Arsenal

[Lucky]

Nasri will cost £18m+ and Benzema will probably be £25m+. Crazy money but two tremendous talents.

You're probably right I suppose, but if I knock off a few million quid here and there I might just be able to convince myself that maybe just maybe we'll buy them all.

[dogsout]

I know what you mean. I'd love us to sign Nasri this summer but I think £18m is the minimum he'll leave for and we could probably do without having to settle someone into a new position (slightly altered in truth) for a fee that size. Benzema will probably go to Italy or Spain as well, which suits me because we've got Torres and I'd hate to see him playing for one of our domestic rivals. If Drogba does leave he may end up there I suppose, but I really hope not.

It sounds promising on the Ben Arfa front, though.

[Art Vandelay]

I might stick my neck out and say we won't spend more than £10m on an individual player this summer, and £18m overall.

[Art Vandelay]

Double post.

[phresh]

How many necks have you got?

[Lucky]

Lehmann: English Keepers Too Dumb To Be Great!

Never one to shy away from controversy, the departing Arsenal goalie delivered a damning indictment of the mental fortitude and overall caliber of his opposite numbers in England.

"Sometimes goalkeepers over here are not going to school long enough," he told the Daily Mail.

"When you are a goalkeeper you must hold your concentration level very high throughout 90 minutes, sometimes 120, sometimes 150.

"The best way to learn that is at school with academic focus on tasks. When you leave school at 16 you don't have it, you lose it.

"That's probably why the foreign goalkeepers are coming over. I know some of them and they are bright people, like Petr Cech and Edwin van der Sar."

What a legend!

I for one am gonna miss the crazy shit he comes out with his words of wisdom.

[Daley]

Finally got my season ticket renewal forms through the post this morning. Funny because I got the email last week and renewed via the website just before the post arrived. My season ticket which was £990 has gone up to £1015. An increase of £25, about £1 per game. Not bad considering it hasn't gone up for three years but it has broken the big four figure barrier.

[Lucky]

Just an increase of £25?

No wonder we haven't got any money to buy anyone

[Dude Ranch]

Just an increase of £25?

No wonder we haven't got any money to buy anyone

What? Arsene could get a centre back and a winger for £25.

[Dude Ranch]

Gael Clichy is expected to sign a new deal that will commit him to the club until 2012, extending his current stay by two years.

Clichy said: "We're at the end of our discussions. Everything's going well because my intention is clear: I want to stay at Arsenal. I would love to have a career here like Patrick Vieira or Thierry Henry, to stay many years at Arsenal and leave my mark on the club. I've been in London for five years. If everything goes well I will stay here for at least eight years."

Clichy's current contract expires in 2010 and he added: "We're talking about a further two years. It's a superb plan to throw yourself into the future with this group here. I never hesitated, not at all. Arsenal is one of the great clubs in Europe."

Anyone know where we can get another ten Clichy's? Brilliant to read this, just what we all needed to hear. Can't be many, if any, better left backs in the world. Plus he seems really nice and has the energy of three men. Oh and some bloke called Cesc or something is signing a new deal too.

[hercules]

My computer has been down for weeks! Finally back on, supposedly Arsenal are in talks with Romas Alberto Aquilani over a possible £10million deal. Also the rumours of Krankjcar and Ben arfa are floating around. All i know about aquilani is that he is highly rated and roma do not want to sell, as for ben arfa and krankjcar i wouldn't mind either of them though their are question marks over ben arfas fitness. But i hope we get two out of the three as money needs to be spent.

[Daley]

Also a few rumours over the weekend about Samir Nasri from Marseille but i'm sure there will be a few interested in him and a hefty price tag.

Did anyone see that AC Milan finished fifth over the weekend and will therefore be playing UEFA Cup football next season? I'm saying nothing...

[Steve007]

Finally got my season ticket renewal forms through the post this morning. Funny because I got the email last week and renewed via the website just before the post arrived. My season ticket which was £990 has gone up to £1015. An increase of £25, about £1 per game. Not bad considering it hasn't gone up for three years but it has broken the big four figure barrier.

Mines gone up £60, I think it's now £1265.

[SeanR]

RossoneriLOL

[hercules]

Also a few rumours over the weekend about Samir Nasri from Marseille but i'm sure there will be a few interested in him and a hefty price tag.

Did anyone see that AC Milan finished fifth over the weekend and will therefore be playing UEFA Cup football next season? I'm saying nothing...

I know i'm glad they aren't in the champions league. I heard the nasri rumours but he'd cost a bomb!

[Daley]

More rumours...

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8...3584274,00.html

I think it is safe to say silly season is well under way and we will be linked with everyone who has ever kicked a ball. And all our players will be leaving too if we believe everything we read.

