(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread (Part 1)

Apparently it was cost us 30 mill and wages of 130k per week to get Higuain. He's only 25 as well.

You'd think higauin would be a better option than rooney or villa, on paper at least.

This is all very odd, us apparently having money. 

There's a few others we've signed in the last 2 seasons too - jenkinson, cazorla, ox, etc

Gervinho seems to be getting linked with a move of late. Wonder if he'll be the first proper casualty in the quest for more quality players? If we sign no wide players I'd expect the Ox to move ahead of him next season anyway. He's highly rated in the french league, some rumours around Lyon or Monaco, plus Newcastle linked last night (ligue 1 satellite)

Gundogan and Higuain would be two class signings for you, I think.

Yes, those were the names I couldn't recall. Those 3 are crucial signings too!

Higuain deal being slowed down by no coach currently at Real. I understand that, but urghhhhh I'd like this talk turning to action sooner rather than later!

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There is a high chance that the new coach will keep him as well i think, pretty gutting stuff really. Which there top strikers are out there they would suit us??

There's a few strikers out there looking for moves, I think a few of them are probably eyeing up the same clubs so just waiting to see what happens before they decide. For example Jovetic and Higuain are both being pursued by Juventus, but you wouldn't think they'll get both of them.

Cavani, Villa, Lewandoski, Higauin, Rooney, Gomez and Jovetic are all very good strikers looking for moves in this off-season as far as I'm aware (Falcao as well, but he's gone to Monaco)

If they all move, then you'd think these teams might be the only ones properly in the hunt for them;

Juventus

Bayern

PSG

ManU (if Rooney leaves)

ManC (and if they get one, then Dzeko and/or Tevez will likely become available too)

Arsenal

Chelsea (maybe - there is talk of Lukaku returning being enough for Jose)

Real Madrid (if Higuain leaves)

So there are a few to go round. You would think with our apparent wealth we'd be able to nab someone from that list. 

Knowing arsene he'll just find someone else we haven't heard of for half the price!

Lukaku would be a great signing too, even though he seems committed to playing for Chelsea under Jose.

just regarding strikers

Cavani- out of our price range

Villa- a bit old for my liking,

Lewandoski,- Would be keen since he's not going to bayern now

Higauin- Keen as beans but i think we wont get him :(

Rooney- Not a fan

 Gomez- i know his record is good but everytime i have watched him play he been average

Jovetic - Not sure where i stand, havnt seen him in action much at all but he is highly rated

The reason he isnt happy is because he doesnt get enough starts....New coach could rate him higher then Benzema and promise him more starts

yip he's a beast, he should have been starting for chelsea last season i reckon

Lukaku and Mata.

Won't ever happen but jeezus I'd love it to!

Community Shield is set for 11 August so new season must be starting on 17 August. Only reason that excites me is that I arrive in London on 23 August. Bring on that 2013/14 draw!!

Nobody likes a smart arse :-P

Buy Benteke.  Surely this is the most realistic option.

Not drop a pile of Totteringham on the parade but remember all other EPL clubs will be getting mo' money from next season.  That tv deal is a boost to everyone.

I expect signings of the really big players might only kick off once these woeful friendlies are done and the players have been on their holidays.  Then there will be reporters at Laandin/Manchester airports spotting Cavani/Lewandowski/Higuain et al flying in and house hunting.  Don't forget that the bluddy Confederations Cup is in there to get in the way of transfers.  Yet, in a way, that is a good thing cos I won't go completely nuts waiting for something concrete to happen!

Interesting to read that lewandowski's current wage is 40k/week and Utd are set to offer him 90. Jeezus... why would he go to Utd and be 2nd fiddle (or 3rd if they keep Shrek) when we'd have him and he'd be much more likely to be number 1?... anyway, it won't happen.

I'd be stoked with Lukaku. Or Benteke. Or Higuain. Or Rooney. Or Jovetic. Or.... ok, you get it...

I really hope that second leg is at home :) Pretty sure the seeded teams get the second leg at home.

If ManU buy Lewandoski then surely rooney would be gone. Can't see why else they'd want a striker when they've got the ones that they do. 

van Persie's just had his most injury-free season of his career, and now he's 30 so that won't happen again, Lewandoski would surely get enough game time.

Hernandez and Welbeck however might be looking for new clubs - no thanks by the way.

Cesar rumours overnight, some saying he'll be announced after the confederations cup. That'd be lovely. 

The happy one will surely have Lukaku at Chelsea - next Drogba and all that; which raises the question about Torres; who is yet to be mentioned. Happy one a fan or not? No idea but he's seen him play in his pomp. Benitez would have him at Napoli. But not the kind of buy for Wenger?

Torres + cash swap for Cavani seems so logical it's not funny. Win win for everyone involved?

Really good piece here, the Tim Stillman (aka Little Dutch) column from Arseblog;

https://arseblog.com/2013/06/ivans-era/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arseblog+%28Arseblog+-+It%27s+fudgeing%27+excellent+-+an+Arsenal+blog%29

Torres should come back to Atleti. That'd be brilliant.

Mr Wenger

Please spend some money

Etiene Capoue

Arsene is a long-time admirer, he's 24 and french, fits the bill

That'd be sharke if Torres went to Barcelona.

23m for Fellaini seems mad to me. Toulalan (spelling? haha) from Malaga is boss, he could probably do a job. Or just go all out for Illarramendi. That kid is quality. There's loads of boss defensive midfielders around though. You could even try get Mascherano.

Wenger does like versatility. Though he doesn't like paying +20mil. Unlikely.

yip  Illarramendi is boss alright but need someone a bit older thou

man i loved this game, still gets the blood pumping, our second goal a thing of beauty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH41c5y-S7A

So whaddya know, things have gone quiet on the transfer front!

Although I did read somewhere that Arsenal are keen to make a statement of intent by signing someone big before we head to Asia as a statement of intent. Although I'm sure the right price and right player are #1 and #2 priorities before 'statement of intent'.

Have seen rumours that Juve have given up on perving at our Gonzo (the Old Lady doesn't have the cabbage).

Please let it be true!

PS: Euro betting agencies have also dropped their odds in him coming to us a little also :)

The Higuain rumours have gone to epic proportions. Sounding like this is actually gonna happen, I can't believe it. So un-arsenal. 

And we're getting linked with lots of players - keepers and defensive mids as well as strikers. Usually the whole "where there's smoke there's fire" thing comes to the fore here - I'm guessing Arsene is right in the market and aggressively pursuing targets if these rumours are anything to go by. 

Apparently he was back in January too, but couldn't get the particular ones he wanted, aside from cheesy Nachos. 

Oh yea, lots of stuff about Nani too, not sure how I feel about that.

He always seemed to play well against us - if he could produce that form consistently I'd have him in a heartbeat. Problem is he doesn't seem to be able to do that at ManU. What would change with us? Can Wenger get more out of him?

My problem with Nani is that he's as frustrating as Evra for my mind, publicly bagging us. I think he'd be Arshavin Mk II

trying not to get too exicted by Higuain gossip but its hard. Would be great addition to the squad. All the Felliani stuff seems to have died out thou. Just not losing anyone from our match squad would be great for a change

i personally hate nani but do think he can be a decent player but i'd rather ox getting more gametime for us.

Havnt heard much about TV5 and Sagna....would be good if they both did stay for another season

IF we can get Higuain and a good solid DMF i'd be pretty stoked