Arsenal Thread

Maybe the reason behind Arsenal not dipping into the transfer market???

From Sky Sports..

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Sky sources claim American businessman Stan Kroenke will launch an official takeover bid for Arsenal within days.

Kroenke Sports Enterprise (KSE) currently has a 12 per cent holding in the North London club after initially purchasing a 9.9 per cent stake in April.

He has already held talks with Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood and managing director Keith Edelman and has requested to meet other board members, which could signal the start of his bid to buy the club.

Paul Andrews, the executive vice-president and chief marketing officer of KSE, was remaining coy on whether Kroenke was considering increasing his stake in Arsenal when asked earlier this week.

He said: "We never comment on any future, possible investments of any kind. Each investment is evaluated based on its merit and it will be assessed on an ongoing basis."

Kroenke needs to reach 30 per cent before being obliged to launch a takeover, according to Stock Exchange rules.

He is expected to rapidly increase his holding in Arsenal over the coming days as he prepares to mount a formal takeover, which sources suggest is imminent.

The takeover is understood to value Arsenal at around £650million. The Gunners are currently worth in the region of £423million.

If Kroenke is successful, he will become the richest American owner of a Premier League club, surpassing Manchester United's Malcolm Glazer, and Aston Villa's Randy Lerner.

Kroenke already owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche and MLS' Colorado Rapids, while he is part-owner of the NFL's St Louis Rams.
 
does anyone know an exaxct link for armand traore stats, can't find them but the boy has been in great form in pre-season and along with walcott this season expecting big things from this two, feel if needed he can give us pace on the left wing when clichy playing and rosicky injured same way clichy played left wing when cashly was at the back in the unbeaten season n season after, cheers
 
So, goodbye to another stalwart. Stormed the league the season he and Pires rained supreme as super wingers, and provided goals in the double figures.

Freddie Ljungberg left Emirates Stadium today ending a nine-year spell with the Club. Richard Clarke saw the Swede’s first game at Arsenal, his last game and most of them in between. Here’s his tribute.

His famous song was only half-right.

To be honest we didn’t really love Freddie Ljungberg because he had red hair. It was more his ability to be everywhere that brought him into our hearts.

His Arsenal debut should have told us what to expect. He came on for the final 11 minutes at Highbury against Manchester United in September 1998 and, in that time, not only scored but got himself booked. The “Legend of the No 8 lives on” wrote one fanzine afterwards. Remember this was a time when Ian Wright was the Arsenal benchmark rather than Thierry Henry.

Ljungberg quickly became a favourite. He was tenacious, skilful and quick; a dynamo in the engine of the side. But his reputation gained real gravitas because of his ability to conjure up key goals. He scored in the FA Cup Finals of 2001 and 2002. He also grabbed crucial strikes in some massive European games at Highbury — Lazio and Juventus. The Swede had an uncanny knack to time his run between the full back and centre half. It was a useful tool, especially when you had someone with the perception of Dennis Bergkamp to play the ball through.

Off the field, Ljungberg was known for liking fashion. And fashion certainly seemed to like him if that famous Calvin Klein shoot was anything to go by. The flamboyance of his dress sense was perhaps at odds with his work-rate on the pitch but certainly got him noticed. His early nickname among the Arsenal fans was “Sid” after punk rocker Sid Vicious and it seems every Arsenal fan under the age of 10 had a red streak in their hair for the FA Cup Final against Chelsea.

But beneath that ever-changing crop was a keen football brain. Freddie’s interview after a Champions League tie was always one of the most illuminating. He had always made an analysis of the opposition tactics and come up with some kind of counter. It would not be surprising to see him barking instructions from the technical area in years to come — dressed in Armani of course.

Injury hampered his latter years at Arsenal and Ljungberg struggled to find the net as much as he had in his early days. But the goal against Bolton in the FA Cup last season showed there was enough left to prompt a resurgent West Ham to swoop.

And if you are looking for the most poignant memory of Freddie Ljungberg at Arsenal then how about this for starters? There are 11 minutes to go in the FA Cup Final of 2002 with Arsène Wenger’s side holding a precarious 1-0 lead. Ljungberg picks up the ball just inside his own half, darts between two Chelsea defenders, leaves John Terry sprawling and, after steadying his scampering legs, opens up his body to curl a sumptuous curling effort into the top of Carlo Cudicini’s net.

He wheels away in triumph, safe in the knowledge the first half of a ‘double’ is now secure. Then as Thierry Henry hauls him to the ground in celebration, Ljungberg’s shirt rides up to display that famous tattoo of panthers on his back.

It was the mixture of style and substance we had come to expect from him.

We love you freddie, cos you got red hair....


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Thanks for the memories Ljungberg.

:salute:
 
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What a GREAT servant he's been to Arsenal! Was a bargain as well since he was purchased for relatively little money, if I recall correctly (Wasn't he?) and yet gave great service to the club (more than many expected including myself as he turned out to be a better player than I anticipated originally) for many years!

He'll be gone but not forgotten any time soon. Just like Bobby Pires, Master Bergkamp, Veira and Henry among other Arsenal legends.
 
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yeh he was a good player for Arsenal lol scored some goals i hate to remember against us but it feels like as freddie said the team of 03/04 has departed and a new team is starting which is good for the players to try and be thier own way
 
Freddie has been great for us but over the last couple of season's he just hasn't been the same player. He's lost a yard of pace which has made him less effective. Good luck Freddie and thanks for the memories. Especially the goal in the 2002 FA Cup Final, which is my favourite ever goal from games I have attended.

We definately need a wide player now! Why not SWP?
 
