Arsenal

[Lucky]

Cesc in a Chelsea shirt will be sickening.

Pretty much as bad as it gets.

[Steve007]

The Ox has a medial knee ligament injury.

You just can't make this shit up. How unlucky can one player be?

http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/news/12016/9339233/fa-say-arsenal-midfielder-alex-oxlade-chamberlain-has-a-medial-knee-ligament-injury

Cesc in a Chelsea shirt will be sickening.
Pretty much as bad as it gets.

If he does sign for them it just shows all that 'I love Arsenal' stuff was a load of guff. At the end of the day, he's a footballer and it's a job. He'll go where someone wants him, whoever that may be.

[dogsout]

If he does sign for them it just shows all that 'I love Arsenal' stuff was a load of guff.

I don't get this. What's he supposed to do if Arsenal don't want him back? Retire?

[Steve007]

I don't get this. What's he supposed to do if Arsenal don't want him back? Retire?

I never said that at all, but I've had about 50 Gooner mates say stuff like "He'll never sign for Chelsea/United/City" when of course he will! He's a footballer, it's a job. He'll go where he's wanted, as I said above. There is no unbreakable bond between him and Arsenal. He's a professional footballer.

Not sure why I got negged for stating the obvious facts.

[Steve007]

Anyway, I don't even want him back. Cesc would be the 'main man' again and I'm convinced he'd stifle Ramsey, Cazorla and Wilshere and we can't be having that.

We are quite spoilt for choice in the centre midfield department so spunking £30m + a whopping salary package on him doesn't seem to make any sense.

[hercules]

The fabregas situation is a sad one but ultimately we have to do what is right for the club, we pretty much all agree that we need to strengthen other areas urgently and he just isn't someone we need, especially for the cost. Onto signings, keep hearing that we are in for a big player but no name as of yet. Anyone got any ideas? Also are we actually going to sign aurier?

[BlinkyBear]

The Cesc thing is mental. Absolutely mental. Most have you have lost your mind. Cesc Fabregas is available for £30million. You don't say no to that. You worry about positions and the like later. Or not when every fucker in the squad is injured.

Plus, we need someone to replace Kallstrom. ;-)

[hercules]

we need quite a few players and big players at that, spending the 30mil+ on fabregas is before we have addressed our weaknesses is silly.

[Space Renegade Ulala]

A fucking striker please, preferably one that isn't slow as shit and/or injury prone.

Then again, it's starting to feel like great centre forwards are a dying breed full stop, time was it seemed like international class ones grew on trees and most teams had one but these days it's like the well's run dry and very few exciting genuine greats are out there.

[The Fox]

The Cesc thing is mental. Absolutely mental. Most have you have lost your mind. Cesc Fabregas is available for £30million. You don't say no to that. You worry about positions and the like later. Or not when every fucker in the squad is injured.

Plus, we need someone to replace Kallstrom. ;-)

Well seemingly numerous clubs do seem to have said no to that. We're hardly alone in deciding we really don't need another attacking midfielder.

The only reason there's any fuss is because he used to play for us. I didn't see any clamour here to sign Juan Mata when he was available in January.

[The Fox]

I never said that at all, but I've had about 50 Gooner mates say stuff like "He'll never sign for Chelsea/United/City" when of course he will! He's a footballer, it's a job. He'll go where he's wanted, as I said above. There is no unbreakable bond between him and Arsenal. He's a professional footballer.

Not sure why I got negged for stating the obvious facts.

This isn't very logical or consistent. If Barca want rid and he wants to come to England, and Arsenal, City, Utd & Liverpool aren't interested but Chelsea are, then he has no choice. It doesn't mean he doesn't retain affection for Arsenal. It's absolutely clear that we would have been his first choice, only the most blinkered and deluded Chelsea fan would suggest otherwise.

Him going to Chelsea is not mutually exclusive with loving Arsenal. For family reasons it's said he won't consider another country besides England, and only Chelsea are seemingly interested. It's a difficult situation for everyone involved and frankly I don't know why Barca aren't getting more stick here. They've acted like complete cunts, going to ridiculous lengths to publicly woo another club's player for several years, finally getting him, then kicking him out again unceremoniously after 3 perfectly good, if unspectacular, seasons.

[The Fox]

Alright own up, who made this?

[Dude Ranch]

I've decided we should just sign him, simple. A world class player for OK money, worry about the details later. Heart over head, just do it. Our midfield is made of glass, Arteta and Rosicky aren't getting any younger, Flamini is a wild card. Just buy Fabregas already.

If we don't and then we don't really smash it elsewhere in the transfer window I'll be well annoyed.

[The Fox]

If we don't and then we don't really smash it elsewhere in the transfer window I'll be well annoyed.

