The Arsenal FC thread

Hybrid · May 10, 2009

Others may make threads for their own teams if they wish.

This one is purely for Arsenal talk on the club, transfers, news, etc etc. Any attacks against the club will not be tolerated.

Anyway, it's now the end of the 2009 season and we haven't won a trophy since the 2005 which was the FA Cup. This should be a cause for concern. Earlier this year, Arsene said that the team is "one or two percent" away from becoming as good as the Invincibles side.

TBH, I don't believe him. There are massive issues with our defence and some areas of our midfield. There's also the issue of whether we will be able to hold onto some of our players during the summer transfer window.

Can you see the club winning any trophy at all next season? Which players do you think we should be looking at?

Bibu07 · May 10, 2009

Is Eboue to leave in next window?

Hybrid · May 10, 2009

This guy tried to buy out the club from Arsenal Holdings PLC last summer and failed. He's back again.

Usmanov: Time For Action
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/299149/USMANOV-TIME-FOR-ACTION.html

THE final battle of the Arsenal Cold War has begun with Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov firing the first shot in the wake of Wednesday night's humbling Champions League exit.

In a rare interview, Usmanov said he believes Arsenal are lagging way behind their main English rivals and are in urgent need of the major investment he has promised.

He has seen American tycoon Stan Kroenke significantly increase his stake and overtake the Russian as the club's biggest single shareholder.

Now Usmanov has urged the club's board to tell him just what is going on - and insisted the time has come to spend heavily after last week's trouncing by Manchester United.

"I love Arsenal but, unfortunately, it was not a good result," he admitted. "United have a player like Ronaldo who is very strong and quick and that is a big problem for our defence. At times it was a bit like men against boys.

"Does the club need to take a step up? Of course. To be first in the world, to be first in Europe, you must have a much stronger bench.

"Look at United on Wednesday night. They had at least Â£100million in talent sitting on the bench."

Despite being a major shareholder at Arsenal, Usmanov admitted he was perplexed and left in the dark over boardroom maneuverings.

He said: "What is going on in the boardroom and with the shares? We don't understand anything. We read the papers to find out."

The situation has created a power vacuum at the club and it remains to be seen how much pressure will be put upon manager Arsene Wenger to change his transfer policy when the ownership issue is finally resolved.

Arsenal go into today's game against Chelsea with big question marks about just how the club moves on from another season without a trophy.

And goalkeeper Manuel Almunia claims the time has come for Wenger to bring in some more experience. Almunia admitted: "Everybody is concerned by what happened against United. We need to be critical and do some self-analysis because Arsenal is a big club and we are not here to lose every time.

"I can't tell you the solution. The boss is the one who understands this club best. He is one of the best coaches in the country but there are some teams out there who have more power and better knowledge of the big games.

"Maybe it's because these teams have more players with the experience of playing in major finals - maybe that's the solution. Five years without a trophy is a long, long time. It's too much for the fans. They deserve something more. Every time a team is in a bad moment, you need someone to find a solution."

Wenger already has Â£40m to bolster his squad plus a further Â£28m if Emmanuel Adebayor is sold.

And players including Liverpool's Xabi Alonso, West Ham's Matthew Upson and Juventus centre-half Giorgio Chiellini are under consideration.

But potentially the most significant activity at Arsenal in the next couple of months will happen in the boardroom. Usmanov heads investment vehicle Red and White Holdings, which has accumulated a 25 per cent stake in Arsenal, mainly from buying out former chief executive David Dein.

But although Usmanov has recently been welcomed as a guest at the club, he has been denied a seat on the board.

In contrast, American Kroenke is on the board and having recently acquired shares from Danny Fiszman and the Carr family, is now in pole position with 28 per cent of the club.

If the American buys up a further two per cent, he would be compelled to launch a takeover bid, although Usmanov's stake gives him "blocking rights" over a full buy-out.

The key to who ends up running Arsenal may be in the hands of Lady Bracewell-Smith, who has a 15.9 stake but was thrown off the board late last year.

As it stands, Kroenke and Usmanov could join forces to take over the club with, perhaps, Dein being cast as the honest broker and returning as chairman.

Whether Wenger would be tempted to spend big to strengthen his squad is open to debate because he believes his team have made huge strides this season, despite the lack of silverware.

Too many defeats during the opening weeks of the Premier League meant a title bid never really got off the ground, although an unbeaten run since November 22 has seen them secure a Champions League place again.

