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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas admits Barcelona did all they could to prise him away this summer, but that he was told he had to stay put by the Gunners.

The Spanish ace has become a poster boy for the Catalans who, according to Sport, will sign him in 10 months.

But reflecting on the summer that has passed, the Gunners skipper said he was left with no choice but to stay at the Emirates Stadium as the transfer saga reached its conclusion.

“Barcelona made every effort to sign me, but Arsenal had told me to stay, which in no way I was going to refuse, and in the end I had to stay,” Cesc told Publico.

Fabregas believes that the season with Arsenal will be “a long one” but above all he wants to “be professional and give it everything”.

On his future away from the Emirates though, the playmaker observed he had not made a decision as he drew the line on Barcelona talk.

“What happens in the future? We’ll see,” he added. “I do not think of anything because if I think of the future it would not let me focus on the present and I would have a bad year.”

Le capitaine d’Arsenal est désormais sur le réseau social Twitter, à l’adresse @cesc4official Filed under: News Tagged: Fabregas

So September is here, with crisp air, falling leaves, school and transfer deadline.

This blog will now enter a hiatus until the next Silly Season, coming up around Christmas, I should guess. My blood pressure is still high after my ISP decided Transfer Deadline Day was the perfect time to fail me miserably. So I can need the break.

The transfer rumours are updated up until 31 August, and the lists will be there to see. For the next transfer window I expect to make brand new pages for the brand new rumours which the papers and websites use to attract an audience.

Yet again, these media have throughout the Silly Season passed rumours and unsubstantiated reports as “facts” and “news”.

All in all, 162 players have been linked with signing for Arsenal. Four of them have signed: Marouane Chamakh, Laurent Koscielny and Sébastien Squillaci for the first team squad, Kyle Ebecilio for the youth team – albeit the official confirmation never appeared.

There have been considerably more traffic on the way out of the club. Eight players have left outright, while eight have been loaned out for the season or for a few months. However, 35 Arsenal players in total have been linked with moving away on loan or permanently…

Rumours of the summer: Mark Schwarzer in, Cesc Fábregas out. Neither happened. Let that be a lesson for us all.

I have missed my match review completely, so I’m going to keep this short and sweet as I want to embark on other subjects as we all know the transfer windows was firmly shut at 18:00 UK time yesterday. The Blackburn game on Saturday was a very tough away fixture especially when we play any of Fat Sam’s teams we always seem to struggle and loose vital points. The lads did me proud in every way, yes we seemed very nervous in the first half, we knew what happened there last season so perhaps we were too cautious to begin with.

Blackburn did put the pressure on with their towel throw-ins and keeper directed corners but we defended well and to me Almunia had a very decent game, let’s hope he can use it to boost his confidence even further. In the 20^thminute Arshavin found Van Persie in the middle who with a lovely through ball fed running Theo on the right wing who slotted the ball past Robinson into the far post. Few minutes later Koscielny got caught cold, Diouf took advantage of our new CB and muscled him out the way brought the ball to the by-line and with a nice pass found his team mate Mame Diouf who slotted into an empty net. He will need to make sure this doesn’t happen again, it was a rather cheap goal to give away. Another blow came few minutes later as Robin Van Persie got injured yet again, received his first treatment but with his second there was no way back for him into this game, he was replaced with Chamakh.

It looked apparent that Arsene had a good team talk at half time as Arsenal came back to life and searched for the winning goal. It certainly didn’t take too long, in the 6^thminute Bacary Sanga galloped down the right flank crossed the ball into the box. The ball found Fabreags who fired a shot straight at Theo in the six yard box, luckily Arshavin got on a rebound picked his spot and buried the ball through a rather congested area. The rest is history now, there were some nervy moments towards the end but we stood our ground and made sure three points were secure in the bag. It was good revenge for what we suffered there last season and a well deserved win.

With the transfer window now shut there is a great deal of negativity amongst us Gooners at least in the blog sphere, most blogs have expressed disappointment that Le Boss did not stregthen the squad with a world class goalkeeper and a cover for Alex Song in the DM position. To me this comes as no suprise, we have now four goalkeepers on the books, bringing one in would mean letting someone go. Perhaps all the hype about Schwarzer was just a mind game to give Almunia a kick in the bollocks and show him he needs to fight for that number one place, everyone is scared at the thought of Fabianski in goal but this guy is still very young for a keeper and will learn going forward. This brings me to a point raised by many that none of our keepers have had the support they really deserved and felt like the fans are behind them all the way, we have what we have and we need to get behind them I say.

