Where Do We Go From Here?

There's no point keeping him for another year after he's made it clear he'll be off when his contracts up. It'll be detrimental to the team if he's in and around the dressing room, we don't need a **** affecting the squad morale.

Sell:. RVP, Vela, Bendtner, Chamakh, Squillaci, Djourou, Mannone, Fabianski, Arshavin, Park and Denilson.

Buy: Higuain, M'Vila, Sakho, *GK*.

Make Vermaelen captain and Arteta/Sagna vice-captain, get Wilshere, Ox and Kosscielny on long term contracts.

That's what a club with ambition would do.

For me I would make changes to the formation as well as the squad. Utilise RVP's departure to change it up this season.

I would look to partner Poldi and Giroud up top together to compensate for RVP goals that we will miss.

Song/Arteta in a CM duo with wilshere/Ramsey filling in whilst finding form and fitness.

Theo pretty much said he is waiting to see what RVP does so he will no doubt bugger off too.

Play Gervinho/Santos left mid. Sign a true right mid to replace Walcott and let Chamberlain rotate with him.

Use RVP as a bargaining tool to get Dzeko into the deal or Walcott to get Sturridge.

Could see something like this working:




We would still need a RB, GK, ST (Sturridge or Dzeko)

No offence but, Christ that looks average. We need investment badly, ******* hell.

So depressing.

High quality AM is essential now.

We'll be there or there abouts for 4th with another decent signing or two.

So guys out of the quttro of forwards/strikers would you want to stay now after RVP annoucement - considering if we dont buy a replacement but decide to keep one of the lot below (through choice not because we cant off load them)


Vela / Bendtner / Chamack / Park

I would say Bendtner prob best goal scoring record of those four though Vela has better ball control - Chamack is dead to me and I think Park is like the ghost out of Six Sense he is around but not real.

Think we'll probably see something like this at the start of the season, assuming that no other new faces are brought in until then:

----------Szczesny-----------
Sagna(if fit)-Kos-Verms-Gibbs
--------Song--Arteta--------
Gerv---------Ox-------Podolski
----------Giroud-------------

Think Theo will leave us, which means we'd be short of options on the wings since I don't expect Arsh to return, nor do I want him there, and with Jack being out and Ramsey not being available, it's safe to assume that Ox will be lined up as AM, with Podolski on the left and Gerv on the right.
We need more depth up front as well, without any question.

A new GK and RB (back-up) wouldn't be bad either, same with a new midfielder.

So much to do, again.

Walcott should be grateful he's playing for a club as big as Arsenal, it comes to something when a player like Theo ******* Walcott Isn't likely to sign a new deal. I tell you what, it might make us weaker in the short term, but I'll be glad when some of these ****s leave our club.

The likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Song reluctant to discuss a new contract, at ARSENAL? Just **** right off.

Yep, Theo Walcott bending us over a barrel would really symbolise rock bottom for me. Let's see how that pans out.

Giroud+Podolski>RVP - RVP's quality but why can't he do it for Holland? Podolski and Giroud may not be as prolific as RVP but they could well be. Afobe getting promoted may not be a bad thing

Now we need to improve our midfield, our CAM was our biggest weakness last term. Wilshere needs to be 100% or a CAM needs to brought in because Rosicky can't produce enough as a CAM and can't shoulder all the burden. Unless Wenger plans on moving Chamberlain there

If were going to ever establish true continuity we need to be a lot tougher on these players.

All of this "Oh no I won't sign now I'll wait till only 12 months left" is starting to become a learned behaviour at AFC and we need to nip it in the bud.

Song won't sign an extention, sell him, Walcott won't commit sell him!

Think about it Song can be replaced and we'll never get more money than we would now for him (if he doesn't sign), Walcott unfortunately we've put ourselves in teh same position however he is an England international and we could drive a bidding war.

When these two mofo's end up doing a Hleb and having mediocre success at other clubs it'll be a lesson to the next generation that all is "not" greener on the otherside.

We carry on accepting rogue behaviour and giving all the power to the players and this will continue.

Letting a player get away with running down his contract just invites temptation as other clubs start to see them as available and the players see the money they can make from being sold for a cut price or as a free agent.

At least if we force an extention or sell those that won't play ball we will get top money for them and get a replacement or if no one offers enough money it will show the player where he stands and they will be more humble and realise where there bread is buttered after they taste the bench.

Giroud + Podolski might not get 37 goals between them next year IMO.

Afobe? Seriously? I'll be surprised if he makes it in the PL tbh, never mind Arsenal. But I know he's a great hope for fans but I tend to be pessimistic about these youngsters, very few of them really impress me.

Don't even think Afobe will be here next season, he'll probably be sent on loan. It's looking more and more likely that we'll be keeping at least one of Park/Chamakh which is sickening.

Yep, Theo Walcott bending us over a barrel would really symbolise rock bottom for me. Let's see how that pans out.

Believe it like I said above he will because that's what we've let happen, the board have completely fked this up by being arrogant once again.

