[video=youtube;t0AKC3wZdw4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0AKC3wZdw4[/video] [video=youtube;tN1mUXktlaM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN1mUXktlaM[/video]
- Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc has accused Arsenal of not being serious in their attempts to sign striker Marouane Chamakh. The Gunners have reportedly bid £6m for the 25-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, but the French club want about £10m. - "Do Arsenal really want Chamakh? It is exactly the question that I ask myself and I believe no," said Blanc. "Frankly, I believe if they really want him, he could join them within 48 hours." - Bruce has also said Sunderland have ended their interest in Chamakh. - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he is interested in signing Fulham defender Brede Hangeland but said the club are yet to make an offer for the 28-year-old Norwegian. - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he is more worried about Aston Villa this season than he is about Manchester City and said that Mark Hughes' side will not break into the Premier League's top four. - Wenger also believes that 17-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere can make the same impact as when Wayne Rooney first played for Everton. - Arsenal will no longer be chasing Patrick Viera.
- Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia believes defender Kolo Toure left the Gunners because he was "bored" and fears the same could happen with captain Cesc Fabregas. - Sunderland are set to make a second attempt to prise Lee Cattermole from Wigan Athletic. - Manager Roy Hodgson fears for Brede Hangeland's Fulham future after Arsenal admitted an interest in the Norwegian defender. - Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc has questioned Arsene Wenger's desire to sign Marouane Chamakh and says he could have the striker within "48 hours" if he really wanted him. - Arsene Wenger has stressed that the looming Champions League qualifier against Celtic will carry a crucial significance for Arsenal from a sporting rather than financial perspective.
- Theo Walcott has been named to the English national team's upcoming roster v. Holland. - Arsenal winger Theo Walcott says being part of a successful England team at the World Cup next year next year is more important to him than winning trophies with the Gunners this season.
I would have rather offloaded Gallas, than Toure. Toure has really pissed me off with his comments about lack of leadership within the team. That's what you were supposed to be fuckwit! If you have a problem with lack of leadership, it's your fault!
Pretty sure he was talking about how management let everyone from the perfect team go, and he was the last one and he wanted more experienced players to play with..
- Barcelona are preparing a variety of tactics in an attempt to capture Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, with a fund of at least £25m and a number of fringe players set to be offered.
- Midfielder Patrick Vieira will stay at Inter Milan rather than take up the chance of a return to England with either Tottenham or Arsenal. - Barcelona have warned their fans that they will not spend over the odds to bring Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas back to the Nou Camp. - Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has told Arsenal they will have to stump up £15m if they are to take centre-back Brede Hangeland across London. - Everton are still hopeful of landing Arsenal's Switzerland international defender Philippe Senderos. - Arsenal are to step up their interest in Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul after the Dutchman's impressive opening-day performance against West Brom. - Arsenal have made a final, £8m bid for Marouane Chamakh, giving Bordeaux a 'take it or leave it'.
- Arsenal are on the trail of 6ft 4in Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic, with chief executive Ivan Gazidis ready to make a £12m offer for the 20-year-old Serb who is also attracting interest from Everton. - Fulham are adamant that defender Brede Hangeland will not leave unless Arsenal shatter the club's £12m transfer record, which was paid by Manchester United for Louis Saha. - Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul is being monitored by a host of Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Portsmouth, Wigan, Hull and Sunderland. - Any hope Arsenal's Spanish-born goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has of playing for England if they qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals appears to be over after the coach of the national side Fabio Capello dismissed the idea.
Fabregas would be another move that I just don't understand for Barcelona. You already have Xavi, Toure, Kieta, Busquets, and Iniesta for the central midfield spots. Why spend all that money on a redundant player?
It's moot, anyway. £40-million is ten more than Barca want to pay and probably ten less than what Arsenal would accept--if they wanted to sell him, which they don't.