In my eyes Schwarzer is no better than Almunia, we all saw his blunder at the Emirates against Fulham last season, also I do however remember the game against Barca at home and if it wasn’t for Almunia we would have nothing to play for in the second leg. Either way I will sing his name, cheer him on and get behind him all the way, the same goes for Fabianski, perhaps that will give them the confidence they need.

COME ON YOU REDS….

Arsene Wenger thinks that this summer was particularly difficult in the transfer market, but he is very pleased that he managed to bring in Laurent Koscielny, Sebastien Squillaci and Marouane Chamakh and all three have managed to fit into the team quickly.
But he also believes that it was “vital” that Arsenal managed to keep their [...]

I know it’s the trasfer window and everyone enjoys having a look around to try and speculate on how much of a difference this player or that could make to the side this season but I think the time has come for us Gooners to appreciate and have a look at some of the players on the squad as we go into this new season.

When Diaby came into the Arsenal set up back in the 2005-2006 season he was regarded as the ‘Next Vieira’ due to his size, tenacity and overall physicality. He even managed to score a goal as he notched up 16 appearences. unfortunately for him his ankle was snapped in a match against Sunderland who coincidentally play in the same colours as Stoke… more or less. Maybe it’s time we start judging them books by their covers eh?

As a result of the break the Frenchman missed out on a lot of football and many were questioning how good he would be once he came back. Fortunately, he did come back and while it did take him some time to readjust to the wild English game he eventually fought his way upwards and was soon a definite first team contender. In his second season he managed to step out in Arsenal colours another 18 times and even put a goal past Reina in a League Cup drubbing of the Reds.

The highlight of his career for me though is that he managed to kick Terry in the face. Who could’ve stopped laughing when that happened eh? I know I couldn’t. It was definately a sight to behold. “The Fallen Terry!” Ahhh… good old times!

The 2008-2009 season marked Diaby’s actual return to Premier League football. As a consequence of Denilson’s back troubles Diaby managed to grasp his opportunity to impress in the first team and he did so. He managed to make around 36 appearences in all competitions and scored a few goals while doing that.

But for me, Diaby’s true transformation into an all out offensive player didn’t happen until the season of 2009-2010. Playing in 40 matches throughout the season, the Frenchman definately staked his claim to regular first team football at The Emirates. During the season quite a few questioned his lack of consistency and his deviation from his original purpose, i.e. a defensive player. However, as the season progressed Diaby’s form picked up and he managed to start influencing games a lot more. Arsene Wenger was full of praise in February this year:

“Diaby for me is the player who is going step-by-step higher and standing really as a strong player. He missed a complete year with his ankle injury [in 2006/07] and since he came back last year he was out a lot but this year in central midfield he has really stepped up and improved tremendously. He has become a very strong player.”

“He offers height and a physical presence. It gives us the pair with Alex Song and even when Denilson plays, when Diaby is there we look strong in the challenges and strong in the air as well. When you add Nicklas Bendtner and him, suddenly when you set-up on set pieces, who do we have? We have four or five who really can jump for the headers and it makes a difference. He gives us goals as well – a fantastic contribution. It is great and he scores important goals as well.”

What is interesting is how Wenger describes Diaby’s importance in partnerships with other players. He seems to be driving home the point that Diaby has manged to adopt to a role much like that of a playmaker in the aspect that he manages to forge important partnerships with the men up front. He’s also managed to maintain quite a rapport with Fabregas, Nasri, Denilson and perhaps best of all Song.

We’ve played three games thus far this season and Diaby has been an integral part of every one of them. I can completely understand why the spotlight is aimed at Walcott and I would never deny Walcott that recognition but it would be silly to say that Abou didn’t have an enormous role to play in all three games up until now. He’s been extremely swift on the attack and though his defensive game hasn’t been much to right home about, a player of his size and commitment is always good to have around. Here are a few stats for you’ll to ponder:

vs. Liverpool – Always a tough game for an offensive side yet Diaby was able to chalk up 50 succesful passes in key areas of the pitch while misplacing only two. On the defensive side of things he managed to win 5 balls while losing out twice. And this is all in 76 minutes of being on the pitch. His only minus in the game, as it usually is, is that he might have tried to pull the trigger a few more times.

vs. Blackburn – The Frenchman made 53 passes and won 8 balls. Moreover, his physical presence contributed a lot towards us holding off Blackburn. Also, Abou was the man on charge with Chris Samba as Gamst Pedersen fired throw-in after throw-in into the Arsenal box.