Were Arsenal and they'll sign eventually attitude needs to be ditched to 24 months left and sign an extention or be sold needs to be the club mantra along with sorting the wage bill.

I bet the first thoughts of the club were in regards to damage control based upon internal options,
as opposed to taking the opportunity to make a statement and a genuine marquee signing.

Szczesny
Sagna Kos TV Santos
Arteta Song
Walcott Wilshere Podolski
Giroud

Keeper, Mertesacker, Gibbs, DM, Rosicky, Gervinho, Ox

This team looks average without at least two superstars.

I'ld rather go 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 with Poldi. Don't like him as a wide player.

Apart from that I've lit candles for for a chnage at board level.

Arsenal Football Club is 126 years old, it has existed and won trophies long before Robin Van Persie and it will always and forever continue to exist long after he and all of us are gone.

We will be all right, I promise you that and we'll celebrate St Totteringham's Day much earlier than last year so chill guys and repeat after me "And its Arsenal, Arsenal FC! We're by far the greatest team the world has ever seen!"

Arsenal Football Club is 126 years old, it has existed and won trophies long before Robin Van Persie and it will always and forever continue to exist long after he and all of us are gone.

We will be all right, I promise you that and we'll celebrate St Totteringham's Day much earlier than last year so chill guys and repeat after me "And its Arsenal, Arsenal FC! We're by far the greatest team the world has ever seen!"

I'm sick of this ****.

I'm sick of the fact we haven't won anything in 7 years. I'm sick of the fact we pay the highest ticket prices in the country . I'm sick of the fact we've sold our best players for the last 5 ******* years. I'm sick of the fact We've got an ******** in charge who might as well be a corpse. I'm sick of the fact we've got a manager who has undeservedly put up with complete crap from the ****** in charge, from we the fans, and the ******* media who don't have a clue about the ridiculous demands and stresses being placed on him. I'm sick of the fact our manager has gone from fierce rival to figure of pity from his peers.

**** this I need a smoke.

RVP - 25 (min 20/max 30)

You gotta be kidding me? Whos going to pay 20 million for a 29 year old whos already said that he will not renew and is on the last year of his contract? If we get 15 we can consider ourselfs lucky. Henry has proven over many seasons that he is world class, RVP had just that one injury free season. And we got 16 m for Henry only because it was split over several years and we got nothing up front if I remember correctly.

Anyways, what will happen is that our chances of winning a title this season is a bit smaller then in previous seasons. But that didnt really help in previous seasons anyways as we won nothing. It will be a bit harder to get a top 4 finish next season but we should do it and if we can its not gotten any worse then this season.

We got bent over on the Henry deal

We got bent over on the Cesc deal

We will get bent over on teh RVP deal

See a pattern, we are **** at selling in the transfer market. I have no faith whatsover in teh board creating a framework for Arsène to address the loss of RVP or Cesc in anyway as I have seen nothing to prove that they are not inept, in fact our CEO said he is.

Plan hasa to be damage limitation which means going 4-4-2 with giroud and podolski for the season and thats that its not pretty and its basic but we don't have enough quality anymore so its the way she goes.

1) When was the last time this club bought a world class player in his Prime? I would have to say DB10.
2) RvP saying what he said is far more damaging to us than him actually leaving, let's face it the guy had one amazing season last but that was his first full season without injuries, who knows if he can do it again?
3) People can talk all they want but it is very clear we are a club in crisis, we are officially a feeder club for the big guns of europe and the club management is perfectly happy with that. Whether they can do anything about it is not clear to me. I know everybody else things they know but I don't really know if we have money to spend or not.
4) The only way to get change is by not going to the games and not buying merchandise, unfortunately that could send us into an even bigger death spiral.
I will watch the games and support Arsenal but I'm going to stay detached for a while until the club shows real ambition.

I thought I had reached bottom last year when Cesc left, now I just feel numb.

No offence but, Christ that looks average. We need investment badly, ******* hell.

Agreed its not great but i'm thinking reality though.

Likely hood is we won't buy 2 or 3 world beaters but just replace the people leaving with similar level / potential players.

Walcott is easily replaceable and we should be playing hard ball with him and putting him up for sale if he even hints at not signing a contract.

Anyone think we could get Dzeko in part/ex for RVP?

I personally would like to see a total shift in the way we play. I'd like us to take a more pragmatic approach on the pitch instead of some of the kamikaze style attacking we saw last season which left us horribly exposed at the back at times. When I say pragmatic I mean we get hard working players in the team like Podolski, Giroud, Arteta, Ramsey and Wilshere so we have a tough spine and we're hard to beat at least. It may be too much to ask of these players to churn out the free flowing attacking football that we have grown accustomed to seeing over the past few years.

I'm not suggesting we throw away our entire footballing philosphy but when you don't have the players to carry it out, adjustments have to be made. We can't expect Giroud to play like van persie and no one has even suggested that yet, we should play to our strengths, tighten up at the back and start favouring results over stylish football because it's the only way we will win anything next year.

