Macca will be a happy man...

[Hindy Rulz]

Don't kid yourselves Liverpool fans. If Gerrard hadn't done a backflip on his decision to join Chelski at the end of last season you would be in exactly the same position as Arsenal. He is by far your best player and would have proved a bigger loss to Liverpool than Vieira has to Arsenal.

Arsenal will need a lot of luck if they are to qualify for next years Champions League but as Macca said every top side has a lean year/s after being at the top for so long.

If Arsenal can get Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and Robin Van Persie back on the field to finish the season then I believe Arsenal will give a fourth place finish a real go and may even surprise a few people by giving the Champions League a shake and sending Highbury out on a good note. I'm not saying they will win the Champions League but they will be competitive with just a little bit of luck with injuries.

 

[Macca_]

If Arsenal can get Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and Robin Van Persie back on the field to finish the season then I believe Arsenal will give a fourth place finish a real go

Cole and Van Persie in particular.

 

[borat]

The problem is that Wenger won't buy for the sake of buying. The players he wants have to be ones that fit in at the club in more ways then just talent. He's always said that. He had a couple lined up (including the beast) for when Vieira left but couldn't/wouldn't match the wage demands or asking fee.

They won't go on a spending spree it's as simple as that. The club is run by smart businessmen and has been for some time. Hence the new stadium and recent success of the club.

Borat, as I said, every manager has bought players that haven't went well. Hleb appears to be one for Wenger. If you go back through though, Wenger has bought more class then duds. A lot more.

I'm wondering if Alan Hansen wrote a similar article about Arsenal when they built their squad that dominated the previous decade...

Sure it's frustrating at the time being, but look out in coming seasons. All these so called untested and expensive young players have shown what they can do. With a season under their belt together they'll be a lot better for it. And they showed what they could do against Real.

Should Henry go, it's not the end of the world and I definately wouldn't be saying 'planning for a future they don't have'.

You see this is where I disagree. Every truely successful team needs a leader and a core of experienced players. When Wenger sold his most influential central midfielder he should have already of purchased a quality replacement or had it good as done. No one is saying buy for the sake of buying but why sell for the sake of selling. The 13.5mill is a drop in the ocean of what Arsenal make and they could have easily waited another year. Yes they would have got less but think about how much revenue Arsenal will lose in not making the CL.

For me success has gone to Wenger's head and he has become obsessed with buying diamonds in the rough. There are plenty of good quality players already in the premiership but Wenger is only interested in looking abroad. The days are gone Macca where Arsenal need to find hidden talents to survive. They have the resouces to buy the best or near the best and the fact that Blackburn, Bolton, West Ham and Wigan are even close to Arsenal is pretty damning.

 

[Hindy Rulz]

I believe they had Baptista pen in hand ready to sign until Real stepped in at the last minute and by staying in Spain for an extra year he is now granted a Spanish passport.

The English clubs are not able to offer things like this due to their countries visa requirement's and Arsenal were left without a plan b.

Arsenal did not have this big money that you talk of at the time because it was all tied up in the new stadium but since Wenger has been given cash there hasn't been anyone he has deemed worthy of such a big investment.

Chelski hae ruined the market by paying ridiculous money for every player they buy and Arsene Wenger refuses to do so.

 

[borat]

I believe they had Baptista pen in hand ready to sign until Real stepped in at the last minute and by staying in Spain for an extra year he is now granted a Spanish passport.

The English clubs are not able to offer things like this due to their countries visa requirement's and Arsenal were left without a plan b.

Arsenal did not have this big money that you talk of at the time because it was all tied up in the new stadium but since Wenger has been given cash there hasn't been anyone he has deemed worthy of such a big investment.

Chelski hae ruined the market by paying ridiculous money for every player they buy and Arsene Wenger refuses to do so.

To have no plan B is pretty dumb. As I said before why doesn't Wenger ever look within the preimeship? He is obsessed with purchasing abroad. Arsenal do have the big money I talk about. Look at their finances if you don't beleive me. The 3rd richest club in the premiership could easily have bought say Jenas( who Arsenal was linked with) at the start of the year but Wenger wouldn't spend the money.

 

[Hindy Rulz]

Wenger has come out and said that selling Vieira was a mistake but he hasn't made too many in his time at the Gunners. I believe that he will make a couple of purchases during the off season once the Henry situation becomes clearer.

And these finances that the club has were earlier on in the year being used to pay back loans for the stadium.

 

[Macca_]

Jenas? God no! Not at the money they were talking anyway.