Wenger said: "I feel we had to rebuild the team after last season, and that we had a stuttering start. However, we have now played 21 games with zero defeats.

"That means the team is developing well and has gone forwards.

"Of course, we do not forget that we are here to win things. For me, the two main trophies are the Premier League and the Champions League, which we did not win - but we are on the right way and did as well as we could.

"The only thing I know on my side with my staff is we worked harder than ever this year. We tried very hard to get the best out of the team."

Andrey Arshavin is struggling to shake off a virus ahead of today's clash, which means winger Samir Nasri will probably retain his place.

Frenchman Nasri said: "We can still clinch third place."
Click to expand...

SM · May 10, 2009

\_/

Let me be the first of many

Bibu07 · May 10, 2009

haha I was first dude.

kingdamo · May 10, 2009

\_/.

SuperNova · May 10, 2009

Good idea, but can't it just be kept in the EPL thread? This isn't really needed IMHO.

Bibu07 · May 10, 2009

imo its needed to keep Arsenal FC's chit chat to one thread, coz we lose the infos in EPL thread.

Bibu07 · May 10, 2009

After all this is a toptable club of EPL.

SM · May 10, 2009

Good idea, keep all undesirables into one thread...

Following in Hitler's footsteps IMO

jokes obv. no holocaust abuse meant

Bibu07 · May 10, 2009

undesirables - referring to?

SM · May 10, 2009

Arsenal supporters..... dense

deadlydemon · May 10, 2009

Bibu07 said: ↑

After all this is a toptable club of EPL.
Click to expand...

Top table? Arsenal hasn't been anywhere near the top of the table for years now.

Hybrid · May 10, 2009

Who is Alisher Usmanov?

Name: Alisher Burkhanovich Usmanov
Age: 55
Born: USSR
Nationality: Uzbek/Russian

- Usmanov is the co-owner of Metalloinvest and the chairman of a Gazprom subsidiary.
- He's the 19th richest man in Russia and the 91st richest man in the world.
- He currently owns 25% of Arsenal FC.

FYI: Usmanov's interest precipitated a 'lock-down' agreement by the Gunners' board, whereby Chairman Peter Hill-Wood announced that club directors could sell their stakes only to 'permitted persons' before April 2009 and had to give fellow board members 'first option' on shares until October 2012. However, there was a termination clause in the agreement in October 2010.

On the 20th October 2007, Arsenal fans marched towards the Emirates Stadium in protest of Alisher Usmanov's increasing involvement with the club.

loganb · May 10, 2009

Arsenal won't win the league until players like Fabregas and Clichy have matured a bit more. Now don't get me wrong here Fabregas is very mature already but he needs to have the maturity of someone like Henry imo.

Jabba · May 10, 2009

Player they need to buy is Dani Alves I can see him in a Arsenal shirt.

Hybrid · May 10, 2009

SuperNova said: ↑

Good idea, but can't it just be kept in the EPL thread? This isn't really needed IMHO.
Click to expand...

Just keeping all Arsenal talk to one thread. No rules against it ffs... make your own for Liverpool if you want.

SuperNova · May 10, 2009

Hybrid said: ↑

Just keeping all Arsenal talk to one thread. No rules against it ffs... make your own for Liverpool if you want.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying its against the rules, I'm just saying there isn't really much point in it..

Bibu07 · May 10, 2009

deadlydemon said: ↑

Top table? Arsenal hasn't been anywhere near the top of the table for years now.
Click to expand...

So you mean anyone can beat Gunners? ftw.

Bibu07 · May 10, 2009

loganb said: ↑

Arsenal won't win the league until players like Fabregas and Clichy have matured a bit more. Now don't get me wrong here Fabregas is very mature already but he needs to have the maturity of someone like Henry imo.
Click to expand...

Dunno abt clichy tho', fabregas needs to get some more experience to be precise.

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The Arsenal FC thread

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The Arsenal FC thread

Hybrid A Kolar

Bibu07 BI Immanuel

Hybrid A Kolar

SM MD Dorn

Bibu07 BI Immanuel

kingdamo DRP Taylor

SuperNova SJ Nova

Bibu07 BI Immanuel

Bibu07 BI Immanuel

SM MD Dorn

Bibu07 BI Immanuel

SM MD Dorn

deadlydemon TJL Webber

Hybrid A Kolar

loganb JEM Logan

Jabba HJ Bots

Hybrid A Kolar

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Bibu07 BI Immanuel

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