What’s this? A player wanting to stay with Arsenal!
May 9, 2008
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Arsene Wenger at the moment. The Frenchman is arguably the best manager in the world, given what he has achieved for Arsenal, yet it appears that several of his key players are unlikely to be at the Emirates Stadium next season. Mathieu Flamini has buggered off to Milan without so much as a whimper, Alexander Hleb has done a great impersonation of a snake in the grass and has a foot out of the exit door, while Emmanuel Adebayor apparently wants double or quits as far as his salary is concerned.
However, The Guardian report that every cloud has a silver lining. Just as Jerry Maguire appeared to be walking out of the office on his tod, the character played by Renee Zellweger stood up and joined him. In Renee’s place at Arsenal is young Nicklas Bendtner, who has shunned the likes of Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen to stay with Arsenal. At last some loyalty being shown at Arsenal!
Bayern indicated via an intermediary that they were prepared to pay €10m for the striker and the other two Bundesliga clubs also made their interest known. “I have heard about these offers from Germany but Nicklas will stay at Arsenal,” said Thomas Bendtner, his father. “The only way things could be different was if something unexpected should happen, such as him being moved totally outside of the team, but it’s difficult to see that happening as he is playing right now.”
Bendtner, 20, has made 39 appearances this season, 16 as a starter, and has scored nine goals. “I’ve always said that Arsenal is my club and that’s where I want to play my football,” he said. “When you look at my season and the way it has developed, I see no reason why I should want to change Arsenal with any other club.”
Until next season, when he’s scored 25 goals and the Milans and the Madrids of this world come a-calling! Let’s hope that the likes of Adebayor and Fabregas remain with the club, rather than see us witness the fragmentation of such an excellent footballing side. Money is talking louder than ever at the moment though, and retaining them for one more year might just be stemming the tide.
Calling all Arsenal fans! Win tickets to Nike’s Cesc Fabregas Show!
May 9, 2008
All Arsenal fans love Cesc Fabregas, the stylish youngster is a magician on the football field, and now he is out to conquer the entertainment world and here is your chance to witness it all!
We have two lovely tickets for the filming of Nike’s The Cesc Fabregas Show this coming Monday 13th of May (at Fountain studios in Wembley from 6pm, only open to Over 18s). So if you want to win it just answer this incredibly easy question and email your answer to editor [AT] caughtoffside [DOT] com. We will pick a winner at random and you’ll be off to watch a legend at work!
So for you chance to win this prize answer the following question (yes it’s an easy one).
How old is Cesc Fabregas?
a) 70
b) 111
c) 21
The Arsenal exodus continues as their star striker looks to leave…
May 9, 2008
First it was Flamini, then it was Hleb, and now Adebayor is looking to leave Arsenal - it’s almost as if these players hate playing glorious pretty football with no tangible rewards… The Daily Mail’s Neil Ashton writes that:
“Arsene Wenger fears his young Arsenal team are in danger of breaking up after it emerged that Emmanuel Adebayor has demanded £80,000 a week to stay at the club.
“The 24-year-old striker signed a new contract last summer worth a weekly £35,000, but he has told Wenger he wants to be paid in line with the top players in the Barclays Premier League.”
Are Arsenal disintegrating in front of our eyes?
Adebayor says no to Barca - but would he even get in the team?
May 8, 2008
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, he of the Samson-esque form and the ability to leap like a salmon for the ball, has turned his nose up at a move to the Camp Nou. 24-year-old Adebayor said:
“As a footballer you want to make history and leave your name at a club.
“I hope I can do that here as I love Arsenal. Hopefully I can make some more history.
“I’m at the right team at the right time, playing good football and scoring goals so I’m happy.
“The most important thing is playing for the fans and having the opportunity to play with so many great players.” (The Sun)
So no sign of a Barca snub there - looks like we’ll have to take The Sun’s word for it - which is a bit like trusting Sven Goran Eriksson with your girlfriend - having said that would Adebayor even get in the Barcelona team? Which of Eto’o, Bojan, Henry, and Ronaldinho would he replace?
