Arsenal sign new French midfielder - and this one’s in the squad for Euro 2008!
by stresster on May 29th, 2008
| 162 words |
Who needs Flamini when you’ve got Samir Nasri! Gooners will be delighted to read (in the Daily Telegraph amongst other publications) that Arsenal have landed their man from Marseille for £12.5 million as they start building for next season. It’s clear that Monsieur Wenger has been busy in the transfer market recently and it will especially please him to see that the midfielder has been selected in the French squad ahead of the Flamster. In your face Mathieu!
It seems Nasri, labelled the new Zidane in some quarters, is pretty pretty versatile with regard to where he can play. The midfielder can play centrally and on the left, so it’s not strictly the case that he’s a a like-for-like replacement as far as Alex Hleb is concerned. It will come as a relief to Arsenal fans to see a quality import such as this one, and set their mind at ease that the Gunners squad for next season can be stronger than ever.
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Tagged Under: Arsenal FC, flamini, gunners, hleb, Marseille, samir nasri, wenger, zidane
Trennon - May 29th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
The deal hasnt been done yet. Everything is agreed however Nasri still needs to sign the contract which will happen on the weekend. Expect the official confirmation from Arsenal on either Saturday or Sunday.
bill - May 29th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Please stop posting unconfirmed stories. You make us look like kids trying always to find out who the new signing is.
RayParlourforPresident - May 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
it isn’t a done deal but the telegraph usually only prints this stuff when it is highly unlikely anything will go wrong.
not sure the “in your face” flamini is fair though, he has been a good player for us who has joined another club - no need to be bitter about him not playing in the champions league or for his country any time soon….
it did make me smile a little bit though…
pat - May 29th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
How will the squad be as strong as ever, pathetic report, if your losing 2 of your best plyaers he will need to bring in at least four palyers to improve the squad. Knowing our manager he will bring in 4 more 16 year olds.
goona - May 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I’ll believe it when it’s the real deal, but up to now it appears that there’s been no deal. I still think him the club and the agent are waiting for a better offer. When the agent said the player finds Arsenal interesting i’d have preferred the words Yes! He wants to join Arsenal, so until then i’m still very suspicious.. Hope i’m hopelessly wrong.
Gilles - May 29th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Samir Nasri is on a flight arriving at gatwick this afternoon with a medical planned for around 7pm announcement late this evenign or tomorrow morning.
Wenger has agreed that Hleb can go if he can get Ben Arfa too but that deal may be off hence Hleb realising he may have to stay and trying to appease the Arsenal supporters by rubbishing what his agent has been saying.
We have offered Hoyte plus £7m for Barry but Villa are desperate to keep him and want £4m more, apparently Arsene is waiting for the boy to say he wants to leave so that Villa are not in such a strong position to negotiate.
A faxed offer of £2m to Man City was also made and instantly knocked back, they will not be doing any business until the manager situation is sorted.
Apparently, Arsene is not looking to sign anyone else once he has pushed Nasri, Barry and Dunne through. If Ben Arfa becomes available again he’ll take him otherwise he will go with what he has but Marseille have almost closed the deal.
The only additional signings are 2 french boys who nobody has ever seen play…one of them is only 17.
Amon Mulyowa - May 29th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
It has put alittle smile on my face but, the deal is noyt done yet. i only pray it happens. As for ” Fla- money”. Wish him the best in the football “Limbo”
( graveyard). No Champions League soccer, no Euro, Now which F.ball will he be playing. Any way, thanks for the soccer played at Arsenal.
kinyik - May 29th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
yup..anything can happen in football…but really hope he join gunner!!
cripz - May 29th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
dunne would be a good signing if wenger gets him but barry is shit acept it hes over rated becouse he is english. i think nasri is coming just waiting for him to sign. we should fuk hleb off and let theo play helb is a gready twat and should be sold as soon as
cripz - May 29th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
flamini = 1st class twat no euro for u haha and no champions leauge u are fuked now
cripz - May 29th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
fla money thats a good one keep em cumin
Gilles - May 29th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Barry is not overated, he is simply different to your standard English player, he plays a simple game, he keeps the ball. This is why he would be first on my list in the England midfield, Lampard and Gerrard can only play the ‘English way’ which is 100mph, they dont have the intelligence of Barry who can slow it down, retain possession and then spread play.
It is easy to defend against England becasse it is so obvious and predictable how they attack.
Possesion, leads to the opposition making mistakes and not building a rythm.
Possession also builds confidence and if it is your first priority your judgement for the killer pass becomes better. KEEP THE FCKING BALL ENGLAND!! THEN GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN.
Only england players who can keep the ball are, Barry, Beckham, Joe Cole, Crouch and Hargreaves.
Pandy_FFC - May 29th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
You’re still an uninformed loser Dexter
Drew Vader - May 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
we all know wenger is one of the best, if not the best at taking yount talent and helping them reach their full potential, but did anyone else see this Nasri against Pool in the champions league? He didnt really do much if you ask me, dont know what all the hype is about.
Praetor of Goonerdom - May 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
(cow) Pat, don’t be bitter. Flamini had one outstanding season. Hleb’s agent is a king c*** among agents, but if Hleb’s going, the sooner he f***s off the better. And Hleb is one of my favourite players.
RayParlourforPresident - May 29th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
giles well said, anyone who watched England vs USA last night cannot deny that the team improved when talentless fat frank was taken off and replaced by Barry
his ball for Gerrard’s goal was also exactly the sort of thing fat Frank isn’t capable of doing - he would have taken a shot
barry is a quality player although I can’t see him leaving the club he has been at since youth. He would however be wasted at Liverpool who already have about 15 midfield players.