If we go out next season and try to play like Barcelona with this team then we'll be knocked out of the cup competitions whenever we meet a better team or a tough away assignment like Stoke/Sunderland. However if we can admit our limitations and adapt to suit in terms of tactics and formation then we'll be fine. It might not be pretty but hopefully it would be effective.

This has made me realize that, without endless coffers to satisfy the ego and greed of some players, we should end the policy of players who think a trophy is something they deserve, that 200,000 quid a month is something they deserve, and in which football is all about them and their glamour. They will fvck off the second they think some other shiny piece of ass is more glamorous for them than Arsenal. No more Nasri's (long since known to be a ****), RvP's (problem child who we thought had matured), Adebayor's (just a **** all around), and no M'Vila (who will do the same ******* thing) or Hazard (I love him as a belgian but he would give two ***** about Arsenal even if played for us).

We should buy hard workers and players who we raise in the academy. Wenger, I think, has picked up on this. He's brought in players with less ego and more ethic who have had to work their way to the top: Koscielny, Arteta, Giroud, Podolski, Mertesacker, Arshavin (still shows loyalty and class even when the fans booed him), Vermaelen.

Those are the kind of class personalities that you want players like Ox, Wilshere, Gnabry and whoever else to be influenced by in the locker room, not divas like Nasri, RvP, even Walcott.

In fact when I think about it, I think we're headed in the RIGHT direction. For the people who think we're such a club in dire straits, we've still got hard working class players like Arteta and Giroud who CHOSE us over other flirting clubs because of what we stand for. RvP can **** off.

Great post that mate.

RVP - 25 (min 20/max 30)

You gotta be kidding me? Whos going to pay 20 million for a 29 year old whos already said that he will not renew and is on the last year of his contract? If we get 15 we can consider ourselfs lucky. Henry has proven over many seasons that he is world class, RVP had just that one injury free season. And we got 16 m for Henry only because it was split over several years and we got nothing up front if I remember correctly.

Anyways, what will happen is that our chances of winning a title this season is a bit smaller then in previous seasons. But that didnt really help in previous seasons anyways as we won nothing. It will be a bit harder to get a top 4 finish next season but we should do it and if we can its not gotten any worse then this season.

It's all about competition. Both Cesc and Henry had specified one possible destination. You need at least two teams bidding to get a decent price. As long as RVP hasn't screwed us behind the scenes by demanding one team only, then I would be quite surprised if we got less than 20 million and fully expect to get at least 25.

This has made me realize that, without endless coffers to satisfy the ego and greed of some players, we should end the policy of players who think a trophy is something they deserve, that 200,000 quid a month is something they deserve, and in which football is all about them and their glamour. They will fvck off the second they think some other shiny piece of ass is more glamorous for them than Arsenal. No more Nasri's (long since known to be a ****), RvP's (problem child who we thought had matured), Adebayor's (just a **** all around), and no M'Vila (who will do the same ******* thing) or Hazard (I love him as a belgian but he would give two ***** about Arsenal even if played for us).

We should buy hard workers and players who we raise in the academy. Wenger, I think, has picked up on this. He's brought in players with less ego and more ethic who have had to work their way to the top: Koscielny, Arteta, Giroud, Podolski, Mertesacker, Arshavin (still shows loyalty and class even when the fans booed him), Vermaelen.

Those are the kind of class personalities that you want players like Ox, Wilshere, Gnabry and whoever else to be influenced by in the locker room, not divas like Nasri, RvP, even Walcott.

In fact when I think about it, I think we're headed in the RIGHT direction. For the people who think we're such a club in dire straits, we've still got hard working class players like Arteta and Giroud who CHOSE us over other flirting clubs because of what we stand for. RvP can **** off.

Unfortunately those are the player that tend to win trophys or have you not noticed that? The best palyers want to win and we should be a club striving to win titles etc. Its great to have this ideal that players are gready and want more more more but football generates more and more cash and its the player who make the game so they have to see the benefits of this increasing cash. Thats why clubs don't make money.

Arshavin? Ethic? Seriously this guys couldn't give a toss about the club he doesn't work hard and is a glamour player that you just talked about above.

Giroud signed for us because to quote him "It is one of the best places to settle in and DEVELOP your game." Thats right we develop players now we don't put them in postions to win things.

You idealism is nice but not pragmatic, we either need to 'fess up to not making a go at the title anymore or show some ambition and put in place a plan to challenge city, chelsea and manchester united on all fronts.

I'm one of the few Arsenal fans perhaps that don't really **** a brick about not winning trophies. Arsenal is the only club I support in any sport that has even won a trophy in the past decade, so I'm not as entitled as most others.

Fans of a smaller club would die laughing seeing how entitled some of the Arsenal fans (and other rich clubs fans) are about trophies and this and that. Football is a bit rigged with only the richest coming out to win trophies, it's a bit sad for me to watch how many fans get irate thinking that ****'s hit the fan when a club hasn't won something in 4 years, 7 years, 10 years etc.

God if you lot were Spurs fans you'd have killed yourselves by now. And it's not about ambition or winning or some nonsense, it's about being entitled and thinking you deserve something you barely earned.