The Arsenal squad recommence training at London Colney today, and they’ll be buzzing with the usual ‘back to school’ excitement. What’ve they been up to over the holidays? Has Mikel Arteta’s hair shown any sign of moving? What cool new pencil case has Andre Santos got?
Of course, not everyone will be in attendance. Term might have started, but most of the boys are still absent. Anyone involved in the European Championships will not return to training for a week or two yet. Another absentee will be Yossi Benayoun, who has returned to Chelsea after the end of his loan spell. Clearly, no-one told Andre Santos:
Oh dear. The cuddly Brazilian will be gutted about the departure of his pointier Israeli chum. I am a little too: Benayoun’s commitment to the cause last season was greater than many on far longer-term deals. Whichever club ends up signing him will be very lucky indeed.
Another man unlikely to be at Colney is Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman flies to Spain this week to train with Team GB ahead of the Olympics. He has, however, spoken briefly about the situation with another absentee, Robin van Persie:
“I don’t know and we as players don’t know what is happening so we will just have to wait to see what happens.”
Basically, he doesn’t know. With Arsene Wenger now back doing his day job as opposed to commentating at the Euros, I think it’s highly likely he’ll be asked to comment on it sooner rather than later. When he does, it should make interesting reading.
Unsurprisingly, since the RVP news broke we’ve been linked with a few forwards. I actually don’t think that his departure would prompt a major signing: Olivier Giroud would simply be hurried in to action more swiftly than Arsene had envisaged. However, the likely departures of Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Young, along with the fact that Joel Campbell has joined Real Betis on loan, mean we could have room for another striker in the squad. Someone like M’baye Niang.
Reports in France suggest 17 year-old forward Niang is about to join up with Arsenal for a trial period. His club, Caen, were relegated from Ligue 1 last season, and would be keen to cash in on their prize asset. Niang is a phenomenal athlete, who started playing top level football aged just 16, and would clearly be an exciting capture for Arsenal. You can read a fuller profile of him here. Of course, even if he did sign there’s every chance he’d be loaned out again, so I wouldn’t rush out and get your shirt printed just yet.
Pre-season training is upon us. The players will be suffering, but for me it’s sweet relief. The season creeps ever closer.
Not another starlet again.
Thas good, thogh we still need to get a striker Jovatec but Niang can be like our Welbeck. Also heard David VIlla is coming in.
http://www.arsetalks.com/2012/07/barcelona-offers-david-villa-plus-cash.html
I like him already…just that he bears a striking resemblance to Adebayor….i hope its just the hair cut…
I still don’t get why Arsenal would sell Van Persie just because he wants to leave. Champion’s league money counts just the same as transfer money. If Van Persie leaving causes the team to miss out on the Champion’s league then the entire fee they got for him would be more than offset by that. If Van Persie wants to be a mercenary for another team, then Arsenal should use him as a mercenary this season since they have him locked into a below market salary. He is likely to start to decline soon- use him this last season and you get a 29 year old Van Persie and if he still wants to leave then another team can drop huge money on a 30 year old with major injury issues. Its not like Van Persie would coast this season- he needs to play well to ensure a huge paycheck. And being willing to keep him also would increase the risk of Van Persie not reupping with Arsenal because if he does have an injury plagued season his value would torpedo when he went to sign a new contract. I just don’t see where the upside is for Arsenal to sell him unless the fee is north of 30M. Van Persie’s agent understands this which is why he tried to poison the water a bit- but Arsenal shouldn’t go along with it. Keep him and ride him back to the Champion’s League and that gives you a year to plan for his departure.
You make a valid point but I don’t think Stan the man or the rest of the greedy board will see it your way.
Yes it is very valid. If some joker offers 15 then it make sense to hold him.
hang on do wenot have two other starlet out on loan…vela…campbell plus the third one wellington… and lets not forget ryo….
If RVP does go I home they get it done sooner rather than later so we do t end up with another panic buy situation at the end of August!!
we can win the league with niang. I just know it.
Niang to replace two first team squad forwards and then to be loaned out. Yep thats exciting alright. Exciting as listening to Stan. 💤💤💤💤💤💤💤
Who sucked the fun out of AFC?
So we currently have one less forward than last year once rvp is sold.
If Barcelona are ready to offer us David Villa for RVP plus cash then i dont think theres any better offer. No better replacement.It would be more like RVP is being replaced by RVP, not the other way around.Hes far a better player. But its not confirmed yet. Lets hope its true. We did want him before.
http://www.arsetalks.com/2012/07/barcelona-offers-david-villa-plus-cash.html
RVP is being replaced by Villa*
who… ricky vila?
No. David Villa. Its just a rumour for now.
GS sir… pull your finger out and live this bugger up…. let weg be ghost author for a week,… a view from down under /….. not by alan wickers tho….
weg what would your post direct at?
a more clive james sartorial view point….
the weather aint too bad… at least its cancelled klyie and jasons 20 year reunion …hip hip hooray…..
the weather aint too bad …. at least kylie and jasons gig tomorrow has been cancelled…. hip hip hoooray….
especially for you that one…..boom boom