Arsenal manager: ‘We can still be winners without Flamini’
May 8, 2008
The Press Association reveal Arsene Wenger’s disappointment with Mathieu Flamini’s sheepish decision to sign Milan, thus turning his back on the club that helped him develop as a player and emerge into a top-class talent. Unfortunately, when the cash starts getting waved in front of certain players noses, the vision created by the Arsenal manager starts to become a little blurred around the edges. And so it appeared for the French midfielder.
“It is a problem [the salaries on offer] but we did not master this situation [with Flamini] because when a player is out of contract he can sign where he wants,” continued Wenger. “I must say I am disappointed that he did that - but legally he can do it.
“But I hope that 95% of the team, the core of the team, says ‘come on, we have only just lost’. And it is just, because we were leading at Manchester United, we were leading at Chelsea and we were leading at Liverpool in the Champions League - and every time we just lost a little bit of focus and lost the game.
“Let’s come back and show we are winners. That is the real target of the team.”
It remains to be seen whether there will be further high-profile exits at the Emirates Stadium, especially the rumoured transfer of Alexander Hleb to Inter. Although the Gunners came mighty close to winning the league this season, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for a club with a strict wage structure to compete with teams who have big bucks to spend on salaries.
Aston Villa gaffer effectively tells Liverpool to sod off over Barry bid
May 8, 2008
Don’t get Martin O’Neill mad. The Northern Irishman has got one hell of a temper on him and, like a dog with a bone, the Aston Villa manager is mad keen to retain the services of Gareth Barry at the Midlands club. This will serve the dual purpose of keeping arguably Villa’s best player, while also sending out a message that they are not a selling club and aren’t too far away from challenging the ‘Big Four’.
The Guardian reports that O’Neill found Liverpool’s £10million offer for his midfielder nothing short of ludicrous and claims that all this transfer speculation has effected the Villa captain. Perhaps he’s secretly pleased that they’ve lodged such a derisory bid for Barry and that they’ll now go and pursue other players after being told where to shove their ten mill.
“I must clarify this point, as we speak, we are a million miles away [from Barry joining Liverpool],” said O’Neill, who was upset that details of the bid were leaked on Merseyside. “At the moment, it would be like me offering £20m for [Lionel] Messi. Barcelona would say, ‘So what?’ That’s not saying that Messi would want to come.” Asked whether Liverpool’s bid undervalued Barry, O’Neill replied: “Absolutely, without question. This lad is playing for England.”
It also appears that Liverpool offered a couple of players along with their money for Barry, which was instantly rebuffed by O’Neill as presumptuous that he’d want the cast-offs at his club. One thing’s for sure, there’s a lot of love for the midfielder at Villa Park and it will take a lorry-load of cash to dislodge him from the club he’s served so loyally.
Arsenal line up a £10m Flamini replacement who is better than French traitor!
May 6, 2008
Whether you think it was right or wrong that Mathieu decided to leave the club no one can surely defend the manner of his exit. A guessing game that lasted months where the Frenchman seem to continuously pledge his future at the club only to flee to the highest bidder. However is there a battling replacement on it’s way from the San Siro?
£10m rated AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso could be a target for Arsenal, with the Italian international considering a move to the Premier League as a potential new challenge (Independent)
Could it happen? The former Rangers man has been pretty much inspirational during his near on decade at AC Milan. But apparently he is looking for a fresh challenge and likes the idea of moving to the Premier League. He may be 30 but he is showing no signs of lacking stamina or desire so maybe Arsene will make an exception for the man who may well make way for Flamini at Milan? Surely it would be a signing to lessen the blow of the Flamster’s traitorous depatures? What do Gunners feel about this potential signing?
