings or emotions, do they?

 

[LSUY]

Of course they aren't worried. They will just go back to supporting Man U.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Hleb looks like going to Inter apparently, while Adebayor is holding out his hand for for £80K a week and that ain't gonna happen with the wage stucture and tax problems over at the Immigrants.

Love it

 

[hellava_tough]

I suppose it all depends if Wenger lets it all get out of control or not.

He could either not invest in the squad, or invest in players that don't work out (his transfer record is 50/50 in my opinion), fail to finish in the top 4 and it all goes horribly wrong.

Or....

He could splash out £40million on 3 or 4 new players and challenge for the league next year.

To be honest, I think the latter will happen. As flimsy as the Arsenal squad looks at the beginning of every season, they always finish in the top 4.

It'll take more than a couple of players leaving to bring down the forces of darkness!

 

[stickyfinger]

Every time I think something really awful has happened to them, and that's it, they're really in trouble now, they pull a rabbit out of the hat. Or eastern Europe.

You have to hand it to Wenger, he really is a first class ****

 

[TheChosenOne]

Things are suicidal over on Arsenal mania,

http://arsenal-mania.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21573&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=5670

The poor deluded peckerheads are prattling on about loyalty (they conveniently forget the Campbell episode) and the are also assuming they have multi millions to spend,
the real figure being bandied about last week was £25 mill, they have all last years treasure/war chest tied up because of the credit crunch and downturn in the property market.

I also think their pretty players are now bottling the EPL game, the Eduardo leg thing has made them realise it could happen to them.

I'm hopeful of continuing traumas over there. Fuck 'em.

 

[hellava_tough]

Things are suicidal over on Arsenal mania,

http://arsenal-mania.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21573&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=5670

The poor deluded peckerheads are prattling on about loyalty (they conveniently forget the Campbell episode) and the are also assuming they have multi millions to spend,
the real figure being bandied about last week was £25 mill, they have all last years treasure/war chest tied up because of the credit crunch and downturn in the property market.

I also think their pretty players are now bottling the EPL game, the Eduardo leg thing has made them realise it could happen to them.

I'm hopeful of continuing traumas over there. Fuck 'em.

That's not what some of the papers have been saying TCO.

Apparently Wenger can spend big this year if he wants. The trouble is, Wenger usually only buys a certain type of player:

-Althletic
-Pacy
-Speaks French
-Rides nobs

This has tended to hamper his transfer searches in the past.

Anyway, I'd love for you to be right TCO - it's about time the Lilywhite of Purity overcame the filthy nomads.

 

[donny1013]

When both Vieira and Henry left there was a sense of this is it for the Woolwich Wanderes, but Wenger then bloods Cesc, brings in Adebayor. The only way i see the scum suddenly becoming crap is if the paedo leaves.

 

[TheChosenOne]

I never make things up, I rightly or wrongly follow news stories
and hope that my naievety doesn't let me down too often.


http://forums.arsenal.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/71010941/m/2931025034/p/2
+
http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/...cleid=957&cntnt01origid=30&cntnt01returnid=42

The last two paragraphs make interesting reading:

Of the near £70m of cash balances, £25m is unavailable as it is used to partially secure future repayments of the debt facilities and one also assumes some is set aside to meet the probable £20m of additional transfer fees payable on existing squad members.

This does however leave maybe £25m for the squad building (transfer plus wages) that appears all too necessary to sustain a season long challenge for honours on several fronts.+http://www.thesoccerblog.org/premie...o-get-only-25m-to-strengthen-squad-in-summer/

These may be ugly rumours, I sincerely hope they are true.

Edit:
PLUS:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...all.html?in_article_id=563830&in_page_id=1779

 

[fieryjack]

Spoke to someone this afternoon who has 90 (yes 90!) tickets for sundays game at Sunderland. Rats and sinking ships are on the horizon. Happy days.

 

[Kendall]

Apparently Hleb is buying out the remainder of his contract - he just can't take wenger's sexual abuse anymore.

Adebayor want's more money, which just isn't there.

So for all their financial power, they can't even compete with us for targets.

 

[MattWilliams]

So Flamini went on a free right? Is the same true for Hleb?

Someone mentioned Viera and Henry leaving and Arsenal still being alright. But, and it's a biggun, Wenger decided to let those two go because he felt he had the players come through to take the money and cope...

 

[Bonjour]

The main point here is the players' ages.

Flamini, at 24, still very much has his best years ahead of him and Hleb is just about reaching his peak. In the past, they've been able to hold on to this calibre of player through the odd FA cup here and Champions' League final there. With nothing of note in 3 years, though, it's understandable the quality players are getting itchy feet.

People have been harping on about Wenger's younglings, but tbh they aren't all that impressive and most wont make the grade.

Flamini is a player that they need to replace. They would have struggled to make top 4 without him this season imo. Wont be easy, though. Diarra would have been ideal..

 

[chinaman]

Just for the banter. If they should go out of existence, should we buy their stadium and rename it Bill Nick's Place?

 

[dynamoSpurs]

that arsenal forum gets like 100+ pages for each topic!!! wow

 

[Bonjour]

that arsenal forum gets like 100+ pages for each topic!!! wow

That's because they moan. Even more than us.

Seriously. :-|

 

[TheChosenOne]

They got a lot to moan about. !

 

[PT]

Heard talk this morning that Wenger is after Kompany.

A better man than me can make the quip up...