Agree 100% SydCro.

Out of all the signings in recent seasons this is similar to one of Arsenal's best signings in Walcott.

So... Nasri was too injured for the Benfica game but he's fit enough to join the France squad.. Hmm

We prefer to do it privately, and fans get so used to other clubs doing it more publicly that they just assume if we aren't coming out publicly and saying we are chasing this player and that player they just assume we aren't doing anything.

Also on another note we need someone strong and a very tough player, we need someone like viera, yeh we have song and diaby but frimpong playing them friendlies showed that type of player, if we were to sign Samba i dont think we would be doing too bad, im not sure about the jagielka/cahill thing, yeh there good cb's but we need dominant cb's and a leader to wear that armband without fear!

what do you guys think about the above then?

really you'd rather lose nasri then cesc? hmm

Joel Campbell deal is also apparently close to being done. Though it's been close most of this pre season I guess. I'm liking the young core of English players we got going on. However again, patience is gonna be required before we start turning this potential into trophies. Though as mentioned above, these English players are more likely to actually stick around than run off to other European clubs so that can only be a good thing.

As for Nasri and Cesc. It's hard to tell. I think Nasri can ultimately fuck off. I don't see him sticking around. It's bad for the team in my opinion. If City pay up he can leave. I think we have plenty of players who can play that position. Maybe not enough experienced depth though? Arshavin, Walcott(who wants to move into the centre), Gervinho are the most experience. But bring an injury to one or 2 of them and it's a bit more difficult.

As for Cesc. I've already said it before. I actually hope Barca pay up so he can leave. I don't want to lose a player that important to our game and finding a player to actually come in and have the same impact on the team is nigh on impossible. But it's gone on long enough. He clearly wants to go and I hope he gets to. Wilshere and Rambo are machines in the midfield but in my opinion we need a proven, experienced player to take the reigns if Fab leaves. Who would be capable of that? No fuuucking idea. But we would need to find him.

players like Tevez that want to leave but put in there all to get the team the results i respect so much, but i dont think fab is doing that,

nope not at all, hes lost faith a while ago, and you can see it from the 2009/10 season

[size=7]Miyaichi granted work permit to play for Club[/size]

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that Ryo Miyaichi has been granted the work permit he requires to play first-team football for the Club this season.

The 18-year-old arrived in January and spent last season on loan at Dutch club Feyenoord in order to help his adjustment to European football, while awaiting the clearance needed to represent Arsenal in the UK.

An FA panel met on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium to decide the case and heard from Arsène Wenger, who was in attendance, before granting the work permit on the grounds that Ryo is an ‘exceptional talent’. Supporting testimonials were also sent by the Japan Football Association, which significantly helped the process.

Miyaichi has impressed greatly during pre-season and featured in all matches played outside the UK, but now he has been authorised a work permit which means that he is free to play for Arsenal in the UK.

Upon hearing the news, Arsène Wenger said: “We are absolutely delighted that Ryo has been granted a work permit. This is almost like a new signing for us, as we weren’t completely sure we would be given the authorisation. Ryo has worked extremely hard in pre-season and performed very well during the matches in Asia, Germany and Portugal.

Wenger continued: “Ryo has natural technical ability. He has good balance and phenomenal pace, and his passing and crossing is consistently of a high quality. He is a very exciting player. He had a successful time with Feyenoord in the Netherlands last season, who gave him the opportunity to play regularly, and we’re looking forward to his contribution this coming season with Arsenal.”

Miyaichi will be eligible to play for the first team as soon as the formalities of the paperwork are completed.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/miyaichi-granted-work-permit-to-play-for-club

Personally I thought Fabregas was lackluster last season. He didn't have that spark anymore. Fair play to him though, he hasn't thrown a fit or complained even once. Midfield isn't our problem, we have plenty of creative players and with Ramsey and Wilshere stepping into the light then we can afford to lose either Fabregas or Nasri.

Frankly I think we need a decent defender ASAP. No more kids Mr Wenger! We need men. That said, Djorou (I can't spell his name lol) was great last season so I think we only need one commanding centre half. No-one particularly skillful, just a big, scary thug is all we need.

“I think both are close to leaving,” said the Moroccan international striker. “The manager is looking for replacements, has not found them, and before letting [Fabregas and Nasri] go, he wants to have someone to fill each of their positions.

“Nasri has just one year left on his contract. If they do not sell him, he will leave for free in the summer. Is the club disposed to reject £18 million to keep a player that good for just one year? It is strange that a club like Arsenal has not made him sign a contract earlier.