Arsenal in £50m super-swap deal: This will surely never happen!
May 6, 2008
Look closely at the source, yes it’s from one of the true legends of rumour creations! This really does make you scratch your head, a deal surely based totally in fiction or am I wrong, could it really happen?
Barcelona are planning a mammoth bid for Arsenal’s Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The Catalan club may offer Samuel Eto’o, Deco, Eidur Gudjohnsen or former Gunner Thierry Henry in a part-exchange deal. (Daily Star)
Pure craziness! Or is it? Well lets look at this carefully, Cesc has constantly said he is not leaving, so I believe him, which therefore leaves these rumours in tatters. Also in terms of the players offerered in any potential exchange, surely it would have to be a combination of these players, and not just one or even two of them. Anyway Fabregas is not about to do a Flamini, and it would be best for all concerned if the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid just kept their paws out of it! What do Arsenal fans think?
Arsenal chase record breaking £15m attacker: Damn good prospect!
May 6, 2008
Flamini’s departure will have left a bad taste in the mouth for all Gunners fans so they could do with some cheering up, and what better way to do that than to have Arsene Wenger bring in some fantastic new talent to the Emirates! And here is just one such player!
Arsenal are chasing £15m rated Olympique Marseille attacking midfielder Samir Nasri who’s contract talks at hte French club have stalled (The Daily Star)
Samir Nasri is a hugely talented Frenchman, a 20 year old with an already impressive collection of matches under his belt. He plays the Arsene way, in much the same way as often mentioned fellow countrymen Ben Arfa and Benzema, and has been one of the main reasons that Marseille are back to being the force they once were. The French international has already seemingly made it clear he wants a move away and surely he will treat the Gunners with more respect than the last man they picked up from the South of France club! Do Arsenal fans rate Nasri? Or are there more than enough young talents in the squad?
Arsenal to bid for £15m Premier League striker: But why?
May 6, 2008
One transfer rumour (of many) that does not seem to make sense is as follows.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is considering a £15m bid for Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins.
The Nigeria international is still in talks with Newcastle over a new contract. (Telegraph)
It’s not that I don’t rate the Newcastle striker I just don’t see Wenger really being that interested to the extent that he would put in a transfer record busting bid for the Nigerian? Yes he scores goals (although not that many) but does his direct style really suit the Gunners? What do Arsenal fans think? Also do Newcastle fans rate Obi that highly?
Arsenal line up £15m midfielder to cope with mass exodus: Would be a great signing!
May 6, 2008
Depending on which papers you believe, and its never a good idea to believe any of them, there are a few other Arsenal players supposedly on their way out at the Emirates. However there is also a great player linked with the club to make up for this supposed ‘exodus’!
Arsene Wenger is reportedly after £15m rated Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar as a potential replacement for Alexander Hleb. (Daily Mirror)
Kranjcar is a quality player with excellent touch and he plays the way all good Wenger signings play. Harry Redknapp will find it hard to keep Niko at Fratton Park if the Gunners came calling. Do Arsenal fans rate the 23 year old Croat?
What do Arsenal fans feel about Arsene Wenger in SIX WORDS!
May 6, 2008
Long-winded people are boring, and writing full sentences is for chumps. So instead you have just SIX words to sum up the way you feel about Arsenal’s magical manager Arsene Wenger. Sound easy? Good for you.
Three years without a trophy can surely not overshadow the decade plus the Frenchman has spent in N5! He has without doubt revolutionised the north London side, as well as English football as a whole. There are some, thankfully, foolhardy few who have been chanting for him to go (from their armchairs and swivel desk chairs and not the terraces I should point out) So here is your chance to speak you mind (albeit briefly) and point out just what the gaffer means to you.
You could probably write an essay about this. Well, tough, you only have SIX WORDS! Concise and creative, or just plain hilarious, it’s up to you now so leave your masterpiece in the comments.
Should Chelsea manager be surprised that his massive squad of world-class players are challenging for title?