Gilles - May 29th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Ooh ahh Ray Parlour!
The frustrating thing with England is that if you watch Euro 2008 you will see at least 8 teams who can keep the ball better than England. Not saying they would beat England as England will always do some things well like, goals from pressure situations, free Kicks, corners long ball etc and apart from the odd lapse which is more down to concentration they defend reasonably well.
France, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Turkey, Holland, Czech’s, Italy, Romania… even the workmanlike Germans and Greeks are no worse at retainig possession.
Sort it out Fabio! Stop Gerrard and lampard going too far ahead of the play, keep the ball, pull defenders out of position and then take chances when they come… which as it happens we are not too bad at.
blake - May 29th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
i really do hope he does sign but ones we see him in the arsenal shirt then its a goodnight sleep for me n see who our next target will be hope it will be a DM AND DEFENDER. oops have u lot forgoten about gilbrto or sum
HLEB WILL DEFINETLEY GO EVEN IF HE SAID HE AINT
NEXT SEASON TEAM
ALMUNIA
SAGNA TOURE NEW DEFENDER CLICHY
WALCOTT FABREGAS GLIBERTO(c) ROSICKY
NASRI
ADEBAYOR
SUBS: FABIANSKI NODVIENT DENILSON RVP (EDUARDO WHEN HE COMES BACK) NEW STRIKER
Aaron - May 29th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I am not sure what all the talk of a new striker is about, that will only happen if Ade leaves, which is not going to happen. Wenger has got Vela coming back, and an ever improving Theo, each whom Wenger has said he believes are best suited to playing down the center. Also what annoys me most is that everyone seems to be forgetting about the potentially world class, when fit, RVP!!!!!!!
What Gilles is saying is interesting when it comes to the signings and I hope it is true. Barry is an Arsenal possession wise, though I do beleive we will miss Flamini’s terrier like displays, in this respect it is ashame Hargreaves is at Man U. What Barry does give though is possession and also more mobility. He would also give good balance to Fabragas. Saying this my personal opinion is that Wenger is hoping to give Denilson and Diaby a chance there.
Nasri is simply a Wenger type player, though it seems is a little more direct which is a good sign, as he forcs defenders to commit leaving space in behind.
Dunne for me the jury is out on, he is prone to errors, but can be strong and good in the area. An area we are poor in. I would not complain if he came but I feel we could do better. I think also our fans should give Gallas a break, yes his reaction did not help things at Birmingham, but other than that game and FA cup at United he was pretty much solid, and done well surrounded by inexperience. Our main issues was that we move to many defenders about when Sagna got injured , this cause us to lose balance. Sagna is a truly world class right back. The only thing we needed to improve on from last year is in the air, which I think is not s trong point of Aluminia, and many modern keepers for that matter. When we had our first choice back four we did not concede many from open play, though set pieces and crosses were another issue. I do not think Dunne is the answer to this however, as would anyone replace either of our current to first choice, who have strong distrubution and pace? Its a tough one.
Personally I think our bigger lose will be a terrier like Flamini who broke up play and his tenacity really set the tone for our play further up the field both on the offense and defense. I hold my hand up that I could be wrong here, as overal our team defended better as a team, but to me the tempo was lost when he did not pay. He was the in your face player that we have been missing. for a few years. I think this is key to our way of play. It will be interesting to see what wenger choses to do here: Barry, Denilison or Diaby, what do people think? I cant see Barry leaving Villa personally. Denilson and Diaby as interesting prospect sthough not sure if they are DMC’s though, but hey none of us saw Flamini doing what he did for us this season a year ago!!!!
As for Ben Arfa, I can not see Wenger getting him. I have not seen enough of him to build an opinion. The only thing that would make it possible is if Hleb leaves.
I feel fans are getting to carried away with statements in the press about Hleb, Ade, Fab, Toure, and RVP. Yes I agree there is no smoke with out firer but it will not all be true, just as half the people we have been lined up are not targets. The issue I have is that sometimes it could do with Wenger or a club official or player for that matter to make a statement. At least half is agents marketing players, others absolute rubbish, and some there could be a certain amount of truth to.
Personally I beleive that the Ade & Fab leaving, RVP and Toure complaining are stir mongering, while the players are on international duty. Hleb there could be something there but I beleive the main issue is not being settled in the london area (move out to the country may be???), either way I am not sure he will be the biggest lose, though he is the best player I have seen in a long while in tight situation and sees passes, he needs to score more.
Remember people we have a young and developing squad. The next step for which is the charecter test, as we have shown signs of failing here when injuries hit in. The latter I feel had a major affect on us at keys stages, both physicallys and mentally. Phyically by losing keep attacking talent to the Wenger system (Rosicky, he has so much talent if he stay fit), also the world class RVP after a goo start, then there is the true poaching at key time of Eduardo (somthing we have been missing), then turly a world class. The last two were at a key point in any title race, but in combination with the other two the affects were compounded, after that our team chopped and changed a little to much and we turned a bit into a liverpool as there was no consitency.
The mentally we did not respond well to this and did not the year before, in this respect I feel it is a make or break season for our youngsters to come of age truly. we have the most talented set in europe, they just need that killer instinct and steel now to go along with the beautiful play. We are standing on the edge of greatness with team, we just need to show our belief in that!!!!
Anyway enough of my rant..
My team for next year in a perfect world would be
New Keeper (dont think will happen but i beleive we need one)
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Theo/Hleb Denilson/Diaby/Barry Fabs Rosicky/Nasri (going to take a while to settle)
Ade RVP
Bench (larger bench this year I hear?):
Nordveldt, New defender, Giberto, Vela, Ben Arfa/Hleb, Fabianski, Bentner, Djourou, Randall