Arsenal

With the soon to be completed signing of defender Sebastien Squillaci, Arsene Wenger has addressed all of Arsenal’s off-season needs except one: Goalkeeper. So where are the Gunners on finding a new number one?

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Arsenal are prepared to double their offer to Fulham for Mark Schwarzer. That would put the revised bid at around £4million.

If the Schwarzer deal does not go through Arsenal have been linked with Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg who played for Holland in the World Cup. Stekelenburg is 28 which makes him almost ten years younger than Schwarzer.  Read more... (139 words, 1 image, estimated 33 secs reading time)

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Veteran French defender Sebastien Squillaci is in London and will undergo a medical at Arsenal today as his transfer from Sevilla nears completion.

A statement on the Sevilla website read: “A transfer deal has been agreed, subject to the player passing a medical.” That transfer fee is expected to be around £6.5m for the 30-year-old.

The Spanish club also said Squillaci had asked to be left out of last week’s Champions League play-off against Braga to avoid being cup-tied.  Read more... (149 words, 1 image, estimated 36 secs reading time)

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What is Arsenal Fanshare?
It is a scheme that will allow ordinary fans to invest in Arsenal shares. At present, shares trade for around £10,000 each, but Arsenal Fanshare will allow supporters to purchase a fraction of a share and so boost their overall representation.

What will they cost?
Fans can pay as little as £10 a month rising up to £12,000 a year towards the scheme. When Arsenal Fanshare needs to purchase a share its nominated broker will do this on the scheme’s behalf on the open market. At any time, each fan can sell back their stake, take a break from making any payments or increase their investment.  Read more... (294 words, 1 image, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

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The chance of own part of a Premier League team is beyond the reach of 99.9% of a team fans. But Arsenal are about to change that.

With Arsenal shares trading at more than £10,000 each, fans will be encouraged to buy portions of shares with relatively small contributions via the Arsenal Fanshare scheme being launched today. Supporters will be invited to pay a minimum of £100, either up front or in £10 monthly contributions, to buy one fanshare, one hundredth of an actual share. In return, the member will secure full shareholder’s rights: the chance to attend the annual general meeting, ask questions of the directors and vote on policy.  Read more... (231 words, 1 image, estimated 55 secs reading time)

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Samir Nasri has been ruled out for a month after having minor knee surgery. The 23-year-old Frenchman suffered a meniscal injury in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

Nasri is just the latest Arsenal midfielder to get injured. Alex Song has a calf injury, Denilson has an abdominal problem and Aaron Ramsey is recovering from a broken leg. Add to that Cesc Fabregas not being anywhere near match fitness and Arshavin apparently carrying a thigh injury, Arsenal’s midfield suddenly looks very weak.

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After every Arsenal game, fans can go to the Arsenal web site and vote for their Man of the Match.

For the Liverpool game Marouane Chamakh finished first with 24 per cent of the votes. Samir Nasri came second with 22 per cent and Tomas Rosicky came third with 18 per cent of the votes.

Really?  I thought Chamakh battled hard and did not get a lot of support, but I thought that Nasri had a much better game.

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Andy Gray had some interesting comments via betfairfootball.com about Arsenal and how the Gunners will do this season. Here are his comments?

“When you look at Arsenal’s side, and you look at the squad they have got, they’re very well covered up front. The addition of Marouane Chamakh confirms that. And they’re very well covered in the midfield and the full-back area of the pitch.

“If they get close to Chelsea and Manchester United and miss out again it might be because they didn’t strengthen in the areas where they are most vulnerable – which is the middle of the defence and the goalkeeper.  Read more... (289 words, 1 image, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

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Looking at the predictions of the upcoming season on the BBC the consensus seems to be that Arsenal will finish third again this season behind Chelsea and Manchester United.

What do you think of these predictions? Where will Arsenal finish this season?

Yes we all want the Gunners to win the league, but is that a realistic goal with this squad as it is comprised?

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The Sun is reporting that Mark Schwarzer has handed in a transfer request to a stunned Mark Hughes.

It appears that Schwarzer, like the rest of us, is tired of waiting for his transfer to Arsenal to go through and wants to force the decision.

Doubtful if it could be done by Sunday, but to me if Schwarzer signs any time before kickoff, he goes straight into the Arsenal team.

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