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

It's interesting stuff isn't it. Ideally you'd have 2 people per position, with some able to cover other positions (ala Monreal).

Up front seems a bit top heavy if we keep Sanchez and Ozil.

According to Sky Sports we've agreed a fee for Onyekuru, Nigerian young gun who has had a good season on all accounts:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/henry-onyekuru/leist...

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/10898...

If we get him and Kolasnic early that's a great start to the off season.

Sanchez, Ozil, Wenger contracts remain the 3 critical pieces regardless of outcome.

Nigerian guy is interesting.

Sounds like Wenger is re-signing for 2 years. 

Ozil and Sanchez rumours this morn are a little concerning but it's hard to know what to believe at this point. 

I think what will be heartbreaking is that it'll be the first big names we've had to sell since we started winning trophies again. RVP, Nasri, Cesc, Clichy, Sagna, all left in search of more chances to win trophies. Sanchez & Ozil have won 2 & 3 FA Cups since they joined. Neither of them have one Champions League interestingly.

Jesus it's Obafemi Martins. 

It's finally happening for you Foal.

Jaysus santi

http://news.arseblog.com/2017/05/santi-cazorla-rev...

Guess we better go into next season with no expectations on that front. 

RE: Santi I read that last night and almost shed a tear, that's awful for anyone to go through. 5 months from now is November, that's utter madness for the lad.

Well, it's confirmed. WENGER IN.

Pride of London you've been one of his most vocal critics on here, interested in your reaction?

I'm just hopeful (as previously mentioned) it's 2 more years with investments and changes on and off field.

Doesn't sound as though there are any of the structural changes that were supposed to come. Just more of the same, and the statements from the board, Wenger and Gazidis are pretty much copy and pasted from his last contract renewal. Only really missing "Arsene built the club" and "thanks for your interest in our affairs."

I agree with Ivan Gazidis with " it's ludicrous in football that if you don't sack your manager you are seen as unambitious". 

Now wether that applies to us right now is I guess a discussion to have?

It doesn't. He was out of contract and it was a decision about renewing, not sacking.

Any of you fellas thinking of going to Sydney to see the FA Cup champions - and/or former Phoenix favourite Roly Bonevacia? (lol)

I've got two tickets for each game and unfortunately can't go (blimmin real life) so before I chuck em on eBay and/or Bookface - if anyone of you wants them, hit me up... I'd like to get face value ($99 AUD x 4 tickets), but will suck up the $50AUD in booking, service, payment, and handling fees (blimmin ticketek!!!).

That is horrible. That is worse to me than Ozil or/and Sanchez likely leaving.

Santi is out best/most important player when fit and on form. I don't think he will ever get to the level he once was now. Really sad.

Yeah, my favourite player at the club. That sounds like the end for him sadly. Gutted not to be seeing him in Sydney.

Sampaoli gets the Argentina gig

Still think he was a great option for us

Le Quipe reporting that we've bid 87m pounds for Mbappe. 

Also a ton of talk that Ozil has all but agreed to a new deal. 

Sheesh sounds exciting on both fronts, hope it's all true. 

lol at us and Mbappe

Very confident both Ozil and Sanchez will play next season for us. 

........and then leave on a free transfer

Giroud scored a hattrick for france while mbappe and lacazette sat on the bench today lol

Could be. But that's a 12 month issue to fix. In the meanwhile we get another season with 2 of the best players in the world. 

rumours that mbappe bid turned down but i dont think anyone knows what's going on

wenger has definitely hinted at a mahrez bids in his comments overnight though

im an admirer, him and mbappe would be the dream

Giroud is like a new striker

When you give him that kind of service he is. Certainly streets ahead of Welbeck for finishing.

Stories coming out this morning that BFG has retired and is looking to take up a role within the club. He's only 32 and I thought he be able to go round again, even if it wasnt for arsenal. 

If he stays at the club, i hope he stays in shape so he can boot up for next years FA cup final :)

Keeping him as a defense coach/motivator of some sort would be ideal.

Between removing him, Gibbs, Debuchy, Szczney, Sanogo, Jenkinson, Lucas Perez, David Ospina, Coquelin, WIlshere and Joel Campbell it's quite realistic that we'd save up to 400-500k in wages per week and still have a big squad and afford to bring in 3 or 4 quality players.

Coquelin isn't leaving.

The rest of those could feasibly all go though. In fact the only ones not definitely leaving are szczesny and wilshere, and if the rumours are to be believed both may well going. 

Szczesny has been linked with Juventus as Buffon's successor, such has his reputation grown at Roma. I would be doing our best to bring him back and succeed Cech but I do get a sense that bridges were burned 2 years ago and this loan thing has been an attempt to boost his value (which if true, has worked). 

I think Wilshere was in with a shot of re-signing but it seems the player himself is no longer keen.

BFG isn't retiring, we extended his contract last year. With a performance in that final he'll still be a useful squad player, rotation option for cup games especially if we're sticking with 3 at the back.

Good call on the wage bill, will be interesting to see what the impact is - although with Szy, Jack, Campbell all on loan we have had that wage bill subsidised all season.

It's a bit like Working for Families then

The sanogo ride is over.

He'll live on in our memories. 

Rumours that Gibbs is off to Newcastle, for 15m. 

Also talk that the Ox is close to re-signing. 

Wenger and Gazidis pictured in Nice, fanbase goes crazy as it's 30 mins drive from Monaco and Mbappe, but then rumours come out that we're bidding in the region of 40m for Jean Seri, a Nice midfielder. 

Certainly looks like we're very busy right now trying to sort our squad for next season.

I love that everyone is forgetting to mention the fact that Wenger had done a spot of shopping on the side. Cracked me up as I just don't ever think of him buying anything other than a red tie or a large puffer jacket for the next edition of impossible zips.

It's an interesting insight. Wenger was quoted as saying he was planning for next season months ago, and that his future was irrelevant for planning for the future of the club. I think he's such a club man that he would be doing everything possible to set things up for the future as best as possible if he did suddenly depart. Give the rarity of players at ECL level I can't imagine a new manager would come in and change his targets too drastically.

We seem to really be trying for Mbappe which is astounding really, given the fees being bandied about. Just not our usual style to be in these big transfer fee battles. 

If we were to get him, wow, that would be unbelievable. 

Just think of all the Hanson references we can make with him!

So it's early June and we've confirmed Kolasinac has signed while Sanogo is gone. Early business indeed.

Expecting to see a few more of the wider squad moved on over the next few weeks, while The Ox, Sanchez, Ozil contract situation carries on.

Kolasinac sounds like a really really good signing......Gibb pretty much gone then i'd say, if we get 15mill of newcastle that would be insane bit of business

Bellerin made some weird comments about Barca in an interview the other day, and the rumour mill has exploded. ESPNFC even reporting that multiple sources in Spain are saying he's agreed terms for a return. 

We have him seriously locked in to a very long contract - 6 years I think. The fee for a move would have to be MASSIVE. 

The Ox looking blimmin amazing as a wingback in our new formation would soften the blow somewhat, but I'd prefer us to keep Bellerin for sure. 

Things went south very quickly in the last couple of months for Bellerin, excellent FA Cup final performance aside. The fans chanting that he wasn't fit to wear the shirt at Palace was a real slap in the face for the lad, I hope that isn't what is driving this. 

He's a Barcelona boy who started out there. Like Fabregas before him, he was always going to end up back there if he turned out to be any good. "DNA" and "only on loan" and all that will start up eventually. Great player who should be part of our side for a long time to come of course, but would rather sell for a massive fee now than go through all that again.