[Guest]

I thought Marseille were in the Champions League, do France only have 2 places? In fact, I am pretty sure they are at least in the qualifiers, as Lyon and Lille were in it last year and Toulouse lost to 'Pool in the 3rd round of qualifying. Still, if you want Nasri, you'll get him, but it won't be cheap at all.

[Daley]

I thought Marseille were in the Champions League, do France only have 2 places? In fact, I am pretty sure they are at least in the qualifiers, as Lyon and Lille were in it last year and Toulouse lost to 'Pool in the 3rd round of qualifying. Still, if you want Nasri, you'll get him, but it won't be cheap at all.

I think he meant AC Milan. (If you were referring to the post above mine.)

[Guest]

Ah ok. Glad to see Milan finish 5th as I am a big Fiorentina fan anyways. They are a bit like Arsenal in a way, they build their squad on a respectable budget, and pride themselves on attractive, attacking football. They also have a top coach in Prandelli.

[hercules]

Ah ok. Glad to see Milan finish 5th as I am a big Fiorentina fan anyways. They are a bit like Arsenal in a way, they build their squad on a respectable budget, and pride themselves on attractive, attacking football. They also have a top coach in Prandelli.

Fiorentina also have quality players in Frey, Pazzini, Mutu and Montolivo to name a few. And you are right they are like Arsenal in ways which is probably why i like them.

[Daley]

Fiorentina also have quality players in Frey, Pazzini, Mutu and Montolivo to name a few. And you are right they are like Arsenal in ways which is probably why i like them.

It doesn't matter which team or player we are talking about there are rumours to go with them:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11670_3584129,00.html

A number of top European clubs are reportedly monitoring goalkeeper Sebastien Frey's situation at Fiorentina.

Frey enjoyed another impressive season at Stadio Artemio Franchi as Fiorentina finished fourth in Serie A.

The 28-year-old's displays also saw him recently named in Raymond Domenech's provisional France squad for Euro 2008.

Bayern Munich are rumoured to be extremely keen to sign Frey following Oliver Kahn's retirement; however L'Equipe claims they face competition from Arsenal, Milan and Barcelona.

Wenger: He is a quality player. We are always interested in quality players.

Fiorentina are said to be open to offers of €20million (£16million) for Frey, who has three years remaining on his current deal.

Wenger: We are happy with Almunia and Fabianski.

[hercules]

[Guest]

Frey is a top class keeper and I have been amazed Fiorentina have kept him so long. Wouldn't be surprised if he went to Bayern, as the clubs have a good relationship after the Luca Toni deal, Bayern paid probably more than they had to if they wanted to play hard ball. Anyways, I just hope they don't go overboard signing players for the Champions League, as even I will admit they are more Everton than Liverpool.

With regard to Arsenal, I think an early signing in the summer is a must, just to calm things within the squad and lay down some intent. I think Kranjcar would be a great signing, but I am wary of any player touched by the vacuous, money-grabbing influence of Pompy so who knows.

[Daley]

With regard to Arsenal, I think an early signing in the summer is a must, just to calm things within the squad and lay down some intent.

I think this is a fair point. I never believe the "Arsenal Crisis" stories that the papers peddle every summer but I would like us to do our business nice and early this summer, before Euro 2008 if possible.

Also everyone don't forget Cesc's TV show is on tonight. 6.30 on Sky Sports.

[Dude Ranch]

Also everyone don't forget Cesc's TV show is on tonight. 6.30 on Sky Sports.

Not sure I can bring myself to watch that .

[Rev]

I think this is a fair point. I never believe the "Arsenal Crisis" stories that the papers peddle every summer but I would like us to do our business nice and early this summer, before Euro 2008 if possible.

Also everyone don't forget Cesc's TV show is on tonight. 6.30 on Sky Sports.

But if business is left until after Euro 2008 we might discover another talent like Baros!

[Guest]

Just go buy Bafetimbi from St Etienne now. No idea if he is any good, but Domanech sees him as more useful than the 17 goal Trezeguet in Serie A this season.

[hercules]

With regard to Arsenal, I think an early signing in the summer is a must, just to calm things within the squad and lay down some intent. I think Kranjcar would be a great signing, but I am wary of any player touched by the vacuous, money-grabbing influence of Pompy so who knows.

Kranjcar would be a wicked signing and to be fair to him he signed for portsmouth before they got their money.

[Guest]

I wish I supported Arsenal, Southampton are shit

and I live in Northern Ireland

[phresh]

Just go buy Bafetimbi from St Etienne now. No idea if he is any good, but Domanech sees him as more useful than the 17 goal Trezeguet in Serie A this season.

He also left Clichy out of his side, bizarrely.