Cole will definitely be gone by 8th August. at Gunnerblog

Cole will definitely be gone by 8th August.

0 guns July 26th, 2006

That’s the date of our first Champions League Qualifier. Chelsea will want him by then to avoid the risk of him appearing for us and becoming cup-tied. Their signings this summer, particularly those of Ballack and Shevchenko, seem to be geared towards the Champions League. If they’re going to spend up to Â£30m on Cole, they’ll certainly want him available for their European campaign.

I have no doubts, though, that the fee won’t climb as high as the Â£30m The Telegraph suggest. Anything in the Â£20m mark would be a significant financial coup: it’s hard to think of a full-back ever going for anything in that region.

For now, Arsene insists there’s been no official offer:

“There is nothing going on with Ashley at the moment. There is no offer and we are not talking to anybody about him. I am always confident of holding onto player, but if you want me to sit here and guarantee he will be an Arsenal player next season I cannot do it. He only has two years left on his contract and we have not made any movement in that regard and when you have a player in that situation you cannot say much.”

The sooner he goes the better, really. With the internationals filtering back to training, a disruptive influence like Cole would be decidedly unwelcome. Having already rid ourselves of Campbell, the next most difficult figure in the dressing room will soon be departing: perhaps our fantastic team spirit of a few years ago isn’t far from returning?

Any fee we do recieve for Cole might be spent on West Ham’s Yossi Benayoun, if you listen to The Independent. I suggest you don’t: the Â£10m fee strikes me as very high, and a wide-midfielder is certainly not our most pressing requirement (unless, of course, you choose to believe the reports in the Spanish press that we are offering Jose Reyes to Real Madrid).

Last night saw Arsenal play against Austrian side SV Mattersburg, with Tomas Rosicky coming on to make his Arsenal debut. The final score was 2-1, with goals coming from a smart Jeremie Aliadiere left-foot finish, and a subtle lob from Justin Hoyte after a surprisingly good ball from a not-too-terrible Alex Song.

I was again impressed with Armand Traore, who at just 16 was described by Wenger as:

“A young boy with a lot of power. Not speedy, but super speedy. When you consider he’s only 16, it’s incredible power - he can make the difference going forward.”

Young Armand really is one to watch, and certainly looks a darn sight better than his namesake Djimi.

Ashley who?

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14 Comments Add your own

1. Helge | July 26th, 2006 at 7:14 am

Song was not just “not-too-terrible”. He had a very good match! Traore had a very easy match because their right side was awful!

Fo me Almunia was the best player, and saved us. Our team looked as heavy as they should be in this phase!
2. Tripping | July 26th, 2006 at 7:26 am

I believe August 3 is the relevant date - when the club has to submit the 25 names of those who will be eligible.
3. DeiseGooner | July 26th, 2006 at 7:58 am

Info in champs league - this season squad sizes for Champions League teams are restricted to 25, while a Champions League club must also have four players who are ‘home-grown’ in their squad, either produced by the club’s academy or trained by another club belonging to the same association that the club belongs to.

This number will increase by two every year until it reaches eight in four years’ time.
4. White Ox | July 26th, 2006 at 8:10 am

The media are unbelievable sometimes aren’t they. 10 million quid for Yossi Benayoun - you’re ‘avin a right larf you are ya hacks.

I’m dumbfounded by the whole Cole situation though. 20 million pounds has to be at least double what he’s really worth at the most optimistic valuation. Good player, yes. Is he worth a fee double what was paid for Thierry - does that put it into perspective? I think you could’ve bought 40 Kolo Toures for that price. It truly would be an outstanding piece of business. I think the overall situation is fantastic, can you imagine the gems that Arsene will be able to find with that sort of kitty? It may take 2 or 3 seasons of progress, but have faith Gunners fans, Chelsea’s millionaires will be there to be had, they are ageing and truly not that wonderful a football side. There may only be one or two signings before season’s start, but I don’t think any of us should be worried about it one bit, if we are prepared for a little more short term pain, the long term gain will be outstanding.
5. Little Dutch | July 26th, 2006 at 8:13 am