May 6, 2008
After all, the Blues have quality all over the park. Chelsea’s second string would probably finish sixth or seventh in the Premier League, so why have Avram Grant’s expectations been exceeded by his team’s strong finish to the season, which could mean a domestic-European double this season?
Look at the players he has at his disposal! Perhaps Arsene Wenger should be the man that is making the below sort of quotes, considering the smaller squad and the terrible luck with injuries that Arsenal have experienced in the past few months. To hear Grant speak (through the medium of Sky Sports), anyone would think he was manager of Aston Villa or Everton.
“From day one our target was to be in the Champions League final and to improve our game,” he said.
“We’ve done more than I even expected, so we want to believe the season will end well and we will fight to the last minute.
“United have had a fantastic season. They’ve been champions many times before but this year we have given them a good battle and it is not finished yet.
“Even if they win the title on goal difference you must give my team respect.”
Hmmm, can’t see many neutrals ‘respecting’ Chelsea for their achievements, particularly as their success is down to a Russian billionaire deciding to pick them as his pet project and investing hundreds of millions to ensure that they become one of the world’s leading clubs and brands. Surely, Everton, Villa, Portsmouth and Sunderland deserve more respect for having decent seasons, while Stoke and West Brom should also be praised for scrambling out of the Championship without having a bottomless pit of cash.
What do Arsenal fans feel about Mathieu Flamini in SIX WORDS!
May 6, 2008
Long-winded people are boring, and writing full sentences is for chumps. So instead you have just SIX words to sum up how you feel about French midfielder Mathieu Flamini. Sound easy? Good for you.
So after the protracted contract negotiations fell through it appears that the 24 year old has sodded off to AC Milan. He basically did a ‘Marseille’ on the Gunners and it did seem achingly so from the off that he would do so. So how do the supporters feel about the move, does it show the long haired sweat machine to be a traitor or did he have no choice but to leave the Emirates? I think i can judge the mood, the Flamster really screwed the club and its fans over.
You could probably write an essay about this. Well, tough, you only have SIX WORDS! Concise and creative, or just plain hilarious, it’s up to you now so leave your masterpiece in the comments.
AC Milan claim ‘it wasn’t difficult’ to sign Arsenal midfielder
May 6, 2008
In the end, it appears to have been a no-brainer for Mathieu Flamini when it came to choosing between staying at Arsenal and moving to Milan. Sky Sports report that loyalty went out of the window when the Italians came calling for the French midfielder, despite Arsene Wenger’s best efforts to keep hold of the 24-year-old.
Is the Arsenal manager a victim of his own success? He has an unbelievable knack of signing players who are relatively unknown and moulding them into world-class talents. Nevertheless, Flamini’s move to the San Siro clearly represents a backward step for the Gunners in their attempt to crack the current Manchester United - Chelsea stranglehold at the top of the league.
Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida revealed Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is a great admirer of the 24-year-old.
“I have to say Flamini was a player that Ancelotti really wanted and Milan is like a family, where decisions are made jointly,” he said.
“Flamini is not an unknown player. Just like Didier Drogba isn’t.
“I’m not surprised by his talent and I assume several teams would have wanted his services.
“Although no negotiations are ever easy, it wasn’t difficult to convince Flamini to join Milan.
“Flamini has made a choice as his contract with Arsenal is coming to an end and we are delighted he has chosen Milan.
“He is a very good player and he can offer a lot to the team.”
Flamini expressed his joy at the move after finalising terms with the San Siro outfit.
“I am extremely happy. Thanks a million,” he said.
It will be interesting to see if Flamini plays Arsenal’s final game of the season at Sunderland or instead starts packing his bags for the fashion capital of Europe. Similarly, Arsene Wenger will be drawing up a shortlist of potential replacements, especially with Gilberto Silva and Alexander Hleb also likely to leave at the end of the season.
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