That's the key innit. No one will give a shit anymore if we really come up with the goods in the areas that we truly need. Wenger and the board have put their todgers on the block with this, so hopefully they actually have something going on this time (lol right).

[gospvg]

Do Arsenal have first refusal on Cesc if he decides to return to the premier league?

I thought I read it somewhere last year but not sure.

[The Fox]

Yes. We have declined to take up our first refusal option on him, which is why you've seen him being touted around to other clubs in the last week or so.

[gospvg]

Yes. We have declined to take up our first refusal option on him, which is why you've seen him being touted around to other clubs in the last week or so.

That must have been a tough call to make, Arsene must have other priorities in the transfer window & I suppose the outlay for Ozil last year was quite a bit.

[The Fox]

Very tough. But Wenger has to try and be dispassionate and if he's confident of being able to use that money better elsewhere, and build a side around Ramsey and Ozil, then IMO that's what he needs to do.

[gospvg]

I expect Chelsea or Man City are favourites then for Cesc signature.

Can't see him wanting to go to a non-champs league club.

[gizmo1990]

That's the key innit. No one will give a shit anymore if we really come up with the goods in the areas that we truly need. Wenger and the board have put their todgers on the block with this, so hopefully they actually have something going on this time (lol right).

This is a good point. They better fucking well come up with the goods this year and get decent signings we actually need!

[BlinkyBear]

From the always-excellent http://www.theequaliser.com email:

I still think we should bring Cesc home though.

[hauk]

If Chelsea get Costa and Cesc they have to be favorites for the title next year, no matter who we sign. Obviously this depends on Mourinho not falling out with everyone and leaving for Inter, although by my reckoning this is more likely to happen in 15/16 season

I totally get why we would build around Ramsey/Wilshere/Ozil but Cesc is better than each on them as of now, statistics be damned!

[The Fox]

Misleading stats tbf, Cesc wasn't able to play his ideal game at Barca. For all Mesut's qualities, he ain't coming close to Cesc 09/10.

I think Cesc carries more goal threat, is stronger, probably better long passing, and a better attitude. Özil is faster, has better short passing, crossing, first touch, and movement off the ball. He's also younger.

They're both fucking good really, but it's pretty unlikely Özil is ever going to capture the hearts of Gooners like Cesc did. It's gonna be shitty if he goes to Chelsea but if we sign the right players then I'll reluctantly make peace with it.

[Dude Ranch]

Ozil back to Real for Benzema plus cash, buy Cesc.

Seriously, if we turn down Cesc there's massive pressure on Ozil to perform. Massive. If he has a so so season and Cesc tears it up we'll look like mugs but you have to admire the typical Wenger bravery on that one. I really think Ozil would thrive alongside Cesc if you could play them together but maybe Ramsey/Ozil will be the same.

I'd deffo still buy Cesc.

[Rev]

Ozil out and Cesc in would put even massiver pressure on Cesc and he's not exactly been thriving under pressure recently.

[The Fox]

A Barca fan comments: https://storify.com/LordMoloch/the-cesc-story

[The Fox]

Seriously, if we turn down Cesc there's massive pressure on Ozil to perform. Massive. If he has a so so season and Cesc tears it up we'll look like mugs but you have to admire the typical Wenger bravery on that one. I really think Ozil would thrive alongside Cesc if you could play them together but maybe Ramsey/Ozil will be the same.

Ozil chose us though while Cesc kinda did the opposite, and Wenger is going to bear that in mind. He bought Ozil - a genuine world class star - with the promise of a project to take us to a higher level and make him the main man. I don't think he can jack that whole thing in just because the move Cesc forced through hasn't worked out for him.

I think you're probably right that Cesc + Ozil could function, as could Cesc + Ramsey, but I suspect all getting all three working to an optimal level would take a significant amount of gelling time, which he probably feels we can't really afford. Ozil and Rambo are the guys who are here already and it's only right they should be the ones to build around, if you have to pick 2 from 3.

[Rev]

If Chelsea are buying Cesc as a second-choice Koke, it really does mean we could bring him in to be Arteta's successor. It's a lot of money and it's not his current ideal position, but the amount of difference Arteta made when we brought him in at first was enormous and not having an ideal successor poised to him is a massive risk.

[Dude Ranch]

A Barca fan comments: https://storify.com/LordMoloch/the-cesc-story

Wow. Interesting.

[hauk]

A Barca fan comments: https://storify.com/LordMoloch/the-cesc-story

Every point he makes is basically "He doesn't fit in the team, we don't need him". Which was basically what every Arsenal fan said during Barcelona's 2+ year courtship of Cesc.

I do feel like maybe Wenger is leaning toward a faster counter-attacking team more in the style of pre-Guardiola Bayern and Ramsey/Ozil are the perfect midfield fit for that and maybe Cesc is not. So torn on this, really really depends on who we bring in if we don't buy him back.