Here, here.
6. Dean | July 26th, 2006 at 8:37 am

White Ox has hit the nail on the head. Although I disagree with him in one way in that I am very optimistic about next season. I believe that with the experience and, more importantly, the confidence gained from last year, the rough-house tactics will not be nearly as effective. I’m also utterly convinced that we will win the Champions League this season, no other team can live with our youthfulness, excuberance, speed and attacking football in a one-off game. Cup football doesn’t suit Chelsea as they play for a draw and scrape wins, they have to attck in Cup games, which they can’t do. Ashley will be miserable there. Serves the little money grabber right.
7. Unbelievable Climax | July 26th, 2006 at 9:10 am

White Ox is bang on - I said as much at the beginning of last season after Paddy left. We knew it would be a struggle and this season MAY be the same. After that I expect us to be pushing for the title again.
8. Rohan | July 26th, 2006 at 10:55 am

Nah Cole has got to go for 30m, push them all the way. With money like that haggling is quite easy. 30m min…Hopefully Wenger knows.
9. y-frontman | July 26th, 2006 at 11:03 am

Hey guys

Just another little quote i decided to share with you. This ones about Pennant going to Liverpool;

“the Championship club negotiated the fee upwards because they knew they had to give Pennant’s old club Arsenal a quarter of any cash received for him”

Since the fee in question is about 6.2m then we are in for a little boost of around 1.5m. Nice. Wish we would hurry up and start spending.

I’m pretty confident overall about this season tho. although we have lost some experienced players i think we are in good shape. campbell was a liability, bergkamp didnt play much last season and rosicky is more than an adequate replacement for an aging pires.

So chins up lads. I think this season is going to be an exciting one in which we see some of our young talent maturing! Good to see some positive vibes going around here instead of all the usual bitching and moaning!

Pity it takes a Dickhead like cole to unite us but lets use it to spur us on this year!
10. Alan 14 | July 26th, 2006 at 2:21 pm

we do need some new players coz at the moment its only players going away.I now hope cole leaves but i want us to bag at least 25million from chelsea.Hopefully we will sign davies from west brom and a strong midfielder with a good work rate and i wish we get our hands on issakson (Rennes & sweden num 1 ) he would be great cover than next year he can be our number 1
11. Alan 14 | July 26th, 2006 at 5:23 pm

pennant moved to liverpool(it 25% of the fee goes to arsenal great news)
12. arsenals bombay chapter | July 26th, 2006 at 6:52 pm

Its really amusing to read Mourinho speak on Coles potential move to Chelsea. This is what he says…’Ashley Cole is an Arsenal player. It’s not correct to say anything about him.’ Makes one think that the guy is delusional. Its almost like he is trying to regain some respect after being caught with his pants down over Cole. For me, Cole can go. 25 million is the minimum. Chelsea paid 17 mn for duff and 23 mn for essien and in the mid teens for SWP, so Arsenal should command 25 mn at least. Knowing Chelseas record in the transfer market they will probably offlad him for 2mn 2 years from now. Let Cole and Chelsea screw each other. And let Arsenal win the treble next season.
13. barry fantastic | July 26th, 2006 at 7:04 pm

Cole isn’t worth even the money he got from HELLO magazine
14. archie | July 28th, 2006 at 12:56 pm

Pleased to see so much disgust at Cole - this greedy little twerp. Saying the club made him a scapegoat is truly the pathetic whine, of an ungrateful son. He knew the rules - especially in a team game - and especially in relation to a close rival. So who forced him, Kenyon, Cole’s agent, Mourinho together into a rastaurant ? They are as gulity as hell of deceit and disrespect. Cole should have apologised - to the fans - and shut up. Remember Anelka - Wenger is making them squirm.

We did not struggle when Vieira left. He ws out for long periods in his last season, I think the stats say he only played half the games , and we did not lose when he was missing ! We suffered because we had so many injuries to key players. Cole and Cambell themsleves had a cheek to take their wages last season !!

We have some real talent and if we can build a team spirit - away we go. The Chelsea millionaires are beginning to fall out now.

Va va voom

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