Sell Silverstre or Sendy? Why not keep both?
Silvestre won't fetch much money in the market, while no one seems really keen on getting Sendy after Milan decided not to keep him. He's a decent backup, and if no good offer comes along let's just keep him to beef up the bench. After all, with our injury-prone squad it's better to have a surplus of players.

Diaby, good lad... great determination, but we'll see how he fits in. There's every chance he could do a Flamini and nail down a place in the starting 11 next season. With this team you'll never know.

I don't think Ramsey's or Wilshere's time is due yet... They'll need to stamp their authority in the CC again to impress. Not everyone is a Fabregas and neither of them are ready at the moment. With Nicky (possibly Vela too) now a firm member of the first team, it's likely that our next CC team will consist of players like Jay Simpson, JET, Merida, Nacer as the attacking force, while Ramsey and Jack continue to pull the strings in midfield.

So bro, you do not foresee anyone from the reserves will be promoted?

I guess you are right about Bendtner and Vela - they were only promoted in recent seasons.


Retaining both Silvestre and Sendy is good - especially Sendy as I have high hope on him too. In the end, it's the $$$ factor to determine their stays. If we are sound financially to keep them both, I have no complaint


Diaby vs Flamini? No doubt, before Flamini made himself worthy, AW was about to sell him (or played him off position). Somehow, Flamini had raised his bar to impress everyone on the LB position. The season after that, he once again impressed the whole world in the MC/DMC position.

Can Diaby do the same? Only time to tell... but yes, he is in similar position like Flamini once was

Not really foresee the reserves to be promoted so soon. Our current team aren't stable yet. Promoting them so soon and give them too much will hinder our midfield a little. I guess we need to get the best out of current team and put the reserves in during certain games or a comfortable lead. I know they might pull some strings, buts its still better for the first 11 to gain confidence and understanding before slotting a guinea pig between them.

Sendy wise, i still hope he could at least retain the world cup form which in my POV, he's not dat bad afterall.

Diaby? Seriosly, he really need to walk the talk. Not only in training, but in the pitch itself. Still its good to hear he is training hard to gain a place in first 11 instead of partying with the likes of paris hilton during the break.

wat happen to birchcoff? i dun even know how 2 write his name

Bischoff u mean?Just like wilshere,ramsey and those people.Should play in carling cup or any other matches aren't consider so important or AW wanted to rest his first teamer.

The team is far too crowded in midfield now.Even those player u think should play could not be in the team since Rosicky is back,Arshavin is now eligible every game next season,Fabregas is our captain,Nasri is our surpriser and playmaker,Song is to do DM job,Denilson to steals the ball,Diaby to fill up the space,Ramsey,Wilshere,Bischoff and others to get their first teamer anytime.

Dont think we should get another midfielder anytime anymore.

I would love to see some reserves being promoted, it's just that competition in our first team is too fierce. Not forgetting that our players that rose through the ranks often do it in a gradual way, i.e. start off with CC games, then get regular 10-20 minute substitute time every weekend, and finally squeeze into the first team or remain as bench players (or sold).

With so many youngsters around, it's highly likely that a big portion of them will never make it into our first team. If those who get sold manage to carve a decent career elsewhere, like how Sid previously did for Reading, then I'd still be happy for them. You know what, since Sid is not getting as many games for Villa, maybe we could take him back

To be honest, I wouldn't say Flamini impressed everyone in LB. He was no doubt solid, but he's no Ashley Cole back then. I'm very happy that Flamini made it big with us in midfield during his last season, although he's nowhere near the very best (like Makelele, Essien etc) before he left. If the threat of being sold would stimulate Diaby to give us one final top class season then it might not be such a bad thing after all.

Arsenal Star Andrey Arshavin Wants To End Career At Zenit St Petersburg
The diminutive forward would like to go home, but not just yet...



Source: http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/06/...eer-at-zenit-st

Bischoff IINM already moved out

on the subject of Matty, yes he was probably not as good as the best in the world in the position i.e. the Essien of this world but he doesn't really have to be the best, right? he just need to compliment the other 3 players in the midfield area well and this will (or in this case, already) bring out the best from our midfield. and we had the best midfield in the league on the season before last for me, nothing from other teams can compare to us

and i do not know what you are doing SG comparing Matty to Makalele. 2 completely different type of player and one can argue both also not playing in the same position. Makalele is text-book sample of pure DM, and a very excellent 1 at that. while Matty is more to a CM

toshio14 is right. if i'm not mistaken bischoff signed a 1 year deal with us and i don't recall any news about him re-signed. although i do think he's still with us til August (that's when he signed for us).

looking at some reserves game that he played, he is quite good at CM. Don't know if AW wants to keep him. his injury been bothering him all of last season.

btw, i hope RVP is fine now that he removed his wisdom tooth already. there are some evidence that the tooth could cause various muscle problems. Maybe Rosicky also need to remove the tooth. hahahaha

better yet.. make it mandatory to all players who wanna sign with us.

i still dont see how a tooth can cause muscle problems! hmm, better check with my parents, they are doctors after all =P

lols
make it mandatory?
then we can conclude that
vermaelen is the last signing for the gunners.