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Truly is an end to a dynasty, lets see if Wenger is capable of building another great team...
 
Clockender said:
Freddie has been great for us but over the last couple of season's he just hasn't been the same player. He's lost a yard of pace which has made him less effective. Good luck Freddie and thanks for the memories. Especially the goal in the 2002 FA Cup Final, which is my favourite ever goal from games I have attended.

We definately need a wide player now! Why not SWP?
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Don't think so mate :(

... From todays Mirror..

Wenger insists that he would rather concentrate on nurturing talent already at Emirates Stadium.

"It is unbelievable how much has been spent," Wenger told the Mirror.

"It looks like the banks are being very generous this year!

"I have been very surprised but then you know that there is a lot of money out there and on my front, I am just looking to develop the players we have here.

"Just in central midfield, for example, we have Abou Diaby, Denilson, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto.

"In the wide positions we can play Alexander Hleb, Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Eboue.

"All these players are on their way up. They are not over the hill.

"Their level is still rising and they are getting better and better."
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You see this is what I can't understand. Rosicky would rather play centrally or in the hole. Hleb is no wide player he keeps cutting inside and Eboue is a defender! Everyone can see that why can't Wenger? Imagine our team with someone like Ronaldo or SWP out wide? Its instantly transformed.

Ok Walcott can play there but he has a long way to go before he can be considered good enough to play in that position long term.](*,)
 
IceMan_Bergkamp said:
Don't think so mate :(

... From todays Mirror..
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i agree with you mate , i dont understand why Eboue for me a very good RB would be played at RM and Wallcott well that just annoys me when i first started watching Wallcott for Sothampton and that chip over the goally i thought we have the new Wonderkid from England but why doesnt Wenger play him upfront ok i understand he doesnt have height but for me he can really be a great successor to Henry and ian Wright who for me is faster then both of them. :shock: (seems like Wenger finds someone quicker than before everytime:applause:)

I also think Wright-Phillips is made for Arsenal, I was suprised when he made the move to chelsea a few seasons back cause i thought he was definetly going to follow in his dads footsteps of being a Arsenal great but it never happenend :( I think Wenger should definetly bring in another wide man and i expect this to happen when Reyes is sold and then Rosicky will be recognised as a CM and Eboue as a RB . My main point is if Wenger played Wallcott as a striker he would prove to Arsenal he can (with time:roll:) be a good successor to Thierry Henry.
 
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Eboue does not defend as a natural(leans more to attacking), his strengths are running wide and sending crosses to the middle. Eboue stop diving your going to hurt ya self.
 
Smashing goal by van Persie too...quick slick passing will be your new kind of gameplay.The end product is left to be seen though.Plenty of years to perfect it though with youth on your side.
 
I went yesterday, and it was a bit worrying that the same trend of not being able to finish was still there. i think we had like 35 attempts, Inter had 4. Everyone was shouting shoot, but we still seem to want to walk the ball into the net. It was really frustrating.

Gibbs looked good, and got a great reception when he tackled Materazzi in the first half, and then Materazzi got a yellow. Van Persie looks sharp, and Hleb was inspired - but still lost many balls by passing to Inter! Sagna looks much better defensively than Eboue, who loves to overlap.

PSG looked awesome - Ngog and Diané tore into Valencia, and the Valencia number 12, Lillo, was lucky to be on the pitch the amount of times he hit Diané on the head! Fantastic skill, and teamwork, and i can't believe this team was fighting for relegation last season in Ligue 1.
 
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How good was Eboue on Sunday? We have to play him there now we have Sagna and Hoyte.

Hleb impressed me as well but really that is a better position for him to play in anyway, like Rosicky I really feel he should have a central role. He's no wide player.

I am quietly confident that can surprise a few people this season, especially if we can get a couple more players in to bolster the squad.
 
I'm certainly not writing off your lots chances this year, think you might pull a United of last season, no one gave them a chance this time a year ago. You have youth, speed, skill, just have to see consistency and desire.

I think if Chelski manage to surpass 90 points again, that's out of your reach, but if things get a bit more interesting, around the 83/4 mark, then all 4 teams are in with a shout. And no Spurs, you won't be.
 
So, I'm a Milan fan....what do you think of Baptista's season? Looks like we're going to sign him. Was he really so bad? I watched some Arsenal game (one of them being against Liverpool when he scored 4, lol) and thought he was a good replacement...but seems like Arsenal fans were VERY disappointed with his period at Emirates Stadium...
 
Mana Cerace said:
So, I'm a Milan fan....what do you think of Baptista's season? Looks like we're going to sign him. Was he really so bad? I watched some Arsenal game (one of them being against Liverpool when he scored 4, lol) and thought he was a good replacement...but seems like Arsenal fans were VERY disappointed with his period at Emirates Stadium...
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He show glimpse of magic at times , but to be a success at the Gunner camp 1st touch is a key requirement and he lacks that. I think all will agree on that , one sheep said to another :mrgreen:
 
agreed!

the thing with baptista is, he is a very good player with a great shot, power and technique....his attacking prowess in general is good but his habit of needing an extra touch was the main reason why he struggled at times.

I'd expect him to do very well playing alongside Kaka and Pirlo hmmmmmmm...
 
I have to say I like the look of Eduardo, he was sharp tonight. He looks like a real team player, always tracking back and not afraid to get stuck in. Nice header for his goal as well. Overall I was impressed with our performance although we did look a bit shaky at the back at times.
 
Well we won the Amsterdam tournament, with a good performance against Ajax.

Clichy was immense with his assist for the goal. Overall I think our pre-season has gone well and we can take a lot of positives from it.

Looking forward to Fulham now on Sunday!
 
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