72 mins and Nagoya have a goal back. 3-1.

I think the most interesting thing in this pre-season tour, apart from the emergence of Zelalem, is how much Sagna is playing at CB.

FT: 3-1 - Giroud, Ryo and Theo with the goals.

Who else is there aside from Miquel??? I doubt he'd play there during the season but we know Wenger is a fan of converting players to new roles.

Bernard and Sonogo - is this another 'we're gonna be awesome in two years' transfer window? :roll:

Watched the game last night. Zelalem could be something special, J-League players are no mugs and he looked great

While that's true, Miquel hasn't played there at all in pre-season. Pretty sure Sagna has started all 3 games at CB and even when Miquel has started on the bench, so could've started at CB, Sagna started there. Not saying he'll be a regular there obviously, more so just for added depth, and to know that he can play there if needed. He did play there against Sunderland and put in a ridiculous performance. Could be a good move for him later in his career because he's not getting any younger.

If me moved permanently to CB it would also mean we wouldn't be subjected to his diabolical crossing anymore :lol:

Starting to get that feeling too.
From the sound of things Bernard is probably good enough to become a regular during the course of next season but probably not a world beater yet.

Really hope we still snatch at least one of Fellaini or Higuain.



All these rave reviews and he's barely even 16.
Exciting prospect but you would have to think he would be going on a few loan spells before becoming an Arsenal first team player.

Edited by neanderthal: 23/7/2013 02:25:48 PM

Don't think he'll be going out on loan this season. I'd expect him to get some gametime in the League Cup. Hate to say it but the way he plays is very Cesc-esque. As soon as he gets the ball he's looking to play a pass forward, and the pass he laid on for Theo's goal was the kind of pass between the fullback and CB Cesc used to love so much.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 23/7/2013 07:51:39 PM

Higuain looks set to join Napoli.

Reports in Brazil that the only thing between us and getting Bernard is Atletico Mineiro wanting him back on loan until the end of their season which would mean he'd join up during the January transfer window.

Also a story about how Arsene wants Cesc, Fellaini and Suarez to form some kind of dream team :lol: Just imagine a midfield and front line like this



I know it won't happen, but fuck me :lol:

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 24/7/2013 10:50:14 AM

We will sign nobody of note, my hopes were up but fading fast.
Prove me wrong Arsene [-o<

Sydcro would it not be preferable (in the ideal situation those signings happened) to have Jack holding and Cesc in the playmaker?

Yeah that's how i would have it

You could have it either way, both could play in either position equally as good so wouldn't really matter.

David Ornstein(@bbcsport_david) has this to say

Just :lol: at the fact we offered £40 plus £1 pound for Suarez :lol: also would be nice if manage to get Bernard,Luis and maybe fellani . Any more news about the rumoured song to arsenal return ?

All I have to say about any rumour involving Song coming back, fuck off.

Oh I agree sydcro ,but press put two and two together . Wish we to for bender but we need to offer more .

:shock: That is cheap!

He's not worth 50m so we need him to agitate for the move to bring the price tag down... having said this I'm still not certain I want him at our club.

There's two key things about this bid that surprise me. 1) that we will go so hard for a guy like Suarez and 2) that we'd be so antaganistic as to bid just 1 pound over to trigger an internal ruction.

It speaks to a number a far greater ambition than we've ever shown in the market before and also to a departure from our 'Bank of England' etiquate towards transfer business. This is the kind of behaviour that we would've railed City for a couple of seasons ago.

Interesting.

I still fail to see how 40m for Suarez is cheap. He's suspended for a month to a month and a half. He's moody enough to either piss off or piss you off. He's not a young up-n-comer. Cesc is apparently worth 34m to Manure (I know, different player). Just seems ludicrous to me.

It was a poor attempt at a joke. 40 + 1... nevermind.

He's worth 40m but not sure (with his propensity to miss games) that he's worth 50m

Oh I wasn't referring to your 40+1 or whatever - just in general I fail to see how he's worth that much period.

so higauin at 30-35m or suarez at 45-50m.

15m extra for proven premier league, but bat shit crazy ball hog.

if were spending 50m why not just buy rooney?

Edited by beersandwich: 25/7/2013 01:35:52 PM

You're not playing an extra 15m just for Premier League experience, the big thing Suarez has over Higuain is that he can play anywhere across the front line and I think that's what interests Arsene the most.

As for Rooney, his wages would be the stumbling block.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 25/7/2013 02:31:47 PM

You're also paying to release him from a 3year contract... RvP is worth more than 24m but he was on his last year so that's why he was sold so 'cheaply'.

Reality is we're needing an absolute top class finisher AND a top class DM to be a legitimate title contender. A better gk and a back up CB would make certain of it (imo) but the current squad are 3-4th.

Next season we need to be going into MUFC etc games knowing we will win - not hoping for a win. These signings bring quality but above all they'll bring belief!

If you guys double our money for Suarez you can have him.

any more news about bernard ?

Watched bits of the Copa Libertadores final the other day, seems like a bit of a hot-head unfortunately.

Edited by gooner4life_8: 26/7/2013 10:12:08 PM

Arsenal 19 - Asia 3

I didn't watch it so I can't really comment, but RVP was a lunatic when he was young, so if Bernard comes to Arsenal I'm sure Arsene will straighten him out ;)