Here is a man, who on more than one occassion has been accused of being inconsistent and often being relegated to obscurity on the pitch and he has managed to rack up three darn good performances back to back. Clearly Abou has got himself off to a good start and is definately on course to becoming top contender for the front three. As an unavoidable consequence of him transforming into an attacking midfielder his defensive capabilities have been compromised a tad bit. However, it wouldn’t hurt once again to remind ourselves about how big the guy is.

But what really shook me into realization of how good this guy actually is was seeing him wear a Les Blues jersey in South Africa. I always thought of Diaby highly. Perhaps along the way a few doubts popped up here and there but I never really questioned his spot on the squad list. But never in a million years would I have thought that Diaby would one day represent France in a World Cup. Say whatever you want about the fiasco, but the fact still remains that France has and is still home to some of the best midfielders in the world. To see Diaby amongst them shows that he has surely come a long way under the trusted guidance of the Proffessor.

Vassiriki Abou Diaby is surely one of the best products of Arsenal’s management and he has gone on to prove all his critics wrong and his supporters right. Add to all of this that he’s just 24 and it is evident that this young man has a lot to look forward to and so does Arsenal.

Silverware is definately on his list of priorities and I can think of no place better than Arsenal for him to win it. Here’s to hope and the Gunners!

Cheers.

Well, first off it seems Jack Wilshere was arrested in the early hours this morning after a brawl outside a night club. They’re saying Wilshere played peacekeeper but I will admit that I would have liked him to have thrown a few punches himself. More hilariously however is the fact that the entire ordeal was carried out right in front of The Daily Mail’s CCTV cameras in Kensington. Couldn’t have picked a better spot for a fight myself Jack. For those of you bored out of your wits the entire report is here.

As the summer transfer window draws to a close it seems imminent that Aussie shot-stopper Mark Schwarzer will be guarding the sticks for the season to come. At the moment the keeper situation as we all know is quite desperate and to exit the window without a new man in between the sticks would be quite disheartening. It’s either we buy a new keeper or we buy smaller goalposts. Knowing Arsene I fear the latter might be his preferred choice. He did however make a statement to the official site:

“It is dead at the moment. But maybe not finished. At the moment I would say, as it is today, it is finished.”

We’ve all heard way too many times to believe it. The fact remains that Wenger knows as well as anyone else that we need a new keeper, be it Schwarzer, Lloris or Given. The worry now is that there is a danger of Man Shitty and Fulham sorting stuff out amognst themselves while we’re left out at sea with hardly any time to seal the deal for Schwarzer. I just hope that all that remains in the deal is that Schwarzer needs to put pen to paper. Fingers crossed on that one.

But with the expected arrival of Schwarzer comes a sad end to the Arsenal career of Manuel Almunia. Other than his goalkeeping the Spaniard seems to be a gem of a guy, a rare combination once you have a look at the idiots at Barcelona. He’s a very mature fellow who one must say takes a lot of pressure on to himself. Even when he was coming into fire from the critics his comments on the press were quite timid and lacked the confidence one would expect from a goalkeeper. It’s a tough job all the more so given the fact that it’s where the buck stops. I certainly do hope he stays on a gives Schwarzer a challenge. I know a lot of people don’t seem to think Fabianski is fit for the top level and I completely agree but given the fact that age does seem to be on his side I think Almunia will be the man to make way.

While the present whizkid awaits his call to the witness stand the former Arsenal feldgling star Theo Walcott has shown his maturity with some absolutely brilliant comments on the press:

“I didn’t go to the World Cup and I had a good think. I didn’t point the finger at anyone. I wanted to give myself a mental and physical rest. It is now a new season and preseason has gone well. I didn’t pick up any injuries and I’ve now got three games under my belt already.”

“I just want to play football at my best. It’s nice to get on the scoresheet again, but even better for the team to win. I need to get on the scoresheet a bit more really. Robin van Persie comes off the line very well and slots any balls through. I took it down with my first touch and tried to break the net with my shot.”

“It was a fantastic goal and I’m really pleased with it. It was a really good move. It is very early in the season as it is only three games, but seven points is a good start. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but it was certainly nice to get a win leading into the international break. We’re going in there on a high. It could be our season.”

