(The not-so-temporary quite-official) Gooner Thread

No one's denied that. Yet.

Leggy: arguing against strawmen arguments since 1936.

I didn't say he didn't. Just that Wenger's record combined with his talk about his entire plan with Ramsey's parents sealed this particular deal. For a young kid and his parents making such a massive decision about his future, Ferguson by assuming it was a done deal just because it was United and just sending a player to show him the training ground and not even meeting him in person probably didn't make them appear as serious about him.

Fuck sakes. Good morning world, here are the top two soccernet headlines.

England confirm Ox knee ligament injury

Torres: 'Cesc can be a leader at Chelsea'

Dear me. Of all the clubs, please not Chelsea. Surely he knows how disgusted everyone will be!

Ox is up to three weeks according to somewhere so not as bad as initially thought (TFFT).

Yeah, I did go on and read that after my post which is a bit better.

Mainly though, the Cesc to Chelsea rumour is awful. One one hand, they just let Mata go - why bring in Cesc? On the other hand, they just let Lampard go. I wouldn't think of Cesc as a mourinho type, but he'd probably do it just to piss us off.

       Matic        Cesc

              Oscar

Willian                 Hazard 

              Costa

Not bad really.

Yip, solid top four.

Maybe we start a kick start campaign to fund him coming home? I'd put in some coin to make sure he wasn't in a blue shirt.

Doesn't sound too bad for Ox thankfully. Was scared I was going to come online this morning and read he was out for 12 months.

Haha, oh man. Brumbys I had the exact same thought earlier this morning. Seeing him in England in anything but an Arsenal top would be the hardest thing, to be honest. And all of the rumours are pointing towards England being his destination.

Wonder what happened to that famous "Barcelona DNA." So strong he's leaving them for the second time. Funny how when he forced his way out of Arsenal we weren't allowed to invite any other clubs to bid up the price but now it's allowed to be a free-for-all on the open market.

Haha, we get it, you don't like Cesc. Or at least are more pragmatic / less romantic about it. He's one of very few big players I have no bad blood with who have left Arsenal in the last few seasons.

I felt like Cesc was a professional the entire time. He loves Arsenal, he always had. Barcelona was just a different kettle of fish, and he had to go there. It's not his fault he isn't enjoying it as much as he wanted, or that there has been some instability both in managers at the club, and how they've used him. There is absolutely no doubt, that if he's leaving, he'd prefer Arsenal. He watches every single Arsenal game live or recorded. He loves Arsenal, and there aren't many players out there like that. I can't imagine him even wanting to play for Chelsea. But it's a job right? I'll admit, I never thought van Persie would leave for Manchester United, wrongly assuming there was some emotional connection with the fans. I hope that doesn't happen with Cesc.

He has to play. He likes England. If Arsenal aren't going to come and get him, what is he to do? He can't sit and rot at a club with a manager that is seemingly keen to get rid of him. I'd prefer he stayed there and fought for his place, since he wanted to go there so much, but it just doesn't seem likely. What seems more likely is that he will end up looking like this pictures below, and basically that's the worst thing ever.

Pretty much sums it up for me HW, including the bit about van Persie.

I saw pique made a comment off camera that was still recording that feb has already gone for 33mil. He didn't say where tho

*fab not feb. Autocorrect bollocks

Yeah, saw that. Possibly a ruse? I don't know for what reason, but just seems a little orchestrated, or at least suspicious. I do recall how much those Barca players ran their mouths during that Cesc transfer saga, maybe it will start again?

A BBC reporter stated that we've refused our first refusal option, so guess it's not to Arsenal.

If we were going to make one big name signing this off-season, would you rather Cesc or a Benzema/Cavani/Mandzukic?

Cesc for me wanted to leave, we have developed without him and would be no benefit starting him with Ramsay and Ozil in midfield compared to what we already play.

Oh man, just lost my post. That sucks.

Basically, I said no. I think, and expect, all holes that need filling to be filled and that buying cesc would be a luxury, but one that the board and Wenger would by now know if they can afford. And it seems that they can't, so have to deal with that. I just don't think it has to be a case of we have X, Y and Z playing these positions now, because every other team that is actually out there trying to win the big trophies have quality players in their depth. I know I am not entering a different arguement, so I'll come back to topic.

Cesc would be a luxury, like Ozil was. But he became pretty integral. I just can't stand the thought of him playing anywhere else in England.

I cant see how having csec would do anything other than make us better. But I agree with other comments on that he isnt at the top of our list of must buys.

Saying that. AW loves turning players into better players in different positions. Why not mould him into something we need.... just an idea.

I dont want to think of him in the epl and not with a canon on his chest. Makes me sad.

We should have signed Cesc for the simple fact it would  have made us stronger and not chelsea.

Does anyone else get the feeling it will be the same old transfer window where we get linked with everyone and dont sign anyone??

Chelsea have gone out and signed 2 world class players in Cesc and Costa while we have lost our world class Sagna

Not that i dont trust wenger or anything like that but sh*t annoys the crap out of me

You're talking like Cesc deal has been wrapped up? Has it?!   :(

No.

Mourinho has said they are monitoring the Fabregas issue, and that's as close as any real info as there is. everything else is media speculation and bullshit. I doubt if Fab would sign for the Chavs.  He really doesn't like Mourinho, and I think he would have plenty of offers outside the UK to look at.

just a recent example of what he thinks about the "special one"

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-city-vs-barcelona-cesc-3162596

more on Cesc

number of points raised in this article I agree with 

http://www.football365.com/f365-says/9339654/F365-Says

P_O_L yes I'd take Cesc back over the 3 players you mentioned, but yes we do need a new striker brought in. 

Oh yeah, that'd do.

Gazidis has been very vocal about transfers and that we're deep in negotiations and could see some signings before world cup kicks off...that'd be a miracle.

Cesc looks nailed on to go to Chelsea. Really disappointing this didn't happen last season as I'd rather have him than Ozil.

I would be absolutely shocked if we got one of those big name strikers.

Benzema interview:

Reports had suggested that Benzema could be sold to the Gunners as Real prepared to make a big-money move for Suarez.

But the French international hit man insists that, if anything, he will be playing alongside the Uruguayan at the Bernabeu next season.

He said: "The media can say what they want. I have a contract.

"I'm in Madrid and if I can stay all my life in Madrid, I will. I came here to win titles. If it depended on me, I would stay here forever. I don't want to go anywhere.

We needed him anout 4 years ago. hes not the answer now.

Cesc I'm not too sure if he would to to Chelsea either with the Mourinho factor. Fixtures out in a week or 2, the chance to look forward to when we beat the yids twice again

Good to hear Gazidis has figured out that you can buy players before the last week of the transfer window, though as mentioned above its usually timed with season tickets.