30 June 2011: I have been meaning to address this topic. I am sure many of you have already seen the new 125th Anniversary away kit, but if you have not:
What to say about this kit… it is sort of terrible. I just do not understand why it was necessaryto use both the dark blue and light blue and separate them in this way. Arsenal.com explained the reasoning:
“The front of the new away shirt is divided into two halves, one navy blue and one turquoise blue, inspired by the away kits worn by Arsenal teams from the past. The diagonal line represents the gnomon (the pointer) which casts the shadow on a sundial – to commemorate the original Dial Square sundial on the site of the Arsenal munitions factory in Woolwich, where the Club was founded in 1886.”
The most important thing about a kit is the looks. This shirt may have a lot of history put into the design but that will not lead to higher sales. Why couldn’t they just make the entire shirt one shade of blue? Or maybe make the front light blue and back dark blue or vice-versa?
I certainly will not be purchasing this shirt but I am not all that into kits. They cost a small fortune, and a new one is released every season. In the business world, this may be considered a “rip-off.” The Arsenal hierarchy is not to blame. If people will buy new shirts every season, then [...]
Tuesday Night:Former director Lady Bracewell-Smith believes that the current Arsenal board needs to go. Here is what she had to say today on Twitter: “I agree that current board should all go. They are passe. Have nothing more to give to the club at all. In time we will need a more dynamic pro-active, younger board, and a good directional leadership.”
Trouble in paradise, eh? It looks like Bracewell-Smith was not the best of friends with her fellow shareholders. Is this just more bitterness or does Bracewell-Smith have a point? She went on accuse the board members of sexism: “[They] couldn’t handle a woman with power on the board. Felt insecure. Male chauvinism.”
Sexism is a problem in many places in the business of football. So I do not think this “male chauvinism” is an Arsenal problem but a football problem. The comments from Keys and Gray show that sexism is an issue in football.
Lady Bracewell-Smith also blamed David Dein for the current problems at the club. She called him “the root of cause of all troubles at AFC.” It looks like someone is looking for a scapegoat. Dein could not still reek this kind of havoc because he hasn’t worked with Arsenal since 2007. Both Wenger and Henry were sad to see him leave the club.
Luckily, she changed her mind quickly on Dein saying: “I stand corrected. Dein loves the club and although sometimes personalities fall out his contribution at Arsenal has been immense.”
Monday Morning: According to Daily Mail, Arsenal have submitted a club record offer for Valencia midfielder Juan Mata. The offer is worth £18m for the 23-year old. Some believe that Arsene is searching for a replacement for either Cesc or Nasri. If this report is true, then we know that Wenger is serious about spending this summer.
Mata usually plays on the left wing for Valencia, but he can also move into the middle. A perfect fit for either Fabregas or Nasri. Mata could be brilliant in our current system. He is similar to Nasri in that he is a clever play-maker. The Spaniard was a teammate of Cesc Fabregas on the 2010 World Cup winners.
Mata is in the very prime of his career. Wenger will have to pay, but he could get his money back if he sells Nasri and/or Fabregas and/or Bendtner. Mata has been a target of many clubs including Liverpool and Manchester City.
According to The Telegraph, Barcelona will submit an offer £31?million very soon. Earlier in the week, Barca offered £27?million for Cesc and were turned down instantly. £31?million is more in the ball park, but I would like Arsene to push for at least £40 million. Let Barcelona drown in debt because they will not get him cheap.
Fabregas is spending his summer holiday in the Barcelona region. He may not be leaving any time soon.
Lille president Michel Seydoux had this to say yesterday: “I have spoken with Gervinho and he wants to play [...]
Saturday Morning: There is a perception out there that Wenger will hold on to Cesc until Nasri makes a decision on his contract. Arsene will wants to keep at least on of these two stars. It appears Wenger would prefer to sign Nasri and then deal with Barcelona. So the question is: Who would you rather have?