I too regard Matty as a CM, but people often regard his role as a DM (I never liked this term) hence the comparison to Makelele. But my point was that Matty was merely good (in fact, very good) for us last season but he is nowhere near the level of the very best midfielders in the world that provides defensive cover for the backline.

Bischoff moved out? Never heard anything official about that on arsenal.com but he seems pretty keen to move on. I'd like to see more of him as he did put in some interesting displays in his limited appearances, but with so many players in front of him he'll have to come up with something spectacular.

There are news coming out from France that PSG is keen to take Amaury Bischoff to their team. It was initially known that the deal might be a cash + swap deal where Wenger is keen to bring in a very talented young striker from PSG. But the bid was rejected and no further update can be found regarding this deal.

---

Added on June 23, 2009, 2:16 amWell, we can only wait on the youngsters. If they are not good enough, then they will not make the team. When talking about youngsters at Arsenal, there are a few groups.

1. The closest group to the first team will have to be the group comprising Barazite, Merida, Randall, Gibbs, Ramsey, Simpson etc.
2. The second group will be the winners of the recent FA Youth Cup, comprising Wilshere, JET, Frimpong, Henderson, Murphy, Watt, Sunu, Bartley, Coquelin, Lansbury etc.
3. Then, we have next season's under 18s, i.e Benik Afobe, Aneke, Ansah, McDermott, Ozyakup, Miquel etc.
4. Lastly, we have the academy side.

In the first group, I would have to say goodbye to Randall and probably Simpson. I really can't see Randall making the grade because he is not a playmaker, nor is he a good tackling central midfielder. As for Simpson, it might probably be down to the fierce competition in the striker's department. Merida and Barazite still need more experience and would probably go out on loan again or make it as first choice for the Carling Cup competition.

The rest of the groups aren't ready yet so no comment can be made about them being able to make the grade or not.

Well, next season would be "make or break" for some players, particularly Diaby and Adebayor (if he stays of course). Senderos is very likely a gone case to be honest as Wenger has spent 3 seasons sticking by him but he never seems to go beyond a certain limit since the Champions League final in 2006.

Oh ya, do you still remember the Youtube clips which show some of Flamini's crunching tackles for AC Milan? Flamini was actually playing at right back for Milan for quite a number of games and in these clips, Flamini was playing as a RB, not a DM.

This post has been edited by kevlinefm: Jun 23 2009, 02:16 AM

Yeah, saw that in other forums as well. If Matty manages to forge career as a defender in Milan then good for him.

Bischoff's PSG link... wonder which PSG dude le Boss was interested in... Maybe someone else rather than those quoted in rumours.

No lar, it's a young striker (under 16s) which is very highly rated but kept in secrecy by PSG to fend off any possible interest by bigger clubs.

New Arsenal Signing Vermaelen Wants Fabregas' Armband
Wenger's latest recruit is already eyeing extra responsibility...



Father Of Nicklas Bendtner Rubbishes Roma Rumours
The Dane is going nowhere, claims Bendtner senior...



Robin Van Persie Close To Agreeing Contract Extension With Arsenal - Report
The Netherlands international striker could put pen-to-paper on a new deal at the Emirates Stadium at some point this week...



Source:http://goal.com/en/teams/england/94/arsenal-news

very optimistic and competitive guy...i hope to see him get it oneday..

guys,

among TV, kolo & willy, who will get first team partnership?

I prefer kolo & willy.

hmm... dunno if i agree with another captain change next season. I'd leave it to fabregas. Maybe vermaelen can be 2nd choice. in that case, that'll move kolo further down to 3rd choice then. hmmm...

anyway, about the PSG rumors, yeah AW eyeing this young striker from their academy but has since cool off. I think he takes a good look at the academy and realises just how much fire power he got there. ehehehe..

I'd like Bischoff to stay and fight for a place in the team. I think he is a good CM. He has showed glimpses of Gattuso-like play style. I like it.

This post has been edited by sakaito: Jun 23 2009, 04:25 PM

captaincy-wise, i don't think there'll be any major changes in the pecking order with cesc, kolo and almunia being the top three. the rest, is anyone's pick.

it's reported that RvP has signed a new contract, keeping him until 2013.

first-team defence partnership, my guess is that its kolo/gallas and vermaelen. there's all sorts of rumours surrounding kolo and gallas leaving, and it wouldn't surprise me if one of them goes. it's well-documented that they don't get along and the sooner that gets resolved the better.

there's also rumours that AW's planning a 30 mil double swoop for sneijder and huntelaar from the real madrid mega sale. while this would be fantastic, i doubt that we have that kind of money, unless we sold adebayor for 25 mil. not to mention the probable 15 mil for felipe melo.

so if those three of melo, sneijder and huntelaar comes, then we could have a lineup of:

almunia
sagna toure/gallas vermaelen clichy
walcott/sneijder cesc melo nasri/arshavin
rvp huntelaar

not bad at all!