Why doesn't he look to buy in England? Because the market is inflated. See Wright-Phillips. You can spend a lot less abroad and get a similar player. Unless Chelsea become involved.

Borat, you'll find plan B was to use Gilberto and Fabregas as starters. Not a bad plan B. Cept for the fact Gilberto has been way out of form.

Lets not put down the 'lesser' teams. They work hard to get where they do and there is always a few like that sitting around 4th-8th.

Borat I can see you're not going to be convinced. But fact is, arsenal have never been a big spending club, they never will be. Despite what the figures show they have.

And just on Vieira, I've said it plenty of times. Last season he was poor at best. Was not many games he dominated and it was Fabregas or Gilberto running the show. He (Vieira) also had to ice his knees after every game. I haven't seen any Juve games but I'd assume the 'slower' pace of the Italian league is suiting him at this stage of his career.

 

[borat]

Wenger has come out and said that selling Vieira was a mistake but he hasn't made too many in his time at the Gunners. I believe that he will make a couple of purchases during the off season once the Henry situation becomes clearer.

And these finances that the club has were earlier on in the year being used to pay back loans for the stadium.

What I am saying about Arsenal's finances is that you haven't gone into any debt for your stadium and you turn over 200million US plus per year so whats the deal with purchasing 1 quality player? What you lose in not making the CL would have easily accounted for this.

 

[Hindy Rulz]

The fact they owe money on loans means they have debts.

 

[borat]

Every team has debts HR. Its the capacity to repay those debts and cashflow that makes the difference. With a current value of 613million US and revenue of 211mill US your debts are miniscule compared to how much you make and also compared to say Real Madrid, Chelsea or Newcastle.

 

[HevyDevy]

Don't kid yourselves Liverpool fans. If Gerrard hadn't done a backflip on his decision to join Chelski at the end of last season you would be in exactly the same position as Arsenal. He is by far your best player and would have proved a bigger loss to Liverpool than Vieira has to Arsenal.

Arsenal will need a lot of luck if they are to qualify for next years Champions League but as Macca said every top side has a lean year/s after being at the top for so long.

If Arsenal can get Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and Robin Van Persie back on the field to finish the season then I believe Arsenal will give a fourth place finish a real go and may even surprise a few people by giving the Champions League a shake and sending Highbury out on a good note. I'm not saying they will win the Champions League but they will be competitive with just a little bit of luck with injuries.

We're not talking about where players could have gone, we're talking about where players did go. Gerrard stayed, Viera didn't. It's up to Arsenal to fix the problem.

 

[borat]

We're not talking about where players could have gone, we're talking about where players did go. Gerrard stayed, Viera didn't. It's up to Arsenal to fix the problem.

We didn't flog off Gerard to the highest bidder either.

 

[The Devil]

Vieira was getting on with his career, he wasn't as influential as he was when Arsenal won the premiership. He's also lost a bit of fight since he's getting older.

Once the new stadium is built and all the loans and debts paid off by Arsenal, i believe we'll be making more plays for other players to consolidate our squad.

 

[Deacon]

Privately Wenger was fuming when he missed out on getting Carrick and Robinson plus he has also outlined his intentions for King too

 

[Macca_]

Guess you could say I'm happy again

Another top performace. Was a quality game despite the 0-0 score. A few top drawer saves from either keeper and a hit post/bar each. And some good attacking football.

Fabregas huge again. Twice now he has got the better of ZZ in the midfield. He's all class. Hleb actually had nearly his best game for the club. Defence was brilliant again. Sendo, Eboue and Toure are standing up big time.

Average age of 23 years old... This teams got a bright future no doubt about that. More experience will bring more consitant results in the domestic league next season, I'm sure of that.

Smiles all day here

 

[HevyDevy]

Well, I can honestly say that Arsenal fully deserved that result and probably should have won the game outright. Not sure how Reyes missed that shot just before half time.

I just hope Liverpool figure out how to score before this weekend! At least Robbie is getting closer to full fitness. Once he's at his peak, watch out!!

 

[fat_mike]

i dont think the idiots upfroint will learn anything. worried big time. so close to the season end and they must start to win and win alot better than they are. i'd be happy with a 1-0 result this weekend. unfortunately i cant see it happening

 

[Macca_]

Actually I haven't thought that far ahead yet

I'm going to enjoy knocking Real Madrid out of the Champions League for a couple of days then think about this game

 

[HevyDevy]

Hopefully Arsenal enjoy it for one day too many

 

[Macca_]

:d:d:d