Cesc Fabregas is the better player. He plays in the middle of the park and is more vital to the attack than Nasri. Arsene can sign some youngster from the France to replace Nasri in a minute. Eden Hazard could be available. Gervinho looks very close to making a move to the Emirates.
A central player is more important than an outside player in football. Always has. Doesn’t mean there are not fantastic wingers around, but they are more common. A centre half is more important than a left back, and a foward is more important than a winger. This is why Cesc will be the bigger loss if he goes to Barcelona.
On the other hand, Cesc really wants to play for Barca. Nasri, according to general consensus, is just looking for a higher wage. Samir may not be serious about leaving the club. Sure, he has courted Manchester United, but now they have a bevy of wingers. Fabregas has stated his love for Barca in the past.
Worst case scenerio: Nasri is sold this summer and Cesc forces his way out in Januaray or next summer. Best case scenerio: Nasri is [...]
Friday Morning: Arsenal have rejected an offer from Barcelona of £27 million for Cesc Fabregas. This offer is lower than Barca’s £35m last summer. Wenger wants to hold on to Cesc and why would a lower offer change his mind. This isfurther proof that Barcelona are losing interest in Cesc due to their financial ‘problems.’
Reports all across the board confirm this story. No rumours here. If you ask Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas is not worth Andy Carroll money. Possibly this is just a negotiation ploy with the first offer being the lowest. It could just be a desperation offer from Barcelona. Really isn’t too surprising though.
Barcelona do not need Cesc and Wenger isn’t going to hand him over for relatively ‘cheap.’ Remember the words of Barcelona president Sandro Rossell from my previous post. He has stated that Cesc is not as valuable as Arsenal management seem to believe. Rossell also said that Barca will not improve their offer of £35m.
More and more is seems that Cesc will continue on as a Gunner. Everyone expected, some prepared, for him to leave. Sure, he wants to go, but you can’t always get what you want. Barcelona are not willing to pay his worth, and Wenger will not sell him for anything less.
Despite constant pleas from Barcelona players and management, Cesc has so far decided not to force his way out. It is the noble thing to do but will he continue to speak well of our club. If he was [...]
Tuesday Morning: Alisher Usmanov has increased his stock in Arsenal Football Club. Barcelona have set a limit on how much they are willing to spend on Cesc Fabregas. Adel Taraabt and Joey Barton are both reportedly on Arsene’s radar.
Usmanov is not ready to concede to Stan Kroenke. News broke yesterday that Usmanov has increased his stake in Arsenal from 27% to 29%. This means that it is very unlikely that Stan Kroenke will be able to complete the full takeover. Seems like Usmanov is holding out hope on someday running Arsenal.
If Usmanov is anything, he is determined. Determined to beat Kroenke and show that money gets what money wants. Other shareholders decided to sell their shares to Kroenke instead of Usmanov even though Usmanov offered more cash than the American.
That should tell you all you need to know about Usmanov. No one really wanted to leave the club in his hands. Now maybe it was just the lesser of two evils. Kroenke is involved in a ton of other ventures so how much time and cash is he willing to spend with Arsenal.
According to Goal.com, Barcelona will not increase their previous offers for Cesc Fabregas. Here is what Barcelona president Sandro Rosell had to say: “I do not know if we will sign Cesc or not. I have no doubt he is keen to come to Barca. We have offered less than €40 million [£35m] and if Arsenal do not yield, well then Cesc will not [...]
Monday Morning: Barcelona have already contacted Arsenal regarding Cesc Fabregas but have yet to submit an offer. As you can see, I redesigned the site. In other news, Blackburn are trying to hold on to Samba despite interest from Wenger. Gervinho still hasn’t signed despite widespread reports saying he would very soon.
Let’s tackle the Cesc story first. According Peter Hill-Wood, Barcelona have been in contact over Fabregas (told to the Sunday Mirror): “Yes, they have spoken to us about Cesc. They have been in touch, but so far they have not made a bid and we do not want to let him go.