The tremendous maturity has definately helped Theo work out his problems and exploit his strenghts on the pitch. He certainly seems determined to keep his head down and work his way to the top. He’s seen how ruthless the football world can be to him even when he’s 20 and that is always a good thing. The good news for him is that he’s been announced as part of the England squad for the qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland along with Kieran Gibbs.

One thing that seems to have been overlooked for some time now is that three of England’s brightest hopes are all Arsenal products- Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs. What’s that now? Arsenal still that little French club caught in the middle of London? I don’t think so. Wenger was obviously pleased with Theo’s inclusion to the squad:

“He had a good pre-season, he is sharp and I am certain he will get a chance now with England. So let’s hope he will be ready. He is equipped, he is stronger and I think he is calmer in front of goal.”

It seems Stoke’s Tony Pulis can’t have enough of taking himself and his two-bit club with its two-bit players seriously. They’ve sent an appeal to the FA about Wenger’s remarks about them being a rugby team. In my opinion Wenger went easy on them there. I would have definately gone a little further and called them “Osama’s own henchmen” or something like that. Tony Pulis had this to say:

“The club is desperately disappointed with the comments which Wenger has come out with, especially the comments about Shawcross. We think they are out of order and you don’t expect it from a person of Wenger’s esteem. The club will deal with it in the right and proper manner.”

Esteem? Flattery my deat capped freak does not work when you send your players out to snap some bones game after game after game.

Now, onto some rather serious allegations. The former French team doctor who was so utterly jobless that he released a book about the infighting in the French camp has accused none other than Samir Nasri as one of the root causes for the implosion. It seems the Frenchman was responsible for the disaster even though he wasn’t there in South Africa. So how exactly did he do it? Skype? Coming from a site such as tribalfootball.com I don’t whether to treat this as rubbish from the French weirdo or the site itself. Take it how you want to folks.

We’re heading into a an international break so let’s hope we don’t get any new breaks (I swear that wasn’t intended). I have no clue who exactly will be heading out to play these internationals and neither do I care but I hope our players come back with a few goals to their names or something positive atleast, rather than a messed up ankle or groin or hamstring. The first international break of the season and I’m sweating buckets here!

We’ll be playing Bolton on 11th of September, which is always an interesting test what with Kevin Davies and his elephant-like elegance.

That’s all for today. Time for me to go check out some charts. Cheers.

Les Gunners s’étaient préparé au combat. Il a bien eu lieu. Sous la pluie et dans l’antre de Blackburn, Arsenal a joué son premier vrai gros match « made in England ». Résultat, comme prévu par votre serviteur : Une victoire 2 … Continuer la lecture →

Early one i know but is a early kick off so you should be up

Another trip up the M6
to see prob the most northern bloke in football
He was probably born with a tash he’s that northern

last trip up there flapianski got ruined as a keeper
wish he’d man up a bit
like what chesney did at brentford
and if a player trying to push you about

thump him one!

So squad is back RVP and cesc are ready according to Wenger
maybe we might see this

Obviously most of the attacking five can interchange as shown last week

Would be nice if this started
but i guess wenger will ease RvP and cesc in
didn’t your heart skip a beat
when robin went down within 10 mins of coming on last week

In cesc’s last appearance for Arsenal against Rovers
Cesc scored one & assisted four goals.
Same today please skip.

to blackburn
they haven’t really offered much going forward
1 goal so far
one v everton howard basically threw in his own net
so not counting it

Gamst as usual is the creative spark
but be prepared for some kick and rush from rovers

by @darylbooth

I think we can steam roll them
wouldn’t say it will be six but might get a brace

We got the champions league draw on thurs was my day off so
might as well give you my two cents
not the easiest
and we’re racking up the air miles
but got my wish
to give dudu a proper send off
their ground looks nice an’all

Was nice that platini reiterated the new “financial fair play” rules before the draw.
which come in to effect next season.

“The clubs will comply,”  “or they will not play.”

fuck knows what chels utd and money city are gona do
let alone barca and real.
but that’s there problem not ours.

ha.

RSD out (@TheRSD )

dont forget we’ll have the goal highlights from all the games within 20mins of them going in.

3e journée et un déplacement costaud à Blackburn : Voilà le programme du week end pour Arsenal. Avec en guest star, de la boue, du fighting spirit et de la défense à 10 devant les buts des locaux. Dédicace à … Continuer la lecture →