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

i'm expecting some deadline day drama

I'm picking that we sign Remy and maybe another CB.

If we go through against Besiktas and beat Leicester, then I'm super happy with the season's results so far.

As for the panicking on this thread... yikes

Since when does net spend include a sponsorship deal?

Fair point, more emphasizing the fact that we aren't the big spenders that we are made out to be. And I am specifically talking about the transfer window period. I get frustrated that we are so close to living up to the potential that the new stadium was meant to bring us but that for a matter of balancing the books rather than taking a risk we fall short again.

What strikers do you think Wenger has turned down in order to 'balance the books'?

What a load of tripe. We made two of the biggest purchases in the league over the last two seasons.

I have absolutely no idea, nor should I, about which centre forwards he has turned down but he has not delivered on any. For example last year when he allegedly went for Higuain and Suarez yet we ended up with a postie. As another example we have missed out on Alonso in the past because he didn't want to spend an extra few million. 

Not delivering on a big name striker is not evidence that Wenger is turning down players to 'balance the books'.

You're just making sh*t up mate.

We've had big money for basically one year, and in that time he's spend 100 million plus, as well as meeting a 40 mil release clause for bitey. In the year before that happened, we didn't have as much money but he still bought two strikers (Poldi was an out and out striker for Cologne at the time).

And care to provide any evidence on this bizarre Alonso rumour I've never heard of?

You're right paul, but I'm saying that he is not addressing the areas we need to because we have bought in other players. I'm happy to be proven wrong but I just don't buy into everything that the club and Wenger come out with.

Suarez was the only reason Liverpool got close in the league last year and the missing piece in the jigsaw is how we will fall short again this year. I would prefer to win it without going down the path of spending large amounts of money but the league has changed and you need to have the best players which requires top dollar. If Everton get Eto'o, both their number one and two centre forwards are better than ours in my opinion.

One link of a few I read about Alonso -

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/aug/04/arsenal.Liverpool

We tried to sign both Suarez and Higuain...doesn't that disprove your points?

Suarez wasn't going for any money last season and Higuain decided to go to Napoli instead.

I'll just re-quote this, because you cant bump posts.

I think before we start loosing our minds perhaps we could let the next 5 days unfold & see how Wenger goes in the transfer market...

I'm not sure people are moaning or in a big panic, but are just feeling that the squad probably hasn't quite got what it takes to win the league ciurrently. There are a couple of quite clear needs and based on the last decade, it's not unreasonable to be concerned that Wenger might leave us short in 1 or 2 positions again.

This quote makes him hard to take seriously: "All of our opponents look for strikers as well and nobody finds a world-class striker available who is better than the strikers you have."

Noone could find anyone better than what we or they have but Diego Costa, Balotelli and Lukaku have all been signed by direct rivals this summer. In addition, City already have Aguero, Dzeko, Negredo and Jovetic while United have Rooney and Van Persie. We have Giroud who may now be out for 3 months and Sanogo who has never scored a goal. 

But there are still a few days left so maybe he'll pull out a surprise on deadline day like last summer. There's a lot riding on Thursday.

still think we missed out on Balo bigtime.....Any confirmed reports regarding Giroud???

apart from the striker issue.......we should have really signed up a DMF and CB already.

regardless of happens and doesnt happen over the next few days, i'll still be supporting the lads every game

am I laughing or crying

It's going to be a good season team.Have faith. 

Pride of London, specific to Suarez the Liverpool owner/CEO told lies to deny the transfer. Wenger/Arsenal did what legally he was supposed to do to trigger the release. It wasn't a lack of spending that was the issue here. For sure you could be correct about other players, personally I don't know.

Wenger's ability to sign center-forwards? Probably (looking historically) not his strong suit. I think Reyes could have been 'better' but IMO did not want to live/play in England. No matter how good a coach / trainer you are that is a fairly tough hurdle. 

righto, a win on Thursday is certainly important:) but so is breathing deeply...

Was in the Arsenal end on Saturday and it was great fun - the difference between the home fans and away fans (at every club) is substantial, and the Arsenal fans made great noise all through the game.  Even at 2-0 down.  Everything that I read about the match spoke of how unlucky Everton were, but for me, they didn't really create a lot, and scored a potentially decisive goal following a foul and an offside.  Especially in the 2nd half, Arsenal could have comfortably put the game to bed.

Nah i'm happy we didn't get him. Would have been ok for 16m i suppose but he is not the player some are making him out to be.

champions League draw live on espn thursday 4:00am

I thought there was still qualifiers over 2 days this week

we won't get Wellbeck  which is a good thing anyway

Not at all keen on Remy

Get that Obafemi Martins in I say, a proven big game player

It's been a while foal!

Worth a go

It all went to shit when Tommy Smyth said Wenger should sign him in 2010

lol

He's still only about 25 isn't he?!

A young 25 at that.

Sky News UK says Giroud broken ankle :((

No good. Need Podolski stay and hopefully Walcott not to far away.

That leaves us light up top. Who is going to step up? Sanchez? Sanogo? Campbell?

Aaand Reid seems to back on our radar again, not sure if there is any substance to it tho.

Getting Walcott back will be excellent. 

He is one I feel can excel leading the line, particularly with Ozil, Ramsey and Sanchez all in the side as well.

               Walcott

Sanchez  Ozil   Cazorla

   Ramsey   Flamini/Arteta

most assists in european leagues since 2010

For those highlighting our inability to spend, financial issues, blah blah blah:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premie...

Look at that list. Sanchez & Ozil are 2 of the most expensive players to hit the premier league, and given some of the flops on there I'm stoked with the quality we bought.

There is still time in this transfer window, and Giroud's injury is yet to be confirmed it's just 'suspected' and 'getting seen by a specialist'.

Don't forget how important winning tomorrow is for securing extra funding, and extra transfers, and no signing of Remy/Cavani/Reid is going to help in that match, it's with the squad at hand.

Stay calm, support the Arsenal.

Worth another re-quote!

It was this sort of rageing that kept me out of this thread for most of last season

And Afobe makes it 3-0!!

And now 4-0!

Haha that's awesome. Massive game tomorrow. Let's do this!

Still doesn't say which game is the live one on ESPN.

Giroud confirmed broken bone in ankle

Out for the rest of 2014 so worse than the 3 months we were initially told

This is just what's being reported on arseblog

http://news.arseblog.com/2014/08/giroud-ruled-out-...

Live on tv tomorrow

Often Sky don't update their guide in time, so I check here;

http://intltv.espn.com/on_air/tv_listings#tvl_resu...

Select ESPN Pacific Rim for us. 

Cool thanks Paul, I checked the ESPN Australia site and the teams still weren't listed. "Appointment" booked into outlook so people are not expecting me in the office early tomorrow!

If Giroud is out for half the season then there is no excuse to not sign anyone. We cannot go into a season with an injury prone kid who has never scored a goal as our centre forward. Forget about the Giroud upgrade, we need at least a Remy/Bony type.

We really are cursed with injuries aren't we? How is it even possible to break your ankle from that? And Giroud is not even injury prone. Diaby you could understand.