“But he comes from Barcelona so it is understandable if he wanted to go back. However, they have not made an offer so far.” The question is whether Barca will be able to meet the astronomical asking price. Wenger should not sell Cesc for anything less because the Spaniard will not force his way home.
Barcelona are in a race to comply with the new financial fair play rules. The best team in the world is not the richest team in the world. Barca pay the highest wages in the world and that is why all their homegrown players stick around instead of moving to Madrid, Chelsea, or any other super wealthy club.
Cesc is not a dire need for Pep Guardiola. While Xavi is still in his prime, Cesc will not start, which is exactly the way it is on the [...]
Arsenal’s 2011-2012 Premier League fixtures have been announced. We will open the season at St James Park. I don’t think the FA make this stuff up. Everyone remembers the fall from grace last time we played at Newcastle. Oh, how I would love to see the boys shred Newcastle to pieces just to show how the team has changed since last season.
What a tough start to the season it is for us! Newcastle away, followed by a weekday Champions League qualifier, then Liverpool at the weekend, followed by another weekday European match, then a trip to Old Trafford. August will be the very difficult, especially if Wenger signs players that are new to the Premier League (Gervinho) and/or Champions League (Samba, Cahill, Gervinho).
We need to get off to a good start because August could be our toughest month of the season, depending, of course, on how far we advance in competitions. Until then, Wenger must improve this team that ended on such a sour note. A lot of work will need to be done in less than two months.
Click Here to see the full list of fixtures.
Nasri (and his agent) must like to keep themselves in the news. Here is what the Frenchman had to say yesterday: “There is not much to say, apart from don’t listen to all the rumours.
“Earlier in the season I spoke with the boss and we said we would talk during the summer, which is what we are going to do.”
Gervinho is set to announce a move to Arsenal very soon. According to a number of sources Gervinho has agreed to a four-year deal. Wenger did have to part with around £10.5 million to pry him from French Champions’ Lille. Samba is also very close to making the move as well. Both Samba and Gary Cahill are in “advanced talks” with Arsenal about a potential deal according to Goal.com.
Arsene is doing what he does best: Robbing Ligue 1 of talent. If the players isn’t French, it is a safe bet that he plays in the French League. Wenger must have many connections with Lille because Tottenham offered a similar offer of around £10.5mand it was not accepted by Gervinho. Gervinho has been wanting a move to Arsenal for quite some time and it seems like he finally has gotten his wish.
Why would Gervinho want a move to Tottenham? Lille are champions of France and will be making an appearance in the Champions League next season. The Ivorian strikers wants to play in the Premier League but only for one of the best teams.
Goal.comare reporting that Arsene Wenger is considering a move for both Christopher Samba AND Gary Cahill. If he was to bring in both, Arsene would have to kiss goodbye to around £22m. The idea is that Vermaelen would move to left back with Cahill and Samba in the middle and Sagna out on the right. Clichy would have to be sold. Vermaelen did play some left back for Ajax before he came [...]
Cesc Fabregas had quite a lot to say yesterday. Here is some of what the captain had to say: “Barcelona are the best team in the world and going there guarantees titles. Any player who says he is not frustrated at not winning titles is lying. I am ambitious. But I owe myself to Arsenal. I have not spoken to the manager – he is the boss, he takes decisions and I don’t know if they want to sell me or not.
“Everyone sees things in a different way but in these decisions, not everything depends on the player. I am not going to talk about any team but I can’t say no to anyone because you never know what could happen in the future. If I said anything else it would be a lie, it would give rise to speculation that is not true.
“I have values and after all that I have lived in eight years I am not going to say a word that would ruin everything. I have always acted with discretion. I am very happy at Arsenal.”
Sounds like Cesc will not force his way out. He knows that Barcelona are not looking to spend a fortune on a substitute. Fabregas is classy, so I do not see him giving in to tactics employed by the European champions. I am talking about all the pandering done by the likes of Puyol, Pique, and Xavi.
These Barcelona players are hoping that Cesc demands a move to [...]
